Gifts From the Heart to a Mom

• Use a fun frame for drawings or photos or decorate one yourself.photo frame image by Jane September from Fotolia.com
  
  Give your friend a double gift. Start by babysitting her kids for a few hours so that she can run errands or enjoy some quiet time. Bring out some arts supplies for the kids to play with. Request them to draw pictures of their families. Frame the picture and give it to your friend at a later date. Take pictures of her family when they are around. Print them out on photo paper, and create a scrapbook with the pictures. Create a rainy day bag for your friend's children by collecting crayons, paint, puzzles a DVD or other items suitable to keep children busy. Wrap the items and place them in a bag. Give the bag to your friend for her to use to keep her children busy during a rainy or snowy day when the kids must stay indoors.
  
  

Food-Inspired Gifts

• Create a personalized dry rub for pork chops with rosemary, salt and lemon pepper.spices image by sha11 from Fotolia.com
  
  Plant an herb pot that your friend could keep in the kitchen and use with her meals. Plant rosemary, thyme, sage, parsley and chives in a large decorative bowl. Make a batch of cookies, brownies or truffles and give them to your friend, wrapped in pretty paper. Create spice rubs, chicken marinades and soup spices out of dried and powdered spices you buy from the store. Place the spices in plastic, sealable bags. Write instructions on note cards and drop inside the bag with the spices. Close the bag and give to your friend to add spice to her life and her food.
  
  

Gift Baskets

• Mix 1 cup oatmeal and half a cup of honey together and use as a face mask.getting a facial image by Kelly Kane from Fotolia.com
  
  Purchase one large pot, two boxes of pasta, pasta sauce, garlic, a bottle of wine and some fresh bread. Arrange the food items inside the pot. Write a few of your favorite recipes on note cards and tuck inside the pot. Wrap the pot with clear plastic and tie a bow at the top. Create renditions of this meal in a pot with cheese, bread and a fondue pot, crackers and cheese. As an alternative, create spa-themed items by filling a bucket with oatmeal and honey for a facial mask, some powdered milk for a milk bath and some nice-smelling soap. Write directions for using the products on a note card and tuck inside the bucket.
  
  

Purchased Gifts

• Make sure she wants the handbag before you buy it.red handbag image by Elena Vdovina from Fotolia.com
  
  Set a budget for the gift you will give to your friend, and don't go overboard. Purchase a gift for your friend if you know that she truly needs or wants the item. Purchase a gift card if you are unsure of a size or color. Purchase a gift online to save a few dollars, but ensure the quality of your item before you hand it over to your friend. Experiencing difficulties in identifying a good gift for your friend? Make a donation to her favorite charity in her name.