Mother's Day 2013
16 sweet ideas for unusual presents for Mother's Day that don't involve chocolates or flowers!
You see it every year – usually on the day before Mother’s Day or even on the day itself – as hundreds of people queue up to buy the obligatory box of chocolates or bunch of flowers.
The idea that this is all they want every year seems to get stronger every year. But what mums really want on Mother’s Day is to be given time off from their labours and their responsibilities, or simply to be spend time with their family. After all, that’s where the whole thing started (see below). So we’ve put together 16 sweet ideas for gifts that you can buy in and around Swindon. They may seem off-beat but are more in keeping with what we think Mother’s Day should be about (although we aren’t saying you shouldn’t give chocolate and flowers as well). 1 Tell her she’s going to the dogs But in the nicest possible way.
The whole family will enjoy a trip to Blunsdon Stadium, where greyhound racing takes place every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday evening. And they will enjoy it even more if you make mum a celebrity.
You can
name a race after her, have a message printed in the programme and get her to present a trophy.
So why not give give mum some soap and smellies on Mother's Day that you can proudly say you've made yourself!
Lush at the Brunel Shopping Centre in Swindon have got a superb range of bath bombs, body lotions and hair treatments - all made from fresh, organic fruit and vegetables, the finest essential oils and safe synthetics - so Mum can hop out of the bath feeling naturally radiant!
3 Nice Nails!
Here's a lovely gift for mum, that mothers and daughters can do together.
Cosmic Colours in The Brunel Centre are offering nail workshops every Saturday morning and on Monday, Tuesday & Wednesdays of the School holidays.
For 10-14 year olds, they'll get the chance to understand the science of nails and how to perform a professional manicure!
And talking of pampering...
Spoil Mum with some 'me time' and a beauty treatment at one of Swindon's top pampering salons such as OMG or Bloomin' Beautiful.
Her day could include a facial, Indian head massage, tanning, waxing(!) or any number of special treatments that hardworking mums deserve.
Choose from a range of venues in the Swindon area, including those below. Remember, though, that she won’t want to go on her own, and you may need to fork out for a friend of her choice to go along too (or get together with her friend's family to buy a joint present). Better still, make it a mother and daughter day.
4 Picture this
She probably doesn’t own a picture of all her children or grandchildren together, so why not organise for one to be taken and framed for Mum?
Better still, book a session – perhaps as a surprise – which she can also attend, and be pictured surrounded by her family.
5 Travel in real style
Limousines – especially the stretched versions – are often used to treat teenagers or hired for young ladies’ shopping trips and nights out.
But what about
really putting on the style for Mum?
Treat her to a Cotswold Tour in a proper Rolls Royce courtesy of Roger Sansum.
With it's classic, elegant lines, opulent interior and exceptional ride comfort, the Silver Dawn adds a touch of pomp and circumstance to any occasion.
6 Get down on the farm
On Mother’s Day, mums get in free with another paying adult or child. It's a nice way of spending time together, especially at this time of year - and don’t you dare leave without treating Mum to a cream tea in the granary tearoom.
Racing season starts on Mother's Day!
And this year, Mother's Day see the start of the racing season at Roves as well!
A specially-made track has been built with small jumps, where sheep with teddy bear jockeys and saddles will run fun races in aid of
Breakthrough Breast Cancer.
7 Meals on wheels
Treating Mum to a Mother’s Day meal at a nice restaurant will go down very well, but if you want something just a little bit different, try the
Swindon & Cricklade Railway.
All mums like day trips, so whether you decide to treat her to a theatre, concert or shopping trip, she’s bound to love it. Gift wrap her tickets on Mother’s Day and she’ll enjoy looking forward to her day out.
And with Boyzone back on tour in 2013, we're sure she won't turn down the opportunity to enjoy an evening with Keith, Mikey, Ronan and Shane!
This is another present that you can hardly expect her to enjoy alone, so sort out another seat for a friend (or even yourself).
Barnes Coaches have plenty of trips for you to choose from – or you could buy her a voucher so she can choose for herself.
All mums worth their salt like a good romantic or weepy film, so get yourself down to the DVD shop and choose one (or two or more) you know she’ll like. But don’t think that’s the present sorted. Giving her time to watch it, by getting the kids out of the way, taking over the chores for the day or waiting on her will turn a fairly simple present into something much more special.
10 Adopt an animal
Adopters receive a picture and certificate, newsletters and more, including the satisfaction of actively supporting the park’s conservation and breeding programmes. They also receive free admission tickets for her – so provide the transport and arrange for all the family so she can get even more out of her gift.
And there's no-one better to help you than the lovely lady Solance at Sparkle Dreams at the Studley Grange craft village on Junction 16.
There you can choose a whole host of card designs that you can make yourself and add that special personal touch just for
your Mum.
12 She can have her cake and eat it
Especially if it's choclolate!
A personalised present that somebody has gone to a lot of trouble to make can’t fail to bring a smile to her face and maybe even a tear to her eye. And, of course, she’ll enjoy sharing it with all the family.
Here’s a great way to round up the family for a great day out together.
Cotswold Boat Hire have a range of comfortable motorboats for hire at their Lechlade base, which will guarantee that this Mother’s Day will be one to remember – whether you do your messing about on the river on the big day itself or save it for a potentially warmer day.
We think of Champagne as something you save for special occasions, but it’s also just the thing to tell somebody you think they are special. So buy Mum a bottle of bubbly for Mother’s Day – and make sure you crack it open on the day itself. To make it even more special, check out
Magnum Wine in Wood Street, Swindon, where you can buy personalised bottles.
15 Mum's The Word
Waterstones in The Brunel Centre nearly always have some great deals to be grabbed, so you can treat her right without breaking the bank.
Plus these gifts are ideal for reading in the bath! (See idea 2. above)
Some of the most appreciated Mother’s Day gestures include doing Mum’s chores for her – so here's an idea for one that will not only win you brownie points but also get you out of having to do it yourself! Why not have her car professionally valeted? You can choose from a range of car-pampering treatments at
ALT Valeting, or simply go for the whole works.
And not forgetting..... taking mum away from the dishes...
Hence, the ideal opportunity to take mum away from preparing the roast potatoes and clearing up while everyone else relaxes on the sofa.
Get all the family together and take her out for, that's what we say.
So here's some of the best places to enjoy a meal together on Mother's Day in Swindon:
20 At
The Kings
Old Town
20 At The Kings want your Mum to feel really relaxed this Mother's Day, and head chef Darren Turner offers an ever changing seasonal menu, all cooked to the highest standard.
Wrag Barn Golf Club
Highworth
Treat your Mum to a wonderful day at Wrag Barn Golf Club, Highworth, with a sumptuous three course meal for just £17.50! There's even a small gift for her on departure.
Weighbridge Brewhouse
Swindon
Here your Mum can enjoy a fantastic and modern open-plan dining space, where they only serve freshly prepared food cooked to the very highest standards and locally sourced where possible - she's sure to be impressed!
Chiseldon House Hotel
Chiseldon
Treat your Mum to a relaxing meal in the picturesque grounds of Chiseldon House Hotel, where their AA Rosette Restaurant will cook up a meal she's unlikely to forget.
Fratello's
Swindon
If you fancy something a little different, why not head down to Fratello's Restaurant and let them cook you up an authentic Italian feast - 'the way mamma used to do it!'
Mackenzies
Old Town
Take mum for a trip up to Old Town - it's great for shopping, especially along Wood Street - and when her feet are good and tired why not stop off at Mackenzies?
She can enjoy a two or three course meal (depending on how generous you're feeling!) including a complimentary glass of Cava.
Brooks's Of Highworth
Highworth
The next best thing to breakfast in bed? Treat her to a Mother's Day breakfast at Brooks's in Highworth, 9am-12noon. Bookings now being taken.
The Harrow Inn
Wanborough
The Harrow Inn are proud to offer you a great range of fine foods and drinks to get your Mum's taste buds going. With large open fires and friendly staff ready to welcome you, this'll be a real treat for her!
And flowers
yes, we know what we said!.....
Mother’s Day origins
Did you know?.....
Although it has become a day when mums all over the world receive chocolates, flowers and pot plants, there is more to Mother’s Day than meets the eye. We may think of it as a somewhat commercialised day, but its origins are not only historical but really quite charming. It grew out of a special day off that was traditionally given to Victorian domestic servants every year.
Many families had at least one person in service, and athough they were of both sexes, many were girls or young women who were boarding at their place of work and therefore potentially living far from home.
This Mothering Sunday – to give it its proper title in Europe – echoed a religious festival dating back centuries, when people would return, once a year, to their ‘mother church’.
Although Victorians daughters returning home probably brought a gift home, it’s the concept of spending time with Mum which was the principle on which the day was built, and the gift is really only a bonus.
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