You know it’s coming up on Sunday, May 8th and if buying a gift for Mom has slipped your ‘to-do’ list lately, we have some great finds below from sustainable items approved by Michelle Obama to sweets from a Michelin-starred chef and self-care that you can have delivered quickly.
Global Gifts and Scents
For a globe-trotting Mom, Verve Culture offers gifts from Morocco to Mexico and Thailand and includes everything from pottery to housewares, slippers and bath products. The company works with small artisan entrepreneurs all over the world to help promote local community crafts. For a bit of self-care, stress relief, and relaxation the round-up of wellness products use the centuries-old tradition of herbal healing to help relax and unwind from a Thai herbal massage ball ($12) to a cold-pressed Moroccan Argan oil ($35).
The art of scent is a magical mystery at privately owned Capsule Parfumerie in Chinatown, Los Angeles. You don’t have to live here to order something for Mom from an alluring array of sensory creations from eight fragrance lines and a special collaboration: A Flower for You ($150) that also benefits the Ron Finley Project. If you do plan to be in the area, check out the on-site scent-making classes (also a fantastic gift) where they collaborate with other cool artisan brands such as Bay Area-based chocolatier Michiko Marron-Kibbey of Deux Cranes. The co-owner, Linda Sivrican, also owns a specialty market nearby with curated Asian-American food items and snacks at Sesame LA so all your senses will be covered.
Stylish Travel Basics
If your mom appreciates art and needs a stylish bag to carry her farmer’s market bounty or books on a plane, SFMOMA has a great Weekender Tote featuring the Pan American Unity mural by Mexican artist Diego Rivera. ($42.00 for non-members.) And, if Mom is heading to San Francisco this summer, she can see the Diego Rivera’s America exhibition as well.
This is a fun one for a spouse, sister or friend with small children: Mini Rodini makes the Mini Me collection in both adult and kid sizes in select pieces. Founder and globetrotter Cassandra Rhodin, thought her kids looked so cool she decided to design a matching outfit for herself. Fans include Katie Perry and Amy Schumer to name a few. We think the striped kaftan in organic cotton with an embroidered three-leaf clover is perfect for traveling, hitting the beach or pool. Prices for the shirts start at $46 for the mini and $90 for the adult.
And, if Mom liked those ‘junk food’ PJs from Cravings by Chrissy Teigen that you got her for the holidays, she will really love the new Italian-inspired Dolcezza collection with head-scarves, wrap or slip dresses for easy packing and traveling this summer. Pieces start at $32.
If Mom would rather stay home in her workout sweats and watch “The Bachelorette” (no judging), we have the perfect gift for her. Female-founded loungewear brand, LULUSIMONSTUDIO, loved by A-listers from Olivia Culpo to Eva Longoria, has launched a new collaboration with The Bachelorette alum, Becca Kufrin. The collection consists of two tees “Full Time Dog Sitter” and “Champagne Season” ($46) and one sweatshirt “First of All” ($59). All styles are inspired by her time on the show, her love of dogs, and her effortless style.
When Mom does decide to venture out for any activities or travel, make sure she has a pair of uber-cool shades to block those beach rays. The new Santa Barbara line from locally-based designer Heidi Merrick features chic oversized black or tortoise rimmed styles ($155) with 100 percent UV-protected lenses. Also, check out her SRF line as well for suits to sweatshirts.
Sweet Treats
Chocolate from one of the greatest chefs in the world? Yes, please. A Thomas Keller chocolate collaboration has arrived and its vegan climate-friendly and delicious, plus much cheaper than a trip to the French Laundry in Napa.
Supplant recently debuted three new chocolate bar flavors (from $13.99) in partnership with the Michellin-starred Chef Keller. Building on the current milk and dark chocolate offerings, the new flavors will be available as a Climate Friendly Pledge offering on Amazon and at Supplant.com, and include: Milk Chocolate Coffee, Milk Chocolate Sea Salt and a vegan Dark Chocolate Orange.
Supplant is uniquely addressing food waste by incorporating the world’s most renewable resource, the fibrous part of crops, into the food system, ultimately reducing the demand for cane sugar—a water-intensive crop that’s a threat to biodiversity—and offers a solution to the very real problem of food waste, all while being nutritious and providing far-reaching benefits for human health.
For the perfect mid-afternoon treat, try sending a Sugarwish to Mom this year. The triple chocolate chip cookie is a cult favorite (120K chocoholics can’t be wrong) but they have 20 more flavors to choose from, including gluten-free and keto offerings, ranging from salty to sweet. (Starting at $23.) And, you can give a mini tea or coffee assortment to go with those incredible cookies.
Another top snackable gift is chocolate laced popcorn by Poppy that comes in a colorful tube (it also slips into a tote bag easily) in addictive flavors like Spring Confetti and Sea Salt & Dark Chocolate. Available online or select retailers starting at $22.50.
Floral Alternative
Rather than something that will die in a few days, or that will be a choir for Mom to water and keep alive, try a genius sustainable product founded in Copenhagen – the world’s first plantable pencils, colored pencils, and even makeup pencils.
The idea of the Sprout pencil is to plant it when it becomes too short to write with, thus giving new life to a product that you would otherwise throw away. The pencils are available with 10 different seeds that grow into vegetables, flowers, herbs and even a tree. Pricing starts at $11.99 for a 5-pencil pack.
But the most amazing aspect is the new plantable eye and brow liner. These are the only liners in the world with a capsule at the end with seeds so it can be planted after use and grown into wildflowers. The patented liner is AC-tested (allergy-friendly), with a natural formula, free of microplastics, and is added with natural oils that are good for the skin. Sprout has sold over 40 million of these in more than 80 countries and former First Lady Michelle Obama is also a fan.
Self-Care at Home
LUSH is a British-based retailer of freshly-handmade, fun and fizzy bath and body products (the neon ‘disco duck’ shimmer is a fan-favorite) and candy-colored soaps. They have a new array of bath bombs that you can gift Mom in a colorful gift box (individual pieces start at $6.95) and even have it shipped, but a visit to one of the shops will make you feel like a kid again.
If you want to give Mom’s skin a lift that will also be a moisture barrier on long flights or a long day, Dr. Nigma Talib teamed up with longtime friend and client actress Kate Bosworth to create THE SERUM. It’s a brand-new gold facial treatment that is full of prebiotics to preserve the skin microbiome and is infused with a proprietary blend of triple hyaluronic acid penetrating deep into the skin to plump and hydrate. The algae brightens and tightens skin, and the marine collagen gives it a collagen-boosting effect with regular use. ($185. At Net-a-Porter.)
Beauty on the Go
Madame Lemy is a powder-only luxury body care brand that can be used as a deodorant, body powder or dry shampoo – a genius idea for any travels or just a long day out. All products are all-natural, cruelty-free and use sustainable packaging – which has an adorable motif. The brand’s natural scents are derived from essential oils and you have four to choose from for Mom from rose to lime. ($20 each for travel size). And, to ensure sustainable continuity, the products are reusable and refillable with paper kraft refill bags available once the jar runs out.
For the mom who wants to glow in a more gradual way, The Gradual Glow bundle ($58) by Bali Body contains everything she will need to self-tan, hydrate and customize her sunless glow on that tropical trip. This package includes Gradual Tan to moisturize and tan your body with the new Gradual Face Tan that combines your skincare and self-tan in one. Plus, the Luxe Tanning Mitt for a flawless, streak-free application when applying the products all in a luxe cosmetic bag.
Women-owned Wine Club
Scoperta! is a women-owned, family-run wine marketplace specializing in top wines that are too small to go mainstream. This company helps small boutique wineries get discovered by curious wine lovers. There are over 10,000 wineries in the United States but fewer than 2,000 are actually accessible to the average wine drinker, as most retail stores only carry a small percentage of wineries. You can expect finds like Keller Estate 2020 Rosé from Petaluma in Sonoma ($35.00); Osmote 2021 This Is Red Pet Nat from New York ($20.00) or Domaine 524 2017 “Micheline” Pinot Noir Reserve Willamette Valley / Oregon ($75.00) that would all be a welcome addition to Mom’s wine cabinet or cellar.
Bling that Gives Back
On Mother’s Day, May 8th, Jeweler gorjana will donate 10 percent of sales to benefit charitable organization Baby2Baby who provides children living in poverty with diapers, clothing and all the basic necessities that every child deserves. Choose from an array of styles ranging in price from $40-$400 and some of the pieces can be personalized and engraved for Mom.
