No child's scrapbook left behind.

My mom made a scrapbook for all seven of us kids. So when I had my first child, I too embarked on the memory making journey. Within six months, Ally’s book was so full of photos and quotes, I had to buy her a second scrapbook. (You know where this is headed.) Baby number two has half a book. Baby number three has a box. No book.

Blurb.com Saved Me

As the pile of unscrapped photos, school papers, and artwork increases, so does my guilt. I swear (swear, SWEAR), one day I’ll get those scrapbooks caught up. Until then, I’ve been saved by Blurb.com.

With Blurb’s Booksmart software, every month I add pictures and stories to a family memory book. The pages are not as “pretty” as scrapbooked pages, but they aren’t as time-consuming either. And at year’s end, I order a copy of the family book for each child.

I do have a long range goal to give each child an individual scrapbook of their first years, but for now Blurb.com is helping me avoid the feeling that these precious days are flying by unrecorded.

Save Someone Else

Blurb.com also offers gift cards. If you know a mom suffering from scrapbook anxiety, why not give her this time-saving gift as well? A gift card to Blurb.com or any photo book service (e.g. Shutterfly, Snapfish, etc.) would also be great for New Baby, Wedding, Graduation, and other life events where you know photos taken are likely to end up in a pile after the party is over.

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.

I had it all lined up. Tennis match in the morning. Very berry tank and white Nike Smash clean. Legs shaved. Lunches made the night before. Play date for half-day kindergartner arranged and a friend ready to run carpool if the match runs long. All systems go!

Until 2AM when I heard the dreaded, ”Mawwwwn” coming from the hallway. “I’m hawwwwt.” “Please no,” I muttered as I tip-toed my un-stretched plantar faciitis feet down to the middle bedroom. Sure enough. He is hot. Too hot. And that’s when my ”You Go Girl!” got up and left. Instead of chasing after the ball in the morning, I’d be fetching Motrin and Otter Pops. I’d be adding ice to his water bottle instead of mine. All systems down.

As moms we are constantly moving–except when we have to stop. Clean the house while the baby is napping. Stop and hold the baby when he wakes up. Run carpool all over town. Sit patiently and help with homework. Frantically make dinner. Stop and eat dinner (sitting down). Chase me, hold me. Play catch with me. Snuggle in bed with me. Go. Go. Go. Stop.

And just when the body and mind start to embrace the pause, the fast-forward button gets hit again. Here’s a Mother’s Day gift idea for the mom who never stops:

• Energy drink or power bar, symbolic of how much energy she puts into the role.
• A gift card to her favorite activity, something just for her.
• An affirmation necklace, t-shirt, or piece of art–something to remind her why she’s doing it all and that her efforts are noticed and appreciated.

The items I have pictured here are a Go Girl Energy drink, a gift card to Lady Footlocker, and a “breathe/patience” necklace from Spirit Jewels. (I could REALLY use this myself.)

Happy Mother’s Day! (Now get goin’!)

Pampering for Everyone

As you know, my little sister Brooke is expecting a baby. Her co-workers surprised her with a gift certificate to her favorite spa on one of her last days before maternity leave. They cleverly Photoshopped a Pampers diaper logo onto a poster that read, “Pamper Yourself!”

I couldn’t help but copy that SO cute idea in a less graphic-skills-required kind of way. Get your expectant friend a package of Pampers and attach a gift card to a spa or salon so mom and baby both get a little “Pampering!” You’ll be the hit of the baby shower!

This got me thinking about other ways to pair mom gift cards with newborn baby necessities. You could get a pack of baby wipes and a restaurant gift card, then write, “For when you’re too wiped out to cook!” My brain is a swirl with ideas.

Check out the New Baby section for other ideas as well.

A gift card for Mom plus an activity basket for big sister.

My girlfriend Melissa is having her second baby. What I think she’ll need most after delivering this little guy is a BREAK. I got her a gift card to a nearby sandwich shop so she’ll remember to feed herself lunch after the baby comes home (and Daddy goes back to work). I attached the card to a basket of activities for her toddler to play with when Melissa is nursing the new kid in town. (Download the “Take Care of Mommy” gift card holder in the New Baby section.)

Nurture New Mom with a Gift Card Tree

On the subject of baby showers, My sister-in-law just turned the group gift card idea into a fabulous baby shower present. Pooling money from friends, Megan bought gift cards to Target for last-minute baby needs, Panera Bread for comfort food, Jamba Juice to refuel, and Bellissima salon for pampering. She tied each card to a plant that will go in new mom’s kitchen—a lovely reminder of the shower and generousity of good friends.

Find other baby shower ideas in the New Baby section.

Teryn gave us a gift card to the movies plus free babysitting.

My 20-year-old step-daughter lived with us for about six months. Though we tried to insulate her from the constant chaos of kids, Teryn couldn’t escape the early morning wake-up calls, dinnertime negotiations, and a constant barrage of questions (“Where are you going?” “Who are you talking to?” “Why do you go to school at night?”).

It’s no surprise she knew exactly what Paul and I needed for Christmas–a babysitter!

Teryn gave us a movie gift card and a homemade ticket that reads, “Redeem for a night off. Admit 3. Ages 9, 7, and 5.” This gift is a treat for the whole family because I get to enjoy a date with my husband and the kids get to spend an evening with their big sister. The movie gift card is a wonderful bonus, but the babysitting alone is all she really needed to do. We can’t wait to redeem this very special gift card!

Click here for more Family Gift Card ideas.