Mother's Day Celebration + Gorgeous Gift Ideas

Beautiful Mother's Day gifts for that trend setting Mom...or yourself!

Mother's Day is the day to celebrate our Moms and enjoy being a mom (if that's the case). Today's moms are young, fresh and even athletic. We've learned that it's "O.K." to carve out time for ourselves each day and to sparkle when we go out. Here are some super gifting ideas for her and or to enjoy for yourself!

Cate and Chloe CZ Jewelry

Cate & Chloe Jewelry makes a wonderful gift as you can mix and match earrings, bracelets and necklaces to make a lovely presentation set. Here I am wearing the Diana "Divine" Necklace based on jewelry owned by one of the most glamorous Moms in the world, Princess Diana. The sterling silver necklace has an extender so you can adjust the length. I paired this elegant necklace with the Eleanor "Shining Bright" Hoop Earrings.  These are CZ studded hoops with a dangling CZ stone with silver plated accents. See more lovely jewelry selections at CateandChloe.com

Cate & Chloe Diamond Earrings and Necklaces

Helen Ficalora Sterling Silver Charm Jewelry

Helen Ficalora MOM Charm in Sterling Silver

Sterling Silver Charms that you can mix or match to make your own personalized gift for Mom. They all easily fit on the fine sterling silver chain and look beautiful with a clean, simple appeal. See more jewelry selections at HelenFicalora.com

Add  extra charms to your Helen Ficalora necklace.

Shari Dixon Handcrafted Jewelry
These unique, organic pieces are handmade in the USA by jewelry artist and designer Shari Dixon. The pendants contain actual plants and flowers preserved in resin while the lockets can hold a little photo of a child for Mom. A keepsake and jewelry all in one! Visit ShariDixonInc.com. Shown below are her: 
Bamboo Oval Locket Adjustable Ring
Yellow Achillea on Olive Locket Bracelet
Thyme Seed Pack Pendant Necklace

Love Shawls Scarves + Jewelry

Love Shawl Glam Blush with 24k Gold Accents

Love Shawls are a lovely combination of a scarf and jewelry. Embellished with fresh water pearls, gems and gold or silver accents, these add instant polish and elegance for every outfit.
Love Shawls are handmade and absolutely lovely to wear as you can see. See all their current styles online at LoveShawls.com

Love Shawl Goddess-Bordeaux with silver accents and beads.

American Tourister Overnight Bag & Coco-Mat and Luxe Me Now Slippers 
Travel-Mom will love these! New, lighter flight ready American Tourister Bags are the Official Luggage of Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland. The Atomosphera 2 Overnight Bag as a telescoping handle and two large wheels. It has multiple exterior pockets for easy last minute access. The interior is fully lined with cross straps and a large mesh zippered inner pocket. Weight? Only 6 lbs. and just the right size to fit in the smaller airline on flight boxes.

Coco-Mat & Luxe Me Now Slippers
Natural Fiber Slippers by Coco-Mat are made of organic cotton. Soft and lightweight, especially for summer travel. I've worn my Luxe Me Now slippers to Crystal Springs Spa and even to breakfast at the Hotel! They are the ultimate in glamour and Mom will feel like a movie star wearing them on vacation or at home.

Coco-Mat Natural Organic Cotton Slippers

Sublime Beauty Sampler - Travel Set
TSA Flight Friendly set of 9 of the most popular Sublime Beauty products for face and body:  Vitamin C Day Cream SPF 30, Retinol Serum, Collagen Serum and Mask, Hyaluronic Serum, Glycolic/Salicylic Serum, Luxurious Facial Oil, Cellulite Whisperer Body Gel and Lotion. Visit SublimeBeautyShops.com or order on Amazon.

Sublime Beauty Sampler

Posh Gardening Tools by Liberty of London
Does Mom like to garden? Here are some ideas for her flower bed and rose garden: Liberty of London Gardening Tools and Tote are lovely but you can find similar pieces at your local gardening section at most major stores. Add a canvas tote and a few seed packets for an extra special touch.

Pretty Gardening Tools from Liberty of London

Rose & Herb Wreath and Onion/Artichoke Dip Sets from Creekside Farms
Does Mom like to entertain? Send her this beautiful Rose and Herb Wreath to welcome her guests and this lovely Onion and Artichoke Dip Set to serve them! Dried flowers and herbs are hand arranged by artisans at Creekside Farms and ship anywhere in the US. The Dip Sets are a beautifully painted Red Onion and Artichoke and hold a LOT of dip. Visit Creekside Farms for more floral, herb wreaths and gift ideas. Best Picks Magazine readers receive 15% OFF with Coupon Code MOM15 on all Creekside Farms orders.

Floral-Herb Wreath and Dip Sets from Creekside Farms

Dixon Sun Hat from Pistil Designs
This is the perfect laid back beach to picnic hat sure to become one of Mom's favorites. The Dixon is a natural fiber woven hat made paper straw, so it's light and cool. Shown here in Sienna, it has a chin strap and the Pistil logo metal piece on the braided headband. The brim has thin wire in it to help keep its shape. See more from Pistil Designs online.

Dixon Sun Hat in Sienna by Pistil Designs

Honeysuckle Sport Tote by Fitmark
Mom will love taking this handy tote to the club, pool or spa as it is soft, light and full of soft lined pockets to hold everything. It even has a separate, removable antimicrobial wet bag plus a Fit-Hydrate pocket with insulated liner to hold your favorite sports bottle. Totally tricked out, Mom or you will have heads turning when you enter the club with this tote. See more from Fitmark Bags online.

Art & Sole is a spectacular selection of more than 150 fantasy art shoes from the Stuart Weitzman Collection. What Alexander McQueen is to fashion, Art & Sole is to dress shoes.  This book is a lovely presentation with its red cloth binding and gilded edged pages showcase approximately 150 breathtaking to whimsical shoes.  Author, Jane Gershon Weitzman is Executive V.P. of Stuart Weitzman and the first Vice President of retail. 208 pp/hardcover/Harper Collins.

Art & Sole Gift Book

Whatever gifts you choose, just be sure that's it's from the heart and beautiful. These select Mother's Day Gifts deliver on both points spectacularly!

Lead Photo: Winter Garden Dress by Cindy and Johnny, Tan Leather Ballet Flats by T & N (Sagar)
Eye Wear by Jack Eyes, NYC

Mother's Day Gift Ideas: Sea Stars by Diana Kauffman Jewelry Designs - Club Monaco

Beautiful statement pieces by Diana Kauffman Jewelry Designs

Mother's Day should remind you that beach season is just around the corner. This year, why not treat Mom (or yourself) to beautiful handcrafted jewelry that can be worn with a beach caftan or your favorite bikini?

Sea Star Earrings 2 with beautiful antique copper French Hooks

These earrings are gorgeous and perfect for a trip to the spa or a tropical resort. Handmade in the USA, these beautiful statement pieces are a gracious compliment to: sun dresses, beach wear, resort fashions, vacation honeymoons.

Sea Star Earrings 2
Strands of genuine leather in turquoise shades wave with artisan-made ceramic beads dangle from antique copper ear wires. See them online at DianaKauffmanDesigns.com

Sea Star Signature Necklace

This necklace compliments the Sea Star Earrings so beautifully, you'll look like that Saint Tropez model wearing them together! I really like the organic look of the necklace which showcases little sea treasures of a copper starfish and silver scallop shell. Absolutely stunning on tanned skin.

Sea Star Signature Necklace
Handmade Greek ceramic beads anchor this necklace made from SilverSilk; a non-tarnish, permanently enameled gunmetal wire knitted around a hematite bead chain. Embellished with copper starfish and silver clamshell.  Approx. length: 32”

Club Monaco Quartz Necklace
Another of my beachy favorites is the long green quartz necklace from Club Monaco, 5th Ave. My brother and I were shopping and we saw this piece and went "Wow". I've come to find out that such
quartz necklaces were worn as a sign of power and prestige in the British Isles centuries ago.

Club Monaco 5th Avenue Sea Foam Green Quartz Necklace

French Cloisonne Glass Perfume Holder
This is another of my favorite jewelry pieces for the shore. Inside the little winged creature is a large glass vial for your favorite perfume or fragrance oil. I prefer to use an anointing oil inside as it is thicker than perfume and less likely to spill out. There is a metal rod applicator inside the top and the necklace is silver.

French Cloisonne glass perfume holder

Pampering Gifts for Mother's Day

Relaxing Bed Buddy Herbal Compresses for Mother's Day Pampering

Mother's Day is so special! Mom always knows how to pamper us even as adults. How about returning the favor? Here are some comfy-cozy gifts sure to soothe and please. Mom will thank you all year long:

Comfort Wrap in Lavender Rose

This is my absolute favorite! It can be either chilled or heated in the microwave. Great for after a run or times of the month when cramps and backaches crop up.

Filled with flaxseeds and essential oils of Lavender & Rose, this wrap smells amazing as it incorporates thermal therapy with Aromatherapy all at once. Comes in other herbal scents as well.

Relaxation Mask in Lavender

Lavender is known to help relieve stress and induce sleep so using a mask like this is the ultimate in relaxation and comfort. Pop it in the fridge to help take down puffy eyes and offer migraine relief. Warm it up as a compress for sinus problems. 

The Lavender will send Mom into La La Land while the mask blocks annoying light for a perfect night's sleep.

Foot Warmers in Lavender Mint

I gave a pair like these as a gift one time and they were really appreciated. These Foot Warmers can be put in the microwave for a minute or two and popped on tired or cold feet for an immediate boost. Mint as well as Lavender are natural pain relievers so these booties are perfect after a hard day on your feet.

The Bed Buddy Wrap, Mask and Foot Warmers are all made by Carex Health Brands and available at most major retailers including Target, Walmart, Amazon, Bed Bath & Beyond.

 

Juverest - The Sleep Wrinkle Pillow

Juverest Pillow
I just got this Juverest Pillow and plan to take it with me to Crystal Springs Spa & Resort in May. It is designed to support your neck and shoulders so that your face does not press into the pillow (thus causing wrinkles). I currently use a Tempur Pedic Memory Foam Neck Pillow on their mattress made of the same material. I'll follow up with a full review after testing. Still this might also be a great pampering gift for Mom especially if she's not quite happy with her current bed pillow. See the full Juverest story online at Juverest.com

Wrap, Mask & Foot Warmers c/o Bed Buddy

Mother's Day Books: MBFW Look Book, Decades of Hats & Downton Abbey Cookbook

Keepsake books on fashion and cuisine Mom (or you) will treasure!

If you missed Spring 2014 Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in NYC -  last fall, here is an amazing consolation prize: The SFP Lookbook - Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Collections New York.(Schiffer Publishing)

Burberry Spring 2014

With this large coffee table book, you can see the runway unfold right before your eyes with your favorite fashion designers from the S/S 2014 shows. All of the top designers and fashion houses are there including two whom I've met through our shared work with the Ice Theatre of New York: Vera Wang and Nichole Miller.

The Vera Wang Spring 2014 show.

384 full color pages allow you to relive the shows with designers like: Herve Leger, Badgley Mischka, Lacoste, Diesel Black Gold, Tory Burch, Zac Posen as well as up an coming designers from the Academy of Art University & Project Runway to name only a few.

Nichole Miller designed these gowns for the ITNY ice show.

 This is a keepsake treasure that you can use now to build your spring-summer outfits. Having a detailed look-book like this allows you to see how to include updated elements from the runway shows to your own wardrobe. Simply exquisite! Edited by Jessie Marth for Schiffer Fashion Press, copyright 2014 or visit SchifferBooks.com online.

Decades of Hats 1900s to the 1970's by Sue Nightingale (Schiffer Publishing)
This VERY entertaining yet informative book takes you right through the "Flapper Era" with all sorts of stops along the way. The book's plates show advertisements for everything from hair extensions, (yes they sold them then too), to hats which look quite similar to those worn by the Duchess of Cambridge (aka Princess Kate) today. In fact if you didn't know better, you'd think Philip Treacy was designing back then. Truth is, up until the late 1960's, hats and gloves were quite common place for going out in public even in America. Queen Elizabeth's Queen Mum never felt "dressed" going out without one of her signature soft floppy brims. 

Todd Smith & Co Hats from circa 1904

Some of my favorite hats in this book are from 1920 - 1929 as many of them have not changed very much down to this day.  The main thing I would note is that the hats are far more ornate than what we would see today but that may also be due to changing styles and availability of raw materials, (can you say "Ostrich Feathers?).

Contemporary felt cap once called a "Clara Bow Hat"

Clara Bow Hat - Similar to what I'm wearing in the photo above was once called the Clara Bow Hat - "Designed for and Posed by the Famous Paramount Picture Star".  During the Roaring 20's, these wool felt hats were tricked out with grosgrain ribbon, flowers, buckles, bows and ostrich feathers. Listed in the Sears Roebuck and Co. catalog for about $2.25!
Historically fashionable, Decades of Hats is gorgeous and shows nothing is new under the sun. See more titles at SchifferBooks.com

Edwardian Cooking: The Unofficial Downton Abbey Cookbook by Larry Edwards
80 authentic recipes from the more upper crust Edwardian kitchens. Recipes for your High Tea, savory delicacies such as Baked Stuffed Mushrooms and dinner ideas. Really everything from soup to nuts! My family has roots in the British Isles (Scotland included) and many of the recipes are quite familiar such as Queen Victoria Rice Pudding. Very similar to my Grandmother's recipe! If you are even remotely English, these recipes will sound very familiar and like true British cuisine, require a limited amount of simple ingredients. Huzzah!

 
Edwardian Cooking offers a rare glimpse into the cooking styles and tastes of the Downton Abbey era, (1901-1919) when there was a fork and utensil for everything...pickle fork, herring tongs, oyster dish. Still the book offers contemporary and much less fussy cooking instructions. I have antique cookbooks from that era and they are so convoluted and difficult to follow. Not so with this cookbook. Now I may not agree with the olive oil in the Abbey Banana Walnut Bread recipe but it's not hard to swap out ingredients that you prefer or have available. Elegant Edwardian Meals in 168 easy to follow pages. Available online from Arcade Publishing.

Downton Abbey buttery Dinner Biscuits

 
Books c/o Schiffer and Arcade Publishing respectively.

Spring Gardening Joys

Perk up your spring gardening with these lovely Liberty of London tools and Sunflower Tote!

There is something very therapeutic about working with good soil. Even the simple things that lead up to the actual planting such as composting and turning over the earth connects us to a simpler time. A time when we were tied to the earth in a very intimate way.

Getting a new set of gardening tools or just cleaning / repainting your old ones is a easy way to ignite your gardening passion. Pick up a pair of pretty brightly colored gardening gloves so you associate the activity with something lovely. The orange and yellow metal container pictured here can be used to store your things and the tote makes a good place to carry the tools which are sure to get a little muddy after use. One you empty everything out, use the tote bag as a waterproof pad. With a little foam added, you can lay it down on the ground to keep your knees dry and protected from the hard, damp ground.

Another idea you might consider is gardening in pots or containers. I have succulents planted in the strawberry pot pictured here but all sorts of herbs also do well. Place them on a sunny porch and harvest your ever-bearing strawberries and spices as needed!

Containers are also very popular now for tomatoes but you can make your own Topsy Turvy style planters. We did last year and planted both Rutgers and grape tomatoes in them. They were very clean and gave a fair amount of yield. We just got the largest hanging plastic planters we could find and poked 3 inch diameter holes in them. Next we filled with a mixture of compost, Miracle Grow Gardening Soil and about 1 tbsp of Magnesium or Epsom Salts. The only thing is with terracotta pottery, you'll need to water a bit more frequently because the sun's heat is conducted through the minerals within the clay. This can be a good thing for plants like strawberries that like a dryer, warmer soil.

If you are new to gardening, this is an easy way to ease into it. Planter gardening is becoming very popular because it reduces bending and stooping. You can also shift your pots and containers to sunnier or less windy spots as the season dictates. The rewards of fresh organic produce just steps outside of your door are perhaps the best inducement to invest in a little gardening savvy!