Show Mama She’s Appreciated With These Unique Mother’s Day Gift Ideas — As Seen On CBS Austin’s “We Are Austin”
Wonder Woman, Supergirl, and Black Widow may be superheroes in the DC Comics and Marvel universes, but IRL it’s our moms who are the true fearless heroines. Let mom know how fierce, strong, courageous, and inspiring you think she is by planning a truly magical Mother’s Day — starting with the perfect gift. From pampering bath and body products to scrapbooking kits, effervescent wine, tasty frozen treats, and one-of-a-kind artwork, I shared some unique Mother’s Day gift ideas with my second family at CBS Austin’s “We Are Austin” today. Make sure to watch the segment (embedded above or click here to view on CBSAustin.com) and keep reading for the details on every gift idea discussed on air!
OLAY REGENERIST WHIP SPF 25
If you’re a mom, then you probably know this first-hand: there are mornings when even the act of brushing your teeth feels positively exhausting. It may be the most satisfying job on the planet, but parenting is hard work, and there’s never really an end to your shift — especially if, like so many other moms, you’ve been balancing working from home with teaching your kiddos. Given that parenting can often seem more stressful than putting out a wildfire or being a hostage negotiator, the last thing any mom needs is a skincare regimen that’s so intricate and laborious that it feels like yet another chore! To help mom simplify her morning routine, try gifting her the Olay Regenerist Whip SPF 25 ($30 at Olay.com or contact your local retailer for curbside pick-up), a lightweight moisturizer with built-in UV protection to hydrate and protect skin in one single step.
Designed for all skin types and tones, the fast-absorbing moisturizer stays on clear, feels virtually weightless, and leaves skin delightfully shine-free all day long (a huge plus when grappling with Texas humidity!). Plus, the derm-approved formula incorporates vitamin B3 and peptides to help minimize dark spots, even skin tone, and keep the complexion firm and smooth.
BELOVED BY LOVE BEAUTY AND PLANET CHERRY BLOSSOM & TEA ROSE SHOWER & BATH GEL
She’s read the kiddos every Eric Carle book countless times, memorized the lyrics to “Let It Go” and “Baby Shark,” whipped up batch after batch of smiley-faced pancakes, helped with math homework, provided comfort when the littles were sick (or when they were awoken by a nightmare), wiped spaghetti sauce and chocolate off of the most unexpected of surfaces… the list goes on an on! With all the time mom has spent nurturing others, it’s time for her to focus on nurturing her own mind and spirit.
You can help mom enjoy some serene “me” time by gifting her some products from BELOVED by Love Beauty and Planet, a new line of pampering bath and body products that transform bath time into a small act of love for the body, mind, and planet. If you’re familiar with Love Beauty and Planet, then you know the brand specializes in clean beauty products that are primarily formulated with naturally-derived and sustainably sourced ingredients, then housed in recycled and recyclable bottles. Love Beauty and Planet has been so well-received by customers that it’s now expanded with the launch of BELOVED by Love Beauty and Planet, which is designed to provide indulgent bath and body experiences while still maintaining the brand’s eco-friendly ethos — the line, then is all about guilt-free, feel-good indulgence. And what mom doesn’t want in on that action, right?
Available exclusively at Target and Target.com, all BELOVED by Love Beauty and Planet products are vegan, paraben- and sulfate-free, and made with at least 92% naturally derived ingredients. Plus, they’re cruelty-free and PETA-approved.
There are 7 fragrance collections, including Cherry Blossom & Tea Rose. The collection includes products like body scrubs, body creams, bath bombs and more – all infused with antioxidant-rich, soothing cherry blossom extract. Mom can enjoy a relaxing shower or soak in the tub with the Cherry Blossom and Tea Rose Shower & Bath Gel ($9.99 at Target), which leaves skin feeling petal-soft. It’s a whole new way to give mom flowers!
CHARLOTTE TILBURY INSTANT LOOK OF LOVE IN A PALETTE AND LOOK OF OF LOVE LIPSTICK
The morning chaos is all too real for most moms: you’ve got to wake up (even if you’re working on 2 hours of sleep), get the kids dressed and properly washed and groomed (that means doing a breath check to verify they actually brushed their teeth), make breakfast, feed the dog, grab everyone’s backpacks and briefcases, usher everyone out the door, shuttle the kids to daycare or school, and make it to work — all in what feels like an impossibly limited amount of time. With so many plates to juggle, moms are often left with all of 15 minutes to freshen up, style their hair, and apply makeup — and that means some magic has to happen. Luckily, Charlotte Tilbury just launched some truly versatile makeup offerings that will help mom pull off a show-stopping beauty look in just 5 quick minutes.
The Charlotte Tilbury Instant Look of Love in a Palette ($75 at CharlotteTilbury.com) features everything mom needs to wake up her complexion, add a healthy flush to her cheeks, emphasize her bone structure, and adorn and accentuate her eyes. Inside the palette, you’ll find three coordinating eyeshadows in neutral shades — including an eye enhancer with a new innovation, the Diamond Filter Sparkle Texture, which combines biomimetic powders that ensure a smooth, second-skin-like application with lustrous pigments that provide a star-like, reflective finish. Alongside the eyeshadows, you’ll also discover a bronzer, a blush, and a highlighter, as well as the brand’s award-winning Airbrush Flawless Filter Powder, which gives skin a poreless, shine-free, flawless finish. The expertly curated palette is available in 2 shades: Pretty Blushed Beauty (pictured first above) and Glowing Beauty (pictured second above).
To complete the fresh-faced look and seal it with a kiss, mom can reach for the Charlotte Tilbury Look of Love Lipstick in Nude Romance ($37 at CharlotteTilbury.com). This universally-flattering, peachy-nude lipstick comes in a refillable bejeweled case that feels like a true collectible. The lipstick’s hydrating formula delivers rich, buildable color, plus it contains light-diffusing pigments that help lips appear full-bodied and luminous.
STORYTERRACE
As little children, we sometimes forget that our moms and grandmas had rich lives, filled with unique experiences, before they became our mothers and grandmothers. As we grow and mature, however, we start seeing viewing our parents and grandparents differently — not just as our caregivers, but as complex and extraordinary human beings who have been shaped by a number of experiences. And, as we do, we begin to crave more stories about the moments, people, and places that shaped their lives. This Mother’s Day, you can show mom or grandma how much you value her knowledge and experience by helping her document her life story in an exquisite memoir. All you need is a little help from StoryTerrace.
StoryTerrace is the leading memoir-writing service that pairs you or a loved one with a professional ghostwriter to capture individual stories that, in turn, get turned into a beautiful keepsake book that’s sure to become a priceless heirloom for generations to come.
The process is simple: the giftee will be matched with a professional writer based on location, background and personality. They’ll meet in person or via video call to share cherished memories and discuss story structure. The process will be overseen by the StoryTerrace overall team, and as the book starts coming to life, the interviewee will have regular opportunities to review and comment on the material. The final result will be a gorgeous hardcover book with photographs — like the one pictured above, which celebrates the life of Nancy Sakas. The giftee will receive a copy of the beautifully bound book, and she’ll also have access to digital copies.
StoryTerrace is available at a variety of price points, beginning at $1950 with an option for monthly payments as low as $122/month. For more details, visit StoryTerrace.com
CREATIVE MEMORIES SCRAPBOOKING BUNDLES
A picture is worth a thousand words, but the memories are priceless. That’s an idea that’s truly captured through the practice of scrapbooking. By carefully selecting certain photographs, adorning the pages to which they’re adhered with fitting embellishments, and adding retrospective notes or details about the moments captured in these photos, scrapbookers are able to effectively create time capsules that can be unearthed and enjoyed time and time again.
As a company that has become synonymous with scrapbooking, Creative Memories creates beautiful, high-end, memory-keeping products. This year, they’re offering two fantastic scrapbooking bundles that will help moms preserve their most precious family memories. Each kit includes all necessary supplies to complete an album, making it a great gift for both experienced and novice scrapbookers.
Family is what turns a house into a home, and that’s the message mom can embrace as she creates her own album of family memories with the Homestead Fast2Fab Bundle ($75 at CreativeMemories.com). The centerpiece of the bundle is the Homestead Fast2Fab Album, which has a charming farmhouse chic vibe. Mom can quickly and easily adhere photos to the beautifully pre-designed pages, use the included embellishments for decoration, and journal about the special moments captured using the pen included in the kit.
For new and expectant moms, meanwhile, there’s the Little Dreamer Gift Box Bundle ($80 at CreativeMemories.com). This kit comes in a giftable box and includes a precious, gender-neutral album bound in a seafoam-colored bookcloth with a front cover that’s adorned with a design of a swaying mobile of stars and clouds in white matte, pale green, dusty orange, and gold foil. The pre-designed pages inside the album feature adorable designs like floating tufts, dangling stars, snuggly stripes, clean dots and heavenly hearts, and the embellishments include everything from onesies to fluffy clouds, sleepy owls, and golden crescent moons.
KINDTAIL PAWD
The road to any dog mom’s heart is paved with paw prints, right? And what better way to set her fur baby’s tail a-waggin’ than through the gift of an inviting, cozy, beautiful pawlace? Enter KindTail PAWD, a nesting space for dogs that’s comfortable, lightweight, and collapsible for easy transport. Unlike traditional crates, which can a bit of an eye sore, the KindTail PAWD features a clean and modern aesthetic that blends in with any room’s decor. If mom brings her BFF to the office, she can even keep a KindTail PAWD at the workplace so her workmate will have a home away from home!
The KindTail PAWD is available in two sizes — Small (for dogs weighing 5 to 15 lbs) and Medium (for dogs weighing 10 to 35 lbs) — and in a variety of colors including white, grey, and sage. Prices start at $129 at KindTail.com
GIFTS FROM CHILI’S AND THE MAGNOLIA FOUNDATION BENEFITTING ST. JUDE CHILDREN’S RESEARCH HOSPITAL
Mom has always taught you to pay it forward so why not do so through your choice of Mother’s Day gifts? One way way to do so is by selecting a gift for mom that will help to support St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Over the course of 50 years, treatments invented at St. Jude have helped increase the overall children cancer survival rate from 20% to more than 80% — and St. Jude won’t stop until no child dies from cancer. And thanks to generous donations and contributions from partners, St. Jude is able to provide treatment, travel, housing and food free of cost, so that families never receive a bill.
This year, you can treat mom to a meal at Chili’s — whether by visiting a physical location, ordering delivery, or choosing curbside pick-up — and make a donation to St. Jude when at checkout. Another great idea: help mom update her wall décor by purchasing one of six patient-inspired botanical watercolor prints from The Magnolia Foundation. One hundred percent of the retail price will go directly to the hospital, and mom will own a unique work of art painted by Joanna Gaines herself.
For more info on these gifts and others, visit StJude.org/family
BUBBIES MOCHI ICE CREAM
Make Mother’s Day as sweet as mom herself by treating her to some Bubbies Mochi Ice Cream. If she’s never had mochi before, grab a few boxes and set up a colorful tasting station so she can try different flavors. Trust: if you thought macarons looked pretty on display, wait until you see an artful mochi arrangement!
This perfectly portioned treat is filled with creamy premium ice cream wrapped in sweet and soft mochi dough, so that each bite offers a surprising and delightful mash-up of textures. Plus each piece is just 90 calories or less, so mom won’t feel guilty about indulging her sweet tooth!
All Bubbies products are gluten-free, non-GMO and made with only real, high-quality ingredients. You’ll find flavors ranging from classic Green Tea, Vanilla and Triple Chocolate to Mango, Strawberry and Blood Orange. There are even vegan options available.
Each box is $5.99 at H-E-B, Sprouts Farmer’s Market and Whole Foods Market. Visit BubbiesIceCream.com for info
NO FINE PRINT LIL FIZZ
Looking for a winning Mother’s Day gift? Well here’s a tip: wine is “win” with an “e” at the end. See where I’m going with this?
You can toast mom this year with No Fine Print’s world-class Northern California wine. No Fine Print makes top-quality wine accessible and affordable to all, so you get that superior taste without the pretension or hefty price tag ( hence the motto, “No fine print, just good wine”).
No Fine Print’s cleverly named Lil Fizz is a perfect refreshing choice for warm spring days. This is a fizzy white wine blend that incorporates sauvignon blanc, chardonnay and rosé, and it has these effervescent bubbles that make every sip feel like a celebration! It’s available in a 750 ml bottle or in a 4-pack of 250 ml cans. Each is $20 at NoFinePrintWine.com
And here’s another reason for revelry: No Fine Print donates 5% annually to an organization serving communities in need, with past benefactors including No Child Hungry.
Cheers to that — and cheers to mom!
