Today's moms are busy, tech-savvy, and on-the-go. Great gifts will lift their spirits, make life easier, spark fond memories, or simply make them feel good. Here are some gift ideas that go above and beyond the usual robe and slippers.

Technology

• E-Reader - An e-reader is a no-brainer. Moms spend a lot of time in waiting rooms and parked for practice to end. A lightweight e-reader like the Kindle or the Nook is great to have on hand for those times when the coach assigns extra laps and Mom is sitting in the parking lot. Basic Kindles start at $69 and tend to be offered at discounted prices for Amazon.com's Black Friday Deals Week.
• Ion USB VCR - Digital video cameras are everywhere today, but chances are pretty good that when you were young, your mom didn't have one. If your childhood memories are stored on a stack of rapidly deteriorating VHS tapes, your mom will love this VHS-to-digital converter. Plug it into a USB port, pop in a VHS tape, and transfer your first birthday to digital format in a snap.
• Mustek Document/Photo Scanner - Moms have a lot of pictures. If you're older than 15, she's probably got thousands, plus all those pictures from her own childhood. This lightweight scanner is small enough to take anywhere and scans lightning fast. Just feed a document or picture in one side and it slides out the other, saving the image or document to an SD card or directly to a computer via USB. Mom can take it to grandma's house and save the family albums, use it at the office, and scan tax receipts and recipes.
• Jewelry Flash Drives - If you're on a budget, search for a flash drive that doubles as jewelry - filled with pictures of you, of course. We found a vintage-style jeweled heart hiding that is sure to win her heart, and at an average of $25, fancy flash drives won't break youour budget.

Style

Buying clothes for someone else can be a little tricky, but jewelry, purses, wallets, and laptop bags in the latest style score big with moms. Look for the kind of accessories she would buy for herself. Some moms are all about big hobo bags in bright colors and some prefer a tiny leather clutch. You know what she likes.

Eco-Conscious and Charitable Gifts

A mom concerned with environmental issues and charity would certainly appreciate a donation made in her name... but where's the fun in that? Instead, check out gift resources where the proceeds go to a great cause, and find some amazing gifts at the same time. CharityUSA.com hosts sites that benefit quite a few different charities.

TheRainForestSite.com is a great place to find beautiful and unusual gifts and give something back at the same time. Find art, clothing, home décor, accessories, jewelry, and much more. Some of our favorite items are blown glass angels and ornaments, hammocks hand-woven in the Yucatan, vibrant Ugandan waxcloth yoga bags, and a beautiful alpaca wool scarf handmade in Peru.

Pet friendly moms will love a gift from theAnimalRescuesite.com. You'll find lots of fun, creative items that will fit a tight budget on this site. Mom will love a roomy, inexpensive satchel adorned with colorful paw prints, a handy lunch bag, an elegant purse made from an antique sari, or a tee with a heartfelt message - all at prices almost anyone can afford.

Nostalgic Gifts

Tug at Mom's heartstrings by finding a gift tied to a special memory. It's not as hard as you think. All you need to do is think about what she gets dreamy-eyed over; her hometown, a special vacation, her favorite music, art, or poetry, or the dream she once had of being a ballerina or an astronaut. Every mom is different, but each of them has special memories that live in their hearts forever.

• Hometown Ideas - Every town has something special, a restaurant or hangout that's pure local flavor. For example, Memphis moms might appreciate a box of barbecue sauce from the Rendezvous restaurant or a t-shirt from the birthplace of rock, Sun Studio. Look for an iconic local item that defines the character of the town.
• Era Nostalgia - Find out what was popular when Mom graduated high school and gear your gift to the music, fashion, or trends from that year. For example, Moms that grew up in the '60s and '70s will get a kick out of a lava lamp or a tie-dyed tee shirt. If mom likes to stay in shape (and has a great sense of humor), consider a DVD collection of Richard Simmons' Sweatin' to the Oldies. It's fun, nostalgic and not nearly as intimidating as Zumba Dance or Jillian Michaels.

Kitchen Gadgets

Moms who love to cook also love gadgets that make cooking easier. Look for a bread-maker, a waffle iron, or one of those electric grills with changeable plates. It's a win-win situation because guess who gets to be the taste-tester?

Personal Comfort Gifts

Finally, the one thing moms have in common is a deep need to relax. Look for a lavender-scented eye mask that can be heated or cooled, a super-soft microfiber throw to snuggle into, a handheld infrared massager to ease away aches and pains, or a cushy lumbar support pillow for her desk chair.