Unique Ideas for Mother’s Day

I decided to advertise a few great businesses that you might consider patronizing for Mother’s Day gifts this year.  As part of our endeavor to spend our finances more intentionally this year, I try to spend a bit more time thinking of how/what/where to purchase gifts and thought I’d share some of my finds.  Enjoy!    

Mimi B Jewelry – creative, handcrafted and affordable pieces feature semi-precious stones, metals, and natural materials. You can also special-order specific pieces and specify the order to come with a signature gift box/ribbon. Check out photos of these gorgeous and unique gift ideas online – and support a good friend of mine’s new small business! Her creations would make unique and fun gifts for the mom in your life and prices start around $15.00.

The Enterprising Kitchen Mother’s Day Specials – this is a local Chicago business that employs low-income, jobless women to make homeade and all natural skin care and body products. I’ve purchased items from the EK before and they are great quality AND I know I’m supporting a great organization. You can buy products (like soap, candles and body scrub) online and have it shipped anywhere – learn more at their site – or if you’re in the Chicago area, they are having a Mother’s Day open house anad sale on items like a “spring spa bucket” and “body and soul gift basket” on May 3rd, 9am-1pm (check their website for location and other info).  You can buy small items for under $10.00 and/or baskets, buckets, and collections of products for anywhere from $20.00-$75.00.    

Water 1st – this Seattle-based nonprofit works in the poorest regions of the world to help set up sustainable, communithy-driven clean water sources/latrines/related education programs in order to provide the most basic and foundational need of the poor. I know the folks running this organization and can say that it is one of the most professional, effective and ‘full of heart’ groups that I’ve ever seen. They do really good work, in the right way, for the right reasons. Check out their site for some amazing stories and to learn about how to support their work in many ways. For an upscale (meaning slightly pricey, starting at $100.00 a piece), and really cool Mother’s Day gift idea, check out their sterling silver bracelets . The bracelet can be personalized with children’s/mother’s names, or sport the org’s logo, “Give Water, Give Life.” Proceeds from this handcrafted jewelry go to Water 1st.  Water 1st was also selected as a recipient of Tonic’s t-shirt sales – check out their site for their t-shirt (sells for $45.00) or check out Water 1st’s site for more info on how they got this gig!