May 10
...serving up your daily dish.
Mother's Day is coming Sunday, and chances are you're unprepared. Here, some last-minute gift ideas that just might win you points with the mother/wife on your list:
Pamper Her
What could be better than a hot stone massage at Harmony Day Spa? They let us try one for free, and though a massage fan, the Barista had never indulged in hot stone before. It felt like hot wax pouring down our back, in a good way. The atmosphere is elegant, clean and slightly New Age.
Options range from a 60-minute hot stone massage for $95 to a Mommy & Me package of two 60-minute Swedish massages, two facials, two paraffin hand and food treatments, with lunch, for $400.
The brand new day spa in Caldwell, which had to fight an ancient town ordinance against massage parlors, is holding an open house this weekend and giving out free chair massages and paraffin hand treatments. Saturday 2-5, Sunday 11-3. More information and directions here. Tell them you heard about them on Baristanet.
Give Her Time Off for Good Behavior
How about taking something off her plate? Like grocery shopping, picking up dry-cleaning, or returning videos? Serge the Concierge is ready to do all these chores, and others, and will provide Mother's Day gift certificates. More info on his blog.
A Small Wonder
The Barista received her Mother's Day present early, and you've already seen the results of it here. One of the newest gadgets on the market, RCA's Small Wonder, just out in stores last week, is a completely idiot-proof point-and-shoot digital camcorder with just six buttons. It's the size of a small camera, runs on two AA batteries and comes with its own pop-out USB arm that plugs right into your laptop without even the need for a cable. The Small Wonder records 30 minutes of video and retails for $130. More info here.
Be Sweet
Dark chocolate, as everybody knows, is the new yoga. It's certifiably good for you; WebMD says so. Nothing says indulgence like something from The Chocolate Path, across from Lackawanna shopping center in Montclair.
But if she's complaining about the size of her butt, maybe what she wants is a personal training package from Nick Baldwin.
Enlighten Her
Subscribe her to a copy of "Finding Our Way" newsletter for women of a certain age. Written by Montclair resident Carol Weeg, the charming publication comes out every other months and covers subjects like hormones, libido and second careers. $15. Subscription info here.
Or (shameless self-promotion) give her Liz's book, "The Dream Kitchen," here or Debbie's novel, "Rattled," available (among other places) at Watchung Booksellers. And of course just contact either of us for an autograph.
Natural Beauty
Pssst, Anthony. Annette tells us The Bloom Room, the gift shop at the Presby Iris Gardens, is just full of wonderful things, from pots of heirloom irises, $20 each, to a brass frog trivet ffor $19. (Iris photo by Scot Surbeck.)
If You Really Want to Proscrastinate
Just wait for the Glen Ridge Arts Festival, this Saturday from 10 to 4. Art, crafts, jewelry, pottery, you name it. Including a plant sale, and a used book sale at the library. Ridgewood Ave., just south of Bloomfield Ave.
Deb, thanks for the discreet heads up. Annette -- you didn't read this, right?
Posted by: Anthony | May 10, 2006 3:05:54 PM
Just got my mother some very cool vintage beads and a killer bracelet at Dusty's Antiques on Bloomfield Ave in Montclair. They have tons of great gifts for mom.
Posted by: livinlarge | May 10, 2006 5:26:04 PM
Massage is a great gift for Mom. It is a great way to help her feel great and to stress less. I read that 90% of all doctor visits stem from a stress related illness. Do the math. It could help her health and her life. Learn a lot about the different types of massages at http://www.unwindingmassage.com and then book her a massage right in Montclair.
Posted by: Massage | Mar 8, 2010 1:29:37 PM
