Growing up, my mom would always say to my sister and me that we didn’t need to buy her anything for Mother’s Day (or her birthday or for Christmas). As a Chinese mom, her first reaction, if we did, was usually “Why did you waste your money? Or how much did you spend?” Very much like this cartoon by Lela Lee of Angry Little Girls.
“Just be good. Treat me nicely… for ONE day out of the year!”
Well, now being a mom and Chinese myself, I have found myself saying very similar things to my kids. Since they don’t get a monthly allowance, they are pretty good at not spending money on me. Instead, they will let me sleep in while they help their dad make me a nice brunch, and then treat me to a home spa that may include a bath, massage and painted nails. And there’s always a card. I’ve got several boxes filled with handmade cards, art and knick-knacks.
But sometimes we DO still want a little something something for ourselves.
I’ve created a gift guide based on what I would personally love or already own and love and think other moms would too. They range in prices from FREE to $200+ and are in no particular order. All prices in Canadian dollars.
1. Endgrain Cutting board by Bennett Handmade
Beauty. Function. A must have in the kitchen! Yes, my husband, Matt, makes these, so we own one. It’s lovely. You should get one for your mom, with her name on it 😉
2. An Apron
Like this or this, although the latter is probably not as practical since I’d more than likely splash on whatever top I’m wearing.
3. Tea Towels
Another daily kitchen item. I love these Kate Spade ones we picked up at Costco a few months ago.
Stacey from Gingiber also makes beautiful tea towels and I own a few including this one that is currently sold out and this one. She also has a tea towel club where you get a new tea towel every month. I’m not sure that I need a new one every month but they sure do add some fun and whimsy to the kitchen.
4. Phone holder by Bennett Handmade
Matt made this for me as a little surprise since I love listening to music off my phone while I’m doing dishes. You could order your own or for a loved one by going here.
5. Kitchenaid Immersion Blender
Matt bought this for me one Christmas I think and it’s one of my favourite kitchen tools. I use it mostly to make dressings but have also used it to make single serving smoothies for our kids when our blender broke down. Also great for whipped cream. Seems like they’ve updated this slightly to a sleeker design. Available at Amazon.
6. Cast Iron Dutch Oven by Lodge
This has been a game changer in our kitchen. The taste of dishes made in this pot is much richer, smokier and all around delicious. We love that you can easily transfer dishes from the stove to oven and make hearty meals to last throughout the week. I picked this up at HomeSense for just under $100. Much cheaper than Le Creuset’s similarly sized one.
I am not a gardener, but my mom is. I’ve been debating about whether to get this for her for the past few years and may just go ahead and surprise her this year!
8. A Sun Hat
This may not suit every woman’s style but every woman should invest in some kind of sun hat.
9. Sunscreen
Sun protection is so important all year round at any age. My current favourite is this one by La Roche-Posay. It’s lightweight and doesn’t leave you looking like a ghost.
10. Picnic Basket and Blanket
I love classic red and white gingham for a picnic or dining al fresco. So chic. This set from Amazon looks like it would be a great investment!
11. Gift card to Your Local Art Store
I’m like a kid in a candy store when it comes to Art Supply stores. If I had an endless amount of money to spend, I would likely spend it all! But since I don’t, it’s hard to choose just one or two things to get when presented with so many options! I know Matt must feel that way when he goes to Lee Valley.
12. Pens and Pencils
I love stationery and you can never have enough writing tools! The kids always seem to walk off with mine! These ones by Rifle Paper Co at Paper Source are delightful!
13. Paper
A mother can never have enough paper either, whether it’s for the computer printer, to jot down a grocery list, a thank you note, an I love you note, you name it! Your local dollar store can provide you with lots of cheap options!
14. Personalized Stationery
Something I’ve always wanted to get and offer in my own shop! There are so many nice ones on Etsy! You could get a set from here or you could get a stamp from here and make your own. Paper Source also offers a lot of tasteful options.
15. Book
Not every mother has the time or urge to read (mine prefers the tube) but if yours enjoys books, buy one in a subject or genre you think she’d like!
16. Jumpsuit
Sometimes I just want to pull a one-piece on and not think about coordinating separates. A jumpsuit seems easy yet can make you look pulled together. I found this one that is pretty and pink. Maybe not every mom’s cup of tea, but I wouldn’t mind it.
17. Oversized Sweatshirt
Nothing quite says cozy to me like an oversized shirt. This one from Old Navy screams comfy!
18. Bag or Purse
I did not start using a purse until we moved to Saskatoon last summer! My bag of choice was a red one that I was gifted and used for years! But I finally switched to this leather looking purse I found on Amazon and my mom liked it so much that I bought her the same one for her birthday! If I were to get a new bag, it would probably be a toss-up between this tote or this red messenger.
19. Travel Mug
Something I have wanted for a while is one of the Yeti travel mugs, but they are pricey. I am home most of the time, so it’s not a necessity. If your mom works out of the house, then this would be a great gift for her.
20. Flowers – real or fake
I love both types but since our cat, Dex will find and chew on any plants – live or plastic – that we bring into the house, fake is a better option. Found these from this post by Lauren of Bless’er House. Tulips are one of my favourite flowers and these ones are beautiful. Also would love a bouquet of these, though it would be a tad pricier for a dozen of these:
21. A letter/handwritten note
Tell your mom how much she means to you in a letter from the heart! It may take a little more time but it’s hard to compete with something that unique and meaningful!
22. Hand and/or Body Lotion
Busy hands and bodies require lots of moisturizers! I’m not that particular about my hand lotions as long as they are not overly perfumed. But brands we favour include: Vaseline, Cerave and Cetaphil.
23. Bistro Table and Chairs
We got this set almost two years ago, so it’s currently out of stock at Wayfair but here’s a similar one. Perfect for at home lunch dates with your significant other or for drinking your morning coffee. Also great for small spaces and would work on a front porch or balcony.
24. Chocolate
Duh! My favourites are dark or mint! Better yet, dark mint! Favourite brands are Lindt and After Eight! But there are so many delicious ones out there!
25. One hour (minimum) Peace and Quiet
No fighting/yelling/asking for mom’s help! Go get daddy (if he’s around)!
My Gift to Other Moms : Recipe for Homemade Chicken Soup
I’ve been fighting off a mild flu for the past week. So naturally, you know how when you get sick, you just want your mom to take care of you? Even as an adult. Maybe that’s just me.
Whenever I was sick as a child, my mom would make chicken soup and tell me to drink it. Most times I would refuse to and probably suffered longer because of that, but now I swear by the healing powers of homemade chicken soup!
My mom happened to be fighting off the same bug so I couldn’t really get her to come over and nurse me back to health. Plus, I’m old enough to make my own chicken soup now.
Here’s my very simple recipe:
You’ll need:
• the carcass of a roast chicken
• about 6 cups water or chicken broth – I like to do half and half.
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 or 3 celery stalks, chopped
• 3 carrots, chopped into bite size pieces
• 1 chicken bouillon cube (optional)
• 1-2 Tbsp. olive oil
1. In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat oil. Then add in chopped onions, celery and carrots and cook for several minutes until slightly softened. Season with salt and pepper.
2. Add in water/broth, chicken, bouillon cube if using and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Then reduce to low, cover and simmer for 1-2 hours. Lots of recipes say to simmer for much longer, but I prefer to do it for a shorter amount of time. The longer you simmer, the more the soup reduces.
3. You could wait to have the soup the next day, and remove all the fat that solidifies at the top after being refrigerated. But you can also drink it right away.
4. If you prefer your soup with noodles, go ahead and add some pasta of your choice to it while it’s simmering. I prefer it without since the pasta tends to get mushy the longer it sits in the soup. You could remove the carcass at this point but I also enjoy eating the meat right off the soup bone. That may be a Chinese thing, not wasting any of the meat.
