by Julie Engelhardt Special to South Valley Newspapers
Mother’s Day is nearly here, so what should we do for Mother dear?
If you’re stumped as to what mom would like for her special day, you could always surf the Net and take a guess at what she’d like, or dash to the mall and wander from store to store, hoping that an idea will suddenly spring to mind. Should you go with the tried and true, buy her a card and flowers, and take her out for brunch, or would you like to give her something a little different?
Whether you want to go the traditional route, or you’re ready to do something a little unconventional, we’ve gathered up some ideas so you can show Mom how much she means to you.
Roses are red …
It would be great if we could give Mom a bouquet of roses for an entire year, but if that isn’t in your budget, consider adopting a rose at the Heritage Rose Garden at the Guadalupe River Park and Gardens in San Jose. Mom will receive a card announcing the rose adoption as well as an attractive gift package that contains potpourri made from rose petals and lavender, plus a selection of Irish teas from Lowry’s Irish Coffee House, and a container of colorful bath crystals. The adoption also includes a plaque inscribed with your personal message for Mom, which will be installed by her rose for one full year. This special gift package is $50. Call (408) 298-7657 for details.
A Monkey Made of Sockies
We all have fond memories of our precious childhood toys and treasures that our Mother gave us. For the award-winning artist Shannon Grissom, it was her mother’s sock monkey that she inherited when her mother passed away. Grissom used the monkey as an inspiration to write her first children’s book, “A Monkey Made of Sockies.” The Hollister resident will be appearing at Barnes&Noble in Gilroy on May 13, 1pm, to read and sign her book. This beautifully illustrated book is perfect for preschool-aged children, and parents will enjoy sharing this wonderful tale with their kids. Although the book is intended for young children, it tells a tale that can be enjoyed by people of all generations.
A Walk on the Wild Side
Big Basin Redwoods State Park is holding its “Mother’s Day Walk” on May 14. This is to celebrate the spirited women who lived in, worked in, and fought for the Basin throughout its history. Hikers need to meet at the Park Headquarters at 2pm. The course is one mile in length and is wheelchair and stroller accessible. The park is located 9 miles outside of Boulder Creek on Hwy 236. Call (831) 338-3944.
The Lap of Luxury
Who wouldn’t love to be chauffeured about town in a luxurious stretch limousine, then taken on a tour of the local wine country or to a spa for an afternoon of pampering? We know that Mom would. Night Out Limousine in Hollister has two special packages that will make your mother feel like queen for a day. Although they’re booked for the Mother’s Day weekend, you can still pick up a gift certificate for their Chocolate Confection and Wine Tasting Tour that visits several confectioneries and wineries in San Benito County, or whisk her off to the Monterey Plaza Hotel for their Pamper Me Spa Package. For information call (831) 630-3100.
For moms-to-be
Finally, for the mom-to-be, or the new mommy in your life, Mother’s Day goes high-tech with software for pregnant and nursing mothers.
The first one is the ExpectantSee: A window into pregnancy. The ExpectantSee screensaver from Motif 1 Productions, Inc. shows artful images of babies-to-be in the main stages of pregnancy and offers interesting information about fetal development and little-known pregnancy facts. For more information log onto www.pregnancyscreensaver.com.
The second product is Baby Manager: Tracking baby’s schedule. Once the baby emerges from the womb, moms have a whole new set of questions. They wonder: “Did baby eat enough?” and “When is the ideal time to feed again?” Baby Manager 1.0 from Babble Soft helps parents keep track of what goes into baby at feeding time – and what comes out during diaper changes. Moms can also track pumping times and amounts, helping them keep a balanced schedule at a hectic time. The application will summarize the data in easy-to-read reports that can be printed out to show friends, family members or pediatricians. Log onto www.babblesoft.com for more information.
Julie Engelhardt is a free-lance writer for South Valley Newspapers. To comment, e-mail kn******@*********rs.com.
