The guilt could just do me in.

You see, Mother’s Day kinda snuck up on me this year.

Kind of like the the way that last tequila shot kind of gets you when you’re cruisin’ along having a fine old time, and then WHAM! all of a sudden, the room is spinning. Yeah, kind of like that.

And to be fair, Mother’s Day IS seriously early this year. I know it’s on the second Sunday of May, but the first Sunday of May this year was May 1st. Which makes May 8th, the earliest possible Mother’s Day date.  And before I knew it, it was May 7th.

So, that combined with my oh-so-insane life, means that I dropped the ball.

I didn’t get my mother anything in time for her to receive it today.

Not even a card.

Nothing.

And for a while yesterday, I thought the guilt was going to do me in.

So, I popped online and decided to see what it would take to send her flowers.

Gah!

Even an ugly arrangement was going to be $100.

In typical frugal fashion, I actually sat there and debated as to whether I should make the purchase.

Flowers are lovely.

I know she’d love to get them.

But would she want me to spend that kind of cash?

Probably not.

But then I was stuck with, “Well, then…what the Hell do I do?”

So, since my mother has always been so proud of my ingenuity, I thought I’d send her a slew of “virtual” gifts via my blog.

Clever, huh?

(and cheap…but ssssshhhhh….let’s not broadcast that)

But knowing that the thought is what matters, I would like to gift the following to my mother in honor of her this ridiculously early on the stupid calendar Mother’s Day.

First, a new gorgeous leather backpack. With. Gazillions. Of. Pockets.

Seriously, my mom can’t get enough compartments in her backpacks. And there’s something in every stinkin’ one of them. I think it’s kind of like the way squirrels hide their food in multiple places.

But the problem is that she often then can’t FIND the stuff she’s looking for until she’s searched 90% of the pockets.

She seems to enjoy this though, so in order to help her with her compartment love, I found this gorgeous leather backpack:

My mother also LOVES the weather. In fact, I’d go so far as to say she’s semi-weather-obsessed. I’m actually quite impressed with the fact that she not only knows her weather, but the weather for all of her extended family.

It’s kind of her hobby.

So, when she asks me, “How’s the weather?” and my answer is, “Well, gee…haven’t really paid attention, but there hasn’t been a tornado or a blizzard lately.” I’m sure that’s not the answer she was hoping for.

What better gift for the weather-lover in your life than her very own Nexrad Radar!

Or how about a trip around the world?

I’d love to make that happen.

Which brings me back to reality. My budget is tight. Time got away from me.

But it doesn’t change the fact that

I love my mom.

So, Mom…here are the flowers I would have sent:

And, look on the bright side, these won’t die!

Happy Mother’s Day!

And (ahem) Mothers Day 2012 is May 13th. It’s already on my calendar.