Last minute Mother’s Day Gift Ideas

Is it still considered last minute if you wait 6 days to pick up your Mother’s Day presents? I’m not sure, but we’ll go with it. I’ve gathered a few ideas for your Mom’s this Sunday whether she’s into beauty, fitness or even tech gadgets.

eau de lacosteA crisp clean scent, ready to be spritzed on this spring, a Eau De Lacoste Pour Femme (available from Lacoste boutiques and www.lacoste.com)

Dior-Transat-Eyeshadow-5-coSome pieces from Dior’s summer line?*

Speck-CasesSpeck cases for her laptop, iPhone, or iPad?*

Special-Edition-Speck-Case This floral Speck case is Special Edition just in time for Mother’s Day.

Just wanna have absDoes she enjoy a bit of humour and like to workout? Get this hilarious Look Human tank.

To go along with one of the gifts provided, you could always get her a vase full of her favourite flowers. Mothers Day FlowersWest Elm vase // Trader Joe’s flowers

Items marked with an asterisk were items sent to me.

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Hand Creams I’m Currently Using

I love hand creams. Wait, I should rephrase that. I need to love hand creams because throughout my entire life, I’ve had cold, scaly dry man-hands. I’ve been called lizard hands by someone in the past. I can see why they said that. Painted a pretty picture for you, didn’t I?

I always have hand creams in various places of our home, my car, and my purse. Needless to say, I don’t always apply it. I really should.

Here are a few not necessarily top picks that I’ve been using since moving to California, where my hands are still going to continue being dry. That’s okay. I’ve learned to live with it, no matter how far away, or close I am, to an ocean.

4 hand creams I’m currently using

Must-have-hand-creams

Caudalíe

This hand cream is pretty great when and is the most reached-for cream on this list. I’ve purchased more than a handful of tubes of these creams. It’s the most lightweight feeling of the four shown above. I’ll definitely keep buying this. $19CDN // $15USD at Sephora.

Bobbi Brown Extra

A little luxury to my collection, I’ve recently added this one to my assortment of hand creams. The Bobbi Brown counter at Macy’s lured me in. Had no idea Bobbi made hand cream. I tried it out, loved the way it made my hands feel. Then left without purchasing. Thinking about it constantly the next few days, I popped into Sephora to see if they sold any, which they didn’t. A few days later I headed back to Macy’s and asked for it. Luckily they had some in stock. It flies off the shelves, apparently. I don’t really know why. It’s $31. It’s expensive. It just seems like a regular hand cream, just in some fancy name brand packaging. It’s nice though. I’d repurchase it. However, I’m going to use this sparingly because it was so costly. I want to enjoy it. Would I recommend it? Only if you’re a hand-cream addict like myself. $31USD at Macys.

 World Market Hand Cream

Ok. I have no idea who makes this since there’s a bunch of names spewed all over the packaging. I bought it at World Market, thus the title. It feels, not greasy but quite silky once applied. After a few minutes, it evaporates and keeps my hands from feeling dehydrated and gives it a healthy look. Comes in a variety of scents, but I love anything citrus so the Grapefruit & Tangerine went in my shopping basket immediately after I smelled it. $4.99USD at World Market.

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream

I’m not the biggest fan of the scent with this product. But it’s bearable. I’ve heard a lot of great things with this brand healing eczema prone skin, and I received a sample of this a long time ago. I only just found it in my hand-cream stash so I thought I’d keep it around to try it out. Not sure I’ll purchase it in full-size when I like other hand creams better. $15CDN // $12USD at Sephora.

Honourable mentions

Neutrogena Norwegian Formula

As much as I still dislike to admit it, Mothers are always right. The top pick I recommend to anyone who wants a non-greasy formula, that is incredibly powerful and keeps your hands moisturized after many hand-washes, is still Neutrogena Norwegian Formula. It’s like a thick ointment-like consistency and is scent-free. It’s just so hard to rub in, especially when your hands are really dry or chapped. A lot of my climbing friends back in Newfoundland still use this product. I haven’t looked for it here in the USA yet, but I presume it’s readily available at any drug store. Read more about my rave reviews on it from 2012. $7.99CDN on Well.ca // $5.29USD at ULTA.

Ahava hand cream

I never thought I’d be able to find it again. It was whisked off the shelves in Ontario, Canada. I went through 3 or 4 tubes of this. Hands down, my #1 splurge for a hand cream. It has the most spa-like smelling hand cream I’ve ever tried. When I had an office and I applied it, my old co-workers walked down the hallway, asking who sprayed on perfume, or who smelled so good. It was always my hand cream. Not one person who tried it, didn’t like it. I bought it for my boss before I left work to head down to the states here. I was surprised to find it at ULTA. For the Canadians who’d like to try it, you can get it for  $22CDN on Well.ca // $21USD at ULTA.

Everything was purchased by me.

What are your favourite hand creams?

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What I carry in my clutch

I don’t always use a clutch, but when I do I use it because I’m annoyed with having to carry around a purse on my shoulder. I want the ease of just carrying something around on my wrist instead of my shoulder, I bring this clutch that I bought online back in 2006 from Banana Republic. I think it worked out well in my favour, since I’ve been using it for 8 years and it still looks pretty great.  must-haves-for-my-clutch

So here is what I bring in my clutch, when I use one.

Whats-in-my-clutch

1. Clutch from Banana Republic // 2. My cell, a BlackBerry Z10 // 3. Cash // 4. ID & Credit Card // 5. Lip balm (the only Prada item I can afford!) // 6. Tampon, hey you never know // 7. Hair tie // 8. Spiffykerms buttons, gotta keep them ready for networking! // 9. Band-aid for those uncomfortable shoes or in case you fall and scrape your knee // 10. Mini bobbi pins (I only use these) // 11. One-time use floss // 12. My keys, in case I ever want to get into my house again // 13. A small pack of gum

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Because everyone is different—I polled Twitter, Instagram and Facebook to ask what YOUR must-haves when you carry a clutch. Here’s what you said:

  • Lip gloss. Money. Debt card. License. Phone. @ShesNoAlice
  • Debit card or cash, license, medical cards, phone, lipstick if I’m wearing it that day, hair ties. @Cinda
  • Chapstick, specifically Burt’s bees @mkopp1
  • Gum, wallet, a pen, random lip products..wipes, diapers (yeah, I’m a mom… :P) @KayleeBob
  • Candy corn and a toothpick. Julie R.
  • Credit card/money. ID. Lipgloss. @Nicolah
  • Wallet, red lipstick, cell, mints, keys. @TeamWiking
  • Debit card , license, phone, chapstick, and I unbuckle the handle and put my keys on that. It’s a fossil clutch & I love it! @jennagarza

 

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