Mother's DaySS.May5

TRAVEL

Amy Czettisch likes to throw a party.And her living space lends itself to en-tertaining. The open-concept house sheshares with her architect husband, Da-vid, and 15-month-old son Asher allowsadults and children to mix and mingle.

“A good party also takes training interms of timing. And we’re honing ourchef skills. Roasting a good chickentakes practice,” Czettisch, 32, says.When it comes to hosting a guest listpopulated with little ones, she recom-mends putting out all the food anddrinks at once, buffet style, because ev-erybody is on different schedules. “Witha lot of people there’s no structure. Youjust keep refilling the plates. And youalso don’t try andaccommodate allthe different di-etary needs be-cause parents willtake care of that.”

Go-to hostessgift to give:

“We often bringhomemade gra-

nola. And I love Weck jars from Crateand Barrel for that. They’re glass can-ning jars with a seal but no screw capthat can rust. I add a little olive-woodscoop tied with a ribbon and you’ve got anice gift.”

Dream Mother’s Day itinerary:“Hanging out with Asher and David,

going to the Red Rooster on Broadviewfor coffee, then taking a break in thepark and going to Belong Café at theBrickworks before exploring the trails.Finally, coming home and have a familynap—all before noon.”

Hostess tip:“We always use cloth napkins and we

don’t save the ‘good’ stuff. We try to useour crystal glasses, steak knives and vin-

tage plates as much aspossible because itmakes for an overall,nicer experience.”

Mingling is easy at AmyCzettisch’s parties, even with15-month-old Asher in tow.

ALVARO GOVEIA FOR THE TORONTO STAR

For the hostess

IN BLOOM Banana Republicflower brooch cuff, $74,bananarepublic.gapcanada.ca

SOFT SERVE Bookhou linen screenpressed napkins, $28 each,shopbookhou.com

DULY NOTEDRed Boxpersonalizedletterpressnote cards,price upon request,creativeredbox.com

CROWD PLEASER HomeSensebeverage dispenser, $70, homesense.ca

LIGHTING UP Illume"C" Monogram Votivecandle, $10, indigo.ca

For this law clerk and new mother,Mother’s Day has always been a big,family affair. “We used to take all of themothers in our family out for breakfastand there would be nearly 20 of us,”Melissa Lall says.

Now that she’s recently returned towork, a full day with her daughter, Mi-kayla, is a rare pleasure. Besides loggingquality time with her husband, daugh-ter and close-knit family, Lall, 27, admitsto being excited about receiving some-thing tangible this Mother’s Day.

“I’m really looking forward to thecard,” she says. “I keep all my cardsbecause, for me, they come from theheart. My mother and father alwayswrite beautiful messages in them. My

sister adds a poem. And I know myhusband searches for hours to find theright one. They’re not only cards to me.They’re valuable memories.”

Best back-to-work advice:“Although there was a week of tears,

you have to know it’s for the best. Mi-kayla learned how to be independentand to interact with other children. AndI feel it brought us closer together. Theway she looks and smiles at me nowwhen I come home makes my day.”

Her support system:“The first week [after Mikayla was

born], my parents made sure I got therest I needed by helping out. And myhusband was great—he wouldtake charge and tell me whathe thought was best, and hewas right ... sometimes.”

Making memories:“I can’t wait to get hand-

drawn Mother’s Day cards orsomething made by Mikayla. ”

New mom Melissa Lall, 27, with daughter Mikayla, 1. “I can’t wait to get hand-drawn Mother’s Day cards.”


For the new mom

CARRY ALL Rootsleather bag, $188,canada.roots.com

PUSH PRESENTPaloma Picasso’mom’ pendent insterling silver,$220, tiffany.com

WELLCONNECTEDSamsungGalaxy 4G Sphone,$299.99 nocontract,mobilocity.ca

KISSING UPBenefit UltraPlush lipgloss inDandelion,$18,sephora.com,murale.ca

IT’S A WRAPAttitude Jay Manuelscarf, $25, sears.ca

Treating mom to a little something next Sundayis easy, no matter what her taste. Ingrie Williamstalks to six mothers about their special day

ON

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SATURDAY, MAY 5, 2012 SECTION V

Good scentsThe best new fragrances thisspring, perfect for Mom V6

MOTHER’S DAYGIFT GUIDE

DISCOVER GORGEOUS GIFTSFOR MOTHER’S DAY SEE PAGE 3

paying attention to their style andcomments so I [can] give some-thing that the person has men-tioned they’ve liked in the past ornoticed in my store. For example, Igave a woman who helped us get adaycare spot a tea towel that read:‘Today is a good day.’ I want gifts tobe personal and special.”

As the owner of La Merceria, a bou-tique that sells carefully selectedhome accessories, Sandra Rojas-Chinni, admits she isn’t the easiestperson to buy a gift for.

After her wedding in 2005, Rojas-Chinni, 35, who runs the 90-square-metre café and home bou-tique with her husband, Marcelo,exchanged some practical weddinggifts for a full set of coveted JasperConran dishes from The ConranShop. “I was obsessed with them,”she says.

Now as mother to 2-year-old Joa-quin, she’s discovered that shewants less—“more quality, invest-ment pieces that make life easier,”she says. “I want to be surroundedby beautiful and comfortable ob-jects at home. Then I can focus onmy family and what matters.”

Her perfect Mother’s Day: "All play and no work. I want it to

be the three of us at a farm orcottage, somewhere relax-ing. Our life is so hec-tic with the store, soI’d wish for just oneday to get away andhave down time.”

Her tried-and-

trusted favourites:"Books on decorating and

cooking; spa gift certificates—which I love because

I’m all aboutpampering."

Her go-to giftfor others:

“I’m always

Lisa Milne doesn’t justdabble in dirt. This self-

employed mother of two(Lark, 16, and Sage, 6) hasa background in horti-cultural care and con-siders gardening a life-

time activity. “Even in childhood,

chores on the weekend in-volved gardening,” she says.

Milne has turned everything,from a discarded kitchen sink

to her son’s asphalt school-yard, into green space. Sheeven had a stint planting

sunflowers throughoutthe city.

“I see gardening as a

micro-macro activity,” Milne, 48,says. “Sometimes, it’s good to justlook at the tiniest spot of open soiland put a seed in it. Other times, it’sgood to stand back and look at thewhole picture.”

Despite her long-honed expertise,her approach and aesthetic are re-laxed. “My garden is pretty free-form. I just buy what I like andfigure out where it will grow best. Ifsomething does really well, I’ll getmore of it. And if something perish-es, well, c’est la vie.”

Her ideal Mother’s Day:“In the garden, of course. Some-

body would make dinner so I couldfinish gardening, then I’d have alovely cocktail and a bath.”

What’s in her garden:“Tulips. I think it’s worth it to buy

a hundred bulbs, just to see whathappens. I also love buddleia, ashrub that attracts monarch but-terflies. But I also have sculptureand plastic dinosaurs. When myson didn’t want to play with themany more I took them outside.They’re very popular with all theother kids in the neighbourhood.”

What’s to love: “Gardening is spiritual, artistic,

good exercise and neighbourly. I’vemet a lot of people because of mygarden.”

Lisa Milne gets help from Sage, 6, and furry friends to tend the garden.“Squirrels are just little gardeners helping with relocation,” says Milne.


HOME SWEETHOME Crate &Barrel driftwoodbirdhouse, $44.95,crateandbarrel.ca

FANTASY LANDCB2 wire haregarden sculpture,$80, cb2.com

SHADY LADY(inset): Reitmanssun hat, $18,reitmans.com

DIG ITHomeSensegarden toolset, $10 each,homesense.ca

V2⎮TORONTO STAR SATURDAY, MAY 5, 2012 ON ON1

>>MOTHER’S DAY GIFT GUIDE

WALK THIS WAY J.Crew leatherballet flats, $183, jcrew.com

For the hard-to-please

DESIGNER DRYING Tea towel by AlannaCavanagh, $14.95, exclusively thebay.com

Sandra Rojas-Chinni and Joaquin, 2, relax outside her shop, La Merceria.ALVARO GOVEIA FOR THE TORONTO STAR

EAT UP Canvasflatwear, $29/fourpiece set, lamerceria.ca

MAGIC POTION Byredo ParfumsGypsy Water Eau de Parfum, 100ml,$230, exclusively holtrenfrew.com

CASE STUDY russell+hazel leather clutch portfolio, $129, lamerceria.ca

For the gardener

DRINK UP Indigo watering can,$9.75, indigo.ca

ON ON1 SATURDAY, MAY 5, 2012 TORONTO STAR⎮V3

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When she was a child, Dré Deewould watch her mother turn a ge-neric can of broth into somethingakin to cold curried lemon soup. “Itwould freak out all my friends be-cause it was so unorthodox. But Iremember feeling that was a coolway to make a common pantry sta-ple exotic,” she says.

Now a mother herself, Dee, 42, afreelance editor, has likewise be-come an expert at savvy food prep-aration. “What makes me happy isto thrill someone with a flavourthey haven’t tasted or an interestingway to cook something they’ve nev-er thought of,” Dee says.

Before she had children, she hadtime to create intricate, crowd-pleasing appetizers. “I’d take vaca-tion days to prepare rolls, tartletsand things tied with chives for aparty,” she says. Now, to speed

things up, she relies on her kitchen-gadget collection, which boasts twocompletely stocked knife blocks,various containers of gourmet ne-cessities stashed in the basementand a professional mixer that sits inher living room (because of a lack ofcounter space and because it’s tooheavy to lug downstairs). And, she’salways on the hunt for the nextmeal-changing tool. “I have somany so-called essentials and needthem at the ready all the time,” shesays, laughing. “And if I don’t have it,I want it.”

Her secret ingredient:“Bitters to splash into soups add a

nice pucker. Some have to be or-dered from the States, but I’ll dowhatever it takes to get them."

Her ideal Mother’s Day:“My daughter, stepson and hus-

band hanging out with me in thekitchen, making a whole bunch offood all day and then eating it all,

together. Oh, and a morning trip toNella Cutlery, kitchen bargain-hunting at HomeSense or browsingChinatown for cool gadgets and anew wok.”

Dine-in or dine-out:“Food types who simply know

where the best restaurants arearen’t foodies—they’re restaurant-ies. But I am intensely happy thatthe new Pizza Libretto is atwo-minute walk from myhouse—because I loveNeapolitan pizza.”

Dré Dee, 42, hopes to pass on her adventurous approach to cooking to her five-year-old daughter, Marlo.ALVARO GOVEIA FOR THE TORONTO STAR

For the foodie

FAB FLAVOURGrapevineTrading SpiceTravel Kit, $28,indigo.ca.

REQUIREDREADINGLa TartineGourmande:Recipes For AnInspired Life byBeatrice Peltre,$35, indigo.ca

INGRIE WILLIAMSSPECIAL TO THE STAR

TERRIFICALLYTUNISIANWilliam-Sonomahand-paintedtagine, $69.95,williams-sonoma.ca

ON THE MARKET Searsburlap shopping basket,$150 for a set of 2,sears.ca

A CUT ABOVEVictorinox SwissArmy steakknives, $8 each,swissarmy.com

Miu’s no longer fit my feet afterCole was born. They taunted mesitting on the shelf so they had togo. But, it gave me an excuse to buyanother pair.”

Her Mother’s Day wish list:“Jumping on our bikes [Cole

rides with her mother] andhaving a picnic brunch onthe island. We’d be joinedby my friends and theirbeautiful little babes andspend the day with ournew families, together.Oh, and I’ve been dy-ing for a pair of blackdiamond stud ear-rings but I would alsolove a new kitchencounter. That wouldmake my mother’sday—or year!”

Future Mother’s Day:“I’ll pass on my mother’s

diamond ring to Cole. Sincethey didn’t get a chance tomeet, this is a way for her spiritto be remembered.”

In Sandy Kim’s expansive walk-incloset—almost a floor of her house(the space includes a bathroom)—vintage designer pieces like LanvinOxfords sit next to labels like IsabelMarant, Stella McCartney andEquipment Femme.

With such a collection, there islittle likelihood Kim, 40, will em-barrass daughter Cole, 21 months,with her fashion sense. As a maga-zine art director, Kim’s sartorialstyle can be wrapped up as design-er-casual. “After Cole was born, itwas all about comfort and ease, butIstill wanted to look good,” she says.Trading in her sky-high Miu Miu’sfor Frye biker boots, her styleevolved to a more laid-back kind ofchic, but still magazine-worthy.

“Now that she’s older,” Kim says ofher daughter, “I’m really starting torebuild my closet. But I’ve got com-petition. We share the same love ofnothing-too-precious. And she’s gotthis thing for hats.”

And what lessons does Kim planto teach Cole about playing dress-up in real life? “Go with your gutand don’t be afraid to do what youfeel is comfortable.”

Fashion regret:“That my favourite pair of Miu

It took some time for Sandy Kim, 40, to convince Cole, 21 months, to wearthis Diane Von Furstenburg for babyGap dress.


For the fashion hound

PERFECT TIMING Toy Watchmetallic chain link watch, $225,toywatchcanada.com

PLUSH LIFEDwellLabyrinthpillow inCitrine, $120,thebay.com

PAGE TURNER Advanced Style byAri Seth Cohen $40, indigo.ca

EYE CANDY KayTran Aiden tortoiseshell sunglasses, $295, kaytran.com



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My mother never wore Chanel No. 5, Guer-lain’s Shalimar or Nina Ricci’s L’Air duTemps—the classic perfumes most of myfriends associate with the previous genera-tion.

Instead, Shiseido’s woodsy Saso and, later,the Japanese cosmetics house’s spicy Femini-nité du Bois graced my mother’s bedroomvanity.

She barely wore them, though, preferring tosave her wrist-spritzing for special occasionswith family and friends or for black-tie eventswith my father. But when she did spray a littleon, her chin would tilt up, her shoulderswould arch back and, somehow, even herlipstick would look rosier as she’d lean in tokiss my cheek before sashaying out the frontdoor. I loved watching perfume transformher from an everyday peanut-butter-cookie-baking mom into a sophisticated, CharlotteBrontë-novel-dissecting lady.

It was inspiring.“Fragrance gives us the confidence to show

different sides of our personalities,” saysLewis Peacock, a scientist for Proctor & Gam-ble’s Prestige fragrance design team. He ex-plains that we select the types of perfumes wewear based on how they make us feel. “Whenwe want something soft and reassuring ordramatic and sexy, we will gravitate to theperfumes that provoke those feelings.”

Scent defines us. Just like our favourite skin-ny jeans, a sleek little black dress or a pair ofToms can affect our mood, so too does ourchoice of fragrance. “It is scientifically proventhat fragrances have a direct impact on ouremotions and the way we feel on any par-ticular day,” says Yosser Zmitri, brand direc-tor for L’Oréal Fragrances.

Warm and spicy-smelling oriental per-fumes, like Estée Lauder’s Bronze GoddessCapri ($68 at Sears), Prada’s Infusion d’IrisEau de Parfum Absolue ($105 for 50 ml, atdepartment stores) and Thierry Mugler’s An-gel Acqua Chic ($60 for 85 ml, exclusively atthe Bay), “tend to be more sophisticated andrepresent sexiness and confidence,” Zmitrisays.

When we want to feel feminine and “con-jure feelings of love,” we gravitate towardsfloral scents like Elizabeth Arden’s Pretty($63 for 50 ml, at the Bay), Gucci’s Flora byGucci Gorgeous Gardenia ($87 for 50 ml, atselect Bay and Holt Renfrew stores) andRalph Lauren’s Big Pony 1 ($65 for 50 ml, atthe Bay). Alternately, zesty, bite-y, citrusblends will energize; sweet, pastry-like, gour-mand fragrances can tantalize; and soothing,herbal, aromatic perfumes help us to relax.

“Fragrance is the final, invisible, finishingtouch,” adds Peacock. “It can provide com-fort, it can be provocative and dramatic, and itcan make people turn their heads as youenter a room.”

As for my mother, well, she still spritzes forfancy occasions. I like to think that when shedoes, it reminds her of who she is: one of akind.

Mom nose best. Let her choose between (clockwise, from left) Prada’s Infusion d’Iris Eau de Parfum Absolue, Jimmy Choo’s Eau de Toilette, Gucci’s Flora by Gucci Gorgeous Gardenia Eau deToilette, Elizabeth Arden’s Pretty, Burberry’s Burberry Brit Summer Edition and Diane Von Furstenberg’s Eau de Parfum.

ROB KINGHORN FOR THE TORONTO STAR

Scent of a womanNavigate the fragrant arrayof perfumes on the marketADRIANA ERMTERSPECIAL TO THE STAR

DO buy subtler, softer chypre perfumes.These types of fragrances start with a lightsqueeze of citrus before opening into afloral bouquet that mellows into a musky,mossy-smelling finish—like Dior’s Les Cre-ations de Monsieur Dior Diorling ($107 for50 ml, at Holt Renfrew) and Burberry’s BodyMist Limited Edition ($70 for 85 ml, at theBay). These are light and have a barely-there quality that makes them easy to wear.

DO wear fruity fresh fragrances, such asNina Ricci’s Fantasy ($68 for 50 ml at Shop-pers Drug Mart) and Jimmy Choo’s epony-mous Eau de Toilette ($63 for 50 ml, at HoltRenfrew) when it’s hot outside. “They arebright and airy and give us the feeling ofendless sunshine and lightness,” Peacocksays.

DON’T be heavy-handed when applyingparfums and eau de parfums like Diane VonFurstenberg’s woody floral Eau de Parfum($85 for 1.7 oz, at Sephora) and Valentino’s

cloudy bouquet Valentina Parfum ($96 for50 ml, at Sephora). They are concentratedscents, containing an average of 18- to 20-per-cent alcohol, so a little goes a long way.“Apply it behind the knees,” advises Pea-cock. “Then the fragrance will not be full-on,but will gently drift upwards.”

DO spray lighter formulations like an eaude toilette, which contains 14-per-cent alco-hol, or a body mist that has only 5 per cent.Swarovski’s Aura Collector Light ($125 for50 ml, at Holt Renfrew) and Philosophy’sSummer Grace ($52 for 60 ml, at Sephora)are floral scents perfect for the warmweather. Spray into the air and walk throughthe cloud. “It will cover your skin, clothesand hair evenly, and help it to last longer,”Peacock says.

DON’T be intimidated when shopping forperfume. Websites like osmoz.com andbasenotes.net let you explore brands,scents, trends and more, uninterrupted.

FRAGRANCE SHOPPING: DOS AND DON’TS



FINEST FLOWERSCoriander Girl

Boasting bouquets for every bud-get, Parkdale’s Coriander Girl offershandpicked, locally grown arrange-ments. Coriander’s floral designerKerri Peters shares her favouriteMother’s Day moment: “My hus-band and son found a glass flip-toppasta container, tied ribbon aroundthe top and filled it with the mostbeautiful flowers.”

The shop is open Sunday, but callin advance for a custom-made bou-quet.

coriandergirl.com1604 Queen St. W. 416-532-3333

Quince Flowers If you’re planning a special deliv-

ery from this Riverside favourite,place your floral orders by Thurs-day.

Phone for Mother’s Day specials.quinceflowers.com660 Queen St. E.416-594-1414

San Remo Florist This Corso Italia boutique is

North Toronto’s go-to florist. Theywill deliver on Sunday but the shop

itself is closed. Bouquets must be ordered before

noon on Saturday.sanremoflorist.ca1151St. Clair Ave. W. 416-652-1822

TASTY TREATSNadège

Home to what has been describedas Toronto’s best macaroon, Na-dège Patisserie is a must-stop shopfor Mother’s Day specials such asheart-shaped cherry croissants($3.50), the 12-piece Je t’aime mac-aroon box set ($25) and, at theYonge Street location, the classicbox of chocolates (9 pieces for$22.50, 16 for $40). Owner NadègeNourian’s favourite Mother’s Daymoment: Last year, some childrencame into the store with baskets tofill up with pastries for their ma-man. “It was adorable!” she says.

For more specials, follow Nadègeon Facebook.

nadege-patisserie.com780 Queen St. W.416-368-2009

1099 Yonge St.416-968-2011

Ambiance ChocolatLast year’s heart-shaped Passion

Fruit Cream Bonbons are back,along with other special treats foryour mother. Visit Ambiance Cho-colat’s website for Mother’s Day giftboxes and store hours.

ambiancechocolat.ca753-A Queen St. E.416-406-2462

Soma ChocolatemakerLet Soma mix up a sweet selection

of your mother’s favourite pralines,truffles, cookies and drinking choc-olates. The King Street location isclosed on Sunday, so order in ad-vance or go to the Distillery loca-

tion.somachocolate.comDistillery District55 Mill St.416-815-7662

443 King St. W.416-599-7662

CHOICEST CARDSKid Icarus

This Kensington Market screen-print studio and emporium offersits own letterpress cards and post-ers as well as unique gifts, like OldWeston’s handcrafted acorn neck-laces. Feeling creative? The shopalso stocks a collection of stampsthat you can use to customize yourown greeting. Kid Icarus is open at11 a.m. on Mother’s Day for last-minute shopping.

kidicarus.ca75 Nassau St.416-977-7236

The Papery With locations in Yorkville and at

Yonge and St. Clair, this stationerystore has everything you need towrap up your Mother’s Day cele-

brations and more.thepaperytoronto.com124 Cumberland St.416-962-3916

1424 Yonge St.416-968-0706

Type Yes, it’s a bookstore, but Type also

offers a collection of well-curatedcards and gifts. And what motherdoesn’t like to curl up with a goodread?

typebooks.ca883 Queen St. W 416-366-8973

427 Spadina Rd.416-487-8973

BREAKFAST ANYONE?Sometimes letting mother sleep in

is the greatest gift of all. Make herbreakfast in bed. For a goof-proofpetit déjeuner, start with fresh andtasty ingredients from these estab-lishments.BEST BREADSPain Perdu

Wychwood’s bewitching Basquebakery offers up a fantastic selec-tion of fresh and golden breads,viennoiseries, and biscuits. Scorebonus breakfast points for bringinghome some quiche or duck confit.

736 St. Clair Ave. W. 416-656-7246

BEST BACONSanagan’s Meat Locker

A foodie favourite, Sanagan’s MeatLocker features locally sourced

meats (including wild boar bacon)hand cut on site in an historicbutcher shop. The store is located inthe heart of Kensington Market soyou can also buy eggs, potatoes andother breakfast fixings.

sanagansmeatlocker.com206 Baldwin St.416-593-9747

BEST BAGELSHaymishe Bagel Shop

Haymishe Bagel Shop offers anamazing array of gluten-free bakedgoods, including soft, chewy bagelssmeared with cream cheese, lox oregg salad. Open at 6 a.m. on Sunday,it’s worth an early drive to Bathurstand Lawrence to have your pick ofthe freshest bagels.

3031Bathurst St. 416-781-4212

BEST BREWS – TEATealish

With a selection of more than 130types of tea (including: black, green,white, herbal, oolong, rooibos andchai), you’re certain to find a cuppato please your momma.

tealish.com728 Queen St W.416-203-3301

BEST BREWS – COFFEETe Aro Coffee Roasters

Either pick up a cappuccino to goor be your own barista and brewyour mother a pot of aromatic cof-fee from Leslieville’s Te Aro. Thisartisanal beanery buys only in-sea-son, direct-trade beans and roaststhem in-house, meaning your es-presso will always be fresh and fla-vourful.

te-aro.ca 983 Queen St E.1-877-558-3276

Best of the classicsRhonda Riche on the best flowers, cards, chocolate and breakfast foods

BEST OF FLORALS: Coriander Girl

BEST OF CARDS: Kid Icarus

BEST OF BREAD: Pain Perdu

BEST OF BAGELS: Haymishe Bagel Shop

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For those still wondering what togive their mothers for their specialday, may we suggest simple colourtherapy?

A mani-pedi may not be that origi-nal but pampering rarely disap-points.

Here are a few places where yourmother’s nails will be in good hands.

Lux SpaAt this nail bar, manicures are a

full 45 minutes and use of an exfoli-ating scrub is considered an essen-tial. “We’re really into pampering,”says Cathy Crispo Mancini, presi-dent and CEO of Lux Spa. “We hostclients—coffee and tea are offered,we’ll grab you any magazine youwant. We go above and beyondwhat you expect.”

What you’ll find: Waterless mani-cure (mani-Lux, $38), where soak-ing is a no-no. “Water expands thenail and it will eventually shrinkback when it’s dry, which couldcause colour shrinking and buck-ling,” says Crispo Mancini. Instead,a lavender antiseptic spray is usedto sanitize while a cuticle softenernourishes the cuticles.

Most-requested colours: Pastels inall shades, from lavender to mauveto mint. When the warmer weather

comes, corals and bright shades areexpected to be in demand.

Mother’s Day special: None. Butthe salon’s regular Sunday pamper-ing service of high tea—scones withDevonshire cream and cham-pagne—will work.

lux-spa.comLux Spa Yorkville25 Bellair St.416-921-1680Lux Spa Downtown211Yonge St, mezzanine level416-367-8414

Tips Nail BarTo experience Tips Nail Bar is like

being at home and getting a mani-cure-pedicure, but professionally.“It’s a place where you can comeand chat with staff who will treatyou like an old friend,” says owner

Leeanne Colley. Colley is a trainednail technician who can be foundpainting nail art at the salon or atmagazine photo shoots. If you arefond of the artistic quality of a re-verse half-moon or complex decaland prefer a space inspired by liv-ing-room décor, this is the nail barfor you.

What you’ll find: OPI Axxium Gelpedicures ($70) and manicures($50) which offer strength and du-rability to weak or peeling nails;UV-hybrid nail colour by a varietyof brands (manicure, $40, pedicure,$60). Both types don’t harm the nailand can last up to three weeks with-out chipping. Each layer (you’llneed three) is cured under a UVlight for two minutes only, meaningbusy women can get fabulous digitsin a flash.

Most requested colours: Coralreds, bright oranges and variousshades of blue.

tipsnailbar.ca844a Danforth Avenue416-405-8477

The 10 SpotTouting itself as the anti-spa, this

beauty bar doesn’t feature softlighting, whale music or white,fluffy robes. Owner Kristen Woodfavours a more open-concept, chat-with-your-girlfriend and laugh-out-loud approach.

“Manicures and pedicures areabout having fun — it’s very socialhere versus an individual pamper-ing experience,” Wood says.

What you’ll find: Their own nailpolish line, Get Nailed (22 shades,$12), that echo the salon’s cheeky

and fun vibe, and their microbeadmanicure ($42 for a full set), con-sidered an event-worthy look thatlasts for only two days before thebeads start falling off ($34 for anaccent nail on each hand).

“We use tiny Kraft beads and ap-ply them to the nail — about 100 canfit onto one,” she says.

Most requested colours: Teal (Tif-fany-box blue) to seafoam, peachand coral and vibrant neon hues.

Mother’s Day special: Purchase apedicure for your mother and your-self and they’ll throw in a Mini-Mani.

the10spot.com749 Queen St. W1402 Queen St. E, studio D11402 Queen St. E, studio C4416-915 1010

Look out red! Nailshades this season areturning their tips up atthis tried-and-true hueand opting for boldsplashes of teal, pastelsand neon yellow. (Toprow: OPI Nail Lacquer inDutch ’Ya Just Love OPI,$9.95, Bourjois Paris 10Day No Chip Nail Polish#26, $8.99, RevlonColorStay Longwear NailEnamel in PassionatePink, $8.95, Chanel LeVernis Nail Colour inMay, 27; middle row:Estée Lauder Pure ColorNail Lacquer in MoltenLava, $25, Anna Sui NailColor (part of a set)#500, $26, Chanel LeVernis Nail Color inHoliday, $27, OPI NailLacquer in Call MeGwen-ever, $9.95;bottom row: Joe FreshNail Polish in Canary, $4,OPI Nail Lacquer inThanks a WindMillion,$9.95, Joe Fresh NailPolish in Lime Juice, $4,Thakoon for NARS NailPolish in Koliary, $21.

ROB KINGHORN FOR THE TORONTO STAR

BuffandpolishGive your mother thegift of shine and colourTRACEY HO LUNGSPECIAL TO THE STAR

Sterling silver charms from $30

Royal Bank Plaza200 Bay Street • Phone: 416.360.1467

Make her day

SPECIAL

Buy the PANDORA Cherished Mother’s Gift Set (onePANDORA clasp bracelet, two sunburst clips, the MOM

charm, and a charm valued at $40 or less) for $230.*

PANDORA Gift Set • April 26th–May 13th

*Before taxes. Good while supplies last. See our store for details.

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Mother's DaySS.May5