Whatever Her Interests, These Mother's Day Gift Ideas Are Guaranteed Hits

News flash moms: Your significant other is not a mind reader! So if last year’s Mother’s Day gift really bombed, feel free to forward this article, along with a hint that “Yes, this would be a great gift to receive this year for Mother’s Day.”

Nature Lover

For the mom who loves to garden, a gift card from   in Woodinville or the Gray Barn in Sammamish is always a hit.  Gals who enjoy hiking and camping will appreciate a gift card to , with locations on the Eastside in Redmond at and Issaquah.  Or surprise her with a weekend trip away to Skamania Resort in Stevenson, Wash., which offers great spa services and lots of nearby hiking trails, or The Resort at The Mountain near Mt. Hood, which is hosting a special Mother’s Day Brunch this year. 

Or if she was inspired by First Lady Michelle Obama’s White House garden and wants to yank up some lawn and put in a garden this spring, Bill Bowlus, owner of Redmond's Living Earth Landscapes, can help set up or renovate a garden or create an inviting new “outdoor room.” Call 425-882-2930 for more information.

Boater

Does she love to kayak?  Make her a coupon good for a meal and a tour of Lake Union by kayak. Agua Verde Cafe in the University District is a great spot for a delicious lunch or dinner. As a bonus, the cafe also offers kayak rentals and romantic sunset tours on tours of Lake Union. More information is available on the Agua Verde website. 

If she's looking to get out of the city, surprise her with a trip to Friday Harbor House on San Juan Island. Get someone else to wrangle the kids, tell her to pack a bag, hop on the ferry and head to the hotel located in downtown Friday Harbor.  If you are able to go on a weekday night before May 19, you can take advantage of the inn's current “Island Tranquility” package special for $380 per night, which includes a one night stay, two 50-minute massages, a bottle of sparking wine and $50 Bluff Bucks to use at the Marina view Bluff Restaurant.

Stressed Out

I know — what mom is not stressed out?  So do something about it! Buy her a class pass this month at  and she’ll get on extra class free. Call the studio to purchase at 425-861-1318 or email info@discoveryoga.com.

Stressed out moms love places where they can relax while the kids play. She might enjoy a membership to , where she can visit with friends or take a class while the kids play or get her a punch card to Woodinville’s , where the kids can roam free in a monitored play area while she gets to surf the net and enjoy a hot beverage.

Get her a gift card to the Salish Lodge’s Spa in Snoqualmie and she can enjoy a day of spa treatments and long soaks in the spa’s beautiful soaking pools. May is “Month for Moms” at the Spa, and if you book a Month for Moms special package, she’ll be entered to win a spa package that includes a 50-minute massage, a luxurious robe and matching slippers. More information on the spa’s website. 

Chatty

I love the iPhone in an OtterBox I got recently for my birthday.  Multi-tasking moms love the millions of apps, including ones like Angry Birds that keep the kids entertained during traffic jams. The tech-savvy employees of the Verizon stores in Bellevue, Redmond and Issaquah will be happy to help her pick the phone and accessories that best meets her needs and transfer her current cell account and contacts to her new gadget. 

Crafty

A gift card to Ben Franklin in Redmond is a great gift for an artistic mom.  For super brownie points, give her a gift card to sign up for this fall's Journalfest, held in Port Townsend from Oct. 26 to 30, while you wrangle the kiddos for few days. 

World-Class Cook

If she enjoys cooking, a gift card from Sur La Table is sure to please.  The store has three locations, Pike Place Market, at  and in .

Want to really score some serious points? Toss your offspring to grandma on a Saturday, pack her a bag and tell her you are just taking her shopping at Sur La Table in Kirkland. When you are done with the shopping spree, announce that all that looking at pots made you hungry and stroll over to the Heathman Hotel.

Grab a glass of wine at Trellis, the hotel's acclaimed restaurant and then announce "I think we should spend the weekend here." Purchase the Spa and Stay package, and you’ll both enjoy one hour massages, a complimentary Argosy Cruise and you can even take a bike ride together for up to four hours on Swobo Urban bikes – helmets provided.

If that doesn’t make you both feel more like playful partners and less pooped-out parents, I don’t know what will.