Mother's Day Brunch and Gift Ideas

Please, oh please--don't make a mess of the kitchen. We appreciate the leaden pancakes and orange juice spilled by children's hands, but we hate to tackle dried batter on the counters later.

Take us out to brunch, or at the very least, bring Mother's Day brunch home!

I am consistently amazed by the tasty and affordable "to-go" options at Brentwood's Fresh Market. Gorgeous roses ($7.99 a dozen!), plump blueberry muffins, specialty juices, Peet's Coffee--take your kids on a shopping trip and surprise Mom at home. Believe me, she'll love it!

--->If you'd like to gather the siblings and fete Mom on the town, here are a few good brunch restaurants near Nashville.

To the list above, I will add a new favorite: The Copper Kettle in Green Hills. Its location on Granny White Pike near Lipscomb makes it convenient to Brentwood families, too. This mom loved the buffet's goat cheese salad with roasted asparagus, but the men in the family will be amply fed by the carving station and the house-smoked salmon. Plus, kids 5 and under eat free.

I noticed that Stoveworks Restaurant at the Factory in Franklin is also hosting a special Mother's Day brunch from 10 to 2. They serve Southern food with live music.

The Nashville Symphony will be giving a free concert on Mother's Day evening. It's held at the Crockett Park amphitheatre in Brentwood. Bring a blanket, sparkling water and a basket of strawberries. Moms love a little culture!

--->Florists say that Mother's Day is their busiest holiday of the year! Don't count on FTD to do all the work. Send your mother a beautiful arrangement from our list of tasteful local florists.

Sleep is precious to moms. Why not let her sleep late (FREE) and celebrate with a picnic at Deerwood Arboretum? The thinking dad will stop by the Puffy Muffin on Saturday and pick up a cake or cupcakes to go. They're not just for birthdays, you know!

--->If you're running short on time, a convenient place to find Mother's Day gifts is in the Kroger shopping center on Franklin Rd. You should find plenty of mom-friendly gifts between Steinmart and TJ Maxx / Home Goods. How about a fresh new nightgown and robe for spring?