Simple and Affordable Mother’s Day Fun

If your budget doesn’t allow you to lavish mom with expensive gifts this Mother’s Day, don’t fret.  With a little planning and creativity you can make your mom feel like royalty minus the queen’s ransom. The key to creating memorable Mother’s Day gifts is to make them with love.  The other requirement is to have fun in the process.  The following homemade gift ideas are simple enough for young children to help with; plus, they don’t require a ton of money to make: Pretty Pots Materials: Unglazed terra cotta pot Acrylic paints Paint brushes Craft glue Embellishments (buttons, gems, stickers, … Continue reading

Last-Minute Homemade Gifts for Mom

Nothing says “I love you” more than a homemade gift from the heart. This is especially true on Mother’s Day. Think about it; moms are typically the ones nudging kids to the crayon box to craft gifts for others on special occasions, so think about how nice it would be for her to be on the receiving end of one of those handcrafted works of art made by tiny hands that developed in her womb. If you are the one in charge of getting the kiddos to work their artistic magic on mom’s gift, consider the following: RECIPE BOX Find … Continue reading

Gifts for Single Parents

Am I late or is everyone else still Christmas shopping? I always promise myself I’ll be done by now, but I always end up with lots of last minute gifts to buy. Some people are so much harder to buy for than others, like my Dad, what can he possibly need? I try to get thoughtful gifts, something people wouldn’t get for themselves but in this post I’m going to give you ideas for single moms and dads. As a single mother the gift I needed most all year long was time, there was never enough of it. It’s hard … Continue reading

Moms: Of Gifting to Ourselves

Did you get exactly what you wanted for Mother’s Day? I didn’t get what I asked for; instead, I got something even better. My fellow blogger, Stephanie, got what she wanted, a coffee machine, but it didn’t come from any of her children, or even her spouse. Rather, the self assured mother of three took the initiative to purchase the appliance, and gifted it to herself. Some may consider Stephanie’s move audacious, while others may consider it empowering. Personally, I classify it as self preservation. A requirement for many mothers out there. If you aren’t going to look out for … Continue reading

Mother’s Day on a Tray

When it comes to Mother’s Day, simple doesn’t have to mean boring. I recently read a poll that claimed moms no longer appreciate traditional gifts such as flowers, chocolates or breakfast in bed. Obviously, none of the poll respondents have experienced a gift-less Mother’s Day. There’s a lot to be said about getting something rather than nothing. If you are looking for a last-minute idea to make mom feel like a queen today, then consider whipping up the following, putting them on a tray and serving them up with hugs and kisses: SUPER SWEET FRENCH TOAST Ingredients: 1 loaf French … Continue reading

Last-Minute Mother’s Day Gifts

Tick-tock, tick-tock… the countdown to Mother’s Day is on, and if you are planning to make mom a gift from the heart with your two hands, then you had better get started. Homemade gifts may seem a bit trifle when mom is asking for a Dyson, but that shouldn’t stop you from putting your all into a gift that mom can treasure forever. Some keepers include: Frames: No mom can resist a photo of her kids. Or better yet, a picture of her and her kids together. However, instead of gifting mom with a plain photo, why not kick it … Continue reading

Green up Your Mother’s Day Gift

Mother’s Day is this Sunday and the good news is that if you don’t have a gift yet, you still have a few more days. If you have been reading my Green Living Blogs (and if you haven’t, why now?), you may be thinking all on your own “Hey, maybe I should go green with my Mother’s Day gift this year.” But, you may not know where to start and that is where I come in. Here are a few suggestions to show mom you love her while still being eco-friendly. Chocolates If your mom isn’t watching her weight (or … Continue reading

Mother’s Day Gifts From the Heart

Here’s something any mother can appreciate: Last week my first grader came home with a Xeroxed note from school asking for a “favorite family recipe.” The letter cryptically added that the assignment was part of a “top secret” project students were working on and not to ask too many questions. Given the timing of the note and the fact that I received a very similar one the year before when my daughter was in kindergarten it didn’t take much for me to deduce that I will likely be opening a kid-friendly cookbook this coming Sunday. I will wait until a … Continue reading

Mother’s Day Fun for All

Whether you are a mom to one or 20, Mother’s Day is reason to celebrate… especially if the Dyson fairy pays you a visit. Even if he or she doesn’t, you can still have fun on your day of days. After all, Mother’s Day is an incredibly special occasion designed to be spent with family and friends. Hopefully, your day won’t include having to cook, clean, or cajole kids into agreeing to a ceasefire for the day. Rather, the day should include fun activities, such as: Tea: Last year I was invited to a pre-Mother’s Day tea that was spot … Continue reading

Nursing Necklaces: A Solution for the Distracted Nurser

When my daughter was a newborn, breastfeeding was pretty relaxing. Once she latched on, she’d eat for about 20 minutes straight without ever coming up for air. I could count on relaxing during these times, and often caught a few ZZZ’s while she filled up her little belly. The older my daughter got, the less relaxing nursing sessions became. I still cherish our special breastfeeding moments together, but I’m definitely not getting any power naps in while she dines. Where she used to be blissfully unaware of the world around her, my baby girl is now as nosy as they … Continue reading