Holidays Helper » Mother’s Day

Last Minute Mother’s Day Crafts

Thu, 05 May 2011 14:00:45 +0000

With Mother’s Day only three days away, there isn’t enough time to start a major project. Shopping may seem like the easier option, but sometimes it’s the small things that kids make or do that create a wonderful memory for Mom. So with less than 72 hours, what can you have your kids make in time? Both of the following gift ideas require little money or time. Plus, they are presents that can be made by kids of all ages. Why not give one (or both) a try?

Personalized Placemat

Construction paper (12″ x 18″)

Crayons, markers, etc

1. Have your child draw pictures of what they think “mom” is to them, a great memory of mom, what their favorite thing to do with mom is, etc.
2. Have them write (if they can) their name, a message, and make sure to date it, too.
3. Then take it to a printing shop and have the drawing laminated.

-Cindy Sawyer, founder of Towelocs

Flowers for Mom

Flowers

Vase, drinking glass, etc.

With the help of dad or an older sibling, any child can create a pretty and very inexpensive Mother’s Day gift. Simply fill a vase, drinking glass, bowl or other suitable substitute with water. Then clip off a few fresh blooms from the garden to make a lovely arrangement that has that unique, personal touch.

-Mike Sikes, horticulturist, Gardener’s Confidence Collection

Homemade Card

Paper- photocopy, construction, etc.

Crayons, markers

If you only have a handful of minutes and are short on supplies, there’s nothing quite like a card. Depending on the child’s age, have him or her write a message (or write it for the child). Add a picture, and it’s ready!

Quiet Shopping for Mother’s Day

Mon, 25 Apr 2011 11:17:34 +0000

While writing this article, I read these words in a report from the USDA Forest Service: “The Mother’s Day fire was ignited by lightning on May 5, 2010.” What they don’t tell you is that the lightning struck when someone gave his mom a gift-wrapped dust mop!

Anna Jarvis, founder of Mother’s Day, had harsh things to say about customary gifts: “A printed card means nothing except that you are too lazy to write to the woman who has done more for you than anyone in the world. And candy! You take a box to Mother—and then eat most of it yourself. ” Still, most mothers would rather receive a mass-produced card and a box of candy than nothing at all – or worse, a gift (like the mop) that says, “housework is your life.”

So you may be surprised when I advise you look for a Mother’s Day gift at the hardware store. A hardware store has one huge advantage; it won’t be over-run with Mother’s Day shoppers. If you’re driven away by the crowds at the candy store or the florist’s, this is the place for you. It also has more gifts for mom than you might think, even if she’s not the handy woman type. How about some flowering plants for her garden? Maybe a table fountain or a framed art print?

You may think a gift card is impersonal, but it will probably be welcome. Where should you buy one? Lots of the good places that are quiet on Christmas Eve (restaurants, theaters, etc.) may be busier around Mother’s Day, as people take their moms for an outing (not a bad gift idea, by the way). Also consider gift shops and specialty food stores. But if your mom’s the bargain hunting kind, think of stopping by a thrift store and buying her a gift certificate there. A gift card from a spa or salon may be good, too.

Your public library may sell gifts like note cards, mugs, and books. Don’t forget your computer; you can buy and print gift certificates or even print out e-books without leaving home.

So you can avoid the crowds of shoppers this year and still make your mother happy.

More on Mother’s Day

Thu, 06 May 2010 13:01:09 +0000

Something about all of the television and newspaper advertisements seems to be hinting to me that Mother’s Day is just around the corner. Everywhere I go I see an ad about how to let my mother know how much I love her. I suppose a simple “I love you, mom” could do the job…erm, maybe not. Of course, she will appreciate those four words, but I do believe she is expecting something more. Darn, I should have kept her away from the TV and the fliers these past few weeks! Just kidding.

As kids, my sisters and I never had enough money to get a Mother’s Day gift. If we did, it would be some cheap Bath and Body Works product or some fake perfume; it’s the thought that counts, right? We usually went the more personal approach. We gave her a personal “spa treatment” done by yours truly and company, and she typically got a coupon book as well. I was talking to my mom the other day, and she surprisingly said that she would choose a massage, nail-painting, hair-brushing, etc. treatment done by her three girls than a professional. It is the quality children time that matters the most to her.

She also said that she was a big fan of the coupon books. Although the chores that she could have applied them to were ones that we should have been doing in the first place, such as vacuuming the living room or brushing the cat, she liked being able to have that coupon book. However, now that I think of it, I do not think she ever used one of those coupons! Nor did she ever mention them when were reluctant to do a job around the house. I think that she knew that she was probably going to win anyway, so walking up the stairs to get the booklet would have been a waste of time.

Give the gift of family time this Mother’s Day. Now that all of her three daughters will be off to college next year, I think my mom may appreciate that more than a bucket of perfumes and shower gels.

Mother’s Day Crafts- Part 2

Fri, 30 Apr 2010 13:08:49 +0000

What would Mother’s Day be without an assortment of homemade crafts being given as gifts? In the first part of this series, we had two simple crafts that make wonderful presents. However, if you’re looking to give your mom something different this year, how about making items that she can use to pamper herself?

Bath Salts for Mom from KellyAnn Bonnell of Phoenix, AZ

What you need:
1 bag of Epsom salt
bath dye*
bath scent
craft sticks
plastic bag
ribbon
disposable wine glass, optional

Directions:

Have the child scoop some salt onto a tray. Add a couple drops of dye and a couple drops of scent, and mix it together with the craft stick. Scoop it into a plastic bag, and tie with a pretty ribbon. The bags can be placed in a plastic disposable wine glass for decorative purposes.

*Do not use food coloring. It may stain skin and bathtub.

Papaya Rehydrating Mask from Dr. Susan Evans, Chief of Dermatology for Cosmetic Physicians of Beverly Hills & WebMD Expert

What you need:
1 cup papaya (remove seeds)
4 Tb. honey
2 egg whites
3 TB. lemon or orange juice
small jar with lid

Directions (for making):

Puree ingredients in a blender. Transfer to jar. Place in refrigerator until chilled.

Give the jar of rehydrating mask to your mom, and include the following directions: Apply mask over entire face. Relax and leave on for 10-15 minutes, then rinse

Mother’s Day Crafts

Fri, 23 Apr 2010 14:26:19 +0000

With Mother’s Day right around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about what you’re going to give to mom this year. Sure, moms love homemade presents from their children, but these presents are even nicer when they’re something that mom can use for herself, in her kitchen, or as a decoration. If you are the adult who gets to help the kids make Mother’s Day gifts, you’ll like that all of our ideas are simple, just a little adult supervision required.

Apron for Mom from Parenting Press

What you need:
butcher-style cotton apron
fabric paint, crayons, or markers
buttons, ribbons, etc.
glue gun

Directions:

Option 1: Make handprints on the apron, using fabric paint. Coat child’s hand with paint, and press onto apron. (Younger children will need extra supervision. Remind all children to wash their hands after applying paint to the apron.)

Option 2: Decorate apron with child’s drawing or message (“I love Mom”), using fabric crayons or markers. A drawing like stick figures of mother and child could be embellished with buttons or ribbons. (An adult should attach these decorative items with a glue gun.)

Mother’s Day Corsage from Elaine Stephen

What you need:

3 2-ply tissues – white, pink and/or yellow
glue
1 piece of construction paper
1 piece of foil
scissors
1 safety pin
pencil
1 glass
1 small bowl

Take a tissue, and fold it in half lengthwise. Then fold it in half width-wise, and finally fold it in half diagonally. The tissue should look like a triangle now. Hold the tissue at the folded end and cut a half circle around the open ended top. Squish 1″ of the folded end of the tissue together with some glue. This forms the bottom of the flower. When dry, pull out the tissue parts to form a circle. Separate the tissue layers. A flower has been made. Make 2 more flowers.

Use the glass and a pencil to draw a small (about 3″) circle on the piece of paper. Use a small bowl and the pencil to draw a larger (about 5″) circle on the foil. Cut both circles out. Cover the foil circle with the paper circle. Glue the foil to the paper. Glue the flowers on the circle. You have completed the corsage. Mom can use the safety pin to pin it on.

Mother’s Day Luncheon

Tue, 13 Apr 2010 14:17:41 +0000

This Mother’s Day treat your mother (and perhaps other close female relatives in your life) to a Mother’s Day luncheon party. Make it a festive but casual occasion to celebrate mothers and motherhood. Here are the details of planning the event. This year, Mother’s Day falls on Sunday May 9th.

The Plan: Make it a small get together and invite your mother, close relatives, and friends. Make a menu plan and decide on the décor (and other essentials) at least 3 weeks in advance, and send the invites at least 1½ weeks in advance.

The Details: If you want, you could host the little party at your mom’s favorite restaurant, otherwise you could host it at home. Think simple, modern, and definitely homey. When it comes to décor and details, neutral is good, but don’t be afraid to add a hint of color like a deep shade or red or pink. A light cream colored tablecloth with coordinating table accessories work fine. Don’t forget to add at least one vase with fresh flowers. (Roses are an excellent choice, but other blooms can work.)

The Meal: Since this is a simple luncheon, you don’t have to go all out. All you need is a main dish with a side, a small dessert, and a light beverage. Use your imagination, but keep things easy. Plan a perennial favorite with a twist like mac-and-cheese garnished with crunchy bacon bits, then add a fresh side salad and strawberry shortcake for dessert. You really won’t need appetizers. Remember a luncheon is often held during mid-day, so keep that in mind when selecting beverages. You could serve a bottle of wine (one or two glasses per guest) for adults and kool-aid for children, or you could serve one beverage choice for everyone like lemonade.

The Event: The day before the party make everything easier for yourself by preparing ahead, like housecleaning and buying the food/décor. Save last minute details for the day of the party and relax. Prep your bathroom by keeping a box of tissues and a fresh bottle of liquid hand soap for the guests. Add a few extra homey touches like throw pillows and reed diffusers to the living room for guests to lounge and enjoy themselves.

Make Your Mom Smile This Mother’s Day

Tue, 05 May 2009 14:17:54 +0000

Mothers are very special people who deserve the very best. As Mother’s Day approaches and you contemplate how to put a big smile on your mother’s lovely face, rest assured that the choices for gift giving are many. If the economy has you down and you find yourself short on funds, then don’t worry- a celebration of your mother does not have to be costly.

Start with telling your mother how much you love her and wishing her a “Happy Mother’s Day”. Take her for a walk, write her a poem or a letter, help her clean her home or do yard work and maybe splurge on ice cream cones that you both can enjoy in the park.

Mother’s Day should be celebrated in a manner most befitting your mom and her tastes. If she likes to garden, then perhaps a plant, a gift certificate for the local nursery, or a new gardening tool to wear out in the garden would suit her just fine.

Or maybe your mom is looking to dress up her yard a little more as the warmer weather arrives. A new lawn decoration might be what would suit her best. The important thing is that you listen and pay attention to what your mother talks about in order to figure out what would suit her most and make her the happiest. Some mothers appreciate practical gifts while others don’t mind indulging in some frivolities and luxuries once in a while.

Speaking of luxuries, even if your mother insists that she doesn’t need or want anything, spoil her anyway! You might want to surprise her with something she would never expect. If you are not inclined to send flowers, then order a Mother’s Day bouquet for her this year. To surprise her further and to save yourself a few dollars, order the flowers the week before Mother’s Day.

Gift baskets are always a welcome way to say thank you and I love you to your mother. You have two choices- you can buy one already made or you can buy a basket and some fancy wrapping and make your own. The choice is up to you. The point is to fill it with whatever mom likes. Different brands of coffee or tea? Bath products? Kitchen items? Whatever would please your mom is what the basket should end up containing.