Mother’s Day is always a special time of year.  It comes and goes with very little fuss, which says a lot about Moms in general.  Mothers never put themselves first.  They shape the world through love, support, and compassion.  And because each Mom out there deserves the largest holiday, we wanted to at least take this time to give a big “Thank You” to all of them.

We put together a list of our favorite gifts to give this Mother’s Day.  And, for those of you Moms out there whose kids are still too young to be drawing inspo from a blog, consider this a fun little list of different ways to express some much-deserved gratitude to yourself (you can always write “from the kids” on the card, right).

Mother’s Day Brunch  

The most classic and simple way to say “Thank You, Mom.”  Plan a brunch for the whole family.  Now, we prefer a Mother’s Day Brunch instead of dinner because it feels a little more special to get together during the day.  Life has a funny way of sneaking up on us, and it’s so easy to get caught up in our own schedules.  So, starting the day with all of your loved ones over coffee and croissants is a rarity.  And whether you make a reservation at Mom’s favorite restaurant, or host a brunch in your own home, all that will matter is that everyone cleared their Sunday Schedule for Mom.

Book Club Subscription

You’re probably familiar with the various subscription boxes now available online.  Well, among these are book club subscriptions.  This made our list for a few reasons.  It is an unconventional gift that most Moms might not think to get for themselves.  And, it is the gift that keeps giving, considering most services send a new book every month.  So, you’re showing Mom a little love all year round, and helping her find her new favorite book.

Spa Day-cation

Another classic way to say “Thank You.”  But we’re not just talking a gift card or a coupon. We mean actually planning an entire day at the spa for Mom.  We think sometimes, while a gift card is the first step, it just sits there because Mom is busy, or just saving it, either way she isn’t actually enjoying that spa treatment she deserves.  Find a spa close to home, and make her the appointment before presenting the gift card (and, yes, might as well make yourself one, too, so you can enjoy some R&R together).  And, want to know what pairs nicely with that Spa Day-cation?  Coming home to a gift basket full of fun stuff to keep your skin feeling fresh.

Wine & Painting Class

The last thing on our list because, honestly, how fun does that sound?  Wine & Painting Classes have been popping up everywhere over the past year.  And, what a cute way to spend some time, drink some wine, and have a few laughs with Mom.  And if you’re gifting this to yourself via your kids, grab your other Mom friends and make a night of it.  Most studios also offer private classes and events.

We’re so grateful for all the Moms out there, not just on Mother’s Day, but every day.

We pay attention to our diet for multiple reasons.  To maintain a healthy weight, to ensure we’re getting our necessary nutrients, and simply said, we feel better when we eat better.  And while we all have a pretty good understanding on what types of foods to eat if we need an energy boost, or to promote weight loss, or even fight off a nasty head cold, there are also foods we should eat that are better for our skin.  These are some of the best (and tastiest) foods to keep your skin feeling fresh.

Chocolate

Chocolate contains high levels of antioxidants, which help improve skin’s overall luminosity.  A little bit of chocolate also helps hydrate your skin, and reduce puffiness.  So, for a healthy glow, treat yourself to a couple squares a day.  The catch?  Since it’s the cocoa that has these positive effects on your skin, in order to really reap the benefits, make sure the chocolate you choose is at least 70% cocoa.  So, sorry Milk Chocolate Lovers, but that means only Dark Chocolate.      

Yogurt  

Eating dairy helps make your skin firmer, making it less susceptible to lines and wrinkles.  We recommend Greek Yogurt in particular because it has about double the protein content, so it’s better for your skin, and a more well-rounded snack for you.

Omega 3 Fatty Acids

It’s nothing new that Omega 3 Fatty Acids are great for your skin.  And, lucky for us, they are in so many great foods.  You can find these good fats in Salmon, Walnuts, Oysters, and Cooked Spinach, just to name a few.  Omega 3 improves skin’s elasticity, which not only makes our skin look smoother, but also helps our skin be more resilient.  

Oatmeal

Oatmeal helps keep your blood sugar stable, which helps your body produce the hormones that prevent wrinkles.   Steal Cut Oatmeal in particular is best because it is not processed at all, and takes longer for your body to digest.  Which, also, keeps your body feeling full for longer.  

Avocado

Now this is a fun one.  Not only is eating avocado great for your skin, but you can also apply it directly to your face.  Yep, when eaten, avocado is a great source of the antioxidant carotenoids, which helps skin combat the natural weathering from the environment.  And when applied directly to skin, avocado helps moisturize and improve overall skin tone.  So, make some avocado toast to pair with a DIY avocado face mask for an at-home spa night.

Isn’t it great to know that all those good foods you already love are showing your skin some serious love back?  We think so.  So, go ahead, and spoil yourself with a little chocolate, or try out that new overnight oats recipe, and always opt in to adding avocado.    

It’s no secret that our physical and mental health go hand-in-hand with each other. So, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that skin care and mental health are also incredibly intertwined. Just as your emotions affect your skin’s appearance, your skin care can benefit your emotions.

We wanted to help shed some light on how exactly your emotions show up on your skin. And, while we’re at, give you a couple of pointers on combatting these negative emotions’ effects in general.

Emotional Effects on Our Skin

You’ve probably already noticed that feelings of stress, anger, or sadness can wreak havoc on your skin. Our emotions reflect through our skin in acne, hives, and even dryness. And while there will never be a way to just stop feeling these things, there are ways to cope with them.

How to Cope with Them

One of the most important things to remember when you’re feeling stressed, sad, anxious, etc., is to let yourself feel this way. By trying to ignore our emotions, we can actually stress ourselves out more. Instead, try to put a system into place that helps you deal with these feelings, and get yourself back to feeling better.

Set yourself on a schedule, just in general. One thing that really helps to combat stress is consistency. Try to get to bed at the same time each night. Make it a priority to stick to your routine as much as possible.

Give yourself one less thing to do each day. As we said, sticking to your daily routine is important, but cut out one task. Giving yourself one less “to-do” during the day can work wonders when it comes to rest and rejuvenation.

Relax. Make “Self-Care” your number one priority. Now’s the time to focus on you. When you’re not feeling good is when it’s most important to take that extra time to take care of yourself. Stay in and treat yourself to a spa night. We’re talking moisturizers, face masks, foot treatments, the whole nine yards. By taking the time to treat yourself right, you’ll start feeling better.

Skin Care Benefits on Our Emotions

Think about it this way. You’re usually pretty bummed when your skin’s not looking so hot. And no one is comfortable in dry or enflamed skin. When we take care of ourselves in general, skin included, we feel better. Having healthy, happy skin, keeps you feeling confident, and feeling healthy and happy.

Yes, we all get stressed, sad, angry, and anxious, and this will never change. We wouldn’t want it to. What’s important is to be kind to yourself when you’re feeling these things, so you, and your skin, can cope with it.