Questions to ask yourself when choosing a Mother's Day gift

It seems that no sooner has Valentine’s Day been and gone that the shops are putting up their displays of cards and gifts for Mother’s Day,  the next celebratory day in the calendar.  And one that many of us will be on the lookout for the perfect gift for. 

If you’ve not registered the date yet, it’s the 31st March, and it’s one that we don’t want to miss isn’t it?

Getting our cards and gift choices right for our mum is important, as while we recognise what mums do throughout the year, often we don’t always take the chance to show it.  It’s the one day of the year that getting it right is important, we know that the others are too, but on Mother’s Day and all that it stands for it’s especially important and that’s something the Card Factory can help with, and not just with the perfect card - although there’s plenty of them to choose from!

YOUR CHOICE: MOTHER, MUM OR MUMMY…

YOUR CHOICE: MOTHER, MUM OR MUMMY…

FLOWERY, CUTE, CHIC OR FUNNY…

FLOWERY, CUTE, CHIC OR FUNNY…

The photos above are just a few of the Mother’s Day cards on display in the relatively new Card Factory shop in Hunstanton, these are just a few - I told you there was plenty of choice…  It’s the first time I’ve been in there, but it might have been there longer than I think as with everything else going on last year, we didn’t get up to Norfolk as much as we’d have liked, or as much as normal.

But it got me thinking, what are the questions we should ask ourselves so that whatever we choose for our mums matches their personality and style.  Your mum might be highly creative, pay attention to detail, feel energised when she’s around other people and regularly helps others in need, dealing with stress well, or more likely displays some of these personality traits on a daily basis, often without a second thought

  1. What does your mum want? 

    If you ask her, no doubt, she’ll probably say nothing, unless there’s something she really does want.  In which case, my advice would be, get that.  But even if she says nothing, all is not lost.  Consider her hobbies, is there something that she’s mentioned in conversation lately, could that have been a hint, think back (but not too far).

  2. What does your mum deserve?

    Gestures don’t always need to be grand, or expensive.  Thoughtful is always better than lavish. Perhaps it’s the thing that mum mentioned, perhaps it’s something that you’ve made yourself, perhaps it’s something that will make her smile or perhaps it’s something sentimental that reminds her of you.

  3. Does it feel right for your mum?

    You know your mum, you know her likes and dislikes, her humour, her hobbies and even her favourite colour, so you’ll know if it feels right for your mum.  Sometimes you’ll find the perfect gift straight away, and other times it takes a little more time, but you know when it’s right, it’s right, and your mum will too.

What other questions or advice/tips would you add to the list?

* This is a collaborative post but as usual, all words, thoughts and images are my own. 

Lettres a picots

We’ve been in Norfolk for a few days and have spent some time exploring some of North Norfolk’s villages, trying to get a feel for them in the name of research. We spent some time in Wells, and visited their new arts centre, looking at a painting exhibition and voting for our favourites which of course, couldn’t have been more different. I didn’t like the one MOH chose at all, and I’m sure he wasn’t that taken with the one I chose either, so that was quite a reminder of how difficult we find to agree on artwork, which is why it took us so long to decide on one for our living room.

Thankfully though, this was just for a competition so agreement wasn’t necessary, which is good because I don’t think we’d have agreed on either. But it was thirsty - or rather hungry work - so our next stop was the shops at Creake Abbey, a long time favourite. Coffee and walnut cake for him and chocolate cake with peanut butter for me, it was better than it sounds and more adventurous than a Victoria Sponge.

Coffeed and caked, next up was a stroll around the shops. Home by Annie Lambert has the best selection of tin pots, tubs, receptacles I know of - and I’ve photos to share, but not today.

Today it’s all about the box.

It wasn’t what caught my magpie eye either, that was the shells and coral next to it. But as I looked my eyes wandered right.

shells, coral and a box that just needed to be opened

Lettres Kis-Pic A Picots?

Huh?

Well of course I opened the box. Look what was inside:

Inside were letters and numbers

These vintage letters for a noticeboard along with a black velvet board. I was quite tempted, but there was still so much else to see in the shop. And there does seem to be an extraordinary amount of Es!

Now I wish I’d bought them. I have no use for them, but aren’t they lovely?

…Maybe a trip back there is needed…

Post Comment Love and Blogger Showcase 15-17 February

Hello there and welcome to this week’s #PoCoLo a friendly linky where you can link any post published in the last week.  If you were here last week, it was great to see you and if you’re new here this week, then you’re very welcome.  Both Morgan and I know you’ll find some great posts to read, and encourage you to pop over to some of the posts linked and take the time to leave a comment or two so that everyone benefits from some extra love.

As you know as part of every week’s post we feature a blogger in our Blogger Showcase and we’re looking for more bloggers to take part. It doesn’t matter if you’re a regular linker or someone here for the first time. All you need to do is answer the questions, or as many as you want to and send them to us by email. Once we’ve got your responses, and remembered to check the mailbox then we’ll agree a date. At the moment our next free date is the start of April, and let’s be honest it’s a great way to get some back links to your blog.

This week I’m trying out the new style linky, so when you link up below it’ll look a little different. I’m keen to know what you think, I’m not totally convinced yet as it doesn’t yet offer the same functionality in the tool, but I’m assured that the old style version isn’t going anywhere just yet, so if it doesn’t work so well that’s my backup plan (I’m refusing to adopt the new Brexit word to describe this!)

My photo this week is another old one, but pretty. It dates back to our visit to Castle Drogo in Devon in 2016, while the renovations were taking place. As most of the furniture and furnishings were in storage, some of the rooms hosting art exhibitions. And this willow mirror definitely caught my eye, thankfully not literally.

WILLOW MIRROR (2015), DOVETAIL FOUNDRY

WILLOW MIRROR (2015), DOVETAIL FOUNDRY

Blogger Showcase: Becky from The Bonafide Brunette

1 Who are you?

I am a blogger based in Canada and I've been at it about a year. My name is Becky, I love fall, am a total foodie and believe in karma doing great things for me! I believe kindness is always the best choice. One small act of kindness can totally change a persons day, and I love that! I write out of passion, and blogging has by far become my favourite hobby I have ever had. I would love to turn it into a career one day, if the fates allow it.

2 How did you discover blogs/blogging?

I found a girl on Instagram whom I really admired because she was very real and honest, and I found out she blogs. After that, I tried it out and I was hooked.

3 Why did you start blogging?

I started blogging to be able to clear my mind, ease my anxiety and create! My hopes were that I'd reach a few people and they'd really enjoy what I had to say. But the most important thing to me is that I just really enjoy blogging and writing even if nobody reads it.

4 What do you find most challenging?

The most challenging thing for me is always remembering to take cute photos (haha). I am always so in the moment when Im out with friends doing fun things, I TOTALLY forget to capture my outfit or whatever us bloggers are supposed to do.. I am also way too embarrassed to ask a stranger to take a photo of me in a random coffee shop or something. I am just too shy! Other than that, my outreach is pretty hard too. I feel like I am doing all the right things.. and yet I haven't grown much! But thats okay, I didn’t start blogging to become huge or anything. I just do it out of passion.

5 What is your favourite topic to write about?

My favourite thing to write about is day to day life, inspiration and things like that. Things like why it's okay to like being alone, or whatever similar idea. I like to make people feel like they can relate and that its okay to feel how they feel. 

6 Are you blogging for fun or do you have goals?

I blog mostly for fun, however I love it so much I'd be lying if i said I didn't want to do this full time.

7 What is your favourite thing about blogging?

I love the ability to create photos and pieces of writing that look like the inside of my brain. I know that’s a weird saying, but it’s so true! It's so hard to find a passion that allows you to really create something that’s a piece of you

8 Have you ever attended a blogging conference and if so, what did you think?

No, but I would love to go to one.

9 What are your 3 best posts?

10 Describe yourself in three words!

Introverted Extrovert, hungry (lol)

11 Are you a tea and biscuits or coffee and cake person?

Can I have the coffee, and some toast with almond butter? I am not a cake gal!

12 What's your idea of a perfect night out?

A perfect night out for me would probably actually be a night in. Cooking dinner, playing board games, doing whatever. If we were to go out I'd like trying a new restaurant and then going for a walk somewhere with twinkly lights with my love!

13 Your perfect night in?

Oops. Well  my perfect night in is still cooking a nice dinner, and spending some time together doing whatever we feel like doing that night. I love card games and board games!

14 What would your best friend/boyfriend say is your best quality?

That's a hard one! My best friend or boyfriend would probably say that I am very thoughtful, strong willed and stubborn. Hard headed at times; but passionate, caring and big hearted too.

Thanks for sharing more about you and your blog Becky - here’s Becky’s social channels so you can pop over and say hello:  Twitter  -  Pinterest