Celebrating Mom!

"Who ran to help be when I fell,
And would some pretty story tell,
Or kiss the place to make it well?
My Mother." -Ann Taylor

We celebrate Mother’s Day every year and with good reason. Being a mother is one of the hardest jobs a woman will ever have. You are on call 24/7, 365 days a year. There are no sick days, personal time off or vacation days accrued. You can not call in a sub for the day and there is no retirement. There is no salary, bonuses or cost of living adjustments. Yet, it is the most rewarding job a woman can do. A mother’s hard work is often overlooked sometimes unappreciated. So with Mother’s Day this Sunday (May 10th) what better way to celebrate mom, to simply say “Thank You” for loving me than by hosting a Mother’s Day brunch in her honor.

Below you will find nine (9) easy steps for planning a memorable stress-free brunch honoring that special lady in your life…you mom.

Step 1: Set your budget. With the economy being the way it is keep in mind that it isn’t necessary for you to break the bank just to show your mom that you care. Knowing how much you can comfortably spend up front will help you plan how to celebrate mom on her day - stress free.

Step 2: Create a theme. Building a theme around your mom’s interest and hobbies is guaranteed to be a hit. If your mother is a gardener, incorporate some of her favorite flowers from her garden into the décor. Does she love to scrapbook? If so, make 12x12 collages filled with fun family photo’s and place them throughout the house. Incorporating her favorite things into the theme, like her favorite color, flower and music will give your brunch that “special” touch and show your mom that this day is all about her.

Step 3: Choose the location. Hosting the brunch at her favorite restaurant is always a great option, however you may be limited in the amount of personalization you can do. Some other places to consider are a park, special event facility, and your backyard (weather permitting). Keep in mind if hosting the brunch outdoors; always have a back up plan in the event of bad weather.

Step 4: Create the guest list. Are you planning something grand or just planning on inviting your immediate family? My rule of thumb is to always let your budget dictate your guest list.

Step 5: Send out invitations: Whether you decide to have a small intimate gathering with only family or a grand affair, it’s always nice to send out invitations to your guests. No matter how simple or elaborate the invitation is, make sure it includes three basic elements:
· The date and time of the event
· The location, including directions and phone number in the event they get lost and need directions
· The attire – let your guest know how they should come dressed to the event. Is this a casual brunch held outside in the backyard or will it be held at the Four Seasons? Letting your people know how they should dress takes the stress of what to wear off your guests and lends to a better event for all attending.

Step 6: Create the menu. Are you hosting the event at a restaurant? If so pick your mom’s favorite one. Or if you’re hosting the brunch at your house, are you going to have it professionally catered or will you be doing all the cooking yourself? Whichever you decide keep in mind your mom’s favorite foods when planning the menu.

Step 7: Plan the entertainment. Hiring a band or DJ are always good options, or you can keep it simple and create a play list of your mother’s favorite songs and burn them on a CD or put them on your mp3. If children will be attending, have them write poems that they can recite during the event.

Step 8: Take lots of pictures. Designate one or two people as the official photographers to capture the special moments of the day. You can also place disposable cameras in various places for the guests to snap candid photos during the brunch.

Step 9: Have fun! Make the event a fun experience for everyone involved.

Most of all remember what the day is all about – it’s about celebrating mom and treating her like a queen for the day. You don’t have to go to extremes because in the end, it’s the little things that count and mean the most.