Thursday, February 8, 2018

Mother's Day Gift Ideas

I can hardly believe that February is well underway! Time is speeding by. Which is why I plotted a list (I'm super into lists, for those who don't know). My list marks all those birthdays coming up. But I almost forgot that on top of birthdays, we have Mother's Day (and Father's Day too). I am a firm supporter of being prepared and planning ahead for those gifts. They need to sincerely mean something. They need to have thought put into them. After all, they are for special people in our lives. I also believe that gifts don't have to be expensive to be valued. But even more than that, if you are on a very tight budget like we are, you need time to "make" the gifts. Here are a few ideas for those of you looking ahead, but also wanting to save money. 


1. Watch out for rewards programs you are a member of. I received an email from My Coke Rewards. For five product codes, I got a free 8x11 photo book.
I just had to pay shipping. Similac Strong Moms had a similar offer. I had gotten a code from them for an 8x8 book. Again, I only had to pay for shipping. So I have made 2 photo books so far. Now I just have to decide whether to give both away or keep one for myself... These are wonderful ways to relive happy memories over and over again.
Mom's and Grandma's (and Nana's) all enjoy this kind of gift. For starters, it gives them something to brag with. My great grandmother was always telling me how she showed hers off every chance she got. She was a great great grandmother and proud of it! My mom kept photos of her 10 kids and 4 grand-kids in her purse. The 8x8 book is soft cover and would fit perfectly into her large purse. And these are gifts they can get multiple times in one year, every year. Why? Kids grow up. New adventures happen. New photos are taken.

2. Handmade gifts are always in style for Mother's and Grandma's. I've found recipes for air drying dough that the kids can make hand print crafts or ornaments that are one of kind.We tried this for ourselves. The dough was great. We just are not gifted in shaping it.

I made a botched owl when trying to copy this idea on Pinterest. My son asked me to help him make a Pea Shooter, but it looks more like a flat duck. My daughter made a "baby" that looks more like a failed human transmutation from Fullmetal Alchemist... But we tried! And we had fun doing it. 

3. Poetry. One year, I made a picture/poem for my Dad. I used a picture of me during my pregnancy with my first child and wrote a poem just for him. I created a collage-like piece and had it printed for him. Not everyone thinks of themselves as poets, but you might be surprised as to what you can come up with. For me, I think of the subject or the person I am writing about and to. If you can write beautiful notes in a card to them, chances are good that you might just be able to come up with something special. But even if you are not thrilled with the result, think of how they will feel at opening it? Words that came from your heart! Put a picture on one side and words on the other. Print it up and frame it. Voila! You have a handcrafted, but priceless gift. A cheat to this would be to find a magnificent quote that would make a lot of sense to them and pair that with a picture. 

4. Homemade cards are the best. Hands down. Get your kids to do the artwork. Add in a handwritten note thought of by you, or add a message you find online that is heartfelt. Glitter, pompoms, construction paper - get crafty with the kiddos! My kids love doing artwork. They love creating scenes from their imagination. What better way to honor the Moms, Grandmas and Nana's? 

5. Check your Dollar Tree store. I've heard there are blank canvases that you can get for a $1 each. They also have paints there. Kids can make art that way. Hand prints are always a favorite. Show how they grow over the years. These can also have dual purposes. I made artwork for my Mom way back in elementary school. She held on to a couple of them. Then when I got pregnant with my first child, she framed them and gave them as gifts to hang in the nursery. 

6. How much time do you spend with your parents? Grandparents? Did you know that one of the most precious gifts we have to give is our time? After all, we have such a limited amount of time. So sharing it with them is truly marvelous. Take them out for lunch. Don't rush through it. Let them pick the place. Or how about a movie? Or do both! I love going to the Alamo Drafthouse we have here. Eat and watch a movie. There are always specials going on too. Lately, I've been seeing movies coming that they offer Mondo glasses with. Collectibles, movie and food. Now that is the way to go for sure. Or what about a day shopping? My Mother and I always enjoyed yard sales, thrift stores and flea markets. We would hit any and all we came across in a single day. We had lunch together, found some pretty unique things, but most of all, we had an amazing time making memories together. Don't have money to spend? Take your Mom for a walk if she is able. Some of my favorite times spent with my Mother were on our walks. We talked as one woman to another. Laughed and got in the cardio we needed as well. Win-win! 

7. Small kids are fun to make cookies with. They can help add ingredients and make balls of cookie dough. Then enjoy them with a glass of milk and have them tell you all about it. 

8. Let your kids write a book. This not only provides an inexpensive, but meaningful gift, it also lets your children be creative. Have them write and illustrate a Mother's Day adventure. You can even write the story for them while they draw the pictures. Then, to make it long-lasting, laminate the pages before putting them together. Don't forget to have a cover page with the title, authors name and the date of when it was written. 

9. Breakfast in Bed. Not all Mom's like eating in bed, but for those that do - its easy and doesn't cost much to do for her. Prepare her favorite breakfast after letting her sleep in. Allow her to enjoy waking up slowly for a change. This can also be the way you start every Mother's Day for her. Followed by any of the other ideas mentioned in this post. 

10. This one is an unusual one that my Mom suggested. Have Mom and child swap roles for a few hours. Mom can whine and not clean anything. Then throw a fit about what she wants to eat. Why do something like this? Making memories. It is a great gift to give. And lets you have insight on the ways we perceive each other.  

11. One of the best suggestions I have heard was to get a nice looking journal. They are sold pretty much everywhere. Write down your favorite memories, recipes, or other lists of things you enjoyed most during your childhood. Your perspective will differ from hers, but they will spark memories of her own.  

12. Clean the house. I can't tell you how much I appreciate a clean house. Not having to do the laundry for a day. Not having dishes to wash. Not having to vacuum, sweep, wipe the table and counter tops, picking up toys... There are days when I wish for a break from all this - for just a day! Why not have all hands doing these chores so that Mom doesn't have to? Give her a whole day of not having to slave away for anyone else. This is a great thing to do every year. Make it a tradition! 



Speaking of traditions, it is not too late to start. Pick your favorite gift ideas and make the day the same every year. Not only will it be easy for both of you, but it gives you something to look forward to together. Let them know that you are setting aside the time and they need to as well. Then do your thing. 

Before picking things from the list to do, get to know your Mother, Grandmother or whoever you are gifting. It is only too late when she is gone. Know what she likes. Where does she like going? What hobbies does she have? This makes gifting so much easier as well as enjoyable for you both. 

These are ideas for the Moms who have everything they need and don't want for much else. Or as my Mom calls it, the Moms who have everything. Or for the ones who have the husband that get her a vacuum as a gift to celebrate the carrying and giving birth to his children... Let's face it, a vacuum might be needed, but why wait to give it as a gift for this one day of the year when you are supposed to be showing her some real love? This is a message to the guys. What are you telling her when this is the type of gift you give her? We all need to remember what Mothers Day is really about. It is celebrating the woman who has sacrificed so much. So if it something she truly needs, maybe considering getting her that anyhow, but then getting her something she alone will enjoy for her gift. This is something my own Mother has had to deal with on Mothers Day. That, or last minute gifts that were ill-planned for. Like those half-dead flowers... Seriously? And if she is on a diet and seriously wanting to get her health back in check SKIP the CHOCOLATES. Take her out to a healthy alternative restaurant. Know the woman in your life, guys. See things through her eyes. And give her a beautifully Happy Mother's Day!

22 comments:

  1. Your dad still hangs that pic/poem you have him. All fab ideas and well said. You just left out what you personally would enjoy. I hope folks read this blog and get great ideas to show their special mom's how they are truly love.

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    1. I'm very glad to hear it! I'll have to think about what I would want for myself. And that is my hope as well!

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  2. Totally agreed with you that gift dont have to be expensive! It is not how much is worth is how much it meant. And I like you have show few ideas of home make thing. Air dry dough is new and i love it. It is better than the traditional air dry and dried so fast. From your list, I am still considering what to get for mother day!

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    1. So glad you enjoyed the ideas! Hope you find a great one to use :)

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  3. Great gift ideas that are practical but also meaningful. My kids favorite gifts to give are ones they make themselves.

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    1. I'm glad you enjoyed it. I think kids should be proud to make things to give as gifts. Great thing to learn early on.

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    2. You’ve got some wonderful options to show mom how much you love her. Amongst anything a mom can get, handmade gifts for the kids are the best. 👍🏼

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    3. Thank you, Evelyn! I do agree with you on that.

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  4. I totally agree with you - Mothers day is about celebrating what is important. I love my mum alot and like to make sure she knows x

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  5. Such great ideas, both my sisters are mothers now, so going to be sure to save this!

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  6. There are some great ideas here, I really like the idea of handmaking a present or doing something selfless for them :)

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  7. These are so amazing ideas. I love making something with my hands for my mother and my daughter does the same for me now.

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  8. Loved your practical gift idea. While we didn't celebrate Mother's Day back in India but my mom would make us do chores as gift to us nonetheless :D

    ❥ tanvii.com

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    1. That's good though! Moms should be celebrated. Did you have another holiday that was similar?

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  9. It would be great to have kids join in on the fun this time. A dollar store is just minutes away from where I am, time to bring this guide up there!

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    1. Hope you guys come up with some awesome gifts of your own!

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  10. Gifts should be heartfelt not expensive. I loved reading your blog.

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    1. Thank you so much, Meghna! I am glad that you agree :)

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