It feels like we've only just recovered from Easter, but Mother's Day is just around the corner.
At its best, it's a beautiful day of celebration for the mums and mother figures in our lives.
At its worst, it's completely forgetting about a present until Sunday morning, when you have to rush - hungover - to buy something at the supermarket 10 minutes before family brunch.
Not this year, team. Whatever kind of mum you're gifting to, and whatever your budget, we've got you covered.
For the 'I'm not a regular mom, I'm a cool mom' Whether she's partial to a vino (or five) or loves to be up to date with the latest tech - not the type to film an Ed Sheeran concert on her iPad - make your sure young-at-heart mum is an absolute hoot at the next family BBQ with some of these goodies. WCF X Scapegrace Espresso Martini Chocolate Bar RRP $12.50 I had a cheeky taste test of this and I predict it's highly likely to make your mum go "it's nice, it's unusual" and message all her friends in her baking group on Facebook. Read more about it here.
Rosé from Leftfield WInes - $17.99 It's delicious, it's on-trend, it's pink wine made in Hawkes Bay. She'll bloody love it.
Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2 - $169.99 This little peach firecracker of a wireless speaker has an untarnished 5-star rating on Noel Leeming's website and it can be synced with other speakers for surround sound Celine Dion.
For the 'put your feet up' mum Didn't your poor old ma lose enough sleep when you were a screaming baby?! Whether she's permanently got a crick in her neck or just loves a lie-in, helping mother dearest pump up the comfort factor going into winter is always going to be a winner.
Ecosa pillow - $180 and silk pillowcases - $120 (currently 20% off!) Hand on heart, these memory foam beauties feel like you've express shipped a cloud directly from heaven, and they come with adjustable pads so you can change the height and thickness. Chuck in a couple of silk pillowcases for extra luxury.
Adairs bathrobe - $89.99 and slippers - $24.99 It might be cliche, but who can honestly go past a snuggly dressing gown and a pair of 'cloud fur' slippers with a memory foam sole? Nobody, That's who.
Acorn TV subscription - $7.99 a month or $79.99 for a year Ideal for the mum who is addicted to drama, murder mysteries and crime thrillers, an Acorn TV subscription will give her access to enough British and international shows to keep her binge-watching all winter.
For the 'bougie' mum Do you know it costs an average of $265,000 to raise a kid in NZ through to the age of 18? Face it, you owe your mum big time - and that's not even factoring in the time you ruined her antique table with nail polish remover. If you feel like getting spendy this year, try these on for size.
Heletranz Ultimate Girl's Day Out - $895 per person (min 6 people) Grab two mates and their mother figures and live like the Kardashians for a day - a scenic helicopter ride over to Waiheke Island followed by an oyster masterclass at The Oyster Inn and a 2-course lunch, PLUS wine tasting at 2 famous vineyards.
Gigi Saben Handbag - $399.00 She comes in black and white (monochrome is in this season), has a detachable chain strap to turn her into a clutch, and has just the right amount of room for the essentials. Mum will LOSE it.
For the 'ageing gracefully' mum Now, we'd advise treading carefully here - we certainly don't want any mother figures thinking we're calling them out for having the odd wrinkle. What it's really about is spoiling her with some luxury skincare that she'd never shell out for herself.
Dr LeWinn's Intensive Action Caviar Eye Serum - $84.99 What's more lush than caviar extract in an eye serum? This stuff promises to accelerate brightening, fight signs of ageing and transform the eye area in less than a week.
Emma Lewisham Skin Reset Serum - $148 There's a whole lot of hype around Kiwi clean skincare brand Emma Lewisham - and for good reason. The cult favourite Skin Reset serum is award-winning and uses niacinamide, hyaluronic acid and bioactive plant extracts to target pigmentation and leave your skin looking radiant.
Dermalogica Hyaluronic Ceramide Mist - $83 I gave this to my mum to try and she was absolutely delighted by it, even gave me a "what WILL they make next!?" The hot days of summer might be behind us, but starting the morning with this refreshing moisture-boosting mist is amazing.
For the 'ooh, that smells divine' mum You know the one - obsessed with candles, hand cream, perfumes and maybe even makes those lavender bags that go in your knicker draw. Who could blame her? Yummy smelling stuff is yum.
Mother's Day Gift Boxes by The Virtue - starting at $104 Room sprays, perfume, candles and incense, hand-made in Aotearoa with 8 different fragrances to choose from. All packaged up pretty, with a handblown glass incense holder included too.
Kyoto in Bloom fragrance by Glasshouse - starting at $29.95 I also tested this one on my own mum, and she immediately went out and purchased it for my cousin's wife's birthday present, so what does that tell you? Honestly, this scent is perfection, and you can choose to get it in candle, diffuser, hand cream, shower gel or perfume form.
Modeletto candle making kit - $79 each Get mindful with mama this year - that means phones down, hands messy, making candles. These kits come with either French Pear or Vanilla scents, and they're from a gorgeous small Kiwi business which is actually run by a mother-daughter duo! Plus, you'll def earn brownie points for quality time spent together.
For the 'always on a health kick' mum She's up at the crack of dawn, has been for a jog and raided the organic grocery before you've even hit snooze on your alarm - and she always 'closes the rings' on her Apple Watch fitness tracker. A healthy mum is a happy mum.
Craft Smoothie Box - $54 per week + free delivery This subscription service will deliver enough pre-portioned superfood blends and seasonal fresh fruit and vegetable combinations for 10x smoothies a week that your mum can whiz up at home, how good?
Select Sundays Moonstone High Rise 3/4 Leggings - $110.00 As any activewear enthusiast will tell you, the perfect pair of leggings is hard to find. These ones aim to accentuate natural curves with wavy lines from hip to calf, and they've got the supportive high waistband we all want and need.
One more thing - if Mother's Day is tough for you for whatever reason, be super kind to yourself, and maybe splurge on some of these goodies just for you. x By Monika Barton