experiences instead of gifts Archives - Ellen's Blog, Professional Organizing for Kingwood & Houston

Mother’s Day is here and you may have already purchased your mom the best gift ever! Or you may have plans with her to make her breakfast in bed and bring her flowers. Celebrating Mom should likely last more than a day. There’s ways that you and your mom can create lasting memories together. Here’s ways to show you care that make for special times together. The best part is that Mother’s Day lasts throughout the year with these ideas.

Create a Mother-Child Bucket list together

You and your mom can noodle about and decide on an activities list. The list can include going on a road trip together, cooking a family recipe, or learning a new hobby. Add dates to when you want to plan your activities to be sure you get these checked off.

Volunteer for a cause together

Your mom and you both have generous spirits and are passionate about making a difference. Choose a way to give back together that makes a difference locally or globally. It can be one big volunteer experience or a routine activity.

Read the same book at the same time

Want to be in the best book club? Join a book club together or create one of your own. It’s twice as fun to read and review together. You can also listen to the book on Audible.

Meet for lunch monthly

A gift of time can be the best gift. Set a time each month to meet for lunch without any distractions or additional guests. Alone time with Mom is precious.

Organize photos together

Mom has buckets, drawers and boxes of photos. She may be overwhelmed by them all. It’s more fun to organize together! Gather up supplies for paper photos and grab your devices for digital photos. Guaranteed you will not only have fun, you will learn a lot about family memories!

Create a memory for Mom

There are many of us without a mom. Even without Mom here, we can create a memory about her. For our family, that memory often includes eating a special food Mom loved or lighting a candle in her memory. Choose a way to honor your family members who have passed. It’s a memory you create for all of your family.

More ways to celebrate Mom and share the love here!

Every year we focus on stuff. What if this year you focused on gifts that include experiences? Having an amazing experience, that’s a gift of time, togetherness, or fun, can be a new way to celebrate the holidays. In this year when your holiday may be a “new normal,” experiences can make it easier to skip the inside decorations and make the most of time together. Here’s a round up of the best organizing experiences for you, your family and your colleagues.

“Animal encounter” at your local zoo or aquarium

When your home is under construction, it’s a great time to get everyone out from under foot. An “animal encounter” takes you behind the scenes at a location you may already be a member. It’s a one of a kind experience for your animal lover.

A day of “winter fun”

A sunny southern city, Houston has plenty of options for a day of winter fun. Discovery Green ice skating, viewing Zoo lights, or taking in the lights at Santa’s Wonderland can all be extra fun during December.

Attending a dress up, special performance

Each year, Houstonians treat their families to The Nutcracker, A Christmas Carol, Handel’s Messiah, or Mannheim Steamroller. These special outings give your family a holiday boost too.

Learn a new skill

Have you or your family wanted to learn a new skill? What about cooking class together, skiing, or golf? A gift certificate for a class can give you and your family the opportunity for a test run.

Family crafts

Host a family get together at a painting or pottery spot, such as MudPie, Pinot’s Palette and the Rustic Brush. All of these offer holiday options to creatively party.

Competitive fun

Is your family or are your colleagues up for challenging competitive fun? The Escape Room, laser tag or paint ball might suit you all for an afternoon of collective, competitive play.

A gift you give each other

There may be one big wish your family or colleagues have and that’s a gift you give each other. It’s as small as coupon book of small, weekly chores. It’s as big as creating a photo book from all your iphone, Facebook or other spots. There are endless options including making a special cake or dinner for a friend or family. We all have a special something we can do for another.

I hope this list inspires you this holiday season to give more than stuff. Give a memory!

Tag Archive for: experiences instead of gifts

5 Ways to Make Mother’s Day Extra Special (and last beyond that one day)