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Mother's Day is just around the corner and you may be racking your brain on what you can do to make the day extra special for your mom.
Just like every kid is different, so is every mama. Some might want to kick back and relax, while others may want to seize the day.
Whatever you decide your mom would prefer, she's bound to appreciate the thought and effort you put into making the day memorable.
Here are 10 ways to make this Mother's Day stand out for years to come
1. Cook a family recipe that was passed down to you by your mom
Whenever a special occasion comes up, I pull out my cookbook and flip it to the well-worn page that houses a timeless recipe. Imperial cookies are my specialty. They're a lot of work, but the sheer excitement I see on my family members' faces when they see what I've whipped up makes it all worthwhile.
The top reason I make Imperials, though, is because I know my mom holds a special place in her heart for these cookies.
The top reason I make Imperials, though, is because I know my mom holds a special place in her heart for these cookies. I do, too. I have happy memories of going out to the cottage with my grandma in the summertime and stopping to pick up freshly baked Imperial cookies on the way.
And my mom revisits happy memories when I make these cookies because they remind her of her own grandma. She says the ones I make are exactly like the ones her grandma used to make when she was growing up.
Now that I have children of my own, I carry on the tradition of making these cookies for special occasions.
I like to encourage my twins to have fun with me while we do it, so we don our chef's hats, put on a fun playlist, and make happy memories while we bake up a storm.
Juvale 24-Pack Chef Hats for Kids & Adults
These disposale bakery hats are adjustable and immediately up the fun level in the kitchen when you put them on.
2. Give her some time to kick back and indulge in self-care
It's important to take time to indulge in self-care, but as most of us know, there aren't often enough hours in the day to kick back and relax as much as we would like.
When you DO manage to find the time for some much-needed self care, it's amazing how rejuvenating it can be.
Do your mom a solid this Mother's Day and set up a secret oasis for her to stumble upon and let her know she has as much time as she wants to put her feet up, read a book, and just zen out.
Make her some infused water with lemon and mint or cucumber and watermelon. Put together a platter of healthy snacks you'd nibble on at the spa. Concoct a refreshing bath soak with dried rose petals, epsom salts, and dried oats. Supply her with an array of refreshing face masks with different benefits to choose from. The ones by Real Nature are excellent.
Real Nature Shea Butter Face Mask Sheet
This is the Real Nature Shea Butter Face Mask Sheet by the Face Shop. It nourishes the skin for a firming effect. They offer over a dozen other enticing scent options!
While your mom relaxes and indulges in some serious self-care, you can sneak away to tackle some of the things she normally does in a day. If you communicate this before she starts her spa session, she'll breathe a sigh of relief and truly kick back.
3. Snuggle up and watch your mom's favorite movie with her
No matter how many times your mom has watched her favorite movie (mine is Back to the Future, as evidenced by the photo above), she'll see it in a whole new light and will love it even more when she's got her kids snuggled up to watch it with her.
Make some popcorn or pick up her favorite snacks she likes to get at the theater. Pop some fun drinks into the fridge ahead of time, and make a cozy nest of blankets or pillows to climb into.
Before you start watching, ask her why she likes this movie so much, and then keep that in mind while it's playing. It might become a favorite of yours, too.
4. Start a yearly tradition of whatever your heart tells you to do
The first week of every May, right before Mother's Day, we go to a park by our house and my husband takes the same photo of me with my twins sitting on the same bench.
Taking a picture in the same spot each year is an easy and fun way to see how we change year to year. As timing would have it, we're actually scheduled to go and take this annual photo tomorrow.
This stems from something I had a lot of fun doing while I was pregnant with my twins. Each week, I'd dress up as something somehow related to whatever size the babies were that week.
The week they were born, my app said each baby was the size of the box of chocolates from Forrest Gump...
The week they were born, my app said each baby was the size of the box of chocolates from Forrest Gump, so the photo we have turned into a tradition has us dressed up as similar as we can to Tom Hanks' famous character.
Forrest Gump is my second favorite movie (only beaten, ever so slightly, by Back to the Future), so it makes me quite happy that this has turned into our fun picture we take each year. I guess, in this case, we ALWAYS know what we're gonna get...a photo together on that bench.
5. Give her time to do one of her favorite hobbies
Your mom might not have as much time as she'd like to devote to her favorite pastimes. Encourage her to spend some time doing something she loves and watch the excitement spark in her eyes.
Better yet, surprise her by showing her that you've learned how to do whatever that hobby is, or let your interest be known by asking her to teach you how to do it.
...surprise her by showing her that you've learned how to do whatever that hobby is, or let your interest be known by asking her to teach you how to do it.
Or, you could fuel her passion for her favorite pastime. If your mom likes to collect something, you could try to find something new or unique to add to her collection, or if she likes to build or create things, you could spend some time working on a new creation together.
6. Help her plan out her garden or go flower shopping together
If your mom loves gardening or arranging flowers, sit down and help her plan out her garden. Remind her that the secret to a spectacular showcase is the right combination of thrillers, fillers, and spillers.
Or, head to your local greenhouse and go flower shopping together. I always make sure to grab extra flowers to fill up the basket that hangs on the railing outside our front door. I have something very similar to this one by Kibaga. It's simple and sweet, which is exactly what a garden should be.
Kibaga Hanging Flower Pots for Railing or Fence
This three-pack of hanging flower pots has handles, so you can hang them from a railing, patio, balcony, or fence. They will instantly add a pop of colour and charm to your outdoor space.
If you want to add the element of surprise, put together an arrangement all your own. Design a planter with the pretty blossoms you see and choose the ones that remind you of your mom. Then, tell her why you chose the ones you did. It'll be sure to tug at her heartstrings as she watches them grow.
Once you find the perfect spot for your planter outdoors, throw an "impromptu" garden party with fancy drinks on the patio to celebrate that spring has sprung.
7. Sharpen your pencils and draw a Disney character together
You may not know it, but there are online tutorials by Disney artists that provide step by step directions on how to draw many of the classic movie characters we know and love.
If your mom has a favorite Disney film, chances are good that there's a tutorial on how to draw a character from it.
If your mom has a favorite Disney film, chances are good that there's a tutorial on how to draw a character from it.
Just do a Google search for "Disney drawing tutorial (insert movie or character name here)" and you should be able to find a tutorial.
Alternatively, you can go to YouTube, find the Disney Parks channel and search for their How to Draw series. (If you want to go directly to the How to Draw series right now, just click here).
In 10 to 15 minutes, you can be comparing your artistic abilities and trying to decide how much you'd be willing to part with your masterpiece for.
Or, if you're the type of person who likes to keep these things together, consider starting an artbook, like the one below, that's dedicated to just these fun drawing sessions, and then you can look back on the different characters you've sketched over the years.
Soucolor Sketchbook
Keep all your drawings and sketches in one place with this acid-free paper notebook.
8. Set up a scavenger hunt that ends with a picnic at the park
Put together a set of clues that lead to one another on cue cards and hide them around the house and your yard.
Have it set up so that the hunt ends with a family picnic at the park or going to your mom's favorite local place for ice cream, coffee, or whatever treats she likes.
We took our twins for a picnic at the park when they were four months old and it's still one of our fondest memories from those early days with our newborns.
We took our twins for a picnic at the park when they were four months old and it's still one of our fondest memories from those early days with our newborns.
The sheer idea seemed totally bonkers at the time, but we made it happen and had a great time while the babies had a great sleep and got some fresh air.
If you plan a picnic outing, I highly suggest getting a picnic basket like the one below. It comes with an insulated cooler compartment, a waterproof blanket, napkins, plates, cutlery, and glasses for a family of four...perfect for your outing!
HappyPicnic Wicker Basket Set
This picnic basket is picture-perfect. It comes with place settings for four, including melamine plates, cutlery, glasses, napkins. It also has a cooler compartment and comes with a waterprofo blanket.
9. Create something meaningful from the heart
Whether it's some sort of artwork momento that incorporates a handprint or footprint, or a photo book or digital album that features your favorite photos together, knowing you took the time to create something special just for your mom will put a smile on her face.
Maybe she's mentioned having a favorite photo from a vacation or a place that she's always wanted to visit but hasn't gotten to just yet; if you have enough lead time, you could try your hand at either blowing up the photo and having it printed on a canvas that she can hang up on the wall.
Or, you could try your hand at painting it for her. Either way, it will be an incredibly meaningful gift and she'll think of you every time she walks into the room and looks at it.
If you pique your inner Picasso's paintbrush, these are the canvases I like to use when trying to bring my travel photos to life.
GOTIDEAL Stretched Canvas Multi Pack
This 10-pack of streched canvases comes with five different sizes for painting on.
10. Embrace your ancestry and trace back your family tree
This one may take a bit of front-end planning, but any work you put in can unearth some pretty incredible family roots. Start tracing back the brances of your family tree together.
I recently learned my family tree on one side can be traced all the way back to 1707, which is pretty incredible. The work that went into this project was intense, but oh-so worthwhile.
I recently learned my family tree on one side can be traced all the way back to 1707, which is pretty incredible.
Obviously, depending on the detail of the records your family members keep, this could turn into a massive project that will take way more than one day with your mom, but it'll be something you can start on and continually work on together.
You will create something that each of you will remember forever.
The history you'll uncover, the stories you'll hear, and the photos you'll unveil will be really special and meaningful. The hunt for information can lead to precious quality time spent with other family members who can help with this labor of love.
And, who knows, you might even discover something shocking, like how one of your sisters is almost a carbon copy of your great-grandma, right down to having the same glasses shape (this really happened to me and my sister; it was uncanny).
The work you put into this project is something you'll be able to share with your family and pass down to your children...
The work you put into this project is something you'll be able to share with your family and pass down to your children, who will be happy to have a record of their family history to reference as they get older. If you don't pass it down, how will they know where they came from?
The below workbook is similar to a family history book my husband's granny put together for us many years ago. It's a cherished keepsake that we look back on and reference often.
Our Family Tree: A Generational History Book
This family tree book allows you to input your generational history to have a record keepsake that you can pass down to future generations. It has spots to add in photos as well as citizenship and immigration records.
Make memories together
There are many ways you can make Mother's Day memorable for the mother figure in your life. No matter what you do, keep in mind that you've got the entire rest of the year to make sure you continue making lifelong memories together.
Embrace those moments. Embrace those moms. Embrace those memories.
What was the most memorable thing you did with your kids or your mom for Mother's Day? What made it so special? Let us know in the Comments section below.
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