Mother's day is one of those worrisome holidays that we all love to fret about. It's both wonderful and frustrating, full of special memories and weeks spent saying "I'll deal with the Mother's Day gift tomorrow." Every year, we go searching through the back channels of our brain for a brilliant idea to outshine last year's gift, and every year, we end up at that flower shop or card store cursing ourselves for not being just a tad more creative. And all of this is exasperated, of course, by Mom calling everyday to remind you that she doesn't really want anything except a phone call, though you know she secretly does. What in the world is a son or daughter to do?



Ger acquainted with Message in a Bottle, the unique little treasures that add a kick to everything they touch. Need to spice up Mother's Day? No problem! Say goodbye to the staleness of traditional gifts with a fresh, new Message in a Bottle perspective. Because really, Mother's Day doesn't have to be groundbreaking, it just has to be heartfelt. And Message in a Bottle has heartfelt down pat.

The first step in the Mother's Day gift process is to customize a Message in a Bottle especially for Mom. You can choose from the tons of pre-written messages offered by Message in a Bottle, but why not create your own personalized message? Try your hand a special poem or piece of prose; it may not make you a candidate for poet laureate, but even "roses are red and violets are blue" is sure to make Mom crack a smile. Even just a short note wishing her a happy Mother's Day is bound to do the trick; if it comes from the heart, she'll surely appreciate it.

Now take this ultra special Mother's Day Message in a Bottle and tuck it into a bouquet of Mom's favorite flowers or attach it to a box of deliciously fattening and indulgent candy. Add a gorgeous bow or two, and leave it on her front porch or patio. Sure, you could always just hand her the gift, but everything (even Mother's Day) benefits from a little bit of intrigue. In fact, go ahead and kick up that intrigue quotient by putting directions to a fancy restaurant plus a time to meet you there in the Message in a Bottle! Just make sure to leave the package on Mom's porch early enough to give her ample primping time; moms always want to look perfect for a Mother's Day surprise.

And here's an idea sure to get the tears flowing. Get together your favorite pictures of you and Mom, the ones that remind you of a special day, hilarious incident or fantastic vacation. Now create a series of Messages in a Bottle customized with a wonderful memory from each of those pictures. Attach the pictures to their corresponding bottles, wrap them up in elaborate packaging (hey, too much tulle never hurt anyone) and give it to Mom as a special Mother's Day stroll down memory lane. But clear your calendar for the entire day; if your Mom is anything like mine, that Mother's Day memory walk will quickly turn into a hike that leaves the two of you in a dusty attic with prom dresses and baby clothes.