Tag / spa

by Kelly Mattei

Great Mother’s Day Gifts for 2023

Great Mother’s Day gifts for 2023.

You have almost a month to find the perfect gift for Mom. Mother’s Day this year is May 14.

When our daughter was a little girl, she gave me the best Mother’s Day gifts. One I still have a was a bracelet she made for me in third grade. It’s made of safety pins and beads, and it’s awesome. I came across it in my jewelry box last night and thought to myself, “I need to wear this on Mother’s Day this year.” Very few gifts mean as much as the gifts our children make for us when they’re young, but there are some thoughtful gifts mom will love, and they don’t all break the bank. Here are a few suggestions for you to purchase early, so you don’t find yourself scrambling at the last minute. And remember, Amazon ships free if you have a Prime membership!

Beach kaftan. My family knows I love a good beach kaftan…especially with summer just around the corner! I take good care of the ones I have, but I love adding to my collection. I have found one on Amazon that is inexpensive, colorful, and pretty. What do I love about a kaftan? I can wear it over swim, and instead of looking all sweaty and tired, a good kaftan makes me look a little more put together…even when I have been in the sun or in the water. I throw them on over a swimsuit to have lunch at an outdoor cafe, and I feel good about how I look. To see the latest one I have found, click here. Mom will love it!

Kate Spade scarf. Years ago, I decided adding a “third piece” to my outfit made me look more complete. It could be a scarf, a jacket, or a statement necklace, but whatever it was, that third piece made me feel more put together. Somewhere along the way, over the past couple of years, I lost touch with that idea, but 2023 is the year my “third piece” makes a comeback. Lately, when I have seen scarves I like, I’ve purchased them. Some of my favorites are made by Kate Spade, because they are well-made, not terribly expensive, and many of them add a punch of color or to an ensemble. Amazon offers several at good prices. To see them, click here.

Samiah Luxe Chunky Knit Blanket. I have admired chunky knit blankets for a long time, but I have never purchased one for myself. I considered making one for myself; it would be easy to make. However, to get good quality, thick, cable yarn, I would have to spend a fortune before I even got started on the actual knitting. Therefore, it’s much more cost effective to just purchase one made by Samiah Luxe, and they make beautiful, quality blankets! You can see what they offer on Amazon here.

Kendra Scott Jewelry. It’s no secret that Kendra Scott jewelry is popular with women of all ages. Even teenagers love it. They offer a lot more selection than you think! Personally, I love their trademark shaped jewelry, but they have a lot of other things, including ring sets, beaded bracelets, and necklaces and earrings of different shapes…in a wide range of prices. To see Kendra Scott’s offerings on Amazon, click here.

Blissy Silk Pillowcase. My mother told me when I was a little girl that silk pillowcases will save my skin and hair. She was right. And Blissy makes a great product from Mulberry silk! Moms will love this. I need to make sure my own family knows about Blissy. They come in six colors and three sizes. She’ll thank you and mean it. Purchase at Amazon here.

Pure Enrichment Deluxe Feet Warmer. It’s a relaxing evening at home, but Mom says her feet are cold. Or maybe mom just needs a little extra relaxation. I have a foot warmer at home, and it’s great for nights I need to wind down before going to bed. Check out the Pure Enrichment Deluxe Feet Warmer here. Priced at about $50, it’s a bargain.

Christian Dior Addict Lip Glow Lip Balm. Y’all, I got a couple of these for myself after hearing everyone talk about it, and I love it. I then ended up giving them to my daughter when I visited her at college and she needed a lip balm. I promptly ordered some more for myself. All of them except the “clear” have a hint of color, but just a hint. And they are smooth, not cakey. Mom will love it. Plus, it’s Dior! We love Dior! Priced under $50, it’s a great gift. Purchase from Amazon here.

Shower Steamers Aromatherapy. I know I mention these all the time, but there is a reason: they’re awesome! If someone gave me some Shower Steamers Aromatherapy essential oil shower bombs, I’d be a happy mom! Nothing can make a shower feel like a spa more than some essential oil shower bombs. I found some from Jojowell that are priced under $25 for 21 shower bombs! These are made to hang in your shower, releasing whichever aroma you pick of the seven offered. If no one in my family gives me some for Mother’s Day, I’ll be ordering them myself. Get them at Amazon here.

Monpure Silky Strengthening Shampoo. After I told a friend I needed something to help repair my damaged hair, she recommended I try Monpure. At $49, it’s not cheap, but it sure helped my hair. It received the Good Housekeeping “Tried and Tested Award” in 2021 for the Best anti-breakage shampoo. I love it. My hair has more shine, and the shampoo’s herbal scent is increcible. Mom will appreciate it. Purchase from Amazon here.

If your mom is like me, she considers YOU the best gift ever…just like I think of my daughter. However, it’s nice to get a little recognition on Mother’s Day. Let Mom know she’s special. Maybe some of the ideas above will help you find something for her. Remember, it’s best to purchase early! Order now from Amazon and have the gift in hand with time to spare!

Happy Shopping!

by Kelly Mattei

My Favorite Valentine’s Day Gifts 2019

It’s a problem for some people every single year…what do I get my spouse/significant other for Valentine’s Day? It’s less than a week away, folks. While some people are full-on romantics, others like silly gifts, and some like gifts somewhere in between. And this year, for the first time in years, the traditional candy hearts from Necco won’t be available. Necco went out of business. Another company did purchase the rights to make the hearts, but they didn’t have enough time to make the hearts for this year. They should be back for Valentine’s Day 2020, though. I’ve come across some awesome other ideas in lots of price ranges…and varying degrees of seriousness.

Shari’s Berries. Y’all think you know everything there is to know about Shari’s Berries, but you don’t. You probably know they have delicious chocolate-covered strawberries. I know it, because my husband has sent them to me before. But did you know they have heart-shaped cheesecakes and mini cheesecake bites? Did you know they have flowers and Mrs. Field’s Cookies? Well, they do. If you haven’t checked out their website, you need to look here. But there’s more! When you get to the website, if you look just above the search box near the top of the page, you’ll see a place to click BLOG. Click there for access to lots of great Valentine’s ideas, including some printables that include 102 Reasons Why I Love You. (Or you can click here.) Who wouldn’t love a sweet treat from Shari’s Berries plus a booklet of 102 Reasons Why I Love You. My husband will definitely receive some chocolate covered strawberries this year (it counts as a serving of fruit, right?), and I’ll print the printables, but instead of putting them in booklet form, I’ll hide them all over the house and in his car for him to find at different times. Maybe one in a house slipper. Maybe one in a jacket pocket. Maybe one under his toothpaste. Maybe one in the car console. You get the picture.

Shutterfly Personalized Gifts. I love personalized gifts, and frankly, I love Shutterfly. I discovered Shutterfly when our daughter was an infant, and back then, it was the easiest way for me to share photos with faraway family. It also became my go-to for personalized gifts. They offer a myriad of gifts you can personalize with photos…blankets, photo books, notecards, coffee mugs, and more. My personal favorite it the photo book. You can do it the easy way with “auto-fill” or put in a little more work and organize the photos yourself. Maybe gather photos from your first date to now? Or a few photos from every year of your marriage? If my husband gave me one of these, I’d be thrilled. Shop Shutterfly here. There’s still time if you pick express shipping.

Comfy. Some of y’all are going to think I’m crazy. You might have seen ads for this, or maybe you saw it on Shark Tank. The Comfy is awesome. It’s a giant, oversized sweatshirt/blanket with a soft, fleecy inside! I got one for my daughter and one for me, and we love them. Best of all…one size fits most! It comes in a variety of colors, and I think it’s perfect for cold nights at home, cold sporting events (I’ll take it to cold lacrosse games), long flights or car rides, and more! It might look silly, but it sure is comfy! I got us both navy blue, but I have a friend who has a pink one and another friend who has a red one. The red one looks a little like characters from A Handmaid’s Tale, but it’s still cute and comfy too! Get it at Amazon here. Great for males or females!

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Comfy…photo by Amazon

Chick-Fil-A Chicken Minis. I know. It sounds crazy, but this year, Chick-Fil-A will be offering chicken minis and chicken nuggets in a heart-shaped reheatable tray. From what I can tell, there is a possibility it won’t be available at all locations, but I will definitely be checking around to see which ones are offering it! I would be thrilled to get chicken nuggets or chicken minis from Chick-Fil-A for Valentine’s Day…no joke…even if they’re not in a heart-shaped tray! I can say, without a doubt, my teenage daughter would love it.

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Experiences. Y’all know I love experience gifts. Gift the gift that will be remembered. I’ve said it before: we rarely remember gifts of stuff, but we remember experiences. There are lots of experience gifts: spa days, amusement park passes, indoor skydiving (I’m obsessed), race car driving, movie passes, concert tickets…the list goes on and on. You could even give an experience you can do together! Fleetwood Mac is coming to Charlotte later in February…that could be a great gift. Significant other likes basketball but doesn’t have season tickets to the Charlotte Hornets? Game tickets make for a fun night out. Another great one is a gift card to Blo Blow Dry Bar on Selwyn Avenue in Charlotte (see their website here)…women love to get their hair done! Check your local events calendar for concerts or special events in your area.

Other ideas:

  • Claus Porto Soaps
  • Cornet Barcelona Wine Glasses with a favorite bottle of wine.
  • Framed Favorite Photo
  • Homemade Baked Goods
  • Favorite Candies
  • Jewelry

You have almost a week! It’s time to get that Valentine’s Day gift for the one(s) you love! Personally, I’d be happy with anything on this list!

Happy Valentine’s Day!