Top 10 Mother's Day Gifts for Busy Moms

Being a mother today is no easy feat. Moms today are expected to be the ultimate multi-taskers: private tutors, chauffeurs, chefs, personal shoppers, nurses, laundresses, household managers, vacation planners, computer and media monitors, schedulers, cheerleaders and overall household managers. Whew!

This year stay out of the doghouse by giving her a gift that helps her maintain her busy schedule or makes her down time even more enjoyable. The below gift ideas are guaranteed to produce a big smile and an appreciative hug.

If you're a busy Dad in search of the gift be sure to review this list prior to your trek to the mall. As a busy mom myself, I have personally tried the below recommendations, and would LOVE to receive any of these gifts. They all say,"Thanks for all you do! You're appreciated."

1. Canon Digital Elf Camera

I actually own one of these fantastic cameras, and can't say enough good things about it. My number one reason for loving it so much is its ultra small and compact size. It easily slips inside my purse so I have it on me at all times. This means whenever a Kodak moment arises, I'm always ready to capture the memories. Now the digital Elf even comes in a variety of five fashion-forward hues. It's easy to use, produces excellent image quality, has long battery life, a bright LCD screen and nice features and settings. The details: 8.0 megapixel with 3x optical zoom and optical image stabilizer. Automatically sets focus, exposure, flash and white balance for greater shooting freedom. For more details on the Canon Digital Elf Power Shot camera, click here. Retails for $179.00. For more information, click here.

2. A Spa Gift Certificate

This is the ultimate pampering gift. You can google your closest spa, and study their website for pricing and specials. A day, or even half day, is enough to renew our spirits and senses! For a list of day spas and their locations in Atlanta, click here.

3. Garmin GPS

I can't even remember the number of times I got lost trying to find the field of an away game! Busy moms are always trying to find new places and fields. A GPS unit saves us the time of getting lost, not to mention the peace of mind it provides. I received a unit for Christmas, and I absolutely love it. I just plug in the address, and "Garmin" guides me to the place in a clear and understandable voice. I haven't got lost once since installing it in my car! Today's GPS receivers are extremely accurate, thanks to their parallel multi-channel design. Garmin's 12 parallel channel receivers are quick to lock onto satellites when first turned on and they maintain strong locks, even in dense foliage or urban settings with tall buildings. My Nuvi 1200 is the most affordable unit, and it works great! For more information and pricing, click here.

4. The Magic of Candles

When the sun goes down, the soft scent and glow of a candle can calm nerves and renew spirits. Village candles make a great choice because they feature dual wick technology that burns cleaner and generates less soot than single wick candles. This company also offers natural home soy candles that are made from eco-friendly 100% soy wax and infused with pure essential oils. For more details on Village Candles, click here.

5. Gift Certificate to a Meal-Assembly Kitchen

The time, energy and cost of putting a fresh and satisfying meal on the table can be an everyday challenge, especially for busy moms constantly on the go. A meal-assembly kitchen is just the answer for moms who want to provide their families with healthy and delicious meals, but don't always have the time to do so. The concept behind the meal-assembly kitchen is brilliant in its simplicity: You choose a number of meal options from a changing monthly menu, and the meal assembly kitchen provides all the ingredients in prepared form. The recipe is posted, the pans and storage containers are provided, and the measuring cups and spoons are perfectly placed. All you have to do is follow the simple assembly directions at efficient stations, and then transport your dinners home and freeze for later. Flexible portion sizes allow you to feed your family or whip together a dinner party for your new friends and neighbors. It's not takeout, and it's not fast food-and the best thing is that it only costs $3 to $4 per serving. Here are a few Atlanta-area assembly kitchens: Dream Dinners in Cumming and Roswell, The Dinner A'Fare has 13 different locations, and Super Suppers in East Cobb and Smyrna.

6. A Homemade Coupon Book

I have made these for both my husband and children, and it's the gift that keeps on giving. You can make one on your computer, or even handwrite one. Good ideas for coupons include: One Full Day of Total Control of the Remote, Three Uninterrupted Hours of Reading Time, One Full Day of No Whining, One Free Foot Massage, etc. Make it completely personal, and she'll treasure it.

7. Barnes & Noble or Bath & Body Works Gift Certificates

When we finally do get some rare and treasured down time, nothing helps a busy Mom escape life's daily pressures like a good book and a bubble bath. I can feel the tension fade away just by thinking about hanging a do not disturb sign on the bathroom door! You can often get gift cards at a discounted price on Cardavenue - an online marketplace to buy, sell and trade pre-owned gift cards and gift certificates! For more details, click here.

8. Certificate for a Manicure/Pedicure

Because we spend so much time managing the family, little time is actually spent on ourselves. A few hours of pampering with a manicure and pedicure will surely lift our spirits. You can get a gift certificate at any local nail salon. For a complete list of nail salons in Atlanta and their locations, click here.

9. Satellite Radio

Busy moms spend many of their waking hours in our cars, often shuttling our kids from one after school activity to another. With SIRIUS Satellite Radio, she can listen to what she wants, when she wants, wherever she is. She'll enjoy over 130 channels, including 100% commercial-free music from every genre, plus sports, news, talk and comedy - all with crystal-clear, coast-to-coast coverage, all in one place and all at your fingertips. The prices for the units have definitely come down (as low as $39.99), and a monthly subscription costs as low as $6.99 or as high as $19.99 per month, depending upon the options you choose. For more information about SIRIUS satellite radios, click here.

10. Girls Night Out

Go to the video store, and purchase one of the following DVD's: 27 Dresses, The Devil Wears Prada or Sex and the City. Find a nice basket around the house, and put in the movie, 2-3 bottles of our favorite wine, microwave popcorn and a certificate for free babysitting. There you have it - the gift of a fun girls' evening at home for your loved one. No interruptions are allowed!

Other gift-giving and related articles you may find of interest:

Top 10 Gifts for busy moms

Green baby gifts are as easy as 1-2-3 with a 'Green Baby Gift Box'

The Top 5 ways moms can stress less and enjoy more