Although it may seem difficult to celebrate Mother’s Day this year, simply putting in the effort to do something that will make your mum feel loved will instantly improve her day. Even if you don’t live in the same household as your mum, don’t worry! There are plenty of ways in which you can surprise your mum. Make her feel like you went above and beyond to make this day her special day.

1. Create an at home spa for your mum

The sedative scent when entering a spa is essential to calm the soul, and relax the nerves. Why not treat your mum and lift up her spirit with her very own stay-at-home spa day? Light some scented candles, turn on relaxing music, stock up on face masks, and allow your mum to savour the relaxing moment. Did you know that lavender is not the only calming essential oil used in spas? Try out a new oil, such as Geranium and clary sage oil, to add an extra hint of luxury.

2. Enjoy nature with your mum

As the freezing winter days slowly come to a finish, the sun is beaming brighter for the first time this year, and the flowers are blossoming. Take this opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors with your mum this Mother’s Day.

Whether you go on a peaceful walk, sit on the porch together, or even host a lockdown-friendly mini picnic in the back garden, your mum will be ecstatic to spend time with you. If you’re not able to see your mum in person, try taking a walk together virtually via video call.

3. Surprise your mum with some home comforts

Sending a card along with some flowers and a lovely message is always a good way to show your mother how much you care about her. This year, surprise her with some extra goods for the house. After all, if you’re going to stay home, you may as well do it properly! We all know that every mum secretly wishes she was currently snuggled up under a soft blanket, in front of the TV, indulging herself in some delicious chocolates and delectable ice cream…

One of our current favourite blankets includes this extremely soft teddy bear throw, perfect for snuggling and keeping cosy!

How about helping your mum prepare her bedroom for the upcoming spring with one of our beautiful floral duvet covers, such as this amazing design by Catherine Lanfield.

4. Bake something with your mum

Baking some tasty goods together is a sure-fire way to bond with your mum. Select one of your mum’s favourites, buy all of the necessary ingredients, and have fun creating your masterpieces (or cake disasters…). Either way, this will be the perfect activity for both of you to enjoy.

If you’re unable to meet up with your mum in person, order her favourite cake, pie or doughnuts online and sending them straight to her door! Or, bake something yourself and drop it off right at her doorstop. A personal favourite of ours are the gorgeous postal brownies from Finch Bakery. Try a box here!

5. Participate in a family games night

Without a doubt one of our favourites on this list. Gather the household together in the evening and grab every board game, puzzle or jigsaw in the house and participate together in some fun. Just make sure to let your mum win every game!

Don’t worry if you don’t live with your mum. Host a video call or Zoom meeting with both households, and play some games virtually. Some of the best choices for virtual games include Bingo, trivia questions, Pictionary, Heads Up, or Charades.

6. Gift a subscription box

COVID-19 has made most people’s life dull, and probably your mum’s too. Uplift her spirit with a fully customised or personalised subscription box. The internet is filled with many online websites and shops offering subscription boxes, made for everyone’s personal tastes and preferences. Whether your mum is a sweet-tooth, a healthy snacking mum, a home decorator, a geeky mum, a bookworm, or a flower lover, there will definitely be the perfect subscription box made just for her.

Select the ideal subscription box, choose how often you want your mother to receive a brand-new box, and most importantly, make sure to order it in time so that it arrives on or before Mother’s Day 2021.

7. Create a custom photo album with your mum

Take a trip down memory lane with a DIY, custom photo album. As much as people may enjoy materialistic gifts, nothing screams love and thoughtfulness more than a custom photo album, made straight from the heart.

Pick out some of your favourite photos of you and your mum, as well as other family members, friends and pets, and create a beautiful memory for your mother to treasure forever. Try including photos of special events, dates and holidays for your mum to look back on, and become excited about future events once lockdown is over.

At the end of the day, whatever you decide to do, make sure to let your mum know she is appreciated and loved. We wish you a very happy Mother’s Day 2021.

The post 7 Ways To Surprise Your Mum This Mother’s Day 2021 In Lockdown appeared first on HomeSpace Direct.

Every year mother’s day serves as a reminder of the importance of mums, it is good to show appreciation of your mum every day but whether it’s through creating personalised gifts, spending money or spending time/ organising something nice to do mother’s day marks a day we should go above and beyond to show how much we care.

What to do on mother’s day

A great way of highlighting the significance of mother’s day is to make the effort to do something, sometimes the greatest gift can be as simple as going for a meal as a family. Spending time with family will mean a lot to most mums and is a great way to make sure mother’s day doesn’t go by without feeling like a special day.  Alternatively you could organise a day activity like a family bike ride or a trip to the cinemas or even afternoon tea; websites like Groupon offer many packages specifically for mother’s day including afternoon tea packages and Spa treatment deals.

If going out isn’t your mums cup of tea they may find it just as thoughtful spending the day in with the family, you could buy a board game as a gift or a DVD of that film she has been waiting to see; if she’s not watched one of the big TV series, like Breaking Bad or Game of Thrones, you could buy a box set of all seasons. To add a personal touch to the day you could even cook your mum one of her favourite meals, putting a bit of effort into making something yourself can make all the difference.

Mother’s Day Gift Guide

While arguably every day should be mother’s day, the 26^th March is Mother’s Day and a day to go above and beyond for mum. From personalised coffee mugs and DIY ideas to fancy afternoon tea, follow our extensive guide detailing an array of special gifts tailored just for mums.

The Card

Every mother’s day should start with a good card, it sets the scene for the whole day. It depends on the mum but you should be thinking of a theme for the card, some mum’s prefer sentimental cards while others prefer the novelty of a cheesy joke card. There are a number of websites for creating customised cards; this could mean putting your own typed message into the card or featuring photos of mum on the front. For the ultimate in sentimental value (or if you’ve forgotten to buy a card) you should make your own, visit your local arts and crafts shop, maybe stick a print of your favourite family photo inside the card. No matter how bad your DIY skills are, as long as it looks like you’ve put the effort in mum will appreciate it.

Personalised Gifts

Customised Mother’s day gifts tailored specifically for your mum are always more memorable. As mentioned previously getting the right card for your mum requires some thought but there are a number of websites for creating customised cards; this could mean customising your own typed message, using family pictures or just designing a card more thoughtful and specific to your mums interests.

Many websites for customized gifts also exist, offering a plethora of gift ideas such as; mugs, balloons, journals/ notebooks, recipe books, jewellery, candles, clocks, phone cases, key rings, plates, coasters, placemats, t- shirts and even chocolates all with personalised messages and an image of your choice printed on. Choosing your favourite family photo or picture of you and your mum is great way to show how much you value the time you’ve spent with her and with such a large variety of customizable gifts available online you’re bound to find something appropriate.

There’s also a variety of websites which allow you to compose a special photo album of images of your choice, maybe scan all of her old non-digital photographs and consolidate them into an album. This creates a great opportunity to sit down with mum and relive long forgotten memories. If you’re feeling brave you can try your hand at knitting and knit a scarf or some mittens, or even a tea cosy.

Gardening

For mum’s who love gardening, or even just mum’s who love spending time in the garden, ornaments or plants are a perfect gift. This could mean a stylish bird dish, a pottery ornament to sit amongst the plants, or a fresh new plant ready for spring. On the subject of spring, if you’re feeling optimistic you could buy a fancy new sun bed for mum in preparation for the scorching summer ahead. If you’re not at home this mother’s day you can also arrange for a bouquet of flowers to be mailed right to her doorstep, along with a special personalised message. Alternatively, on Mother’s day, you could introduce mum to the world of gardening with a small gift set of tools and seeds with some fancy pots.

Rest & Relaxation

The average mum wants nothing more than a bit of peace and quiet, there’s a variety of things you can buy to ensure she has a chilled out day. You could buy her a new pair of comfy slippers, fresh pyjamas, and maybe a soft new dressing gown. There’s nothing mums like more than candles and aromatic apparel, treat her to a set of scented candles and diffusers, and maybe buy a selection of fancy bathroom products to suit. You can even buy wrapped gift sets featuring an assortment of luxury bathroom items like bath bombs, bubble bath, and soap. A new throw or a nice duvet cover set will ensure your mum is comfortable and can be a nice makeover for her bedroom, at Homespace we recommend 100% cotton quilt covers as these are higher quality, softer to the touch and more durable than polycotton.

Fun, Games, & Outdoor Activities

On the opposite end of the spectrum you could arrange a day of fun outdoor activities like a family bike ride, a picnic, or a visit to a museum. You could also map out a nearby walk and have lunch out at a local restaurant or pub. Alternatively you could buy a fun board game for the family to play, or just pull out one of the ones you bought for Christmas. Indoor activities for Mother’s day can also be accompanied by a DVD or an album she might like; if she’s not watched one of the big TV series, like Breaking Bad or Game of Thrones, you could buy a box set of all seasons. Anything which means you’re spending time with mum is a win.

Cooking

For mum’s who love to cook and bake you can’t go wrong with a new cook book, choose something fun, get the new bake off bible, or gift mum the trendy new Joe Wicks healthy eating guide. To go with the book you can get a new apron and oven glove set, or fresh cutlery to complete the set. For something a bit different you could even surprise her by preparing your favourite recipe from her new cook book, this is perfect for adding that personal touch to the gift. Alternatively if you really love mum you can get her an expensive electronic mixer designed only for artisan level baking.

Gadgets and Gizmos

Bring mum into the 21^st century with a new piece of tech or a handy gadget to help around the house, or introduce her to the world of Netflix with a Netflix gift card. You can also get high tech alarm clocks that simulate sunrise before going off, it’s hardly a Rube Goldberg style automatic breakfast machine but it eases the pain of getting up in the morning and facing the family. If mum loves to read, a kindle would make a perfect gift if you’re looking to spend a little more, alternatively if she already has a tablet (or if you’re not looking to break the bank) you could always get a personalised protective cover for her tablet or phone.

On a different note you could just go for the classic box of chocolates and flowers, what it lacks in originality it makes up for in chocolate.

The post Get Great Gift ideas for Mother’s Day Here. appeared first on HomeSpace Direct.

What should I be cooking?

The first question you might pose to yourself is an obvious one – what does your mum like to eat?  And – perhaps more importantly – what does she not like to eat?  If she absolutely detests fish, and you cook her kedgeree, then you’ll display your ignorance of her likes and dislikes – and that’s something you should ideally avoid.

Spread the risk

If in doubt, it’s best to spread the risk by constructing a breakfast comprising a wide range of different foodstuffs.  That way, if there’s one small component she doesn’t quite like, she can always leave it to one side.  This is especially so if you make things slightly posher than she’s used to – even if she doesn’t enjoy mushrooms, she might well enjoy sautéed oyster mushrooms with a dash of caper sauce.

Get the best ingredients

Cooking a great breakfast isn’t that difficult.  But even the most competent chef will be unable to work without the proper ingredients.  If you put mediocre ingredients into your breakfast, then it’s going to be mediocre.  On the other hand, if you use great ingredients, you’ll likely end up with something great.  Don’t pick up the rubbish cheap cuts of bacon you might find in the supermarket – they’ll shrink to bland morsels when you expose them to the slightest bit of heat.  Instead, splash out on something upmarket.

Poach your eggs the right way

If you’re looking to push the boat out, then poached eggs are great.  They combine the best attributes of fried and soft-boiled eggs.  Though they might be slightly more difficult than the aforementioned two styles, the difference is minimal.  You don’t need a special poacher or an elaborate ‘whirlpool’ technique to get great results!

For best results, use a shallow pan and a slotted spoon.  Add a dash of salt and vinegar to the water; this will prevent the egg from spreading.  But not too much, as you don’t want it to taste like fish and chips.  Bring it to the boil, and then switch down to a low simmer before cracking your eggs in.  Give it a couple of minutes, to allow the whites to turn white.  You’ll want the yolks runny, so don’t leave it too long.

Asparagus

If you’re looking to inject a little bit of greenery onto your breakfast plate, then there are few better ways to do it than with a sprig or two of asparagus.  Unfortunately, Mother’s day doesn’t quite coincide with the start of asparagus season in the UK (which runs from April until June) – but you still make great use of this flavoursome breakfast vegetable.

Cut off the fat ends – but don’t, for the love of all that is good, cut off the tips.  The tips are where much of the flavour resides.  Now, asparagus can be cooked in one of several ways.  You can boil it, or you can steam it.  This might be especially economical if you’re going to be boiling other things (like eggs) to go in your mother’s day breakfast.

For best results, you’ll want to chargrill them – so that they’re covered in blackened lines.  Get yourself a griddle-pan – and leave it for a few minutes to heat up.

Little touches

Of course, this being an extra-special breakfast, you’ll want to give it a few touches.  This is what will make the difference!

Warm your plates

If there’s one touch that will separate a good breakfast from a great one, it’s the temperature of the plate.  We’ve all had meals where the last few remnants are stone cold, because the ceramic plate beneath is stone cold.  Avoid this problem by simply warming your plates, either in the oven or the microwave.

Another advantage of a warm plate is that it’ll keep the meal warm if you should slightly mismanage the timings.  This way, you’ll ensure that your mum’s meal arrives piping hot and stays that way until she’s done.

Pancakes

If you’re going to be making pancakes, and you’d like them to be a cut above the average, then you’ll want to learn to draw patterns.  Squeezable bottles can be bought for next to nothing; find them in the baking section of your local supermarket.  You can use them to draw everything from smiley faces to love hearts.

This requires a little bit of practice.  You’ll need a mix that’s thick enough to form discernible lines.  On the other hand, if your mixture is too thick, it’s won’t spread across the pan and fill in the cracks.  If you’re feeling especially devoted to the cause, you might want to concoct two different mixtures – one for fine-detail work, and the other for the pancake itself.  It’s worth devoting a little bit of time to getting your mixture and technique exactly right before the day itself arrives.  You only get one chance for your work to be impressed on your grateful mother – so make sure that it’s as good as can be.

Toast

Similarly, it’s possible to come up with custom designs for your toast, too.  You’ll need a method of insulating some parts of your toast while exposing others to the grill.  We find that margarine works nicely, and provides a nice contrast.  Make a stencil and get spreading.  Alternatively, you might cut something like tin foil to size and use that as a stencil.

This might require a little bit of experimentation before you can get the look exactly right – try it with stale old bread to begin with, and break out the premium stuff for the day itself.

Tidy up after you’re done

Your mum might appreciate the gesture of breakfast in bed.  But this appreciation will likely be somewhat blunted if she’s forced to tidy up half-a-dozen pans the next time she wants to use the kitchen.  Avoid this problem by tidying up after you’re done.

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