OOPS. Did you forget that you’re hosting your extended family’s Mother’s Day celebration this year? Relax. The party may be just days away, but you’ve got this! Your backyard is the perfect location for this event, and it’s already looking its spring best. Thank heavens you switched to artificial grass lawn in the backyard as well as in the front yard.
It’s green and lush, just waiting to welcome Mom and the rest of the gang. No need to lift a finger, and that’s especially good news because you have no time to waste. If your shrubs and flower beds aren’t in full bloom yet, pick up some instant color in pre-filled pots and baskets at the garden center to liven up your front walkway, patio or deck.
Plan your menu and some colorful decorations – featuring Mom’s favorite colors, of course – and you’ve got all the makings of a great event. Oh, wait. You’ll probably want to fire up the grill, too. So now is a good to for a quick refresher on the finer points of grilling around your artificial grass lawn.
Make It a Tea Party
Mother’s Day tea parties are all the rage. Worried that a tea party theme is too “girlie” for the guys in your family? First of all, let’s remember that this day is all about Mom, and Mom is a girl. Second, you don’t have to be so literal. Use your imagination here. You can go with iced and/or hot tea, depending on the weather.
Bring out Grandma’s flowery tea cups and saucers (or borrow some from friends and neighbors, or snare some inexpensively at a thrift store). For iced tea, use tall glasses or tall plastic cups in fun colors. As you set up your tea station, be sure to include a variety of interesting tea flavors plus extras like fresh mint, lemon wedges, crushed cardamom seeds, and milk. You don’t have to forgo beer, wine, and pop stations, too! Just make them as festive as the tea station.
Official British tea always includes lots of sweets as well as savories such as clever little sandwiches. Your mom prefers burgers (or steak or lasagna) to cucumber sandwiches? What a relief. Frankly, she probably prefers chocolate to cream cakes, too. So go with the choc and the rest of Mom’s favorites – again, this is Her Day.
On the other hand, if a tea party is truly not your cup of tea . . .
Let’s Do Brunch
Who invented brunch, anyway? We need a day to celebrate them, too, because brunch is somehow the ultimate in indulgence. Late enough in the day for everyone to sleep in (especially Mom). Nicely timed to include all of her breakfast favorites PLUS all of her later-in-the-day favorites. That’s enough yum for everyone. (And a good excuse to squeeze in some of your own favorite dishes as well as Mom’s.)
You’ll still want multiple beverage stations (yes, including the tea, at least the iced version). Set up a buffet table using a colorful cloth and coordinated plates and napkins, and you’re ready to party.
Don’t Forget a Gift
Be sure to set up a gift table as well as tables for serving and eating. You know everyone is going to bring a little something just for Mom. Need some gift ideas yourself? Homemade has always been close to Mom’s heart, ever since you made that clay whatever-it-was in first grade.
Moms Just Love to Be Loved
Let’s face it. Your mother won’t care about the theme of her party nearly as much as she will appreciate having the clan gathered ‘round. But don’t let that stop you from going all out.
