I Don’t Love Mother’s Day, But I Made a Pretty Good Gift Guide
Honestly, these are universal crowd-pleasers. Plus! Some news from me, my new workout challenge, and some kid splurges.
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Greetings and salutations, my dears, and welcome to another moderately random roundup of things I’m thinking about right now. To start, two little pieces of news, and then we move on to a small grousing of why I don’t love auxiliary holidays and a semi-reluctant (but still thoughtful and good!) shopping guide. I’m very aware that Mother’s Day is incredibly complicated for many folks, so if you want to skip, I totally understand and am sending you a big hug. xxH
The Ness Reset Spring 2022
A couple of weeks ago, I had the incredible opportunity to work out in a friend’s friend’s backyard (yes, you read that right) with the founders of my beloved trampoline workout, The Ness, who were in L.A. for a hot second. I’ve been taking their digital classes for a while now, but doing it in person? DEAR LORD it was so much harder and also I nearly cried (and barfed) more than once. Totally recommend it.
They have a new spring reset program that runs May 2 through 30 and features 32 new 45-minute classes, including a mixture of bounce and sculpt, created for a variety of fitness levels. While I’ve remained dedicated to a daily Ness sesh, I haven’t been as full-on as I’d like lately, and I’m looking forward to recommitting. The program is a 60-day rental that’s separate from the digital membership and costs $28.99, and part of proceeds are donated to This Is About Humanity. If you’re looking for a push or motivation to try this, come do it with me. I’m happy to be your support system and will probably need some help from you, too.
Book Me on Intro!
I feel a little bit nervous about this, but I’m excited to share that I’ve joined the team of experts at Intro, and you can now book time with me to discuss… whatever you want. If you have a specific question about entrepreneurship, content, or podcasting; want to talk about building a digital brand; or simply want to discuss the right shoes for an upcoming event, I’m here for you. Half of the proceeds are being donated to Baby2Baby, and I promise to bring my best self to our video chat.
Mother’s Day
First thing first: Let’s start from a place of empathy. Mother’s Day (and Father’s Day, too) is an incredibly complicated moment for many people, for many reasons. If you’ve lost a parent, it’s yet another reminder of who is not here to celebrate. If you don’t have great relationships with your family, it can bring up lots of emotions about the relationship you wanted but never had. I know that it also can be painful for people who want to be parents but can’t or aren’t yet.
This doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate or be happy or enjoy the day—definitely not suggesting that. But I do think it’s important to be aware of your circumstances and cognizant of the fact that not everyone has the same experience. So if you have people in your life for whom this day is fraught, just a small reminder to check in on them. Do they want to make plans? Do they want to be left alone? Do they need support? Distraction? Attention? You might assume one thing or another, but the truth is you never really know until you ask.
Shopping Suggestion
If you do choose to celebrate a mom in your life, you are probably going to need a present of some sort. If you haven’t read my story How to Win at Giving Presents, this is an excellent time to brush up on your gifting skills. For me, one of the secrets to giving a good present starts by simply listening to your giftee because they drop all kinds of clues if you’re paying attention. The other thing is to remember you’re giving them a present, not yourself. I do not always nail this one either, and it’s a pretty common mistake.
It’s also worth pointing out that the things most people want in life are simple and free, and that’s very true of moms, too. Some want to spend time with their families. Some want to spend time away from their families. Some want something as elusive as a family portrait. It all depends. Again, the secret here is to ask. Or if you don’t want to ask, because you don’t really want to deal with the answer (no shame!), maybe avail yourself of the lovely gifts I’ve rounded up below.
As for me? What would I want? Nothing major. A chance to sleep past 6:30 a.m., perhaps. Or maybe a fried fish sandwich from Little Fish. Or like a vintage 1970s Cartier zodiac pendant. As I said: nothing major.
But enough about me. Let’s talk gifts.
Baby2Baby Donation (price of your choosing)
Looking for a present that literally any parent in the world would like? How about supporting one of the most impactful and thoughtful non-profit organizations in the world—Baby2Baby. The work they do is extraordinary, truly. The Baby2Baby team provides children in poverty with diapers, clothing, and all the basic necessities every child deserves. Even better: There are lots of ways to get involved, ranging from donating money or key items to volunteering your time. There are so many ways to help, and it truly makes a huge difference.
Jennifer Fisher Salt ($12)
A cool-mom friend of mine—hey, Nicole Chavez—gave me a trio of Jennifer Fisher’s salts that have a cult following, and I cannot express how much I love them. The trio is an excellent gift, but if you only pick one, I think the Spicy Salt is where it’s at.
By Sashy Watercolor Pet Painting ($200)
To say I am deeply charmed by these sweet portraits by Sasha Spielberg is an understatement, and the pet lover in your life will be too. I commissioned one of our sweet dog Hound—actual name: Duke—a while ago, and I’m convinced it’s the most artistic version of this present out there.
Printfresh Robe ($148)
As someone who very much appreciates a lightweight robe, an optimistic print, and inclusive sizing, I am, unsurprisingly, recommending Printfresh. Its charming print robes are made from 100% GOTS organic cotton poplin and are available in sizes XXS to 6X. I have the sapphire Bagheera Robe, but I also think the Lovebirds print is quite sweet, as is the Beekeeper Robe, which is also a little more trad.
Hermès Lip Care Balm ($69)
It’s practically impossible to be sad whilst opening an orange Hermès box; that’s just a fact. While I’m a very enthusiastic fan of all of Hermès’s lip colors, I realize not everyone’s into color. You know what everyone does like? Healthy lips. So why not give the mom in your life something insanely luxurious and practical to boot like this lovely lip balm?
Canopy Humidifier Starter Set ($150)
I bought my first Canopy humidifier for one of my kids when they were sick because it has anti-mold technology, is easy to set up and clean, and you can get new filters on subscription, which is wildly handy. But it’s actually a great present for folks who are interested in skincare, a healthy skin barrier, and combating fine lines and dull skin. Sound like anyone you know?
Hedley & Bennett Apron ($105)
As the proud owner of several Hedley & Bennett aprons, I can’t stop recommending them to folks, and honestly, everyone who buys one is happy about it. Created by former pro cook Ellen Bennett, these are the aprons worn by all the best chefs and kitchen crews around the world. The quality is excellent, the company is fabulous, and there’s a cool option for every type of person: the Joshua Tree lover, the Deadhead, the Cookie Monster, the herb fanatic (I have this one), and there’s even a kid-and-me duo from the brand’s recent collab with LoveShackFancy.
La Ligne Lean Lines Striped Cotton Jersey Top ($115)
Does everyone like a perfect striped T-shirt? If the response I get on social media every time I wear this shirt is any indication, the answer is not no. And I get it: This one is really special. It’s thin, soft, and not totally transparent, and it’s made by two incredible women who also designed a fancy sweater I cannot stop talking about. (It’s the Waffle, and it’s glorious.)
Bonus: Special Kids’ Pieces That Are Excellent Gifts
Okay: It’s a little eye roll–y to suggest exquisite kids’ clothes as a present for a parent, but hear me out. I firmly believe that the best presents are little luxuries that a person would adore but wouldn’t buy for themselves. Fancy kid things are the epitome of that sentiment for some parents, and if you’re shopping for one, see below for some ideas.
Petite Plume Kids Pajamas ($58)
These are definitely a luxury, and they’re so beyond adorable. Trust me when I say any parent will love them. My kids both received a pair of these wildly darling, incredibly soft, insanely cute pajamas, and when I tell you they are the sweetest option for kids’ sleepwear I have ever seen, I am not exaggerating. Probably my favorite article of clothing my kids own, hands down.
La Coqueta Kids Dress ($99)
It pains me how adorable I find all things La Coqueta, but we like what we like. And I like this adorable peach fit-and-flare dress for kids. I like the little socks. I like the little shoes. I like all of it. And I can’t be the only mom who feels this way.
Brock Collection x Minnow Swim Rashguard One-Piece Swimsuit ($85)
Fashion people love Brock Collection—literally the dreamiest clothes ever—and its collab with ultra-darling swim (and beyond) company Minnow is simply beyond. (Minnow’s most recent partnership is with the aforementioned Petite Plume and is also charming.) I dream of this suit for Wilder, plus the brand has excellent board shorts and swim briefs for your masc kiddos too. Also lots of stripes and solids in its classic collection, if florals aren’t your thing.
As always, thank you for being here, and thank you for sticking around. If you have any questions or concerns, or want me to touch on any topics in particular, I’m all ears. Leave a comment on Hi Everyone’s Bulletin or DM me on Instagram—I’m @hillarykerr—my inbox is always open!