🥂 A Toast to the Real MVPs: Moms of East Bay

Packed with heart, happenings, and hometown love just for her.

Author

Twin Oaks Insider
May 10, 2025

Happy Mother's Day Weekend from Twin Oaks Insider! 🌷

Mother’s Day is more than a holiday—it’s a celebration of all the different ways women show up and shape our lives. Moms are the snack-packers, schedule-jugglers, advice-givers, and heart-healers. They show up at 2 a.m. with a cold compress or a pep talk, they champion our dreams, and somehow still remember everyone's favorite snack.

This week, we’re shining a light on all kinds of moms—biological, adoptive, chosen, grandmothers, aunties, and mentors. If you've got someone in your life who’s loved you like a mom, this is the time to honor them. And if you're a mom yourself: sit back, relax, and let someone else handle the dishes for once—you’ve more than earned it!

👩‍👧‍👦 Spotlight on a Twin Oaks Supermom

Liz DeAmaral

We’d be remiss not to shine a light on one of our own—Liz DeAmaral, Twin Oaks' CFO and Head of HR, and an all-around powerhouse. Liz is not only the strategic mind behind our operations, but she’s also a devoted mom of two. Whether she’s balancing financials or family schedules, she brings care, clarity, and calm to everything she touches.

Liz somehow manages to lead with excellence at work while being an incredible mother, traveler, animal lover, and role model. She reminds us daily that being a mom is about showing up—with love, consistency, and compassion—even when the calendar’s full and the coffee’s cold. Thank you, Liz, for all that you do and for showing us what strong, modern motherhood looks like.

💖 Mother's Day Events You Can't Miss!

Ready to make this Mother’s Day truly unforgettable? Whether you’re treating Mom to pancakes aboard a historic ship, strolling artisan markets by the water, or sailing into the sunset on the bay, we’ve rounded up the most heartwarming and joy-filled events across the East Bay. Let’s make this weekend one that celebrates love, laughter, and all the incredible moms who make life beautiful.

🌸 Serendipity Cellars


📅 Saturday, May 10 | ⏰ 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM
📍 Serendipity Cellars, Brentwood

Gather your picnic baskets, bring your loved ones, and savor a laid-back afternoon at Serendipity Cellars. Order a luxurious charcuterie board, relax under sunny skies, and toast to Mom amidst the vines!

🌿East Bay Area Open Day - Exclusive Garden Tour!


📅 Saturday, May 10
📍 Multiple Stunning Private Gardens, East Bay

Celebrate Mother’s Day with a serene stroll through seven vibrant East Bay gardens. Perfect for green thumbs, flower lovers, or anyone seeking a peaceful escape, this exclusive tour offers beauty, inspiration, and quality time together.

🎁 Lafayette Artisan Walk

📅 Saturday, May 10 | ⏰ 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
📍 Downtown Lafayette

Discover unique, locally crafted treasures perfect for Mother's Day gifts, graduation presents, and beyond. Stroll, shop, and support Lafayette's vibrant community of artists and businesses!

🥂Mother’s Day Artisan Faire


📅 Date: Sunday, May 11, 2025
🕙 Time: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
📍 Location: Suisun City Historic Waterfront

Suisun City’s waterfront becomes a Mother’s Day celebration with 60+ artisan booths, gourmet bites, live music, and scenic strolls. Find unique gifts, sip bubbly, and soak in the charm with Mom!

🏃‍♀️ Mother's Day Fun Run & Family Day


📅 Sunday, May 11 | ⏰ 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
📍 Corica Park, Alameda
💰 $25–$65 (Kids under 12 run free with mom!)

Start Mother's Day with a refreshing run, walk, or stroll at Corica Park! Enjoy family support or a peaceful solo lap. Celebrate after with breakfast, mimosas, and a flower for every mom.

🚢 Mother's Day 2025 Pancake Breakfast aboard Red Oak Victory


📅 Sunday, May 11 | ⏰ 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM
📍 Red Oak Victory Ship, Richmond
💰 Adults $20, Kids under 8 just $5

Treat Mom to a special breakfast on the historic WWII Red Oak Victory Ship! Enjoy pancakes, bacon, eggs, mimosas, live music, Radiograms, audio tours, and stunning bay views.

💌 Heartfelt Stories & Community Love

Turning Grief into Generosity

NBC Bay Area shared the story of Janet Frazier, an East Bay mother who transformed a personal tragedy into a widespread act of kindness. After her daughter was involved in a serious car accident, Janet was deeply touched by a nurse's simple act of providing a sandwich. This inspired her to start a non-profit, The Network Of Care, which has since provided hundreds of thousands of snack bags to families in hospitals, many in the Bay Area. Her work stands as a powerful tribute to her daughter and a testament to a mother's capacity for compassion and action in the face of adversity.

💌A Mother's Unwavering Love

Anita Wills, a mother from Alameda County, received a heartfelt Mother's Day card from her incarcerated son, Kerry. In his note, he expressed deep appreciation for her unconditional love and leadership. This poignant moment is captured in Ellie Wen's documentary "On Mother's Day," shedding light on the enduring bond between mother and child, even amidst adversity.

❝

I’m humbled by your examples of leadership, time after time. Your energy is a wellspring of endeavors to be carried to their accomplishments for the benefit of we who are in compromising conditions. I can attest firsthand that you have demonstrated how a love that is truly unconditional translates in this physical world.

Your love is a verb. How precious you are. Thank you, profoundly, for the many lessons you have and do teach.

Kerry

Solano County: Real Moms, Real Voices

Celebrate the incredible stories of real moms in Solano County. Meals on Wheels Solano County shared a touching reel highlighting these inspiring women. It's a beautiful tribute to the strength and resilience of mothers in the community.

🧺 Last-Minute Mother’s Day Ideas

Still need a plan? We've got you covered with some thoughtful, simple ideas that go a long way in showing your love—no reservation required:

Here are some bonus ideas to make this Mother’s Day truly special. Remember, even the smallest gestures can have the biggest impact. It’s never too late to show Mom just how much she’s cherished!

🎬Movie Night Pick:
Into the Fire: The Lost Daughter (2024)

📺 Streaming now on Netflix

This powerful two-part documentary follows Cathy Terkanian, a mother who gave up her infant daughter for adoption in 1974—and spent decades searching for her after she mysteriously disappeared in 1989. As Cathy revisits letters, interviews family, and uncovers long-buried truths, the series becomes a gripping portrait of grief, love, and the unbreakable bond between mother and child.

At its core, this is a story about the strength of a mother’s heart—the kind of love that refuses to give up, even in the face of loss, silence, and time.

Make a Pop-Up Mother's Day Card

📅 Saturday, May 10 | ⏰ 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
📍 Moraga Library, Contra Costa County

Craft with love! Join this all-ages session to make pop-up Mother’s Day cards—supplies provided, creativity encouraged.

🌸 Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa

Hand & Stone Alameda provides professional spa services at affordable prices, 7 days a week. Book your massage or facial treatment now.

🏡Thinking about Selling?

Got What It Takes To Sell Your Home? Here Are 6 Habits of Successful Home Sellers — Twin Oaks Real Estate

Selling a home can be a challenging and stressful experience. Regardless of market conditions, whether you’re an experienced seller or putting your home on the market for the first time, it’s essential to reset your expectations and adapt your sales strategy to achieve the price and terms you desire. This guide outlines key steps to help you navigate the process effectively.

www.twinoaksre.com/blog/2024/10/21/6-habits-of-successful-home-sellers

🏠 Just Listed: East Bay Homes You’ll Love

🏡 3618 James Lane, Concord, CA 94519

🛏 4 Beds 🛁 3 Baths 📐 2,249 Sq Ft 💰 $899,000

This charming single-level home offers modern comfort, a huge side yard perfect for RV storage, mature fruit trees, two fireplaces, and even a hot tub under the stars! The permitted garage conversion adds flexibility as a 4th bedroom, home office, or guest suite.

🌿 569 Primitivo Ct, Fairfield, CA 94534

🛏 4 Beds 🛁 2.5 Baths 📐 2,008 Sq Ft 💰 $715,000

A gem in the Siena at Green Valley community! With high ceilings, a cozy fireplace, and an outdoor bar in a private backyard, this home blends function and flair with easy access to trails, parks, and shopping.

🏙️ 410 Webster St, #5, Oakland, CA 94607

🛏 1 Bed 🛁 1 Bath 📐 421 Sq Ft 💰 $340,000

This modern condo brings serious style with 11-ft ceilings, an outdoor balcony, and a prime Jack London Square location—Walkscore 98! Close to BART, SF ferry, and surrounded by breweries, music venues, and the Bay Trail.

Looking to make a move? Whether you're buying or selling, we've got you covered:

Start your personalized home search with just one click.

Curious about your home’s value? Get a quick estimate right here.

🌸 Wrapping Up with Love...

As we celebrate the amazing women who make the world go round, we hope this week’s guide gave you some joyful, meaningful ways to honor the moms in your life. Whether you’re sharing a mimosa brunch, crafting cards with the kiddos, or gifting a relaxing spa day, it’s the little things that mean the most.

Thanks for spending your Mother’s Day weekend with us. We’ll be back next week with more ways to explore, enjoy, and connect with the East Bay—family-style.

Stay local & stay inspired,

Ryan DeAmaral

Co-Writer, Twin Oaks Insider