In case you haven’t been to the supermarket, mall, or essentially out of the house in the past month, then perhaps you’ve missed all of the gargantuan Mother’s Day signs that have sprung up everywhere (I even saw one at the car wash. Weird?).
Not that I’m complaining… I mean, where would we be without Hallmark these days? Well, probably forgetting to honor a whole bunch of family members and coworkers (Administrative Professional’s Day, anyone?). So, with the upcoming über-important holiday just about a week away, you should definitely be ready — or in the process of being ready — to shower your mom with love, gratitude, and of course, gifts. But, if you aren’t, don’t worry: neither am I. Though I did feel pretty ahead of the game when I purchased my Mother’s Day cards for the respective moms in my family mid-April, I’m feeling a little anxious now because I’ve yet to buy the gift(s). And it’s not because I’ve forgotten or don’t want to.
On the contrary, I love shopping for my mom; she’s so easy to buy for. We have practically the same tastes and she’ll pretty much adore anything you give her because it’s from YOU. No, the reason I haven’t yet made my purchase is that I don’t know what to get for chère maman. You see, during the past four years I spent in central PA for college, it was understood that — with final exam week kicking in just around the time of Mother’s Day — a card was completely acceptable. But now that I’m back in town, I’d like to do something a bit more lavish. Recently, I’ve been thinking about the kinds of gifts I’ve given my mom over the years. My earliest memories of Mother’s Day consist of making her breakfast in bed with my older brother. We would also make her extravagant pop-out cards from colored construction paper, craft fabulous accessories (think: beaded necklaces), and write poems — there was also that one time my brother made her a clay rock, ahem, paperweight.
But as we matured, so did our wallets (a result of the weekly allowance — thanks, Dad). We would give her store-bought gifts, usually in the form of a picture frame or decorative candle. And a little later on, there were gifts of scarves, potted-plants, and gift certificates. But now, what to get mom? How do you celebrate Mother’s Day? Do you take her out to brunch? Do you send a card and flowers? I’ve been racking my brains trying to figure out what will work this time around. While I’m sure the usual gifts of flowers, jewelry, and perfume will please just about any mom, I decided to be a bit more creative with my approach. Here are some of my thoughts:
Glycerin Loofah Pomegranate Soap, $5; All Natural Body & Face Balm, $14; All Natural Bath & Body Oil, $12; All Natural Foot Scrub, $12
Rosner Soaps, SugarloafÂ
www.rosnersoap.com
My mom’s been really into organic products these days, so I think she’d like these all-natural soaps and scrubs.Â
Silk Pillows, $48 each
Carreras, Rhinebeck
www.carrerashome.com
One thing’s for sure; my mom is a pushover for home décor. These smooth, silky pillows are even the perfect shade for her living room…
Italian Dinner Basket, $95
B&G Gourmet, Hillsdale
www.bggourmet.com
This basket comes with all of the necessary ingredients for a tasty Italian dinner. The only question is, who’s cooking?
Milestones Poetry Framed Poems by Terah Cox, $38-$175
Heaven and Earth Works, Cold Spring
www.heavenandearthworks.com
Local artist and poet, Terah Cox, puts together these beautiful poems for all occasions. Since I probably won’t have time to write one of my own, shall I make her heart melt with one of these?
Karleen Golf Bag by Keri Golf, $295
Glen Arbor Golf Club, Bedford Hills
Northway Golf Center, Clifton Park
www.kerigolf.com
Though I wouldn’t say my mom is the athlete in our family, with the establishment of the new Stony Point Patriot Hills Golf Course pretty much in our backyard, maybe it’s time for her to learn a thing or two about golf?
Tidlywink Vase, $560
Burchetta Glassblowing Studio & Gallery, Carmel
www.burchetta.com
Guaranteed, no questions asked: Dad will be equipped with a huge bouquet of gorgeous roses next Sunday. Won’t they look fabulous in this dainty, hand-blown glass vase?
So what do you think? Would your mom like any of these gift ideas? And, if you have any other ideas, PLEASE let me know — there’s still time! … Right?
