What Mothers Want: A Gift Guide for Mother's Day

I have to admit that when asked what I want for Mother's Day, I usually say, "I don't know" or "Nothing." As a mom, I'm not very good at getting things for myself. I've been eyeing a cute dress for weeks that's slightly more than I think a dress should be, but in that same time I've gotten numerous things for my kids that easily exceed the cost of the dress. I think, like a lot of other moms, I'm just used to putting my kids first, and I'm not very practiced at thinking about things I need or want.  

Luckily, my doting husband has lots of creative ideas, and my own mom and mother-in-law have traditions for Mother's Day gifts. Here are some ideas to get you started:

If space permits, plant a patch of the garden with several pots of her favorite flower. If you're not sure what to plant, I don't know a single woman who would turn her nose up at peonies.

Cooking or baking classes are great for moms of all ability levels.  Bonus points if it's coordinated with her sister, mother, or another mom friend.

Photo from Pewabic Pottery on Instagram.

A beautiful vase with a big bunch of tulips from Trader Joe's (my go-to for affordable flowers).

A smart or sassy tote bag full of good books to read this summer.

A short trip with her friends. Give her a guilt-free break from momming it, and whatever you do, don't call your time watching your own children "babysitting." Wine or brewery tours can be as short as a 24-hour trip, and tapping into frequent flyer miles can score a long weekend away in her favorite city.

For the mom who doesn't want more stuff, take her shopping at your local farmer's market and pick up the tab for her hanging baskets, herb garden, or whatever spring plants she'd like.

Don't forget a card filled with all the feelings, too!

What would you add to the list? What gift do you love getting for Mother's Day?

Northern Michigan’s Tunnel of Trees: Where to Splash, Play, and Eat Along the Lakeshore

Tooling along M-119, the Tunnel of Trees traversing the shoreline of Little Traverse Bay from Harbor Springs to Cross Village is a 16-mile long route known for its dense canopy of trees and sweeping views of Lake Michigan. Although summer is the most popular time to visit, the road in spring seems carpeted in pastel flowers, while in fall, gold and red leaves frame the alluring vistas of Lake Michigan and the surrounding countryside. No matter the season, you can have a grand time if you head to these tried-and-true spots that are little known to ordinary tourists.

Harbor Springs

For a taste of local history, pop into the Harbor Springs History Museum on Main Street. Visitors can learn about the native Odawa Indians, Great Lakes, and, in more recent developments, the local ski industry.

Just north of Harbor Springs, Thorne Swift Nature Preserve is our favorite hiking spot in the area because of the variety of ecosystems and access to Lake Michigan. The trails are meticulously maintained (and relatively wheelchair accessible), the surroundings are beautifully preserved, and it's only $5 per car to enter.

Stop at Pond Hill Farm, north of Thone Swift and just off M-119, to feed the fish in the trout pond and visit the pigs, goats, and cows. Bring lots of quarters for fish food because you won’t want to stop your kids from squealing as the trout gobble up the spray of pellets.

Good Hart

Continuing along the Tunnel of Trees, you’ll drive along a hairpin turn named Devil’s Elbow which, according to Odawa legend, is full of spirits and sometimes mysterious voices. Your next stop is Good Hart. This tiny hamlet has a sandy, public beach that is perfect for avoiding the crowds of Wilderness and Petoskey State Parks. Church Beach has a huge parking lot and requires a short jaunt to Lake Michigan. The kids and I like combing the beach for stones just as much as we like going in the water. We always hope to discover the most-prized find -- the Petoskey stone, Michigan’s official state stone and treasure of anyone lucky enough to find one. To get there, take North Lamkin Road in Good Hart down the hill and continue south until you get to the gleaming white 1880s church. The well-maintained path to the beach is just north of the church and well marked.

Cross Village

Further north is Cross Village; that’s where you’ll find Legs Inn, a fieldstone restaurant you can't miss. This landmark is renowned for its eclectic, one-of-a-kind architecture, expansive views of the sparkling Big Lake, and authentic Polish food. Their huge patio is on a bluff high over the lake, and you can easily see both Skillagalee Lighthouse and Beaver Island on clear days. I always order the sauerkraut pierogi, and their Polish sampler platter is delish, too. Head across the street to Three Pines Studio while you wait for a table or take your cold drink to one of the wooden swings overlooking the bluff.

Bliss

Although the Tunnel of Trees ends in Cross Village, take a short side trip northwest to the tiny town of Bliss. There you’ll find an old timey general store and Bliss Polo, a surprisingly accessible (it's free!) and entertaining match to take the kids to during the summer. You don’t need to know a thing about polo to appreciate the stunning horses both on and off the field. Another bonus: all spectators get to take the field at halftime to replace grass divots, an activity sure to please the kids in your group. I recommend bringing chairs or a blanket to sit on as there are no seats or stands for spectators.

Harbor Springs picnic:

Get thick sandwiches on homemade bread, slathered in its signature deli sauce at Gurney’s, the non-descript liquor shop at 215 E. Main Street.

Pick up dessert from Tom’s Mom’s at 267 S. Spring Street, famous for their amazingly huge and delicious cookies. Get a dozen so you can have some for later. You won't regret it.

Take your picnic fare to the tables overlooking the marina, and cap it all off with a stroll on the pier stretching out into the harbor.

Wondering where to stay or how to extend your trip to Petoskey? Here are ideas for both. 

Read about our favorite spots to stop in the article I wrote for Ann Arbor Family Press here.

Freeform Friday

We're going to our first full gala this weekend; good friends are involved in a wonderful organization that supports families with autism, and we're joining them for the dinner plus the afterglow (the only part we've attended in the past). It's a marvelous excuse to dress up and go out on the town. I bought my dress back in January, so I'm excited to get it out of the closet and show it a good time.

I hope you have a marvelous weekend, and I hope you enjoy these links from around the web.

A peak inside David Sedaris' newest book.

All aboard the Wes Anderson quirk express (due to arrive in April 2018).

My kind of road trip.

I'd like to see the world through these rose colored glasses.

What's for dinner (with an egg on top, of course).

Thinking outside the box.

Still need to get out to see this social thriller movie.

Ideas for teacher appreciate week (and any other time you want to make a teacher feel valued).

I love this method of getting a good book out to the masses.

A must-see trailer for Pixar fans.

A hilarious look back on Trump's first 100 days.

[Photo from Our Moveable Feast on Instagram.]

Thank You, Teachers

With teacher appreciation week fast approaching, parents everywhere are looking for ideas on what to get their beloved classroom teachers. I've seen message boards with people peddling their wares (LuLaRoe leggings! Scented candles! Personalized everything!), but that's not my game. As a teacher myself, I know that all gifts are appreciated, but some are much more helpful (and wanted) than others.

Here are the things I've been doing throughout the year to help spread the love and make my son's awesome, caring, patient, and kind teachers feel appreciated.

At the end of the first month, we dropped off a fresh loaf of bread from an amazing local bakery and a nice jar of preserves. I worked at a bakery in college, and going home with a nice loaf of bread made my day. For real.

When we went on vacation for the weekend, we brought back a big bag of cookies from a specialty bakery that the town we went to is known for and delivered them to the teachers the next day at school.

For Thanksgiving, I asked my kids to write a thank you to their teachers. They don't get thanked enough, and this holiday is a good reminder to appreciate who you have.

When my son shared that his teacher said a homemade dessert he talked about sounded good, I made it again the next weekend and sent some in for his teachers. This one is tricky; as a teacher I don't always trust homemade goods, but I took a risk on this one because of the feedback my son gave. I knew it might go in the trash (sorry, moms, but this happens with sketchy looking home baked goods!), but I thought I'd chance it.

While out shopping, my daughter saw some blooming spring bulbs in her teacher's favorite color, so we got her a pot and brought them to school the next day.

I volunteered in my son's class this spring during a period of some stressful testing, and I brought with me an assortment of tasty treats, both salty and sweet, that I didn't make. I packaged them in recycled berry cartons with colorful tissue paper, put them in a box top, and delivered them to my son's classroom.

Looking for more ideas? Here are some favorites from my teacher friends:

Sarah said her favorite teacher gift was, "A letter. I still have it and read it when I need a boost!"

Lindsay, an elementary school teacher, added that she likes, "A little potted succulent or orchid and a nice little gift certificate. Another great gift was French cinnamon chip bread with nice jams and a gift card to the bread place."

"My favorites are works of art by my students. I once had a student who took a glass blowing class outside of school. She made me a gorgeous old-fashioned perfume bottle with a glass stopper," said Kristin, a high school art teacher.

Carina, a high school English teacher said, "My students painted a collage of characters from all of the texts we read throughout the year, and included a knife-weilding English teacher - she looked suspiciously like me. The knife was a nod to the Gothic literature that I love...not that I am a killer."

Rebekah's favorite gift was, "A scrapbook of their favorite moments in class. Quotes, life lessons, and a rap about what I brought to the classroom that year."

Chris most liked, "A really nice note with specific references to things the student appreciated and was thankful for."

"My favorites have always been the heartfelt letters. Those always make you feel like what you do matters. That doesn't mean I turn down some of the other cool things students have done for me over the years. I had one group of students throw me a surprise party that included all this random stuff I'd mentioned I loved over our time together... really random inside jokes. It was so sweet and had me cracking up. I often have kids buy me lunch when they go out. They bring me back things to thank me for giving up my lunches. I often get gift cards and always feel awkward about taking them. Free food is always good though," said Christy. 

"A dozen roses from a graduating senior because I 'didn't give up on him,"' were Letitia's favorites.

"When I left my old school, a student's parent gave me a party, made me a t-shirt with all my students' names, made a plaque with a poem about teachers and a lollipop tree. It was so thoughtful and sweet," replied Jami, an elementary school teacher.

Laura said, "I had a parent bring me Chipotle during finals grading period. Also made homemade brownies to boot!"

Amie remembered, "A student I had in class the year before dropped in to see me the first day of the new school year and said 'Oh my gosh, you are not going to believe what a found at a garage sale this summer!' She handed me a tattered and loved copy of Whitman's Leaves of Grass, of which we had read excerpts in class. After browsing through it, commenting on how cool it was, I went to hand it back--assuming she was just sharing her sweet find-- when she insisted, 'Oh no, I got it for you!' She said she knew I would love it, and she was right."

As for me, last year a sweet student gave us a night of free babysitting so we could go out to a movie. His mom told him that's what every parent of little kids wants, and she was spot on.

What ideas would you add to the list? If you're a teacher, what were your favorite gifts?

Freeform Friday

We're taking the kids to the movies tonight for the release of this new film (after indulging in Chinese takeout for dinner, of course). On Saturday my husband and I are also going to our first ever adult only school event, a fundraiser and silent auction at a local brewery. It's funny how this first year of our son's schooling includes all of us navigating so many first experiences alongside him. Cheers to new friends and endeavors!

I hope you have a grand weekend, and I hope you enjoy clicking through some favorite links from around the web.

What happens when women legislate.

Letter of Recommendation: Michigan.

A peak into Frida Kahlo's stunning wardrobe.

The best kind of friendships.

We have new neighbors!

Looking for a new city to live in? How about this list? I'm partial to the number one slot.

Ivanka's notes for the babysitter.

Why conservatives aren't bothered by Trump's golfing.

Can this class be mandatory for the next election?

Love the print (and pockets!) of this dress.

Vacation dreaming.

A friend introduced me to the effectiveness of shipping containers in architecture, and this project looks amazing.

Happy Record Store Day!

[Image from Disneynature's Born in China.]

Freeform Friday

Grateful that the weekend is finally here, we're kicking back tonight with dinner at a fun drive-in (complete with carhops!). A Tax Day protest, including a pre-rally brunch at a friend's, will fill up Saturday, and I'm hoping the weather is sunny for an outdoor Easter egg hunt on Sunday.

I hope you have a lovely weekend, and I hope you enjoy these links from around the web.

How to travel with kids and enjoy it.

Twenty-nine dishes to take to friends who could use a homemade meal.

Still thinking about how good this movie is (a week after watching it!).

What should happen after the end of the school day?

Tempting travel via this family-friendly house rental and exchange.

These make me so happy each time I put them on.

Literature themed cookies were a huge hit at book club last week.

Celebrate National Poetry Month with these 10 accessible poets.

Fascinating infograph on dominant employers in each state.

This is what a failed competence test looks like.

The perfect solution for those without space for a bedside table.

This made me giggle.

[Photo from the kaleidoscope at Matthaei Botanical Gardens. Find more at Our Moveable Feast on Instagram.]

Fourteen Books with Strong Female Voices

While recently looking online for books to read over vacation, I was disappointed to find the same titles over and over again when I searched for feminist books. While I enjoy The Handmaid's Tale and We Should All Be Feminists, they're certainly not the only titles out there.

So, I put together a list of my favorite books with admirable women and girls. They're gutsy, smart, outspoken, and daring. They also have voices in a variety of ages because bravery isn't something only adults should aspire to, and young girls can learn to be true to themselves, too.

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks, by E. Lockhart, is a coming-of-age story about a quick-witted young woman who smashes the patriarchy of her school one (culturally critical) prank at a time. Don't pass over this because it has an adolescent narrator; it's a smart and entertaining read no matter how you look at it.

Julia Child's memoir My Life in France dares readers to try new things, reinvent themselves mid-life, and chop onions faster than a room full of male classmates. Child is a true trailblazer both in her field of French cooking and in resisting family pressure to marry a conservative and settle down.

Persepolis, Marjane Satrapi's outstanding graphic novel memoir, shares the author's experience growing up under the shifting and oppressive regime in Iraq and her journey in learning how to be true to her outspoken ways in a country that didn't often support such behaviors from women.

Euphoria's fictionalized account of notable anthropologist and feminist Margaret Mead is an inspiring, and at times steamy, tale of a woman who wasn't afraid of being the smartest person in the room, even when that room contains a jealous collaborator and husband.

Bossypants exemplifies Tina Fey's saying "You can tell how smart people are by why they laugh at." Spolier alert: Fey is just as smart as she is funny, and her collection of essays will have you laughing and thinking (which is a win-win as far as I'm concerned).

The Paper Bag Princess models for young readers that girls are perfectly capable of outwitting villains and don't need to take shit from the boys in their life, even if they're a good looking prince.

The Golden Compass, and the two companion books in His Dark Materials trilogy, follows the adventures of Lyra, the book's hero, a smart girl who dares to question everyone and everything.

The Color Purple is Alice Walker's masterpiece and an absolute classic; it shows courage and bravery from two sisters in the face of unimaginable adversary as young girls who grow into women who think and act for themselves despite pressure from every direction to submit.

Otherwise is a vivid, incredibly readable collection of Jane Kenyon's poetry that candidly discusses her struggle with depression, celebrations of the everyday joys in life, and incredible bravery facing terminal cancer in her late 40s.

In the Time of Butterflies is superb historical fiction that chronicles the brave and inspiring Mirabal sisters of the Dominican Republic who dared to resist the dictator Triujillo despite guaranteed tragic outcomes.

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate appeals to both history and science lovers; fiction set in 1899,  young Callie's quest is to follow her interests and passions in the field of botany with her encouraging mentor and grandfather. This comes as a direct rebellion against her mother's desire for to her be be a proper lady who stays at home to cook and sew.

Their Eyes Were Watching God is the book I fell in love with when I was 16, and it's the first adult text I remember connecting to. Janie's quest for self, love, and belonging carry her through several marriages and many difficulties, but she is always able to hold her head high and persist.

What books would you add to this list?