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Mother's Day: Five ways to make memories with mom this weekend

Here are a few Mother's Day ideas for making memories and not more clutter in the house.

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Raleigh Rose Garden
By
Sarah Lindenfeld Hall

I make it easy on my family on Mother's Day. I really just want some handmade cards; hugs and kisses; and a day off from any kind of cooking and cleaning.

My five-year-old really wants me to have an ice cream cake. So if one happens to be in the house this weekend, I'm happy to have a slice or three.

What I really don't want is anything that I can keep other than memories of a happy, relaxing day. When I look at the circulars that advertise the perfect Mother's Day gift, nothing entices. My kitchen already is cluttered with various gadgets. No thanks to jewelry. I'll pick out my own clothes. And, as I announced to my husband when we first started dating, I don't need flowers.

Of course, that doesn't help readers who are wondering what to do this weekend with the moms in their lives. So, here are a few Mother's Day ideas for making memories and not more clutter in the house.

Afternoon tea
I suspect reservations at local tea destinations are full for this weekend, but you can always set a date for a future weekend for you and mom. I reviewed some great afternoon tea options in the Triangle last year, including at the Carolina Inn, Washington Duke Inn, The Umstead and the Olde English Tea Room and Gift Shoppe.
A trip to a new, local bakery
Mom surely doesn't want to cook on Mother's Day. Why not pick up some pastries? I'm seriously a sucker for anything sweet and buttery. So I'm so thankful that, in the last couple of years, we've seen a flurry of new bakeries open up. Options include Yellow Dog Bread Company, Boulted Bread, Night Kitchen Bakehouse and Cafe and The Cupcake Shoppe in Raleigh. I haven't written about it yet, but LucetteGrace in downtown Raleigh has some out of this world pastries. In Durham, there's Rise and Monuts Donuts, among many others.
Visit a garden
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After those pastries, take a walk at one of the region's beautiful gardens. This time of year, they are a flurry of color. Duke Gardens in Durham has 55 acres of beautiful gardens, which my family loves to walk through. Kids might especially enjoy the Charlotte Brody Discovery Garden. The N.C. Botanical Garden in Chapel Hill has 430 acres to explore, including a fun play area for kids. The garden also has a free exhibit through Sunday called sLowlife, which features time-lapse movies showing plants as they sense and respond to their environment, according to a description. And JC Raulston Arboretum in Raleigh offers a variety of gardens. A free, one-hour tour is scheduled for 2 p.m., Sunday. The Raleigh Rose Garden in Raleigh has 60 beds of roses and is a great destination for picnics.
N.C. Zoo trip
The N.C. Zoo in Asheboro is offering a special for moms this weekend. Bring a mom to the zoo on Sunday, Mother's Day 2015, and get a $2 discount off her admission with one paid general admission. You'll need to be sure to have the coupon from the zoo's website with you. New and newer offerings this season include Dino World with animatronic dinosaurs, a 4D Spongebob Squarepants movie, the new polar bear habitat and the KidZone play area. It's all about 90 minutes from the Triangle.
Day trip the beach
You've probably said it yourself: We're lucky to live so close to the beach. So, why not take mom this weekend? Wrightsville Beach and Wilmington are popular day trips from the Triangle. If the beach isn't your thing, you could check out destinations such as the Fort Fisher Aquarium or downtown Wilmington for a carriage ride or a visit to the railroad museum. I also like heading to Topsail Island for the day where you can find a great beach and a center for sea turtles. We usually pack lots of food to keep the costs down.

However you spend it, I hope you have a wonderful Mother's Day!

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