Top Ten Gift Certificate Ideas for Mother's Day

Fewer names conjure up the feelings of warmth, love, and humility than that of "Mother." She is often inspirational, always educational, and for many years the center of her child's life. She has the power to mold a strong, independent, and courageous human being simply by being a role model herself.

While many believe that Mother's Day is nothing more than something dreamed up by the greeting card companies and florists to make money, nothing could be further from the truth. The day remains as strong now as it was in the beginning for one reason and one reason only. It is a day well deserved!

Because that is true, most of us want to make certain that the gift we choose to give mother on her special day is every bit as unique, loving, and selfless as the many gifts she has bestowed over the years. Sometimes that can be a difficult task to complete. However, here are my top ten certificate ideas that most mothers are sure to enjoy:

An Experience Day. If you really want to give mother something she will never forget, give her what she would never buy for herself: A chance to experience her dream?

At xperience(.com) you can choose from hundreds of different experience day packages. Maybe mom has always wanted to take a balloon ride. Perhaps she longs to cook like a gourmet chef. Maybe she has always dreamed of sailing the open seas.

She can also learn to snorkel, surf like a pro, or fly a bi-plane. Or perhaps a simple dinner cruise for two spells decadent luxury for her. Almost anything she can dream up, Xperience can deliver. Gift certificates vary in price according to the experience chosen but they begin at around $100.

Celebrity Mom Certificate. If you want mom to feel like a celebrity in her own right, give her something that the celebrity actress most like her loves. If she's a giver who puts everything and everyone ahead of herself, she might like something like humanitarian actress Angelina Jolie. If she balances her life with amazing grace and skill, then she might be more like Reese Witherspoon.

There are many other celebrities to choose from as well. Add a personal note from you that explains to which celebrity you equated her and why along with the gift certificate from gifts(.com/ideas/celebrity-moms). Gift certificates range in price from around $20 and up

Pajamagram. If mom loves to lounge around the house in stylish jammies, then pajamagram(.com) is a great place for her to find just what she's looking for. The gift certificate will allow her to choose her own style, fabric, and design. Every time she puts on her comfy pajamas, it is no guess who she will be thinking about. Pajamagram certificates average around $50.

Yoga or Pilate's. No matter mom's age, chances are she wants to remain fit. While not all exercise regimens are suitable for women over the age of 50, most moms can easily handle yoga or Pilate's.

It could be that mom has always wanted to give one of these programs a try but never bothered to spend the money on herself. Here's your chance to give the gift of health. Cost will vary from area to area and depend upon the studio or agency sponsoring the class. An estimated average cost for a trial period is around $50.

Coffee. If mom is a coffee drinker, give her some new blends to try from amazingcoffeeclub(.com). Each month, mom will receive one regular as well as one flavored coffee selection.

Choose the program that you want. Some ideas include standard coffee-of-the-month club in three, six, or twelve-month integrals or coffee-of-the-season. Gift certificate cost will depend upon the program chosen. If you order right now, you get four months for the price of one at $24.95 per month. Coffee-of-the-season packages run $99.95 for all four seasons.

Shoes. Let's face it, all women love shoes. Some like comfortable sneakers. Others want sexy, strappy sandals. Many opt for happening boots. Others want a pair of drop-dead gorgeous stilettos?

Of course you can buy shoes for mom yourself, but you run the risk of buying the wrong thing, incorrect size, or a design she just won't wear. Why risk it when you can give her a certificate to pick out what she wants, when she wants it through endlessshoes(.com)? Certificates range from $25 and up.

Television Retail Gift Card. If mom is too busy to go out and shop or if she is home bound, open a new realm of shopping for her. Give her a gift certificate to TV retail giants QVC or Home Shopping Network.That way, she can decide what she wants - - clothing, skin care products or makeup, jewelry, something for the house or even some hair extensions.

Best of all, she can do her shopping from the comfort of her own home either online at qvc.com or hsn.com or by watching product demonstrations on the television.Gift certificates to either retail giant begin at $25. You can make your purchase online or by phone. They will even send your mother a notification informing her of your gift card.

Trees for the Future. If mom has gone green and is all about saving the earth, then this gift might be right up her alley.

Gift certificates are available through treesforthefuture(.com). Choices include a standard membership for $40 that will plant 400 trees; a grove membership for $100 that will plant 1,000 new trees; or a village membership for $480 that will plant 5,000 trees.

Makeover Certificate. If mom is feeling outdated but doesn't quite know what she needs to update her look, help her out. Many cosmetic places like Sephora and Ulta offer gift certificates for cosmetic makeovers.

The cost for such certificates range begin around $50 and go up from there depending on the various services you want to make available to mom.

Personal Gift Certificate. Sometimes the best gift to give a mother, is the gift of your time. Mothers will rarely ask to spend more time with their children because they know how busy their lives already are. But the truth is, there is nothing that mom would like more.

You can make your own coupons for things like a cook for the night, where you go and prepare dinner for mom (and dad too, of course); a day at the spa with you; a shopping spree; or a girls' night out featuring dinner and movie. The ideas are limited only by your imagination. The cost can range from virtually nothing but your time to whatever amount you want to spend.

Gifts for Mother's Day don't have to be extravagant. Sometimes, the simplest things that come straight from the heart mean more than grand gestures. However, if you are determined to go all out, then do it in style: Just like mom would!