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Feature - Eye
on Events
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By Meera Jegathesan
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| Helpful Hints
for a Memorable Mother's Day!
Do you know what happens on the second Sunday of
every May? Well, it’s none other than one of the biggest holidays
of all time–Mother's Day!
Whether you’re a daughter, son, in-law, grandchild
or a parent yourself, you can probably appreciate the importance of
having one day to honor everything your mother means to you. But trying
to figure out how isn’t always that easy. Enjoy these great
tips and suggestions for ways you can make Mother's Day special and
give your mom a day she will never forget!
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No one knows mom like you do!
Ask yourself how she might ideally want to spend this special day
and plan the day accordingly. What are her favorite things to do
on her day off? She might be dying to catch the latest Mira Nair
movie or go on a major shopping spree. If your mother dislikes parties
or large crowds, you might want to keep your celebration more private
and take her out to eat instead of planning an actual event. Be
considerate and don’t forget to have fun! You might consider
the following standard Mother's Day activities:
- Go out to brunch: This
is probably the easiest activity you could organize for mom, and
many hotels and restaurants offer prix fixe menus for around $50
per person. However, don't forget to make a reservation in advance
since it is one of the busiest days of the year for restaurants.
- Volunteer: Is there a charity you or
your mother love or one through which your family and friends can
participate as a group? Helping those in need is both an enriching
and rewarding experience and a great way to spend time with your
family.
- Religious institution: Visit your family
temple, gurdwara, mosque, or church on this important holiday and
show appreciation for your mother in a spiritual way.
- Spa: Treat your mom
to a day at the spa so she can relax and be pampered. Many spas
have special packages for Mother's Day, so don't forget to check!
Host a brunch!
Make a formal meal for your mother on Mother's Day. Here’s how
to start:
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Did you know that that
there are 82.5 million mothers in the United States alone, according
to the U.S. Census Bureau? Did you also know that Hallmark estimates
that 70 percent of households in the United States celebrate
Mother's Day in some way or form, and that Mother's Day is one
of the most popular holidays for gift- giving, second only to
Christmas? In fact, even many South Asian countries celebrate
Mother's Day!
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- Pick your guest list. Most Mother's
Day events are fairly informal, so it’s probably not necessary
to send out formal invitations. Who is hosting the event–you
and your siblings or you and your father? Do you want to keep it an
immediate family affair or invite other relatives (aunts, uncles,
grandparents, and cousins)? Make sure that your event is intimate
enough that you get to spend quality time with the guest of honor
herself!
- Set the mood. May is
a spring month and the season is all about freshness and warmth. Depending
on the look of your home, you will want to create a central dining
area as well as a general place to congregate, such as a living room.
Does your mother have a favorite flower? Make or order fresh flower
arrangements and use them as centerpieces for your dining table and
in other parts of your home. You can’t go wrong with a simple
arrangement of tulips or daffodils in a glass vase. Set the dining
table with a nice tablecloth, runner, candles and individual place
settings for your guests. Tie each napkin with a piece of ribbon and
insert a small flower through the knot of the ribbon and you will
create a simple but elegant effect for each setting.
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- Plan the menu. Does
your mother have a favorite food? For a great American breakfast,
make fresh omelets, French toast topped with fresh berries, fresh
muffins and yogurt parfaits. Don’t forget to add coffee, tea,
juices and mimosas or bellinis (if you wish to serve alcoholic beverages).
Make sure the food you serve is easy to prepare the morning of the
event and can be served for a larger amount of guests. South Asian
brunches are just as flavorful and could include parathas,
dosas or idlis with sambar, upma
(South Indian breakfast treat), and drinks such as fresh yogurt lassis
and chai tea. Remember that brunch is a combination of breakfast and
lunch so you will want to make the meal as hearty as possible.
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| Did you know that the official
Mother's Day flower is the red carnation? For an alternative
way to display flowers as a centerpiece, fill a few medium sized
teapots with water and insert a bunch of short-stemmed red (or
alternate color) carnations into each teapot. How easy is that!
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Unique Gift Giving Tips
Giving a Mother's Day gift to your own mother isn’t always
easy. What do you buy for a mother who already has everything? Do
you want to get together with your siblings and give her a gift
she will never forget? You can’t go wrong with a gift certificate
to her favorite store, flowers, jewelry, photo frames and albums,
clothing and new home accessories. Here are unique gifts you might
want to consider this year:
- Digital Photo Frame: The
advent of the digital camera has made picture taking and viewing
so much easier. Many digital photo frames accept standard memory
cards and can display photos on a clear LCD screen. Many frames
can even play slideshows to music. Digital photo frames range in
price from $100 to $400 each and can be found at stores like Brookstone,
Sharper Image, and Target.
- Professional Photo Scrap Book: Create
a professional photo “scrapbook” for your mother filled
with pictures of her own childhood, loved ones, and other memorable
times. Websites such as www.kodakgallery.com can create photo books
and collages for a nominal price from your very own digital pictures.
The result is a wonderful treasure she can keep for years to come.
- Flower of the Month Club: Does your
mom enjoy gardening, flowers, and/or home decorating? Get her a
monthly gift subscription to receive a different floral arrangement
every month. Websites such as www.1800flowers.com have beautiful
monthly plans available ranging from $100 to $450.
- The Experience Gift: Why not give
something different and unique to your mother that she would never
normally consider? Websites such as www.excitations.com offer experience
gifts in various regions of the United States. Your mother could
try anything from taking a hot air balloon ride or helicopter tour
to enrolling in a new class in cooking, art or a unique craft. The
sky is the limit!
What are you waiting for? Mother's Day is only a few weeks away so
it’s time for you to get to work. Don’t forget to have
fun and remember what your mother means to you and I have no doubt
your next Mother's Day will be truly memorable!
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Meera Jegathesan works as a sales manager
and event planner for a major hotel company in the San Francisco Bay
Area. She always thinks outside the box and her next big idea is just
around the corner.
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