My sweet step-daughter lived with us for about half a year–just long enough to see what makes this household tick. Proving she knows me pretty well now, I came home yesterday to the perfect Mother’s Day gift. She left a 32-pack of Diet Coke, a gift card to the spa, and a coupon for free babysitting on my front porch. She even wrote down days and times that she’s available to watch the kids. Honestly, she had me at the DC and free babysitting.

Teryn’s gift is the perfect example of turning any gift card into a thoughtful gift. She followed all of my rules. She gave me the gift of self-indulgence (something I can rarely afford to do), offered to babysit (knowing I’d need someone to watch the kids in order to indulge), and included my favorite drink (ok, I have one guilty pleasure). It’s practical, personal, and perfect for me. Thank you Teryn.

I’ve got other Mother’s Day ideas listed on my web site. Many of these can be adapted for mom’s birthday or for Father’s Day coming up on June 20th. If you have some ideas of your own, post a comment below so we can all learn.