Gift Guide: For the Busy Mom

These are all products I use as a busy working mom, so I can attest to their time and sanity saving value. A word of caution if you are considering purchasing any of these as a holiday, anniversary or birthday gift: tread lightly. It’s easy for moms to feel like underappreciated servants. A gift of an appliance doesn’t always translate as something nice for he – it can very easily come across as “Look, honey, a new way for you to do things for everyone else.”

Don’t get me wrong – I’m not saying don’t buy any of these. They may be very much wanted or appreciated. Just don’t forget to also give her something to help her feel taken care of and, more importantly, appreciated. So maybe get her a gift certificate for a massage, since hopefully these items will help her free up a little time.

Ninja Combi 14-in-1 Multicooker

My Ninja Foodi is hands-down the most used tool in my kitchen but has, sadly, been discontinued. The new Combi offers the same great convenience of having a slow cooker, pressure cooker and air fryer in one appliance. From heating chicken nuggets to braising short ribs, a good multicooker makes dinner easy.

Nespresso Vertuo Creatista

I love a good almond milk double-shot latte to start my day, while my husband is a coffee drinker. With our Creatista, we both get want we want, and it’s so simple. Prior to this, we had a Breville Barista, which looks gorgeous and makes incredible expresso. It was, however, a bit of a time consuming process and when you’re trying to juggle packing lunches, getting everyone fed and dressed, and getting out the door, the speed is essential. Being able to use capsules saves time without sacrificing taste.

Meal Planner Notebook

Meal planning can be a drag, but having a system can make it easier. I like a notebook because I can jot down ideas for more than one week a time, and the format of this notebook is one of the best I’ve found.

Microplane

A little lemon zest can take a recipe up a notch, but that’s not all it does. I use it regularly for finely grated garlic, ginger and carrots – and reliving my Olive Garden days to add a touch of parmesan at the table.

Pretty Kitchen Apron with a Pocket

As moms, we’ve got enough laundry to do. We don’t have time to deal with getting grease stains out of our favorite shirt. Enter the apron. This pretty option has a big enough pocket to hold your phone while bustling about the kitchen.

Dipping Bowls

These adorable bowls know how to multitask and look cute doing it. I use them for serving dips, sauces and sides like charro beans. But they do double duty as prep bowls, when I want to pre-make sauces or chop veggies for meal prep.