My mom and I have always had polar opposite tastes: I remember one year buying her some dangly vintage-looking earrings, which she didn’t like because they made her earlobes swing. She asked me to return them for something else, so I did … and she didn’t like those, either, and asked me to pick something else out. (Which is when I suggested she exchange them for something she liked, to save me a few more trips to the store.)It’s true with jewelry, clothing, accessories … which leaves me with skin care products. She doesn’t like many perfumes, since she believes they "grow" on her and morph into something else, and you can only buy a woman so much Chanel No. 5 before she’s set for the next decade. She can’t justify using Kiehl’s Creme de Corps when she thinks Keri Lotion works just fine. These are the things that make me wonder if I’m adopted, and make her wonder what kind of child she’s raised.Until I come through with a gift like the Chocolate Fix set from Lather ($32). I get credit for two separate presents: (1) Dutch Mocha Body Buff, which satisfies her requirements of a body scrub that won’t make the shower slippery and my requirements of smelling good, thanks to the ground arabica coffee beans, and scrubbing without leaving you raw. (2) Belgian Chocolate Body Whip, a rich cream that lets her indulge her chocolate fantasy without putting on any pounds. Both include real semisweet chocolate in the ingredients.My only concern: What if this just whets her appetite for the real thing? Then she’s going to blame me for helping her gain weight. …Got a challenge? Put me on the case: Give me the particulars and I’ll try to find a great gift.

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