First of all, I would like to send out a great big virtual hug to all of the mamas out there waking up each day to beautiful little faces and all of the joy and challenges that that brings. Being a mother is so hard, and I hope that each and every one of you gets spoiled rotten this weekend, and at the very least, that you are able to steal away a few moments for yourself in the midst of this busy life. But I would also like to reach out to those women who have lost a child, those who have lost their mothers, and the women who maybe right now are struggling with emotions because you are trying desperately to have a child, and it has been more of a struggle than you ever dreamed. And to the step-mothers out there (including my own!) who walk that fine line between caregiver, family, and friend, with grace. Each and every one of you deserve a big heap of love this weekend. I am lucky enough to be very close with my own mom, and to have a wonderful, loving step-mom in my life as well ... it may sound complicated, but I just feel doubly blessed!
Me and my mom, circa 1980
Since Mother's Day is coming right up on Sunday, and I decided to whip up a little last-minute gift guide for your enjoyment, and hopefully to inspire a few ideas if you are still trying to come up with the perfect gift for the wonderful mothers in your life who do so much. And of course since I am in the midst of teaching the second session of Mindful Clutter Clearing, I wanted to make it a clutter-free gift guide...and just for fun, I decided to make it illustrated, too :-)
What are clutter-free gifts, you ask? They are experiences, memberships, tickets, events, and edible, consumable, or otherwise use-up-able items. They show your love + thoughtfulness, without leaving mom with yet another thing to clean and care for. So without further ado, here are 10 clutter-free gift ideas for mom this Mother's Day, or any time of year...
- Concert tickets. Whether your mom prefers classic rock or chamber music, there is sure to be a concert on the calendar that would be just right for her: surprise her with a pair of tickets so you can both go.
- Pedicure. Even better if it's a double pedicure appointment so you can chat and relax together! Or if the gift is for a new mom, including babysitting will send her over the moon.
- Handmade bouquet. Think beyond the typical grocery store bouquet and seek out something a little more unusual: pick wildflowers, harvest blooms from your own garden, or seek out an ethical local company (I love Farmgirl Flowers here in the Bay Area) for some hand-delivered goodness.
- Essential oils. An assortment of organic essential oils (my favorites include lavender, rose, and neroli) makes a thoughtful little gift: make it even more thoughtful by including an oil diffuser or hand-written instructions on how to use them to make a relaxing, scented bath.
- Dinner box subscription. We have been using Plated for about a month now (fyi: this is not a sponsored post) and overall, have been very pleased with the quality of the food + recipes. A dinner box subscription, whether Plated or another, like Blue Apron, makes a really spot-on gift for busy moms.
- Fancy soaps or bath goodies. A nice assortment of delicious-smelling soaps, or a jar of really special bath salts or tub sachets is a can't-miss gift for moms, in my humble opinion. I know I can never get enough of these things, and I rarely buy them for myself!
- Really good chocolate. I mean. This is so easy! Just go for the best of the best here: think Mast Brothers, or something equally decadent.
- Museum membership. There are so many great museums out there, and yes, even in smaller towns! Search online if you're not sure what's out there, and think outside the box: there are art museums, science museums, natural history museums, craft museums, cultural museums and historical centers, and the list goes on...
- Weekly housekeeping service. What a gift! This is something that both new moms and grandmothers will be eternally grateful for. If you want to go the extra mile, seek out a house cleaning service that uses environmentally friendly products.
- A day on the water. It's true I live on an island in the San Francisco Bay, so this may be an especially lovely location for a day on the water BUT everywhere has some kind of water, whether that is the ocean, a bay, lake, or small swimming hole. There are so many ways you can do this and make it really special: go for a sunset cruise, sign up for sailing lessons, rent paddle boats on a lake, or pack up a delightful picnic and enjoy it on a blanket beside a creek or pond.
Well, that brings me to the end of our list! Have you gotten your mom something for Mother's Day yet? And if you are a mom, what do you hope to do this Sunday? Anything special?
