Gift drama? Try these ideas for your mama.

What do you get the woman who wiped your ass daily and fed you meals until you were old enough to get a job and afford your own McDonald's? Flowers? A card? A sweater? None of it seems like enough. And, let's be honest. It's not. This is the woman who sent you to school wearing clothes, drove you to every crappy birthday party and made sure you never got lost on the beach.*

This is the same woman who now, is wiping my kid's ass, feeding my kid meals and keeping my kids safe so I can still go on a bender and get lost in a Mexican restaurant in NYC.

A potted Gardenia will not do. Hell, a simple thank you doesn't even make a dent. I'm thinking money. Lots of it. Too bad I'm not making money. Any of it.

So, if you're indebted to your mama like me, but not able to give her the yacht and St. Tropez getaway she deserves, here are some second-rate ideas, from my very own brain, that might make her smile.

1. Publish a photobook: There are lots of sites out there. My favorite one is MyPublisher. I dig the layouts and the ability to write stories along-side the pics. Just download their free software and the rest is a cinch. Their books are handmade, high quality and aren't heavy on the wallet. Make sure you search for promo codes before ordering. They usually have deals going on.
   
   
2. Vidalia Chop Wizard: Okay, it is like giving her an iron. But, it's such a time saver, the chef in her will adore it. The web site is cheesy, but it makes chopping breezy. Yeah, I know that was queer. But, get one. Then, bond with your mama over mirepoix. I'd like to thank my sis-in-law, Sarah, for mine.
   
   
3. Pocket-size digital picture viewer: You've already gotten her a digital picture frame. Now, make the pics portable. There are tons of credit-card size viewers out there. Gift her one so she can show off her techno-prowess and her grandkids. It's now her turn to bore her lady friends to tears.
   
   
4. Mother-daughter movies: Make some popcorn, sit on the couch and cry like a bunch of girls for the afternoon. Any of these movies fit the bill: Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, The Joy Luck Club, Steel Magnolias, Terms of Endearment, Brad Pitt Triple Feature. If you click on the link, you'll see that someone at amazon has a warped sense of humor. Mommy Dearest (and some other questionable choices) made the list.
   
   
5. Reading glasses: If you're tired of seeing your Mom whip out her CVS-brand glasses to peruse a menu, tell her to try on these suckers. The folks at Orvis, have hand-crafted some seriously cool reading lenses. You'll love it when she fishes them out of her purse.
   
   
6. Webcam: Cut the miles and keep in touch via Skype. The technology isn't perfect, but the software is free. And, if your mom can catch a glimpse of you and the grandkids every now and then, it's worth the effort. All you need is a webcam which you can grab from Amazon for as low as $25 bucks.
   
   
7. Baggu bags: This is a gift for Mother Earth, too. These perky little package-holders are durable, colorful and small enough to fit in a purse. Careful, though. She might end up loving them more than she loves you.
   
   
8. Donate: I'll come clean here. It was the night before Mother's Day last year and I still didn't have a single good idea. Most of the gifts I buy sit in my Mom's closet. So, I did something selfish and selfless, picked a charity and donated some coin on my mom's behalf. Last year, we donated to CARE, a wonderful humanitarian organization that places emphasis on helping women.
   
   
9. Consult the gift gurus: Check out Gift Rap -- a cool tool for finding a great gift. This blog has gift ideas organized by category, recipient and occasion so finding the perfect present is supremely easy.
   

I should really add one more idea so I can make a top 10 list. But, I'm hungry and want to eat breakfast. Feel free to help me fill in the spots. What are you getting your Mom for her special day?

*Yeah, about that. My mom did lose me on the beach. But, she cried. So I know it wasn't on purpose.