Gift Guide

mom and daughter hugging after receiving a last minute birthday gift
Helena Lopes, Getty images
15 Last-Minute Birthday Gifts For Mom That She’ll Love

You can still come up with something super thoughtful on the fly.

by Kinsey Gidick
Updated: 
Originally Published: 

Ma’s birthday should always be a big deal that you go above and beyond to make special. But, let’s face it, Mom’s birthday can sneak up on you. Maybe it follows a big holiday or she just doesn’t mention it and lo and behold it’s the night before she’s about to ring in a new year and you are fresh out of presents. You could panic, but that’s just a waste of energy. Instead, channel your stress into finding the perfect last minute birthday gifts for mom using this list. Consider that sometimes a thing isn’t what she really wants. Maybe it’s an experience that would mean something special to your mama. Or, how about your presence rather than presents? The old coupon book works just as well as it did when you made one in kindergarten. Fill it with helpful services, like “1 coupon for a latte” or “1 coupon for Bobby to mow your lawn.” Mom can cash in on her deals whenever she wants.

If the DIY route also sounds like a lot of work, don’t fret. There are plenty of other last minute birthday gifts for mom your sweet mamacita might enjoy. Just think about all the hard work she does for your family and select accordingly.

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1A Gorgeous New Lipstick

Being a mom doesn’t always mean being fixed up and formal. There are a lot of days when leggings are the dominant uniform and spills and spit-up are the accessories. Make a mama feel like a million bucks by giving her a new tube of gorgeous lipstick — something you could easily pick up at the last minute from a local store if you’re really short on time. B’Simone brand makes brilliantly colored matte colors. With hues with names like Moneymaker and Freestyle, the birthday girl in your life will feel all kinds of empowered as she puts on a fresh coat. And at the affordable price of $16 a tube, you can really treat mom and buy her all three for her special day.

2Custom Shortbread Cookies for the Ted Lasso fan

We can all blame Ted Lasso for a sudden, overwhelming craving for shortbread. The classic British tea biscuit became a central element of the show when Ted started bringing his boss Rebecca “biscuits with the boss” every day. Does your mom just love the show? Treat her the same way Ted would with care and attention by not just giving her a lovely box of shortbread. With this brand you can personalize them with your own message to mama! Like “Thanks Mom, Love Catie.” How touching is that? Like a text in cookie form, the little love notes will be all the more sweeter. Of course, if you’re on a real time crunch, you can always make your own homemade Ted Lasso biscuits as a last minute birthday gift for Mom.

3A Monogrammed Clutch

Going out in style is something that can make a woman feel empowered. And if accessories are your mom’s thing, consider a personalized gift, like this monogrammed clutch. This palm leaf design is perfect for all seasons and offers many options for customization. You can go with big or small letters and in your choice of nine different fonts. Plus, the bag is just as attractive on the inside as out. Lined in blue and white fabric, reaching for her phone or lipstick will be just as enjoyable as sporting this bag in her hands. Not to mention the fact that no one will confuse it for their own with her initials on the front.

4Sahara Essentials Hoop Earrings

Hoop, there it is. And what gorgeous hoops they are. These stunning brass gold-plated hoop earrings are a timeless piece of jewelry for mom to add to her collection and make for easy last minute birthday gifts for mom. Perhaps the best part of these earrings is that the hoops hang from a gorgeous square design. That means they use a stud to stay in place. Lightweight and hypoallergenic, you can order these without worrying that they’ll irritate your mom’s ears. But prepare to see them often. At 39mm, they make a perfect day-to-night set she’ll wear all the time.

5On The Go Coffee

Coffee, to some people it’s truly a giver of life. But for every coffee fan, there are coffee snobs and you can’t just gift those people any old beans. You need a boutique brand that’s passionate about serving only the best ethically grown, handcrafted quality java possible. That’s the case with On the Go Jo that sells “coffee that is produced, roasted, and owned by women.” That’s right, for every cup of coffee mom enjoys from this beautiful brand, she’ll have a story to share about a business empowering and supporting women around the world. As On the Go Jo says, “When women succeed, everyone benefits.”

6McBride Sisters Collection Wine

Here’s another feel good female empowerment product: McBride Sisters Collection wine. This is a wine label built entirely by two sisters, but get this, they didn’t even know the other existed until their teens when they discovered they shared the same father. With one sister raised in New Zealand and the other in the states, their extended families brought them together and in doing so helped the long lost sisters discover their shared love of the wine industry. Get a taste of their work by giving mom their Sister Sister collection of three varietals as a last minute birthday gift.

7Lady Belle Macarons

Sweets more of your mom’s thing? Then do not sleep on snagging her a box of French macarons. Lady Belle Macarons’ 15 Flavor Connoisseur Box is the ultimate treat yourself gift. You get to choose each flavor personalizing the package with options including, Pink Lemonade, Double Chocolate, Peach Cobbler, Banana Pudding, and Red Velvet. Just imagine the look on mom’s face when she notices this treat trove and knows she doesn’t have to share with a single person! Want to make it extra sweet? Treat mom to a subscription with a 3 or 6 month delivery of her favorite sweet bites.

8Amazing Mom Coupon book

As mentioned before, coupon books are a great way to give mom more than just a thing, but your time. In this pre-filled voucher pack, she’ll receive coupons for homemade 3-course meal, a sparkling Bathroom or Netflix and pizza. Um, yes, please! But make sure if you choose to go this route for your last minute birthday gifts for mom that you commit to the coupon book. When she tears one of those sheets out and hands it to you, there shouldn’t be any feet dragging or eye rolling. The real gift is your willingness to do what she asks with a good attitude.

9Royal Jelly Apron

Most kitchens have more than one apron on hand. But let’s be honest, many of them look like they’ve been through a flour war. If it’s time to upgrade your baking-loving mama’s pinafore, consider Royal Jelly Harlem aprons. This one in Cerulean blue is especially attractive. The classic silhouette features one large front pocket with gray stitching and waist and neck straps. Made of African Ankara wax fabric, it’s made entirely in New York City, so you’ll be keeping mom’s last minute birthday gift dollars in the the USA when you purchase. Better yet, this isn’t a one size fits most garment. Pick the right size for mom from small to large.

10EDAS Handbag

A casual clutch as mentioned above is great for brunch at the beach, but what about a big night out? That calls for something else entirely. Give your handbag-loving mom something to crow about with this dashing design from EDAS. The baguette style design is trim and smart, but big enough to pack the essentials from a phone to wallet. Available in two colors, you can get a two-tone blue look or all black. A magnetic closure holds the front flap in place. Sleek and sophisticated, this timeless piece will become an enduring classic in your mom’s handbag collection for years to come.

11Raspberry Green Tea

On the other side of the beverage spectrum are the tea drinkers. But for some, a good old English Breakfast blend might not be enough. And that’s where Brooklyn Tea comes in. This minimally processed tea brand packs all the flavor in with vibrant green tea blended with tart hibiscus and succulent raspberries. Designed to give the sipper an energy boost, it’s also high in Vitamin C. The loose leaves are also beautiful and make for a gorgeous cuppa when steeped in a pretty tea ball. Mom will wake up with a smile knowing she has this lovely blend to look forward to each morning.

12Ancestry DNA Kit

Want to send your mom on an exciting journey into her past? Give her a DNA kit. Using this packet from Ancestry she can begin to unravel the history of her family and get to better understand her own identity. Plus, it’ll make for loads of interesting conversations around the birthday cake. Ancestry promises “easy-to-read ethnicity estimate that traces your DNA back to over 1,500 regions from around the world” in addition to useful information on “how and why your ancestors moved from place to place around the world.” She can also begin to find long lost relatives using its connections services.

13Bump Box for Mama to Be

Some mama’s are on the cusp of entering the world of motherhood, but they deserve great last minute birthday gifts for moms too. For the budding mom in your life consider the Bump Box. This great gift box is packed with everything a third trimester mama might need like a foot soak for her aching tootsies, super cozy socks, collagen under-eye treatments, a hair wrap, and lots of other essential goodies. Rather than race around CVS trying to put together a similar pack on your own, skip the headache and turn to this pre-packaged kit of pregnancy perfect presents mom will love.

14New Sneaks

Give it up to pop singer Paulo Nutini for perfectly describing the thrill of a new pair of shoes, “Hey, I put some new shoes on, And suddenly everything is right.’ This can be your mom’s experience if you give her some great new kicks like these ATOMS Model OOO sneakers. Available in six color options, including brilliant white, grey, and yellow, these gender neutral shoes make for great everyday wear. The company describes them this way: “An insole that feels like you’re walking on clouds, an antimicrobial copper lining, a pliable upper, and shoe laces that only need to be tied once.”

15Estelle Colored Stemware

Toast another year around the sun with your mom by making her finally throw out all those freebie wine glasses she’s picked up at vineyard wine tastings with a new set of beautiful Estelle Colored stemware. This mixed set of six colors already sends out a party vibe, so maybe use them for the actual birthday event then tell your mom they’re hers to keep. The large bulbs measure 9.5 inches tall x 3.9 inches wide, so you can give mom a healthy pour of 16.5 ounces. But even when she’s not imbibing, the fuschia, rose, cobalt blue, coral peach pink, forest green, and royal blue set will look lovely in her cupboard.

Ready to rock this birthday. Snag these last minute birthday gifts for mom fast.

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