Skip to main content

Mother's Day and Everyday...

Scrolling through my twitter feed a few weeks ago, I stopped on a link to "2019 Best Mother's Day" gift suggestions that had me scrunching up my face like "What the...? Nobody's mother would want that." Each item I scrolled through was more awful than the one before. A new synthetic robe? How about a fill-in-the-blank book? A brownie pan? A tortilla toaster? Really? How about a puffy recliner chair from the 70's? Or maybe a Mickey Mouse tee shirt? A cutting board shaped like a state, a lint roller, cartoon socks, owls with succulents planted in them or a blanket with a picture of your family on it rounded out the choices. Ugh, my face is doing that thing again...

Instead, I've put together my own suggestions because, Ahem... I'm the mom. You're the mom too, or you know other moms and we have a few things on our radar. Unique, thoughtful, surprising gifts that we'd be happy to give and would really love to receive. And not just for Mother's Day, though it's right around the corner so if you hurry you can make it. Just go pick them up for yourself or someone lovely later... no occasion needed.

1. This is the fragrance I'll be wearing this Summer... it's available at Sephora or Nordstrom and it smells like crisp, fresh air and sunshine in a bottle. The entire line is modeled after experiences so there are lots of them and they're refreshing, cool, warm and interesting - bonus, they're for men and women.
MAISON MARGIELA - ’REPLICA’ Sailing Day 3.4 oz/ 100 mL


2. Pasadena Design House for the Arts. 
Spend the afternoon walking through a beautiful home and grounds that have been completely redesigned by interior and exterior designers, a different one for each unique room and space. Lunch and boutique shopping on-site or visit a nearby restaurant afterwards. It's an experience that will have you oooh-ing and ahhh-ing over the clever and lovely ideas and will have you thinking about your own home makeover. It will definitely get the creative juices flowing. Take a girlfriend, your sister, your mom, anyone who enjoys touring beautiful homes and appreciates professionally designed spaces. Click here for tickets and to reserve your time.
Image result for pasadena showcase 2019

3. Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens
Click here for tickets.
This is on my list of things to do in LA... go see what's blooming. Take a walk through the botanical gardens, have tea in the Rose Garden Tea Room, or dine in one of the other four cafes and restaurants on site. Click here for Restaurants on site.
Related image

4. Apple iWatch
I was gifted one of these a few months ago and now I'm walking 5 miles a day... yes, really. This little thing motivates me! I can answer the phone, send text messages, read email... I never knew I always wanted this watch. Oh, and it tells time too.
Image result for i watch

5. A bottle of the good stuff... whatever it is she likes to drink, get the good stuff.
I like to shop at K&L in LA because they really know their stuff and they're friendly and knowledgeable. Oh look, there's a champagne tasting tomorrow in LA at 3:00 - let's go! The LA store is on Vine just south of Sunset. Check them out on Instagram @KLwines : Your mom doesn’t want a scarf for Mother’s Day—she wants booze. Champagne’ll do nicely. Why don’t you join us on Saturday for some gift ideas, where we’ll be pouring a great lineup showcasing two decades of vintage Champagne in all three stores? Better yet, bring mom along and secure that #1 favorite kid spot. San Francisco 12-3 / RWC 1-4 / Los Angeles 3-5:30 $20.
Image result for carol brady champagne

6. Cashmere Wrap - Cozy up here.
 This warm mini-blanket cashmere rectangle goes everywhere. Dress it up or dress it down, blue jeans, white jeans, leather jeans... you can never have too many. Order on line or pick up at J.Crew.




7. Little John's Toffee
Okay, so this is my "go to" gift for everything and everyone and what I gift myself once in a while (thank goodness for that watch and all the walking I'm up to now!) It's simply the best English toffee I've ever eaten. It's buttery, silky, nutty, smooth and chocolate-y, melt in your mouth deliciousness that tastes like heaven... a 1/2 lb. box of this will set you back about $17. Pick it up at the Farmer's Market at The Grove.

Image result for little johns toffee

8. A Chic Backpack
The fanny pack and backpack are back, but not just for jogging and school supplies. They're feminine and cool, practical and stylish. Best of all, hands-free! Prices, sizes, styles and materials all vary. Check them out on Pinterest here.

Women's handbags. For most women, purchasing an authentic designer handbag is just not something to dash straight into. Because they bags can be so expensive, ladies in some cases agonize over their selections before making an actual ladies handbag purchase.Vera Bradley leather backpack


9. Bird Feeder
Okay, so this one might seem a little hokey but hear me out. I have a cat who looks out the window all day. I put a bird feeder out there for him but really, I think I enjoy it even more. There are some delightful birds (and a few squirrels) that visit daily and I watch from my dining room table captivaed by each one. It's a little bit of happiness every morning as I sip my coffee. It doesn't matter what the bird feeder looks like but get one that accommodates the seeds or syrup that attract the birds you want to see. The local hardware store is a great place to start. Or check out this one.

Antique Hanging Tray Bird Feeder



Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Go Gift Yourself...

  It's the holidays and we're all busy hustling to make the season merry and bright for those we love but remember, this is your holiday season too. Don't you deserve a little pampering? Some of us start gifting ourselves accidentally at first. We'll be shopping and then "oh, look... I'll just buy it for myself now instead of hoping someone else might get it for me later..." For me it grew into a more intentional habit each year. This year I'm most looking forward to the gifts I'm giving myself! Being generous is an indulgence for us whether we're giving or receiving. Here are some things we can all wrap our sugar plumbed heads around... now go gift yourself! Shop Local There are so many great options for shopping local in LA and it's so nice visiting with my neighborhood vendors year after year and I know they appreciate it. This year I'm gifting myself my favorite sweet treat Little Johns English Toffee . It's the most deli...

Knock, knock...

  It's Springtime and you know what that means... Bikini season is right around the corner - Gasp! Are you ready? Are you ready for this? I don't think you're ready... I know I'm not. So here's what I'm up to: a 30-day detox reboot with #30daystohaealthyliving. Today is day 15 and I've lost a few (ahem, over 6) pounds and the best part; I did it the healthy way - not the crazy way. What is it? Eating clean, balancing blood sugar, increasing nutrition, it's getting the bad stuff out, the things that become addictive - and getting the the good stuff in - think lean protein, fresh fruits and vegetables, complex carbs and good fats. There's a lot more to it but you get the idea. Here's what I've learned so far: I can live without all the stuff I thought I couldn't live without like coffee, sugar, bread and alcohol (What, no wine? no tequila?). I know, it totally doesn't sound like me, does it? Here's what I think was going o...