Inexpensive Mother's Day Gifts She'll Love

Whether it's the first time or the 50th, the question is always there...what to do for her for Mother's Day: something that shows how much you care and appreciate everything she does -- without breaking the bank. And these days, with the ever-increasing cost of living showing up in such luxuries as gas and groceries, watching pennies is even more important.

Relax. There are some great ideas out there that won't require a second mortgage and will still make the woman in your life feel special and appreciated.

Tried and true...and always a good idea. Whether you're a gourmet cook or a microwave connoseaur, breakfast in bed will start her day off with a smile. And all it'll cost you is the price of a trip to the grocery store (make sure you clip your coupons and watch the specials) and a little sleep. Be inventive -- prepare something that she's not likely to roll out of bed and make for the kids. Rice Krispies might not be the best choice unless you're six.

And -- to top it off and make it the perfect morning, clean up after yourself. When she finishes breakfast and rises for the day ahead, settle her in the living room with the remote control (it'll be okay....it's only for a little while, after all, and she isn't going to break it) and a cup of coffee while you and the kids do the dishes.

really should be from the kids. A two year old isn't going to go out and spend hours shopping for a pair of shoes. And Mom really doesn't expect that from her little angels. Spend a little time planning and brace yourself (and reach way down for that extra patience that you've stored away). When Mom is at work or off running errands this week, cover a table with newspaper and get out the Elmers and the glitter and put the kids to work making something special. It doesn't have to be expensive and it doesn't have to be fancy, it just has to come from the heart:

• School glue (do yourself a favor and make sure it's water-soluble)
• gliltter
• foil confetti
• dimensional fabric paint (works well for all kinds of things, not just fabric)
• cutouts (available and inexpensive at stores like Hobby Lobby, Michael's, or JoAnn's Crafts)
• pins (the kind that come on jewelry. They're inexpensive and available at the same stores that carry the little cutout shapes)

Let each child select a shape and glue the jewelry pin to one side. Allow it to dry while you put out the rest of the supplies:

Spread the confetti out on the table. Have the kids spread school glue on the surface of the cutout and dip it in the confetti then sprinkle glitter over the surface. Make sure that the shape is still recognizable.

Allow to dry and then use the dimensional paint to apply around the edges to give it definition or, if the kids are very small, just let them make a squiggle in the middle of the shape.

Allow to dry for several hours then shake off excess glitter and confetti and you're all done. Now, that didn't hurt too badly, did it? And admit it -- it was even kind of fun. Oh...one more thing.

Clean up before Mom gets home.

You can't buy memories -- but you can try to organize them a little bit. I'm guessing that somewhere you have a drawer full of photos and undeveloped film from birthdays and vacations and Christmas and Easter. Dig in and organize them into an album or two. A few clicks of the mouse and you'll find everything you need to preserve and present those memories.

there's you. The kids were easy. This one's a little tougher.

Relax...you'll be fine. Resist the urge to run out and grab the first shiny, sparkly thing that you see. Also, resist the impulse to browse the kitchen appliance aisle at Wal-Mart. Trust me on this -- she probably doesn't especially want a waffle iron or a new blender. And a new vaccuum cleaner? You'll need it to clean the cushions on the couch that you'll be sleeping on. Plus, those things put more strain than necessary on the bank account. Not to mention the marriage.

Stop. Take a deep breath and think about it for a minute or two. What does she like to do for her? Not for you. Not for the kids. For her.

Does she enjoy reading? Does she enjoy the outdoors? Does she have a hobby? What's her passion?

Well...other than you, of course.

A small, thoughtful gift that shows you thought about her will make her eyes light up. If she enjoys reading, select a book that you think she'll like. Browse her shelves for authors she reads and see if they've got something new out. Go with her passion and you can't go wrong -- and you don't have to spend a lot.

Finish the day with something quiet and simple...bathe the kids, put them to bed and then draw her a warm bubble bath. Set a few candles around in the bathroom (clean it first), pour her a glass of wine or sparkling cider, close the door and give her time. After a year of running errands, driving car-pools, doing laundry, meeting with teachers, working, cooking, vaccuuming and taking care of kids (and partners) with sniffles and fevers...quiet and time are probably the best things you can give her today.