Gift Guide Part #1: Your Brilliant Mom Who Can Finish the New York Times Crossword Puzzle and Still Signs Her Emails "Mommy."

Diane Keaton's fantastic new memoir about her relationship with her mother--and Woody Allen, Warren Beatty and Al Pacino. $14.35.
Red lipstick, because she'd never buy it for herself. (Bonus: It's moisturizing.) $32.
The iconic Finnish Aalto vase, because it makes even a bunch of daisies look straight out of Helsinki. $50.
Brownies and chocolate chip cookies...combined. Six for $14.
A beautiful tiny bar necklace, $49. (I wear this everyday and adore it.)
Pinecone candles, $29.
Silk pillowcase, which not only feels good (and perfectly cold!) but helps you not get wrinkles when you sleep. $18.
A rad natural sea sponge, because she always had one when you were growing up. They're also unbelievably gentle on your face. $5.
Amagansett Sea Salt with a sweet, briny flavor, made by a husband and wife. All steps--from the ocean to the bottle--take place in their tiny town in the Hamptons. (Photos by the New York Times.)
Striped slippers from France, $88. (Or duvet socks!)

P.S. More gifts for moms...

Gift for new mothers

Now and again, I’ll get a sweet email from a dad asking for gift ideas for his pregnant wife. I can't imagine a new mama who wouldn't adore this beautiful ring. It brings tears to my eyes!

P.S. 8 best gifts for new parents.

Cup-of-Jo Gift Guide Part #1: Your Beautiful Mom Who Gives Pitch-Perfect Advice and Has a Secret Crush on Niles from Frasier.

A lovely print for her bedroom, $15. (Update: Good news, she added more to the shop!)

Compost cookies with pretzels, chocolate, oats, coffee and potato chips (holla!), $10 for six. (They also have blueberry and cream cookies, yum.)

The newly restored dvd of Breathless, $31.96, wrapped in a French striped shirt.

A handmade cutting board from the Hudson Valley, $38, along with three stinky cheeses.

Pretty triangle earrings that she can wear with everything, $30.

A vintage scarf, $55, that she can wear around her neck or wrap around her head like Audrey Hepburn. (Bonus: It looks like modern art!)

A British gurgling jug which makes a hilarious "glug" sound when you pour it, $36. (I love love love these.)

You Are Beautiful pencils, because it's true. $10 for six.

A bundle of dried lavender to make her desk feel like the English countryside, $10.

xoxo

P.S. More gifts for moms, and the complete Cup of Jo gift guides from the past three years.

Gift Guide Part #5: Your Lovely Friend Who Just Had an Adorable Rosy-Cheeked Baby.

Heart jumper, $88.

A friendly organic goose, $32.

A stuffed Eiffel Tower for mini Francophiles, $64.

Small disco ball, since babies love all things sparkly, $1.95.

And for mama herself: Organic peanut-butter bon bons, for obvious reasons, $27.

Moop bag, to carry diapers and the like, $131.

Crabtree & Evelyn Nantucket Briar to instantly calm and center her, $15.

A great book on tape, since she'll have her hands full of baby. $14.44.

(This gift guide is dedicated to my six newest friends.)

Cup-of-Jo Gift Guide Part #1: Your Mom Who Bakes Her Own French Bread and Adores Paris.

Elegant earmuffs (finally!), $80.

The Red Balloon book, to put on her desk and make her smile on rainy days, $16.95.

The Look Book because she loves people-watching, $16.47.

A personal library kit, with stickers and stamps, $16.

A reusable nylon shopping bag that's actually chic, $8.

Cotton number napkins, six for $120.

Goat milk soap, $6.

Personalized notepads with her favorite family photo.

A card saying how much you love her, since that's really all she wants anyway. xo

Cup-of-Jo Gift Guide Part #3: Your Lovely Mom Who Has a Soothing Voice That Would Be Perfect for Radio.

Chunky Neckwarmer, $108.

Fresh Sake Bath, $80. (Supposed to be AMAZING.)

Kettle from Finland, $130.

Cashmere-covered hot water bottle, $150. On a snowy winter evening, you can can crack open the bedroom window so your nose gets cold, and then cuddle up with a hot water bottle. It's so cozy and a true simple pleasure.

John Derian decoupage paperweight, $40 to $65.

Persepolis graphic novel, $12.

An old family photo framed with an oversized mat.

A massage with "E," at Sal Anthony's, $65/hour. My friend swears by his talent.

(Cloud photo by Mav)