Mother's Day gift guide

Mother’s Day is upon us again in Australia. Where does the time go? More importantly, how can we get some of that time back to get out and buy a gift that’s more original than a bunch of supermarket flowers, and less clichéd than chocolates?

The answer is a bloody good book!  A book lasts much longer than flowers or chocolates and a good one remains on the bookcase or bedside table as a lasting memory of the exceptional child who bought it for her. No brainer right? So, with that in mind, I’ve listed my top 3 Mother’s Day gift books:-

The Stylish Mum

The Paris Seamstress Review

Perth writer Natasha Lester weaves the reader into the fabric of 1940’s Paris and New York in her novel The Paris Seamstress. Young Parisian Estella Bissett is taken on a journey through a war, where her talent and passion become her only compass and she is faced with a decision. What is she willing to sacrifice? An absorbing piece of fiction spanning generations with exceptional detail, pace and suspense. A must for any mum who loves fashion and design.

Published by Hachette RRP $29.99

Buy the wonderful The Paris Seamstress at all good bookshops, or online here

The Funny Mum

bridge burning and other hobbies

Kitty Flanagan gives laugh out loud cautionary tales from her lie experiences in this non-fiction which is definitely NOT a standard autobiography. Kitty writes just like she speaks, and she speaks with wit, laser focus observation and self-deprecating humour. Get handy hindsight on idiot boyfriends past, social faux pas and fashion mistakes from the 70’s that still haunt Kitty today. Be warned, mum will be laughing out loud at this one, so make sure she isn’t in a public place when she starts to read!

Buy Bridge Burning & Other Hobbies by Kitty Flanagan at all good bookshops and online here

The Australian Country Mum

A Place To Remember Jenn J McLeod

Jenn J McLeod is one of my favourite Australian country storytelling authours. Jenn manages to encapsulated small country towns and the intricacies and careful balance of these communities. Jenn’s books tell tales of life-long locals and strangers hiding from secrets. Jenn J McCleod will take you to fictional, yet very familiar towns and into cosy kitchens, discreet bedrooms and complicated lives of characters with depth, love, hate, empathy and secrets. Addictive fiction with a twist or two to keep you on your toes!

Check out the wonderful range of Jenn J Mcleod books at all good bookshops and online here

The Introverted Mum

Little Gods

Little Gods by Jenny Ackland is a special book which will resonate with the reader long after the last page is read. It’s a poignant piece of fiction which is also quiet, nuanced and sensitive.  Olive has just turned years old, and we follow this period of her life living in Mallee, a wide, flat scrubland in country Victoria. She should be carefree without a worry in the world, but a darkness hovers near. Nothing happens in this quiet town, yet everything happens. A must read for any mum who remembers growing up in Australia in a time before iPhones and social media. Where kids played outside in the good old days, or were they?

Published by Allen & Unwin RRP $29.99

Buy a copy of this special fiction in all good bookshops and online here

The Busy Mum

the busy mum's guide to losing weight

Rhian Allen runs Australia’s number one health website for mum’s and has created a unique book to underpin her philosophy.  There are a million different diet books out there offering all kinds of diets, so what is different about this one and how did it make my top 5 list? Ther differentiator with The Busy Mum’s Guide To Weightloss is that the diets are achievable, the food is budget conscious for the family, the meal plans are intended to become part of your regular weekly schedule, not just a fad to lose some quick kilos. What’s more, there are full shopping lists for the week inside, so you can hit the grocery store, or buy online in one hit for the week and you’ll have all you need without breaking the household budget!

A practical and inspiring gift for mums who strive to take care of the kids and the house, hold down a job and find a little time to look and feel good inside and out.

Pick up a copy of The Busy Mum’s Guide To Weight Loss at Kmart, BigW, Target, or online here

BOOK GIVEAWAY!!

Win your very own copy of The Busy Mum’s Guide To Weightloss!

How To Enter:

Like and share this post, leaving in the comments the best cooking tip your mum has ever shared with you! Open to Australian residents only.  Entries will close at 5pm AEST Monday 14th May.

Good Luck and Happy Mothers Day to all the Mum’s out there!