Happy Mother’s Day!

Mother’s Day is the time to celebrate your one-of-a-kind mom. If you’re stumped for creative ways to show her just how much she means to you, don’t worry: We have plenty of great suggestions. Our Guide to Mother’s Day Gifts has a trove of unique gift ideas for all kinds of moms (and all kinds of budgets). If homemade gifts are more your style, then you’ll want to check out our step-by-step instructions for Mother’s Day crafts.

We’ve also got the perfect brunch menu, with easy-to-make recipes - so there’s no excuse not to make her breakfast in bed. Or to surprise her with an elegant afternoon tea party, where you can serve one of our mouthwatering muffin recipes.

At Mother’s Day on the Net, you can also learn all about the history (or should we say “her”story) of this special day, plus how the British celebrate their moms on Mothering Sunday, and how bereaved military moms are honored on Gold Star Mother’s Day. And you can read why the President of the United States thinks America’s 85 million moms are so special!

We even have the inside scoop on ten of Hollywood’s hottest moms - who may have the world at their feet, but when they become a mom are brought to their knees just like the rest of us.

Mother’s Day 2008 will be celebrated on Sunday May 11. We look forward to celebrating this special day together with you, our readers. Here’s to our moms!

Happy Holidays,
Holidays on the Net

As we countdown to Mother’s Day (T-2 days), join us for a selection of easy gift and craft ideas, Mother’s Day coloring pictures, tasty recipe ideas for the big day as well as other ideas for a great holiday.

Mother’s Day is the perfect occasion to bake a sweet treat that shows your mom how much she means to you. These muffin recipes aren’t just delicious - they’re also healthy. And they’re easy for dads and kids to bake together.

Cheese Muffins
1 c all-purpose flour (substitute: 1/2 cup whole wheat flour for an equal amount all-purpose flour)
1/2 c cornmeal
2 T sugar
2 t baking powder
3 ounces grated reduced cheese - either Cheddar or Swiss work nicely
3 T vegetable oil
2 eggs, beaten
1 c low-fat milk
1/2 c instant grits

Directions
Click to continue…

Carrot Orange Muffins
This muffin is full of flavor, but low on calories, fat and carbs, with the suggested substitutions.

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins
There’s nothing better than the smell of fresh baked banana muffins wafting through the house. This delicious recipe even has chocolate chips - making it a favorite with everyone in your family.

Breakfast Muffins
These healthy and delicious muffins are the perfect way to say good morning to your mom on Mother’s Day!

For these and other Mother’s Day recipes check out our holiday recipe site - Holiday Eats

In honor of Mother’s Day we’ve been counting down the Top 10 celebrity moms. And today’s the final day. So who is our #1 Celebrity Mom?

Well honestly. Who else could it be?

Drum-roll please…

The Top Celebrity Mom

Angelina Jolie
The 31-year old Angelina Jolie has traveled a long road to motherhood. But after a string of failed relationships, battles with depression and more tattoos than you can count, the award-winning actress is now the happy mom to her growing brood. She and Brad Pitt have four, soon to be five, kids together. (Pssst… Angie’s due in July if you somehow missed the news!)

As if that wasn’t enough to keep her busy, Angelina is also the UN Goodwill Ambassador and international do-gooder, helping millions of children in crisis around the globe. Despite her sorted background, Angelina’s got a heart of gold and clearly puts mothering at the top of her list of priorities.

Angie and Brad’s kids are 6.5 year-old Maddox (born in Cambodia), 4.5 year-old Pax (born in Vietnam), 3 year-old Zahara (born in Ethiopia), and almost 2-year old Shilo (the couple’s first biological child, who was born in Namibia). No word on which way the gender balance will tip for the Jolie-Pitts come July, but if Angie’s to be believed, this baby will be far from their last. In fact, Angelina recently said on the John Stewart Show that she wants anywhere from seven to 14 kids!

Well thats our are list of 2008 celebrity moms. We hope you’ve enjoyed it. If you’ve missed any of our series - you can find all our Top 10 Celebrity Moms here.

Photo Credit: Angelina Jolie (flickr)

As we countdown to Mother’s Day (T-3 days), join us for a selection of easy gift and craft ideas, Mother’s Day coloring pictures, tasty recipe ideas for the big day as well as other ideas for a great holiday. Stop buy each day for a new holiday suggestion.

Today we’re highlighting a selection of Mother’s Day Coloring Pictures from our holiday craft site - Holiday Arts & Crafts on the Net - to help celebrate your Mother’s Day. Just print them out and all you’ll need to bring are the crayons!

For these and other Mother’s Day coloring pictures please visit our holiday craft website - Holiday Arts & Crafts

Don’t forget to stop by tomorrow for another Mother’s Day holiday suggestion.

In honor of Mother’s Day, join us as we continue our countdown of the Top 10 celebrity moms. We’ll be highlighting 1 mom daily leading up to the big day, and to our #1 Celebrity Mom herself!

A Top Celebrity Mom

Julia Roberts
From Pretty Woman to mother to three, Julia Roberts can do it all. After her 2002 nuptials, Julia and cameraman Danny Moder settled down to grow their family . The couple lives full-time on their New Mexico ranch, which lends to their reputation as down-to-earth, “real” people. In fact, even though Julia has a nanny to help out with her kids, she is by all accounts, an incredibly hands-on mom to Phinneas and Hazel, age 3.5, and Henry, age 1.5.

The Earth Mother-type, Julia has also become an advocate for green living. She even used eco-friendly Seventh Generation disposable diapers with her twins and got turned on to the flushable g-diapers with Henry. (Some celebs are going even greener, like mom Maggie Gyllenhaal, whose daughter Ramona’s tush is swathed only in organic cotton.)

Check back each day for another celeb mom (or you can cheat and check out our whole top 10 list here).

Photo Credit: Julia Roberts (flickr)

As we countdown to Mother’s Day (T-4 days), join us for a selection of easy gift and craft ideas, Mother’s Day coloring pictures, tasty recipe ideas for the big day as well as other ideas for a great holiday. Stop buy each day for a new holiday suggestion.

Mother’s Day is the perfect opportunity to host a brunch in your mom’s honor. Here’s a family-friendly menu that kids of all ages can help out with. We’ve also got some helpful tips on how to involve your children in preparations.

The Menu
Orange Julius
Pumpkin French Toast
Griddle Potatoes
Strawberries & Cream

Orange Julius
This frothy drink is a refreshing way to start off your Mother’s Day brunch. Our recipe uses soy creamer, for a healthier twist.

1 c French Vanilla Soy creamer
1 c fresh squeezed orange juice (2-3 oranges)
6-8 ice cubes

Place all ingredients in a blender and process until smooth. Serve in a cup with a straw. Serves 2.

Check out our holiday recipe site - Holiday Eats - for these and other Mother’s Day brunch recipes:

Pumpkin French Toast
This original recipe is a unique take on an old favorite.

Griddle Potatoes
It wouldn’t be brunch without the morning spuds. Here’s a classic and delicious take on griddle potatoes.

Strawberries & Cream
Definitely not an everyday indulgence, this recipe is the perfect sweet exclamation to your wonderful brunch.

Don’t forget to stop by tomorrow for another Mother’s Day holiday suggestion.

In honor of Mother’s Day, join us as we continue our countdown of the Top 10 celebrity moms. We’ll be highlighting 1 mom daily leading up to the big day, and to our #1 Celebrity Mom herself!

A Top Celebrity Mom

Jenny McCarthy
Once just another blond-haired babe on Baywatch, comedian and actress Jenny McCarthy has recently transitioned into one of the most important roles of her career: outspoken champion of children with autism. Just what motivated this huge change? Her almost-6 year-old son, Evan Joseph. The author of several books on pregnancy and motherhood - including Belly Laughs and Baby Laughs, Jenny recently tackled the serious subject of autism in her autobiographical book Louder Than Words.

Since the book’s release in September 2007, Jenny has appeared on the Oprah show and the cover of People Magazine, where she not only shared the heartbreaking story of learning that her son has autism, but also offered hope to millions of American families dealing with the same diagnosis.

Jenny has raved about the radical wheat-free/casein-free diet she put Evan on, saying it has opened up a window into her son. Jenny has also criticized the childhood vaccine requirements set out by the Center for Disease Control, calling them a “one-size fits all” schedule, which she believes contributed to her son’s autism. Today, one out of every 150 American children is diagnosed with autism - more than double the rate of just ten years ago. Autism is a spectrum disorder affecting neurological development.

Check back each day for another celeb mom (or you can cheat and check out our whole top 10 list here).

Photo Credit: Jenny McCarthy (flickr)

As we countdown to Mother’s Day (T-5 days), join us for a selection of easy gift and craft ideas, Mother’s Day coloring pictures, tasty recipe ideas for the big day as well as other ideas for a great holiday. Stop buy each day for a new holiday suggestion.

To start us off - there is nothing a mother appreciates more than a gift made from love. Here are some easy craft ideas that even little kids can master (with some help from dad or an older sibling.)

Sunflower Pin Cushion Craft
This cute and useful pincushion is the perfect gift for a mom who loves to sew.

What you need:
A small ceramic flower pot (or recycled yogurt container)
Green acrylic paint
Green, yellow and black felt
Glue gun
Rubber band
Styrofoam ball to just fit top of pot/container

Appropriate age: 6 years+

What you do: (continue)

Check out these other Mother’s Day craft ideas:

Mother’s Day Button Bracelet Craft
If you can’t afford gold or silver, you can still give mom a special piece of jewelry on Mother’s Day, like this bracelet made from buttons.

Magnetic Picture Frame
This magnetic photo frame is the perfect place to display your favorite picture of you and your mom.

Bath Salts
More than anything else on Mother’s Day, your mom probably wants a little R&R. Bath salts are the perfect solution - as long as you make sure to clear an hour for her soak in the tub, too! This recipe is easy to make with ingredients you probably already have at home.

Flower Handprint Card
Whether you make one of these crafts for your mom - or buy her a special gift instead - be sure to include a handmade Mother’s Day card. This handprint card is perfect to make with little kids.

Don’t forget to stop by tomorrow for another Mother’s Day holiday suggestion.

In honor of Mother’s Day, join us as we continue our countdown of the Top 10 celebrity moms. We’ll be highlighting 1 mom daily leading up to the big day, and to our #1 Celebrity Mom herself!

A Top Celebrity Mom

Sarah Jessica Parker
Star of the HBO hit series Sex in the City, entrepreneur of her own line of affordable fashion, wife to Broadway actor Matthew Broderick, and Democrat party activist, Sarah Jessica Parker seemingly does it all. Of course, ask her and she’ll tell you that the most important title she holds is mom to James Wilke. When she’s not building Lego towers or playing Star Wars with her five-year old son, she’s apparently raising him to follow in her footsteps - not as an actor or entrepreneur (at least not yet), but as a political activist.

Sarah recently said on The Today Show that James is an ardent supporter of Barack Obama’s presidential campaign. Of course, James Wilke’s views of the salient issues might still be a bit juvenile. Sarah laughingly explained that her son likes Barack, “because he’s a boy. For him, it’s all about gender identification. James Wilke is a boy and so is Barak Obama.”

Check back each day for another celeb mom (or you can cheat and check out our whole top 10 list here).

Photo Credit: Sarah Jessica Parker (flickr: Doug Meszler / WENN)

In honor of Mother’s Day, join us as we continue our countdown of the Top 10 celebrity moms. We’ll be highlighting 1 mom daily leading up to the big day, and to our #1 Celebrity Mom herself!

A Top Celebrity Mom

Brooke Shields
Former child star, model, comedian and actress, Brooke Shields also proudly wears the title of mom. The 42-year-old A-lister is mommy to 4-year old Rowan and 2-year old Grier. After battling a debilitating case of post-partum depression following the birth of her first daughter, Brooke used her platform to spread the word about this condition. Her book Down Came the Rain documents her struggle and triumph over PPD, which is experienced by 15-20% of all post-partum moms.

When another A-lister, Tom Cruise, came out against Brooke’s use of medication to treat depression (a position associated with his belief in Scientology), Shields fought back with a searing Op-Ed piece about women and depression in the New York Times. A former Princeton University ungrad, Brooke is bright and passionate - but she also values her friends, so she made up with Tom and even attended his Italian wedding to Katie Holmes. Brooke makes the perfect role model to her girls - beauty, brains and compassion!

Check back each day for another celeb mom (or you can cheat and check out our whole top 10 list here).

photo credit: via flickr