Chantel Adams

BY CHANTEL ADAMS

Thanks to a proclamation by President Woodrow Wilson in 1914, Americans have been officially celebrating Mother’s Day for more than a century. As they say, though, “the times they are a changin,” and this year you might need some non-traditional ideas for lifting up the moms in your life. Whether you’re getting together for an in-person gathering or simply honoring your mom from afar, I’ve got a dozen ideas that will be sure to make her — and all the other moms in your life — feel extra special this year. (Who needs roses after all?)

1. Download these free encouragement cards and mail to a mom who lives far away. Everyone loves to get good mail! Get yours here: www.dayspring.com/ecards/category/view/category/209. 2. Send your mom a YouTube link to a song that reminds you of her. Got a friend who’s a new mom and needs a smile? She’ll love this! Check out Boyz 2 Men’s “A Song for Mama” or “I’ll Always Love My Mama” by The Intruders.

Treat Mom to a picnic at your favorite park. Photo of Matt and Aura Bryan by Sara Stewart Photography.

3. Order a set of Expo markers and write an encouraging message on her front window or glass door. You can get really creative! Hearts, roses, the sky’s the limit! 4. Host a picnic in the grass at the amphitheater. Make a charcuterie box. The new Vintage Barrel Wine Market and Deli and Leaning Ladder have everything you need. Think: pasta, chocolate, biscuits, cheeses, salami and, of course, wine. And when you’re finished, go to Vingenzo’s and sip affogatos out on the patio. 5. Make a homemade sign: MOM of the WEEK, STAR Mom, BEST Mom EVER, etc. and set it up in your mom’s yard. 6. Purchase paper lanterns, write wishes for your mom and your mom friends, and send them soaring into the night sky. Take a video and post to social media.

7. The simplest idea of all: Leave a porch pot— fresh picked flowers in a mason jar and a sweet note. If your mom has a sweet tooth, Nothing Bundt Cakes offers a “Flowers for Mom” bundtini special. 8. Mail your mom a series of encouraging letters from a “Secret Admirer.” Drop clues for a scavenger hunt, and in the last letter, include a gift card for a favorite restaurant. Check out the new Salty Mule in Canton. Make a date and enjoy each other’s company.

9. Purchase something that reminds you of your mom or your childhood. Toys bring joy. A Cone to Pick in Canton is your vintage one-stop shop. Include a note and the story behind the toy, or splurge for a game that you can all play the next time you’re together. 10. On Mother’s Day, use your social media to take a moment to remember all the moms in your life. Remember to comment, like, and share your friends’ posts. Post a favorite photo or a memory from years past. 11. Send your favorite mom one of your favorite things. Love to stay at a cabin in the mountains? Make a reservation for your mom to get some much-deserved R&R. Got a favorite book? FoxTale Book Shoppe in Woodstock will hook you up. Got a favorite scent—something that reminds you of mom? Pineapple Park has a wonderful signature scented plug-in that invites moms everywhere to say, “Welcome home.” 12. Print out photos of your mom or mom friends, glue them to popsicle sticks, and take pictures of yourself doing fun things “with” those who are far away but close at heart. “Hey, we’re having a sno-cone!” Or “Look, we’re riding bikes!” The trails in Canton are beautiful this time of year. Stop at Bananas and Beehives and get a treat to reward yourself, too.

Let your creativity shine. Whatever you choose to do, you will be making memories to last a lifetime.

Chantel Adams, founder of Mission Driven Woman, is on the board for Highland Rivers Health, volunteers at Woodstock City Church, and lives in Woodstock with her husband and four kids.

Local Company Is Poised to Make the Area Mosquito-Free

Cherokee County residents, take heart. We’re just close enough to Atlanta to be able to brag about an honor — although dubious — that the city can claim.

The year 2020 marked the seventh straight year that Atlanta has been ranked the No. 1 “Mosquito City” in the United States, said Chad Woodall, co-owner with Jody Wheeler of Mosquito-Free. “While we can’t win a Super Bowl, we are the Best of the Best for mosquitoes!”

The company’s owners have built a successful business in their own backyard. Mosquito-Free is the epitome of a successful locally owned and operated company, not a franchise of a larger corporation. When you call the Canton office, you’ll reach one of the owners or their spouses. In fact, “we are family, and our customers have become family as well,” Chad said.

Jody and Chad grew up in the Sixes community, where they still live and raise their families. They are proud to serve their neighbors and friends in an area that just happens to border Lake Allatoona, an area thick with mosquitoes.

Steps in Controlling Mosquitoes

Mosquito-Free technicians are ready to do their part to rob metro Atlanta of that Mosquito City title, through a menu of options designed to take care of every need. “We offer a variety of solutions, all natural and synthetic, to meet the needs of our customers. Each of our products is environmentally friendly, biodegradable and safe for children and pets,” Chad said. “In fact, our tagline is, ‘Protect Your Family & Your Pets.’ Mosquito-Free can help protect pets from heartworm and also help protect humans from a wide variety of mosquito-borne diseases, many of which have no cure or vaccine.”

Options range from regular treatments to one-time service. Mosquito-Free technicians are trained and certified for Category 41 Mosquito Control through the Georgia Department of Agriculture. 1. Mosquito-Free Zone/Barrier is guaranteed to kill mosquitoes on contact. It adheres to foliage, repelling biting insects for three weeks. For maximum effectiveness, the solution is applied by Mosquito-Free’s state-certified technicians on a 21-day schedule. 2. All Natural Solution kills mosquitoes on contact, but the solution doesn’t last as long, because it doesn’t adhere to greenery as well as the synthetic solution. Treatment is made on a two-week schedule, rather than a 21-day cycle. 3. Special Event Treatment is a one-time option for outdoor activities and venues, including birthday parties, weddings, holiday barbecues, etc. Jody remembers a last-minute call from a wedding venue urgently requesting service. “Mosquito-Free delivered a home run,” he said. “The venue owner was happy and the bride was elated.” 4. Mosquito-Free is a certified installer of the In2Care System as a zero-spray solution to meet the needs of homeowners. These systems are serviced on a monthly basis.

John Calhoun, mosquito control technician applies treatment.