For Mother’s Day there’s only one place in Newton where we can pick up frosted gingerbread “mom" cookies with pink and purple sprinkles, flower-shaped sugar cookies, petaled cupcakes, fruit tarts, heart-shaped cakes, and that’s just for starters. Celebrating its 70th anniversary this year, Antoine’s Pastry Shop in Nonantum is the grande dame of Newton bakeries. Mom Frances and her team are geared up for Mother’s Day, making sure that there are enough cakes, cookies, and tarts for moms all over Newton. 317 Watertown Street. Mon-Sat:7-6; Sun: 7-3.

A new outfit for spring? Count us in! Dear Duchess specializes in on-trend, wearable clothing that’s also moderately priced. Fashion-savvy owner Rachel Sciaba is in sync with local tastes, bringing in styles that elevate our everyday look without being over-the-top. Racks are loaded with classic yet current tops, pants, and dresses that can be dressed up or down—whether it’s a stylish short sleeve sweater dotted with flowers, trendy white wide-leg jeans, a metallic cross-body bag, or a new denim jacket. Not sure what mom wants? Grab a gift certificate and let her choose! 49 Union Street. Tues-Fri:10-5; Sat:10-4. Closed Sun & Mon.

Our favorite Mother’s Day gift? Hands down, framed photos of our family to perch on a bedside table or book shelf. Sure, we have plenty of digital photos on our phones, but there’s something special about a physical photograph to glance at as we walk by. For Mother’s Day, Newton small business owner and professional photographer Christine Demura is offering a specially-priced one hour family photo shoot for $299, with quick turn-around. Immediately following the session, Christine shares photos so families can select their favorites. The fee includes two 8x10 prints and four digital photos. Contact Christine to schedule your photo shoot to have them in time for Mother’s Day! The studio is located at 303 Auburn Street in Auburndale, and is open Tuesday-Saturday.

We’re always surprised when we run into Newton residents who have not been to Greentail Table in Nonantum. This retail shop, a Best of Boston Winner for Entertaining Essentials, does everything right— it’s easy to understand why it’s celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. A destination resource for modern tableware, home decor, and gifts for pretty much any occasion, merchandise is smartly curated and modestly priced.



For Mother’s Day there’s an online gift guide for picking out just the right gifts for all of the moms in your life, whether they’re nature lovers, home chefs, party throwers, or just could use a bit of pampering. Shop online or in-store. 343 Watertown St. Mon-Fri: 10-6; Fri: 10-5. Closed Sunday.

Little skin miracles happen at Newton Medical Aesthetics, a new med spa in Newton. For Mother’s Day this full service med spa is offering a special on GLO2 Facials—a technology-forward facial that cleanses, exfoliates, hydrates, and improves the overall quality of our skin. The result? Rejuvenated skin that’s dewy, glowing and glistening with zero downtime. We can put our best face forward for Mother’s Day with the help of Newton Medical Aesthetics, receiving a free GLO2 Neck & Decollette treatment with the purchase of a GLO2 Facial for $299 (the regular price for this package is $375.) 233 Needham Street.

The Body Center is a small Reformer Pilates studio that opened in Brookline in 2005 and expanded to a second location in West Newton in 2022. It’s low-key, bright, and welcoming—the perfect exercise studio to grab some “me time,” focus on fitness, and decompress. The studio offers leveled Pilates’ classes for newbies and those with more experience. It also recently added a low impact Cardio Pilates class for heart health, and a Pilates/Barre class which tones and strengthens while increasing mobility and balance. Group classes are kept small, and are held most mornings, over lunch, early evenings, and weekends, with private training sessions available as well. New to The Body Center? Try their value-priced new client specials to test the waters to see if the studio, and reformer Pilates, is right for you.There are two options for newbies: 2 classes for just $48 or 2 private sessions for $150. Located at 978 Watertown Street, with easy, drive-up parking out front.

Beth’s Chocolate in Newton Highlands is owned and operated by Newton resident and international award-winning Master Chocolatier Beth Kirsch, and is a local destination for small batch artisan chocolates at modest prices.

For Mother’s Day, Beth is stocked with lots of chocolatey options, including the Mother’s Day Bundle--a 15 piece box of assorted bonbons, a hand-painted Madagascar Raspberry Chocolate Bar, and a chocolate heart lollipop. And, even though Beth uses the finest quality French Valrhona chocolate in her designs, she’s conscious of keeping her chocolates affordable. The Mother’s Day Bundle is value-priced at $50.

Chocolates can be ordered online and either picked up in Newton Highlands or shipped. Mother’s Day orders for shipping must be placed by May 7, so they arrive on time. Of course, it’s always best to place orders early for the best selection.

It's hard to imagine flower bouquets more stunning than the ones created by the team at Derby Farm Flowers—it's no wonder they’ve graced the pages of Vogue Magazine. But this Newton Centre retail shop—tucked away in Piccadilly Square--is not your typical flower shop. The goal of owners Lucinda and Sonia is to fill homes and outdoor living spaces with beauty inspired by nature, carefully curating their large space with all of the just-the-right home accents, tableware, kitchen items, planters, outdoor lighting, houseplants and even French Fermob outdoor furniture. It’s like a secret garden and perfect for selecting just the right gifts for Mother’s Day. (It even has a sweet selection of jewelry inspired by nature.) 1280 Centre Street. Mon: 10-2; Tues-Sat: 10-5. Closed Sun.

After 52 years in business, Folklorica is still Newton's go-to boutique for special occasion gifts, and for Mother’s Day there are finds everywhere you look. Statement jewelry from artists like Chan Luu and Mabel Chong, stylish sun hats from Wyeth, one-of-a-kind colorful Namai artisan totes, luxurious spring scarves, and top-notch self-care goods from Apotheke are just some of Folklorica’s fashion-forward gifts. 61 Union Street. Mon-Sat: 10-6 Sundays in May: 12-4

For lovers of everything Italian, Market-Tiamo in Newton Centre has a Mother’s Day gift which is, once again, on the top of our want list. Newton mom, home cook, and devoted Market-Tiamo shopper, Lisa DeVito, has hand-picked her new fave Market-Tiamo products which she would ❤️ to receive on Mother’s Day. Package them up in a red logo’d Market-Tiamo shopping bag, and voila, your shopping is done. Here are Lisa’s picks:

Alessi Cheese Grater
Pinna Ricotta Montella Cheese
Alessi Pulcina Espresso Maker & Carraro Espresso Grounds
Alessi Wine Opener
Marramiero Abruzzo Doc Pecorino White Wine & Marramiero Inferi Red Wine
Italian Nutella
Baci Chocolates
Fragassi Passata Di Pomodoro Sauce
Penne ALL' Arrabbiata Pasta Seasoning
Cav. Giuseppe Cocco Pasta
Brioschi

Ryean Rad, owner of RAD Estate Buyers, has a keen eye for unusual jewelry that he knows will appeal to his customers. He purchases hard-to-find pieces with timeless style, offering them at reasonable prices at his retail shop in Newton Upper Falls’ Echo Bridge Mall. We won’t find the rings, pendants, bracelets, earrings and pins in Ryean’s shop anywhere else, making them truly special gifts for Mother’s Day. 38 Elliot Street. Tues-Sat: 11-4

No bakery does French macarons better than Woops. Their macarons come in a rainbow of vivid colors, each hinting at its unique flavor. Purple and gold honey lavender; pink strawberry lemonade; sunny yellow lemon meringue; and soft green pistachio macarons are just some of the options available. Macarons are packaged in presentation boxes and available in a variety of sizes. Smaller boxes are perfect favors for Mother’s Day brunches, while large boxes are fit for a queen (and isn’t that what Mother’s Day is all about?) WOOPS has a special celebrating both Mother’s Day and National Teacher Appreciation Week (May 6-10)—purchase 5 boxes of macarons and receive the 6th for free! Located at 79 Union St in Newton Centre. Mon-Wed: 11-6; Thurs & Fri: 11-7; Sat: 10-7 and Sun: 12-6

For moms seeking a little “me time” and also concerned about fitness, Cardio High in Auburndale offers challenging, whole body exercise classes that strengthen bodies without wearing them down. It’s the only studio we know of in Newton with a focus on extending clients’ “healthspans,” so we continue exercising injury-free in our 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, (and, hopefully, beyond). Their low impact, hour-long classes integrate strength training, balance, core work, functional movement, and short bursts of cardio. Classes are designed for all fitness levels, and the studio offers personal heart rate monitors to easily track one’s level of exertion, calories burned, and fitness progress over time. To celebrate moms, Cardio High is offering first-timers 4 classes for $24. Try a class for free—there may even be openings on Mother’s Day weekend—it’s a great gift for yourself, and a sure way to kick off the weekend on a high note. 271B Auburn Street.

If mom has always wanted her own vegetable garden, give her one for Mother’s Day by contacting Sully at Edible Gardens by Sully. No project is too small or big for longtime organic farmer Amy Sullivan—“Sully.” Choose from container gardens stocked with vegetables and herbs for the patio, window boxes filled with strawberries, or something bigger, like a raised garden bed for the backyard. Sully can create an edible garden for your family that yields produce all season long. Oh, and if you have an existing vegetable garden that needs a tune-up, she can do that, too!

With all of the running around that goes with being a mom, it’s no surprise that sometimes it’s hard to unwind and get a good night’s sleep. The Green Lady Dispensary has products that can help give the moms in your life a chance to relax, rest, and chill. Select the right products by consulting with knowledgable staff on options for edibles, topicals, tinctures and more. Over Mother’s Day weekend (May 11 & 12), Green Lady is adding in a free flower bouquet with any gift purchase, and free gift wrapping, too. 740 Beacon Street, Newton Center. Mon-Sat: 9:00am - 9:00pm; Sun: 12-6.

Milano Jewelry, which just opened in Auburndale, has jewelry designed with moms in mind. There are rings that can be customized with heart-shaped birthstones (reflecting childrens’ birth months), a gold “MOM” ring with a customizable heart-shaped stone, gold charms for #1 Moms and Grandmas, and lots of other options. And if you’re not quite sure what mom really wants, there are gift certificates too, so she can shop for herself. 417 Lexington Street. Mon-Fri: 10-7; Sat: 10-5. Closed Sun.

Newton has another chocolate option this Mother’s Day! Sweet Dream just opened at 91 Union Street in Newton Centre, and its cases are brimming with locally hand-made and decorated truffles (in pretty much every flavor imaginable), turtles, peanut butter cups, chocolate “oysters,” chocolate-dipped pretzels, and more. Sweet Dream is the only retail outlet for North Billerica-based chocolate factory and wholesaler Dante Confections.The shop is run by Anton Chernyshov, a Ukrainian emigrant, whose parents moved to the US five years ago, and are the owner-operators of Dante Confections. Sun-Wed: 10-6; Thurs: 10-7; Fri & Sat: 10-8.