Ten Last Minute Mother's Day Gifts for the True Procrastinator

As an experienced procrastinator I can tell you that last minute shopping does not have to equal mediocre gifts and disappointed mothers. Whether it's your mother, your wife, or even your mother-in-law these gifts are sure to please and move you up the list to "favorite kid".

1. Say it with pictures. Moms love their babies. Whether their baby is 2 months old or 20 years old, every mom enjoys showing pictures of their families. If you are like most of us, the last five years worth of pictures is still on your digital camera or memory card. Why not take those memories and put them in a book Mom can enjoy? My Publisher and Shutterfly give you until May 4 to order your custom photo album on line. Both sites allow you to create professional quality photo books using their free tools. You can create books with varying layouts, unique covers, and personal captions starting at about $15.

For the true procrastinators out there, you can order large size prints at your local store and frame them yourself. Many Target and CVS stores offer Kodak picture kiosks and on-site photo labs which can create prints up to 8x10. You can also have poster sized prints done at your local Staples Copy & Print center starting around $25. Just save your JPEG file to CD or flash drive and bring to your nearest Copy & Print center.

2. Make it personal. There is something so thoughtful about a gift with your name on it. Personalized stationary, note pads, and totes are functional and beautiful. While most stationery stores require anywhere from 10 days to three weeks for printing, there are some options for the procrastinator.

Design Her Gals is part personalized stationery and part charity. This fabulously cute site allows you to create your own 'gal' that you can dress up and accessorize (even with husbands and children and dogs) before printing her on anything from notepads to recipe cards to mugs and aprons. While you need at least 5 -6 business days to have them print it; for $10 you can create your gal and print at home using your own paper. Your local office supply store will have a wide range of paper to choose from. The best part is that a portion of your sale is donated to their Gal 2 Gal foundation which provides support to women living with Stage IV breast cancer. It's the perfect opportunity to do good for others while treating your mom to something special.

For those of you looking for a less hands on option, check out Vistaprint.com. Well known for its free business card offers, VistaPrint is not just for business printing. They offer a wide range notepads and folded note cards that you can personalize with favorite colors, fonts, and unique designs. For less than $20 you can have personalized stationery products in as little as 3 days.

3. Go old school with homemade cards. If the mother in your life is an arts and crafts lover then a traditional paper and glue card is a great choice. Familyfun.com and Better Homes and Garden have cute crafts that you can make with your children or grandchildren. Or if you prefer an option with less prep go with a craft kit from Michaels or another craft supply store.

Got a modern mom? Create a digital card using PowerPoint or Show (for Macs). You can create a slide show for her to watch on the computer or print your computer based ode to mom to post on her mirror or closet door. For those of you who are even more tech savvy, try your hand at creating a short DVD using Windows Movie Maker and iMovie for Macs. Both are fairly user-friendly if you're comfortable with computers and allow you to combine images, text, and sound to create your own mini-movie for mom.

4. Poetry is not just for lovers. If you are at a loss for words then think about buying book of poetry from your mother's favorite author or an anthology of poems on a specific topic. Maya Angelou's Phenomenal Woman combines her powerful poem with moving images from Paul Gauguin. Ain't I a Woman! A Book of Women's Poetry from Around the World is sure to please many literary mothers out there. This anthology spans centuries of women poets and gives the reader not only their work but a biography of each contributors life.

If you're looking for something a little more personal, why not make your own anthology? A quick search on line for "poems about mom" will turn up an endless array of selections which you can then cut and paste into your own do-it-yourself book; just be sure to credit the authors. Combine them with original pieces of your own to really make it special.

5. Sing her a song. Some mothers are blessed with musical children but if you're like me, bordering on tone deaf, then singing may not be a good choice. But don't let that stop you from showing your love with a song. An iPod or other MP3 player already loaded with her favorite artists is quickly becoming a classic gift for any occasion. The new iPod shuffle is perfect for the technophobe mom and at $80 it's an affordable entry into the age of digital music.

Turn up the nostalgia with a playlist featuring the top 10 songs from the year she became a mom. Got siblings or multiple children? Make a playlist for each of them using songs that remind you of her or vice versa.

6. Get extravagant. We all enjoy a little taste of luxury now and again and what better way to indulge mom than with some designer wares. Buying clothes for any woman is a risky proposition so I suggest you look to accessories. Purses, wallets, and shoes are excellent gifts if you know what your mother likes and an easy way to splurge on the latest designer trends without breaking the bank.

Not sure about her style? Coach has a wide selection of bags and accessories with a balance between trendy and classic that many women will enjoy. The picture frame key fob from Coach ($40) is an affordable option that's sure to impress. It's cute, stylish, and holds pictures of her favorite people! Other designers with wide appeal right now include Louis Vuitton, Dooney & Bourke, Kate Spade, Tory Burch, and Marc Jacobs.

In addition to great handbags, these designers offer fabulous shoes. It may seem like an odd gift to some, but a pair of expensive shoes is the kind of splurge that most mom's just won't allow themselves to have. If you're looking to really impress her, then Jimmy Choo and Christian Louboutin are major splurges that any shoe-loving mother would enjoy. Just make sure you know her real shoes size!

Splurging with a budget? Check out Bluefly.com for a selection of hot designer bags and shoes at discount prices. You can also visit Bag Borrow or Steal (now Avelle) to rent a bag for the month of May. Better yet, get Mom a gift card and let her try as many different bags as she wants.

7. Shower her with jewels. Jewelry is another gift where you can either win her heart or find your gift years later still in the box. Is she into pearls or diamonds? Silver or gold? If you don't know the answer to these questions please do not run out and get her yet another mother & child birthstone necklace. There are some better options to consider first.

Watches are a wonderfully practical jewelry option. The functionality of a watch increases the liklihood that Mom will wear it even if she doesn't love the style you choose. Check out the latest acrylic and resin bracelet styles from company's like ToyWatch and Michael Kors. These trendy pieces are great for summer!

While watches are great, my own bias is to give something that is more sentimental than functional. Dogeared Jewelry offers unique pieces and each one comes with its own special meaning. Whether she's an environmentalist or a fashionista you can find something in their collection of necklaces, bracelets, and rings that fits. One of my favorites is their mom's favorite child necklace- the perfect gift for mom from the narcissist in all of us!

And if you just can't resist the urge to go with birthstones or some other symbolic ode to mother & child, check out these stacking birthstone rings from Red Envelope. Their chunky style is right on trend and they let mom show off the birthstones of her babies without sacrificing style. Another excellent option is the super cute pea in a pod necklace, especially perfect for the mother of twins or triplets.

8. Let her cake... pancakes that is. Breakfast in bed is traditional Mother's Day ritual which often includes gooey pancakes, burnt toast, and cold eggs. While every good mother should endure at least one child-prepared culinary disaster, why not make this Mother's Day a little more gourmet? Epicurious.com and Rachelraymag.com offer easy to prepare, delicious Mother's Day breakfast menus. Not only is this a chance to feed mom with the foods she loves but, you can also teach your children the art of cooking something other than Cheerios.

Can't even boil water? Don't worry you can still do breakfast in bed without involving the cereal bowls. Order a box of assorted croissants from William Sonoma, get a pint of fresh strawberries, and brew some coffee. Bring them all on a tray with her favorite magazine or newspaper. The croissants are so light and flaky she'll think you took her to Paris and ignore the fact that you didn't actually cook anything! (Note: The croissants arrive frozen and require 8 hours to rise and 15 minutes to bake. Frozen croissants do not make for a very special Mother's Day so be sure to plan ahead!)

9. May is for flowers. What mom doesn't love to get flowers? A traditional bouquet of any spring time flower is sure to be a hit with moms and grandmas alike. A procrastinator's dream, flowers can usually be ordered for same-day delivery but you will pay a hefty fee for that service next Sunday. Breakdown and order ahead for the best selection and reasonable prices. The Martha Stewart Collection at 1800flowers.com offers a beautiful selection of elegant arrangements including a sweet pink rose bouquet in a silver julep cup for $40.

And if mom has a green thumb, consider heading to your local garden center to pick up some flowers that you can plant together. The combination of flowers in her garden and time with her loved ones will make it one of the best Mother's Day gifts ever.

10. Give a gift that's timeless. The one thing we can never give too much of is time. As I said before, the thing moms want most is time with their families... and maybe a little recognition for all that they do. Whatever her passion is, take the initiative and plan a fun and relaxing day that revolves around her.

If she enjoys the arts, check out the latest exhibit at your local art gallery or take in a show at the community theater. If mom enjoys nature then pack a picnic and take the family on a hike. Your local newspaper or Cityserach.com can provide you with listings of upcoming events in your area to help you get started.

Remember, Mother's Day is about thanking the mothers in your life for all that they do. So whether you splurge on a big gift or just pick up a card at the drugstore, make sure you take a minute to thank her for loving you the way only a mother can.