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Get Personal for the Perfect Mother's Day Gift

Finding the perfect gift for a loved one can create a certain amount of stress, and Mother's Day is no exception!

How can you wrap up something that tells Mom how much she means and how special she is? In reality, it's not that hard to find the perfect gift. With a little creativity, you can give a gift that won't break the bank, but will mean a lot to Mom.

Women enjoy getting gifts that show that some thought and attention went into choosing them.

Gift certificates are nice, but a meaningful gift is better. If Mom is an avid reader, she'll appreciate a thoughtfully chosen book. Don't forget to add an inscription!

Remember that Mother's Day is a day of pampering for Mom. "This is where men can get in trouble," says Glenda Lehman Ervin, president of Lehman's. "Men tend to be more practical in their gift-giving." So even though your wife might need a new battery for her car, it might not make the best Mother's Day gift.

To find just the right gift, you need to know what's important to Mom, what she enjoys.

For example, if the special Mom in your life is a tea-drinker, she might love a beautiful copper tea kettle. But don't stop there. Go the extra mile and fill the kettle with a collection of Mom's favorite teas. "It's that little special touch that will make all the difference," says Lehman Ervin.

How about surprising Mom with breakfast in bed or a wonderful home cooked dinner on Mother's Day?

Most communities now have businesses that help busy families put together meals. They provide all the ingredients, the recipes, the kitchen facilities, even the containers to take the food home. Dad and the kids can spend one evening making not only a meal for Mother's Day, but a week's worth of dinners that can be put in the freezer for busy weeknight meals.

Anything handmade is sure to be a hit, so a craft that Dad puts together for the kids to make will be a sentimental favorite. Visit your local library for books on crafts and choose one that is age appropriate for your kids. For an easy project Mom will love, choose a favorite family photo and put it in a frame from the craft store. Glue alphabet blocks from Lehman's to spell out a message like "we love you, Mom".

And don't forget to clean up after you're done - don't leave Mom to scrape glue off the floor!

Is Mom a gardener? Spring is the prefect time to give the gift of flowers. Why not buy a beautiful bouquet and give it along with packs of organic seeds from Lehman's that Mom can use in the garden? Add a pretty pair of gardening gloves and tuck them all into the colorful flexible bucket for the perfect presentation.

By noticing what's special to Mom, you're sure to come up with a gift that is a hit for Mother's Day.