Mother's Day Sweepstakes Winner: Brunch Was 'Fantastic!'

Meet our winner Heidi Boutros.

One very happy Patch reader won a Mother's Day Breakfast Bag courtesy of Society Fair in Old Town Alexandria. Heidi Boutros, of Old Town Alexandria, won the breakfast bag as a prize for Patch's "Memories of Mom" contest. Heidi had such a positive experience with the breakfast bag that she returned for seconds: "The brunch bag was fantastic," she wrote to Patch. "All the food was really fresh, and the dressing they made for the salad was delicious! My mom, my brother, my husband and I all really enjoyed the meal.     "In fact, my husband and I liked Society Fair so much that we returned the next day for cappuccinos. We have very high standards for our coffee, and we were so pleased with the drinks the barista made for us. I'm sure we will …

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Last-Minute Mother's Day: How to Give Her a Decadent Brunch — Free

You could win a free Mother's Day breakfast bag from Society Fair in Old Town Alexandria.

Sunday is Mother's Day, the one day out of the year when moms everywhere are celebrated. Why not surprise Mom with a decadent Mother's Day breakfast, especially when you can do it for free just by telling the world how great she is? Enter Patch's Memories of Mom sweepstakes to win a Mother's Day Breakfast Bag courtesy of Society Fair in Old Town Alexandria, valued at $85.  Society Fair's Mother's Day Breakfast Bag includes:  The breakfast bag feeds four, perfect for the whole family. To enter, comment below with your favorite Mother's Day memory. If you have photos, share them by clicking "Upload Photo and Video." Photos count as a bonus entry. The contest closes Friday at 3 p.m. The winner will be selected at random and emailed Friday …

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Kim

7:12 pm on Saturday, May 11, 2013

And how lucky she is to have such a loving mother-in-law. Happy Mothers Day to both of you!   more ›

Greater Alexandria's Best Mom: Lucy Lyons Willis

Local Mom wins Patch's "Best Mom in Greater Alexandria" contest.

Therapist, mentor, chef, taxi driver, business manager, tutor, personal assistant — and sometimes that's just on a Monday. Moms have it tough. In the weeks leading up to Mother's Day, Patch asked for photos of your mom along with some info about why she deserves to be called the "Best Mom in Greater Alexandria. The winner of the 2012 contest: Lucy Lyons Willis. Her daughter, Tanya, told Patch she's lucky to have her mom. See all the entries here. Happy Mother's Day Lucy and all local moms.

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Creative Moms Deserve the Best Tech Tools

Whether your mom is a designer, a photographer, artist or moviemaker--the right tools are often the best gifts

As a mom myself, I generally don't recommend getting tech tools as Mother's Day gifts. Seriously, unless mom specifically requests a new vacuum cleaner, socket set or ironing board, she want gifts that are more personal and less task-oriented. Giving her a present that allows her to further her skills, or discovering new means of expression can be the most meaningful gift you can give. There are many non-technical tools that can help her develop her creative side, of course (flowers and a card), but as more and more artistic expression is digital, giving the right gift means looking to technology. Here are some great ideas for creatives of all sorts--mom or not. For the Photographer While a digital SLR would be an ideal gift for someone …

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This Week's Weather: Partly Cloudy with Highs in Mid-70s

Chances for rain mainly on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Northern Virginia residents will make do this week with partly cloudy days and chances for rain and thunderstorms before hitting the weather jackpot on Friday. Temperatures this week will dance around 75 degrees, the average high for May in Northern Virginia. On Monday, The Weather Channel predicts a high of 73 degrees, increasing to 76 on Tuesday, and 74 on Wednesday with that threat of rain. Temperatures will dip into the high 60s or low 70s for the rest of the week. The area could see a few showers on Tuesday (30 percent chance) and Wednesday (40 percent chance). Thunder and lightning could be part of the mix both days, according to The Capital Weather Gang. Friday may be sunny with a high of about 70 degrees, according to several …

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Gardener's Garden

Roses For Mom

When one bouquet is just not enough.

Nancy Burns has decided to retire from the Gardener’s Garden column so that she can spend more time in her garden, and with her husband and new cat. She has left a standard of garden advice which will be hard to follow, but as an equally passionate gardener, I look forward to being its caretaker, and will continue to share information on horticulture with you, including local gardening opportunities and sources. I am a master gardener, vice president of the Belle Haven Garden Club, chairwoman of the landscape committee at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, and author of the garden blog "Belle Haven Garden Maven."  Ideally, those of you who are similarly obsessed with your gardens will share your thoughts and tips with…

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Editor's Notebook

On Mother's Day: An Ode to Mother's Helpers

Remembering someone special this weekend.

Today's moms often squeeze in "outside" work along with raising their children. I was no different when we welcomed our daughter into the world 14 years ago. After she was born, I wanted to quit my job and devote all of my time to her. But economic reality meant keeping my job as a writer and editor, but cutting back on my hours. I immediately set about trying to find someone in our neighborhood who could come to our house and watch her when my husband and I were at work. It's not an easy thing to find someone whose hours are flexible and who has experience with infants. We found that person after placing an ad. Marguerite Craddock, a mother herself, was in her early 60s when she came over for an "interview." A native Arlingtonian, she had…

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