Ah, Mother’s Day! The day to show the most important woman in our lives how much we appreciate all of the sacrifices and contributions she has made for us. Gift-giving, however, is not everyone’s specialty… as many moms can tell you. There are the (hopefully) obvious “bad” gift ideas – cleaning tools, exercise videos, cash, a puppy, a book of parenting tips, or worst of all, a big, fat nothing. But even the best ideas can fall flat if you don’t have a plan in place, says Dana Dillon of HMHB.

Woodinville Wine Country has some dos and don’ts to keep in mind for a successful celebration of mom:

Don’t – Expect Mom to cook.
Do – Order a homemade, Mediterranean meal to go from The PicNic Table. Bonus points: Take mom and the fresh picnic delights to JM Cellars and enjoy world-class wines with breathtaking surroundings.

Don’t – Expect Mom to cook. (This is a point of emphasis worth repeating.)
Do – Present her with a beautiful dessert you made yourself at Matthews Winery’s “Cakes and Blooms” cake decorating workshop.

Don’t – Expect Mom to cook. (You’re getting the idea, right?)
Do – Take her out for a spectacular brunch at Willows Lodge. There are two options available, a buffet brunch in the Sammamish Room or the Barking Frog is offering a full a la carte menu. (Pro tip: Be sure to make reservations in advance!)

Don’t – Serve Mom bad wine.
Do – Offer her a festive strawberry mimosa made from Patterson Cellars Sparkling wine. This special drink will be served at Molbak’s Garden & Home this weekend for moms who choose to spend their special day sipping and shopping.

Don’t – Skip the present.
Do – Get her something she will appreciate and use year-round. Village Wines (pictured above) has a wine club that features a variety of Northwest wines, which will allow mom to sample the best of our region. And if you want to win bragging rights as her favorite child, wow mom with a gift certificate to the Matthews Winery Bed & Breakfast where she can luxuriate in a room overlooking the Woodinville Valley and enjoy two complimentary wine tastings.