Mother’s Day Top 7 gift ideas: How to treat the special women in your life on this special date
The past year has been challenging for everyone, and the distance created by lockdown makes us crave even more for some moments of kindness and care.
With many families unable to meet, it feels even more important to celebrate special occasions like Mother’s Day – which falls on Sunday, March 14 in case you have forgotten – to add positive highlights to our lives and, most importantly, to celebrate the special women in our lives.
So, here are a few ideas to share some love and mark the date with some much needed love and warmth.
Gour-mam – treat her with a tasty bite
As the saying goes, sharing is caring – and is there anything more soul-warming than sharing a delicious meal or a tasty dessert?
Although many restaurants and cafes are shut, others are still working and preparing delicious take-away or delivery options.
Why not send a tasty afternoon tea set? Red Poppy from Strathpeffer or The Storehouse in Evanton will have you covered.
What about a tasty donut box? Then look no further than Perks cafe in Inverness and go for a full-tilt celebration with a box of round delicacies.
Wherever you are in the Highlands, have a look at what your local restaurants and cafes can offer, as many of them will introduce new offers to take away.
A special tipple
On stressful days, we all need to have something to relax (responsibly!) with, and being treated to a tasting experience in liquid form can be a lovely experience at the end of the day.
Have a look at the special cocktails created by Highland Mixology for some delicious recipes, and if you know someone who loves to learn about what's in their glass, then a virtual wine tasting like those offered by Wood Winters can be a perfect gift.
For all the rum fans, Matugga Rum are organising a special tasting experience on the day.
However the Highlands are also full of incredible distillers, so getting a bottle from a local gin, whisky or liqueur producer is a great way to celebrate the occasion.
Unique crafts from local artists
To get a special hand-made gift, look no further than the talent that is nestled across the Highlands: you can find so many beautiful ideas by looking into what local artisans are producing, and they can make for a pretty unique gift.
If your mum is an animal lover, Henry Says makes beautifully handcrafted reproductions of wildlife in felt, or if you prefer a classic gift, then the Tweed item from The Highland Tweedery can make a lovely present.
Why not gifting a painting from artists such as Sarah Dunton or a print from Jack Spowart Illustration?
Finally, if a jewel is something more appropriate, have a look at what Evanton-based Peat or by Tilly and Roo from near Loch Ness.
Learning together
Even at a distance, learning together is always a fantastic experience and a great way to share passions that we have in common – or to discover something completely new to us.
Why not to book an online class to take together? From cooking to writing, the options available online are almost endless! If you are looking for something local, there are even artists like Haven House that have now made their courses available online.
Bookclub subscription
Are you looking for a special present for an avid reader? Then monthly book subscriptions can be an original and lasting gift. From ones such as Adventurous Ink for the outdoors lover, to Books That Matter or Shelter Box to delve into diversity and multiculturalism, or even a monthly treat bundle like the one offered by Date Night With a Book, there is one for every taste and occasion.
An experience to look forward to
If planning anything at the moment feels a bit too early and out of context, many hospitality and tourism businesses are offering gift vouchers for when they will be able to re-open.
So, why not to gift an experience to look forward to for better times? Look locally for what is available – from hotels like The Torridon, in Achnasheen, or Mackays in Wick, to gastronomy experiences, to outdoors experiences like those offered by Wilderness Scotland, the options are almost endless and can become a much appreciated spark of light on the other side of the tunnel.
Pamper Hamper
If you want to gift some essentials for a special day, why not to mix it up and create a perfectly tailored hamper? You can find many pre-assembled options in your local shops – like this one from M&S – but you can also put one together with a selection of treats and pampering products from the small businesses in your area and create a unique and original gift.