Happy Mother's Day, Here's Your Pasta Necklace: Get Mom Something She Really Wants for Crying Out Loud!

Thanks to the Gingerbread Shoppe on Etsy! Lots of great finds for Mamas there!

If you're a mom, you know exactly what we're talking about. The kids make pasta necklaces and their little hearts break if you don't wear them. So there you are scratching your neck at Applebee's through the entire appetizer debacle. YOUHANGIT is telling you right now: IT'S UP TO YOU TO CHANGE THE GAME, MOM! That's right — tell the kids and your spouse exactly what you want. And to ensure no one messes up, tell them where to go online or off. Let's face it, kids and spouses are... hmmmm... we'll say... less knowledgeable? That's the nicest way it can be said, so we'll leave it at that.

If you're the kind of gal that says she never wants flowers and jewelry and you really mean it, then that's cool — but you can't leave your crew to fend for themselves out there — without you, their fearless leader, they will inevitably come home with flowers and god bless them, a kitchen appliance. If you are the kind of woman who says she doesn't want flowers and/or jewelry for an occasion and you really DO want those things, you have to spill the beans. And don't make a scene out of Steel Magnolias about it — you don't have to be in the bath tub up to your neck in bubbles sobbing, "BUT... I... wanted... flow... ers [unintelligible mumbling]" Ask for what you want.

Families! Listen up! Now sometimes mamas are not going to say what they want and for the love of all that is right in this world, they really shouldn't have to; it's the ONE day a year you're supposed to get it right for them because they get it right for you the other 364. So buck up!

One of our favorite homespun ideas was using repurposed wood. You know we love the upcycling business over here at YOUHANGIT, and it makes for a nice DIY craft project your mamas can wear on the wall rather than around their necks (so scratchy!). If you don't have the time to put one together, the image at the top of this blog is one of our favorite Mother's Day gifts made from repurposed wood — and it's already made for you. 

If, however, you do have the time, you can head over to your local craft shop, grab stencils, spray paint (in two contrasting colors — you DO KNOW HER FAVORITE COLORS, RIGHT?!) and you can easily make an adorable family project out of it on the day you send the mom in question to the day spa — or to the loony bin, whichever shoe fits, bless her soul.

You can even take an idea like this painted wood and freehand the letters and let the kiddos put their hands in paint and slap them on the board. Moms love something that reminds them of how little the children once were, in a time before she was in her "special place" parked in front of the window at Whispering Oaks.

So you have your options: buy a repurposed wood gift like the one above from Etsy if you don't have time, make a stenciled one if you have plenty of time, or do a freehand version with handprints if you're working with an eleventh hour scenario.

Use your YOULEVEL and YOUHANGITs to get it on the wall, but let mama decide where it's going to go... it's her day and you will all zip it up!