These are the gifts that the mothers in your life have always wanted

Best Mother's Day gifts for every mother in your life

1/13

There’s a lot of pressure when it comes to Mother’s Day gift ideas. After all, what can you offer the most special woman in your life to show her how much you appreciate her? While it can feel near impossible to find the perfect gift for mum, just remember the basic premise: Something that shows your love and care for her is bound to be enough to make her feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

If you’re still fretting over what to give to your mother (or even to treat a girlfriend who’s busy juggling motherhood), we’ve rounded up some unique experiences and presents that you can gift them. From island-hopping across Singapore’s 63 islands to makeup or cooking lessons you can take together to spending a day unwinding in an onsen and beautiful trinkets, shower these mothers with thoughtful and meaningful offerings to celebrate their admirable role. Trust us, it will have them buzzing with joy for weeks.

Oh, and don’t forget to wish them Happy Mother’s Day!

 

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1. Equip her with basic makeup skills

2/13

Your mum or mum friends might not be comfortable with putting on makeup. After all, with so many steps, techniques and tricks involved, makeup can be a tricky business. If your mum or mum girlfriend doesn’t really know which foundation shade suits them best (here's our guide to choosing the right shade) or how to properly accentuate their features with cosmetic products, why not treat her to a basic makeup class at The School of Make-Up? The school is founded by Peter Angel Wanneck who has done beauty looks for publications such as Her World and Female and conducted grooming lessons for corporate clients including Luxasia and L’Oreal Singapore. The six-hour long Personal Make-up & Hairstyling course (S$450) will teach you valuable skills such as how to conceal blemishes, how to reshape your eyebrows and lip shape and how to groom your hair to flatter your face shape, amongst many others. Pricey, but worth it — and mum will surely thank you for it. Head to the school’s website for more information.

 

Photo: Instagram / @theschoolofmakeup

 

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2. Get her a beautiful cheongsam

3/13

These oriental body-hugging dresses are definitely not old-fashioned when crafted at the hands of Madam Li Qiying of the Golden Scissor Cheongsam. Whether you’re looking for a modern sleek black design, a plaid number or cheerful floral prints made in a variety of materials from cotton to silk, Madam Li (whose store is at People’s Park Complex) has a wide range of cheongsams to suit even the most fickle of taste. Prices starts from S$68 for a classic cotton cheongsam to over S$300 for a more complex silk version. If you want to really spoil your mother silly, opt for a bespoke design with Madam Li to create something really unique and customised that mum will wear forever. She’s special and she deserves it.

 

Photo: Instagram / @hellomisslou

 

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3. Bring her island-hopping

4/13

Besides the main island Pulau Ujong, Singapore has 62 other islands that you can readily and easily explore. While not all islands such as Pulau Tekong and the Jurong Island are open to exploration, there are plenty of other options for you and your mother or mother friends to explore at a leisurely pace. You can go cycling in Coney Island off Punggol or look at marine wildlife in Chek Jawa before tucking into a meal at a kampong in Pulau Ubin. Else, you could pay respect at the Chinese Da Bo Gong Temple in Kusu Island or head to the Sisters’ Islands Marine Park to look at how Singapore’s marine biodiversity is being preserved at the turtle hatchery. It’ll be a great day out; plus you get to bond. Head to VisitSingapore’s website for more information.

 

Photo: Instagram / @ourlifeourtravel

 

READ ALSO: A USEFUL GUIDE TO MOTHER'S DAY FLOWERS

4. Take a cooking class together

5/13

Learn from Mummy Soh, as she is affectionately known, on how to cook traditional recipes from farm to table. Located in her house at Telok Kurau, the cooking class titled One Kind House will involve Mummy Soh teaching you how to identify and pluck herbs and spices from her own garden, as well as how to cook dishes such as chicken curry, fish with kedondong pesto and blue pea flower rice. You can book your slot via Airbnb Experiences and it costs S$99 per person. But if you and your mother don’t want to get your hands dirty, you can simply dine at her house and tuck into dishes such as duck egg kaya toast and fish laksa.

 

Photo: Facebook / One Kind House

 

READ ALSO: A USEFUL GUIDE TO MOTHER'S DAY FLOWERS

5. Unwind with onsen and massage

6/13

Mothers toil endlessly, and they deserve a little pampering and TLC in the form of a relaxing day of onsen soaking and massage at the Yunomori Onsen & Spa located in Kallang Leisure Park. Each day pass costs S$40.66 for adults and S$29.96 for seniors above the age of 65 and it allows you to soak unlimited times in any of the five female baths. We recommend taking the soda bath as the water contains high levels of carbon dioxide that is said to improve circulation, reduce blood pressure and , before refreshing yourself in the cold bath. To make the experience even more delightful, treat your mother to a massage that costs upwards of S$68. For more information, head to Yumonori’s website.

 

Photo: Instagram / @yunomori_onsen

 

READ ALSO: A USEFUL GUIDE TO MOTHER'S DAY FLOWERS

6. Create artworks through embroidery

7/13

Ever wondered how people create beautiful works with just string and needles? Inspire your mum’s creative juices and let her learn the art of embroidery at binandneedles’ workshop. Held at their studio in Sengkang, the 75-minute workshop held by founder Wen Bin will involve foundational techniques such as identifying crucial materials and basic stitching techniques, before getting your hands pricked to create a design of your choice. Wen Bin will also teach you how to transfer the pattern onto fabric so you are able to embellish your regular cloths at home too. The workshop costs S$75 a pax but S$145 for two, so make it an event and accompany your mum to the class. You can get more information via their Instagram.

 

Photo: Instagram / @binandneedles

 

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7. Give her the gift of beauty

8/13

All mums love pretty things, which is why we think these artisanal handcrafted bath and body treats from local brand Mandy T will thrill her, not to mention keep her fresh, healthy and radiant. ​Created by Mandy Leena Tan, the products are chemical-free and made with natural ingredients. In fact, they are made from 100 per cent plant-based alternatives and many of them house Mandy’s favourite flowers and fruits such as lavender and chamomile flowers, lemon, orange, coconut and more. The brand also believes in being sustainable, using only eco-friendly, recyclable glass containers — so mum can feel good and look good while playing a part in saving the environment. Get mum one of their premium gift sets (S$180) that comprises a body scrub, bath salt, body cream and soap in a pretty gift box with gift card. You get complimentary delivery for online orders above S$50.

 

Photo: Instagram / @mandyt_skincare

 

READ ALSO: GIFT THE GIFT OF TIME THIS MOTHER'S DAY WITH A NEW TIMEPIECE THAT'S FIT FOR ROYALTY

Mum’s favourite vintage tunes will sound even better when playing on these adorable retro radios inspired by the radio sets of the 1960s. The brainchild of its founder Zeng Dejun, the Muzen OTR is capable of FM radio tuning and is a compact and portable piece (it’s just palm-size) which makes it easy for mum to bring it along with her anywhere — so she’s never short of entertainment while cooking in the kitchen or drifting off into slumberland in the evenings in bed. The sets are simply gorgeous and well-designed, and we love the stylish leather padded carrying case as well as the accompanying accessories such as a leather carrying strap and a sticker set. Don’t estimate its size as well — the sound quality is rich and warm. And don’t worry if mum is tech-savvy — the sets are all integrated with modern functions such as Bluetooth and device connectivity, so they serve as a portable speaker as well. Choose from colours such as the Flamingo Pink, Mint Green, Alice Purple and Crimson Red for the metal version (S$139), or the rugged Walnut Duffle for the wood version (S$129). Available at retailers such as Popular Bookstore at Northpoint City and Nex, Tangs, NBC Stationery and Gifts at Raffles City and Jem and Robinsons.

 

Photo: Muzen

 

READ ALSO: LUXURY GIFTS TO SHOW HOW MUCH YOU CARE THIS MOTHER'S DAY

9. Replace her worn bag with a new carry-all

10/13

Mommas will appreciate a roomy bag that can house everything from wet wipes and tissue papers to a brolly, hand sanitiser and novel, on top of her wallet, card holder, keys and phone. Whew — you don’t call her a superhero for nothing! Even better when it’s a chic straw handbag that can add style points to her overall ensemble. This gorgeous piece (S$198) from Brooks Brothers’ Red Fleece collection gives off a breezy nautical vibe, and comes with leather straps, a black stripe lining and a clip-in zip-top pouch that matches the lining, which mum will surely appreciate.

 

Photo: Brooks Brothers 

 

READ ALSO: GIFT THE GIFT OF TIME THIS MOTHER'S DAY WITH A NEW TIMEPIECE THAT'S FIT FOR ROYALTY

10. Make her time in the kitchen an enjoyable one

11/13

Does mum love cooking up a storm? Let her have loads of fun at her next cooking sesh by gifting her a spicebox kit (S$105) from Indian Spicebox. Nine colourful organic spices packaged in their own beautifully designed spice tin are presented in a lovely air-tight tinplated steel box (available in gold or silver finish). The set also comes with a cookbook that has more than 30 uncomplicated recipes, making it way easier for mum to make use of these spices and experiment with new dishes and flavours. Charming and practical — it’s a gift mum will adore.

 

Photo: Instagram / @indianspicebox

 

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11. Remind her of all the good memories

12/13

Let your mum know how much her presence means to you, as well as how much you valued the time you’ve spent together, with a beautifully crafted photobook that is customised with funny anecdotes, meaningful notes and photos. The personalised memento will make mum laugh and cry, and will be a great keepsake that she can refer to for years to come. Some places you can go include Photobook Singapore, PhotobookJoy and Artisan Prints.

 

Photo: Instagram / @photobookww

 

READ ALSO: LUXURY GIFTS TO SHOW HOW MUCH YOU CARE THIS MOTHER'S DAY

12. Surprise her with a gift box

13/13

If you’re time-strapped but still want to pamper your mum, how about a pretty gift box with all her favourite things? Customise a box at local brand Vine & Twigs by dropping them a note here with your ideas, colour preferences, number of items, deadline and budget, as well as who the gift is meant for. They will get back to you within a week with lists of products and pictures of the gift idea. You can work with them on it until you’re happy with the final curation. They can also add a written note to the set and make sure the custom made pine wooden box is prettily wrapped with a bow before sending it out to mum. They also have a selection of pre-curated boxes of various themes, such as Golden, Rest & Relaxation, Wine & Cheese and Rose & Orchid, in their shop, if you think these are suitable. But we say go for a custom one — mum will love the thought put into it.

 

Photo: Instagram / @vineandtwigs

 

READ ALSO: GIFT THE GIFT OF TIME THIS MOTHER'S DAY WITH A NEW TIMEPIECE THAT'S FIT FOR ROYALTY