Courtesy of Aly Raisman
For Olympic gold medalist Aly Raisman, thoughtful gift-giving, especially choosing the perfect Mother’s Day gift, starts with the example her mom set early on.
“My mom is very creative… she’d make chocolate-covered nuts, chocolate-covered Oreos, and all these different treats to give to people,” Aly said. “Even now, whenever my friends are having babies, she knits them blankets … I’ve watched her do these thoughtful things over the years, and it’s really influenced me.”
- Thoughtful Mother’s Day gift: A guided journal
- Soothing Mother’s Day gift: InnoGear Essential Oil Diffuser
- Gifts for the mom who loves to garden: LETPOT LPH-SE Hydroponics Growing System
She also credits her mom with shaping how she shops, especially the joy of the “treasure hunt” for pieces you instantly fall in love with.
Today, the book author carries that same mindset into every gift she gives, focusing less on price and more on finding something that makes people feel seen, understood, and appreciated, which is likely how you want to make your mom feel this Mother’s Day.
We asked Aly for gifting inspo, including the gifts she likes to give for Mother’s Day and beyond. Shop her picks, plus some of our favorites, below.
“When I’m giving someone a gift, I want it to be meaningful and well thought out. You can see it on someone’s face when a gift is thoughtful—it means so much,” she said.
“I think a journal is also a really nice gift,” the 31 year old explained. “It’s a reminder to take time for yourself. I try to use mine pretty much every day.”
ABRAMS Weekly Self Care Guided Journal
This guided journal offers fifty two practical ways to tune in to your emotional and physical needs so that you can meet the demands of daily life and support others as well.
“Lately I’ve been more interested in coloring and finding things that help me feel present and take my mind off things,” she said. “I actually want to go back to TJ Maxx to find a coloring book or watercolor set. It’s relaxing just walking through the aisles and seeing everything.”
SIMON & SCHUSTER Colorworld Illumination Chalk Art Kit
Set includes 6 liquid chalk markers, 32 coloring pages, and more than 35 customizable stickers.
“I always have essential oils with me, and people love them. I’ll bring them out at the dinner table and everyone wants to try them. Sometimes people enjoy things like that but don’t think to buy them for themselves, so it’s fun to give those kinds of gifts,” she said.
“I love lavender and peppermint. Peppermint is probably the one I use the most—it’s very cooling. I travel a lot, so if I’m in the car or on a plane and feeling motion sickness, peppermint is really soothing,” Aly shared.
PURSONIC Set Of 6 Essential Oils
Set includes lavender, eucalyptus, lemongrass, orange, peppermint and tea tree oils.
InnoGear Essential Oil Diffuser
Two mist settings allow you to customize the interval and intensity of your chosen aroma and scent your space on your schedule. You can set the aromatherapy diffuser to intermittent mist (6-8hrs working time) that diffuser mists and pauses every 30s, it goes for almost the whole night.
“I also like citrus scents, and I tend to gravitate toward things that feel natural. That’s why I love essential oils—they’re calming and remind me of being outside. I love gardening, so I recognize those smells. Rosemary is one of my favorites, and having rosemary essential oil reminds me of being in nature, even when I’m traveling.”
That love of gardening started at home—and turned into a shared ritual with her mom. “My mom got into gardening many years ago, and I saw how much calm it brought her,” she said. “It’s something we do together now.”
LETPOT LPH-SE Hydroponics Growing System
Experience lightning-fast plant growth with this hydroponic growing system, featuring a true 24-watt full spectrum LED lighting system. Unlike traditional soil-grown plants, our LED system mimics natural sunlight, promoting photosynthesis and growth all year round.
“Even if I’m making something simple, I’ll grab herbs from the garden and add them—it really elevates the dish. In a way, it ties into gifting too,” she explained.
“My idea of a perfect gift is bringing something thoughtful to someone’s home—maybe herbs, vegetables, or flowers from my garden, along with a candle or essential oils from TJ Maxx. It feels like a meaningful, curated gift.”
Quince Lavender Cedar Candle
Fresh rosemary and sage open with a clean herbal lift before lavender and cedar leaf unfold through the heart. Smooth cedarwood and soft musk settle in—creating a scent that feels restorative and quietly balanced.
And as for gifts for the athelete or gym fan who needs to take some time to relax, “there are also lotions and products that feel really good on your muscles,” she shared.
“My mom has gotten me things like an eye mask from TJ Maxx—some have lavender or a bit of weight to them, or you can heat them up or cool them down.”
How We Choose
The E! Insider Shop editors and writers search the internet to find the best products out there. We interview expert sources, comb through customer reviews, and use our own personal experiences to make shopping easier for our readers.
As an editorial team, we independently create content and determine coverage based on research, reporting and what we think our readers would like to read about. The goal of our content is to provide a service and inform readers who are on the hunt for the latest products to help make their life better. Items are sold by retailer, not E!. Pricing and availability are accurate as of publish time.
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