Thoughtful Mother’s Day Gift Ideas — As Seen On CBS Austin’s “We Are Austin”
There’s only 10 days left until Mother’s Day, so it’s time to start thinking about the best gifts for the sweet mamas in your life. If you’re racking your brain for ideas, fear not — I stopped by CBS Austin’s “We Are Austin” today to show y’all some creative and thoughtful gift options. Take a look at the two-part, gift-packed segment above or click here to view Part 1 and here to view Part 2. And make sure to read on for the scoop on all the goodies seen on air!
ZEEL ON-DEMAND MASSAGE
My son is a teenager now, and I still find myself feeling exhausted on most days — sure, I no longer have the sleepless nights I endured when he was a baby (and during his toddler years, when he’d climb into my bed in the middle of the night and essentially use me as a kickboxing bag until morning), but I still have to balance work along with school meetings, extracurricular activities, and the incessant cooking and dishwashing that comes with having a growing boy with a voracious appetite. Having the ability to get a massage whenever I need one — without having to make an appointment weeks in advance, drive to a spa, or change into nice “outside clothes” sounds pretty amazing to me. And that’s what Zeel is all about: bringing spa-quality massages to you.
Here’s how it works: you visit Zeel.com, choose the preferred gender of your massage therapist (yes, they even took into account that some customers only feel comfortable with a therapist of their same gender or, in other instances, of the opposite gender), note the location where your massage will be taking place (whether it’s your home, office, hotel room, etc.), choose the start time for your rubdown, and the desired duration (60-, 75-, or 90-minute sessions are available). A licensed and fully vetted massage therapist then arrives at your door with a massage table, oils, music, etc. And the best part is you don’t need to make an appointment days or weeks ahead of time: you can get a massage in under an hour. That’s less time than it takes Uber Eats to bring me a meal on many days!
Not only can you gift yourself a massage, but you can log onto Zeel.com and purchase a gift for the overworked mom in your life. You can buy a gift certificate by dollar amount which mom, in turn, can use towards the Zeel massage of her choice, or you can gift her a service (such as a 60-minute Swedish massage). And, if you want to go all out, you can gift her an annual Zeel membership, which includes one massage a month for a 12-month period, as well as a massage table and massage sheets.
Zeel offers a variety of massages from Swedish massage and deep tissue massage to sports massage for active people who want to maximize their performance and soothe tired muscles; sleep massages that will help to ease the body and mind and to create an atmosphere conducive to restful sleep; and pre-natal massages that will relieve many of the symptoms associated with pregnancy such as stiff neck, sore lower back, headaches, and leg cramps.
Make sure to visit Zeel.com/offer for more details. New customers are currently receiving $20 off any massage service when they enter the promo code MOM2018
GAIAM JUTE YOGA MAT
Sometimes, as we go about our busy lives, we forget to prioritize self-care and it really is crucial to not only our own wellbeing but to the overall health and stability of our households. Yoga and meditation are extremely useful in that they enable us to strengthen our bodies, achieve mental clarity, relieve pent-up stress and anxiety, and reach a place of tranquility and equilibrium. But, of course, to get the most of your yoga sessions, you need a mat that will provide the necessary support and comfort. Enter Gaiam’s Jute Yoga Mat ($39.98 at Gaiam.com), an eco-friendly mat that shows the brand’s commitment to innovations in regards to sustainable technology. The non-slip, latex- and silicone-free mat is partly made of fibers from the jute plant, which can absorb quite a bit of moisture, making this mat an excellent choice for hot yoga classes or any sweat-inducing workout. Moreover, the mat measures 5mm in thickness, so that it provides the necessary cushion to support your joints as you transition from one pose to the next. And while it’s densely cushioned, this mat is really lightweight, so you can carry it with ease.
NARCISO RODRIGUEZ FOR HER FLEUR MUSC EDP
If mom loves floral bouquets, she’ll swoon over this charming, feminine, graceful fragrance from Narciso Rodriguez. The Narciso Rodiguez For Her Fleur Musc Eau de Parfum ($124 for 3.3 oz. at Macys.com) features a heart of sensual musk enveloped by sumptuous, lush pink roses. These primary notes are then accentuated by hints of spicy pink peppercorn, warm amber wood, and patchouli, all of which work to give the scent a sense of vitality and a fiery, passionate quality. The scent, then, conveys boldness, confidence, and assertiveness, and yet it also manages to be elegant, charismatic, and coquettish. The perfume bottle’s bright pink color says it all: this is a fragrance that owns and celebrates its femininity.
GLO SKIN BEAUTY VITA E ESSENTIAL CREAM AND HYDRA-RADIANCE MOISTURIZER
Yes, most moms are sleep deprived and powering through each day thanks to the go-go juice that is known as coffee. But no matter how much we’re screaming for some shut-eye on the inside, we try to keep it together on the outside. After all, no mom wants to hear an acquaintance utter, “Aww, you look tired!” Still, looking refreshed when going off of 4 hours of sleep can be an uphill battle. After all, t lack of sleep can disrupt the skin’s barrier function, leading to dryness, redness and irritation.
Luckily, Glo Skin Beauty has two great products that will help tired mommies look like they’ve been getting plenty of snooze time!
The Glo Skin Beauty Vita E Essential Cream ($50 at GloSkinBeauty.com) is a medium-weight moisturizer that’s ideal for soothing irritated skin and replenishing lost moisture. The cream is packed with skin-strengthening antioxidants like quercetin and with antioxidant-rich botanical extracts like black currant seed oil, rosehip oil, and sunflower seed oil. Moreover, it contains hesperidin, which strengthens capillaries so as to reduce redness, licorice root extract to even out the skin tone, and squalane, which helps the skin retain moisture.
And to brighten dull-looking skin, there’s the Hydra Radiance Moisturizer ($78 at GloSkinBeauty.com)), which features botanical brighteners like Vitamin C and grapefruit peel oil, as well as a hint of mica to provide a subtle touch of illumination.
DUNE JEWELRY
When jewelry can elicit an emotional response in the wearer, it becomes all the more meaningful. And that’s one of the reasons why I’m so smitten with Dune Jewelry, a company that specializes in artisan-crafted experiential jewelry that incorporates sand and natural elements from all over the world.
Sure, jewelry featuring real sand would be cool in and of itself, but what makes Dune Jewelry’s pieces all the more remarkable is that they’re meant to serve as wearable time capsules that transport you back to a special moment in time, so that each piece serves as a tangible reminder of a special moment — whether it’s the beach you frequented as a kid, the mountaintop where you watched a beautiful sunset with your husband, a canyon you visited during a family vacation, or a park where you took your little ones camping.
When you visit DuneJewelry.com, then, you can choose one of their stunning jewelry designs — such as the Heart of Sand shown above ($110 at DuneJewelry.com) or the Traveler Bracelet Seven Sands ($190 at DuneJewelry.com)— and then customize it through your choice of sand. Dune;s Sandbank & Elements library contains sand and natural elements like shells, stones, soil, and flower petals from over 3500 locations around the world, including beaches, hiking trails, mountaintops, baseball fields and golf courses, so the selection alone will amaze you. And, if you want to send in your very own sample of sand from a location that’s not yet in their library, you have the option to do so!
All of the designs are made in the USA and a portion of every purchase is donated to various coastal preservation organizations.
You can order online at DuneJewelry.com or, if you want to check out Dune Jewelry at a retailer here in Texas, you can find some of their pieces at The Connoisseur (513 North Allister) in Port Aransas.
DR. DENNIS GROSS SPECTRALITE EYECARE PRO
If you look at Susan Sarandon and Michelle Pfeiffer, they’re both 60-something celebrity mothers who still look ravishing and can turn heads in any room they enter. And who doesn’t want to look their best at any age, right? So give the mama in your life the perfect weapon for her age-defying quest: the Dr. Dennis Gross SpectraLite EyeCare Pro ($159 at DrDennisGross.com). This groundbreaking device is the first FDA-cleared LED treatment device for the eye area. The hands-free gadget features 72 LED lights that emit four wavelengths of red light that work synergistically to increase collagen production, thereby smoothing fine lines and wrinkles around the area (including crow’s feet and the “elevens” between brows), improving and evening out skin tone, and increasing overall skin density.
Each treatment takes only 3 minutes, and the device powers off automatically once each session is complete, so it’s the epitome of convenience. Also, it comes with a USB charger so that you can charge it as needed and a carrying case.
SPENCE DIAMONDS ARTISAN CREATED DIAMONDS COLLECTION
Thought you couldn’t afford to give mom diamonds for Mother’s Day? Think again! Just in time for the holiday, Spence Diamonds released its new Artisan Created Diamonds collection, which features an assortment of pendants and earrings at a range of affordable prices.
Artisan Created Diamonds are virtually indistinguishable from real diamonds — both chemically and aesthetically— but they’re always at least 25% larger than similarly-priced mined diamonds, so that you can get a bigger and higher quality diamond for a fantastic price.
In the segment, I showcased three pieces from the Artisan Created Diamonds Collection: a Classic Solitaire Pendant set in 14k white gold (which is available with diamonds of different sizes and your choice of white, yellow, or rose gold, with prices starting at $259 for 0.25 carats); a pair of timeless Solitaire Earrings (available in a variety of sizes, with prices starting at $519 for 0.25 carats); and the Time and Eternity Pendant, which features two sterling silver rings intertwined around an Artisan Created Diamond ($189 for 0.13 carats and $369 for 0.23 carats).
For more information, Austinites can visit the Spence Diamonds store at The Domain or visit SpenceDiamonds.com
OUIDAD ADVANCED CLIMATE CONTROL RESTORE + REVIVE BI-PHASE AND HEAT & HUMIDITY GEL
May and June tend to be particularly rough months when it comes to humidity here in Austin. If you’ve got wavy or curly hair, you’ve doubtless grappled with frizz during those warm and muggy days, perhaps to no avail. The good news: you can finally beat the battle against frizz with Ouidad’s Advanced Climate Control collection. All the products in the collection are designed to block out humidity, help hair retain moisture, and keep curls defined and in place.
The latest additions to the collection are the Restore + Revive Bi-Phase ($32 at Ouidad.com, Ulta Beauty stores, and Ulta.com) and the new-and-improved Heat & Humidity Gel ($26 at Ouidad.com, Ulta Beauty stores, and Ulta.com) . Both products are powered by an Anti-Frizz Nano Technology that contains sericin, a protein derived from silk that seals the hair cuticle so as to lock moisture in and keep humidity out. Moreover, they both contain a UV filter that protects hair against the sun’s rays, keeping your hair color fresh and your strands soft and smooth.
The Restore + Revive Bi-Phase can be used at any time during the day to revive curls, smooth frizz, give spirals a more defined curl pattern, and restore hair’s luster, and it contains nourishing natural extracts like mongongo oil, meadowfoam seed extract, and grapeseed oil. The Heat & Humidity Gel, meanwhile, contains wheat proteins that form a flexible lattice that expands as heat and humidity rise, thereby keeping curls defined without allowing frizz to form. I’ve been using the original Heat & Humidity Gel for years, and this version is even better since it provides stronger hold. It practically creates a forcefield around your strands that humidity simply cannot penetrate!
Mom can finally say, “Bye, Felicia!” to that pesky halo of frizz that appears around the summer months and come out looking like the Earth Angel she is!
PROFUSION COSMETICS MAKEUP PALETTES
I’m giddy with excitement about this new makeup brand, Profusion Cosmetics, which just launched at Target. The brand specializes in highly pigmented, on-trend, professional quality makeup palettes that will inspire you to unleash the creative genius inside of you. And here’s the thing: all of these stunning palettes retail for under $20.
In the segment, I showcased a number of different palettes for the eyes and face, among them the Pro Face Professional Beauty Book ($13 at Target), which incorporates 32 wearable and blendable makeup offerings for you to master countless full-faced looks: 20 eye shadows in matte, satin, and shimmer finishes, 2 dual brow powders to fill in and accentuate arches, a brow wax, 3 blush hues, 2 highlighter shades, 2 bronzer colors, and two makeup brushes.
Another amazing palette I showed off was the Mixed Metals Peach Palette, which includes 9 warm and complementary eyeshadow shades. The palette retails for just $10 and it comes with a Pro Series brush, a matte lip pencil, and a Metallized Lip Creme. How is that for value, right?
These palettes are proof that you don’t need to spend a ton of money to stock up on some game-changing makeup palettes — and to help your mom refresh her own makeup bag! There’s literally something for everyone — from the minimalist who likes barely-there, whisper-like makeup looks to the trend-obsessed glam queen who knew about Rihanna-inspired cheek draping and sunshine yellow eyeshadow before they were even flooding everyone’s Instagram feeds.
OLGA LORENCIN SKINCARE FACIAL IN A BOX COLLECTION
Few moms have the time to go to a spa to enjoy routine facials, but that doesn’t mean need to neglect their skin or give up on the whole idea of professional facial peels! Celebrity facialist Olga Lorencin, whose clients include Halle Berry and Sofia Vergara, has an entire Facial in a Box collection within her namesake skincare line, with each set featuring a 3-step system designed to transform users’ complexion. With a Facial in a Box system, then, busy moms can enjoy professional-grade facial peels at home and do so when it’s most convenient for them — whether it’s during the kids’ nap time or while they’re off at school.
The Olga Lorencin Deep Detox Facial in a Box ($98 at OlgaLorencinSkincare.com and Nordstrom.com) aims to purge skin of impurities, decongest pores, and hydrate the skin so it’s healthy and radiant. The three-step system starts with a peel that features mandelic acid and phytic acid to exfoliate the skin and prevent breakouts, salicylic acid to eliminate blemishes, and a mineral complex comprised of copper and zinc gluconates to help brighten the skin. The next step is a neutralizer that contains allantoin to soothe dry and itchy skin, along with activated charcoal, which naturally draws out dirt and impurities from pores. The final step is a mask that contains ougon oil, which helps to protect the skin against aging signs, along with argan oil, conditioning glycerin, and radiance-boosting copper and zinc gluconates.
The Red Carpet Facial in a Box ($108 at OlgaLorencinSkincare.com and Nordstrom.com), meanwhile, has everything you need to feel like you’re Eva Mendes posing at the Oscars. Again here the treatment starts with a facial peel, this one containing lactic and malic acids that promote cellular turnover and lead to a more youthful and radiant complexion, as well as green tea extract to rejuvenate the skin. The second step involves a neutralizer containing sodium bicarbonate, which creates a fizzy sensation that revives tired and dull skin, and aloe and allantoin to soothe and calm the complexion. And the third step is an indulgent mask containing shea butter, jojoba seed oil, hyaluronic acid and a mineral complex to further boost the skin’s luminosity and give it a lit-from-within glow.
