Hello Readers,
I got inspired to write this blog the night before my mom and sister arrived in Belgium. With Mother’s Day coming up, I was trying to think of something special I could do even though I was so far away. I know everyone has their own Mother’s Day plans or traditions, but I got to thinking about all of the things my mother loved the most that we have given her. In years past, I noticed it’s not the material items, but the little thoughtful things we did or made for her that meant the most to her. I have listed five gift ideas below to give your mother or the mother figure in your life this Mother’s Day. If you have any questions about anything please feel free to contact me. I also have these ideas on my Pinterest page under “The Scarlett Suitcase” board.
1) A handwritten note
A handwritten note can be one of the most thoughtful gifts anyone can receive. Let your mom know how much you appreciate everything she has done for you by putting your thoughts in your own words to honor her. A mother makes countless sacrifices everyday for her children. There are more sacrifices than we will ever know. I think it is really important that we acknowledge the love that is demonstrated each day and let her know how thankful you are to have her unending support and care. Being 4,000 miles away from my mom during my study abroad, has really made me realize how much she does for me. She is my rock and I know I can always depend on her for any and everything under the sun. I can’t begin to express how much she means to me and how much I appreciate all she does for our family.
2) Flowers with a handwritten note
You can find inexpensive pretty flowers at your local grocery store. No worries about buying expensive bouquets from a florist. Your mom will appreciate your thoughtfulness and not focus on where they were purchased. I know some people are not fond of buying flowers since they have such a small lifespan, but that’s why I suggest pairing them with a nice handwritten note. Go buy a little bouquet of flowers, write her a note expressing your gratitude for being such a wonderful mom and mentor, and to top it off, why not pick up a sample of her favorite candy? This is a great way to show your mom how much you appreciate her even if you don’t have a big pocket book. Typically, these little things will score big and Mom will love the little things best because they are from the heart.
3) Jar of 365 reasons why we love you
This is one of my favorites! My sister and I created this for my dad last Father’s Day and he absolutely loved it! He later shared that it was his most favorite gift out of anything we have ever given him. We made a list of 365 different reasons why we loved him on the computer and printed each page off in a different color. Then we cut and folded each reason and mixed them up in a mason jar. And we sealed the jar with a cute polka dot bow. This is a really cute way to express your love and we told our dad to open one each day. Why not do it for Mother’s Day??? 🙂 For an example click here.
4) Collage of family photos
Last year my sister and I made a picture collage on a wooden letter “K” (my mom’s first initial) as part of her Mother’s Day gift. We made it to display in her office. The pictures were all family pictures of her, my dad, my sister, and I. We first purchased a wooden cut out letter from the local craft store and then used Mod Podge to adhere the pictures to the letter and provide a glazed finish. There are multiple examples of how you can do this and I have a few posted on my Pinterest board. If you need any advice please contact me. You can buy Mod Podge at any craft store and you can talk to an associate about what the best kind is to get for your project and what level of sheen you are wanting.
5) Time
Last but not least, the greatest gift of all is that of time. If you can’t do anything for your mom then what I recommend most is to spend time with your mom. Watch a movie together, bake some brownies, drink some wine, go on a walk, go out for coffee, or go out to eat together. Spending time with your loved ones is one of the best ways to show how much you love them. I realize this now that I am abroad. I would give anything to be sharing these experiences with my family this year, but these will have to wait until I return to the states later this summer. So… go spend some quality time with your Momma and give her a big, big hug!!!!
Happy Mother’s Day to all of you wonderful moms out there!!
Scarlett
P.S. “Momma knows best!!” ~Anonymous
Scarlett Shine 