Mother's Day Presents That Don't Stink

Ok guys and kids: it's crunch time. Mother's Day is less than a week away, and I know many of you are still scrambling to get that perfect gift for the #1 lady in your life. If you're still confused why she is still upset about the vacuum cleaner you gave her last year, here are some gift ideas to help you this year.

1. Flowers and jewelry
While these are traditional items, most women enjoy them. Most, not all. I, for one, am not a fan of huge bouquets of flowers. Something simple with a nice note is always nice. Same thing with jewelry. A mom of four kids that are five years old and under probably doesn't have too many uses for a necklace dripping in diamonds. A veteran mom whose children have already left the house may. Remember to think about how useful the item will be to her.

2. Pamper her
A day at the spa or even a simple mani-pedi at the local nail salon beats the heck out of a day filled with carpooling, working, cooking and grocery shopping. You don't even have to go to extremes with the Swedish massage/facial/hair/mani-pedi/mimosa packages which can cost hundreds of dollars. A simple $15 pedicure can make a woman feel like a million bucks and appreciated at the same time.

3. Time
If you go the route of gift suggestion #2, you will also be giving her this gift. Time to herself. If you have young children who cannot stay home alone, someone (cough, cough Dads) will have to hold down the fort while she is away. For many busy, overwhelmed moms, that in itself is a gift. Even a day to herself to run errands or do something she wants to do will be appreciated. Other moms may want time with their kids, especially those who have left for college or moved away. Plan a day with Mom--maybe a meal at her favorite restaurant and spend some time with her...even if it means doing something you hate, it will mean the world to her.

4. Something handmade
For the last couple of years, Moms have been scouring Pinterest for all sorts of recipe ideas, money saving tips, activities for the kiddos, workouts to stay trim and keep the husband happy and so much more. Now it's your turn to check out various crafts and meals that you can make for her. This link has just a few of the things you can do. Even if it looks terrible, she will know that you put forth a tremendous effort just for her. Just maybe give yourself some time to get a back up gift just in case. : )

5. Handwritten note or card
With today's economy, many people are stretched to do anything outside of take care of their monthly bills and when holidays like Mother's Day roll around they become stressed because they can't get her anything. Don't max out your credit card to buy her something fabulous and don't just ignore the day altogether. Sit down with a pen and paper (it's not as archaic as it sounds) and tell her how much you love her and appreciate everything she has done for you. If you have a couple of dollars to spare, you can even frame it. (Wal-Mart has 8x10 frames for about $5)


The biggest thing is that you express to your mom or wife what she means to you and thank her for the countless hours she has spent caring for her family. It also helps if you have somewhat of an idea what likes and dislikes are when selecting a gift.

Moms: what is the best Mother's Day present you have ever received?