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20 Hudson Valley Parent n May 2018 duo reaches out to other moms to provide connections for moms in a community where they feel comfortable celebrating and commiserating the joys and pains of motherhood. Colucci has 3 kids: Isabella,11, Luca, 9, and Matteo, 4. She says, "My ideal Mother's Day is to start the day nice and early before everyone wakes up and go for a nice run with Alicia and our fellow running mamas. Then come home to a delicious breakfast cooked by my kiddos and husband - some challah bread French toast with fresh whipped cream and berries - and some coffee and maybe a mimosa!" Martin is mom to Lilly Belle, 7, and Benjamin, 6. She muses that on her special day she might enjoy a barre class with Jennifer. "Not that we have done this as of yet but it sounds good. Then I'd like to enjoy some quality time with my kids and husband. Then either a barbecue or a nice dinner out where I do not have to do any planning, preparing or cleaning up!" By OLIVIA L. LAWRENCE M oms do so much for everyone else every day of the year that it's only natural to want to make her Mother's Day celebration extra nice. But what do moms really want? Perhaps the most challenging aspect is making something yummy for your Mommy to eat. Relax! It's going to be fun and easy. The kids are going to take charge and love it, the mess is going to be minimized and your mom, grandma or any other mother figure in your life is going to be so pleased! We've put together a few suggestions to help you create a mini-feast. Add mom's favorite beverage, put a pretty placemat on a tray, add flowers, cards or whatever else will make her smile and away you go! The ideal day Alicia Martin of Lagrangeville and her friend Jennifer Colucci are co-creators of a support network called the Mommy Dashers. The Plan the perfect meal If you're the one in charge of planning the perfect Mother's Day, food experts at your local supermarket have tips on how to take your day up a notch. Jody Fitz, founder of Price Chopper's Kids Cooking Club has plenty of ideas to get kids excited about recipes that are easy and fun. Fitz has brought her kid-friendly approach to food prep to schools, libraries, and summer camps throughout the state for more than a decade and offers plenty of simple meal ideas on her website JodieFitz.com. "We want to help kids try new things and empower them," she says. All the ingredients used in Fitz's Mother's Day delights can be found at Price Chopper sites in Middletown, Poughkeepsie, Warwick and other locales throughout the Hudson Valley. She has whipped up some treats that mix a little bit of cooking with an arts and crafts approach. The Bagel Bite Flower can be assembled in minutes and "it's perfect to deliver to Mom in bed," Fitz says. It's all about Mom! Recipes to make this day ideal Alicia Martin says her ideal Mother's Day includes quality time with her family. She wants a nice dinner without being in charge of the plans, preparation or clean up. That's where her husband comes in!