| Mother's Day is around the corner and you're | | | | on the dinner items.) |
| scrambling to come up with a great Mother's Day | | | | She would like some down time at a spa, but |
| gift. That special woman in your life means a lot | | | | money is tight? |
| to you and you want to show her how much she | | | | Create a wonderful spa experience at the house. |
| means to you. Below are some Mother's Day | | | | Key again is babysitting. After you have that, |
| ideas that won't break the bank but will get | | | | here's what you'll need: |
| maximum wow factor. | | | | - A clean bathroom. |
| Is your wife an extrovert and missing girlfriend | | | | - Bath salts, massage lotion, candles and music. |
| time with her friends? | | | | - Turn the bathroom into a retreat with candles. |
| - Schedule a girlfriend brunch at the house and | | | | Draw a hot bath and put in the bath salts. Don't |
| then go to the park with the other husbands and | | | | forget the relaxing music as well! |
| kids. $20 to $40 (Depending on the breakfast | | | | - After the bath, give her a long foot massage or |
| items.) | | | | neck and shoulder massage. Also, so she can fully |
| Is your wife a bookworm? | | | | relax, let her know that after her massage she |
| - Buy a bookstores gift card and send her for the | | | | can take a nap if she likes. |
| day to the bookstore. Have her come home with | | | | Is family time what she truly wants? |
| dinner already made and the kiddies' all taken care | | | | - Call in advance and reserve a gazebo at your |
| of. $45 (Book, plus lunch and drinks.) | | | | favorite park. Round up some family friends and |
| Are you new parents and the wife is into the | | | | have a cook-out. Key to this - she does very little |
| internet? | | | | work in preparing this. The whole point is she gets |
| - Buy the babies' name online (web URL) and | | | | there and has a good time while you mind the |
| develop a simple website where you can show | | | | kids, food and everything else. |
| off your new bundle of joy. Mom will melt and | | | | If none of the above ideas seem quite right, they |
| promptly call all of her friends to show off your | | | | should at least point you in the right direction. |
| gift. $10/year for domain name. | | | | Also, in this economy don't forget the power of |
| Looking for a romantic evening? | | | | barter and negotiations. Most everything can be |
| - The traditional items of a home cooked dinner, | | | | talked down in price these days and if you have a |
| wine and some snuggling afterwards is always a | | | | valuable skill to offer, many people are willing to |
| classic. The key to the success of this is to find | | | | barter services. |
| someone to watch the kiddies. Find someone, | | | | Lastly, remember the simple things. Saying I love |
| even if you have to barter fixing a leaky faucet in | | | | you on a regular basis does more than a dozen |
| exchange for babysitting. $25 to $45 (Depending | | | | of roses on one day. |