A week from today it will mother’s day. Chances are you know a mother in your life, but what to get them? There are so many different kinds of mothers that chocolate and flowers just won’t do. So here are some cool things I found that may appeal to mothers of different kinds.

Mini Chimney
For: Dry-Hands Type Mama or Design Loving Mama
From: Compact Impact
Price: $143.10
Description: Personal humidifier which moisturize both the heart and the body with an aroma mist.
The concept is to focus on the atmospheric fitness and soundness while balancing the stature of the chimney.
Notes: Although on the pricey side, keep in mind this can be used year after year and acts not only as a humidifier but as an aromatherapy device as well. It’s very sleek-looking so as not to be obtrusive, and is available in a larger size for over $200.

The Teastick
For: Tea-Loving Mama or Health Nut Mama
From: Gamila
Price: $18; combo set for $34~$36
Description: A contemplative toy that gently rocks as it infuses clouds of flavor before your eyes. This is what happens when designers and connoisseurs meet for tea.
Notes: Since cups come in all shapes and size, sometimes strainers just don’t do a good enough job. Bulbous-shaped strainers are a little unwieldy and are easy to leak. This seems like a great solution that both fits any size cup and prevents leaking bitter tea leaves.

Moonlight Mushrooms
For: Hippie Type Mama or Gardening Mama
From: Gardener’s Supply Company
Price: $19.95
Description: Made from handblown glass, these watering spikes are both pretty and practical. By day, they’ll deliver up to a cup of water right at the root zone. When evening falls, phosphorescent speckles inside the glass begin to glow, producing 2 to 4 hours of soft illumination. For best effect, place in an area with little ambient light.
Notes: These are so pretty and inexpensive, not at all tacky like most other gardening accessories.

Salted Margarita Caramels
For: Cocktail Time Loving Mama or Chocolate Loving Mama
From: Bissinger’s
Price: $10.95
Description:
- 6 pieces conveniently packaged in our special sampler box
- Melt-in-your mouth caramels deliver hints of lime and tequila wrapped in smooth milk chocolate
- Dusted with shimmering pink Himalayan salt crystals rich with healthful minerals
Notes: Everything on the site sounds so delicious, and their smaller packages are reasonably priced for gourmet chocolate. This Salted Margarita Caramels package sounds especially good for those who love cocktails and love their chocolate sweet and salty. This would make an ideal last-minute gift–since the weather is getting warmer, you have to ship express! Check out their other gift ideas too.

The internet, the mall, and even stores like Target all have something unique to offer if you look hard enough. Each mother is different, but you should never limit your gifting options to just flowers and a card! Have fun with gift-giving, but don’t go overboard–the best present is most likely just spending time with you. (cue cheesy music.)

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Despite the fact that all they are good for is looking at them, not a lot of people take notice of mirrors. I thought of this as I was made my way through my daily gettin’-ready and nightly gettin’-sleepy routines–which revolves solely around the help of mirrors. Here are three different kinds of mirrors that I cannot live without!

1.) The bathroom mirror.
This is obvious. You brush your teeth and wash your face in front of the mirror! You fix your hair, check your make up, see if there’s anything sticking in your teeth! You use it to scare yourself by thinking there might be someone lurking behind the shower curtain in the reflection! And so on…! (Aside, possibly, from that last bit. But seriously, am I the only one?)

2.) The full-length mirror.
I don’t know how I was able to go for so long without one. I only bought a full-length mirror (for a measly $6 at Target!) last year! To be honest, I thought getting a full-length mirror was only for the vain. But this kind of mirror really helps you decide for yourself what kind of clothes in your wardrobe fit you the best. I have gotten rid of a ton of clothes this way. The full-length mirror also helps you prevent possible fashion faux pas, and create the illusion of space in your bedroom (which is great if it’s tiny like mine.)

3.) The magnified mirror.
Again, I thought these sort of mirrors were only for the vain. Only for those who couldn’t stop looking at themselves in the mirror. When I had to draw a self-portrait from home, I had no choice but to buy a small mirror for reference–I ended up getting one that had a magnified mirror on the other side. I love the magnified mirror. It makes cleaning up your eyebrows and doing your make up so much easier. OK, that might sound pretty vain but I really see the magnified mirror as a practical tool more than anything else. I also use it a lot to look at things that have fallen in my eye, such as eyelashes (my eyelashes are long and shed a lot so it is pretty tedious to get them out. This mirror eases the effort tremendously.)

Here are some other uses for mirrors:
- Decoration: Mount a few small matching mirrors together to create a neat design.
- Expand the room: A large mirror does wonders for small places. Just be careful not to place mirrors facing each other–this might create a paradoxical, funhouse-mirror-like effect.
- Picture-taking: Angle mirrors creatively to take interesting photographs.
- Emergency: Keep a small mirror with you for emergencies, such as if you get things in your eyes or you need to get attention from someone with a reflection.

There are many interesting ways to integrate mirrors into your day. Next time you have a hankering to re-do your room, think about the placement of mirrors–they will make a world of difference in your lifestyle.

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