Mother's Day is just around the corner.  I usually get teary-eyed when the month of May starts for so many reasons.  First, it's my late mom's birthday month.  Second, it's my parents' wedding anniversary month.  Lastly, it's Mother's Day month.  A month when mothers all over the world are appreciated by their children and even their husbands for all the selfless love, service, and nurturing she gives to her children, the comfortable life she gives her husband - for not having to worry much about bathing the children or changing nappies or making school or travel checklists or finding anything that's lost in the house. LOL!  Real story right there.

Moms are usually surprised or asked what gifts she'd like to receive.  But more often than not, we reply with "Kahit wala na, basta complete tayo, ayos na." or with "Kahit ano, basta galing sa inyo."  But deep inside, we really want to receive something that would shout "She's the BEST MOM in the world!" without being too picky nor extravagant.

So I posted a survey on my Facebook Page to ask my mom followers what they really really want to receive this Mother's Day as a gift from their children or their husbands. Here were the responses:


I summarized the wish lists and surprisingly, we tend to overthink what to give our moms but simple lang ang gusto nila/namin/natin.  To those who hasn't bought any for their moms or wives yet, here are great REAL GIFT WISH LISTS from REAL MOMs.

1.  DIY Greeting Card/Letter/Note - This wasn't part of the wish lists you've seen above because this is my personal gift wish list.  I have a penchant for handwritten letters, DIY cards, which my mom taught me to do, and a simple thoughtful expression of love and appreciation.  This is of course the most practical gift of all!  No cost, just pure love, thoughtfulness, and a little effort in writing.

2.  Flowers - Say your feelings with flowers!  As they say, you can never go wrong with a woMOM if you show up with flowers.  Moms love receiving flowers.  It makes us feel more appreciated, affirmed, loved, and beautiful.  Like you're saying we're the best mom there is in the universe.  Make that a bouquet of beautiful and wonderfully arranged flowers!  Just like the one I received from Flower Chimp Philippines.  It's SAME DAY FREE DELIVERY for orders placed online before 10am, to anywhere in the country!

You may surprise her with a gift box with all the beauty essentials she'll need.  Shop for these in just one shop, Watsons PH.  Products for the hair (shampoo, conditioner, keratin oil, hair coloring kit, etc.), face (make-up, cleansers, toner, moisturizers, etc), body (lotion, soap, shower gels, etc.) and even food supplements are all there!  Put them nicely in one wooden box then tie neatly with a cloth ribbon and personalize your gift tag.  I am sure any mom would love that gift!

Oh by the way, have you seen their tear-jerker Mother's Day video which reminds us to love ourselves too?  Hindi pa?  See below:

City Garden Suites has an ongoing promo this Mother's Day called "A Suite Treat For Moms".  Book and stay until May 31st to get a free upgrade from a De Luxe to a One BR Suite with a buffet breakfast for 2 adults and 2 children, plus a complimentary massage for mom!

Or you may also check out other hotel staycations I had with my family in this post: List of Family Friendly Hotels With Swimming Pool

5.  Uninterrupted Sleep/Rest - THIS.. THIS IS PRICELESS.  Since I became a mom I don't remember having a complete and uninterrupted sleep.  But it's okay, but how we wish we could sleep longer and just do nothing.. well maybe Netflix and eat our favorite desserts or chips... sigh!  Nuff said.

6.  Food - Treat us please to a nice dinner or a lunch buffet, that's our wish.  But here we go again with being a selfless and simple mom, actually, just give us our favorite chocolate bar or a cake or a healthy food box or even a yummy sweet spaghetti such as these from Jollibee, Toblerone and Gold Seas Tuna Chunks

There are so many gifts I wish to receive or think of as a mom which I could write on this post for the most celebrated occasion this month - Mother's Day. But only a few that if I receive from my loved ones, will I truly appreciate and cry buckets of tears of joy for.
Whether you are a mom of one or more than 4 kids, whether you work out of home, stay at home or work from home, we all get to a point when we get so exhausted like it's the end of the world.  Aminin mo minsan you just want to abruptly stop with whatever you're doing and wish you could teleport to another country of your desire, to a beach, to a salon, to a stage or to wherever and daydream that you're doing something else.  You just want to getaway for a while.  NOT THAT you don't like what you're doing as a mom.  But motherhood gets really exhausting most of the time.  We talented moms just make it "look" easy, but seriously, we're dying inside!

Please don't get me wrong, being a mother is one of the best things that has ever happened to my life, it's just draining.  I'm just as lucky as many other moms out there that my family knows exactly how to celebrate my motherhood on my day (wrote one Mother's Day celebration HERE.)

So for your moms, if you're the daughter or the son..
For the men, if you're the husband or the partner..
For you mom (yup that's us!)...

Here's a list of gift ideas Moms will truly appreciate:

1. Love letters/cards and flowers - Kids and hubbies, please NEVER forget to write Mommy a love letter or make a DIY  Mother's Day card and make sure you insert it in the bouquet you'll be surprising her with.  I could actually suggest any material gift, but nothing beats the thoughtfulness, creativity, the effort you bring in making something out of nothing.  Mommies will cry buckets of tears when she sees something made by her kids.  Believe me, I've cried gallons and gallons of tears.  The bouquet is a bonus.  It could be a santan or any flower you picked outside, tie it together to make it pretty.  Moms love this, trust me!
2. Breakfast in bed - Moms wake up pretty early to prepare kids in school, to prepare/serve their husbands and themselves in the morning, so why not reverse the role this time.  Mother's day usually falls during school break, so kids, it's your turn to return the favor even for just a day. Dads, partners, husbands, please initiate this simple but meaningful activity.  Cook or serve her favorite breakfast.  
3. Do mommy duties for her - So you started serving her breakfast, if you're not planning anything for Mother's Day, then why not make her feel celebrated the whole day by doing her duties at least for a day. If you can't, just don't let her do anything, let her relax.  She deserves at least a day off right?
4. Massage/Spa date - Speaking of gift of relaxation, aside from not letting her do anything, give mommy a Spa GC or massage her yourself (kahit feet nga lang and head, ok na eh!) so she could finally have her tired and crying muscles be treated to a good rub.  To us tired mommas, it's one of the best feelings in the world.  FYI to those who want to massage their moms/wives themselves, we feel pain at our backs, neck, and feet!
5. Salon Day - If you've got a little budget, spend for her manicure, pedicure, foot spa, hair color or Brazilian blowout.  If you have no budget naman, just letting mommy have her day off to go to a salon is in itself a great gift.  But remember, NEVER RUSH Mommy who's on a salon time, never ask what time she's coming home because even if you don't tell, moms know you want her to come home soon and take care of household stuff.  Don't worry, moms are intelligent, they know they can't be out too long because you still rely on her heavily.  She'll be home in time.  Just let her.
6. Hotel Staycation - There are so many hotels right now which are offering Mother's Day Promo if you plan to celebrate while staycationing.  No need to go on a road trip or spend for airfare.  You can have a vacation in the metro to treat Mommy.  Just make sure you still do #1 and #3 on this list.  Let me share with you how we did this last year through THIS POST.
7. Mommy Retreat - If there's an available spiritual or mommy retreat such as what Mommy Mundo is offering: Mindful Mom Retreat, register her for that.  It need not be on Mother's Day itself, it could be some other day, just make sure you let her find herself, give her body, mind and soul a break.  She will truly appreciate this!
8. Lunch or Dinner - There are also many on-going buffet promos online (I usually go to Deal Grocer, Metrodeal or look for promos via Facebook) where prices are slashed half its original price.  If you prefer not to dine out for economical reasons, of course cooking for Mommy her favorite dishes at home (plus setting the table for her and putting the fresh flowers in a vase you gifted her with on the table too) is itself already a big treat!  Make mommy feel like a real queen on her day!

Hello Loves!  Remember my Mother's Day Beauty & ME-Time "Joys Of Being A Mother" giveaway?  It ended last May 22.  I seriously went through all your answers to the question: "What are your joys of being a Mother?"  I had a hard time choosing because all your entries were wonderful and moved me.  I even asked help from hubby to shortlist the entries.  Finally, I've chosen 3 winners!  There's one entry that actually made it to top 2.  Unfortunately, upon validation, she didn't completely followed the tasks enumerated in the Rafflecopter.  So I had to choose another winner.  Sayang!

So, without further adieu, the winners of my Mother's Day Beauty & ME-Time "Joys Of Being A Mother" giveaway are:


I would like to share their beautiful entries:


Cherry Alcala-Malvar 
My joys of being a MOTHER?
When my kids were still babies... I love it when going to the mall, the first thing I look for was cute mittens, booties, new baby bag designs, branded baby shirts, cheap diapers, colorful baby bottles, scrapbook materials for my baby books, play area fees per hour and everything on those baby section!

When my kids started playing... I love it when I smell their armpits, kiss their wounded hands and knees, carry their water jug, spend hours in the park running and make merienda after.

Now that my kids started schooling... I love it when I buy, wrap and label each school supplies, make reviewers for them and attend school programs to watch them dance like no other.

My joys of being a mother never ends...

Van Cruz-Gabaza
My joys of being a mother is being able to hug and kiss my little one every single day. Being able to nourish him with my home made food and of course being able to provide him with the best nourishment I could give, my breastmilk. I love my son to bits and I am so joyful that my husband and I are blessed with such a sweet, happy and healthy baby. I really could not explain the feeling everytime I see my son because I always remember the time when he was still in my womb. Now, everytime I touch him, it reminds me that he came from inside of me, the feeling of his skin to my touch is so magical and it really makes me happy. I also feel overjoyed whenever I see my husband with my baby, I see the two most beautiful persons in my life! :-)

Cecille Capatan
Can't describe nor any words could ever begin to explain the joy of being a mother but then but when you have a child, there are no words that accurately describe the immense, overwhelming. powerful love you feel for your baby! It is the MOST amazing and wonderful feeling in the whole world!!! I can't tell you how much love pours throughout my body just watching my little one...some days I can just watch his sleep, and the joy brings tears to my eyes! Becoming a mother has completely fulfilled my life and made my whole life complete! Being a mother and raising a child is the most heart-warming feeling I could ever ask for!