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Shopping smarter… MOTHER's DAY
It's time to show your mother (or the mother of your children) just how much you care. While you're at it, show her you care about the planet too, by selecting earth-kind presents.
I love the luxurious candles (above) from  Neom Luxury Organics (hint, hint!). Today's hassled and harried mums could really do with the 'Rebalance: Destress' blend of mandarin, cinnamon and clove. Or pamper her with the 'Luxury Unwind' bath oil (right) with rich organic oils and soothing bergamot, French lavender and patchouli.
Toby Pomeroy and the artisans at his studio use 100% reclaimed gold and silver for sleek yet sustainable jewellery.
If your partner's a mum-to-be, treat her to the Natalia products for pregnancy, birth and beyond from Vital Touch. New mums may still be in shock from the demands of early parenthood, but the New Parent Survival Box can help her recover, with pampering potions for her and baby massage oil (and instruction booklet) to help mum and baby bond. Vital Touch also creates bespoke blended creams or bath oils, making a perfect, one-of-a-kind gift for the woman in your life.
Sometimes what a mother really really wants is to not feel quite so mumsy. Let her know you still see the woman you fell madly in love with (even if she's temporarily hidden beneath a slightly crumpled or crabby exterior) by surprising her with something saucy from the Eco Boudoir range at Figleaves.com.
Treat her to a pamper hamper like the Mother's Day Hamper from Turnham Green, with a selection of tasty treats and some indulgent
extras for bath time, all packed in a smart jute bag. Order your hamper by 3pm Thursday 28th February to ensure delivery by Mothers' Day.
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Shopping less… MOTHER's DAY
What do mother's really want for Mother's Day this year? (2 March in the UK, 11 May in the US)
OK, some really *do* want a diamond tennis bracelet and nothing else will do.
But most mums want a bit of care, attention, consideration, love and especially appreciation – and not just one day, but every day of the year.
It's become a cliché to moan about the commercialisation of Mother's Day, but I believe it's important to celebrate special occasions, to take the time to tell our loved ones how much we appreciate them. This doesn't mean you ignore them the rest of the year – or that you have to spend spend spend on yet more gifts and gadgets.
Make her a homemade gift certificate for a candlelit dinner, a week's worth of lie-ins, a loving (if not expert) massage, or simply name all the chores you'll take off her To-Do list this month.
Spending time together can be the best present of all, so treat her to a night at the cinema (her choice – and if it's The Other Boleyn Girl, try not to wax too lyrical about Scarlett and Natalie's feminine charms), Sunday lunch at her favourite restaurant, an evening of theatre or a day in a spa.
Many mums say the best part of the day is the traditional breakfast in bed (complete with slightly burned toast and lopsided pancakes) and especially the homemade cards. Why If your children are young, why not get them to do a mini-masterpiece and frame it as a lasting memento of this special day.
To go truly green, instead of buying blooms, put a handful of daffs or other flowers from your back garden into her prettiest vase (I love this darling hand-thrown, made-in-Whitstable 'Flower' vase by Keith Brymer Jones at Beth Stevens), but don't be tempted to gather wildflowers from your local hillside, common or park. It may sound romantic, but it's actually illegal without permission (and the last thing she needs on Mother's Day is to have to post your bail!) |
 Homemade biscuits always hit the spot, especially when they're charmingly imperfect, as shaped by tiny hands. (Great for grandmas too.) Pile them high in a sweet pot from Emma Bridgewater: all her earthenware is made by hand using traditional techniques in her factory in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire.
 Make sure your flowers aren't costing the earth. Scented Narcissi grow on the Isles of Scilly, 28 miles off the coast of Cornwall, so travel only a fraction of the distance of South American or African blooms and arrive in a biodegradable box (from £29.95 for a box of 100). Order online between October and April.
If only roses will do, get these gorgeous pink and red blooms from The Organic Flower Company at By Nature. Each bouquet is delivered with a card seeded with wild flowers seeds to be planted in her garden.
Arena Flowers claims to be the first UK florist to sell a selection of flowers and plants accredited by the Fair  Flowers Fair Plants (FFP) Organisation, set up to monitor and check ethical standards. Instead of blossoms, try plants like this gorgeous orchid, which Mum can enjoy for longer.
A tree is a lasting tribute to your wonderful mother. The beautiful Silver Birch Tree, known as the 'Lady of the Woods' symbolises birth and fertility, so is a perfect choice for Mother's Day; just £24.50 online at Tree2MyDoor.
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The Green Pound 