Posted on 05/06/2005 1:39:42 PM PDT by Dashing Dasher
Businews Columnist Roger Button went looking for some different ideas to honor the women in our lives. Here's some of what he found.
We have come a long way since 1858, when Mothers Day began in this country in West Virginia.
Church worker Anna Reeves Jarvis introduced Mother's Work Day to encourage better sanitation in her town. Twelve years later a Mothers Day Peace proclamation was introduced and two years later modified to Mother's Day of Peace.
Jarvis's daughter dedicated her life to honoring mothers. In 1908 she introduced the use of the carnation, a tradition still honored today, with white carnations to honor dead mothers and pink or red the living.
In 1912, West Virginia became the first state to adopt an official Mothers Day, which later became nationally accepted as the second Sunday in May.
Get wild
What will you buy mom for this Sunday? Ideas range from the traditional bouquet of flowers to more strenuous, fascinating and luxurious options.
Looking for unusual gift ideas? The Pampered Princess theme includes model makeovers and massage; becoming a pop star and recording your own CD; dinner cruising and rally driving.
For adventurous moms, adrenaline-addict gifts will appeal: becoming a firefighter for a day; off-road intensive driving; aerial aircraft aerobatics; and quad motorbike scrambling.
An unusual gift for moms is to get a glance at their future with psychic help.
Different presents include a magical gift for Mickey Mouse fans or chocoholics: Disney or Cadbury's stock certificates.
Venice and Nokomis merchants offer something different. Consider Mothers Rings, a longtime popular favorite at Classic Creations in Diamonds and Gold, 1846 South Tamiami Trail, Suite 13.
Owner Chuck Duke said, "Your imagination is your limit."
More than 100 styles of rings and many pendants custom designed with colored precious and semi-precious stones representing children's birth months set in yellow or white gold are priced from $80-$90.
Alternatively, a big, bold and striking Mothers Day topiary of lilies and astromerias representing little colored balls with birds and butterflies on top of a tree pedestal starting at $40, is an increasing annual favorite at Always An Occasion, 249 S. Nokomis Ave. Owner Debbie Phelan commented, "You only have one mommy so everyone wants their own design order."
A sentimental mother's pillow decorated with flowers and poetically printed messages such as, "I smile because you are my mother, I laugh because there is nothing you can do about it," are among popular presents priced from $14.95, according to store manager Linda Hirter of the Island Gift Nook, 227 W. Venice Ave.
Mothers Day baskets with Vera Bradley bags, bath and body products priced from $50 are sought after gifts at Fraser's on the Avenue, 237 W. Venice Ave., reported owner Linda Fraser.
"It's a day when she gets what she normally would not buy for herself," said Jon Marcus, who offers free consultations with his team will working with any mom for as long as it takes to give her the glamorous looks she desires. Mothers Day packages start from $50, and clients often bring photographs, and even friends with hairstyles they want copied, to his John Marcus Salon, 328-A South Tamiami Trail on the island.
For chocoholics, there many specialties at Backstretch Sweets, 276 W. Miami Ave., where owner Susan Pattison is helping customers celebrate both the Kentucky Derby on Saturday and Mothers Day with handmade chocolate horses, horseshoes and jockeys on horses, plus flowers, truffles and Happy Mothers Day bars.
"Bring your mum in and find something as special as she is from our selection of boats, cars, Teddy bears, dogs and musical instruments," said Pattison.
Painted lady
Perhaps mom is looking to chart her path to love, a new business career, reunite with love ones or solve her present problems. Local psychic and clairvoyant Rachel Mitchell offers a Mother's Day special 50 percent discount on tarot card, crystal ball and psychic readings. Robert Mitchell, manager of the location at 109 South Tamiami Trail in Nokomis, said readings start from $25.
A tattoo portrait of mom with her children has been a popular gift offered at Acme Tattoo Company, 201 South Tamiami Trail in Nokomis. With 10 years' experience as a tattoo artist, Gypsy invites moms to come in, even with the slightest idea, which will be worked up into a design on paper then customized.
Tattoos start from $200 and take around 90 minutes to complete. This week there is a 25 percent discount when they include mom, or are in memory of mom.
These are just a few of the many opportunities, along with eating out, barbecuing, going to theme parks or the beach, you can use to surprise your mom and show your appreciation on this special weekend.
bottle of wine, mow her grass, and let her babysit her granddaughter. She'll be happy as a clam!
(I know --- boring)
Cyborg! Don't do it!
My mom would slap the fire out of me if I got one for MYSELF!
I have a sharpie, and I draw real good ladies...
Had I known all I had to do was NOT call, I'd have done it 10 years sooner..........;^)
I'd have to be his sister. This woman is a gold digger and she kept me away so I wouldn't see what she was up to, but this last year I found out that she finally got power of attorney over him and has been liquidating his assets (AND my dead Mothers) and putting the money in CD's in 'her' account.
If I do that, I'm going to get a slap on the side of head along with a "whattaya doing?"
Oh my.......... that is horrible - and he is so whipped he either doesn't know or doesn't care?
Corset piercing along the spine is by far the most grotesque form of body mutilation as a silly attempt to shock and be unique.
That reminds me of a story.....(doesn't everything)
At one of my first aero-events - I had finished my portion of the show and was out playing with the gang the night before the last day of the show. These guys kept coming up to me - jokingly asking for my autograph.... well - by the end of the night, I was signing butts with my BLUE SHARPIE!!!
I have pictures.... of one of the butts with my autograph on it - next to the dasher machine.
Hilarious!
LOL. I wonder what his wife thought about that!
I usually just leave my signature dental pattern!
Eeeeeeeewwwwwwwwwwww!!!
I agree!
I would post the picture - but would be fearful of the wrath of admin moderator.
reminds me of a joke:
The owner of a drug store walks in to find a guy leaning heavily against a wall. The owner asks the clerk, "What's wrong with that guy over there by the wall?"
The clerk goes "Well, he came in here this morning to get something for his cough. I couldn't find the cough syrup, so I gave him an entire bottle of laxative."
The owner goes, "You idiot! You can't treat a cough with a bottle of laxatives!"
The clerk responds, "Of course you can! Look at him; he's afraid to cough.
send me a link.
Only if your mother is smart!
;^)
I'll work on it.
You and I could have a cocktail and talk about our horrible Step Monsters.
Mine is a controlling freak also...
I hope to never see her again as long as I live - but I may not be that lucky.
My mother died very tragically in his arms after 48 years of marriage. I think he was so afraid of having to be alone again that he basically became whipped. Now she says he has Alzheimer's Disease. He swears he doesn't, but whatever the reason, I came up the big loser. Well, I'm glad I reminded myself why I am NOT going to get her a card, or a gift. LOL and
My mother divorced my father when she got her mothers inheritance. Took up with another guy, managed to use my youngest brother to steal all my Dad's money from his accounts through a trust. Knowing this she watched as we spent 3 years in probate court demanding an accounting of my fathers estate from my younger brother. Then told my older brother I was stupid for believing her lies.
This is a mother of 9 children and a grandmother of 14 grandchidren, (not that she cares).
One of the most self centered b*tches I have ever known in my life.
My mother in law isn't perfect, but she loves her family.
Yes we could, but it would take a week, or so. :)
Mine is a controlling freak also...
Yep, you know Frankie. LOL
I hope to never see her again as long as I live - but I may not be that lucky.
I'm pretty sure I will see her at my dad's funeral, unless she dies first; which I'm sure she won't. She will out live all of us!
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