Garden "Bon-bons" (not to eat!)

Wow, where did the last week go? I had planned to post every day, but I am teaching a class this semester for the first time, and it swallowed my life? It was only an 8-week course and last week was the last week (!), so I was dealing with grading and anxious students on top of my usual full-time job.

In any case, today I'm back with a stocking stuffer/small gift that looks good enough to eat, but you shouldn't eat it! These Garden "Bon-bons" are actually more like "seed bombs" -- bundles of clay, compost, and seeds that you drop into soil, water, and watch grow. The unique part is the packaging, because the "bon-bons" are made up in a box with little paper candy "cups" just like you'd see in a real box of chocolates. The seed assortment includes 2 basil, 4 parsley, 2 chives, and 2 thyme. These are handmade in the USA.

(Of course, for those of you in winter climates, this might not be the best time of year unless your recipient grows indoor herbs. Or you could just bookmark this for Mother's Day or some other Spring occasion.)

What: Garden "Bon-bons"
Where: Vat19
How much (as of today's post): $15.95 (plus shipping)

Oranges & Crème Ice Cream Truffles

Happy Mother's Day to all you Moms out there! Treat yourself, or treat your Mom, to something delectable, like these Godiva Oranges & Crème Ice Cream Truffles. Four pieces come in this pretend "pint" of ice cream. Like a Creamsicle, but maybe better because it's chocolate instead of vanilla paired with the orange.

What: Oranges & Crème Ice Cream Truffles
Where: Godiva stores
How much (as of today's post): $8.00

Real Pansy Pin

Happy May First! To me, May means Mother's Day is coming right up, so today I have a stocking stuffer suggestion that works wonderfully for Mother's Day: a real pansy that's been preserved, edged with gold, and turned into a lovely pin. Each pansy is about 2 inches tall and is mounted on a gold-plated stick pin. It looks like they currently only have blue and white available, but check back if you're interested in the other colors, or perhaps you can find a similar pin elsewhere.

More than any other flowers, I associate pansies and lilies of the valley with my mother. What flowers do you think of when you think "Mom"?

What: Real Pansy Pin
Where: The Hunger Site store
How much (as of today's post): $16.95 (on sale from $19.95) (plus shipping)

Reusable Strawberry Shopping Bag

I was so pleased with myself because I pre-scheduled posts for Wednesday through Sunday because I was flying to the east coast for a memorial service. I was to arrive back Sunday night, in plenty of time to cook up a post for Monday to start the new week. US Airways had other plans, however; they stranded me overnight, and I didn't get home until late Monday -- and I was without internet access for what seemed like an eternity.

So no Monday post -- sorry! But now I'm back for our regularly schedule programming, with today's stocking stuffer: a reusable strawberry shopping bag. Look how cute it is when it's tucked into it's little strawberry shape! You wouldn't think a 15 by 15 inch shopping bag would fit in such a small space, but it does. It also looks so nice and springlike. If you know someone who loves to reduce and reuse, but keeps forgetting to take shopping bags with her, here is a cute one she can tuck into her purse to use anytime. It's also a nice eco-option for Mother's Day.

What: Reusable Strawberry Shopping Bag
Where: Perpetual Kid website
How much (as of today's post): $7.49 (plus shipping)

Flowering Twig Pencil

I normally wouldn't spend $5 on any pencil, but isn't this one lovely? I can just see it tied into the bow on top of a Mother's Day gift, as a package topper that is a gift in itself. It's also perfect for gardeners, of course. The rose bloom is hand carved atop a bark-covered branch; the entire pencil measures 7 inches long and 1 inch in diameter (I assume that's the rose part, not the branch).

There's also a nice set of branch and twig colored pencils ($8 for a set of 8).

What: Flowering Twig Pencil
Where: Anthropologie
How much (as of today's post): $5.00 (plus shipping)

Nestling Birds Necklace

Handmade by Rhonda and Elijah Wyman and available through the Uncommon Goods website, these nestling birds necklaces are the perfect Mother's Day present. The necklaces are made of oxidized sterling silver (which is why they are dark in color) and can feature one, two, three, or four baby birds. The length of the chain is 16-17 inches, and the birds' perch is 2 to 2.5 inches wide.

What: Nestling Birds Necklace
Where: Uncommon Goods website
How much (as of today's post): $70 to $79 (plus shipping)

Kids Garden in a Bag

The other day in one of my online communities that has to do with food and nutrition, a person asked about Easter basket stuffers that are non-food, since she didn't want the Easter bunny to bring just candy. Here's something that would do nicely: a kid's "garden in a bag" from the Branch website. I love plants myself, and I like the idea of getting kids interested in growing things. This kit contains a plastic-lined kraft paper bag, soil, flower seeds, and a wood planting stake. The bag can be colored and personalized, and then the plant is grown right in the bag which is also waterproof. Once the plant is big enough, it can be transplanted elsewhere.

I wasn't sure whether to call this an eco-friendly gift since the bag is plastic-lined, but I think it does pretty well, all things considered. Where I live we can recycle all kinds of paper, so I would even be able to recycle the bag once I took the plastic lining out.

The following plants are available: sunflower, nasturtium, strawberry, tomato, a pretty Mother's Day assortment, and more! Altogether I counted 21 different options. Cat grass, dog grass (I never knew there was such a thing!), a "thank you" assortment, a number of herbs.... It's a lovely selection. The prices vary based on the plant, from $9.00 to $16.00.

What: Kids Garden in a Bag
Where: Branch website
How much (as of today's post): ranges from $9.00 to $16.00 (plus shipping)

Hummingbird Plant a Tree Pin

Down here in Houston we occasionally spot a hummingbird since we're on the edge of a migratory route. They're such fascinating little creatures! This pewter hummingbird pin from the National Wildlife Federation measures 2 inches wide by 1.5 inches high, and has the added benefit of being one of their "plant a tree" products -- you purchase the pin, and a portion of the proceeds will plant one tree.

If the hummingbird isn't for you, they have lots of other plant a tree jewelry. Perfect for springtime or Mother's Day!

What: Hummingbird Plant a Tree Pin
Where: National Wildlife Federation website
How much (as of today's post): $16.99 (plus shipping)

Miniature Watering Can Clock

This graceful little watering can clock is the perfect stocking stuffer for a gardener -- and it's so Spring-like that it would also be lovely for a Mother's Day gift or an Easter basket. It's currently on sale for $12.95 from the Potpourri website. It measures 2.5 by 3 inches, and the battery is included. And by now, I'm sure most of you are ready for a taste of Spring!

What: Miniature Watering Can Clock
Where: Potpourri website
How much (as of today's post): $12.95 sale price (regularly 19.95) (plus shipping)

Funny Vintage Style Kitchen Towels

I have to say, I'm certainly not the best housekeeper in the world, so these kitchen towels would suit me to a T. The website RetroPlanet.com has a large collection of vintage style kitchen towels with perky looking 50s-style housewives saying outrageous things, such as "If you want breakfast in bed, sleep in the kitchen" and "I understand the concept of cooking and cleaning -- just not as it applies to me" and "Every day I give my family two choices for dinner -- take it or leave it." There are a couple dozen styles to choose from, and most cost $7.99 before shipping (although I did see one or two for as low as $4.99). Opened, the towels measure 17 by 31 inches.

Anyway, it's something a little different for the Christmas stocking, or a birthday, or even Mother's Day, although you might not want to make it the only gift for Mother's Day!

What: Funny Vintage Kitchen Towels
Where: RetroPlanet.com
How much (as of today's post): $7.99 (plus shipping)

Flip Flop Hanging Watch

Here's a little luxury item just in time for summer: a flip flop hanging watch that can be strapped onto a beach or tote bag. Or you can save it to put in a Christmas stocking in the deep dark winter, when reminders of summer are especially necessary! (Where I live, it's pretty much summer from March to October, and quite frankly, I could use a little less of it!)

The watch face itself is 3/4 inches wide, and although the website doesn't give the dimensions of the flip flop part, based on the watch I would estimate the flip flop to be about 2 1/2 inches long. They are battery operated and the flip flops/straps are made of vinyl. (These would also be great for a themed Mother's Day basket, don't you think?)

What: Flip Flop Hanging Watch
Where: The Spoon Sisters website
How much (as of today's post): $27.00 (plus shipping)

Glass Jar Photo Frames

I can't remember how I happened to stumble across this post at the Photojojo website several months ago, but I thought it was brilliant then and I think it's brilliant now. These are glass jar photo frames, and the post has a step-by-step tutorial for how to make them, although it's really so simple you could probably figure it out yourself from the photo above. I have a number of little odd-sized jars, and I'm just itching to try this out. And naturally, I will have to find seven jars for seven cats....

(Be sure and click on their "extra photos for bloggers" link -- the first one shows an art project using images in Coke bottles. I love how creative people are!)

I do think this can work as a stocking stuffer or a gift-basket stuffer. It's also a great little last minute do-it-yourself project for Mother's Day or Father's Day, especially because a little one can help pick the picture or help put it together for Mommy or Daddy.

"Reasons to Love Mom" Scavenger Hunt

I only just came across this box of "The Reasons I Love Mom" truffles from Secret Spoon Sweets. The larger box comes with ten smaller boxes, each of which holds two individually wrapped truffles. In all, there are four each of the following flavors: milk chocolate, Irish Cream, semi-sweet, champagne, and black cherry. There's even a sugar-free version of this gift! But best of all, the ten little boxes come with little sayings about why we love our moms. My favorites from their list are "You considered all my art 'fine art'" and "You let me believe ketchup is a vegetable" (that one really hit home, because as a kid I used to eat ketchup sandwiches, which kind of grosses me out now).

Anyway, I think it would be great fun to hide each of the ten small boxes and have your mom have to hunt for them. Like an Easter egg hunt except for Mother's Day! Of course, it's too late to order this for Mother's Day this year (and at $29.99, it might be beyond some folks' price range anyway), but it occurred to me that anyone could come up with a "do it yourself" version with individually wrapped Lindor truffles or something similar. They don't have to be in separate little boxes; you could just tie a personalized message to each one.

Here are some of the ones I would use:

• You chauffeured me to countless soccer games.
  
  
• You always ask how I'm doing.
  
  
• You brag about me to your friends.
  
  
• You taught me to love reading.
  
  
• You let me be a tomboy.

What little messages would you send your mom for Mother's Day?

Library Photo Album

Last Saturday, I posted about giving Mom the gift of a professional photographer's portrait of you and your siblings. But if you just couldn't bring yourself to play supermodel for the day, surely your mom will appreciate a nice photo album for 4x6" prints, pre-filled by you with family photos, and small enough for her to carry in her bag to show off to friends.

I chose these adorable "book" photo albums from Bas Bleu in particular because I'm a book lover. These albums each have a different title, including "Friends and Family", "Travels Near and Far", "Memories", "Our Grandkids", "Top Dog", "What Was I Thinking", and "I Can't Remember". I'd probably be inclined to go with "Friends and Family" or "Memories", myself. However, since today is Friday and Mother's Day is only two days away, it might be a little late to order these specifically! But you should be able to find a decent quality small photo album at Aaron Brothers, Michael's, A.C. Moore, or even the corner drugstore. And you can most likely get a perfectly nice album for a lot less than this one sells for (although I still want these because they're so bookish!).

What: Library Photo Album
Where: Bas Bleu website or elsewhere
How much (as of today's post): $25.00 (plus shipping)

Funky Flower Measuring Cups

Here's a word to the wise: you should only give these funky flower measuring cups on Mother's Day if your mother truly loves baking -- no giving them to her just because you're in the mood to eat some homebaked goodies! But if your mother does love baking, these colorful measuring cups will brighten up her day, and they fit in nicely with a flowery motif, if that's what you're going for.

What: Funky Flower Measuring Cups
Where: wishingfish.com website
How much (as of today's post): $9.95 (plus shipping)

All-Natural Sunny Seed Drops

From the Sunflower Food & Spice Company comes this adorable 9 ounce tube of all-natural "sunny seed drops" -- chocolate-covered sunflower nuts, with no artificial colors or preservatives. The 9 ounce tube, with the pretty sunflower topper, is $9.00, or you can get a small 3 ounce tube for only $2.90. Can't you just see that as the focal point of a lovely Mother's Day gift basket?

They also have lots of holiday options for other times of the year: red, white, and green Sunny Seed Drops for Christmas, plus some cute assortments of three or six "holiday light" containers, each filled with a different color. There's also a red, white, and pink tube for Valentine's Day, pastels for Easter and Mother's Day, and a Halloween assortment. They make a nice change from the usual M&Ms, don't you think?

What: Sunny Seed Drops
Where: Sunflower Food & Spice Company website (direct, or also includes list of retail locations)
How much (as of today's post): $9.00

Flower of the Month Pins

Look at these lovely "flower of the month" pins! I think they're just right for Mother's Day or springtime birthdays. You can either get Lily of the Valley for May, or go with your Mom's own birthday month. These lapel pins are made of pewter, measure about 1.5" in diameter, and come in gift boxes, making them perfect for gift baskets. There's even a December poinsettia if you have your heart set on making this a Christmas stocking stuffer. At $14.95, they won't completely break the bank (and two or more pins are $12.95 apiece).

What: Flower of the Month Pins
Where: Potpourri website
How much (as of today's post): $14.95 (plus shipping)

Wonder Vases

I haven't tried these yet, but I think they look uber-cool. They are "wonder vases", or vases that you shape yourself by making the thermal‑sensitive polymer pliable with warm water, then setting the shape with cold water. The Signals catalog and website sells them in "crystal clear" or "crystal blue", the latter of which looks pretty with those yellow daisies. Between uses, you just rinse again with warm water and reshape them flat for storage.

They're also great for the office, since they take so little space when not in use. One vase is $14.95, but you can get two for $9.95 apiece -- one for Mom and one for Mom-in-law?

What: Wonder Vases
Where: Signals website
How much (as of today's post): $14.95 for one, or two at $9.95 each (plus shipping)

Recycled Tin Mini Dress Earrings

Are these not the most cunning little earrings you've ever seen? Etsy seller Shixie makes these earrings, as well as other jewelry and non-jewelry items, out of recycled tin, making these earrings a lovely (and eco-friendly!) gift for Mother's Day or any other occasion.

Personally, I love the little dress hangers that emerge seamlessly from the earring wire itself. There are several different colors and patterns to choose from, and since they're handmade, each pair is unique. I love that they're feminine but simple, instead of being too frilly. And at $26 a pair, they're priced very reasonably. The size/length of the pairs vary slightly, but are generally around an inch and a half long, or slightly longer. The wires are sterling silver, and in some cases are oxidized to match a darker dress "fabric".

What: Recycled Tin Mini Dress Earrings
Where: Shixie (an Etsy shop)
How much (as of today's post): $26 (plus shipping)

The Best Mother's Day Gift

Are you as camera-shy as my sisters and I are? Even back when we were kids, we fussed so much about having our picture taken that my mom only managed to drag us to a portrait studio once. I actually still dislike that picture quite a bit, because with three fairly unphotogenic children, picking the "best" picture of the bunch may still mean that someone looks awful. Plus the clothes and hair back then.... Yikes!

Nowadays, digital cameras have made it easier to get good pictures, because you can take as many as you want without having to worry about wasting film, or paying to have a bunch of bad photos developed. But still, there's something special about a professional photo portrait. So if you want to give your mom the best possible Mother's Day present, why not corral your siblings into having a quality photo taken together? (I note that in my experience, I got better results with an independent photographer with his/her own studio, as opposed to a department store studio.)

My sisters and I did this for our parents' 35th wedding anniversary, and boy, were they surprised! The actual large portrait was not ready in time, so we taped the little "proof" photo into a dress shirt box and wrapped that up. I'm not exaggerating when I say that my mom cried because she was so surprised and happy.

So how does this fit in with a Mother's Day version of the "stocking stuffer style gift"? It really is a larger gift, I know -- but you could hide a small wallet size photo in a small box that fits inside a Mother's Day gift basket, with the larger portrait to follow. Or you could be sneaky and buy your mother a wallet for Mother's Day, and sneak the photo into the photo holder.

Mother's Day is meant for children to give mothers a token of appreciation for all that they've done for us. In my experience, though, what mothers want most is us. So give the gift of you to your mother this year!