How to Plan a Mother's Day Surprise

Arrange a surprise gathering for your mom on Mother's Day and you are sure to please her. You don't want to have a huge party since this holiday is meant to be an intimate affair for close relatives to come together and celebrate the matriarch of the family.

Instructions

1. Plan a small Mother's Day surprise party. Figure out how many people to invite to the party, including your immediate family and your siblings. Decide what time to have the attendees assemble and where.

2. Cook up some tasty appetizers to get the party started. Provide little foods that are easy to eat so that your family can talk and relax. Purchase boxes of frozen appetizers to save you time and offer your guests some yummy treats. Serve mini quiches, crab balls and spring rolls on colorful platters. Next to the appetizers, set up a fruit, vegetable and cheese platter to offer a healthy assortment of snacks with color and flavor.

3. Plan a lunch or dinner party to surprise your mom. If you arrange for a lunch or early brunch, you should adjust the menu by including lighter foods such as salads, egg dishes and finger sandwiches.

4. Set up a bar station at your surprise party. Designate one person to serve your mom's favorite fancy drink to guests. Serve either pomegranate martinis or make a bowl of vodka punch as your main drink offerings. Provide plastic martini or hurricane glasses that are typically sold at party goods stores.

5. Plan to have a buffet-style breakfast to surprise your mom on the morning of her big day. Enlist your family members to each make a dish to contribute to the event. Provide a mixture of breakfast staples you would find at a hotel buffet or town diner. Scrambled eggs and French toast with bacon and sausage links on the side are morning crowd pleasers. Alongside the main dishes, set up bagels, muffins, scones and rolls in large baskets.

6. Give your mom a few homemade gifts to express how much you love her. Jewelry is always a nice gift, but for a Mother's Day gift, find pieces that represent her and her children. Make or order a mother's bracelet that's made with her children's birthstones and a heart-shaped mother charm.

Tips & Warnings

• Surprise your mom by getting her favorite home movies transferred onto DVD or have a compilation disk made featuring special milestones in her life. Play the DVD for her at some point during the day.