Our Mother's Day 2025 Gift Guide!
“Mother is a verb. It’s something you do. Not just who you are.”
Mother's Day is almost here! It can be difficult to find unique and thoughtful Mother's Day gifts that express the love you have for your mom, grandmother, or mother-figures - but at Jo Anne's Place, it's simple! From allergy-friendly chocolates to self-care essentials, we have so many options to choose from. Plus, many of our products are locally made, Canadian-made, AND will help the special people in your life feel their best.
Motherhood is how our company began. Our founder, Jo Anne, recognized that her children were experiencing food allergies and other health challenges but had few options available in rural Lindsay, Ontario.
Over the years, Jo Anne’s daughter Margo was by her side, sharing in this journey of expanding her vision of creating a healthy community. Working alongside her mother, Margo learned the in’s and out’s of running a business, following the ever changing trends and experiencing first-hand the benefits of healthy living as she raised her own two daughters. Margo and her husband Paul are the now-owners of Jo Anne’s Place, committed to continuing with Jo Anne’s vision while evolving to meet the needs of the community.
With many staff who are mothers themselves, we can offer experiences and recommendations of products that are loved at Jo Anne’s Place. They say it takes a community to raise a child, we have seen the positive effects within our Jo Anne’s Place community. We celebrate the successes and offer support during the rough times, and we are proud to have multiple generations of families shopping and working at Jo Anne’s Place.
Gifts for Self-Care & Relaxation
For the special women in your life that need some relaxation and me-time, here are some amazing gift options:
- You can't go wrong with a nice candle. We have beautiful natural candle options including BeeGlo 100% Beeswax candles, La Luna Soy & Coconut Wax candles, Ontario-made (Hamilton) Wax & Fire Co Soy candles, and Mala Soy-Coconut Wax Candles made in Vancouver (they plant a tree for every candle sold!)
- Is your Mom a skincare aficionado? We have tons of natural, Organic, and clinically-proven cosmetics available from brands like Three Ships, Wildcraft, St. Anne's Spa, AnneMarie Borlind, and more! We also have body care like Plantd (only available in Lindsay), Miracle Balm made with propolis, and many other options!
- Does anything say self-care more than a relaxing bath? Grab your Mom some bath essentials like ITL Magnesium Bath Flakes, Epsom Salts, Bath Bombs, Konjac Towels for exfoliating, and more!
- Our line of Essential Oils, made right here in Peterborough, make amazing gifts and are available in so many wonderful variations and seasonal blends. Check out our essential oil guide to find an oil that best suits your mom! Plus, we have essential oil diffusers in-store.
- Our Hair Oil also makes a wonderful gift - made with rosemary, castor oil, and peppermint.
- Jimmy Boyd Artisan Perfumes are made with natural and organic ingredients and come in gorgeous glass bottles that feature some of the ingredients (like rose petals)!
- Help you mom relax with a warm, soothing cup of tea. We have many options in store - including particularly calming herbal teas include Genuine Tea's Organic Calming Butterfly and Traditional Medicinals Holy Basil.
Gifts for the Mom-to-be or New Mom
If you have a partner who is expecting or are shopping for a new mom, here are some ideas:
- Earth Mama has great products for soothing prenatal and postpartum discomfort "down there", such as their Herbal Sitz Bath and Herbal Perineal Spray - both made with Organic and natural ingredients!
- Attitude also has amazing maternity products. Their Blooming Belly Stretch Mark Prevention Oil and Nursing Balm are vegan, plastic-free, and 100% naturally sourced to help soothe skin irritations and improve elasticity.
- Cheeks Ahoy Nursing Pads are locally handmade in Peterborough and are super soft and comfortable to nursing mamas! They are a great eco-friendly reusable option with 4 layers of protection.
- Stress and fatigue often come with a baby, so gift your loved one a calming cup of tea. Choose from Traditional Medicinal's Cup of Calm, Yogi's Chai Rooibos, and many more!
- Substance Belly Jelly with Shea Butter, Oats, and Lavender helps pregnant Moms keep their bellies hydrated to minimize stretch marks!
- Soothing herbs like ginger and slipper elm (great for nausea and heartburn), red raspberry leaf (can ease labour pains), and peppermint (eases stomach) are also great gift options.
Sustainable Gifts
Gifting sustainably is simple at Jo Anne's Place. Whether you yourself follow sustainable living principles or are gift-hunting for someone who does, here are some ideas:
- Sustainable self-care products like The Soap Works bar soaps with zero packaging, Routine natural deodorants which come in reusable glass jars, and Bee Glo Beeswax candles which contain no toxins, don't release soot, and cleanse the air! An Urban Spa pumice stone is also a great option - made of natural volcanic rock, it's eco-friendly and long-lasting.
- For a sustainable homeowner or cook, gift some sustainable kitchen essentials like Cheeks Ahoy's Non-Paper Towels and Colibri reusable snack pouches perfect for food and non-food items.
- For sustainable food and drinks, we have lots of drinks that come in reusable or recyclable glass bottles like RISE Kombucha (in many flavours). Zazubean chocolate is Certified Fair Trade and Certified Organic with fun names like Sassy & Smooch!
- For the sustainable coffee & tea drinking Moms, Level Ground Direct Fair Trade loose leaf tea and a metal tea infuser is a great gift combo. Jumping Bean Coffee is an amazing East Coast Canada brand that is Organic, Fair Trade, and uses ECO2Roast® for a low carbon roasting process; They also have compostable Keurig compatible cups!
- For the Moms who love gardening, we have a wide selection of GAIA Organic and Kitchen Table Seed House seeds for flowers, fruits, veggies, and herbs! We also have Sprouting Jars and kits.
- Why not put your Mom's gifts in an Alaffia Fair Trade African Handwoven Grass Basket? Created in in Bolgatanga, Ghana in 12 villages with more than 5,000 women basket weavers, the Alaffia weavers work independently in a creative process. Members of Alaffia basket cooperatives receive fair wages and health care for their families in return for indigenous skills and knowledge. This exchange empowers West African communities and preserves cultural heritage. Each basket is completely unique and the leather tag inside is personally signed by a weaver. Made with wild-harvested Savannah grass.
Give the gift of local!
We have tons of locally made products that would make amazing gifts!
- Did you know that our long-time Lindsay Team Member, Allison, makes adorable greeting cards? Find them for all different occasions (including Mother's Day) at both our Peterborough and Lindsay locations!
- Our Lindsay Team Member, Lee Anne, also just launched her Lee's Suncatchers - available at both store locations. A great way to add some sparkle and colour to your home!
- Other local gift ideas include:
- La Hacienda Artisan Corn Chips & Salsas - Made in Peterborough
- Kawartha Lakes Honey
- Flame Spitter Hot Sauces - Made in Peterborough
- Wild Rose Silk Hand-Dyed Eye Masks & Pillows - Only available in Lindsay
- Bag 'Em Freeze Dried Fruits, great for camping, hiking, recipes, or snacking on the go - Made in Hastings, ON
- Tallow Balms - Our Two Acres made in Addington Highlands, ON and Hide & Quill made in Roseneath, ON
- Sweet Song Herbals Salves & Soaps - Made in Lakefield, ON
- Find tons of other thoughtful and unique gift options in our stores such as:
- Gemstone Bracelets
- Women's Supplements and herbs
- Baking Mixes
- Toxin-free nail polish
- Anne Marie Borlind Makeup
- Natural shampoo, conditioner, and other haircare products
- Mushroom Hot Chocolate and Coffees, Green powders, and other functional drinks
- Essential Oil diffusers
- Jo Anne's Place gift cards
- and more!
Be sure to stop by a Jo Anne's Place location to browse our wide selection of gift options! See store hours here.
Discover the best foods for hair growth. Boost shine, strength, and thickness naturally with nutrient-rich options that support healthy hair.
With back to school in full gear, parents are concerned about their kids well-being. A lot of today's youth face a mountain of problems like anxiety and depression.
This year, Labour Day Weekend is from August 29th - September 1st. There is still time for one last weekend of summer fun before the school year begins.
This creamy vegetarian lasagna is comfort food at its finest! Hearty enough to satisfy any appetite, yet packed with veggies and nourishing ingredients you can feel good about. Perfect for family dinners and meal prep!
We were scrolling through our archive of recipes recently and came across this one: 'Handy Dandy Candy' aka Carob Almond Squares, written by Jo Anne Fallaise. Yes, THE Jo Anne! So, we had to share! It's super easy, and super delicious - treat yourself!
Bright, zesty, and just the right amount of sweet! These gluten-free lemon poppy seed muffins are the perfect quick breakfast, afternoon pick-me-up, or addition to a school lunchbox. Made with wholesome, gluten-free ingredients (not dairy-free, but can easily be made so if you prefer), this recipe offers a soft, moist texture with that yummy lemony taste and slight crunch of the poppy seeds.
Packing your child's lunchbox (and your own) with wholesome snacks and lunches that are quick to make doesn't have to be difficult! Here are some of our favourite recipes that contain nutritious ingredients that kids love:
Wondering how to make your own protein bars and balls? You've come to the right place! Whether you're powering through a busy morning, refuelling after a workout, or just need a wholesome snack to get you through the day, protein bars and energy balls are a great way to go! However, not all store-bought options are created equal, and sometimes you just want to customize the flavours to your favourites, which is why making your own is a great option. These are great to meal prep and keep in the fridge or freezer to have at the ready, and they are super customizable to your dietary restrictions or flavour preferences, so feel free to swap out any ingredients you don't love! Here are 3 easy, delicious takes on protein bars and bites: Chocolate Nut Butter Protein Bars, Superfood Breakfast Bites, and Spirulina Sunflower Oat Bars. Check out more of our Protein Bite and Autumn Energy Bite recipes!
Lemon juice has many different uses and health benefits. Just make sure you don't get any in your eyes.
We wanted to take a moment to highlight a dairy product that doesn't get enough love: Quark!