Mother's Day 2017 - Sunday, May 14th
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Happiness Factor as a F[x] of Weather: 5.75
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The Main Event
Mother's Day
The modern holiday of Mother's Day was first celebrated in 1908, when Anna Jarvis (the picture above is neither Anna Jarvis, nor her mother, Ann) held a memorial for her mother at St Andrew's Methodist Church in Grafton WV. Her campaign to make "Mother's Day" a recognized holiday in the United States began in 1905, the year her mother, Ann Reeves Jarvis, died. Ann Jarvis had been a peace activist who cared for wounded soldiers on both sides of the American Civil War, and created Mother's Day Work Clubs to address public health issues. Anna Jarvis wanted to honor her mother by continuing the work she started and to set aside a day to honor all mothers, because she believed that they were "the person who has done more for you than anyone in the world".
So...if you feel like your mom "has done more for you than anyone in the world," you have some celebrating, honoring, or remembering to do! (Note to Diary:You want to celebrate the mother of your children too.) So let's get started...
THINGS MOMS LIKE:
1. Flowers
2. Breakfast in bed
3. A tidy house
4. Sunday Brunch
5. A massage or day at the Spa
6. Gift Certificate
7. A picnic
8. Being taken out to dinner
9. Something you make
10. A thoughtful card with a heartfelt message
Still need help?
The flowers at Trader Joe's are reasonable and long lasting (for future reference, Wednesday is the best day of the week to buy them), and the flowers at Manning Florist in Nob Hill across from Jubilation are memorable ....but you should set that up now.
Eggs, pancakes, baked goods from Flying Star, bagels and a schmear from Einsteins, those lovely fresh doughnuts at Whole Foods all are good options. Sticking a fresh flower in a vase on the tray ups the WOW Factor significantly.
Let's face it, most moms (and wives) spend a ridiculous amount of time tidying up after ____,____, ____ - fill in the blank(s). Eliminating that chore altogether may not be in the cards, but how about a Mother's Day Weekend Truce? Bonus points: doing the laundry, washing the dishes.
As opposed to breakfast in bed, maybe go out for brunch this Sunday? (No dishes to wash,,,) If that sounds good, you better get cracking! Flying Star, Zinc, Season's, Hotel Andaluz, The Cheesecake Factory, Indigo Crow, Scalo, Slate Street, Bonefish Grill, Monroe's, Tucano's, The Rancher's Club, Los Poblanos, Forque, Farm and Table, The Range, The Grove, Weck's, The Frontier, California Pizza Kitchen, Marcello's - to name a few........Check for availability and if you need to make a reservation. Bon Apetit!
Here are a few ideas: Betty's Bath and Day Spa, The Back Porch Day Spa, Yes Organic Boutique and Spa,The Remedy Day Spa
Gift certificates are sometimes the best choice when you're not sure (perfume and clothing are often difficult to pick out for someone else) what to give. Here are my thoughts: Dillard's, amazon, sarabande home, Nomades, Southwest Airlines, Bookworks, Now We're Cooking,Williams Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Plants of the Southwest, Plant World, The Farm Shop at Los Poblanos, lulumon, and Pennysmith's.
Picinic Fare: chicken salad sandwiches, mixed nuts, water, a chilled Chablis or Sauvignon Blanc, and Tates cookies or brownies. The spot is up to you but don't forget to take a blanket and a wine opener!
Dining out? Here: look at the brunch options above and here are a few others: Artichoke Cafe, Antiquity, Farina Alto, Savoy / Santa Fe: The Compound, Geronimo, Casa Sena, Radish and Rye, Restaurant Martin, for starters.
DIY: What are you good at, Kimosabe? It can be anything - make No.10 and you'll knock the cover off the ball. Here's lookin' at you, kid -
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The Other Mother...
or you could feed two birds with one seed...
If you are concerned about the current Administration's view on the environment and global warming you probably know that environmental and climate-focused groups need our help more than ever before.
Make a donation in your mother's name to 350.org or the Rio Grande chapter of the Sierra Club, the NM Wilderness Alliance, or the Rio Grande Nature Center - these groups are doing important work, but they are just a handful of many organizations. Befriend them- not just on Mother's Day, but whenever you can. Thanks from Big Mama.
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And Happiness is still a Warm Puppy....
in this case, a Chesapeake Bay Retriever
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Seize the day!