EVERYTHING
FOR YOUR FAMILY
Cover Story
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1 A gift card to mom’s favorite store or boutique> Let her buy whatever she wants at a high-end store, such as Nordstrom or Brighton. Brighton sells beautiful jewelry, fine leather and straw handbags, wallets, belts and other accessories for the home. Nordstrom sells quality clothing and has a fabulous shoe department.At Brighton, jewelry and smaller gift items are priced at $100 or less, but their leather handbags typically sell for $200 and up. Straw bags are generally $100-$200. A good pair of shoes at Nordstrom will likely cost $100 or more. We suggest that dad gives mom at least $200 and then does something really valuable – watch the kids while she goes shopping. > Nordstrom 3601 The Galleria at Tyler, Riverside 951.351.3170; nordstrom.com Brighton has stores in Riverside, Rancho Cucamonga, Temecula, Corona and Palm Desert. Check brighton.com for details. 2 Maid service for a month>While it’s true that some dads help out with housecleaning, these chores often fall on mom, who spends hours each week pushing a vacuum and scouring toilets.What better way to reward her for this thankless job than to hire a maid service for a month? Many housecleaning services are listed online or in the phone book. MaidPro cleaners bring their own supplies and clean for a minimum of 3 hours for $139. In Temecula, Murrieta, Sun City and Menifee, Maid in America will send a housekeeper to your home to perform a thorough cleaning for 4 hours for $79, using your cleaning supplies. Check maidpro.com for phone numbers and offices near you. > Maidpro: 951.662.2443 909.593.6690; maidpro.com > Maid in America: 951.662.2443 951.662.2443 3 A day of pampering at a spa> A blissful day away from chores, errands, work and the kids would revitalize mom’s spirits. How often does mom get treated to a truly relaxing day at a local day spa? At the Murrieta Day Spa in Murrieta, guests can take advantageof a full-service salon, cafe and outdoor heated mineral pool. Mom can indulge in a variety of relaxing spa services, including a massage, body wrap, manicure and pedicure, facial, swim, haircut or waxing. Most day spas have many relaxing treatments and services. If money is tight, a gift certificate for a 50-minute Swedish Massage ($85) at the spa would be a relaxing treat for dad’s beautiful bride. > Murrieta Day Spa in Murrieta 41885 Ivy St. 951.677.8111; mdayspa.com Prices vary. Packages and gift certificates are available. Massages are $55 and up; haircuts are $70-$100; manicures and pedicures, $24 to $65. 4 Dinner and movie with a friend> A “Mom’s Night Out” with a girlfriend is a nice escape for a busy mother. While dad or a sitter watches the kids, mom and her BFF can enjoy a leisurely dinner without feeding a baby or corralling rowdy kids. She can choose an eatery she likes – one that her kids may shy away from, such as a Greek restaurant or a sushi bar.After dinner, mom and her pal can go to a “chick flick” at the local theater. For a change, she gets to see the movie of her choice on the big screen, not 3 months after it comes out on cable or DVD. Mom is sure to enjoy this rare, casual night out with her friend. The cost of this dinner/movie night can vary from $25 on up, depending on where mom and her friend have dinner and how many glasses of wine they order. A movie ticket is typically about $10. 5 A couple’s day in the Wine Country by limousine> The Temecula Valley Wine Country features many interesting things mom can enjoy, including high-class resorts, quaint boutique wineries with unique gift shops, fine dining at some wineries, live music on select nights and hot-air-balloon rides at selected wineries.And don’t forget the wine! More than 20 wineries produce award-winning libations, and many have tasting rooms where you can sample for a small fee. Several transportation companies, including Sterling Rose Limousines and RSVP Limousine Service, will do the driving. For a list of wineries, tours, resorts, transportation companies and tourist information, check the websites of the Temecula Valley Winegrowers Association (temeculawines.org) and the Temecula Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau (temeculacvb.org). 6 Hire a personal chef> Get mom out of the kitchen by hiring a personal chef to cook dinner. Denise Fennell, a personal chef and culinary school graduate, cooks for families and small dinner parties. She works in the San Bernardino and Loma Linda areas.Customers pay for the food, plus the cooking fee. Fennell makes her own pasta, and buys all food and herbs fresh that day. A family of 4 can expect to spend about $250. Fennell sells gift certificates, which she says is an especially great gift idea for new moms with infants. In the Redlands-Yucaipa area, call Diane Shimota of Garden Fresh Gourmet Personal Chef Service. Shimota cooks 5 different meals for the family in 1 day to save for the week and charges $300 per visit, plus groceries. > Quality Cuisine: Personal Chef Denise Fennell of San Bernardino 909.486.2085; yourqualitycuisine.com > Garden Fresh Gourmet Personal Chef Service: Chef Diane Shimota 909.798.6449; mychefsite.com/gfgourmet Cost: Estimated at $250 and up 7 Dinner delivered for a week> What better way to give mom a break from the dinner-and-dishes routine than ordering a full meal from a local restaurant delivered right to your door?Dine In Delivery delivers food from a wide range of restaurants, such as Claim Jumper, El Torito, Rubio’s Fresh, Tony Roma’s and California Pizza Kitchen. Pay for the food and a service charge, and a meal shows up at the door. Another service with a $9.99 delivery charge is Restaurants on the Run. Visit rotr.com to find the areas served in the Inland Empire. > Dine In Delivery 42170 Sarah Way, Suite A, Temecula 951.699.DINE; 699.dine.com Costs vary according to restaurant; delivery charge is about $5.99. > Restaurants on the Run 800.510.FOOD (3663); rotr.com 8 A weekend in San Diego or at the Hotel Del Coronado> Dad, line up a relative or trusted friend to watch the kids and head to San Diego.Mom can visit museums and stunning gardens at the famed Balboa Park. She can see historic sights, shop for pottery and enjoy great Mexican food in Old Town San Diego. Or she can shop in the boutiques and stroll around the quaint Seaport Village. After dark, couples can party in the eclectic Gaslamp Quarter, a 16-block historic district that has more than 100 restaurants, 40 nightclubs and bars, and cool shops galore. Tour the historic Hotel Del on Coronado Island, built in 1888. Coronado has gorgeous beaches, and the wide, clean beach at the Hotel Del Coronado is among the best. A night at this elegant hotel will make mom feel like a movie star. For travel and hotel information, visit the website of the San Diego Convention and Visitor’s Bureau at sandiego.org. > Hotel Del Coronado 1500 Orange Ave. 1.800.hoteldel; hoteldel.com. Rates generally start at $285 per night. 9 A personal makeover> When was the last time mom got to update her appearance? If she still has jackets with huge shoulder pads, or hasn’t found time for a haircut or pedicure in more than 3 months, this is the gift for her!A makeover should include a shopping trip for at a new outfit and shoes; a fresh haircut and color; a manicure and pedicure; and a consultation with a makeup expert. Mom can take this splurge 1 step further and get permanent makeup, visit a tanning salon, get hair or eyelash extensions, have her teeth whitened, or go to a medical spa for laser hair removal or Botox injections. Or, Mom can buy designer eyeglasses and stylish sunglasses, or contact lenses (maybe even tinted ones!). Chic, new glasses are worth the investment when you consider that they are front and center on the face. A makeover is a gift that will keep on giving for a hard-working family member who takes care of her own needs last. Costs vary, but plan on spending at least $500. 10 And the grandest splurge of all…a complete kitchen remodel!> If you want to keep mom making yummy, nutritious dinners, give her a world-class kitchen. Kitchen remodels top the list of home improvements that deliver a high return on investment if you sell later. Before you begin, let mom select the color palette and materials she loves to make cooking and cleaning easier.Consider new counters in a natural surface, such as stone or granite; a new sink and faucet with a pull-out sprayer for easy clean-up; and new energy-efficient appliances. Have a worn linoleum floor? Consider replacing it with ceramic tile. Replace old cabinets, or have existing cabinets refinished or professionally polished and fitted with new pulls to give them new life. Then paint the walls a color mom loves. Don’t forget to let mom splurge on coordinating accessories and small appliances, such as dish towels or a new mixer in a vanity color. While the kitchen is being renovated, help mom with the meals by ordering take-out. When the work is done, pop the cork on a bottle of champagne and toast to her! Estimated cost: $5,000 for a basic remodel; easily $50,000 or more, depending on the scope of the remodeling job and materials used. fam Amy Bentley is a contributing writer for Inland Empire Magazine who, by writing this story, is dropping big hints to her own family! |
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