Photograph: Tatiana Sviridova/Getty Images
Seven last minute Mother's Day gifts that arrive by Sunday – and look like you planned ahead. Plus one of our favorite whiskeys makes headlines, and a very good deal on an adjustable sleep mask. This story was originally published in the Filter US newsletter on buying fewer, better things. Sign up here to get early access to it. 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: The 10 best US gifts for new moms, according to a new mom. The 17 best Mother's Day deals for when she says 'don't spend too much'. The 23 best Mother's Day gifts, according to moms, grandmas and one great-grandmother. We asked grandmas for their favorite Mother's Day gifts: 'A can of salmon with some cottage cheese and a banana'.
The best last-minute Mother's Day gifts
Lovely Lavender Medley With Strawberries
Photograph: Courtesy of 1-800-Flowers. From $74.99 at 1800 Flowers (with code MOM). 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
Photograph: Sopa Images/LightRocket/Getty Images. From $10 per month at MasterClass. 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
Photograph: Courtesy of Nuuly. From $25 at Nuuly. 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
Photograph: Tobey Grumet Segal/The Guardian. From $120 for six bottles at Wine.com. 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
Photograph: Courtesy of Amazon. $14.99 for variety pack of three at Amazon. 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
Photograph: Courtesy of CookUnity. From $11 at Cook Unity. “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
Photograph: Courtesy of Book of the Month. $59.99 for a three-book membership at Book of the Month. 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. $47.24 at ReserveBar. 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
Photograph: Tracy Allison/The Guardian. 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. $49.95 for a variety pack of eight at Amazon. Endangered Species 48% Cocoa. $4.35 at iHerb. $26.33 for pack of three at Walmart. Read the story: 'Tastes like Play-Doh': the best (and worst) chocolate bars – tasted and ranked.
A meal prep upgrade: Anyday's Anydeli containers
Photograph: Courtesy of Anyday. “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. $51 at Anyday. 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
Photograph: Juno DeMelo/The Guardian. 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. Now $32.30, originally $38 at Cozy Earth. Mzoo Luxury Sleep Mask. $14.99 at Amazon. 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
Photograph: Courtesy of Gregory. 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. $5.97 at Amazon. Stori Clear Stackable Drawers. $27.99 at Amazon. Read our guide: 'Stores an ungodly amount of stuff': 11 products our writers rely on to organize and declutter.
