This year is a little different for me. I can never seem to remember the exact date my mother passed, but it was the end of January 2016. I think that’s my mind’s way of trying to protect me from the pain of that day. I am motherless now, but I had a mother and she was incredible. I often say she was the best to ever do it, because for me that is the truth. She was also a top tier grandmother: proud, present, and loving. She was the most perfectly imperfect human I’ve ever known.
I am a mother. I have a 13-year old son, and he is, without a doubt my greatest blessing. He has stretched me beyond what I thought possible. There is a novel in me, waiting to be written, about the highs and lows of parenting - it’s a fascinating read. He is my rainbow baby. I am a single mother. And, I was a stepmother for seven years. This is a snippet into my experience with motherhood.
This year is a year of significant change for me in various aspects of my life, and it's causing me to think about Mother’s Day ahead of time. That is not how I usually do it, since losing my mom. Not only is it necessary to think of it in the context of Lovely Days, but it’s necessary for me as part of my healing journey. So, I am marrying the two. The offerings that I selected to highlight in my shop for Mother’s Day are reflective of my own experiences with motherhood and I hope they resonate with you as well.
Prior to her passing, we celebrated every Mother’s Day together. And prior to me becoming a mother, we would do spa days and brunch dates. She taught me simple self-care routines and introduced me to face masks when I was a teen. We loved the feeling of peeling a mask off of our face (it was all the rage in the 80's!). And sometimes, she would even have a drink with me. So the Champagne Spa box ties it all together.
My mother loved her tea and I used to laugh at her use of the same tumbler every day. Now I'm doing it! She would sip on it all day long. The Sweet Restoration gift bag is an elevated, yet simple gift that is perfect for the tea lover. A restorative herbal tea blend accompanied by raw unfiltered honey. It has relaxing herbs to help alleviate daily stresses and it's perfectly calming.
Okay, so the Ultimate Self Care box is for meee! Let me spend Sunday taking care of myself and doing whatever I want, please! Because every other day I am giving of myself and rarely find time to give to myself. Let me pamper myself without stress and guilt! I want to wake up slow and lazily and get in the shower, using natural soap with a delicate scent. I want to finish the shower an aromatherapy body scrub, which makes my skin super soft. I want to light one of my favorite candles from Fiamma Candle, lay on the couch, and binge-watch whatever shows I’m feeling that day. I want food delivered. And while I’m laying there, I want my soothing eye gels on my weary eyes and I want to soften my lips with the lip mask. I want to reach over and grab my cuticle oil at random times during the day and massage it into my cuticles, knowing they will not be raggedy! That evening before bed, I want to use my face mask so the properties can work overnight while I sleep comfortably knowing that I had a day of pure rest and restoration. For me and all momma's out there!
And then we have the Savor Blend Duo. My mom was from Marlin, Texas but didn’t cook southern food. She was more into California-style cooking and she fed us well. In our house, she was in charge of dinners when I was growing up and I remember her taking an international cooking class and making different cultural dishes for us from time to time. But for regular meals, she mastered the art of simple and delicious food. She started using olive oil before it was considered cool. My mom would appreciate the simple and easy deliciousness of this gift of olive oil and seasoning. She worked full-time in the City (San Francisco). She would come home and get dinner on the table, often not taking the time to change out of her work clothes. I admired her so much - she was a perfect representation of someone having it all together in my eyes. And so, this is a gift of ease for someone like my mom. Now that I’m older, I see things a little differently. And if she had these delicious seasoning blends and rich Olive Oil in the pantry, she may have had some time to at least change her shoes before she started cooking.
Mother's Day holds a unique significance for me, intertwining memories of moments with my own mother and the journey of motherhood I am on in my own life. As I prepare for Mother’s Day this year, I'm reminded of the profound impact my mother had on shaping my perspective of motherhood, hard work, self-care, simple joys, and culinary delights. The gifts selected for Mother’s Day reflect that perspective and my experiences. Each gift, a part of my own journey that I hope resonates with you because so often, we have shared experiences. Thank you for taking this journey with me.