Happy Mother’s Day! Gifts She’s Not Likely to Forget

Normally, we take mom out for Sunday Brunch, ply her with island style cocktails, spring blooms, and maybe a shiny bauble or two. But with the COVID-19 lockdown in place, Mother’s Day takes on a whole new, deeper meaning, as families and loved ones celebrate privately, on a whole, other, virtual level.

Welcome Magazine scoured Snohomish County and a few points beyond to find some really good gift ideas and deals for mom. Look around, we’ve even rustled up some mom-worthy recipes.

Let’s get going!

Hurry and preorder from Grain Artisan Bakery‘s Mother’s Day menu, while the natural, scratch-made goodies last. Menu features edible flower-pressed shortbread cookies, gluten-free salted honey custard with raspberry coulis jars, and GF vegan chai & orange blossom cinnamon roll bake-at-home six-packs. Only a few left. Pickups Fri.-Sat. at two locations: farm-to-baker Lauren Sophia Anderson’s Bothell home, May 8, 6-8 p.m., and May 9, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., and Grain’s Production Kitchen at Surrell, Capitol Hill Seattle, 2319 E. Madison St., May 8, 5-8 p.m. Anderson’s also accepting preorders — up until 8 a.m. the day of — for the Thurs. Snohomish Farmers Market and Bake-At-Home-Pot Pies. 

The rustic cakes coming out of Clara’s Canning Company in Bellingham (“think of a farm store and cafe outside of the brick and mortar box”) are out of this world perfect for any mom on her special day. “My cakes are like an edible bouquet, because not only is there cake, I only use non-toxic, freshly-foraged flowers that can be eaten,” creator Ona Lee explains. “I am also a mother, so I love getting to treat others as I would like to have for myself. I also will do custom meals for special days, I think having a meal prepared and delivered is a great gift for any parent.” Gift cards are “good for all of our meals/services in Bellingham and products we ship anywhere in the country.” Click, and love.

The Chic Boatique (yes, “Boat”) is the place where mothers go for shopping therapy, truly. Owner Jenn makes the exquisite, cute, and trendy jewelry, her dad makes wood crafts, and friends/local artists make the candles, chalk and canvas art, and bath and body products available at her brick ‘n mortar/online Snohomish boutique. “Cute and affordable” clothes (S-3x), too — by favorite made-in-the-USA companies. Online order/curbside pickup.

Artisans Mercantile Online Store (AMOS) in Snohomish boasts a huge inventory of locally made products, a Makers Marketplace of one-of-a-kind art, gift boxes, kitschy jewelry, cute, colorful coin purses and clutches, sweets from Jacobsen Salt Co., sustainable #PutEarthFirst home goods, and much more. Online next-day shipping or in-store pickup. Egift cards available.

The Schack Art Center’s glassblowing hot shop and admission-free visual art center in downtown Everett are closed due to COVID-19. But online shopping’s open, showcasing a breathtaking, colorful, and reasonably-priced array of glass centerpieces, platters, sculptures, garden art, and candle holders.

While the award-winning Willows Lodge in Woodinville remains shuttered, there are signs of life, including a “Social Butterfly Spa Reopening Special” already available in anticipation of more bans lifting. Barking Frog will bring brunch to mom. Order the Frog Box Brunch for four May 1-4 (by 8 p.m. on the last day) for a May 9th 11 a.m.-1 p.m. pickup. Chef Bobby Moore shows how to put this brunch together on his YouTube video. Brunch includes Macrina Bakery cinnamon rolls, a mixed flower bouquet from Fena Flowers, and a three-oz. Kerstin Florian Mineral Wellness Soak from The Spa at Willows Lodge. The spa vibe doesn’t end with the brunch box. Head on over to the spa’s online store for more pampering. Can’t decide? Gift cards; they’ve got you covered.

Della Terra Catering in Snohomish has a gorgeous farm-to-table Mother’s Day spread for brunch or dinner, ready for your preorder.

Beecher’s Handmade Cheese Flight of Flagship and Best of Beecher’s collections and “World’s Best” Mac & Cheese, in a six-lb. tray, family style, all make thoughtful Mother’s Day gifts. Be sure to head over to recently reopened Pike Place Market in Seattle — limited hours, weekends only, for now — for your Beecher’s fix and bouquets from local farmers. You’ll want to, especially on May 9, because Pike Place Market’s celebrating its 12th annual Flower Festival with its first drive-through/pickup, four popup locations to choose from.

After closing six weeks ago to help flatten the COVID-19 curve, Mukilteo’s farm-to-fork vegan restaurant Sage and Cinder reopens just in time for Mother’s Day preorders. They’ll start taking online preorders starting Tues., for Fri. and Sat. curbside pickup/limited deliveries to Mukilteo/South Everett, 4 p.m.-8 p.m. On Cynthia Hesslewood’s vegan menu: family style dinners, cocktail kits, including their popular Backslide, growlers, and bottled wine. Keep checking their social media (IG, FB) for menu options.

The Everett Farmers Market opens a week early, May 3, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., as a drive-thru, pickup market, with COVID-19 protocols in place. The modified market will operate on pre-orders/pickups only. Around 18 participating vendors, including Homestead Honey (homesteadhoney.wa@yahoo.com), Good to Go Meat Pies, Swede Hill Distillery, Waxwing Farm, and Rabbit Fields Farm, to choose from. You have until Fri. to get preorders/online payments in for Sun. pickups. Some vendors, like Ananda Farm in Camano Island, are accepting preorders into Saturday, 8 p.m. Details on the market website. If you miss this one, and all goes well, expect to see more of the same for this and other farmers market openings. (Snohomish Farmers Market opens as scheduled May 7, 3 p.m.-7 p.m., at this year’s temporary location — Stocker Farms. Same protocols, but not drive-thru.)

Neng Garden, a market vendor, has no other way to get their tulips and daffodils to the public other than direct-delivery to you. Reach out: Mor, 559-312-6911, Ma, 425-773-0840, or chang_ma@hotmail.com.

Support small, organic farms like Waxwing in Mt. Vernon by preordering their farmer’s choice boxes for drive-thru pickup at the Everett Farmers Market.

Stadium Flowers is accepting Mother’s Day preorders, with same-day delivery.

Edmonds Localvore put together essential survival and mom kits from area businesses like Cascadia Art Museum, ZINC, Driftwood Modern, C’est La Vie, and, coming soon, Kelnero Bar’s “Spritz Survival Kit.” We can’t wait!

Speaking of cocktails… Kelnero co-owner Kali promises to come through for moms with “some food and drink specials,” details soon.

Twisted Earth Artistry: If Mother Nature and Steampunk got together… Everything in the handcrafted collection’s funky, fantastic, and original, in pendant, ring, earring, and bracelet form, studded with a varied mix of gems and stones at their most natural, beautiful state.

HappyBody Soaps: For Mother’s Day, nothing beats the natural, pure luxury of artisan soaps made with loving care by soap-maker Dani Clewell. A Bothell-based vendor, she sustainably sources vegetable oils and essential oils that go into her chemical-free soaps, scrubs, and soaks. She’ll include free handwritten cards and gift wrapping for Mother’s Day, along with porch delivery. Her entire micro-business operates out of her Facebook business page. PM for selection, price, and other questions.

Hoity Toity: Bohemian Beachy Chic describes this quality online boutique. Closet, Life, and Home succinctly covers just about everything a mom wants in life.

Speaking of bohemian chic, Everett Makers Market, a curated popup market for the infinitesimally cool, supports a ton of local artisans — on a good day. Organizers had to postpone the much-anticipated Fisherman’s Village Night Market for this month, however, because COVID. In the meantime, they’re busy promoting them on social media. Here are just a few browse-worthy creatives that popped up on the market’s IG recently: @co_opofcreation, @fadeintotheabstract, @madwickbags.

Maple & Moss Boutique: There’s a special section just for mom. Of course. “Mommy’s Sippy Cup Wine Glass,” please.

Russell’s Provisions allow you to enjoy Chef Russell Lowell’s five-star menu at home. The celebrated Bothell/Snohomish chef’s “Provisions,” aka meal kits, are prepared with moms in mind. Inside his Vintners Kit: a bottle of “Sequel” Syrah by Long Shadows Vintners, a 7-oz. smoked Coho salmon, two 8-oz. filet mignons, two 12-oz., double-cut pork chops, four servings of truffle risotto, four chocolate caramel tarts, Russell’s Demi Glace and “Original Seasoning,” and wine tasting for two at Long Shadows Vintners, valued at $190. Boxes available for Wed.-Sat. pickup.

If Performance Kitchen Crafted‘s healthy, delicious prepared meals are good enough for Seahawks QB Russell Wilson (Why Not You Foundation), it’s good enough for mom. This crucial partnership help feed hundreds of families in the Friends of the Children Seattle mentoring program March 26. Formerly known as Eat Local, Performance Kitchen serves several Seattle communities, from Queen Anne to Kirkland, with essential, nutritious, “globally inspired” meals that meet every dietary need (keto/Carb-Wise, gluten- and dairy-free, vegan, and more). Preorder gift cards (only redeemable for in-store purchases), gift certificates (redeemable for online purchases), and gift bundles/packages (Maternity, Take Care, 7-Day Meal Plan) for Mother’s Day. Free delivery for orders above $98 to anywhere in WA, OR, ID, and CA. Consider a donation; they’ll match it.

Discover Mukilteo’s full of restaurants still open and doing takeout/deliveries. Hop on over and preorder your mom’s faves. Amici Bistro, Cabernets and IPAs, John’s Grill, Red Cork Bistro, and Red Cup Cafe are some of ours.

The City of Everett and Downtown Everett Association’s guide to food & drink for takeout, curbside pickup, and delivery includes Midnight Cookie Co., Lombardi’s Italian, Brooklyn Bros. Pizzeria, Buck’s American Cafe, Katana Sushi, Port Gardner Bay Winery, The New Mexicans, Noodle Nation, Capers + Olives, Terracotta Red, Cafe Wylde, Bluewater Organic Distilling (cocktail kit, hello!), Scuttlebutt Brewing, and much, much more. Each place handles takeout differently; don’t miss the fine print.

Anthony’s, with seafood/seaside locations throughout Washington and one in Coeur d’Alene, ID, will prepare a special takeout menu for Mother’s Day. Stay tuned.

Hungry, yet? We sure are.

For the DIYers, check out Welcome Magazine’s Mother’s Day Recipes for brunch, snacks, and those all-important cocktails. We’ll be loading up — erm, adding more recipes as we go along:

• Beecher’s “World’s Best” Mac and Cheese 
• Scratch Mojito
• Kelnero’s Rosé Sangria
• Bluewater Organic Distilling’s Raspberry Limoncello Drop, Red Sky at Night
• Trisha Yearwood’s Blueberry Pancakes
• Giada de Laurentiis’ Crepes with Peanut Butter and Jam
• Food Network Kitchen’s Sheet Pan Brunch
• Katie Lee’s Strawberry Ricotta Bruschetta
• Food Network Kitchen’s Strawberry Corncakes

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Moms, Parks and Trails Open: Proceed with caution

If mom is more of an outdoorsy type, good news: state parks and public lands will re-open during the day only, starting on May 5^th — with COVID-19 restrictions. Definitely BYOT (Bring Your Own Toiletries — hand sanitizer, soap, water), be prepared for closed restrooms, limited parking, and even turning around and going to another open park if there’s a logjam of other outdoor lovers. Keep practicing social distancing, wear your masks, and limit your party to the people you’ve been living with during the quarantine.

On May 2, the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission released a list of over 100 state parks re-opening, with some exceptions, like ocean beach parks and areas along the Columbia River Gorge.

Explore some of our favorite spots in and around Snohomish County. Welcome Magazine compiled a handy-dandy list (“Enjoy Parks and Trails Again! But Keep Your Distance”), which we’ll keep adding to as we discover more.

Go out there, get some fresh air. Do all the things with mom. She deserves it.