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5 Ways to Transform Your Car for a Mother’s Day Date

Fuzzy slippers. Bountiful bouquets. Burnt breakfasts in bed. What do these have in common? They are perennial Mother’s Day gift favorites from partners and children. And while moms everywhere can enjoy warm toes, fragrant blooms, and even overcooked culinary attempts, this Mother’s Day, why not treat the most important woman in your life to something unexpected?

Create an experience with just your vehicle and a few thoughtful purchases. After all, Mother’s Day is a day to connect. According to Reuters, U.S. call volume goes up 11 percent on Mother’s Day — more than any other holiday, including Valentine’s Day and New Year’s Eve. So, spend some time connecting in person with the windows rolled down and the wind in your hair.

We’ve created a cheat sheet for five unique Mother’s Day outings that are sure to wow her — and provide memories for years to come.

Picnic

Take brunch into the great outdoors this Mother’s Day. Set up a picnic in the car, your SUV’s trunk, or even at a nearby park. And if you want to support your local restaurant, opt for takeout. Food tastes better when you eat it under the sun with people you love.

Here’s what you’ll need:

 

Picnic Basket

The image of a picnic basket brings to mind leisurely meals with loved ones in nature. A picnic is a time to step away from gadgets and media to spend quality time with those who mean the most to us. Fill the basket with family favorites and fun treats to enjoy wherever you roam. This hand-woven wicker picnic basket has everything you need for a group of four (including four 8 oz wine glasses, 7-inch porcelain plates, and stainless steel cutlery). It also comes with a wine opener and a detachable waterproof cotton picnic blanket.

Treats

Pack your picnic basket with some delicious delectables. For a light, savory meal, top a charcuterie board with cheeses, berries, grapes, crackers, and cured meats. The Bambüsi Bamboo Charcuterie Board Set raises your picnic to fine dining. With its carrying bag and a slide-out drawer packed with essential utensils, it’s perfect for outdoor entertaining. And to satisfy a sweet tooth, include a box of indulgent gourmet chocolates.

 

Movie Night

Drive-in movies were once all the rage. They paired the coziness of a movie night in with the fun of a night out. You can create the drive-in experience in your own vehicle. Show mom she’s the star of your family by choosing her favorite movie and snacks.

Here’s what you’ll need:

 

Projector

This portable movie projector brings a crisp, cinema-sized movie to your backyard — or anywhere you travel. Connect to your laptop, smart phone, USB stick, or MicroSD card. Project onto a nearby wall, or even a plain sheet hung from the back of your SUV. Sit back and enjoy. If you’re not ready to invest in a projector, you can simply watch a movie on your laptop or tablet.

Speaker

What sets a theater experience apart from watching a movie at home? Volume. For the full, movie-immersion effect, connect to this bluetooth portable speaker. It’s crystal-clear, robust sound rivals the local cinema. The speaker connects with most bluetooth devices, including the iPhone, androids, laptops, and the Echo Dot.

Popcorn and Candy

When you watch a movie from the comfort of your vehicle, you can skip long lines at a theater concession stand. And you can make sure your snack of choice is always stocked. For a theater feel, fill reusable retro-style popcorn containers with buttery popped kernels. We like BOOM CHICKA POP’s pre-popped real butter popcorn for hassle-free snacking. Follow up your salty treat with a classic boxed movie candy.

Movie

It goes without saying that you’ll need a movie to watch on movie night. Streaming services are the easiest way to find new releases and long-loved films. We like Amazon Prime’s original and theater-released selections. Try Amazon Prime for free for 30 days. If you sign up in May, your Mother’s Day pick is free. You can’t beat that!

 

Spa Day

What’s better than a soothing spa day indoors? A soothing spa day at the beach. Imagine listening to lapping waves as you sip cucumber water mid-facial. Drive to your favorite beach — or other relaxing locale — with the following curated mobile spa must-haves.

Here’s what you’ll need:

 

Water Infuser

This portable fruit water infuser makes it easy to enjoy the ultimate spa beverage: cucumber water. Simply fill the infuser rod with cucumber slices and pour in cool water. The leak-proof, BPA-free, shatter-resistant bottle keeps your drink safe. For a refreshing twist, add mint leaves and a wedge of lime to the infuser — perfect for a day of pampering. For maximum relaxing, spend the day in lux loungewear so you can sip in comfort and style.

Face Masks

A spa day is not complete without a facial. For mess-free facials on the go, use serum-infused sheet masks. We recommend FaceTory’s Best of Seven collection, so you can try a variety of masks for all your skincare needs. They hydrate, brighten, soothe, revitalize, nourish, purify, and bring out mom’s glow. Wipe off any remaining serum with a gentle pre-moistened face wipe or a lush cotton washcloth.

Massagers

Mothers do so much for everyone else, they deserve some relaxation. A deep muscle massage is a must. Brookstone’s Prosage Thermo Massager combines percussion and soothing heat to release tension and relieve stiff, sore muscles. And best of all, it’s lightweight, cordless, and rechargeable — meaning you can get a massage without the masseuse anywhere you go. The massager will hold a charge for 120 minutes. Though it can be used on any part of the body, we do recommend a separate massager for the face. The 24K Reverberating Facial Beauty Booster Massager gently vibrates to boost facial circulation and relieve tension. Plus, the gold plating will make mom feel like a queen for the day!

 

Art in the Park

This twist on popular painting parties is ideal for creative moms. Instead of crafting artwork in a studio, take your talents on the road. Drive to an inspiring spot to capture the landscape or cityscape. Though it may sound like a new idea, plein air painting (painting in the open air) has been a popular practice for over a century, and a favorite of impressionist painters. But don’t worry, you don’t have to be a professional artist to enjoy on-location painting. Whether you create a masterpiece or follow a simple painting kit, you’ll be sure to create moments to connect.

Easel

Choose to paint from your front seat, SUV trunk, truck bed, or venture out into the wild. For best drawing or painting while seated in the vehicle, use a lap desk with an adjustable angled desktop. Place a water cup in the vehicle’s cup holder. Voila! Complete comfort as you create. If you choose to lay out a blanket and paint in the open air, consider using a sturdy travel easel. Newport’s Large Adjustable Wood Sketchbox is lightweight enough to carry by its handle to your preferred plein air location. It holds a canvas up to 28 inches, includes a plastic palette, and stores your art supplies.

Art Supplies

You’ll need the basic supplies to get started. Fast-drying paints are best for mobile painting and cleanup. We recommend a travel watercolor palette. The Arteza Watercolor Paint Tin comes with a refillable water brush pen that holds water in the handle so you don’t have to carry around a cup. If you want a more opaque paint, try gouache (pronounced gwash). This richly pigmented paint works like a thick acrylic or light watercolor, depending how much water you add. Complete your supply list with a set of brushes, canvas boards, a foldable water cup, and an apron to protect your clothing.

Paint Kits

If you enjoy painting, but want some artistic direction, follow an acrylic paint-by-number kit. They come in a wide variety of themes and difficulty levels. Purchase adult versions and simpler, kid-friendly kits for the whole family to get involved. Don’t use an oil paint kit; it will take a long time to dry and could stain your vehicle’s interior.

 

Dance Party

For the mom who loves music and movement, a car dance party is a chance to sing and dance along to her favorite jams. Feel the beat on a long drive, or park so you can get out of the car to really dance.

Karaoke Microphone

When it comes to car karaoke, why should celebrities have all the fun? The Official Carpool Karaoke Bluetooth Microphone lets you wirelessly connect to any car’s FM tuner (or via aux cord). The rechargeable battery lasts for up to six hours of fun. The mic has independent volume and echo controls. To set up, simply find an open station on your radio and match the station on the mic. You can also listen via bluetooth. Just pair your mobile device to the mic and crank up the tunes through your car’s speakers. Turn your car ride into a concert! Safety note: The microphone should only be used by passengers, or by all when parked. So, be sure to give mom the passenger seat and the mic.

Disco Lights

These little lights dance to the music. Plug the energy-efficient mini USB disco balls into your phone or vehicle’s USB port. The strobe lights change color and speed with the beat. Since they don’t use bluetooth, they won’t interfere with your paired music or karaoke mic. Your car will be the best party around!

Celebration Essentials

Whichever Mother’s Day outing you choose, make it as comfortable and festive as possible. Imagine her surprise when she sees the car outfitted for her special day.

Blankets and Pillows

Swathes of plush fabrics and plump pillows make for a homey atmosphere. Layer a fluffy faux fur blanket with whimsical and heartfelt throw pillows for relaxing spa days and cozy movie nights. For the most versatility, cover throw pillow inserts with covers that match mom’s style.

Fairy Lights

String these waterproof, weather-resistant LED Globe fairy lights from your tailgate or around the roof of your car for a warm, calming glow. If you’re having a dance party, consider a string of multicolor bulbs. Both color options are battery-powered and remote-operated. No outlet required. The 32-inch strand gives off ample brightness. Use the remote to pick one of 10 adjustable levels or eight flashing modes to set the right mood.

Banner

Show your love with this burlap banner. The flags are pre-assembled; it takes just a couple minutes to hang from the backseat or SUV trunk. It also makes a great backdrop for impromptu photo shoots.

 

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