On To Our Mother's Day Gift Suggestions...

I'm keeping my toes crossed which happens to be a little uncomfortable. I'd do my fingers but my typing is bad enough as is. As of late yesterday afternoon and still through this morning, the vermin Text-Enhance is gone. The problem was T.E. attaches itself to FlashPlayer and I found a program called FlashBlock. Now I use Flash only when I want to. So far, so good.

Mother's Day is right around the corner, May 12. Here are a few gift ideas.

HealthCareIsUs.com is currently running a few specials. Take advantage of the Buy 2 get 1 50% off sale. Depends, Clap On-Clap Off, and Easy Use Blood Pressure Monitors are on sale. For the diabetic mother, finger-stick of the month kits are sold in yearly and half-yearly packages. For the diabetic mother-in-law, how about a nice 5# box of chocolates?

Here is an idea from the creative team of Florence Hart and Sitva Knowski. A box of ah-sticks (tongue depressors) can be used to make beautiful garden and plant markers. Dip the entire stick in a light paint color. When dry dip one end two inches into the bright color of your choice. Now your mother can keep her garden organized by placing the sticks and recording the various colors in a nice book. Or, you can go to Home Depot garden department and steal the small plastic plant indicators from all the pots.

In another blog entry I suggested using coasters as name tags for gifts. Here is an idea for using the coasters themselves as gifts. Use coasters as gifts. See how easy that is. 

From the TV show, "How To Re-purpose Things Found In A Landfill" (The CU Network...consult your channel line-up for times) comes this hint for the mom who loves to bake. Tissue paper, small boxes, string and especially twine, are all good for the goodies. Your mother will be so happy packaging her baked goods knowing you worked so hard on her present. 

Another gift for the mother gardener is the Dewhite Tulip Trowel. This tool is exquisitely crafted to look exactly like a tulip but it maintains the durability and sharpness of a sturdy garden tool. Mom will truly dig this addition to her garden carrier. You can purchase on-line at various vendors for the suggested retail cost of $42. On the other hand you can go to a dollar store and buy a spade, a hoe, a trowel, a broom, and a rake for five bucks.

This USB Champagne Cork just may be perfect for the alcoholic mother in your life. She can have hours of fun drinking her favorite wine or 'bubbley' while viewing the 8GB's of grandkid and vacation pictures you have preloaded on this flash drive. Computer or tablet with USB port necessary.

Keds now manufactures a Sungarden Sneaker embossed with all things organic. Plants and seeds abound on this finely made canvas shoe, which is washable. The laces are made using hemp. The shoe is very airy with a sweat resistant lower insert. These canvas garden delights are currently on sale for $67 at Shoes4U. Knockoffs at WalMart are $6.99.

Is your mother looking for a new hobby? Does she need something to do with her hands? Can she still use her hands? The Learn to Yearn For Yarn Starter Kit may make a great gift for her. Just $62 at Darn The Needles Full Speed Ahead or on-line at NeedlesThey'reNotJustForTattingandDrugs.com. This learn to knit kit comes with two spools of wool, knitting needles, a finishing needle, and instruction book. For the mom who learns visually specify the instruction DVD...add $6.

You may have seen screwy hats worn at the Kentucky Derby last Saturday? Now your mother can wear one of her own. The Floppy Hat With Ties is a raffia-and-cotton woven straw stylish chapeau. This hat comes with beautiful brushed cotton adjustable ties and is only $73. You can save a few bucks and get your father's gift out of the way by ordering the hat without ties and including your own.

You can buy stylish necklaces between $35-$156. The web site HandyHelpfulHappyHanna.com suggests collecting shells and sea or ocean glass to make a beautiful necklace yourself. Use a drill and small bit to bore holes through the glass and shells. Then string fishing line or piano wire through your finds and tie them all together. Add a large conch shell for a hat or two matching snail shells for earrings. Home made gifts are special, a lot of work, and don't necessarily make you out to be a cheapskate.

For the unusual and different. The N.Y.C. based shopufirst.com now carries a "Compost Cookie" for $24 a dozen. They are made with pretzels, potato chips, coffee, butterscotch, and three types of chocolate. If you miss Mother's Day, not to worry, these super cookies are made year 'round. 

Screw the two dollar each cookies: How about just plain compost. Rather than down the garbage disposal; put your egg shells, coffee grounds, produce and fruit waste in a backyard bin. Add grass cuttings, fallen leaves, water and aerate, volia' you have compost. It's damn near free, it's fun and easy and good for the environment. If you give your mom a bucket of real compost everyone's mother, Mother Nature, will love you for it.

Here is a novel idea. Give your mother a book to read and manicure and pedicure certificates. For the gift that keeps on giving; a spa treatment of the month, quarterly waxing and electrolysis gift cards. So you don't need to remember; this present says "I Love You" twelve times a year. All this can be hers for one payment of $625. Treatments also sold individually.

Do you remember the Slinky Dog? A great gift idea for mom is Dog Letter Holder. This will beautifully adorn any desk with it's unique shape and likeness. Order your breed and color preference for this eighteen letter, card, or note holder. Small dogs $23, medium $28, and large $34. Cat, bird, and reptile holders are also available. E-mail Patty Whacks Nick Knacks @ whackynow.com for a price list and order form.

This is a good one: A personalized rolling pin. Made from the finest north Atlantic spruce this five pound rolling pin has ceramic inlaid handles. It's laser engraved with your choice of font and name, favorite recipe, or saying. This makes a one of a kind gift. So nice she won't want to get it dirty rolling out pie dough. So really, what's the point? If you truly want one, check out Etsey.com.

Other suggestions include; A  personalized calligraphy name stamp, $42, Polish names add $5. Ink and ink pad sold separately. Mason Jar Mugs with straw $60 per dozen. Plain Mason Jars without straw $6 per dozen. Blown glass wine decanters in the shape of body parts from BreastBreathBlowers.com. Prices depending on body part and size ordered. Small penis special now only $62.50 plus shipping. A colorful collection of decorated push pins and an Andy Warhol designed Lucite striped pen holder $64.

And the perfect gift for mother....flowers.

Or maybe a First Alert Wearable Monitor?