Something For The Mom Who Means Everything

Where would we be without our moms? More importantly, who would we be? Each year, we dedicate one special day to celebrate these wonderful women who love us unconditionally and put up with all of our nonsense 365 days a year. It’s a selfless job, for sure. But it shouldn’t be thankless, too. After all, if it weren’t for our amazing moms, we wouldn’t be here, right? So give her something special. Whether it’s homemade or store-bought, or the immaterial gift of time together, she’ll feel appreciated. Sure, we’ve all heard, “It’s not the gift that counts.” But for Mother’s Day, it is.

Hands-On Gifts For Mommy

To moms, family artwork displayed on the fridge is as priceless as any art hanging in the Guggenheim. And sometimes it’s surprisingly similar, right? Childish splatters of paint and random brushstrokes of genius create mini masterpieces any mom would love. So get out some supplies and let your little Picassos take over. Handprint art is also a hands-down favorite. All you need is colored paper, fresh paints, kid-friendly glue, a rainbow assortment of markers—and a lot of patience.

Check out a slew of adorable ideas on Pinterest.

From One Mother To Another

It’s a tremendous amount of work to be a mom—whether you have one child or a big brood, it’s mentally and physically exhausting. So any mom knows that every mom loves a gift that evokes relaxation. For example, a mug with a sentimental saying encourages a coffee or tea break from the daily mothering madness while reminding her that she’s special. And scented bath salts and lotions coax a weary mom to treat her tired self to a hot, soothing soak at the end of a busy day. Really any gift that forces her to unwind and de-frazzle is primo. So think of a relaxing gift you’d love to get—and hopefully you do—and then get her one, too.

Check out Zazzle and World Market

Still A Kid At Heart

For kids who have already grown up and moved out, Mother’s Day is more about spending special time with the mom who misses you. Of course, you can always show up with fresh flowers and hang out with her at home. Or maybe consider taking her to a nice brunch or any destination where you sit down and spend quality time together—the key word here is together. If the weather is nice, maybe she’d rather go for a hike or a bike ride. But definitely do something—together. Unless you’re miles away—too far to come home—you should show up to show her you love her. And if you don’t want to show up empty-handed, here are a few really cool sites to check out to get some great ideas.

For Moms Who Like To Cook

For Moms Who Love To Work In The Garden

For Moms Who Love To Read

To read the full story visit The Kitchn

For more ideas visit Uncommon Goods

To see more books for Mom visit Barnes & Noble

Give Her A Break Already!

Sometimes the best mom gift of all is a labor of love—taking over one, or all, of her cleaning, cooking, laundry, grocery shopping, mowing, gardening—you get the point—for the day. It seems only fair since she’s been laboring for you since BEFORE you were even born. So why not do all of the dirty work for a day so she can relax for a change? That’s a gift that’s better than anything bought in a store.

And as an extra bonus, YOU can make a tasty brunch menu and enjoy it together before you get started with the chores.

• ¼ teaspoons grenadine
• ¼ cup chilled passion fruit juice
• 1 bottle chilled prosecco or substitute sparkling water
• Orange slices, for garnish

1. Spoon 1/4 tsp grenadine into a flute
2. Top with 1/4 cup passion fruit juice
3. Fill with prosecco.
4. Garnish, if desired.

• 1 1/2 cups chopped cranberries
• 2 cups plus 2 Tbsp flour
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1/2 tsp grated lemon rind
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 large egg whites
• 1 (8-ounce) carton vanilla yogurt
• 1 large egg
• Cooking spray
• 1 1/2 tsp sugar

1. Preheat oven to 375°
2. Combine cranberries and 2 tablespoons flour, tossing gently; set aside
3. Lightly spoon 2 cups flour into dry measuring cups, and level with a knife
4. Combine flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl
5. Whisk together oil and next 5 ingredients (through egg) in a medium bowl
6. Make a well in center of flour mixture; add oil mixture, stirring just until mixture is moist
7. Fold in cranberry mixture
8. Spoon the batter into 12 muffin cups coated with cooking spray
9. Sprinkle sugar evenly over muffins
10. Bake at 375° for 33 minutes

• 2 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 thinly sliced onion
• 1 thinly sliced green pepper
• 1 cup sliced mushrooms
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 8 large eggs
• 2 large egg whites
• 1/3 cup milk
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1 Tbsp chopped fresh or 1 tsp dried basil
• 1 1/2 Tbsp butter
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1 cup fontina cheese, cubed

1. Heat oil in a 10-inch, oven-safe skillet
2. Add onion and pepper; sauté over medium heat 5 minutes, stirring frequently
3. Add mushrooms, cover, and sauté 3 minutes, stirring several times
4. Add garlic, and sauté 1 additional minute
5. Remove vegetable mixture from heat, and transfer to a plate to cool briefly
6. Wipe pan with paper towels, and return to stove
7. Combine eggs, egg whites, milk, salt, pepper, and basil in a large bowl, stirring with a whisk until well blended. Set aside
8. Heat skillet over medium heat for 2-3 minutes and add butter, swirling pan to melt butter evenly
9. Add vegetables to egg mixture in bowl, stir, and carefully pour entire mixture into heated skillet
10. Scatter cherry tomatoes and cheese over egg mixture (do not stir)
11. Cook frittata gently over medium-low heat 15-18 minutes or until cooked most of the way through. To finish cooking the top, preheat broiler and place the frittata about 6-8 inches from heat for 2-4 minutes (watch frittata carefully to ensure that it doesn’t burn)
12. Remove frittata from oven, cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes, and shake pan rapidly back and forth to loosen. Cool a few more minutes, then carefully put a plate over the frittata and invert it onto the plate. Invert it again onto another plate so the frittata is right side up
13. Refrigerate until ready to serve

You can also check out other healthy Mother’s Day brunch options at Health.com.

So hopefully, you have a few ideas to make the day extra special for your mom. But here’s one more very important suggestion—the mother of all Mother’s Day ideas:

Spoil her often, not just one day a year. She deserves it!