The 25 best gifts for stepmom that'll make her feel extra special

Cards are great and all, but more often than not they just end up shoved in a drawer after the festivities end. Enter this pop-up peony wonder, which she’ll proudly put — and leave — on display long after she reads the accompanying message. 

It might look silly, but this neck reading light is a great gift for those who have evening hobbies where they need a little bit of extra light. If your stepmom likes knitting, cross-stitching or reading after hours, then this hands-free gadget is a must. "Best part is, I can still use them while they're charging," a cheerful crocheter wrote. "They don't take 3-5 business days to charge fully either."

This tea kettle is practically begging for the spotlight, and her stovetop is the ultimate stage. It’ll really stand out, especially if her kitchen leans heavily on neutrals and muted tones. But don’t worry, hundreds of five-star reviewers attest that it’s just as practical as it is pretty.

If she prefers long, hot showers over bubble baths, then it’s high time to introduce her to the wonderful world of shower steamers (think: bath bombs for the shower). Pop them in the corner of the shower and they’ll slowly release soothing scents of lavender, mint and eucalyptus as they dissolve.

Fill this striped tote (available in blue, yellow, pink or green combos) with her favorite beauty products, go-to snacks and fresh flowers as a cute and usable gift bag. Or leave it empty to let the bag do all the talking.

These salt and pepper shakers are more of a want than a need, which is exactly what makes them a welcome gift for your stepmom. Stick them on any table to instantly bring the outdoors in.

“I gifted my mom a coat that my grandma ended up loving so much that she asked for one herself — and now, they both can't stop wearing it,” Yahoo Deputy Commerce Editor Izabella Zaydenberg raved. It’s lightweight, packable and perfect for “those tricky times of the year when it's too hot for a traditional, heavy puffer coat, yet not quite warm enough for a wool jacket.”

There’s no question that your stepmom has helped you bloom. Get the names of all of her favorite flowers (I’m talking about her kids, stepkids and grandkids) printed on this garden stone to symbolize her ever-growing garden of love.

She loves nothing more than spending a day — or let’s face it, a whole weekend — tending to her garden. Even so, she still needs to go easy on her back and knees while she’s at work. Enter this steel and nylon stool, which also doubles as a detachable toolbox so she can keep her trowel, hand rake and other gardening supplies within arm’s reach.

Flower tea will turn teatime into an unforgettable (OK, Insta-worthy) experience. Just place a rose, chrysanthemum or blue lotus flower in a clear mug or teapot, then submerge it in boiling water and watch it bloom. Enjoy three cups of tea per flower — this gift set comes with 9 flowers, so that’s 27 cups of tea!

The next time she pops over to the pool or runs out the door to go to yoga, she can quickly slip on these lightweight slides and go. They’ll mold to her feet just like the leather Birkenstocks she’s had for years, but they’re even more practical since they’re made with a washable, waterproof material.

Bees and butterflies are crucial in making a garden grow. And while they may stop and smell the roses on their own, this set of five ceramic cups will attract thirsty pollinators to work their magic. The cups are made to look like flowers, but they also hold a teaspoon of water to encourage our flying friends to drink up before they pollinate the flowers nearby.

There’s an art to no-makeup makeup, and maybe your stepmom is still trying to perfect it. Introduce her to this multi-use balm — once she breaks the seal, she can use it to add a subtle wash of color to her lips, cheeks or anywhere else she wants to glow.

Who wants to splurge on socks? Not your stepmom, that’s for sure. Treat her to a four-pack of everyday ankle socks from Bombas, which one superfan gushed are "the softest that I have ever worn.” Go with the pack that comes with springtime shades like mint green, lavender, sky blue and cream.

Now that she’s on the AirPods train, it’s your duty to make sure she never leaves (ahem, loses) them. Get her initials stamped onto this pebbled leather case, so she has no excuses. Choose from 14 colors and four styles, depending on her AirPods model.

Friendship bracelets have never gone out of style. The only difference is now they’re far more elevated than the multi-colored ones you made as a kid. A prime example: This gold or silver-plated stunner from Kendra Scott, which can be adjusted to fit her wrist.

Crossbody bags are a mom's dream. She can keep all her on-the-go essentials close while keeping her hands free. Small but mighty, his pebbled leather beauty is "compact but large enough to hold my wallet, phone and sunglasses," according to one five-star fan. 

Your stepmom had a full life before you entered the picture. With an annual Storyworth subscription, she’ll have a platform to share it with you (and anyone else who cares to listen). Each week she'll answer new questions about her past, present and future, and her answers will be printed in a hardcover book for all to read.

In many ways, your stepmom is like a lotus flower. She rose from the hypothetical mud yet remains one of the brightest lights in your life. This white sapphire and gold vermeil necklace will symbolize that very sentiment. Even if she’s not very into jewelry, this necklace is small and dainty enough that she’ll find she forgets she’s even wearing it.

White sneakers are a classic, no matter the season. Make sure your stepmom steps out in style with these comfortable white sneakers that Amazon shoppers can’t get enough of. Many shoppers rave that they’re great for travel and all-day wear. “I wore them to our annual tradeshow, walking over 15k steps a day and standing for 10 hours. They're now my almost everyday shoe,” one five-star fan wrote, adding that they were “comfortable right out of the box.”

You know the best kind of gift to give and receive? The one that doesn't have an end date. Set her up with a weekly, biweekly or monthly flower delivery. Prices vary, depending on the type of bouquet you choose. My suggestion: Choose the classic tier ($55 per delivery) and pay for the subscription upfront to save on every delivery.

Picking out a perfume for someone else is a bold move. Instead of making the impossible choice, give her this sampler with seven popular scents from Burberry, Gucci and other bestselling brands. Once she tries them all, she can take the included gift certificate to a nearby Sephora store (or shop online) to redeem a full-size bottle of her favorite one.

High-quality olive oil is a luxury for any home chef. This duo will cover all the bases: She can use one for cooking and baking, and the other for drizzling and dipping. 

Making fresh espresso at home seems like a good idea until you realize how messy and time-consuming it can be. Nespresso makes it easy: Stick your preferred pod in this machine (a full-size coffee, or a single or double shot of espresso) and it'll whip up a barista-level brew with a press of a button. They make a few machines, but this one earned the top spot on our list of the best single-serve coffee makers, so it's a sure bet. 

Amazon Kindle is the cream of the crop in the e-reader department, but if you were to ask our tech editor Rick Broida (I did, by the way), the 11th-generation Paperwhite is actually the best there is. It has a larger screen than the baseline Kindle, a "warmth slider" for nighttime reading and up to 10 weeks of battery life — need I say more?