Showing posts with label gifts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gifts. Show all posts

Mother's Day...right around the corner!

 
Well, Easter is over and spring has sprung...thank goodness! Up next, "Mother's Day". I thought it would be fun to write a post on a Mother's Day dinner, some kid's projects for Mom and a few homemade gift ideas. This post is a compilation of Mother's Day fun recipes and crafts from around the internet. Ideas that I'm interested in and hopefully others are too!
Although my Mom has passed, it was always fun trying to find the perfect present for her. I'm a crafty person, so Mom usually got something that was homemade along with a pretty flower basket that she could hang outside. As they always say, "Happiness is Homemade"!...
My daughter gave me this beautiful geranium flower pot last year. It bloomed all summer and was so beautiful!
I love impatiens. They bloom constantly. My favorite color is pink and I plant them every year at the lake. They always put a smile on my face.

We all love flowers and by far I think the flower basket or planter is the best gift of all...along with our appreciation for all that Mom has done for all of us. I'm pretty sure we all feel the same way about "Mom". The above geranium plant was given to me by my daughter and son-in-law last year. The flowers were so beautiful. I added a planter box of impatiens. The deck looked so beautiful all summer long.

A Yummy Mother's Day Dinner...
OK, let's get started with an easy dinner for Mother's Day. We're all mothers and the dinner should be easy for us too.  I thought about what I would love for a Mother's Day dinner and this is what I came up with... Pinterest came in handy for all these delicious foods except the French Silk Pie that I have made many times. This recipe has replaced all my chocolate pie recipes. It's the most delicious French Silk Pie you'll ever eat. I have put the Hawaiian Chicken Kabobs recipe below. The remaining recipes have links to the recipes. I have made everyone of them except the grilled veggie salad. I'm going to try it for Mother's Day myself.
 
Mother's Day Dinner
Hawaiian Chicken Kabobs
Grilled Vegetable Salad
Grandma's Potatoes
Fruit Salad with Brown Sugar Dressing
Heavenly Rolls (these are so good and so easy)
Pink Lemonade Margaritas

Well the menu is complete. Doesn't it sound wonderful? I added the Pink Lemonade Margarita as an afterthought...Moms like adult beverages too! And really who can resist a "Margarita"?

Hawaiian Chicken Kabobs
Ingredients:
  • 1 1/2 lbs. boneless skinless chicken breasts (cut into about 1 1/2"X 1 1/2" pieces)
  • 1 1/2 lbs. boneless skinless chicken thighs (cut into about 1 1/2"X1 1/2" pieces)
  • Salt and Pepper 
  • 1-2  T. oil
  • 1  can (20 oz.) pineapple slices (quartered)
  • 1 red onion
  • 2 green peppers (sliced to pieces) or a combination of red, yellow, orange and green peppers
  • Bamboo skewers
  • 1/3 C. BBQ sauce
  • 1/2 T. chopped parsley leaves
Note:
I changed up the "Hawaiian Chicken Kabobs" just a little. I personally like green peppers, and red onions with pineapple and chicken, but you can make them any way you like. I also used boneless, skinless chicken breasts and boneless skinless chicken thighs. I think that chicken thighs add more flavor and don't dry out like chicken breasts tend to do. Again, it's totally up to you how you like your kabobs. For the original recipe click on kabob's picture. 

Here is my revised recipe...

Directions:
  1. Salt and pepper chicken. Tread one piece of chicken, one piece of pineapple and one piece of green pepper and one piece of red onion on skewer. Repeat until your skewer is filled.
  2. Cover and refrigerate until your grill is ready.
  3. Grill on BBQ until chicken is done or internal temperature is 165 degrees.
  4. Remove from grill and brush generously with BBQ sauce.
  5. Sprinkle with parsley flakes.
Time for Dessert
Now, it's time for DESSERT!!!! There are so many ideas for desserts...which one to make is the question. I choose two yummy desserts... the Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Trifle and French Silk Pie. Both of them are so good and easy...
This recipe is the best French Silk Pie I have ever tasted. The original recipe is from Cook's Country. It's a wonderful, unbelievable work of art. The taste is amazing. It's not overly sweet and very creamy. It's my son-in-law's favorite pie...It's the BEST!

Gifts for Mom   
Like I said in the beginning of this post, I would always make a little gift for Mom that was hand-made and a hanging basket of flowers for her to hang outside. Here are a few cute hand-made items that you might be interested in making...and don't forget those flowers! Moms love flowers...
I love making bags...lunch bags, carry-all bags, make-up bags...any kind of bags. The ones pictured above were made with panels from Loralie Designs. I love her caricatures of ladies, cats, dogs and whatever.  They are so unique and make really cute bags...LOL! I'm thinking about making a quilt with them when I get some time. If interested, you can check out her website by clicking on her logo below.
I think these gifts are the cute little gifts you can make for Mom. All of them take less than a few hours to make. Simple instructions for all of them. I hope you enjoyed taking a look at some easy, quick gifts to give to Mom...Happy Mother's Day to you all!

Cute Candy Jar with Mother's Day Wrapped Candy Nuggets
This candy jar is from my Easter projects from a few weeks ago, but could be changed out for a cute Mother's Day candy holder. This is an easy project that the kids could do with the help from Dad. All you need is a clay pot, a clay tray for the clay pot and a glass bowl (I purchased mine from Hobby Lobby for around $2). Add some ribbon and Mother's Day wrapped candy nuggets and you have an adorable gift that the kids would love to give Mom. For more information on how to make this, click on read more above...  

Printable Candy Wrappers for Mom's New Candy Jar
Now that you have the candy jar, you need to fill it with some treats. I love these little wrappers for Hershey Nuggets. The above wrappers are printable. Just click on the print button to make the wrappers. The printable labels come with full instructions on how to make these really cute Mother's Day wrappers.

Kid's Crafts for Mom
Now on to the kid's presents for Mom. There are so many ideas on Pinterest that I thought I would share a few with you that are so cute and easy for a little one to make for Mom. The kids always feel so proud when they can give Mom or Grandma something that they make. Those big smiles on the kids faces when Mom or Grandma opens their special gift from the little one is the "true" gift. It also teaches the kids that it's truly better to give than receive. A great life lesson...

All these crafts are from other contributors on Pinterest. Just click on the pictures and you will be redirected to their website for more information and instructions.
Aren't these projects just adorable? I hope one of these work for your kids. They love making them and what Mom could resist not giving them lots of hugs and kisses on Mother's Day!

I love to share great recipes from great cooks. Jenny Can Cook is one of my favorite cooks. Her recipes are easy and delicious. This recipe for BBQ Baby Back Ribs is absolutely DELICIOUS and so easy. If you get a chance to try this recipe, you will not be disappointed! Also check out her videos. They are for the novice cook or the expert alike. Check out Jenny Can Cook website! It's the best!

One Final Thought...
Mom would love any of these cute little projects as a Mother's Day present...Don't forget to buy her some beautiful flowers also. A hanging basket, or a gorgeous bouquet always puts a smile on Mom's face. 

Cleaning Shower Doors 
Have you ever scrubbed and scrubbed and scrubbed those shower doors? Oh how I hate cleaning the shower the doors. Well here's a sure winner. I've tried it and WOW, it works!

Mix together 1 cup Epson salt, 1/2 cup baking soda and 1/4 cup blue Dawn dish liquid (Dawn cleans everything!) Mix it together. Rub in a circular motion onto your shower doors with a sponge. Leave on for 10 minutes. Rub off with a wet sponge and rinse with water. SPOTLESS! After going through all that work, keep a bottle of white vinegar in your shower. After each use, spray vinegar on the shower doors and rinse. they will stay cleaner a lot longer.


I hope you enjoyed this post for Mother's Day. It's always fun making something for a special person and making an easy dinner that everyone will love. The kids love crafts and when it's a special occasion like Mother's Day they put their whole heart into their project. Their eyes get so big and their chests are pumped out with so much pride. The thank you for their gifts will be a big hug and a kiss from Mom and Grandma. Everyone understands hugs and kisses...until next time...and a very Happy Mother's Day to you all!

Always remember..."Life's short...eat dessert first!"...words to live by!