So I bake a lot for them. And it’s makes them happy.

But what if you aren’t a kitchenista? No problem. Here are seven more ways to say “I love you” to mom this Mother’s Day, for little to no cost.

Pamper Her Pretty

Bring over your curling iron and a bottle of your favourite nail polish. Warm your hands with some scented oil (we like Natures Alchemy Carrier Oil) and get to work on her neck and shoulders. It’s a day for mom, and it’s time she relax. Do up her hair, her toes, and give her a massage – awhile enjoying some good quality chocolate (try Green & Black)and some good sappy movies.

Make Like a Maid

Send her away for the afternoon or ask a friend or family member to hit the town with her… While you get to work on her house. Wash the floors, do the laundry, dust, vacuum (especially if she has a Dyson ) and make the beds… Then have dinner ready and waiting for when she returns home.

Photo Collage

Dig out old boxes from your childhood and beyond then put together in collages, frames, or scrapbook style. Touch on old memories, favourite trips, and countless moments of the two of you spending time together. Find some quotes and write some fitting captions to bring it all together.

Skill Swap (without the swap)

So you have a skill? Use it on your mom. Whether you’re a seamstress, professional organizer or a handyman, lend your mom a helping hand with what you know and do best.

Perfect a Playlist

Does mom love her music but is a little, er, iTunes unsavvy? Pick out her favourites and put them all together on a few CDs or directly onto her MP3 player. Make a few playlists – one featuring her current faves, one highlighting bands and songs that you know she’ll love, one from her youth and family favourites from the past.

Make it a Date Night

Invite her over for a formal dinner, complete with courses and some good wine. Go all out with taking the time to recreate her favourite dishes or trying something completely new. Dress to the nines and leisurely serve courses over the evening. (Try out new recipes with Great Chefs Cook Vegan)

Sow Some Seeds

Get gardening in your home by planting some seedlings to transplant to her garden. Or start some container herb gardening for her indoor use. Either way, she’ll appreciate the bounty of vegetables that will continue to gift-give all summer long. (Get some organic seeds here)

Image courtesy of gardenerresource.com

• For those giving, check out some gift ideas, even if they are a little late, with Rebecca’s Gift ideas for mom.
• Plan a vacation with Coastal Living’s Top 10 eco-resorts or the Green Key rating as a guide
• Check out Disney’s Earth, still in theatres
• Make a batch of sun tea, with our easy how-to guide
• Make dinner with Spring flavour, trying our Roasted Vegetable Stuffed Shells (vegan and gluten-free!)
• Or try a delicious Spring-inspired menu from Simply Organic, by Jesse Ziff Cool, featuring roasted chicken and fresh seasonal vegetables
• Consider joining a yoga class together; check out the different kinds and see what works for you
• Make some sneaky popsicles
• Try a new food together. Haven’t had the pleasure of quinoa? This nutrition-packed powerhouse is a great stepping stone to trying new things. If you do, make it in our Warm Kale and Quinoa Salad – a great, light dinner. And you’ll be trying hemp, too.
• Go for a bike ride; if you don’t have a bike already, check out our tips on How to buy the perfect bike
• Then go to the store together and pick up some matching bike accessories
• Depending where you live, go pick up seeds and plants to start your annual gardening, and this year, make it organic
• Or just relax, have a good time, and enjoy a tea together

Did you do something to celebrate this day? Tell us about it below!

Image courtesy of americaneleplant.wordpress.com

Jumbo Shells Stuffed With Roasted Spring Vegetables & Creamy Fresh Dill Sauce

Roasting the vegetables adds a smoky flavour to whole grain stuffed shells with a new twist. The creamy sauce is deceptively rich, infused with garlic and fresh dill.

1 227 g (8 oz) package of jumbo pasta shells (I recommend Tinkyada)

For the roasted vegetables:
All vegetables except for the peas should be finely chopped into small 1×1x1 cm cubes

2 leeks, washed thoroughly and chopped (just the whites)
1 medium zucchini
3 medium carrots
1 large red bell pepper
1/2 cup (125 g) frozen peas
1 tbsp. (15 ml) extra-virgin olive oil
sea salt, fresh ground pepper

For the sauce:
2 tsp. (10 ml) vegan margarine or olive oil
2 large garlic cloves, minced
4 scallions, minced (just the whites)
3 tbsp. (45 g) arrowroot flour
2 cups (500 ml) non-dairy milk (I recommend Almond Breeze unsweetened original)

salt to taste
fresh ground pepper to taste
2 tbsp. (30 g) fresh dill, minced

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add noodles and cook according to package directions. Drain well.

Preheat oven to 450°F (230°C).Toss all chopped vegetables, except for peas, with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and spread on a baking sheet in a single layer. Bake for about 20 minutes, stirring often, until tender. Lower temperature to 375°F (190°C).

Meanwhile, in a medium-sized saucepan, melt margarine. Add garlic and scallions, stirring for about one minute, until fragrant. Add arrowroot, whisking quickly, adding a little non-dairy milk at a time to keep it smooth. After a few splashes, it should be a thick paste. Add the rest of the milk, continuing to whisk. Bring to medium heat, whisking frequently, allowing to cook until thickened, about 10 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste. Stir in dill.

Once vegetables are finished, spread a bit of the sauce mixture in the bottom of a 9×13 pan. Arrange noodles, stuffing each with about two tablespoons (30 ml) of filling. Top with additional sauce.

Bake for about 20 minutes. Let sit five to 10 minutes before serving.

After many Mothers Days, birthdays, anniversaries, et cetera, mom has an overhaul of  perfumes, expensive creams, little books that tell her how much you care, and ceramic figurines to supply every kid with gifts for their mothers from this Mothers Day, May 10th, 2009 until 2030. So why not this year get mom something that is unique as well as will do the environment and her spirit some good.

Mother’s Day Gift Hints

Yoga Classes

Why not rejuvenate the mind and body with a gift certificate for yoga classes?  If mom is a newbie to yoga this gift may inspire a new interest, or if she is an advanced yoga enthusiast you’ve gotten a fool-proof gift, without the harmful packaging and an undetermined shelf life.

Green Thumb

You know mom loves puttering in the garden, but who actually loves pulling weeds for hours? Pull out the Crayolas and make her a gift certificate for a few hours of yard work, and why not attach it to a plant that will show mom you’re committed to the project.

Wrap it Up

If mom already told you she wants a refill of her favourite perfume, why not wrap it in a reusable canvas bag that she can take with her shopping? The gift inside may not be as eco-friendly as it could be, but at least there is no wrapping paper to use once and then dispose of.

Or keep it simple

And if you’ve constantly gotten gifts for mom over the years that she has never used and a smile that says, “you really shouldn’t have”, nothing beats a hug!

Image courtesy of easytogrowgarden.com