Mother's Day gifts, freebies & deals
Free TCBY cone or cup for mothers on Mother's Day! Cheap flowers from ProFlowers and 1-800-FLOWERS (via Consumerist) 15% off Teleflora coupon!
Free or cheap Mother's Day events and activities in Baltimore and beyond, courtesy of Charm City Moms! Don't miss the Urban Pirates special, free for moms!
Given the battered state of our wallets, are you succumbing to the emotional ploy to buy buy buy for Mother's Day? The National Retail Federation estimates that average spending on Mother's Day gifts will decrease to $138.63 from ... $139.14. Down 50 cents. Still, if you consider all the special meals and activities, people can shell out a lot of money $15.8 billion, especially if you're buying items for multiple matriarchs: mothers, grandmothers and wives.
I think it's a better investment to show appreciation to your loved ones year round, as opposed to waiting for the calendar-mandated displays of affection that generally come with a markup.
However! There is still time to take a DIY approach to Mother's Day ...
... and offer the nurturers in your life something with a personal touch. I'm a big fan of photographs, and folks with access to a home computer could put together a photo slide show or perhaps a digital collage. If you plan ahead for next year, you could still make a photobook or collage.
Or, take the analog approach and make your own photo frame or try some of these other Mother's Day gift ideas from CRAFT magazine. Instructables has a Mother's Day gift contest going, with some good homemade ideas including bath salt bars. ABC News suggests decorating flip flops or other items (last page) --- a good project for the kids!
Has anyone seen good Mother's Day dining deals or other specials? Please share! The Downtown Partnership has compiled a list of places offering Mother's Day brunch, lunch or dinner specials.
(photo: Lloyd Fox/Baltimore Sun)
Comments
I should have suggested this last week but going to the O's game is a good idea. They gave out mother's day picture frames for all mothers so if you already have a good picture to use you got a good gift idea. Plus it gives me another excuse to see a ball game!
Posted by: Chris (Harbor East) | May 11, 2009 4:31 PM