Spending time with your Mom this Mother’s Day? Remember to go green! Mother Nature needs some love and appreciation, too. Since most Moms already have pretty much everything they need, why not skip the gift this year (cutting down on her carbon footprint) and spend some good, old-fashioned, quality time together instead.
1. Create a DIY Spa Day
Skip the expensive day spa this year and create your own day of relaxation for you and your Mom with ingredients straight from your kitchen cabinets. Start with a facial steam, followed by an oatmeal mask, then finish with a seaweed face wrap. Search “DIY home spa and facials” for tips and recipes. Other items you might have that you’ll want to include are as follows: paraffin wax dip, microwavable aromatherapy neck wrap, and a massaging foot bath. Set a table with fruits and teas, put in a romantic comedy and enjoy!
2. Treat her to brunch or dinner
Visit dinegreen.com for a list of certified sustainable restaurants in your area. If nothing pops up near by, choose a local establishment before a chain eatery. This will support your local economy and allow you to treat your Mother to a meal that’s a little more special. Don’t forget to bring your own “to-go” containers for any left overs.
3. Plan a picnic
A picnic is a wonderful way to celebrate Motherhood, especially when you get several generations involved. Get the family together at a local park where each clan can bring a dish that they prepared at home. Pack non-disposable outdoor dishes and utensils, cloth napkins, blankets and games that the whole family can enjoy.
4. Help Mom in her garden
Gardening is a lot of work, and a nice way to show Mom you care is to help her with the backbreaking task of getting it started. All that raking, digging, planting and mulching is nothing compared to the labor she went through to give you life! She’ll appreciate your efforts and you’ll get to strengthen that mother-child bond while providing new life to the planet.
5. Go for a hike
But not just any hike, go geocaching! All you need is a GPS device and a garbage bag. Check out www.geocaching.com/cito for details. Read about the “Cache In Trash Out” initiative then click on the “Getting Started” tab on the left. It’s a fun new way to find trails and help the environment by picking up any bit of trash as you go.
Posted by: Carly Ippolito
Date: May 3, 2010