Here’s an idea: Instead of getting flowers for Mom on Mother’s Day, why don’t you give her flowers she can wear?

Alex and Ani’s Pursuit of Persephone collection includes 12 pretty birth-month flower bangles (carnation for January, violet for February, Jonquil for March…).

Each bangle comes with symbolic words—the chrysanthemum charm for November is engraved with the words “longevity,” “optimism” and “abundance.”

Pick her birth-month flower or you can give her a bangle that represents your birth month to thank her for bringing you into the world. If you have siblings, they can join the fun and your mom can have a stack of bracelets of the birth months of  her children.

“Each bangle in the Pursuit of Persephone collection represents a birth month pointing to a flower that captures its energy—from creativity to devotion, faith to integrity,” said Kristel Cue, one of the women who brought Alex and Ani to the Philippines.

The bangles are available in Rafaelian gold and silver for P2,050.

Guardian angel

The Guardian Collection is also a great gift idea. Each bangle (P1,520) and necklace (P2,595) comes with a guardian angel charm. There are guardians of peace, love, strength, knowledge, healing, freedom and answers.

Find the Alex and Ani kiosk on the second floor of SM Aura Premier.

Safe childbirth

For every mom: Give a Toms bag—and the gift of safe childbirth

When you buy a Toms bag, you are giving someone in need the gift of a healthy childbirth too. Each purchase helps provide training for skilled birth attendants and kits that are necessary to help a woman in need give birth safely.

“Toms is working with an organization called Every Mother Counts. Every bag purchased provides safe birth for mother and child. They do it by giving  birthing kits in Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and India,” said Toms Philippines’ Dimples Balaguer-La’O.

We think the Every Mother Counts bag is perfect for Mother’s Day but there are a lot of designs available too—utility bags, travel bags, totes.

Toms Philippines partnered with  artists and designers  for a silent auction of unique Toms pairs at the Toms store in SM Aura. The silent auction runs until May 13.

Multitasking

For the multitasking mom: Happy Skin Shut Up & Kiss Me Lip & Cheek Mousse Beauty in Bloom Duo (happyskincosmetics.com, Beauty Bar, Rustan’s)

This multitasking lip and cheek mousse duo in universally flattering shades (Summer Crush and The Morning After) provides color and glow in one easy swipe.

Outdoors

For the mom who spends outdoors with her kids: Benefit The Porefessional Agent Zero Shine Shine-Vanishing Pro Powder (Benefit boutiques: Greenbelt 5, Rustan’s Makati and Shangri-La, Trinoma, Mall of Asia)

This invisible and lightweight powder banishes shine without clogging pores, a great gift for the mom who likes spending outdoors with her kids.

For the queen of the family: Historiae Violette Impériale Eau de Toilette (Rustan’s The Beauty Source Makati and Shangri-La)

This fragrance focuses on violets, the favorite flower of Empress Eugénie de Montijo (Napoleon III’s wife), and also symbolizes secret love.

First-time mom

For the first-time mom: Personalized Leuchtturm1917 journal (National Book Store)

Give expecting first-time moms a personalized journal (including future baby’s name on the cover) so she can have a diary to document her new journey into motherhood. Pair the journal with a Canon Selphy photo printer or a Fuij Instax Camera so she can add photos to the journal.

For the flawless mom: Dior Nude Air foundation (Rustan’s Makati and Shangri-La)

The super-airy and ultra-lightweight formula of Dior’s makeup base will make your mom look flawless without the heavy feeling—the perfect gift for the mom who needs an all-day, comfortable foundation.

For the work-from-home mom: Bose Soundtrue Around Ear Headphones (Bose, Power Mac Center)

For moms whose homes are also their offices, Bose SoundTrue’s super light headphones are built for long periods of wearing, perfect for moms who need to concentrate while working at home.

Lip color

For the lippie-loving mom: Clinique Pop Lip Color (Rustan’s The Beauty Source, Essenses)

This 2-in-1 lip product primes lips while imparting rich, velvety color, ideal for moms who want true hues on their kissers that resist feathering and bleeding. The compact tube is purse-friendly, while the wide variety of colors  will let you buy several shades for mom to use for different occasions.

For the organized on-the-go mom: Kipling bags (Rustan’s, Kipling SM Aura)

These multiway bags from Kipling are small in size but can fit quite a lot, thanks to its intelligent compartments—for the on-the-go mom who needs a bag as organized and ready as she is.