Mother’s Day Gifts She Will Love

It’s more and more of a challenge to figure out what to get for the environmentally conscious, discerning mom. Flowers have a major carbon footprint, gold mining is really bad for the environment, and the movie Blood Diamond was called that for a reason.

The old stand-bys just aren’t as popular as they once were. No worries! Keep this little environment- and wallet-friendly gift guide handy; it may well come in handy for other holidays, too!

On the Cheap:

Mom’s a classy dame, but that doesn’t mean you need to spend dollars you don’t have to please her. Everybody’s feeling the pinch of the recession. Besides, while it’s not entirely true that “It’s the thought that counts,” it is true that a well-thought-out gift doesn’t need to have a huge price tag attached to make it memorable.

Whether it’s your mom or your wife, you can create a wonderful gift out of thin air. Just add one ingredient; TIME!

– For an overwhelmed mom, a few hours on her own can be a blessing beyond compare.

– For your wife, the momma of your babies, an evening dedicated to her and her desires is a gift that will give back to you, as well.

– For your mom, a weekend of mom at the steering wheel may be a sweet walk down memory lane, and memories are one of the greatest gifts you can give.

– Coupons for massages (from you), yard work, a few hours off, or a weekend “staycation” could be just the ticket.

$ – $$:

Gifts don’t need to cost a mint to mean a lot. So, in the next price bracket up from free, there’s the low-cost, high-yield category.

– A fancy dinner… prepared by YOU! What kind of food does the mom in your life like best? Find out, figure out how to make it, and go to it. Cost: variable, depending on ingredients needed.

– A professional massage is a gift that pretty much no mom would turn down. Do your research, ask around, and find a recommended massage therapist. Then ask if the therapist is offering a Mother’s Day Special. Sometimes you can get a package deal, and give Mom a gift that will stretch over a few months. Cost: one massage, $60 – $90 on average.

– A professional photo session is a sweet gift that lets your momma know you think she’s beautiful. We’re not talking Portraits-R-Us. Find a local professional photographer. Cost: $50 and up.

A New Twist on Traditional Gifts:

Okay, so you’re attached to the roses, the diamond necklace, the champagne brunch. Well, store-bought cut flowers are an ecological no-no. Diamonds and precious metals are second only to fur as an item of guilt for the conscious wearer. And out of all the bottled beverages, champagne has the largest carbon footprint of all, because of the thick glass bottle, among other industry-wide issues.

However, you can have your cake and eat it too; make the whole shebang as earth-friendly as it is profoundly sweet to the mama in your life. Being green is being guilt-free.

– The Flowers: Eco-safe cut flowers run from $40 up. But the extra dollars will go a long way toward your (and her) peace of mind—and eco-safe flowers stay fresher longer.

– The Jewelry: Brilliant Earth is the company at the forefront of the sustainable edge for jewelry companies. You won’t be finding a $150 pendant here, but you’re investing in a thing of beauty that is unmarred by the guilt of ecological and cultural misdeeds.

– The Champagne: The most eco-friendly champagne out there is made by Vranken-Pommery Monopole. Champagne POP Earth is as eco-safe as it gets.

Take the above mentioned items, add a farm-fresh, organic, poached egg and some bio-dynamically grown, slow cooked potatoes, and you have a green Mother’s Day brunch that will be remembered fondly for years – and perhaps even generations – to come.

Lasara Firefox Allen, MPNLP, is a best-selling author, educator, activist, and coach. Wife to her True Love, and mother to two amazing young women, Lasara believes in living the life you want to create. Lasara is available for coaching and spiritual guidance.