With the holidays upon us, it’s getting kind of late to do holiday shopping online. An inventory problem or Fedex snafu might spell disaster.  Instead, get out this weekend and support your local boutiques! If you can, find a walkable shopping neighborhood near you. That way you can burn off the cupcakes you ate at the company holiday party and avoid the parking nightmare at the mall. Here’s a shopping guide for one of our favorite areas of LA – Silverlake, Echo Park, and Highland Park:

CLOVER has a really friendly staff and a fun selection of gifts and coffee table books for all ages, along with women’s clothing and denim.

LAKE is a comfortable, approachable boutique with accessories, gifts, apothecary products and women’s clothing, generally made by small manufacturers. It’s right next to the Silver Lake Reservoir and perfect for a stroll.

After you’re finished at LAKE, head next door to LAMILL Coffee Boutique. The owners are obsessed with coffee, and serve only on the finest beans and the latest brewing techniques. The iced coffee is the best in the city. You can also enjoy a small but excellent menu of snacks and lunch items from chef Michael Cimarusti in a hip, modern dining area.

For the man in your life, swing by GLORY, a great store with a wide selection of jeans, motorcycle gear, vintage tees, and boots.  Some really cool women’s apparel, too.

If that’s too far, there are tons of other walking friendly shopping spots in LA, including Montana Ave. in Santa Monica, Larchmont Village, Abbot Kinney in Venice, 3^rd Street in West Hollywood, and Old Town Pasadena. What’s your favorite area?

Don’t forget, Mother’s Day is on Sunday! If you’re like we are, there is a good chance you haven’t made the brunch reservation yet. Before you do, here are a few recommendations (to LA readers) for a nice meal to celebrate everything Mom does for you.

Tavern – Brentwood – We were eating here way before the wait staff had to do background checks for the President’s recent fundraiser. This is the third restaurant from respected LA chef Suzanne Goin of Lucques and AOC fame. If you aren’t the brunching type, order to go from The Larder, a coffee and pastry shop located up front.

Fig – Santa Monica – Inside of the Hotel Miramar in Santa Monica, Fig uses fresh, local ingredients, and overlooks the lovely pool. The menu has something for every person in the party, with classics like Eggs Benedict and a Chopped Salad, along with originals like Kegs and Eggs (any brunch item with an endless pint) and the Bacon Waffle a la Mode with Trockenbeerenauslese Syrup.

One Pico – Santa Monica – Yes, another hotel restaurant, this one down the street at Shutters on the Beach. You really can’t beat the view here, which overlooks the boardwalk and the Pacific. The food is just as good as the people watching. A perfect place for the East Coast Mommy; the luxe cape architecture and décor feels more Rhode Island than Rodeo.

Fraiche – Culver City –  Fraiche is a bit more casual than the other options, so it’s a good choice for the Mom who isn’t fussy. After brunch you can hop across the street to Pacific Theaters and catch a screening of Water for Elephants. Or Thor.

Tasting Kitchen – Venice – For the hip mom, The Tasting Kitchen is on Abbott Kinney and has seen rave reviews from Jonathan Gold at LA Weekly, Alan Richman at GQ, LA Times and Gourmet.com. Now that typewriters are officially dead, we are particularly fond of the menu. And don’t miss the morning cocktails.