7 Apps to Make Mother’s Day Special

Mother’s Day is coming up quickly, and if you’re like many of us, you have no idea what to do. Luckily, there are plenty of apps that can help May 14 a special day for all of the moms in your life. Here are seven of our favorite apps for Mother’s Day.

7. Pinterest

Everybody loves (or, at least can appreciate) receiving a handmade gift — but it can be hard to know what to make, or how to make it. Luckily, there’s Pinterest. For those unfamiliar with the platform, there’s basically no place better to get ideas and inspiration on a variety of topics. The social media platform is a “catalog of ideas,” chock full of inspiration pulled from various places across the web. From art and craft instructions to special Mother’s Day recipes, you can find a seemingly endless amount of creativity on Pinterest. Best of all, since it’s a social media platform, it’s completely free to download and use. You can get it here.

6. Etsy

Making a gift yourself is ideal, of course, but what happens if you don’t have a single crafty bone in your body? Alternatively, some of us just don’t have the time to hand make a gift. If either of those are the case, then it’s worth a shot to try Easy. Etsy is an online marketplace for a wide variety of handmade and unique gifts. You can find everything from artisan goods to vintage decor on the platform, and nearly everything bought from Etsy is guaranteed to be one-of-a-kind. It’s also free to download and browse (but the gifts cost money, of course). You can download it here.

5. Google Photos

Normally, a photos app might not seem like a tool to help make a mom feel special on Mother’s Day, but Google recently unveiled a feature ahead of the holiday that lets users create a short video slideshow dedicated to the occasion. Of course, the tool requires that you have some photos of your mom on the platform. Once you do, just head to this page, identify your mother (and other family), and Photos will create a short Mother’s Day movie. It’ll show up on the Assistant screen, and you can easily edit the slideshow via the Google Photos iOS app. Once it’s done, you can share it on various social media, or send it directly to your mom. Easy.

4. 1-800-Flowers.com

Flowers might be a bit of a clichéd gift, but many moms still love getting them. And thanks to technology, ordering flowers has never been easier thanks to apps like 1-800-Flowers.com. Through the app, you can easily arrange to deliver flowers, gifts and even sweets — like cookies, chocolates, or fruit arrangements — right to your mom’s doorstep or workplace. There’s a plethora of options available, letting you pick the perfect bouquets for the mom (or moms) in your life. Download the app here.

3. Ink Cards

If you need a card to go along with those flowers, Ink Cards is an excellent way of creating and sending a physical greeting card — all from your smartphone. Through the app, you can customize a variety of templates with your own text and photos. Your personalized creations are then printed on glossy, thick card stock and sent directly to your recipient’s mailbox. Cards cost $1.99 each, and shipping is included. Delivery takes 2 to 8 days in Canada and the U.S., so it’s a good idea to order a card sooner than later. Get Ink Cards here.

2. OpenTable

If your Mother’s Day plans involve going out to dinner, then OpenTable is here to help by making reservations a breeze. It’s a pretty well known app at this point, but it’s useful enough to mention it here. You can search for the perfect restaurant via a variety of filter options, easily make a reservation, and send invitations to friends and family. If your plans happen to change last-minute, the app also makes cancelling, re-booking and changing reservations a cinch. It’s also a free download on the App Store. You can get it here.

1. NYT Cooking

Of course, if you’d rather cook the mom in your life a homemade meal, then a recipe and cooking app might be worth a try. Created by the prestigious New York Times, NYT Cooking is a free app that makes finding and creating a recipe that much easier. Featuring over 17,000 recipes with simple instructions and beautiful photographs, NYT Cooking is a joy to use. Recipes are easily searchable by criteria such as diet, cook time, meal type and more. It’s also incredibly well designed, with little touches like keeping your device “awake” while viewing a recipe. Best of all, it’s completely free. Get it here.