THANKING MOM: Call it one of the sticky wickets of the parental holidays: How do we truly show our mother and father our gratitude, our deep appreciation, and some fun to boot? Striking that balance between meaning and merriment feels a little trickier come May and June, when we wrack our thoughts, idea files, and the opinions of friends as to how we can really show our mother and father a fine time for Mother's Day or Father's Day. Happily there are good-time-showing outfits who are meeting kids halfway on this front, and some of them are going the splashier route (so beyond a quick meal out and a card, lovely as those things can be). Look to some of the Golden State's shore-close resorts, like the St. Regis Monarch Beach in Dana Point, for a fuller menu of mom-oriented to-dos this 2015 springtime holiday season.
BRUNCH ABSOLUTELY MADE THE CUT... because, after all, what is the second Saturday in May without an omelet-extravagant, mimosa-sipping celebration? Well, yes, you're right: It is brunch-less, which is not how a doting grown-up child wants to find herself, or her mom, come Mother's Day. The property's Stonehill Tavern is serving up a three-courser on Sunday, May 10, and it includes cornflake-crusted brioche French toast, oysters, and lobster quiche, among other goodies. If you're looking for more of a traditional buffet style affair, take Mom to Motif, where the brunch boasts sushi, desserts aplenty and a pancake station. A. Pancake. Station.
MORE CELEBRATORY DOINGS: Spa Gaucin is offering a Perfectly Polished Mom package, which includes "coastal stone manicures and pedicures for two." Bubbly and other extras are part of the chillax-not-far-from-the-Pacific deal. But perhaps take your barefoot walk on the beach with Mom pre-pedicure? Or at least wait an hour? She'd love the extra time with you, of course. That's part of your gift of gratitude, too: Spending time together, which, truly, is on every mom's wishlist this year (and every year).
