I love when beautiful brands put their best products together in pretty little packages. Here are some of my Mother’s Day favorites. Take advantage of these wonderful (limited) gift sets for yourself or someone you love.
A Gold-Standard Cleansing Brush
Clarisonic Limited-Edition Mother’s Day Mia 2 in Chevron: You know how much I love my Clarisonic. This is a great opportunity to get a brush with a few perks at an amazing price. Plus, it looks like Missoni. Price: $149 Limited and only at Dillards.com
Roses of a Different Kind
Peter Thomas Roth Rose 4-Piece Kit: Housed inside a beautiful rose-printed case (no wrapping necessary) you’ll find cult-favorites, including Rose Stem Cell Bio-Repair Gel Mask and Cleansing Gel, Mega Rich Intensive Anti-Aging Cellular Eye Cream, and Pink Bombshell Lip Balm.
Price: $65.
A Shortcut to Silky Summer Legs
Shaveworks’ The Works: Bare Perfection Kit: I feel like I’d never buy this for myself but it would be such luxurious gift to receive. Featuring Pearl Soufflé Shave Cream, The Cool Fix and The Cool Fix Rollerball. Price: $54.
Ultra Cool Nail Polish
Nails inc by Victoria, Victoria Beckham: One of my favorite nail brands Nails inc has collaborated with Victoria Beckham to create a unique limited-edition duo of polishes inspired by the look and feel of her spring/summer 2015 collection. Available in two striking new shades inspired by Japanese pattern and design: Judo Red, a vibrant tomato red and Bamboo White, a chic muted bone.
Price: $25 each or $45 for the duo.
No-Fail Lipstick
Urban Decay Sheer Revolution Lipstick. For the low-maintenance mom who loves a high-impact look, Sheer Revolution Lipstick offers bold pigments that are easy to apply, and wear sheer yet shiny. The formula is laced with Maxi-Lip™, which helps define and hydrate lips while making them look plumper and fuller, along with Shea butter, jojoba, olive, and babassu oils, and Vitamin C and E. Price: $22.
A Bevy of Blowouts
DryBar has the cutest Hot Mama coaster gift certificates. I also love their products kits. For Mother’s Day, The Royal Treatment product kit is almost $20 off.
The Zen of Tatcha Skincare
The Tatcha Okasan Mother’s Day Gift Box is so luxe and a perfect introduction to this wonderful brand. Price: $98.
Luxurious French Oil
Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Multi-Purpose Dry Oil: Great for hair, skin and nails, this cult product features a beautiful, limited edition bottle for Mother’s Day. Price: $29.
Totally Indulgent Hand Cream
NYR Organic Beautiful Hands collection is a lovely trio of luxurious hand creams from one of my favorite organic skincare lines. Price: $36.
Before we know it, summer will once again be upon us. And so I thought we could get a jump-start on the warmer months by talking about ways to sun-proof your skin. We all tend to be religious about applying sunscreen to our skin, but today I’m going to teach you about how to sunscreen yourself from within.
Here’s Esther’s SPF Rx:
Eat: Wild Alaskan Salmon
Drink: Water—and lots of it.
Gorgeous Benefits
Salmon love to snack on red algae called astaxanthin; this is what gives the fish its vibrant pink color. Astaxanthin is a potent antioxidant and a great way to protect the skin from within (think an additional SPF 5). Wild Alaskan salmon also contains the neurotransmitter DMAE (dimethylaminoethanol) to keep your brain happy and your muscles contoured so your face retains those glorious cheekbones. Talk about beauty and brains!
Note: make sure you buy wild Alaskan salmon. Alaska is the only state to ban the farming of fish so the waters are clean and pristine, the fish are loaded to the gills with omega-3s, and virtually free of pollutants like mercury.
Dosage: A six-ounce portion of fish at least 3-4x per week should do the trick. Season it up with fresh herbs, organic lemon slices, and seasonal greens.
Eat: Watermelon, tomatoes, papaya, red bell peppers and pink grapefruit
Gorgeous Benefits
These foods are high in lycopene—a red pigment found in plants—that protect the skin against sunburn and skin cancer. It has an SPF of about 3 and helps block UV light. Watermelon will give you the most bang for your buck, since it contains 40% more lycopene than tomatoes.
Dosage: During the summer months make sure you have at least 2 cups of red veggies (think gazpacho and tomato salad) and 2 cups of red fruits per day. Your skin will gain some serious protection and hydration to boot.
Drink: Green Tea
Gorgeous Benefits
Green tea is rich in polyphenols, which are powerful plant-based antioxidants. Think of them as suits of armor for your cells, protecting your skin from aging.
Dosage: Research shows that drinking two or more cups of green tea daily reduces your risk of developing squamous cell skin cancer by 30%. You can drink it hot, or toss it on the rocks for a refreshingly cool cocktail.
Esther Blum is the author of Eat, Drink and Be Gorgeous, Secrets of Gorgeous and Cavewomen Don’t Get Fat. She has been on Today show and Dr.Oz, just t name a few. Get more great information on her wonderful website, EstherBlum.com.
That’s the legendary women’s wear designer Dana Buchman pictured above, founder of a groundbreaking non-profit organization, The Promise Project, that serves under-privileged children with learning disabilities. It is an organization I feel passionately about. Here’s why.
“When learning is difficult, everything is difficult.”
As the mom of a child with learning differences, I know this well. Learning disabilities are often complicated and difficult to diagnose. Fortunately, we were able to identify my daughter’s needs early and she is finding success in a school with teaching methods that cater to the way her brain processes information.
But there are thousands of undiagnosed children struggling in school. These children are devastated by their inability to read and write. Left untreated, learning disabilities (which are actual neurological disorders) can often lead to debilitating low self-esteem, drug use, teenage pregnancy, crime and lifelong poverty. And as I’m sure you know, learning differences have nothing to do with how smart a child is—many children have above average intelligence.
“The Promise Project is a non-profit that helps under-served children in New York City get the help they need. By providing testing, advocacy and educational services often not readily available to families in need, The Promise Project unlocks the potential of these children, providing a pathway to success.
The pioneering fashion designer Dana Buchman founded The Promise Project after becoming fervently involved with her daughter’s learning disabilities and education. In 2006, she wrote a book, A Special Education, about the challenges in understanding and managing her daughter’s special needs. And then she vowed to devote her life to bringing resources to families who don’t have their own.
The Promise Project joined forces with Columbia University Medical Center, in affiliation with New York-Presbyterian Hospital, to create the most comprehensive program in New York City to help impoverished children with learning disabilities. The work they do is two-fold: first and foremost, they provide crucial help for children who would likely not receive it elsewhere—but The Promise Project also collects vital data on learning disabilities with the hope that someday soon we can get a clearer neurological understanding of them to better identify and treat people.
Today is The Promise Project’s annual benefit, Beautiful Promise. But you don’t have to attend the actual event to take part in the incredible auction on Charitybuzz. It is a formidable who’s who of fashion, food, jewelry and beauty. And it’s all accessible online and via your smartphone. Mother’s Day is around the corner, spring is in bloom so why not treat yourself or someone you love with a gift that will go the extra distance.
Watch the lovely Dana Buchman speak about learning disabilities here. Learn more about The Promise Project here.
I celebrated a birthday last week. I was lucky enough to be surrounded by my children, my husband and parents. I don’t tend to be a huge celebrator, so festivities were low-key—but I did have my favorite Carvel ice cream cake. The same cake I’ve been enjoying on every birthday since my early 80s roller skating parties.
As I sat there, at 41, devouring an eight year old’s birthday cake, I found myself wondering—when am I going to feel old? Or, at least, older?
I mean, I still sit criss-cross-applesauce and call my mother every day. I have the sweet tooth of a child. And my version of dress-up isn’t too dissimilar from my daughter’s.
At the same time, I realize—I’m far too old to be foolish anymore. Yet, I think I’m far too young to not care. I haven’t earned the kind of blissful indifference of, say, my grandma at 85 years-old. She had a matter-of-factness that I think comes from a lifetime of learning who you are.
What IS this sober, alert age I’m at?
And then it hit me: I think what I actually feel is relief. I’ve lost the angst of youth. My confidence is at a high point. I don’t question my decision making—whether it’s my lunch, my jeans or my parenting. I admire, rather than envy, the beauty of younger women. There’s no room in my heart or mind for the kind of jealousy or self loathing I felt even a decade ago.
With the clutter cleared away, it feels like I can finally begin to really be me. And maybe that’s why I actually feel energized and not “old.” It’s like I’m 25 with a track of time. Because I know how fast it goes. How life seems to go by overnight sometimes. One birthday you’re disco skating to MacArther Park and eating Carvel cake with 20 kids—and the next, you’re blowing out a match because no one can find a candle while your two year-old sings “EE-I-EE-I-O” instead of Happy Birthday.
But I’ll take it.
You know, it was right around my last birthday that I launched BeautyMama. It’s been an unforgettable year. Thanks for being here and helping us both grow.
XO
I’m headed to Florida for a few days to see my family and defrost my kids.
I actually grew up in Miami. But to be honest, I never liked the weather. I always felt like a creature out of my natural habitat with my big frizzy hair and pale skin. Don’t get me wrong, I like warm weather, I just like a more arid heat. It must be genetic or something. Because my people are from very cold places. Humidity makes all my five senses cringe. It puts me in a bad mood and my hair in a spiral.
Not this time.
This time I’m glossed and ready. Here’s my defense, head to toe.
Hair
I got a gloss and a blowout the day before my trip. Anyone can get a gloss, a subtle color gloss or a clear one. A gloss adds major shine and really clamps down the cuticle, which is key for blocking moisture.
Before my blowout, my stylist used this anti-frizz Kerastase spray I’ve heard great things about.
Body
I went in for a full-body St. Tropez self-tanning treatment the day before I left. I swear the layer of color gives me an added boost of sun protection under my SPF. Plus, I am less apt to scare people at the pool.
Face
I intend to use Bare Mineral makeup exclusively because I find it “sweats” well. Plus, it absorbs oil. Win-win since I tend to be both sweaty and oily in humidity.
At the end of the day, if all my defenses fail in the dampening powers of the weather, I’ll have my new favorite hat from Lola.
The other day my two year old went into the coat closet, took out a floral raincoat and proceeded to have a full-body struggle to get it on. She didn’t know I was peeking at her through the door. I watched her scan her coats—from a navy lightweight down jacket, through colorful vests, to the thick padded polka dot number with a furry hood that would have been the appropriate choice for the arctic weather.
She came running to me, arms up in the air with a giant grin on her face—clearly so proud of not only her self-dressing accomplishment, but of her particular choice of coat.
If I hadn’t just finished reading Tovah Klein’s eye-opening book How Toddler’s Thrive:What Parents Can Do Today for Children Ages 2-5 to Plant the Seeds of Lifelong Success, after praising her for getting it on, I would have gently explained that the raincoat wasn’t the right jacket for the day and helped her change.
But I let her wear the raincoat.
I just layered a warm vest over it. I didn’t worry about being judged as a mother for improperly dressing her toddler in NYC in the heart of winter. I didn’t worry that my daughter looked a little kooky and mismatched. Why? Because I had just validated my toddler in a very big way. And she felt great about herself. She showed her jacket to her teachers in class and she kept it on, with pride, all day.
Helping our children feel good about themselves is the foundation for their success in so many ways. We use the word confidence so freely—we want our kids to feel “confident.” But what does real confidence look like?
Hint: it has nothing to do with looks.
In her book,Tovah Klein gets to the heart of confidence building—and it starts early. Before the age of two. Backed by science and 25 years as the director of the Barnard Center for Toddler Development, Klein, an associate professor of psychology (and a developmental advisor for Sesame Street) gives an eye-opening look into the world from your child’s perspective and how you can harness that vantage point to be a better parent and build lasting self-esteem.
I was thrilled to be able to talk to Tovah about these issues so close to the heart of BeautyMama’s mission. I gained some invaluable tools on how to help my girls feel good about themselves—in a lasting, core way. And that makes me feel good.
Who is that toddler in the mirror?
Children first develop a sense of self around 15-18 months. This is usually when they start saying “no” a lot. They start demanding no diaper change. They start realizing, ‘Hey, I’m my own person’ but it’s not fully formed. By 2-3, they have a stronger sense that they’re a person separate from Mom and Dad and that they have their own ideas.
Why You Shouldn’t Worry If Your Two-Year Old Wants to Wear the Same Blue Shirt Everyday
When kids start realizing they have their own ideas, it can come off as controlling. They’re realizing they can want something different than what you want. I’m my own person and I only want blue pants today. It’s not linked with a social consciousness at this point, they’re really figuring out who am I and what do I want? That initial who am I comes with separation and is supported by the parents—“You want blue pants today? Cool. Because I value you for you.” I can always tell the children who dress themselves because it makes them feel good, as in, “I picked this. This is me.”
By giving them confidence in their decision making and desires, we are instilling in them a sense that they’re O.K….so that on a not so great day when they’re melting down and you’re not having a great parenting day, you can say, “That was a rough day. Mommy yelled and you were so upset…and I still love you.” That’s where they get a sense that they’re going to be alright in the world. So the clothing choice— it’s not a focus on their looks, it’s really about something else.
Why You Should Practice Roaring Like a Lion In Front Of the Mirror With Your Toddler
Our whole center, where we have toddler classes has mirrors (because it’s a one-way observation mirror) and the children practice faces and emotions for fun all the time…they’re really trying it on in terms of learning their emotions. The feedback they get is, all of that is me. That happy, sad, or ferocious face— you can be all these things and that’s who you are.. There’s a lot of practicing and mimicry. Thats the first step of getting to know “me.”
Don’t Panic If Your Son Wants To Wear Nail Polish
One of my children went through a period where he would put makeup on with me in the morning. Most people think it’s a girl thing, but he didn’t know that. He would want nail polish and his favorite color was, still is, blue, so he had blue nail polish. (Until he got all the messages from other people that boys don’t wear nail polish.) Kids like to live in the adult world. Little girls really like to put on makeup because that’s what the adults of their sex do. I think if you battle children, and you say no, no, no, you can’t wear nail polish, and they’re looking around and seeing people wearing nail polish, they wonder why it’s being banned. It becomes even more interesting. They imitate us. They’ll paint their nails with magic markers, girls and boys. Kids are practicing to be grownups all the time—when they try to sweep with a broom or carry a briefcase and “go to work.” If you see it all in this context, it’s not such a negative thing.
‘Pretty’ is only part of it
We all want for our children to grow up confident in who they are, and who they are is a complex being—there’s what they think about, their range of emotions, their desires—and physical appearance is a part that. We live in a very physically orientated world, right or wrong. I’m not saying it’s right for sure. What we can really do is help our children feel good no matter who they are, what they feel, or what they look like. And you do that by loving them in all their complexity. Looks are just a part of it. When we tell our children all of the things we love them for—I love you because you’re funny, I love you because you cry sometimes, I love you because you love to do math, when you put your favorite dress on—you’re saying these are all parts of you and I love all of them.
Why Loving Kids When They’re Bad Is Good
Children are “bad” sometimes, and their biggest fear is being “found out.” What if you find out that I really hated you today when I was so angry when I had to be quiet….would you still love me? What I see and what concerns me—is children being ashamed of what they’re feeling. For example, even something as simple as “You don’t need to cry when I take you to school,” really says to the child, it’s not okay that you feel that way. Kids are so fragile and undeveloped at this age, they have so many feelings…and you want them to feel ok no matter what they feel. To understand, I can’t necessarily hit you…but I can feel like I want to—I can own that feeling and have it. Their emotional life is so fragile at this age…. we need to respect that they’re really very little and need us to accept their full range of behaviors and feelings. Giving them the base that says, I get that you’re good sometimes, I get that you’re bad sometimes, you’re happy sometimes, you’re sad sometimes—and I love you for all of it is really where there base comes from. Helping them feel like, Hey, I’m okay in the world.
Pretty Is As Pretty Does
When parents are approaching a child telling them how beautiful and pretty they are– and then how un-pretty they are when they’re wearing outfits they don’t like or when they didn’t take a bath, they get very clear messages that in order to be loved or accepted, they need to be beautiful. I think it’s different when it comes from the child—when they’re putting on dress up clothes and ask “Am I beautiful in this?” and the parent smiles and says “sure you are.” If beauty is emphasized in your house as being important, or there’s a lot of focus on clothing, it’s going to be picked up by children.
What To Say When Your Daughter Hates Her Hair
It’s probably because she feels different. For example, ringlet curls are touched and commented upon. When a child gets undo attention for something that’s different or highly noticeable, even if it’s positive, they can get very self conscious. All of my children happen to have blue eyes and very long lashes. One day one of my sons said to me, “I don’t like my eyes.” It wasn’t that he really didn’t like his eyes. He didn’t like the attention. You might say, “Not everyone has curly hair and so I can see that you don’t want that attention, but some people think curly hair is beautiful.” You can also let her know that you think her hair is beautiful.
Let Them Eat Cake
Food, diet, being thin…we tend to over talk these things out of our own anxieties. For example, if you were a fat kid and now you have a chubby three year old and you’re worried that they’re going to be a fat teenager, you may be putting messages out there… as opposed to just serving some good foods, knowing that kids go through phases where they sometimes eat more, sometimes eat less. Sometimes they’re heavier, sometimes they’re not. Kids don’t naturally know thin is in and fat is out. The issue of body size and weight—if very young children are conscious of it, it’s coming from the home and what they hear or see around them, such as ads. If there’s a lot of talk about food, a lot of talk about dieting, being fat, that’s going to make children very conscious of it in a way they would not be if it wasn’t being talked about.
Sticks and Stones May Break My Bones—But Billboards Can’t Hurt Me
The main thing is in these early years is that parents can have a really positive influence on their children and you do that by truly for loving them for who they are and not trying to make them be something else. If you have that kid who only wants to play with trains all day long and you keep telling other people you’re frustrated that he only wants to do the same thing all the time, that’s what the child hears and he starts to feel bad for having this desire. We’re kind of in a hyper-anxiety parenting world right now—but if we can relax a little bit and really let children know they’re being loved for who they are, they’re going to have a firm base and they will need that base to get through the peer pressure and billboard pressures that come throughout their life. If what they’re getting at home—what they’re seeing, what they’re feeling— is really counter to the billboards and outside messaging, if they feel like, I’m accepted at home for who I am, that is what counts. It can’t take away the influence of billboards, but it will greatly minimize the influence.
Tovah Klein’s book may be purchased here on Amazon.
I’m also giving away copies of How Toddlers Thrive on my Facebook page.