Just with Valentines Day, Fathers Day, Grandparents Day, Administrative Professionals' Day and any other ‘day’ you want to include, I first and foremost think that we should celebrate the ones we love and appreciate all the time, and not just on a certain day that the calendar (or some genius at Hallmark) decided that we should.
But if do you want to celebrate one of these days, let’s say Mothers Day (since it’s just a few weeks away here in North America - May 12th) I think there are ways you can do it that are lovely and don’t break the bank.
In my personal experience, with any special day, the whole point is to simply acknowledge and do something that makes it feel like a SPECIAL day. You don’t need a giant gift or a big event planned. But you do need to something that shows that you care.
Figuring out how to do this is kind of an art form in itself. I think back to the first few Christmases that I spent with my husband and how they were, a bit disappointing (I mean, I didn’t get a vacuum or anything, but his gifts always seemed a little lacking). When I finally had the nerve to talk to him about it, the conversation was actually interesting. He admitted to feeling fairly crap about gift buying and also that he felt intimidated by the fact that I seemed really good at it. And that’s when I thought that this could be just like anything else really, and that you could learn how to be a good gift buyer. And then to think of this in regards to Mothers Day - could you learn how to be a good ‘Special Day’ planner? I sure as heck think so.
What makes any kind of day special?
FOOD
Food brings us together and we eat different foods to celebrate different things. Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, Birthdays, Canada Day or Independence Day. For mothers day, perhaps host a brunch with your family to celebrate your mother, or have your kids help you make a special brunch or breakfast to eat together. Or brainstorm to think about what your mothers favourite foods are. Is there a dish she loves, or a cake that is her favourite, or certain cookies from a bakery that feel like a real treat for her? If she is the sole or main meal maker in your home, a day not doing those things is lovely (though I also recommend cleaning the kitchen to a high standard when you are finished, cooking is one thing, leaving a clean kitchen is another).
DECORATIONS
There is no need to go nuts with decor (for any occasion) but a few small touches can make a big impact. Flowers for the table (preferably picked), a small jam-jar filled with them left on her beside table, or on the sink in the bathroom or kitchen. Bunting over the window in the kitchen, or some handmade signs taped up around the house. I love the ‘fancy dinner’ touches like name cards for the table (great to make with kids) and then decorating the table with simple things from the garden (bits of greenery, leaves, flowers in little jars).
GIFTS
I can argue back and forth about buying a gift or not buying a gift, that’s totally up to you. I will share some ideas about buying a great gift.
How to buy a great gift:
HOBBIES
Is there a class, book, or magazine that they might enjoy that has to do with their hobby? Is there are new tool or supply that they might like?
JOY
What do they love and what brings them joy? The tiny macaroons from that out-of-the-way bakery? Things with rainbows on them? Accessories from a favourite shop?
EXTRAS
These are often things that they love but might seem frivolous to them, so they won’t buy them for themselves. Gloriously smooth hand cream, a coveted rose bush, a handbag they have been lusting over.
MEMORIES
A framed photo or piece of artwork of a special time together, doing something together as a family, or a slideshow of photos that share your love for the person.
GIFT TOP-TIPS
Avoid buy anti-aging products. Just never do that. If you want flowers, buy a potted plant, and even better - buy a perennial so you can plant it outside and it will come up again next year.
The point here is to MAKE AN EFFORT. It doesn’t need to be a splashy bouquet of expensive flowers. Try marking the calendar for a few weeks ahead of time and do some thinking, if you have kids, do this with them. By doing this, you are teaching your children brilliant life-skills, how to think of others, and how to show that you care (and also that showing you care for someone doesn’t always mean spending a ton of money).
Wishing you a wonderful afternoon!
P.S. Feel free to forward this email to someone who might need to read it (you get the idea). 🥰
You always have such great ideas Julie I really enjoy reading your posts 😊