Ask A Woman: Turning you into the springtime Santa Claus.
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As is our habit here on AAW, we present you with a gift guide for the gals in your life! This one is themed, slightly, to accommodate those of you who will be gifting graduates and/or mothers in the coming weeks. Certainly, though, many of these gifts might be enjoyed by those who aren’t graduating and aren’t your mother. Happy gifting!
Gift card for professional attire
Whether the woman in your life is graduating with her bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate, odds are she’ll be headed out for job interviews. If she was living on ramen and bananas while in school, she probably doesn’t have a good interview suit. Help her out. Give her a gift card to Ann Taylor or Banana Republic so she can look awesome when she goes begging for work.
Compass Necklace – $55
A compass is a symbol of direction, voyage, and the possibility beyond. Perfect for someone who is graduating and beginning a new adventure. The version above is from Etsy shop Something Blue and has a gen-u-wine diamond in the middle. Other options are a compass bracelet, and this larger medallion necklace.
Kate Spade World Map Scarf – $128
Along the same lines as the compass gift, a beautiful, vibrant scarf with a map of the world from fashionista-favorite Kate Spade. A great choice for the woman who plans to travel after graduation or is moving across the country (or the world).
Nibblr Gift Subscription Box (price varies)
Is your sister taking a job at a nonprofit right out of college? Is your best gal pal joining Americorps? They probably have a lot of peanut butter sandwich dinners coming their way. Get them a subscription for deliveries of tasty snacks. You can even customize it so if you know they hate coconut or raisins, you can request that they not receive them.
Spring Wreath
You know what your mom wants? (No, this isn’t the beginning of a dirty joke.) A lovely springtime wreath. I have a wreath from the Etsy shop pictured above at left, Designing Creations, and it’s stunning. I also love the more natural look of the lavender wreath at right. Your local garden shop likely has more options, including live wreaths.
Tile (price varies)
I wish I’d had this in college, or directly after college, you know, those years when I couldn’t remember where I put my head. Now that I’ve figured that out, of course, there’s an app that helps those who are forgetful. Attach these small tiles to your keys, or stick in your wallet or on the remote, and use the app to locate these items when lost. The more tiles you buy, the cheaper the tiles are per unit. Good for the absentminded person in your life.
Measuring Spoons – $16 | Measuring Cups – $32
This gift is good for the mom or graduate or anyone who loves being in the kitchen. It may seem lame, but spend enough hours looking at plain white plastic measuring spoons and these colorful beauties seem like a real treat. The whale tail measuring cups are cute and whimsical but also very practical. And these measuring spoons are lovely.
An Experience
It’s been a while since I sang this song so allow me an encore. Your parents want to spend time with you. They likely can afford to buy their own measuring cups and spring wreaths. If you live close to your mother, take her somewhere for Mother’s Day. A long hike. A museum she likes. Golfing. Find out if there’s a restaurant in your area that does a formal British tea (you know, finger sandwiches and crumpets). Pick an experience that speaks to her interests, and one where you can still chat while doing it (no movies or plays). Give her a card at the end of the day and write something longer than your name.
Got something brewing in your life? Send me an email–style, etiquette, relationships–I answer it all: askawoman@dappered.com