Show HER with love

So, you’ve been wracking your brain trying to figure out what to get your special lady, wife and mom for Mother’s Day.

While some moms just want to hang out on Mother’s Day — sleep late, have breakfast in bed or catch up on a plethora of never-have-time-to-watch taped programs, others want to enjoy a sumptuous brunch, spend a luxurious day at the spa or make it a family-time celebration. Others want to go on an adventure — perhaps try something new. Gift ideas include everything from books and bracelets to cars and cupcakes. Manis, pedis, facials — and most things related to cooking — also make the cut.

Keep in mind — anything goes. And absolutely everything will be well-received. So, just do it. And remember, at this point, you only have about a week to make a move.

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Pampering

High on the list has to be a day of therapy — beauty therapy, that is. A day at the spa, a massage and, the aforementioned, gift of a mani, pedi or facial. On May 11 and 12, Spa Anjali at The Westin offers a day that includes a spa manicure and pedicure, an anti-aging facial, use of its athletic club that includes a pool, hot tubs and unlimited classes, topped off with a glass of Champagne and a parting gift of a facial travel kit with signature products valued at $60 for $199. In addition to its $129 special, the Sonnenalp Spa is offering 25 percent off of all treatments on Mother’s Day. And the Vitality Center at the Vail Mountain Lodge and spa is offering 40 percent off of all spa services and full use of the club on her special day. For a no-frills but wonderful relaxing massage, you can never go wrong with a 60-minute massage at Simply Massage, $54. Or you can give a gift of a foot massage from Mountain Massage for only $40. What’s more, right now, most area nail salons including Chippenails, Urban Nails and Nails Pandora are offering great prices on their mani-pedis.

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Color/C=92 M=51 Y=47 K=22Adventure/

Sports

For the adventurous woman, consider Zip Line Adventures, located at 4 Eagle Ranch in Wolcott, that offers six zipline courses canvassing creeks and canyons and a heart stopping ride! The zipline tour takes you from 200 feet above the river to the longest trip of a distance over 1,000 feet. The tours run $150 per person, but call to inquire about special pricing. Another adrenalin rush would be to begin her day with a hot air balloon ride with Camelot Balloons, which will take off at 7:30 a.m. into the glorious Colorado blue sky and culminate with a special Mother’s Day Champagne picnic. An introductory flight, lasting about 40 minutes, is $190 per person; a full-excursion, which last about 90 minutes — or as long as the wind takes you is $275 per person. At The Back Bowl in Eagle, mothers can bowl free on her special day. And, Mountain Pedalers in Minturn will give a 20 percent discount on all women’s clothing and accessories. BOL at Solaris is combining a bottle of Moet & Chandon Champagne with one hour of bowling and shoes for $60 at its Mother’s Day “Bubbles and Bowl” event.

Color/C=23 M=65 Y=95 K=9Baubles and Other

Fun Stuff

The Golden Bear has created a sensational, limited quantity of “Remembear Mom,” tiny bears on Parade Heart pendant, in 14K yellow gold for $450. And to store that bear, Asian Village has handmade, silk “Egg Rolls for Jewelry” for $39. Roxy will help you celebrate by offering 15 percent off on regular priced items, if you whisper the words “Mother’s Day” to any salesperson on that Sunday. For the gardener in your life, “orchids,” in all their glory is the word at Wildflower Farms. These days, the place looks more like a general story than just a nursery — in a good way — with lots of fun gifts to consider, including jewelry and purses, as well as all types of small cast-iron tchotchkes for the garden, like flying pigs and cows, along with colorful watering cans pinwheels. Yes, large pinwheels, some in glorious neon colors. As well, their selection of humming-bird feeders and assortment of dried flowers can’t be beat. At Kitchen Collage, you can find such things as washable place mats, which are a saving grace, along with lots of Thymes body products, aprons in all types of fun motifs and recyclable lunch bags, to name just a few of the store’s hundreds of cooking-related products.

Color/C=73 M=11 Y=25 K=0Entertainment

This summer, our valley will be filled with marvelous events for the music lover in your heart! In fact, choosing just one won’t be easy! To begin, Bravo! Vail, which features the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, the Philadelphia Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic is offering three concerts for $81 or five for $135. The Vilar Performing Arts Center’s schedule is presenting performers including Arlo Guthrie, Mary Chapin Carpenter & Marc Cohn, Peter Frampton and Kenny Loggins with Blue Sky Riders on its schedule. And the Vail International Dance Festival is celebrating its 25th anniversary, highlighting a variety of programs of dance which, this season, will include a new creation by legendary modern dance master Paul Taylor as well as stellar performances from artists in dance styles from Memphis jookin’ to ballet to tango. And, for the country music fan, this year’s Gypsum Daze concert headlining Leann Rimes and Collin Raye is a must! Is she a movie buff? If so, what’s better than a gift book of 10 tickets, at $70, for the Riverwalk and Capitol theaters?

Color/C=20 M=46 Y=98 K=2Classes

You can never go wrong by giving a gift of pilates or yoga. But, have you ever thought about giving a “gift of learning?” For instance, the Alpine Arts Center has a number of drawing, ceramics and painting classes, as well as weekend workshops, like “The Pleasure of Seeing” with artist Amy Dose, to learn how to open the senses and explore how visual experiences fertilize ones painting for $160. And Colorado Mountain College offers dance classes that the two of you can take together including salsa, country western dance and west coast swing. Just for “her” is belly dancing, tap and ballet barre. The foodie might enjoy a class called “New England Clambake” for $55, where she can join clambake maven, Tracy Miller and in three hours learn how to handle live lobster, clean mussels and make a tarragon lobster roll, clam chowder, tomato salad and blueberry cobbler.

Color/C=92 M=51 Y=47 K=22Good Eats

Many families like to celebrate Mother’s Day by taking mom out of the kitchen and treating her to a savory meal. Terra Bistro is featuring a brunch for $19.95 that includes the restaurant’s selection of healthy dishes.

Sweet Basil is holding a Mother’s Day “Sunday Sweets” with special desserts and a wine tasting.