Have Fun With Mother’s Day Gift Ideas—Going Beyond The Card!

Every year, on the second Sunday in May, mothers across the nation sit in bed and await the “traditional” mothers day breakfast in bed. Though they’re excited, and honored, they cringe, knowing what’s coming is burned toast, cold eggs, watery coffee and soggy cereal. Trust me; it takes a mother to appreciate that type of “breakfast.” But it’s not the food that makes this the most special meal of the year. Nope, what makes it special are those little hands that helped prepare it, and the smiling face hovering above the tray.

Mother’s Day became an official holiday in 1914 when—thanks to the urging of Anna Jarvis—President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the second Sunday in May as a day for honoring mothers. From the very beginning, carnations have been a traditional mothers day flower; Miss Jarvis began the tradition of wearing a white carnation, and it later developed to wearing a red carnation if your mother was still living, and a white if she had passed. Flowers for mothers day have become the modern-day version of this and mothers day flowers delivery has become a big business. And why not? As a society, we’ve become more and more widespread, and for most, it’s not like we can stop at the local flower shop, pick up a dozen reds and head over to Mom’s. Instead, we get by with a little help from our friends—the online florist!

The Internet is full of Mother’s Day trivia and humor, touching stories and fun factoids. It’s also full of mother’s day gift guides and suggestions. Over the years, I’ve been blessed enough to be buying gifts for mothers day for a variety of women and I’ve learned a few things to make it a lot easier, and more fun! Delivery isn’t just for flowers anymore, that’s for sure, and I want to make these women feel as special as they truly are.

The first thing I learned was mothers day baskets are my friend! What do you get for the woman who has everything? Or the one who has so many kids, siblings, etc. that more flowers would simply get lost in the shuffle? You turn to the handy-dandy gift basket—nothing says, “You’re special and I love you” quite like a mothers day gift basket overflowing with goodies. The best thing about baskets is there are so many choices! It’s not just all about cheese and fruit anymore. Your mothers day basket could be filled with cookies and candies, spa products, gardening tools, or just about anything you can imagine. It’s all out there; there’s something for everyone; for every taste and every budget. I truly enjoy finding just the right basket for each woman on my list; it’s fun.

My next favorite go-to gift is mothers day plants. They’re the gift that keeps on giving, long after the flowers are gone; and definitely after the meal is but a memory; the plant is still there. My mom’s garden was literally full of plants she received as gifts from us kids. And she knew just who gave her each one. Even when she was on the other side of the country, I knew I could arrange for a mothers day delivery of a special plant. With the Internet, finding the right plant, one that suits the recipient’s taste and climate, is easy and you can find everything from tropicals to succulents online.

There is always the woman who doesn’t have a green thumb, and that would be me. Seriously, I’ve got a long list of girlfriends, sisters and other women all of whom I like to give little gifts to on Mother’s Day. They’re special women in my life, and I like to say “thank you” and “I love you” to each in a personal way. Not everyone is into flowers, and not everyone likes plants. But there is one thing that every single one of the women on my mothers day gifts delivery list does enjoy—chocolate.

For the ones who would kill a plant just by touching it (like me); the ones who have wonderful husbands and children who give them flowers and other nice gifts, I turn to gifts of mothers day chocolate. Even that can be put into basket and delivered! And there’s the big bonus—combo gifts. Mixing it up with flowers, plants, chocolate and other goodies gives me all sorts of gift-giving options when it comes time to pick out a mother’s day gift for all the special ladies in my life.

Yeah, maybe I’m over the top. But I don’t think so. You see, I’m one who would be wearing a white carnation—I can’t call Mom up and say, “I love you” anymore. But there are a lot of women in my life who are still here—sisters, friends, and other special mothers—and I’m not going to miss an opportunity to show them how much I love and appreciate them. Nope. Not me. Now, pardon me, but I have to go brace myself for the breakfast that is to come.