5 Ways to Celebrate Mom on Mother’s Day

mom and daughter on a park bench

Moms are amazing.

Between juggling sleepless nights, full-time jobs, and keeping up with household chores, it’s hard to wrap our minds around how much they do every day to ensure everyone is healthy, happy, and provided for.

It’s no surprise that moms sacrifice a lot for their families–a sacrifice that we believe should be repaid with a month-long stay on a private island far away from laundry, crying kids, and boo-boos.

But, we know that a private island vacation isn’t in the budget for most families.

That’s why we came up with a handful of things you can do to celebrate mom and honor her this Mother’s Day that are both fun and affordable.

Keep reading to discover how to treat mom on her special day this month…

Serve Breakfast in Bed

breakfast in bed

Breakfast in bed is a classic way to treat mom on Mother’s Day.

After all, who doesn’t like to wake up to the smell of hot coffee and fresh bacon after a morning of sleeping in?

This year, pull out all the stops.

Make a delicious fruit salad, whip up your world famous omelet or stack of pancakes, and splurge for the flavored coffee creamer.

Aside from making breakfast, ensure that someone is awake to take care of small children or pets in the morning so mom doesn’t have to.

And finally, to top it all off, pick up a pretty bouquet of mom’s favorite flowers.

Then, wrangle up all your family members and surprise mom with a gourmet breakfast.

Clean the House

Just because you see mom happily rocking out to her MP3 player while scrubbing toilets on a Saturday morning doesn’t mean she’s actually happy about cleaning up after everyone.

Doing chores like washing dishes, folding laundry, and scrubbing toilets stinks…literally!

And, just as the kids in your house deserve a break to watch Saturday morning cartoons, mom also deserves a break to read a book, watch her favorite TV show, or go to her yoga class.

This Mother’s Day, make it your mission to help out around the house.

Let the kids take a turn cleaning the bathrooms and vacuuming the living room.

Better yet, surprise mom with a chore chart that assigns chores to every family member for the entire year.

Many hands make light work. And, mom definitely deserves a little extra help!

To get you started, check out this post on homemade cleaner recipes!

Take Mom Out to a Show

ballet

First and foremost, we want to give a shout-out to all of those brave moms who have had to sit through Barney on Ice, a Raffi concert, or The Wiggles Live for the sake of your children.

They really should hand out margaritas and gold medals for moms who attend those types of events.

In honor of all those hours sitting through various renditions of “If You’re Happy and You Know It, Clap Your Hands,” we think it’s only fair that you treat mom to a show that she actually wants to sit through.

This Mother’s Day, snag some tickets for mom to go see her favorite opera, a live show, a concert, or a movie she’s been dying to see.

Tip: If you have kids that don’t sit nicely through live shows, hire a babysitter and take your significant other out for a night on the town.

Cook a Delicious Family Meal

The saying “A mom’s job is never done” is very true.

After a long day of working or caring for kids, it’s usually mom’s job to make dinner.

Between picky eaters and the pressure to make a meal everyone will enjoy, this chore isn’t always a fun one.

This Mother’s Day, take over kitchen duty and have your kids help you prepare a delicious family meal so mom doesn’t have to.

Mom gets a break, the kids will learn valuable kitchen skills, and the entire family will have the opportunity to enjoy a nice meal together–a win-win for everyone!

Here are a few quick and easy meal recipes to get you started!

Tip: To kick this gift up a notch, consider making a book of meal coupons for mom that she can use any time she needs a break and doesn’t want to cook.

Send Mom for a Day at the Spa

towels and candles at the spa

You know what they say…“Absence makes the heart grow fonder.”

Perhaps this Mother’s Day, all mom needs is a little time away to relax and recuperate from the chaos of home life. And, what better way to “get away” than to spend a day being pampered at the spa?

This year, treat mom to a variety of calming spa treatments.

After a day of being pampered with mani-pedi, a facial cleanse, and a massage, we have no doubt that she’ll come home rested and ready to resume her motherly duties.

The best part…many spas advertise special discounts in honor of Mother’s Day. Keep an eye out for these specials, or call and inquire about Mother’s Day packages.

Find a good deal, and you’ll be able to give mom a much-needed break without breaking the bank!

5 Ways to Celebrate International Women’s Day This Year

Women are amazing.

From working full-time jobs and raising families to caring for those in need and having to deal with awful things like breast cancer, women are powerhouses.

We don’t let life get us down, and even in the midst of a struggle, we keep our heads held high.

For that reason, it’s no surprise that International Women’s Day, which falls on March 8, was established in order to celebrate women from all walks of life.

It doesn’t matter if you’ve won a Nobel Peace Prize, or if you’re simply the peacekeeper in your home.

You (and all of your lady friends) deserve to be recognized and honored.

During the week of March 8, we invite you to celebrate International Women’s Day with us.

Not sure how to celebrate? Check out some of the fun suggestions below!

Bake an International Women’s Day Cake and Host a Party

No celebration is complete without a cake!

This year, bake your favorite cake, decorate it, and then host a party for all your favorite gal pals. There’s nothing better than being surrounded by cake and good company.

If you’re worried about making enough dessert for everyone, ask your friends or family members to all contribute a small cake or dessert of their choosing. Doing this ensures you’ll have enough food and that everyone at your party will be able to enjoy their preferred dessert.

You could also ask people to contribute things like drinks, plates, or plastic silverware.

Volunteer at a Women’s Shelter

Serving women is one of the best ways to celebrate women. After all, many women are nurturers by nature and are great at loving on others and building them up.

The best way to serve…volunteer at a women’s shelter.

From homeless women’s shelters to domestic violence and abuse centers, there’s no shortage of places that could use a helping hand.

The best part…you don’t have to have a special talent or gift in order to volunteer.

Whether you’re serving a meal, helping with laundry, providing entertainment, or just spending time with someone who could use a friend to talk to, your presence will be greatly appreciated.

Gather up your girlfriends and make a day of it while giving back to the women who need your help.

Tip: Be sure to call around to your local shelters and women’s centers to see what they need help with. Some places might need volunteers, while others might need physical donations like blankets, soap, or food.

Enjoy a Chick Flick Movie Night Starring Your Favorite Female Leads

A long time ago, women’s movie roles were often limited to wives and love interests.

However, in the past few decades, women have really started to make headway in the film industry, taking the lead and starring as strong, independent, and intelligent characters.

For this reason, we think it would be fun to have your girlfriends and female family members over for a chick flick movie night that features female actresses.

Here are a few movie suggestions that feature female leads…

  • Thelma & Louise
  • The Wizard of Oz
  • Legally Blonde
  • The Help
  • The Heat
  • Miss Congeniality

Enjoy a Spa Day with Your Girlfriends

Every lady deserves a day of pampering. And what better way to be pampered than with a mani/pedi, massage, or new haircut?

In honor of International Women’s Day, get your best girlfriends together and make a day of it at the spa.

Splurge on the gel nails or foot massage–you deserve it!

Tip: Make your spa day even more extravagant by enjoying brunch before your appointment or lunch and drinks after your spa day.

Give Your Kids a History Lesson on Amazing Women

Harriet Tubman courageously led hundreds of enslaved people to freedom along the route of the Underground Railroad.

Marie Curie was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize for research on radioactivity.

Amelia Earhart was a fearless female pilot.

These are just three examples of amazing women role models that we should be teaching our children about.

In honor of International Women’s Day, we encourage you to talk with your kids about the brave, intelligent, and powerful women who have helped shape our country.

It’s so important that kids (especially young girls) understand that women can do anything that men can do.

How do you celebrate the women in your life? Let us know in the comments below!

How to Have the Perfect At-Home Spa Day

There is nothing more relaxing than a day at the spa.

Not to mention, it helps you rest and unwind after a long week of work, chasing your kids around the house, or whatever else it is that you do on a weekly basis.

The only problem is that going to a professional spa can cost a lot of money.

There’s certainly nothing wrong with treating yourself every once in a while, but for most people, going for a spa treatment on a weekly basis is simply out of the budget.

For that reason, we at The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction want to share with you how to have the perfect at-home spa day.

Our at-home version is just as fun, will make you feel just as relaxed, and can be thrown together for a fraction of what a day at the actual spa would cost.

Follow these steps for a perfect at-home spa day that will leave you feeling refreshed and ready to take on the world.

Step 1: Prepare Your Favorite Beverage

Most spas will have fancy fruit-infused waters or teas available for guests to drink when they arrive for their appointment. So, to begin your at-home spa session, grab a cup of your favorite beverage—coffee, tea, juice…even wine! We don’t judge!

Step 2: Start with a Face Mask

A face mask is an inexpensive way to rejuvenate your skin and leave your face feeling fresh.

You can purchase premade masks at just about any grocery store or skin care shop for under $5. Or, if you prefer to make your own, simply mix together 1 tbs. of coconut oil with ¼ tsp. of turmeric.

This simple 2-ingredient face mask recipe is great for hydrating your skin and reducing blemishes.

Step 3: Soak Your Feet in a Footbath

From walking all over the place to being crammed in high heels, our feet take a beating every day. This is why it’s so important to give your feet a break and soak them in a footbath.

You can buy a more expensive foot bath at the store for between $60 and $100. If you’re someone who constantly has sore feet, this might be a good investment for you.

However, if you’re only planning on enjoying a good foot soak once in a blue moon, a simple bucket will work just fine. All you have to do is fill a bucket with warm water, add some Epsom salts (you can find this at the grocery store) and let your feet soak for 15-20 minutes.

If you want to get really crazy, you can also add in some essential oils. We personally love adding about 3 drops of peppermint oil into our footbaths.

Step 4: Take a Hot Bath

If more than your feet need a good soak, we recommend that you fill a tub with nice hot water and take a bath.

Be sure to dim the lights, light candles, grab your favorite book, or turn on some soothing music. It’s such a good feeling to be able to separate yourself from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and lock yourself away in a cozy warm bath for an hour or so.

If you’d like, you can add some of the Epsom salts you used in your footbath to the water. These salts are known to help ease sore muscles and help you relax. Or, if you want to do something different, use a delightful-smelling bath bomb to make your bath time a little more special.

Step 5: Finish with Polished Nails

Most ladies have a few bottles of nail polish floating around the house. But here’s the question…how often have you been able to take the time to sit down and actually use them?

Make time after your relaxing bath to end your night with a manicure or pedicure.

Put on a pair of cozy pajamas, pick your favorite nail polish color, and go to town! While your nails are drying, indulge in some senseless TV, read a magazine, or play a game on your phone. It’s all about giving yourself the time to do what makes you happy.

Do you have any at-home spa rituals you love? Share them with us in the comments below!