DoMyStuff is very similar to ads you’ll find on other web services, but it does tend to focus more on odd-jobs and services instead of computer-based projects. Things like laundry, cleaning, and lawn care are examples. Whenever I think of this sort of business model I immediately think the worst of people and wonder how payment is policed. In this case, the site has a secure escrow system that will make sure payments are made in full but only after the work has been completed and approved.

Their response? Everyday is Kid’s Day.

I thought it was a cop out answer, and I was right. But so were they.

Kids are spoiled, mostly by their grandparents, but mothers get a close second. Because Sunday is Mother’s Day, and most mothers go 364 days without being properly recognized I’m making the first ever SiteRoast Friday Fun Links post all about Mother’s Day.

I’m all about giving credit where credit is due, and most moms are terrific human beings. Every once in a while though, one comes along that proves me wrong. Even still, I stand by my belief that mothers are by nature the most loving, selfless beings and deserve our respect not just once a year, but all year long.

We all know that won’t happen, though, because then it would start interfering with Kid’s Day.

So alas, we’re left with the second Sunday in May each year to celebrate Mom. Despite Mother’s Day only being once a year, many websites exist which pay yearlong tribute. I’ve gathered those, and some other mom-related sites for this week’s Friday Fun Links collection. Enjoy.

Mother’s Day Gift Ideas

I’m putting these first because if you’re like me you still haven’t bought your mom anything, and with two days to spare you’re starting to get nervous. Below you’ll find some gift ideas, as well as some links to ideas other sites have put together.

1-800-FLOWERS.COM – If you’re in a pinch, flowers are the good old standby when it comes to women. Send your mom an arrangement from this site and you’ll be in her good graces till next May.

GourmetGiftBaskets.com – Send your mom a beautiful gourmet gift basket. For 10% off your order use coupon code LoveMom10. For $5 off use LoveMom5.

Open Heart Necklace – Jane Seymour’s design will give you and your mom a warm and fuzzy feeling for sure. To understand what I mean, read more about what the neckace means.

20 Gift Ideas Under $20 – This list is courtesy of MSN. If you’re looking for more ideas from them visit their Mother’s Day Shop.

Mother’s Day Books From Amazon – Amazon has the widest selection of books on the web. There’s something for every mom here.

Books from Buy.com – a page of book ideas just for moms.

Free Gift Ideas

Broke? Cheap? Either way, it doesn’t matter to me. I won’t judge. Your mom won’t either. She loves you for who you are, right? Yeah, keep telling yourself that. Still, you might be looking for the perfect compliment to go with the flowers or gift basket you bought, so I give you some Mother’s Day gift ideas that won’t cost you a dime.

Mother’s Day Poems – 50+ poems to show Mom you care but aren’t creative enough to write your own. They’re free though.

Chore Coupons- Right about the time when I was old enough to know I should get my parents a Christmas present and still without any money to buy something I discovered Chore Coupons. For about six straight years I capitalized on them for all gift giving occasions – birthdays, Christmases and yes, Mother’s Day.

Make Gifts on Your Own- For young children, maybe with some help from dad, these ideas are great. They do require a little bit of money for supplies, but if you are resourceful and a bit mischievous you can get around that problem.

More Mother’s Day Sites

The following sites are all mom related. Some are directly focused on Mother’s Day, others are blogs written by moms or with them in mind. Either way, these next links are all to sites that will make you appreciate the things your mom has done for you.

Dooce.com – Written by Heather B. Armstrong, this blog is absolutely hilarious. There are currently almost 7,000 posts on Dooce.com covering pretty much anything Heather feels like writing about. About the only thing this blog has to do with Mother’s Day is that she’s a mother (a stay at home mom, actually – but you need to read her about page to see how she refers to herself). Still, I thought it was worth sharing if only for her entertaining, sarcastic writing style. Be warned, she sometimes has a trucker mouth.

Mom Blog Network – A extensive collection of mom blogs. Some are good, with helpful content for other moms, and others are shrines for their kids. There is enough variety here for everyone to find something they like.

5 Minutes for Mom – This all about moms website has a list of other mom-run websites. Many of them are focused on moms helping other moms. The list is pretty long and worth looking at.

Day For Mothers – This website centers entirely around Mother’s Day. Loaded with content, it’s very easy to lose track of time poking around on here.

Everything Mother’s Day – Exactly what the name says, this site covers all Mother’s Day bases. I especially liked the Top 10 Page.

Mother’s Day History – An explanation of the history of Mother’s Day, how it originated and how it evolved. The rest of the site has some excellent Mother’s Day related content as well. This Mother’s Day Planning Checklist is a bit overkill but interesting nontheless.

Postcards From Yo Momma – User submitted content consists of hilarious conversations they’ve had with their mothers. Sometimes, between lectures and disapproval, motherly wit becomes lost on us. Thanks to this site, that no longer needs to happen. Check out the highest rated page for some quick laughs.

Alright, I think that’s all I have for you on this first Friday Fun Links post. I hope all you moms out there have a great day on Sunday.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot. If anyone wants a good Mother’s Day laugh, take a look at this oldie-but-goodie…

SITE DESCRIPTION

AsktheBuilder.com offers hundreds of informational articles, videos, and e-books all created to help homeowners take on their own home improvement projects. On the site, nationally syndicated newspaper columnist Tim Carter breaks down numerous common problems that occur around the house, presenting them in a do-it-yourself fashion. Some of the topics discussed involve brick work, painting, and countertops. Carter also takes reader questions and answers them regularly.

Not only does Carter’s site provide lessons on how to make home repairs, the AsktheBuilder General Store sells a variety of supplies, guides and tools to use when performing them. The store makes it easy for viewers to find specific products that are mentioned in the articles and videos, a helpful feature.

WHAT WE LIKED

The content provided on AsktheBuilder.com is so dense and thorough there really is very little to dislike about the site. Although we didn’t perform any of the jobs described on the site, we did find the topics to be widespread, and from reading/watching the content it appeared to be solid advice for completing the desired job.

According to the website, Carter has been writing these articles since 1993, so one would think were he a fraud he most certainly would have been discovered by now. What we think instead is that he is a home improvement genius. Judging from Tim’s advertising rates, it’s safe to assume many others agree.

WHAT WE DIDN’T LIKE

Though the content is excellent, the layout of the site seemed to be a little bit clustered. The navigation is good, but the content layout isn’t the site’s best feature. Fortunately, the content is so good, the layout becomes only a minor detail.

The only other gripe we could come up with is, at the time of this review being written, there are no terms listed on the glossary page, which we thought would be an extremely helpful resource.

THE FINAL WORD

An excellent resource site, but probably not worth going to until you had a specific problem you needed fixed. Otherwise, you may find it to be an information overload.

www.AsktheBuilder.com

 
More Home Improvement Websites:
The easy way to lay tile
Kitchen remodeling secrets
Do it yourself handyman guide