Mother’s Day is just around the corner. If you’d like to celebrate your mom in a Compact-y way, I suggest thinking in terms of handmade gifts, experiences, and food.
Some ideas for handmade gifts:
1) I made a color copy of this collage up above for my brother’s birthday recently. I went through an old photo box and chose only photos of my brother and I together (well, our dog Daisy made it into one and Mickey Mouse another). Make a collage of happy times for mom. It can be just a few photos, and any copy shop can make a color copy for you. If you have a scanner, you can make this type of thing yourself.
2) I just sent off a simple handmade card to my mom. I pasted a photo of us on the front and wrote a nice note inside.
3) Plant a simple herb garden for her kitchen window.
4) Arrange fresh or dried flowers from your garden into a bouquet.
5) One of my mom’s favorite gifts was a frame I made for her at a place called Color Me Mine. You can go there and decorate a mug or a plate or a picture frame. I painted “Mom is our first best friend” on the ceramic frame and I found a photo when I was young and laughing at something she’d said or done. We both looked very happy.
Some ideas for experiences:
1) A nice walk on the beach, in a park, or any beautiful area not too far from where she lives.
2) Concert tickets for her favorite group or singer. My mom raved about Josh Groban for months.
3) Help her with decluttering an extra room or garage, planting a vegetable garden, or redecorating a room.
4) Bring her somewhere you know she would like but wouldn’t go on her own. For my mother, this has included a wild animal sanctuary, getting in a tank with beluga whales at Sea World, and a bike ride on the beach. The sky’s the limit! Get your mom out of her comfort zone.
5) Give her an at-home facial. Be sure to include aromatherapy, cold water to sip on, and relaxing music.
And finally, there’s always food:
1) If you don’t want to fight the crowds at brunch, try taking her out the day before, or maybe an off-hour in the afternoon.
2) Cook a special meal at home.
3) Bake her a cake or a pie.
4) Splurge on some really delicious chocolate she would never buy for herself.
5) Maybe breakfast in bed SOUNDS better than the reality, but it’s always sounded good to me. I think this is a perfect choice for families with kids- dad, you can supervise- or moms whose kids are grown up and scattered- dad, you’re the chef in this scenario. Be sure to include fresh fruit, a delicious pastry item, and a small vase of flowers.
Not all of these ideas are free, but they’re all Compact-y because if you spend money, it won’t be for STUFF. Moms: what have been some of your favorite Mother’s Day memories? Please share your thoughts and ideas about Mother’s Day gifts in the Comments section.
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