Mamamia's Mother's Day Gift Guide: We've got you covered.

Mother’s Day is my favourite day of the year. It’s not because of the gifts I receive, it’s not because of the food I get to eat, it’s because being a daughter and being a mother are two of the most important parts of my life.

I love my mum more than anything. Our relationship wasn’t perfect when I was little and it’s still not perfect now but I call my mum my best friend. It’s the kind of relationship I aspire to have with my children when they have grown up.

Despite my affection for my mother, I still have trouble finding the time to get to a big shopping centre to buy her a Mother’s Day gift. I always go to my nearest local store, luckily there’s usually an IGA close by, and thank goodness there are some brilliant last minute gift ideas you can put together easily from there. When in doubt, ‘just add chocolate’.

Just as an FYI, you should know that this post is sponsored by IGA. But all opinions expressed by the author are 100% authentic and written in her own words.

Chocolates

Chocolates are a perfect Mother’s Day gift, but don’t do it by halves. Select your mum’s favourite chocolates and wrap them beautifully. Choose some cellophane in your mum’s favourite colour and buy ribbon of the same colour.

It will look stunning. My mum loves any chocolate but because I know she and I will share whatever I buy her over coffee that week I always choose something we will both love. We are huge Ferrero Rocher fans and also love Guylian. Red is her favourite colour. Actually, buy both boxes of chocolates and wrap it all up in glorious cellophane. Talk about impressive.

Flower Bouquets

The only Mother’s Day gift better than delicious chocolates is a gorgeous flower bouquet. Flowers are so beautiful and come in so many varieties, especially around Mother’s Day. My mum loves carnations. She used to work on a carnation farm and the smell brings back all her happy memories of early motherhood. As soon as my sisters and I smell them we remember playing on the farm while mum worked. It truly was an adventure playground. Your mum may prefer roses or something brightly coloured like gerberas. Whatever her choice, you can find a great selection around Mother’s Day.  Nothing says Mother’s Day better than a beautiful flower bouquet.

Beauty Pack

Put together a lovely beauty pack for your mum. You can buy beauty products anywhere like cream cleansers, moisturiser, face masks and even lip balm. Select one of each and wrap it in lovely wrapping paper. My mum has been using the same products since I was little and now that I’m grown, I gravitate towards them too. They are available everywhere and aren’t too expensive. But when you’re putting this pack together, add a surprise, something lovely that she’s never tried before. Even just a beautiful candle to add to it or some bath products.

Drinks

My mum and dad used to be the easiest parents to buy for. Every year on Mother’s Day I would give Mum a bottle of Tia Maria, every year on Father’s Day I would give Dad a bottle of Johnny Walker Red Label. Then old age hit and they both ended up on blood pressure medication. No more alcohol right? Apparently not.

Mum started using her Tia Maria to make desserts so she could still have some without being too affected. She uses Tia Maria in her tiramisu and it is delicious. Dad is a different story. He actually uses his Johnny Walker to gargle.

He says he still gets to enjoy the flavour without being too affected by it. One year my brother bought him Black Label but when I told him exactly how Dad was ‘drinking’ it, he decided to save his money next year and go back to Red Label.

Mother’s Day Cake

Show me a mother who doesn’t like cakes and I’ll show you a kid who doesn’t like to lick the bowl!  A Mother’s Day cake is a perfect gift to show your mum just how much you love her. If your mum is anything like my mum, as soon as you walk in with the cake she’ll put the kettle on, cut two slices and you can spend a beautiful afternoon together sharing afternoon tea and chatting. Or, if you have a more formal lunch or dinner planned, a delicious cake makes the best dessert.

I love making my mum a pineapple upside down cake with lots of brown sugar and whipped cream. Or, she’s a huge fan of sponge cakes with jam and cream and just a light dusting of icing sugar on top. If you’re not the best baker in the world, buy a great packet mix. There is so much variety when it comes to packet mixes that you can choose exactly the right one for your mum. But don’t go past those pre-made cakes. Just add jam and cream, or buy it ready to go and you have the perfect Mother’s Day gift.

A ‘Relaxing Moment’ Pack

This gift was a huge hit when I got it for Mum that first year and now, whenever Mum does me a massive favour, I give it to her again. Buy your Mum’s favourite magazines. Buy her, her favourite coffee, some really high quality coffee sugar like the beautiful big raw sugar coffee crystals, a new mug, and some delicious coffee treats like chocolate biscuits (Tim Tams!).

Wrap it all up and tell you Mum this isn’t for sharing, this is for her and only her for any afternoon of her choosing when she just wants to relax and unwind on her own. Mum still rips all the recipes out when she does this and because I bought her the magazines I’m the one who has to taste her latest experiment. Sometimes her cooking experiments turn out well. Let’s not talk about the mango pancakes she tried one year.

Fruit Hamper

Head to your favourite local grocery store and ask staff for a small box. They will be happy to give it to you. Fill it up with a delicious selection of fruit. Make sure it’s really full and looks amazing. Grapes are always impressive looking, as are berries. Just put in some of everything you can find and fill it to the brim.

Use clear cellophane for this if you can so your Mum can easily see all the delicious fruit she’ll get to enjoy. Also use lots of brightly coloured ribbon to make it look even more special. This is one of my favourite gifts to give for Mother’s Day because it looks so impressive when you carry it into their home.

Afternoon Tea Hamper

If you don’t want to give your mum a fruit hamper then make up an afternoon tea hamper. My mum and I have certain afternoon tea treats we only eat together. We love cream-filled lamingtons, citrus tarts, caramel slices, actually I can’t think of a cake or sweet treat we don’t like. We’ve been eating a lot of lemon Madera cake lately. It goes so well with coffee or tea. Or even those jam or chocolate rollettes. They are so amazingly delicious and special. Make up an amazing hamper filled with all of these treats for you to share.

Gift Card

A shopping gift card is a great idea for mum for Mother’s Day, particularly if you have a mum who is difficult to buy for. When you have siblings, this can be a great group gift. In my family we all contribute the same amount of money and one of us goes to our local and picks up a gift card for her to do her weekly grocery shop or perhaps use it to buy those extras she usually thinks are too expensive to include in her weekly shop. But don’t just give her the gift card in a card, always, always include a box of chocolates. Wrap it all up. Done!

Here are some great extras you can add to your Mother’s Day gift available at your local store..

Your local IGA is the perfect destination for that last minute shop where your family can buy great gifts and treats to spoil your mum on Mother’s Day. We have just what you need to make it a special day for your mum:

• Get great deals on Mother’s Day gifts
• Spoil your mum with cakes and goodies
• Stock up on breakfast and lunch ingredients to make that perfect Mother’s Day meal