Each week the Filter newsletter cuts through the noise to bring you smart, practical recommendations on how to live better – from what is worth buying to the tools, habits and ideas that actually last.
Mother’s Day is less than 48 hours away. Some moms will soon be admiring the fresh flowers they’ve received, or perhaps be enjoying breakfast in bed. Others might be engaging in time-honored mom traditions like asking why you’re still single or suggesting you give the LSAT another try.
To help make the maternal figures in your life feel special, we’ve recommended gift ideas vetted by Filter staff, new mothers, grandmas and even one great-grandmother – including a custom puzzle and a soft pyjamas set.
But if you’ve found yourself too preoccupied by spring cleaning, impending graduation ceremonies or planning summer travels, fear not!
We’ve handpicked seven 11th-hour gifts just as thoughtful as one you’d have bought weeks ago.
Explore our Mother’s Day recommendations:
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The 17 best Mother’s Day deals for when she says ‘don’t spend too much’
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The 23 best Mother’s Day gifts, according to moms, grandmas and one great-grandmother
The best last-minute Mother’s Day gifts
Lovely Lavender Medley With Strawberries
Flowers always count. “My son always sent me flowers,” one grandmother told our editorial coordinator, Lauren Gould, when she asked for her favorite Mother’s Day gift. “It’s a very nice feeling when your children remember.”
In the past, this flower and strawberry bundle has been popular among our readers. To get the bouquet to mom in time, 1800Flowers offers expedited shipping for a few dollars extra. Karen Yuan, commissioning editor at Filter US
MasterClass Subscription
Does she want to learn to act? Start a small business? Cook new recipes? MasterClass’s virtual courses are the “gift that keeps on giving”, as Filter contributor Marissa Miller puts it, and an all-access subscription is 50% off right now.
In return, she’ll get access to more than 200 expert- and celebrity-led classes on cooking, design, business and more. “[There’s] something for everyone of all levels (including the pickiest person on your list),” Miller writes. Karen Yuan, commissioning editor at Filter US
Nuuly Clothing Rental Gift Card
If your mom keeps buying the tops she sees you wearing, a clothing rental subscription is a gift to both of you. Instead of adding more stuff to her closet, this lets her rotate through fresh pieces whenever she wants. Maybe she needs polished workwear for the office or fun dresses for spring weddings. Or, like me, she’ll just appreciate trying new clothes without the commitment (or dry-cleaning burden) of buying them.
Nuuly offers cheerful digital gift cards that you can send with a note. A full month’s subscription costs $98 for six items. For the “nu mom” in your life, Nuuly also offers maternity clothes. Karen Yuan, commissioning editor at Filter US
Picked by Wine.com Subscription
In a (very responsible) taste test of wine subscriptions, we ranked Picked by Wine.com among the best. You take a quiz about your preferences to get paired with a personal sommelier, who chooses six bottles to send to you. Filter contributor Tobey Grumet Segal got a mix of white and red wines, including her new favorite to serve alongside bolognese dinners. Karen Yuan, commissioning editor at Filter US
Yogi Tea Variety Pack
Whether stressed, sleep-deprived or stuck inside with a cold, there isn’t much a cup of tea can’t fix. A high-quality box is one of my go-to last-minute gifts, and some of my favorites come from Yogi Tea – including this honey lavender stress relief blend.
CookUnity Meal Delivery Service
“On busy workdays, it’s easy to pop meals in the microwave to serve myself or my family. My kids even like them,” one mother told Filter contributor Marissa Miller of CookUnity’s meal delivery service.
If your mom loves the comfort of a home-cooked meal, but is often strapped for time, CookUnity offers options from pink sauce rigatoni pasta to a vegan-friendly pot pie.
Book of the Month subscription
If a gift card feels too impersonal, try a customizable subscription service. I gave a shoutout to Book of the Month in my guide for reading more. It lets you select a newly released hardcover novel for less than $20 per month, and many of the titles I’ve collected have since landed on my mom’s nightstand.
In the news: a Filter-favorite bourbon
Is Kash Patel reading the Filter? The FBI director is currently taking heat for reportedly handing out personalized bourbon bottles as gifts, and, unfortunately for everyone involved, the brand in question happens to be one of our top picks for the best whiskey out there.
Yes, we regret to inform you that the ethically dubious Patel bourbon is, in fact, a very good drink: Kentucky’s Woodford Reserve. Our UK colleagues recommend it for a “Don Draper-worthy old fashioned”, praising its warming aromas, dried fruit notes and creamy finish. They also specifically call it out as a great gift, though they probably meant your father-in-law and not, say, federal clients. Karen Yuan, commissioning editor at Filter US
Woodford Reserve Kentucky Bourbon
Read the roundup: The best whiskey: 14 tried-and-tested tipples, from scotch and single malt to blended and bourbon
Read the story: FBI defends Kash Patel after report alleging he gifts custom whiskey bottles
The Filter’s test kitchen: chocolate bars
Is the flower section at your local grocery store picked over? Chocolate is another last-minute Mother’s Day gift idea that rarely disappoints.
To find the best chocolate bars on the market, we recruited Guardian US staffers to try 10 options. Among their favorites were this nut-butter-filled vegan one from Hu Kitchen and a creamy bar from Endangered Species.
Hu Kitchen Variety Pack
Endangered Species 48% Cocoa
Read the story: ‘Tastes like Play-Doh’: the best (and worst) chocolate bars – tasted and ranked
A meal prep upgrade: Anyday’s Anydeli containers
“So, these containers are not glass, but plastic-free? Sounds awesome,” my meal prepping-obsessed grandma wrote to me after reading our coverage on Anyday’s new Anydeli containers.
After weeks of making salad dressings, steaming frozen broccoli and even cooking homemade microwave popcorn, we awarded them five stars for their lightweight design, sturdy silicone material and leakproof lid.
Anyday Anydeli Silicone Mixed Set of 3
Read our five-star review: ‘The perfect food storage finally exists’: I tried the new Anydeli plastic-free containers
Put to the test: sleep masks
If you’ve told yourself you simply can’t doze off on planes or take naps during the day, you probably haven’t tried a sleep mask.
Our tester, Juno DeMelo, slept in a tent and a bedroom with broken blinds while trying 24 masks in her quest to find the models worthy of a spot in your carry-on bag or nightstand.
Among her top picks were this luxurious, adjustable one that we featured as one of our favorite Mother’s Day sale picks, and this affordable option that stayed in place all night long.
Cozy Earth Adjustable Bamboo Sleep Mask
Mzoo Luxury Sleep Mask
Read our guide: The best sleep masks in the US: I spent six weeks testing 24 masks, and these are my favorite
Get organized: our favorite storage products
Spring’s fresh energy has left us feeling inspired. Recently, we’ve shared our favorite tools for spring cleaning and asked stylists for tips on refreshing your wardrobe.
Now we’re sharing 11 products we swear by for staying organized, including handy spice labels and clear, stackable drawers for reordering your beauty products.
Adhesive Waterproof Spice Labels
Stori Clear Stackable Drawers
Read our guide: ‘Stores an ungodly amount of stuff’: 11 products our writers rely on to organize and declutter
