Cooler but still well above normal this week

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Shopping for a Mother's Day gift can be tricky, but you can narrow down your choices, and support local businesses, by choosing to shop for Minnesota-made and Minnesota-based products. 

Your proud Minnesotan mother will thank you. Here are a few suggestions:

If your mom is an outdoorswoman, you might want to head over 

 for a few fitting options. If she enjoys hunting or fishing you can buy her 

, as long as she's a Minnesota resident. They can get a little spendy, and it takes about three weeks to process so it'll be belated, but never again will your mother have to worry about reapplying in time for her favorite season.

If she's more into communing with nature rather than trying to catch it, the DNR also offers 

. I know, it sounds like a cop-out gift, but these cards can be used for reserving campsites, entering state parks, equipment rentals and other gifts and apparel at Minnesota State Parks gift stores — so really, it's the gift of an adventure.

If your mom has a sweet tooth, there are a few well-known chocolate shops dotting the land of 10,000 lakes. 

, located on the St. Croix River northeast of the Twin Cities, offers handmade, artistically crafted chocolates. And if you don't live anywhere near the St. Croix, you can still order chocolates by the box — they currently have Mother's Day and spring specialties.

If you live in the metro area, you can find 

 in downtown St. Paul. There you can buy chocolate as well as coffee, cocoa and baked goods. They also offer a variety of products for online order.

Want more than just chocolate? You can throw in a little variety by grabbing a gift basket from 

. They have a Taste of Minnesota Gift Basket that includes wild rice, coffee, and yes, some chocolate too.

If your mom is more interested in making her own meals, consider some Minnesota-made spices. 

 offers locally made blends that are sold individually and as gift boxes.

 also offers a wide-variety of Minnesota-centric spices, including custom blends.

If your mom only wishes she could cook, maybe it'd be a good idea to sign her up for a cooking class at 

 with locations in Stillwater, St. Paul and Minneapolis. You can also stock up on cookware while you're there.

While having a garden that is composed of completely native plants can be a very difficult task, giving your mother one or two of the easier to manage flowers can make a great gift and addition to her garden or home.

 has a lot of terrific resources for what native plants do best in certain climates. They even offer kits for sale tailored to the area you're hoping to plant. Otherwise, check for garden shows near you or the garden section of your local hardware store. Many have whole sections dedicated to native Minnesota plants.


If your mom is into Swedish fashion, look no further than 

, located in Chisago City. Offering handcrafted clogs, boots and flats in a variety of colors and styles, the company has been making footwear in Minnesota since 1974.

Again, if your mom is a fan of the outdoors, consider buying her something from 

. Specializing in canvas and leather products since 1882, the Duluth based store has a variety of products for the outdoors, as well as bags, shoes and accessories for everyday life.

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Sara Porter

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Help your mom express her state pride with a Mother's Day gift that was made locally.

Minnesota gifts for your Minnesota mom

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