Gone are the days of flowers
and boxed chocolates. This May treat your mother to an experience she’ll remember all year long. Lifestyle
shares some of our favourite tips and ideas for a celebration worthy of our wonderful moms.
An Elegant Afternoon
When we were young, our
mothers patiently poured cup after cup of “tea” (read: apple juice) for our collections of stuffed animals.
While we may have grown out of the cuddly bears of our childhoods, a tea party remains one of the perfect
ways to spend time with mom. Elegant venues such as luxury hotels and tea parlors offer High Tea, where you
will be plied with Britain’s best and offered fresh pastries, light sandwiches and deliciously fresh scones
with clotted cream. Dress in your best, and appreciate a step back to courtly life.
Montreal’s Le
St-James offers this delicious service in the heart of the historic Old Port: hotellestjames.com
To prolong this elegant
Mother’s Day experience, pair a High Tea service with a day at the theatre. Check for plays and musicals in
your city and surprise your mother with a set of tickets. For unique presentation, buy a delicate teacup and
saucer and present the tickets and your invitation to tea inside.
A Chocolate Lover’s
Dream
This year, go above and beyond the standard Godiva fare by treating your mother to the ultimate in
chocolate decadence: an organic cocoa butter massage. Combining two of our favourite indulgences in one
treatment, this relaxing gift is sure to ease years of maternal stress. As if the idea of a stimulating
chocolate massage wasn’t enough, organic cocoa is filled with antioxidants to leave skin feeling rejuvenated
and creamy-soft.
The
AquaTerre Spa in Vancouver, BC, is one of many that offer this decadent treatment: aquaterre.net
Think outside the box — of truffles, that is. This Mother’s Day sign up for a chocolate-making course.
Learn how to make your own gourmet truffles from scratch — the ultimate in chocolate treats — and flavour
them with beautiful hints of lavender, vanilla or a Lifestyle Staff favourite — champagne. Take note of your
mother’s favourite flavour combinations to surprise her with a thoughtful gift throughout the year.
A “Personal”
Touch
Give the gift of the ultimate shopping experience: a visit with a personal shopper. Escort your
mother to her favourite designer and discuss the components of an ideal outfit. Watch Mom strut her stuff and
then treat her to her favourite ensemble. Whether it’s for business or for pleasure, make an event out of
your mother’s new outfit by following the shopping session with a suitably formal lunch or dinner.
Holt
Renfrew, Canada’s favorite in luxury apparel offers a wonderful shopping experience from coast to coast: holtrenfrew.com
For the active mom nothing beats a trip to the gym, except perhaps an hour with a personal
trainer. An ideal introduction to adopting a healthy lifestyle, a trainer will design a program tailored to
Mom’s specific needs and restrictions. This may very well spark an interest that you will be able to enjoy
together year-round. After the gym, head to your nearest smoothie bar for a juice date to replenish your
energy supplies.
A Weekend Escape
Whoever said that mothers should only be celebrated one day a year deserves an old-fashioned
timeout. This Mother’s Day why not take a weekend to thank Mom for all of her hard work.
Lifestyle suggests the following getaways:
When we think of wine our minds often drift to sunny California or to the rolling hills of Tuscany. You’d be
surprised to know that Canada boasts several wonderful wineries from coast to coast. This Mother’s Day, take
Mom on a luxurious wine escape where you will sample local vintages and dine in restaurants dedicated to
providing the perfect pairing with your meal. Many wineries also offer classes where you will learn how to
decipher the intricate tastes contained in each glass. Don’t forget to pick up a bottle or two of your
mother’s favourite wine, of course. Uncork it later during the year and use it to reminisce about your trip
together.
Ontario’s
Niagara on the Lake boasts of some beautiful wineries and luxury B&B accommodation: niagaraonthelake.com
Grab a flight to Mom’s favourite city. Last-minute travel rates offer low prices and booking
online has never been easier. Surprise your mother by buying tickets to that Broadway musical she’s always
wanted to see, or enjoy a weekend of culture in vibrant Montreal.
Treat your mother to a weekend at a spa hotel. Enjoy manicures, facials and a host of other pampering treats
that will leave her feeling completely replenished and rejuvenated. Many facilities offer other activities
such as yoga and low-impact Pilates. Wake Mom up with a series of healing stretches; ease sore muscles with a
hot stone massage; and finish off by enjoying healthy spa fare with a glass of white wine.
The
Stoweflake Mountain Resort & Spa in Stowe, Vermont offers a weekend package of absolute pampering set
against a backdrop of Vermont’s Green Mountains: stoweflake.com
