***This Reader Reward is no longer accepting entries – See the winner below.***

We're very happy to announce the winner of our Reader Reward for a $100 Mother's Day gift card to The Home Depot. Congratulations to Antonella @ LoveYourHome, a Canadian reader. We hope she'll stop back and share the useful project(s) this great Mother's Day gift card assisted with!

Thanks to everyone for entering, and keep your eyes open for a similar Father's Day celebration in the coming weeks.

We're giving one of our lucky readers a $100 gift card to The Home Depot, but more on that in a minute.

Is it just me, or is anyone else in total disbelief that it's May already?! The days and weeks seem like they're screaming by, but you have to be sure to take a moment to remember that the month of May brings a very special holiday -- Mother's Day. This year my parents are going to be in town over Mother's Day weekend, and I feel very fortunate to be able to spend Mother's Day with my mom this year. In honor of the day, I have a few special surprises up my sleeve for her visit, but I don't have a lot of time to plan, so I'd better get my act in gear.

Over the last several weeks we've been working on our outdoor area and getting it in shape for guests. This is as much for our own benefit as it is for the people we have visiting because we really love entertaining friends and family in the backyard. The work we've been doing is actually one small part of what we're trying to accomplish before the Mother's Day weekend.  

What we've been doing involves everything from planting the herb and vegetable garden, to simple cleanup around the yard. A couple weekend ago Alex and our friend Colin actually handled the dreaded task of cleaning out the stinky pond.

The pond, though only 50 gallons, accumulates so much junk during the winter that it tends to look pretty full of sludge and awfulness come spring. What's worse? It smells far worse than it looks. So each year he puts on some rubber gloves and clears the murky waters in exchange for some fresh and sparkling pond water.

Beyond the pond we have planting and mulching to do before everything is in shape. Though one of our garden areas has come back quite nicely this year, the other one needs quite a bit of attention in the way of new flowers and plants, but this is appropriate for the day that's approaching. Isn't it just fitting that flowers and freshly planted gardens are so often associated with Mother's day? We hope the work we've completed and will complete in the next week will give my mom a smile on Mother's Day if we have a relaxing meal or drink in our backyard.  

There's a little glimpse into some of our Mother's Day plans, but in hopes of jump starting your Mother's Day gift planning, we're doing a little Reader Reward gift card giveaway. 

Thanks to our friends at The Home Depot, Mother's Day gift shopping just got a little easier. The Home Depot is planting ideas for Mother’s Day this spring with Mother's Day inspired gift cards that moms can use to create their dream garden, flower bed, outdoor living space, or really anything The Home Depot has to offer. These gift cards are great gift options for just about any mom, they make gift-giving fast and easy, and are the perfect last-minute gift for that hard to shop for person in your life.

This week we're giving one lucky reader the chance to treat your mom (or a special mom in your life) to a shopping spree to spruce up her home and garden this year. Here's how you can enter to win:

  • PRIZE: A $100 gift card to The Home Depot
  • GIVEAWAY CLOSES: Monday, May 7th at 11:59pm EST.
  • AND THE WINNER IS: One lucky winner will be chosen by random.org and announced on Tuesday, May 8th, so be sure to come back then to see if you're the winner.
  • PRIZE REDEEMABLE: The Home Depot gift card can be used toward the purchase of merchandise at homedepot.com and any of The Home Depot stores.
  • TO ENTER: Comment on this post with the words “I LOVE YOU MOM!”, and tell us a little bit about your plans for celebrating this Mother's Day. (One entry per household.) We'd also love it if you would "like" us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter, but that's not mandatory. 
  • WHO'S ELIGIBLE: This Reader Reward is open to residents of the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

Add a personal touch to any special occasion with The Home Depot gift cards. Choose from dozens of unique designs or customize one online with your own photo and message.

If you'd like more information on purchasing a gift card you can find it at the following links.

Please see our complete terms & conditions page for more details.

The Home Depot Disclosure Statement

The Home Depot partnered with bloggers such as us to help promote their gift cards. As part of this promotion, I received a gift card to share with my readers. They did not tell me what to purchase or what to say about the products. The Home Depot believes that consumers and bloggers are free to form their own opinions and share them in their own words. The Home Depot’s policies align with WOMMA Ethics Code, FTC guidelines and social media engagement recommendations.The winner of this giveaway will be randomly chosen and gift card fulfillment will be handled by a third party.

Comments 84

Comments

5/3/2012 at 11:47 AM
I LOVE YOU MOM!

My mom lives on the other side of the country, so I'll be sending her flowers and a card.
Melissa
5/3/2012 at 11:52 AM
My sister and I lost our mom 2 years ago after a short battle with cancer. We used to go all out on Mother's Day, and bring her to a special brunch and spend the whole day enjoying each other's company. Even though our last Mother's Day was spent in a hospital, we made sure to let her know how much her love had shaped us into the people we are today. We still go to brunch every Mother's Day to celebrate what a wonderful mom we were blessed with. So I love you,Mom--and carry your love with me every day! Happy Mother's Day to all of the wonderful Moms out there!
Heather
5/3/2012 at 11:55 AM
I LOVE YOU MOM!

My mom (from Wisconsin) will be visiting me in Colorado over Mother's Day weekend, so I'm treating her to a massage and a show at the theater downtown.
Nikki
5/3/2012 at 12:04 PM
I LOVE YOU MOM!

I'll be heading home to Delaware for the weekend from Alexandria for a nice long visit and some yet to be decided gifts :)
Kelly C.
5/3/2012 at 12:09 PM
I LOVE YOU MOM!

We just lost my step-dad to cancer on Sunday and his funeral is this Saturday. It's been such a struggle for mom, I'd love to win this for her. She loves to garden and grow things, but her yard is looking puny due to 24/7 care of her husband.
5/3/2012 at 12:21 PM
I LOVE YOU MOM!

My mom lives down in Atlanta, and right about the time were back in Atlanta for her surprise retirement party about two months ago, she found out she had really early Stage I breast cancer. A few weeks and two operations later and she's mostly free and clear, though about to undergo a couple months of radiation to be totally sure. We're more thankful than ever that she's emerged at least partially through this ordeal and will be up here with us in just a few weeks to help us out as she becomes a grandmother one more time — our first child is due in June.

She's been tackling lots of small home improvement projects as her work has winded down, and has big plans for knocking out a wall in her living room and den. I'd love to help her out with some tools and supplies, as well as help for her yard.
Jill PP
5/3/2012 at 12:35 PM
I LOVE YOU MOM!!

My mom lives in Richmond, which isn't too far from Alexandria, but she'll be traveling down to NC to be with my brother and extended family on Mother's Day.

So, I will be on the phone chatting with our big, crazy, food-loving family and hearing their news from afar on Mother's Day!
5/3/2012 at 12:59 PM
I LOVE YOU MOM!

I won't be with my parent's for Mother's Day so I'll give her a call after I'm done hanging sheetrock.
Julianne
5/3/2012 at 1:10 PM
I LOVE YOU MOM!

Our plans for Mother's Day are to go to brunch as a family and then do a nice family hike if the weather is nice! :O) Now following on Twitter, as well....
Kevin M
5/3/2012 at 1:10 PM
I LOVE YOU MOM!

My daughters and I are planning on spending the day with my wife at one of the many museums in the Detroit area, hopefully followed by a picnic!

Really enjoy your blog, too, BTW.
5/3/2012 at 1:13 PM
I LOVE YOU, MOM!!

My mom is pretty extraordinary. She loves gardening, but for the past few years has lived in a townhouse with little yard. I know that a gift card like this would thrill her, and give her the excuse to splurge and have more flower pots, planters, and green things around to make her feel more at home. My siblings and I have a photo book for her, as well as some funny knives with a Zebra pattern on them- but THIS gift card would officially make it the best Mother's Day ever!!
Shannon
5/3/2012 at 1:16 PM
I LOVE YOU MOM!

My mom and I live on opposite sides of the country, so we will not be able to spend Mother's Day together but we will be going on vacation later this year!
Mami2jcn
5/3/2012 at 1:30 PM
I LOVE YOU MOM!

I plan to have a special meal with my husband and 3 kids.
Sarah R
5/3/2012 at 1:31 PM
I LOVE YOU MOM!

My brother and his wife are hosting brunch at their home with both sides of the family. And even more exciting is that between now and then, my sister-in-law will become a mom again (she's already 4 days past her due date) so hopefully I'll be spending lots of time snuggling my new niece!
Susan
5/3/2012 at 1:36 PM
I LOVE YOU MOM!

This year, we will have Mother's Day lunch with my mother in law and then Mother's Day dinner with my mom. Hopefully, I can squeeze some quiet time for myself with a nice cup of coffee!
5/3/2012 at 2:02 PM
I love you mom.

his year, for the first time in many many years, my sister and mom will be living in the same country ( even the same state). I'm planning a mothers day brunch at our house with our husbands to celebrate the great mother ( and mother in law) we all love.

Love following your blog!
Kelsey
5/3/2012 at 2:15 PM
I LOVE YOU MOM!

I'll get to see my mom on the day after Mother's Day, and I plan to surprise her with a special gift. She loves glass drink dispensers but is too practical to buy one for herself, so when I found a very pretty one at Pottery Barn I knew it was perfect. I can't wait to give it to her!
Patti
5/3/2012 at 2:20 PM
I LOVE YOU MOM

Since they won't be at home, I won't be spending Mother's Day at the Nationals game this year. But, we'll be doing something else around town!
Nick
5/3/2012 at 2:20 PM
I LOVE YOU MOM!

I won't get to spend this Mother's Day with my Mom, but I will be planting a tree for her in our 'front yard!'
Lorna
5/3/2012 at 2:27 PM
I LOVE YOU MOM!
We'll be visiting my mother and giving her the most awesomest of presents, a kitchenaid mixer. Ok, so it's maybe not the most awesomest but it's pretty close.
LindseyP
5/3/2012 at 3:08 PM
I LOVE YOU MOM!

My mom is constantly redecorating her home, and her newest obsession are those cute little glass jars people have in their bathroom that hold Q-tips, etc. I bought her a really nice, big jar with a fancy steel lid and had her initials engraved on it. Weird, I know, but she's going to love it :)
5/3/2012 at 3:11 PM
I LOVE YOU MOM! I'm going out to brunch with my family and sending flowers to my mom who lives 400 miles away!
Amy
5/3/2012 at 3:42 PM
I LOVE YOU MOM!

Probably a family dinner!
Courtney
5/3/2012 at 4:42 PM
I Love You Mom!

Maybe breakfast in bed? A quiet morning to read? I'll keep dreaming!
Stephanie
5/3/2012 at 4:50 PM
I LOVE YOU MOM!

we are celebrating early this weekend. She is riding the train up from NC for some fun times in Richmond in addition to helping me set up our new house.
5/3/2012 at 4:53 PM
I love you, Mom!

I won't see my mom for Mother's Day this year, but I have her card written out and ready to send. My sisters and I are going in together to get her a Vera Wang bag that she's had her eye on for a couple months.

I don't think my cats will get me anything. They are generally too busy sleeping to think about how I never let them starve.
anne57vt
5/3/2012 at 5:11 PM
I love you Mom!!!

I'm getting together with my mom to celebrate. I got her a really cool game as a gift called colorku, and I'm really excited to see how she likes it :)
Kim S.
5/3/2012 at 5:50 PM
I Love You Mom

My mom is coming to visit for the weekend, which is actually a little gift for me! I have to think of something special for her. Also, May 13th my youngest will turn 14! Yikes. So Mother's Day will end after church and we'll celebrate Sara's birthday the rest of the day.
debfini
5/3/2012 at 6:22 PM
I Love You Mom

I order a beautiful dried flower wreath that my mother saw at my house and loved. I will seeing her on Mother's Day with gift in hand. I really do have the most awesome mom and I am so thankful for all that her and my dad have done for me and my family!!
Lindy
5/3/2012 at 6:27 PM
I LOVE YOU MOM! I'm getting to visit my mom back home in MN and take her out for dinner :)
Jessica K
5/3/2012 at 6:28 PM
I love you Mom!

This is my first year being a mom so I will be hanging out with my daughter and my mom (and the rest of the family). I'm really looking forward to it.
Joanne2448
5/3/2012 at 7:08 PM
Mom just turned 87, living on her own in the house I grew up in, in Parma, OH. She has always had a tremendously positive attitude, to which I aspire. She is an inspiration to me and my four siblings. She still polishes her nails and has a (sometimes) wicked sense of humor! Her house is our home, and has been since 1954!
Miriam
5/3/2012 at 8:18 PM
I LOVE YOU, MOM!

This giveaway is perfect for the Mother's Day gift I'm planning! I'm redoing my mom's laundry room to accommodate her bum shoulder. (It's an old Marine Corps injury-- that's right, my Mom's a Leatherneck!)
Patricia Crowley
5/3/2012 at 9:13 PM
I LOVE YOU MOM!!

We always spend mother's day together as a family and plant flowers at the grave of our grandmothers and other women in our family!
5/3/2012 at 9:43 PM
I LOVE YOU, MOM! Hope to be spending time with my family celebrating this weekend and NEXT! Working in my mom's garden and getting her plants at our local High School FFA green house!??
5/3/2012 at 10:15 PM
I LOVE YOU MOM!

OK, I'll play too. ;-) The Philadelphia Zoo has some special Mothers Day events (such as early opening for members) so I'm pretty sure that's how we'll be starting the day. Though the mom in question is my wife! We'll call our own mothers later in the day, of course.

I'm known as "contrabass" on twitter, and already follow you there. Follow me back, mm-kay?

Regards from Philly,
--Thad
Alissa
5/4/2012 at 12:22 AM
I LOVE YOU MOM!

My mom's been in Australia for the past 3 weeks. I'm looking forward to treating her to brunch at my house and catching up and looking at pictures from her trip on Mother's Day!
Elizabeth G.
5/4/2012 at 7:07 AM
I LOVE YOU MOM!

I plan on getting mom a nice gift and taking her for a nice brunch.
Karin K
5/4/2012 at 8:57 AM
I LOVE YOU MOM!
I will take my Mom out for brunch somewhere nice, followed by a little antiquing and maybe an art show. Have a great weekend, you guys!
5/4/2012 at 9:15 AM
I love you mom!

I will be spending it here in Alexandria and catching up with my mom via phone, since she is in Hilton Head and we will be down there for a visit soon.
Cher
5/4/2012 at 10:26 AM
I LOVE YOU MOM!
We are going to have my mom over for brunch.
deb
5/4/2012 at 11:25 AM
I LOVE YOU MOM!

I will be celebrate early w/ my mom because I'll be traveling that weekend.
Annie
5/4/2012 at 12:11 PM
I LOVE YOU, MOM!
I plan on spending the day with my fam--they live about an hour away so I don't see them as often as we'd all like.
5/4/2012 at 12:26 PM
I LOVE YOU MOM! I plan to visit my Mom this weekend and then go over the Mother in Laws next weekend.
NancyO
5/4/2012 at 12:31 PM
I LOVE YOU MOM!

My plans for mothers day includes gardening! :)
Wesley
5/4/2012 at 12:32 PM
I LOVE YOU MOM!

I'll be making a long-distance phone call and sending a gift to my mom.
laura
5/4/2012 at 12:40 PM
I LOVE YOU MOM!

My plans are to hit the local garden club's plant sale in the morning, and go to a tour of homes in a historic neighborhood in the afternoon. With a margarita and a stop at the salvage store in between.
brenda
5/4/2012 at 12:46 PM
I love you mom!

Brunch with mimosas for me and my mom!
Elizabeth
5/4/2012 at 1:16 PM
I LOVE YOU, MOM!

We will be celebrating Mother's Day by packing up our house. We close at the end of the month and just walked from the contract at what was supposed to be our new house after getting a bad inspection report. Hopefully, we can find a good one this weekend and still eek it out for closing.
5/4/2012 at 2:47 PM
I LOVE YOU MOM!

I live out of town, and refuse to give people STUFF to clutter up the house, so she will receive a gift card to Montgomery Inn in Cincinnati!
5/4/2012 at 3:27 PM
I LOVE YOU MOM.

Although my mom is deceased, I always celebrate mother's day in her memory. As her oldest child, i was born on mother's day, so we always celebrated that I made her a mother on mother's day. This year, I'll be having a girlfriends' dinner to celebrate to bond among close women friends.
threadbndr (karla)
5/4/2012 at 3:34 PM
Loved my MOM!

She passed away two years now, and I miss her every day. When she was younger, she had a magnificant vegetable garden and orchard. One of my early memories is helping her pack apples in the root cellar for winter eating.

Every time I bake bread, or can something from my own garden or knit, I thank my mom for the life skils that she passed on.
5/4/2012 at 5:13 PM
I LOVE YOU MOM!

Hopefully I'll be napping on the new hammock that my husband & 5 year old might surprise me with :-)
JC
5/4/2012 at 8:39 PM
Hmmmm, I'm guessing that this isn't open to reader in Canada (the disclaimer says "only if specified"). So that kinda sucks. But I'll be spending Mother's Day with my Mom. We might go out for supper, and watch a movie.
NANCY S.
5/4/2012 at 9:14 PM
I LOVE YOU MOM!
I AM the mom (mine passed away almoSt 20 years ago) and my daughter & I will be spending "mothering Sunday" @ the Southern California Renaissance Faire, dressing up & enjoying the girly things we love there--music, shopping, costumes, jewelry, theatre, eating & drinking, etc etc etc. It's our annual tradition ;-)
5/5/2012 at 1:45 AM
Unfortunately, I'm not eligible for the prize :( (Canadian resident here.)

But still:

I LOVE YOU MOM!

Good luck all.
Elizabeth
5/5/2012 at 6:07 AM
I LOVE YOU MOM!

Mom and I won't be together on mothers day (she was just here) but we'll celebrate later in the year by some crazy hiking in Colorado.
anash
5/5/2012 at 8:11 AM
i love my mom
Cathy
5/5/2012 at 9:04 AM
I fell in love with Alexandria when my daughter moved there in 2004. She now lives in Capitol Hill in a home not unlike your own but i always get my Alexandria fix when i visit! I will be visiting her for mother's day since my mom passed away last year (I LOVE AND MISS YOU MOM!) and we will enjoy what i love doing best - house & garden tours! If i won the gift card -- well what's not to like about Home Depot!
5/5/2012 at 5:12 PM
I LOVE YOU MOM!
My mom is lucky enough to be on a European vacation with my dad over Mother's Day this year, so I won't get a chance to see her on the actual day. We do plan to celebrate later this month when they are back in the states and my brother comes back to the midwest to visit from his home in California. It's a rare occasion to have all of us together anymore!
5/6/2012 at 9:31 AM
I LOVE YOU MOM!

This Mother's Day, I'll be celebrating with two of my three lovely adult children (one lives out of state) by planting my Mother's Day gifts from my kids--cherry trees! I've wanted them for some time now, and this is the PERFECT gift for me. I'm really looking forward to my cherry trees and spending some wonderful time with my wonderful kids!
5/6/2012 at 4:57 PM
I LOVE YOU MOM!!

This year, I'm looking forward to celebrating mothers day with mom after ten years of living 3000 miles away, it will be great to get to see her in person.
Adrienne
5/6/2012 at 5:07 PM
I LOVE YOU MOM. My own three adult will be working so my hubby and I will bring fruit bread to my mom on Sunday. I could sure use the gift card for a new sunbrella.
Kate Viar
5/6/2012 at 5:14 PM
I LOVE YOU MOM!

My mom is in CT so I will send her some yummy cake pops, a card, and will call her.
Heather Richards
5/6/2012 at 5:43 PM
I LOVE YOU MOM!

I live across the country from my mom so I spent today working on putting together care packages to send off to her and my grandmothers.
sue
5/6/2012 at 5:53 PM
I LOVE YOU MOM!

I will be visiting my daughter across the country in Colorado so that will be fun. I am so fortunate, my mom will be 90 this year and is still going strong. I help her with her flowers and she has plans for 5 window boxes. Usually she buys a lot of the "mishandled" plants at Lowe's, but if I won, she could go top shelf all the way. Thanks for the giveaway and thanks for such a informative and friendly site.
sue
5/6/2012 at 5:56 PM
Oh no! I said Lowe's and it is OUR FAVORITE store, Home Depot! Good thing I take after my dad, he and I are the fruitcakes in the family!

LOVE YOU MOM!!!
Karen
5/6/2012 at 6:34 PM
I lost my mom as the result of a car accident so Mother's Day is bittersweet for me. I try to spend the day remembering her by gardening, since she loved to do the same.
Karen
5/6/2012 at 6:36 PM
P..S. I LOVE YOU MOM,
Beth
5/6/2012 at 7:28 PM
I LOVE YOU MOM!

My mother lives across the country but I will be sending her two paintings of her favorite flowers and finalizing our next "Girls Weekend" for a trip to the Spa at the Hotel Hershey. We will be able to spend Mother's Day with my Mother-in-Law and have lunch with her.
Monique
5/6/2012 at 7:37 PM
I LOVE YOU MOM.

I'm going to cook one of her favorite meals and spend time with her.
Kristin DiDomenico
5/6/2012 at 10:27 PM
I LOVE YOU MOM!

This Mother's Day will be a little more special this year for me. In addition to being able to spend it with my mom, and sisters who are both moms, I will be celebrating my first Mother's Day as a mom!
5/6/2012 at 11:42 PM
I will spend the day with my 2 year old and husband. Maybe my daughter will say "I LOVE YOU MOM!" and then I'll cry :) Also I'm sure to eat some chocolate at some point.
Emiles
5/7/2012 at 11:20 AM
I LOVe YOU MOM!!!

We are hosting my extended family (aunts, uncles, cousins, their kids) at our house. I'm hoping to pick up a few hanging plants to pretty up the backyard before then, and put together an herb garden for my mom!
sullik53
5/7/2012 at 11:22 AM
I am a retired florist and am BEYOND glad not to be a working one this Mother's Day! I LOVE YOU MOM...but I sort of wish the family business had been a little easier on the back!
Kelly
5/7/2012 at 11:57 AM
I LOVE YOU MOM!

My husband and I are taking our mom's (and associated husbands) out to dinner.
Elena
5/7/2012 at 12:09 PM
I LOVE YOU MOM!

I plan to take my Mom out to dinner
Julie
5/7/2012 at 12:35 PM
I VLOVE YOU MOM...I live out of state from my mom so I won't see her for mother's day...but I plan on visiting her in June thanks
Laurie
5/7/2012 at 12:42 PM
I LOVE YOU, MOM!

The kids and I are flying up to see my mom and my sister, who is a new mom herself.
Chrissy
5/7/2012 at 1:19 PM
I LOVE YOU MOM!

I'll be spending my weekend doing pretty much the same as this post describes... finishing my garden and cleaning up the outdoor areas. Will my kids help? Not likely. :)
Ashley C.
5/7/2012 at 4:06 PM
I LOVE YOU, MOM!

We will be having brunch at one of our favorite eateries like we have done ever since I can remember.
lisa
5/7/2012 at 11:55 PM
I LOVE YOU MOM!

Sent a gift early like a good daughter. Only waited to the last minute to enter this!
5/23/2012 at 5:56 PM
Ty ty ty! Today I found out I was the winner of the prize! I mentioned your blog in my latest post.

:)
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