Mother's Day Gift Giving With A Local Twist

This Mother's Day, keep is simple by shopping local for the most important woman in your life.

There are so many wonderful gifts to give mom for Mother's Day. Of course, the most important gift of all is the gift that's free: love, and spending quality time with those closest to you. For me, a truly happy Mother's Day means I'm spending it with my children and my family, doing things we love, together. A home made card from my children is always the most cherished gift I receive every year.

However–receiving (and giving) something extra special is a wonderful way to celebrate Mother's day, too. This year, I thought it would be a good idea to shop for gifts from local businesses, because Ottawa is full of great companies selling amazing products every mom will appreciate.

Here are my choices for the best gifts to give this Mother's Day:

Tallow Boutique: Tallow is an adorable boutique located in Westboro. They sell so many wonderful items including dresses, tops, pants, and accessories, by some fabulous companies, like Swell (swoon!) and Brunette the Label. They also have a large selection of swimwear, making it the perfect store to shop for summer vacation. Hello, bikini season! In addition to a store full of perfect clothes for all occasions, the service is excellent. A new accessory, dress, or gift card to shop Tallow is the perfect gift for Mother's Day. Why not make it a date and take your mom to Tallow to shop? Shopping and quality time is the excellent combination for Mother's Day.

terra20: terra20 is a great store that's locally owned and operated, committed to sourcing brands that are good for our planet–and ourselves. They have a wide variety of eco-friendly products, including skin care, bath and body, products, cosmetics, baby and kid items, and home decor and accessories. My personal favourite? Their Buck Naked Soap bath salts.

The Piggy Market: For something unique, I love the idea of giving a gift card to The Piggy Market, a local artisan delicatessen and craft butcher shop. They work with local farmers and sell the most delicious cheeses, meats, and more. Treat mom to a yummy charcuterie board, pair it with a bottle of wine, and make it a cosy Mother's Day at home.

Wine Bottega: Who doesn't love wine? Wine is a perfect gift to give mom for Mother's Day. At Wine Bottega, you can craft your own wine. If you have a favourite, just let the friendly staff know, and they'll help you create your perfect wine to bring home–white, red or rose–at the best price. It's a super fun experience and you're guaranteed to leave with something you can enjoy at home for months to come–depending on how many cases you order!

Roger's Chocolates: Chocolate, like wine, is always a good gift to give. Roger's Chocolates, Canada's first chocolate company, sells beautiful boxes of chocolates for Mother's Day, featuring art by local artist Katerina Mertikas, who happens to be my mother. The collector tins are beautiful and become a keepsake long after the chocolates have been consumed.

Luxe Blooms: Flowers are always a great gift to give, especially if you're gifting a unique bouquet. Luxe  Blooms is an online based flower shop in Ottawa. They make custom bloom boxes using fresh roses displayed in European inspired boxes, with the highest quality of roses. You can choose from fresh roses, or eternal roses (which are also real, but actually last a year). All you have to do is shop online, select your roses, send your personalized message, and let Luxe Blooms do the rest.

Innes Massage Therapy: I love Innes Massage Therapy because there's no place better to go for a full-body massage. Relaxing in a beautiful spa is a great idea, and not just for Mother's Day. Innes Massage Therapy can also put together beautiful baskets to gift, including a gift card for a massage, bath salts, bath bombs, and soap.

Merivale Vision Care: This sunglass and eyewear store located in Ottawa's west end not only sells prescription glasses, but also a wide variety of designer sunglasses, including Tory Burch, Dior, Gucci, and Kate Spade. A new pair of designer shades makes the perfect gift to give... and receive!

Call It Spring: New shoes actually make a wonderful Mother's Day gift. Now that spring is here, with summer not far behind, new shoes for the season are a must. Call It Spring is a trendy Canadian store in Rideau Centre, and all their stylish shoes are super affordable. This means you can buy several pairs and not feel guilty about it. One to gift–and one to give to yourself. Shopping done right.

I hope no matter what you do (or what you buy to gift this Mother's Day) you celebrate the ones you love in your life, and enjoy your day–you deserve it!


Disclaimer: I received products in exchange for my review and all opinions are my own.