After the drudgery of winter it’s so nice to feel the warmth of spring. I love seeing the flowers start to grow and the birds return to my northern climate. And spring also brings the return of many different celebrations. From valentine’s day to graduations, Mother’s Day and Father’s day. So many different occasions some formal and some quite informal.

Will all these different occasions there is one downside. Most of them seem to require us to give a gift. An interesting gift that we can be proud of.

When I think spring, I think of color and being outdoors. So, using this as inspiration for my gifts, I like to give gifts that are colorful and/or can be used outdoors.

If you are buying for Mother’s day and she likes to garden, consider a useful garden tool. For newlyweds, a gift that doubles down as a housewarming gift is always loved. Now mix in the nature element and give them a picnic basket filled with some of their place settings. Or for more modest budgets you can use cheaper but fun plastic-ware that they’ll use over and over.

My niece is getting married this spring. She is so very excited and just beams every time I see her. She is having her reception outside so for wedding gifts anything that has a natural or ‘outdoorsy’ feel to it would totally rock. Of course she needs everything from stemware to placesettings. She and her soon to be husband have purchased their first house and are working hard to make it a home. So a nice park bench or hammock would be awesome gifts. She also is looking for unique bridesmaid gifts and some cool groomsmen gifts but needs to consider her wedding’s theme first. And then there are wedding invitations, guest books, flowers and personalized wedding favors.

Kids love spring more than anyone. After spending hours indoors at school and then hours indoors after school as well, they can’t wait to break out and play outside for a while. My daughter’s birthday falls in spring, and she has received beach towels, sand toys, and pool toys for gifts. Other gift ideas would be anything to get kids outside playing, such as hula hoops, jump ropes, bicycle bells, sidewalk chalk, and flower seeds. We all know spring can also bring rainy weather. To brighten up those stormy days, consider giving a new, brightly colored umbrella or rain coat.

Spring is that wonderful time of year when it’s not too hot or too cold and the world is alive with color and new life. May your spring gift giving be inspired by this wonderful time of year.

Celebrate Your Graduation

Last year we celebrated a graduation. My husband completed his MBA. It took three years of evenings and weekends, innumerable papers and too may team projects

I hate February.

I live far enough north that February is still cold (snowed here last night) and there is little greenery showing except for the evergreen shrubs and trees. But I can feel Spring getting closer – I certainly can hear it. Outside my windows I hear the cardinals chirping anytime the sun shines. Especially on cold but sunny mornings. It’s as if to say that they are still here, hanging on and glad to be alive.

When Spring finally does get here I’ll be ready. And thinking of Spring made me think back to some of my more memorable Mother’s Days. You can read more about that here.

For now, I’ll just go back to looking at garden magazines and dream…