Stylin' Wonder Woman

Yes, that's what you should call your mom from now on. Especially if she's the type of mom who would appreciate this incredibly hip Mother's Day gift.

Now, the Toad's not totally superhero ignorant. She knows that, for true Wonder Woman style, you'd have to purchase two of these seemingly weighty bracelets in gold (this model only comes in silver). But since this is actually a pretty nice present, Mom will have to ricochet bullets off of just one wrist for the time being. Made of pewter coated in silver, this seemingly inflexible band of metal is actually craftily strung together using some sort of super durable elastic. The result? This bracelet is as easy to wear as an old fashioned sweat wristband from the '70s (something Mom can probably recall, however hazily). And it's very lightweight, so she can be comfortably armed and ready for action every single day.

Find this adornment for the Wonder Woman in your life at the Los Angeles store Happy (there's even an online discount for Mother's Day). It might not give her superpowers, but it'll make her feel super special.

Mother's Little Helper

Stress is just a killer for mothers, often even on Mother's Day. After all, that breakfast in bed of cereal, burnt toast and freshly squeezed orange juice with the seeds is delicious and all, but the prospect of cleaning a kitchen that looks like scorched earth is enough to keep her in bed for the duration.

Short of a jumbo Ativan prescription, what type of little helper would assist Mother? How about an herbal tea that might actually work? This Kava Stress Relief formula from Yogi Tea is Toad-tested (herself a stressed mother), and was found to be effective. The Toad doesn't know whether the Kava really has enough efficacy in the diluted tea to have a relaxing effect, or if it's just placebo in action. Nor does she care. She thinks it works, and maybe your Mom will think it works, too. Hey, it sure beats an after dinner martini.

This Kava tea is hard to find in stores, so order it from Yogi Tea online. It's the legal Mother's Little Helper.

Cubism for Momma

Flowers are the go to gift for Mother's Day. Everywhere you look, the flower peddlers are pushing their perishable wares. And yes, flowers are pretty. But they die. So what about something alive, long lasting, and modernist?

In this case, think cubed. These cube terrariums are like a permanent piece of living art for your Mom's coffee table, office desk, dining table, or window sill. Filled with little air plants, the glassed in tableaus require nothing more than a spritz of water every now and then, so even if Mom has a coal black thumb she can probably keep these lovelies alive (they certainly stand a better chance than those cliched dozen roses, soon to droop and disintegrate within a week).

These comely cubes come in three sizes. You could order little ones as placecard holders for a tres chic Mother's Day brunch, or just order the biggest and let it impact solo. Locate cubes and cublets alike at www.floragrubb.com.

Detergent Double Duty

The entire next week is devoted to that most obligatory (and somewhat insulting) holiday, Mother's Day. Don't get the Toad wrong. Mothers deserve nothing but respect, admiration, and foot massages on demand. It's just that a single paltry day per year of fatty brunch and wilting flowers doesn't quite cut it.

Still, one day a year is what we're working with, and you MUST participate in this holiday and buy your maternal figure something. Like this lovely porcelain detergent bottle. While for some, this stylishly plain wrap item only evokes endless hours of slaving in a hot laundry room, other mommies will see the clever irony in this gift. They'll proudly serve milk, iced tea, or rum punch from the distinctive container, and watch the beverage sniffing and paranoia begin. This bottle is both a practical piece and a creamily white veiled threat. Happy Mother's Day!

For the presentation, a single gerber daisy in a pop art color jammed into the top would be most appropriate. Find it at The Curiosity Shoppe. A tiny bottle of Tide, although not included, would be cute too.

Adult Toys

Now, don't get the wrong idea; the Toad hasn't veered into the adult toy category you might find inside a brown paper wrapped catalog. No, I'm talking about real toys to play with, preferably displayed within easy reach (think coffee table).

Adult toys offer both a distraction and a focus for guests. Take these Zen blocks, for instance. At first, they look very arty, almost like sculpture. But they're just blocks for big people to play with, especially during family living room gatherings or before dinner cocktail hours. And if the guests bring kids, well, these toys work just fine for them, too, but without the garishly bright plastic garbage. These Zen blocks would make a great hostess gift. They'd even be appropriate for a friend stuck in a corporate cubicle. Plus, the $28 price tag is pretty impressive for a display worthy toy.

Check out these elements of adult construction at www.supermarkethq.com. They might not be the MOST adult fun you can have, but at least you can play in public.

A Guitar for the Softest Rock Ever!

Kids playing music is fine, in theory. The latest offering at Find a Tadpole helps kids practice music in the "land of make believe," aka the music playing in their little heads. Check it out here.

Vanquish Smelly Business

Americans are, admittedly, obsessed with smells. Television advertising is rife with ads for "intelligent" gadgets that periodically poop out wisps of air freshener; our detergent aisles are stuffed with scents that don't exist in nature. And while it's silly and neurotic to have this cacophony of scents in our homes, sometimes it's necessary to chase a bad odor away.

This Chikuno Cubes seem to do the chasing in a more "natural" fashion. This darkly mysterious object freshens the environment using bamboo as a filter, rather than masking the stinkies with other scents dreamed up in a lab somewhere. Its small profile means you can tuck one anywhere, from the bathroom to the fridge (that means you can dump the fourteen opened baking soda boxes lining the back row of your refrigerator). They seem like an ideal alternative to the other popular "air freshener," the scented candle, which ironically pollutes your air as it scents it.

Now, for the price. This ain't Glade. Each cube sets you back around 28 bucks. But they do last a good long time, and for the "greenie" on your gift list, it's a thoughtful gesture that just might wipe out their home's perennial patchouli stench. Check it out at www.delight.com.