Gifts Outside The Box

Has Mom always wanted to do Habitat for Humanity, but been too nervous about not knowing her power tools from her unpowered tools? The Women Build program will teach her, as she makes a difference. A fee covers materials.Click here to sign mom up.

Remember as a kid, when you ordered Mom to bring you your juicy? Return the favor by ordering her a cleanse of raw fruit and vegetable juices, shipped right to her door. BUY NOW: Blueprint Cleanse, from $95

Was Mom's lifelong blush discontinued? Or, does she crave an eyeshadow the color of her couch? Fund a search for her now-defunct makeup or send in a color sample and she can choose a cosmetic in that hue. BUY NOW: Three Custom Color Specialists Makeup, from $36.50

No fan of Mom's look? That's normal! But if Mother herself wants a fashion makeover, the Association of Image Consultants International (AICI) has stylists around the country who can build outfits using her own clothes, or help her shop for new pieces. Click here for a pro near mom, from $60/hour

Did Mom watch Julie & Julia five times? Free her inner chef by sending her to chef school for a weekend. Held in New York, Texas and California, course topics range from hor d'oeuvres to cake decorating. BUY NOW: Culinary Institute of America gift certificate, from $250

Give Mom two of her favorites things — jewelry and time with you — by sitting together to design a one-of-a-kind personalized keepsake online. Stamp initials into a variety of charms (diamonds optional!) BUY NOW: Jennifer Fisher Jewelry (Georgina charms at left, $385)

Maybe Mom was too busy raising you to keep up her high school French. Or, perhaps she wants to learn Portuguese so she can order cocktails fluently on a Rio beach. Treat her to this photo-driven immersion instruction.BUY NOW Rosetta Stone language classes, from $206