Tag: Motivation

Make It Memorable: Top San Antonio Spots Offering Mother’s Day Delights

The Secret Garden Room at High Praise Rooftop Bar at InterContinental San Antonio Riverwalk. Photo: InterContinental San Antonio Riverwalk, used with permission.

Celebrate Mother’s Day in San Antonio: Special Events and Experiences to Make Her Feel Loved

Mother’s Day is more than just a date on the calendar—it’s a heartfelt celebration of the women who nurture, guide, and inspire us. Observed in many parts of the world, this special day is dedicated to honoring mothers and maternal figures for their enduring love and countless sacrifices. Whether through a handwritten note, a bouquet of flowers, a shared meal, or a quiet moment of connection, people celebrate in many meaningful ways.

This year, several of San Antonio’s finest hotels and resorts are offering curated experiences and special events designed to make Mother’s Day truly unforgettable. Here’s a round up of where to take Mom for a memorable celebration:

Omni La Mansión del Rio: Southern Brunch & a Craft Cocktail Toast

Dates: May 9–11, 2025
Location: Four Brothers Restaurant

Four Brothers, Omni La Mansión del Rio’s Southern-inspired eatery, will be hosting a limited-time Mother’s Day Brunch and serving a specialty cocktail called the ‘I Raised You.’

Menu Highlights:

  • Brisket Pastrami Hash ($29) – Smoked brisket pastrami, sunny side-up eggs, caramelized onions, and roasted root vegetables.
  • ‘I Raised You’ Cocktail – Empress Gin, lemon, and Campo Viejo Brut Cava for a bubbly, refreshing twist.

Mokara Hotel & Spa: Pampering Packages and Elevated Dining

Spa Specials Available Starting May 1, 2025

Treat Mom to relaxation at Mokara’s luxury spa with exclusive Mother’s Day offerings:

Spa Packages:

  • Mommy and Me Package
  • Mom’s Golden Glow Facial
  • Nurture and Nourish
  • Mimosas with Mom
  • Soothe Your Soul, Mama

After her spa escape, the celebration can continue at Ostra, Mokara’s signature restaurant.

Menu Highlights (Available May 9–11, 2025):

  • Shrimp and Lobster Enchiladas ($32) – Corn tortillas, lobster salsa roja, chihuahua cheese, poblano crema, queso fresco, and pickled onions.
  • ‘Mother’s Sparkler’ Cocktail – Hendricks cucumber gin, lemon, strawberry, rosemary, and Chandon rosé.

InterContinental San Antonio Riverwalk: Jazz, Jewelry & Rooftop Views

Date: Sunday, May 11, 2025
Location: Cavalier & High Praise Rooftop Bar

Celebrate Mom with a jazzy brunch and vibrant rooftop experience at the InterContinental.

Brunch at Cavalier:

  • Classic brunch dishes with live music from The Dirty River Jazz Band.
  • A Kendra Scott pop-up just outside the restaurant—perfect for last-minute gift shopping.

After Brunch:

  • Head up to High Praise rooftop bar to enjoy The Secret Garden Room—a lush, seasonal pop-up bar with over 10 custom cocktails inspired by spring and nature.
  • Take in the views and snap the perfect Mother’s Day photo with the San Antonio skyline as a backdrop.

La Cantera Resort & Spa: Brunch, Fine Dining & Relaxation

SweetFire Kitchen: Family-Friendly Comfort Food

Brunch Date & Time: May 11, 2025, 10a.m. – 3p.m.
Price: $85 Adults | $35 Children (ages 6–12)

Southern-style comfort food, wood-fired pizzas, and decadent desserts await in this casual, open-air kitchen setting.

Signature Restaurant: Elegant Dining with a Michelin Touch

Brunch: May 11, 2025, 10a.m. – 2p.m. | $75 Adults | $45 Children
Dinner: May 11, 2025, 5:30 p.m. – 9p.m. | $135 per person
Children’s Tasting Menu: $65

Curated by Michelin-recommended Chef John Carpenter, Signature’s special prix-fixe menus elevate classic dishes with seasonal flair.

Highlights:

  • Berries & Cream
  • Pork Belly Benedict
  • Steak & Eggs
  • Pecan Bars
  • Eight-course dinner tasting menu for a refined evening celebration

Hiatus Day Spa • Med Spa: The Gift of Relaxation

Special Offers: Now through May 12
Gift Card Promotion: Available until May 8

Start Mother’s Day early at Hiatus Day Spa • Med Spa, where wellness meets indulgence. Give Mom the gift of self-care with one of their rejuvenating packages:

  • The Essential Duo
  • The Glass Skin Glow
  • Or let her choose with a flexible Hiatus Gift Card

Each option is designed to help her relax, recharge, and feel her absolute best on her special day.

Chef Jason Dady Restaurants: Elegant Dining for the Whole Family

Date: Sunday, May 11, 2025

Celebrate with a delicious prix fixe brunch or dinner at some of San Antonio’s most beloved restaurants:

  • Range
  • Jardín
  • Tre Trattoria
  • Roca & Martillo

Each location will also offer kid-friendly menus for guests 10 and under, making it easy to gather the whole family.

Dinner Service at Tre Trattoria:
Regular dinner service from 4p.m–9p.m.

Optional Wine Pairings:
Available at Range, Jardín, and Tre Trattoria for $29.95 per person (tax and gratuity not included).

Reservations:

Note: Tre Pizzeria and Two Bros BBQ will remain open for regular service on Mother’s Day.

Thompson San Antonio – Riverwalk: A Luxe Mother’s Day Escape

For those looking to make Mother’s Day a full-on experience, Thompson San Antonio – Riverwalk offers a perfect blend of indulgence, style, and serenity.

Brunch at Landrace: A Feast for the Senses

Treat Mom to a decadent prix-fixe brunch at Landrace, the hotel’s riverside restaurant known for its thoughtful flavors and elegant setting.

Relax & Unwind: Rooftop Luxury and Spa Bliss

After brunch, keep the celebration going:

  • Lounge poolside in a rooftop cabana with panoramic views of the San Antonio skyline.
  • Visit Thompson Spa for signature treatments designed to restore, relax, and elevate her day.

Whether she wants a culinary escape or a peaceful retreat, Thompson San Antonio offers a refined way to celebrate the mothers and mother figures in your life.

Plan Ahead

Mother’s Day is a time to show love and appreciation. Be sure to reserve early—these experiences are limited and sure to fill quickly!

Leadership Lessons from a Military Commander: What Elyezer Shkedy’s Book Teaches Us About Success

‘Who the F*ck is Michael?!: An Israeli Air Force Chief’s Uncompromising Code for Achieving Greatness’ by Elyezer Shkedy. Photo: Barnes & Noble

The Power of Books on Personal and Business Success

Books on personal and business success offer more than just inspiration—they provide actionable insights, proven strategies, and lessons from top leaders across industries. These works condense decades of experience into digestible, practical advice that can help readers improve their mindset, boost productivity, enhance leadership skills, and sharpen decision-making.

Whether you’re launching a startup or pursuing personal growth, these books offer real-world relevance and motivation. Readers learn from the triumphs and setbacks of renowned entrepreneurs and executives, gaining perspectives that can accelerate their own journeys. Ultimately, these books act as mentors on the page, empowering individuals to achieve their goals with clarity and confidence.

Spotlight on Elyezer Shkedy and “Who the F*ck is Michael?!”

General (Ret.) Elyezer Shkedy served as the fifteenth commander of the Israeli Air Force, where he led numerous strategic operations—including the pivotal Operation Orchard airstrike on Syria’s nuclear reactor. After his military service, he became the CEO of El Al, Israel’s national airline, and currently leads over fifteen educational and social NGOs. As president of I Belong Israel, Shkedy is a prominent voice on leadership, tolerance, and personal values.

His bestselling debut book “Who the F*ck is Michael?!: An Israeli Air Force Chief’s Uncompromising Code for Achieving Greatness” has sold over 30,000 copies in its Hebrew edition and was the most-read book among Israeli military personnel in 2022. (CS Lewis Publicity, 2025)

A Leadership Book Like No Other

“Who the F*ck is Michael?!” is a compelling exploration of leadership, resilience, and personal excellence. Drawing from a career that spans elite military command and corporate leadership, Shkedy shares over 100 real-life stories and insights that stress the importance of hard work, accountability, and moral courage.

Originally published in Hebrew and now available in English, the book received the prestigious Golden Book Award. It stands as a powerful guide for anyone looking to lead with intention, discipline, and integrity.

Why Character Still Matters: A Review of Robert L. Dilenschneider’s ‘Character’

‘Character’ is Robert L. Dilenschneider’s latest motivational book. Photo: Barnes & Noble

Robert L. Dilenschneider is founder of The Dilenschneider Group, a firm that provides strategic advice and counsel to Fortune 500 companies and leading families and individuals around the world, with experience in fields ranging from mergers and acquisitions and crisis communications to marketing, government affairs and international media.

Dilenschneider has been called the “Dean of American Public Relations Executives” and is widely published, having authored 14 books, including “A Briefing for Leaders,” “On Power,” “The Critical 14 Years of Your Professional Life,” and “Power and Influence: The Rules Have Changed.” His new book “Character: Life Lessons in Courage, Integrity, and Leadership” addresses the need for character as a vital dimension in public and private life, based on iconic historical figures who embodied such qualities of character. (Barnes & Noble, 2025)

In “Character,” Robert L. Dilenschneider explores what it means to possess and foster strong moral character. Through the lens of noted historical figures—ranging from Stephen Hawking to Mother Teresa—he illustrates how integrity, resilience, and ethical leadership have shaped both personal legacies and societal progress.

Dilenschneider contends that character is not merely a trait but a fundamental necessity in our daily lives, especially in today’s complex and often morally ambiguous world. By combining historical narratives with modern-day reflections, he makes a strong case for why individuals, particularly those in leadership positions, must prioritize character over personal gain.

He begins by defining character as exhibiting traits such as honesty, integrity, and loyalty while inspiring others around you. The goal of this book is provide examples of character and how it can drive people to achieve their dreams and how to recognize it and nurture it in others, especially those with leadership positions.

Each chapter profiles a different group of people who were known for a specific trait, such as Innovation (Steve Jobs, Walt Disney), Courage (Winston Churchill, Arthur Ashe), and Loyalty (Eleanor Roosevelt, John McCain). At the end of each, he includes a list of lessons learned.

Chapters include:
Chapter 1 – What is Character?
Chapter 2 – Leadership
Chapter 3 – Innovation
Chapter 4 – Resilience
Chapter 5 – Breaking Barriers
Chapter 6 – Courage
Chapter 7 – Loyalty
Chapter 8 – Integrity
Chapter 9 – Transparency
Chapter 10 – Transcendence
Chapter 11 – Lessons

Highlights:
Chapter 4: Resilience – when we are tested, resilience is what allows us to keep fighting. Nelson Mandela was a vocal opponent of apartheid: “Never give up when your cause is just.”

Chapter 5: Breaking Barriers – profiles of people who broke barriers when they refused to be held down because of their sex, color, or political beliefs. Margaret Chase Smith stood up against McCarthyism in the 40s and 50s: “Speaking your mind may not always be popular but it will win you respect.”

Informative and inspiring, it offers valuable lessons on courage, humility, and perseverance. Dilenschneider’s writing is engaging, and his selection of historical figures ensures a broad perspective on how character manifests in different circumstances.

Overall, “Character” serves as an insightful guide for those seeking to understand the enduring power of virtue in shaping history and how we, too, can attempt to embody these qualities in our own lives. It is recommended for readers who enjoy biographies and leadership/motivational books.

“Learning is a classic way to overcome barriers, by equipping yourself with knowledge that nobody can take away.”

*The author of this blog received a copy in exchange for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.

Rating: 4 out of 5.