What did you get your mother for Mothers Day? When you were a kid, you could take mom a big bowl of cereal on a tray for breakfast in bed or whip up one of those always fashionable macaroni necklaces. Yes, those are both sure-fire winners — when you’re 8.
But if you have reached adulthood, mom is probably expecting something a little more age-appropriate. Well, let me share a few last-minute ideas that moms everywhere can appreciate — and she may not even realize that you waited until the last minute! Your mother also will be proud that she raised a child who respects the Earth and chooses eco-friendly gifts.
For a tech-savvy mom, try Giiv.com, the first-ever mobile phone text gifting service that claims to be 100 percent green. Giiv.com removes all of the environmental fuss because there is no paper, no shipping, no wrapping and no waste. From yoga classes to charitable donations, gifts are delivered straight to mom’s cell phone via text message. She will receive a gift code to redeem in a store or online.
Also, try an E-card before rushing out to the 24-hour drug store to grab one of the few remaining Mother’s Day cards on the shelf. Here are some e-card Web sites to browse: Hallmark.com, americangreetings.com, bluemountain.com and 123Greetings.com.
You also can check the Internet for e-gift certificates from companies that have a variety of organic and sustainable products. Mom can choose whatever she wants to make her feel special. Anything from home spa items, skin-care products, makeup and fragrances are available. Some of my favorite sites include www.origins.com, www.sephora.com and sheaterraorganics.com. You can order electronic gift certificates that can be e-mailed to mom from these sites as soon as your order is processed.
Consider shopping online for some “green” books or even order your mother one of the new wireless, electronic reading devices, like a Kindle or a Nook. Elizabeth Rogers’ new book, “Shift Your Habit,” is a must-have read for any eco-thrifty mom.
Linsly Donnelly’s “Happy Go Local: The Smart Mom’s Guide to Living the Good (and Sustainable) Life” shares countless ideas from the author’s own experiences with living locally to help raise a happy and sustainable family. From community swaps to cooking co-ops, Donnelly’s approachable, step-by-step style will inspire you to make changes that bring your family, neighborhood and town together.
A Community Supported Agriculture membership is a great way to repay mom for those countless dinners she has prepared for you over the years. Members pay in advance for a portion of a local farm’s harvest and then receive weekly deliveries of organic fruits and veggies. Deliveries are often big enough to split between two households, so consider signing up yourself and mom for a joint membership. Most programs start in June, and you can find one near you via Local Harvest or Green People.
Invite mom (if she lives nearby) over for a Mother’s Day brunch, which you can make using organic ingredients. Whip up your mom’s favorite recipe using environmentally conscious ingredients, like free-range eggs, locally raised meats and organic produce. Give her the most precious present of all — your time and effort. Just make her more than a bowl of cereal, OK?
More upcoming KLB events that are waiting for you:
• May 15, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: GAC cleanups. Call 880-4888 today to set up yours.
• May 15, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.: Recycle it! Fair for electronics and HHW items. Turn in paint (no rusted cans), batteries, motor oil and antifreeze, ink cartridges, cell phones, household goods and more!
• May 22, 10 a.m.- noon: Community Shred Day sponsored by The Heritage Bank in the downtown bank’s parking lot. Paper document shredding will be free to the public. For more information, call 408-3780.
• May 27, 5-7 p.m.: Great American Cleanup volunteer appreciation at the old Mills House, 500 Oglethorpe Highway.
For more information, call 880-4888 or e-mail klcb@coastalnow.net.