I was flipping through a magazine the other day when I came across an advertisement for an easy mothers day gift idea. I was intrigued until I realized the advertisement was for a local grocery store that had an enormous selection of Mother’s Day gift cards to choose from. You could just grab a card on your way out of the store and be done with it. Now, we all have to grab a gift card every once and a while but this Mother’s Day I think that we should treat our mothers to something a little more thoughtful. However you do not need to spend a lot of time at the mall to find the perfect Mother’s Day gift.

Susan's Basket Store has a wonderful selection of gift baskets for every budget. Gift baskets are a great way to surprise your mom on her special day. I love them because they are a thoughtful and easy way to show your mom you care, even if you live far apart. If your mom has a sweet tooth, the chocolate gold mine gift basket would be the one to go with. If you do not want to ruin your mothers new years resolution to eat healthier you can send her the orchard harvest fruit basket, she will be able to enjoy it for weeks! There are so many options when you are choosing a gift basket that you are sure to find something for every mom.
If you think your mom is not the gift basket type there are plenty of other options to choose from. Many people go out for a nice dinner but Mother’s Day is one of the busiest days for restaurants and businesses! Crowded restaurants, traffic, hurried and overworked wait staff and cold food might not sound like the greatest way to celebrate mothers day this year. Instead of going out this year, try making mom a special meal, where she can relax and enjoy a time when she finally doesn’t have to cook. A common way to surprise mom on mothers day morning is to bring her breakfast in bed. You can make the traditional breakfast items or you can try to mix it up and wow mom with your cooking skills! This can also help save money in these unstable economic times. Here are a few more inexpensive ideas to express your gratitude for the woman who raised you.

• Make a scrapbook with picture of the two of you through the years.
• Does your mom enjoy a nice glass of wine? Plan to spend the evening together with a bottle of wine and some of your mom’s favorite movies.
• Anything personalized is good. Engrave your favorite “mom-ism” on a key chain or necklace. For those of you who do not know what a “mom-ism” is, they are just things that your mom always says. For example, “I hope someday you have children just like you” or “If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all.”
• Treat your mom to a relaxing day at the spa. Take advantage of the economy. Right now there are plenty of discounts and special offers to attract customers to luxury goods.

However you choose to celebrate Mother’s Day just make sure to tell your mom that she is loved and appreciated. Also don’t forget to thank the other special mother’s you know!

Come visit Susan's Basket Store, we specialize in gift baskets for all occasions and we have gourmet gift baskets as well. We can help with those last minute Valentine's Day gifts also....

Happy Valentine's Day 2009

Birthday parties are so much fun but at the same time can be so much work, and when you have 5 children, it's 5 times the work, 5 times a year. Even still, I love to have lots of baked goodies for my kid's parties......

My latest creation I stole from a woman's magazine. For my daughters 20th birthday, I decided to go with a scrabble theme since our last match she won "again" and was very quick to make sure that we all knew that she is the best there is at scrabble and can't be beat.

See the whole article at Susan's Basket Store - Fresh Baked Goodies

Growing up I remember the smell of coffee early in the morning as I would wake and begin my morning routine getting ready for school. Both of my parents were coffee drinkers. I don’t think a day went by during my childhood that I didn’t see my parents sipping a cup of the mysterious black brew. I remember my Mom putting cream and sugar in hers and my Dad I think had his black. I never remember trying it or even wanting to taste it myself. Even to this day, I’m not much of a coffee drinker, however, I love the smell of fresh brewed coffee. I am sure my brain connects the feeling of security with the smell of coffee as the aroma triggers fond memories of my childhood.

I think that being introduced to the taste of coffee is a determining factor as to whether you will become a coffee drinker as an adult. When my oldest daughter was very young, my Mother would give her sips of her cooled coffee with cream and sugar. It wasn’t long before my daughter would beg for it when she would see her Grandmother. Granted, my Mother only gave her decaffeinated coffee, it was as if one taste had her hooked. Throughout my daughter’s childhood, although her father and I do not drink coffee, she seemed to crave it. By the time she was 16 she was what I call a full-fledged coffee addict. She began working for a popular coffee house and to this day at age 20 still works there and still begins her days with her double shot of espresso and it’s the same stuff that keeps her up at night, studying for her college exams or keeping awake for entertainment.

Regardless of whether I drink coffee, I still own a coffeemaker. It’s just one of those things every household must have and believe it or not, it actually gets used. I’ll brew a pot for guests whether friends or family and of course my Mother or Daughter if they happen by. I’ve even been known to brew a pot of coffee just for the aroma. Of course, my husband will drink it if it’s there. I have also found that coffee is quite a popular gift idea. Anyone who appreciates a great cup of coffee will certainly love a basket filled with coffee beans, biscotti, a coffee mug and if you know them well enough, perhaps a good book to go along with it.

Susan’s Basket Store has several gift baskets to choose from for the coffee drinker in your life. From a burlap gift sack full of fine coffee and imported European treats, to the latest addition of the StarBreaks Coffee Basket which includes a 1 pound bag of House Blend, Starbucks® Coffee, 1, 9.5 fl oz Starbucks® Frappuccino, 3 Cafe Biscotti, 1 coffee mug, a wall mountable coffee mug hook, and a coffee scented aromatherapy candle made with real coffee beans. Any of the coffee break baskets brought to you by Susan’s Basket Store will surely bring a smile and a little pep to your favorite coffee drinker’s day. Remember your Mother this Mother’s Day and if she is half the coffee lover as my Mother is, she’ll surely appreciate your thoughtfulness.

The story of chocolate goes back to the discovery of America. The Cacao Tree, the plant from which chocolate is derived, was worshipped by the Mayan Civilization of Central America and Southern Mexico. They believed the tree to be of divine origin. Cacao is a Mayan word meaning “God food”. Early European explorers changed the word Cacao to the more familiar Cocoa.

Chocolate is now recognized as having many qualities that are beneficial to health. Several medical studies show that eating chocolate in moderation can actually prolong your life by reducing risk of blood clots and fighting bad cholesterol. Cocoa is also the highest natural source for magnesium. Chocolate is a very complex food source and scientists are just now beginning to unlock its secrets. It contains essential trace elements and nutrients such as iron, calcium, and potassium, and vitamins A, B1, C, D and E.

Chocolate has been found to contain substances called Phenyl ethylamine and Serotonin, both of which are mood-lifting agents. The brain naturally produces these chemicals when you fall in love. Perhaps this is why chocolate was considered an aphrodisiac by the Aztec Indians, and as such, was forbidden to women. It’s no wonder that the average American consumes almost 12 pounds of chocolate each year.

If you love chocolate, Susan’s Basket store has plenty of wonderful gifts for you or the chocolate lover in your life. Is your anniversary coming up? Surprise her with the Passion Play basket or the Say it with Chocolate basket. Whatever the occasion and whoever its for you cant go wrong with a decadent chocolate gift from Susan’s Basket store.

Visit Susan's Basket Store and choose one of our decadent chocolate gift baskets for your loved one!