What do busy moms want???

[can'twait]

How about a movie basket? A family DVD (Cinderella?) with some hot cocoa, popcorn, candy, a mug and a warm throw. You can always add some Bath & Body stuff to it too.

I agree with the sleep! Sleep and a clean house when I wake up.

 

[paslea_pooh]

maybe flowers sent to her home... Her favorite (mine are tulips),,, husbands sometimes only send flowers at anniversaries and such... A gift certificate to a book store, does she like to read? Take her out for a ladies brunch, girls morning out for breakfast.. manicure/pedicure.. (already mentioned, I think).... A week of house cleaning (not sure where you live, or what that may cost).... Here it's about $60.00... maybe you can go in with another family member... I would love that as a gift, lol!!! Make coupons for laundry service... Car washing service...Think of PRACTICAl gifts, because really who needs another sweater or wallet..


Good Luck

 

[McKelly]

I know you said, no gift certificates, but a Cleaning Service would be great!! Around here, they charge, $15.00 an/hr. It could be wrapped up with some rubber gloves or some sort of cleaning supply. After the holidays with all of the entertaining (of before) and when the tree is taken down, I could really use some help cleaning up the mess, especially with two little ones running around!

 

[Mom-to-2-Princesses]

I agree with the person who mentioned a trendy item!

When the kids were younger, and now!, I never had enough money to have all the new trends but soon found that having the accessories made me feel great!

Target has a huge selection of the scarf belts - they range in price from $6 - $30. I have several and love them. They are also nice as a gift since you don't need to worry about size!

You could also add a cute matching necklace and or earrings.

Whatever you do I would suggest trying to find a place that has gift receipts, then she is not "stuck" with an item that is not right for her.

Merry Christmas!

Lee Ann

 

[java]

Yes I third the trendy item. When you have small children you just don't think about getting stuff for yourself- you are always buying for the kids. I am not a huge Mary Kay girl so if I had $25 bucks to spend on myself I would go for some new body scrub(Lancome has a great grapefruit smelling one that is a treat for me) A new little bag? A dvd of her favorite movie or dvd set of her favorite show(think Sex and the City or something...) Honestly anything for HER would be great. Just something that shows you are thinking of her(like your Donald Duck perfume) is going to mean the most to her!

 

[flagdaytwins]

I personally love the Mary Kay hand set -- esp. in the winter, it is the only thing that works for my hands (I have two young kids also). You don't have to do it everyday.

As a mom, I love anything for ME that is "stinky" as my kids would say!-- soaps, lotions, etc. Crabtree-Evelyn is another awesome brand. You can't go wrong with anything from them. I love getting gift sets (small or large or anything in between).

Also, The Healing Garden's white tea therapy is good.

 

[RADOPT]

I personally would not take the time to do a four step anything for myself.

How about one of the neck wraps with the seeds and lavender in them? You can heat them or put them in the freezer - we use ours all year long. I love mine.

 

[GeauxTigger]

Do gift certificates count as gift cards? Two of my favorite ever gifts were a gift certificate for a manicure at a salon near my place of employment (I went after work), and one for a 20 minute neck and shoulder massage at the same place. Both were very relaxing, and things that I wouldn't normally buy for myself.

 

[jeepgirl30]

I keep thinking of hinting to DH to get me one of those rainfall shower heads. I was at a hotel on business that had one and it was divine!

 

[BedKnobbery2]

I'm one of those Moms who wouldn't have any use for the Mary Kay hand thingy. First of all, I don't like Mary Kay products (never have) and as others have said, I don't think I'd take the time to do a 4 step process.

In my opinion, personal care items (lotions, shampoo, make-up) are just that--very personal--and I generally won't give them as gifts unless I absolutely know the recipient wanted that particular brand/item. I have a bathroom cupboard filled with lotions I've gotten as gifts but have never used.

It is too bad GC's are not an option. Maybe you can get some hints from her husband about things she likes and work off of that!

Good luck!

 

[jjohnson]

I'm more of a practical person & would only buy personal items if I knew exactly what someone usually likes/uses.

I bought this last summer for our Disney trip. It was a perfect size & lightweight. I ordered a few for gifts last week:

http://www.rei.com/outlet/product/47994659.htm

 

[alabamagirl]

I got my MIL one of those foot spas that Conair makes. I think I paid $21.99 for it on sale at Wal-Mart. This might be great for her if she is running after kids all day!

 

[Princess Nancy]

I was coming here with my reply ---- A NAP!

 

[malibuconlee]

If she's not able to get a sitter and go out maybe a movie night basket?

I did this for a few people this year. I bought them Disney movie(s), and included in their gift bag a bag of popcorn as well as those movie-theatre size boxes of candy you can buy at Target or Dollar Tree. If you had any money left over to spend you could also include a gift certificate to a pizza place to order in to go with movie night.

 

[HALEYSMOMMOM]

I have a question for you, where do you get Donald Duck perfume??

 

[Merandab4]

I have a question for you, where do you get Donald Duck perfume??

Mexico!

I went on a Cruise with my sister in October and at the Puerta Maya in Cozumel they had boxes of Disney perfumes. They had Pooh, Tigger and Mickey too. They also had it at the Perfume store at the mall down there. I've never seen it before and thought it was cute!

 

[LoriMistress]

Get her movie tickets as well. A night out with her DH would be wonderful.

 

[wmackleit]

I bought myself the mary kay hand kit....yes it is nice if I use it....I am a 30 something mom of 3 very active DDs.... I have a fulltime job, we own a second business.....so needless to say I really do not have or take the time for it.
I do however, LOOOVVVVVEEEEE soft blankets.....I always want to buy myself another one because someone always is using the ones I have when I want them.

So how about a soft blanket(I usually find mine at shopko when they are half off so they are around $13) with a candle or movie or slippers or the blockbuster gift card idea, or a bottle of wine. And a certificate to keep the kids for the weekend......then she can get things done, or just rest.

 

[Sleeping~Beauty]

Here are some ideas, I would say go for something just for her that will give her that pretty feeling:

1) Victoria's Secret has some of their pretty pajamas on sale. You could get the simple cotton nightshirt or the tank and flannel bottoms that say "Victoria's Secret" on them. They are about $25.00. This way she gets something very pretty, and within the price range. VS clothes run very big, too. But if you don't know her size, that might be an issue.

2)Makeup brushes, you know the kits that can be about $25 where you get beatiful eyeshadow brushes, and blush brushes.

3) A basket of hair care items, shampoos, conditioners, a straightener or whatever type of hair she may have. We have an Ulta store that has hair care packages that are really nice, and they are about $20-$25 dollars. With hair, it's not clutter, she'll use it up. And she can do it right in the shower and when she comes out.

Hope this helps.

 

[crazyme5kids]

I work in a childcare center so here is my advice. Unless you really know what scents she likes, please don't waste your money. It is the same thing with trendy type things or clothing. Not putting the ideas down, they're great ideas if you know that persons taste in clothing. Jewelry, again, unless you know that persons taste. Don't get picture frames, I have more frames than I can use, I just don't have room for them. No candles please (unless yankee clean cotton lol). Hair products are nice if you know what she likes to use. I wouldn't get makeup unless you know what she likes or if she even uses makeup much.

I do like the pajama idea (all cotton and nice and soft ). Nice, soft, plush feels great on the feet slippers are nice. A good pair of gloves with a nice scarf/hat (keeps us warm since we spend time outdoors with the kids). Gift baskets of food are always nice. I like any type of gift that I can use with my children, such as movie tickets etc... The blanket idea is a nice one. I always enjoy getting a bottle of wine too. Now these two are kid of silly sounding, but I would love it if someone gave me an umbrella, I just never seem to get around to buying one for myself. Also a really good snow/ice scrapper for my truck, I hate coming out of work and having to clean it off with my regular one lol. Oh! You know what else I would love to get? A really nice canvas tote bag, something with pockets (one to hold my umbrella lol!) and a nice design. I'm always looking for bags at home to carry things that I'm bring to work, or even when I go out with my children. If it's one that's a nice size I would use it when I go shopping too.