That special day for that special woman

Mother’s Day is celebrated around the world to honor the heart of the family. It's a day is when children (and in many cases husbands) show their love and compassion for their mothers by giving them thoughtful gifts. Saudi Arabia celebrates Mother's Day on March 21, so mark your calendar! Arab News asked local mothers what they want the most on their day. Maha Bakr, mother of three girls, said she would rather spend some quality time with her kids over a good meal. “Every year my daughters give me expensive gifts — and I love each and everyone of them ­­— but the best part of that day is when they take me out to dinner and we talk all night,” she said. “They always take me out but on that exceptional day it makes me feel special and joyful." The Arab News team came up with a list of gift ideas especially for Mother’s Day. Most of the ideas can be found in Saudi stores and departments. Send the Spa to Her Make your mother feel good by scheduling a much-deserved spa treatment where mom can forget about her responsibilities for the day and give her hands and feet some special attention. Better yet: send the spa to her and let her experience a new level of relaxing right at home. Spa To Go in Jeddah is offering a SR500 Mother Day package that includes a Thai bath, hair threading and other treatments, a manicure, a pedicure and and facial. Tel: 0544408585 Say it With Fine Leather Branded handbags and wallets are always a safe choice for stylish and fashionable moms. Check out the latest Dior wallets made from high-grade soft leather. Add a touch of gold and you will win more than a smile from your beloved mother. Or you could go with a shiny and polished nude Chanel classic handbag. Although expensive, this handbag is worth every riyal. 18-Karats of Appreciation Damas is offering a special 18k gold necklace engraved with the word “Ummi” ("My Mother" in Arabic). The small and large pearls symbolize the mother and child while the string of diamonds indicates the continuous and unquestioning love of and for mom. The pendant has other precious stones that add more vibrancy and color to the pendant. Flower Power There’s a reason flowers are associated with Mother’s Day: you can’t go wrong giving a floral arrangement to your No. 1 fan. Flowers, especially simple rose arrangements, often have symbolic meaning. It’s wise to avoid red roses, which represent passion, or yellow roses, which hold various meanings, none of which are appropriate for mom. If you go with a rose arrangement, stick with pink, which represents love and femininity. Other good colors include white (purity) and gold (to tell your mom she’s precious). Better still: go with a tasteful arrangement from a professional. Your local flower shop can offer you various well-chosen options. Wrap Her Up in Style If jewelry isn't an option you can hardly go wrong with a colorful and stylish Hermes silk scarf from the Spring 2011 collection. Scent of a Woman Mothers tend to go classy when it comes to perfumes. Most of them are picky when it comes to their signature fragrance, so choosing the right scent is an acquired skill and not something for amateurs. If you don't know for sure, the classic Chanel No. 5 or Versace Bright Crystal are safe bets. Gifts to Do, Not to Give Being chas-poor around Mother's Day is no excuse. Why? Because most moms are sentimental and a foolproof gift is to do something for your mom on her special day. Getting up early and doing house chores is one option. Another is to spoil her by cooking, or taking care of the garden, or doing laundry — or all of the above.