Mothers Day 2012 is May 13, 2012

Here it comes again, and you better be ready this year! Remember last year, when you forgot it was Mother's Day until the Saturday night beforehand, and it was too late to order flowers or get a restaurant reservation so you had to go to Walgreen's and buy some drugstore earrings at the last second? Resolve right now that is not going to happen again! This is the woman who gave you life, for Chrissake, doesn't she deserve a little better than a meal at IHop (not that there's anything wrong with IHop....)? So now you know. Don't say I didn't warn ya.
So what do you do now? Start with a card. The cool thing about these Mother's Day cards is that Greeting Card Universe will send them directly to your mom for you. Great idea!

Then add a gift. It can be a mug, a tshirt, a little piece of jewelry, or a cute gym/overnight bag. The gift itself isn't as important as the sentiment behind it (trust me on that, it's trite but TRUE!). The trick is to think about what she likes to do. Does she knit? Is she a foodie? Does she like to dance? Does she have a passion for horseback riding? Whatever she loves, there's a gift out there that will tell her you actually put some thought into your Mother's Day gift. These are from the Smithsonian:

Cupcake Platter Evocative of Parisian patisserie signs, this mouthwatering cupcake platter design is inspired by the artwork of Angela Staehling.

Cloisonné Parade Horse With a regal toss of its head, our magnificent stallion is regally cloaked and caparisoned in hand enameled-over-copper florals, accented with 18k gold-plated filigree and glass jewels. Wooden stand. Variations will occur.

Pan Am Mini Explorer Handbag This Pan Am Mini Explorer Handbag pays homage to the classic jet age icon Pan Am, who ensured “getting there” was a once-in-a-lifetime experience in unmatched civility and the height of cool. Strikingly embossed with the Pan Am logo, this Pan Am Mini Explorer Handbag is a purse-sized replica of the Pan Am carry-on overnight bag, the highly coveted souvenir of world-class travel. Brushed nickel hardware. YKK zippers for smooth action. Handles with 5"drop. Imported. Exterior: durable PU; Interior: Pan Am logo cotton/nylon lining.

Raw Silk Glass Jewelry Raw Silk Glass Jewelry. The leaf pendant, bracelet centerpiece and dangles of fused glass are meticulously multilayered to resemble raw silk. Handmade at a Michigan studio with strands of freshwater pearls and glass beads. Sterling silver findings, pewter daisy spacers. Lobster clasp. Each piece is one of a kind. Specify: Raw Silk Glass Necklace $250.00 (Smithsonian Members $225.00) Raw Silk Glass Stretch Bracelet $65.00 (Members $58.50) Raw Silk Glass Pierced Earrings $75.00 (Members $67.50)

Yarn Ball Bracelet Studded with freeform orbs of hand woven vermeil. Lobster claw clasp. Necklace and earrings pictured are no longer available.

Finally, if you're still stumped, here are some links to great shopping sites on the web so you can peruse at your leisure. Just don't forget to actually BUY her something, in time for shipping. That means ordering by around Cinco de Mayo, because, remember, Mother's Day is on a Sunday and there's no mail delivery on Sundays. I can't stress this enough. But you're grown up, and I don't need to beat you over the head with this. Just don't forget.

Shop Amazon Jewelry - A Gift For Every Mom At Every Price