Mother's Day gift ideas that are actually cool

Every year in mid-spring, there comes a morning when you wake up in a cold sweat with one thought on your mind.

 

When is Mother's Day this year?! Heaven forbid, did I miss it?!!!

 

No, you haven't missed it. Mother's Day falls on different dates around the world, but for the United States, Mother's Day is always the second Sunday in May. Go ahead and mark that in your calendar for next year so you don't have to have another panic attack.

 

Thankfully, there is still time to put together a thoughtful offering for the mom in your life. We're not saying any mom wouldn't appreciate some pancakes and a nice card, but if you really want to win Mother's Day, all it takes is a little extra thought and a dash of personalization.

Impress a beauty-minded mom by flexing your knowledge of skincare trends. Korean beauty products are big right now, so pick up a few sheet masks (the ones that make the wearer look like a spooky ghost). Bath bombs — fizzy tablets packed with color, scent and skin-friendly ingredients -- are also supertrendy. They range in price from about $3 to $12 a pop, so you can get a bunch or invest in a few posh options.

 

Now that adult coloring books are hot, you can find them practically ANYWHERE. They're even in the checkout line at the grocery store! Complete the gift with a nice set of colored pencils and some peace and quiet for once.

 

The best gift some moms can get on Mother's Day is a good cry. Elevate your childhood finger paint art and commission a local artist to draw a favorite photograph or create a personalized card (it's cheaper and faster than it sounds). A locket or piece of jewelry with a meaningful quote on it would also be a hit, or take matters into your own hands and put together a scrapbook of a favorite family trip. Boom: Instant tears.

 

Bonus to this idea: It costs basically nothing. Gather the kids up, dress them in the ugliest sweaters you can find, and strike a pose for a legendarily awkward family photo. If you're the kid, find a weird old baby picture and recreate it, #TBT style. Her Facebook friends will thank you.

 

Listen, is it the most romantic idea? No. But if mom has been driving around with a dinged up side mirror, or the garage light hasn't worked since 2006, fix the dang thing! You can still be sentimental: If she's ever mourned over a lost bracelet or a broken mug, try to find a close replacement.

 

If your favorite mom likes to cook (even after surviving untold struggles over family meal options), get her something Food Network-level fancy that she'll enjoy experimenting with. Culinary lavender, truffle oils, infused vinegar and goods imported from her favorite travel destination are all great options.

Mother's Day brunches

Mother’s Day is just around the corner, and for me, that means spending an entire weekend with my mom in Des Moines, heading to the opening of the Downtown Farmers’ Market on May 7 and going to brunch on May 8. While we already have our reservations in, you may still need to make yours. Here, a look at six brunches just for Mother’s Day, along with some of the newer brunches that have opened recently.

1. Le Jardin

 

2815 Beaver Ave.; 515-255-5787; lejardindsm.com

 

This French bistro in Beaverdale is well-known for its Sunday brunches, and for Mother’s Day, that means special seating times between 9 a.m. and 9:30 a.m., between 10:20 a.m. and 10:50 a.m., from 11:40 a.m. to 12:10 p.m., and from 1:10 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Each seating allows for an hour and 20 minutes to dine. Each dish comes with the choice of two sides and free honey cornbread muffins and coffee for all guests. Bonus: Now Le Jardin is open for brunch on Saturdays, too, with a scaled-down menu of omelets and crepes.

 

2.Blank Park Zoo

 

7401 SW Ninth St.; 515-287-0848; blankparkzoo.com

 

Head to brunch with the animals at the Blank Park Zoo, which teams up with Johnny's Italian Steakhouse chefs. Look for chef-carved prime rib, traditional breakfast entrees, smoked salmon, crab cakes, shrimp cocktail, chef's pasta, assorted salads, homemade pastries and desserts, children's buffet and more for $26 for nonmembers, $23 for members and $12 for kids under 12. Seatings are at 9:45, 10, 10:15 and 11:45 a.m., noon, and 12:15, 1:45, 2 and 2:15 p.m

 

3. HoQ

 

303 E. Fifth St.; 515-244-1213; hoqtable.com

 

Suman Hoque and his team put together a special brunch menu that includes a la carte items from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Look for roasted sweet potato toast, deviled duck eggs, cinnamon rolls, hand-dipped doughnuts, pomme Bryon with potatoes and Milton Creamery white cheddar cake omelets, stuffed French toast and more. Also nab bottomless mimosas, screwdrivers or bloody Marys for $18.

 

4. Strudl Haus

 

1951 Indianola Ave.; 515-259-9886; strudlhaus.com

 

Michael Leo’s Vienna-style restaurant with an in-house Austrian bakery serves up a smaller version of its breakfast menu for Mother's Day. That means eggs any style with German sausage or ham, crepes with Nutella or jelly, Strudl Haus eggs over easy with Hollandaise and ham and more. Make reservations at 8, 9:15 or 10:30 a.m., noon, and 1:30 p.m.

 

5. Johnny's Italian Steakhouse

 

550 Bass Pro Drive, Altoona; 515-957-9600

6800 Fleur Drive; 515-287-0848

6075 Mills Civic Parkway, West Des Moines; 515-333-5665

johnnysitaliansteakhouse.com

 

With three locations in the Des Moines area, that gives you three more places to take mom. All three have a buffet with salmon, pasta dishes, carved prime rib and ham, salads, fruits, plus a special children's buffet. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. $26 adults, $13 ages 5-11, 4 and under free.

 

6. The Radish Dining & Catering

 

721 E. First St., Grimes; 515-986-1900; theradishdining.com

 

Grab the all-you-can-eat buffet for $24.99 for adults and $6.99 for kids 3 and up from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Kick in an additional $5 for the bloody Mary bar and mimosas.

 

RELATED:10 boozy brunches in Des Moines

Mother's Day Cards 2018

Mother's Day Cards 2018:

• Don’t poets know it, Better than others? God can’t be always everywhere: and, so, Invented Mothers. SIR EDWIN ARNOLD


• Mothers hold their children’s hands for a short while, but their hearts forever. A photograph of Anonymous. ANONYMOUS


• The heart of a mother is a deep abyss at the bottom of which you will always find forgiveness. Photograph of Honoré de Balzac HONORÉ DE BALZAC


• Insanity is hereditary. You get it from your children. Photograph of Sam Levenson. SAM LEVENSON


• A mother is a person who, seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie. TENNEVA JORDAN


• And remember that behind every successful woman is a basket of dirty laundry. A photograph of Anonymous. ANONYMOUS


• The mother’s heart is the child’s schoolroom. HENRY WARD BEECHER


• No gift to your mother can ever equal her gift to you–life. A photograph of Anonymous. ANONYMOUS


• Hundreds of dewdrops to greet the dawn; Hundreds of lambs in the purple clover; Hundreds of butterflies on the lawn; But only one mother the wide world over. GEORGE COOPER


• Mother–that was the bank where we deposited all our hurts and worries. T. DEWITT TALMAGE