Detroit Free Press Feature 5.1.10

Simple ways to melt Mom's heart

Think photos, handwritten notes and gifts with a personal touch

BY CHRISTY STRAWSER

FREE PRESS SPECIAL WRITER

(excerpt)

Instead of emptying the piggy bank to dazzle your favorite maternal
figure on May 9, simply try making Mom feel special. Fun, sentimental
gifts go a long way when it comes to Mother's Day.
Think photos, special messages or a night out on the town. Avoid that
last-minute trip to the mall and look around at some smaller shops in
your area. Your gift might even be right in your house — some of the
most precious Mother's Day presents are homemade. Here are some
nontraditional ideas for Mother's Day:

Think small. Catching Fireflies, a gift store in downtown
Berkley and Rochester, has a magnet with a message that says, "Even if
she weren't my mom, I would go out of my way to be friends with her." The tiny piece from artist Leigh Standley will melt mom's heart for $5. 

"You want something really personal that shows you appreciate her,"
said Danielle Delong, of Troy, manager of Catching Fireflies in
Berkley.

Frame it. If digital doesn't appeal, keep it simple by picking
up a message frame at a place like Catching Fireflies, where beautiful
and simple statement frames that say things like "We love grandma,"
"Best Mom Ever," and others are $33.50.

Grow it. Sunflower Garden in a Bag Coloring Kit, $14.95, at Catching Fireflies.