Home is Where Mom's Heart Is

As I reflect back on past Mother's days, I can remember the struggle of deciding what gift to get for mom. There were always the standards: jewelry, or flowers, or perfume, or the ever-popular hand-made card. And though, of course,"the thought is what counts" with mom, I think, in my case, these gifts missed the mark a bit. What my mom always wanted, and still does, is a beautiful home. Last year, my father had the kitchen remodeled for mother's day--something she'd been wanting for years. Many of the trinkets and gadgets I gave her as a child are now lost or broken. So as her grown daughter, I am now thinking of ways to give my mom a more lasting gift, and something that she really wants. If you are stuck looking for a last-mintute gift for mother's day this year, consider offering her your services (or paying a professional) to help with home improvements--painting a room, refinishing the patio, or landscaping the yard. These are gifts that add value to mom's most important asset, and they are sure to please. So if you haven't decided on a gift yet, get creative, and give you mom a beautiful home for mother's day.

Pam Wells for Nolting Real Estate

Savor

Recently I hosted a small dinner with friends at Savor on Lindell (please click the title above to see the Savor website). We really enjoyed this 1 year old restaurant. The space is incredible--luxurious rooms with fireplaces, a gigantic bar, a private wine celler that seats 16. I think Savor is the coolest new space among St. Louis restaurants.

More importantly, the food was outstanding. Savor divides its menu into 4 sections from which the diner can mix and match--Far East, Near East, the Americas and Europe. On this particular evening, I paired a seafood risotto with lamb tagine (an indian stew atop pearl couscous.) The meal was truly flawless. Our service was excellent. The wine list had a number of decent choices by the glass -- I'm forced to be a "by the glass" wine drinker because of my "I'll only drink Reisling" wife.

Check out Savor.