I can’t believe we are midway through week 4 since distance learning has become the new norm. The boys are feeling the pressure as the sanctuary they call home has now turned into a school environment. I know it’s taking its toll on them mentally, but they have been troopers so far. While I know that homeschooling the boys for the next month will go by quickly, I also know that everyone wants to leave the house. All three boys have been indoors (or walking around the neighborhood) now for 3+ weeks so they are missing the beach and the parks for sure. It’s been a challenge with such a huge change in their daily routine, but we’re working through it the best we can.
“Change is the constant, the signal for rebirth, the egg of the phoenix.”
Christina Baldwin
What have we learned this week?
Our days have been focused on reading comprehension as well as working on fractions. Common core has been a challenge, but we are slowing working our way through the program. Some of the apps and websites we have been using include: Reading Plus, Zearn & Prodigy.
We are still currently reading Manic Magee by Jerry Spinelli and haven’t really watched any new movies lately, or at least the boys haven’t. We have done some polymer clay pieces (they will need to be painted) and hope to get some paintings or artwork done this week using oil pastels.
On one of our daily neighborhood walks.
Daily Walk Observation
Our goal is to get at least a mile walk in a few times a week. We are a bit limited to the same scenery each time we go for our walks since we are only about to walk around the neighborhood. But, we’ve been taking the time to photograph different plants and creatures and do research on the item. This week we noticed many beautiful springtime flowers and took a picture of the following flower.
The Duranta erecta is a species of flowering shrub in the verbena family Verbenaceae. It is a native plant from Mexico to South America and the Caribbean. This plant is usually cultivated as an ornamental plant in tropical and subtropical gardens throughout the world. It is considered to be an invasive species in Australia, China, South Africa, and several Pacific Islands. Common names for this shrub include golden dewdrop, pigeon berry, and skyflower. We found this shrub lining the gate of a neighbors yard and noticed its beautiful purple flowers. It reminded us of an orchid plant because of the way it fell over the fence line.
Listen to this week’s Podcast Episode
Feeding a Household of 5, 3 meals a day!
I completely appreciate the workers who take care of kids’ meals each day while in school. Feeding my three growing sons has been a challenge. I feel like I’ve been on a never-ending rotation of cooking and cleaning. They are always hungry and I think I’ve taken it for granted that they’ve been eating breakfast and lunch in school all these years. Luckily there are resources for the boys to get breakfast and lunch at several schools throughout the island, but I try to leave those options for those who really do need it. Until then, I’ll be making the boys their meal options. This has given me an opportunity to make things for them that my Grandma Young used to make for us when we were kids. Homemade Cinnamon Toast anyone?
Do you need a hug today?
Here’s a virtual hug for all of you. I know that it’s a challenge, taking on new roles in our daily lives. Some of us work from home already, but having to actually teach our kids from home is a full-time job. In case you need a hug today – here it is! Wishing you all are staying healthy and getting through it all one day at a time. Together we can do it!
We are almost done with Week 3 of this Stay-at-home order in Hawaii, due to the Covid-19 Global pandemic outbreak. Schools have been closed and homeschooling has become…
It’s been a few weeks now since the coronavirus pandemic has affected us globally. It’s caused many shutdowns and quarantines throughout the world and Hawaii is no exception.…
I know that staying home and having a binge session of Netflix shows sounds appealing to many as they begin the Lockdown or self-quarantine due to the Coronavirus (Covid-19), but “Netflix & Chill” may not be so exciting when you can’t figure out what to watch. There are so many movies and television shows, Netflix Originals and so much more available to stream, but I figured I would make it a bit easy. I’ve listed a bunch of movies and shows I have watched in the past and plan to rewatch (or already rewatched) again while stuck at home for the next 3 weeks or more. While some of these movies & shows may not be your cup of tea, I figured I would include anything that would allow us to relax, grab a coffee or a glass and wine and ride out this storm (literally).
Criminal Minds
Did you just watch final series episode of Criminal Minds a few weeks ago like I did? Well, while it seems like an end of an Era (yes, I went there), we can relive the feeling of catching an Unsub from the beginning, with Gideon, Hotch and the rest of the original gang. Netflix has Seasons 1 – 12 ready and waiting for your binge-watching pleasure. I watched Criminal Minds when it was first released in 2005 and have seen every episode since its debut, but I am rewatching it all again. I’m reminded that the characters like JJ, Morgan, Garcia and Dr. Reid have grown so much over the years, 15 years to be exact. While I’m not sure I’m ready for the emotional rollercoaster that I know I’m about to re-experience, I’m excited to see the BAU do it all over again. How about you?
MindHunter
Come on, did you think I would list Criminal Minds and not Mindhunter? Based on the true-crime book Mindhunter: Inside the FBI’s Elite Serial Crime Unit, written by John E. Douglas and Mark Olshaker. This series takes us on a wild ride following FBI Agents Holden Ford (Jonathan Groff) and Bill Tench (Holt McCallany) who operate the FBI’s BSU (Behavioral Science Unit), within the FBI in Quantico, Virginia. They interview serial killers to understand how they think in hopes that what they learn will help them solve ongoing cases. The original season is set in the early days of criminal psychology and profiling at the FBI. The character of Holden Ford is loosely based on FBI agent John E. Douglas, the author of the book. The character of Bill Tench is based on the FBI agent Robert Ressler who helped start the BAU. Unfortunately, in January of this year, Netflix announced that the series was on indefinite hold, but that just means it will give us time to watch the series. If you are a fan of criminal movies or series like Criminal Minds, I think you’ll enjoy the mind-twisting series that is MindHunter.
Mad Money
If you’re going stir crazy in the house, why not watch Mad Money? Let’s be real, most people who know me, know I’m a huge fan of Queen Latifah, but besides that, this movie from 2008 has all the comedy and crime you could use to keep you laughing and excited. Starring Diane Keaton, Katie Holmes and the Queen herself, this movie is sure to get you plotting your next job heist, if you weren’t on lockdown, of course. All jokes aside though, this movie is fun to watch and will surely keep you entertained for a little while. Who wouldn’t want a little Mad Money to spend while self-quarantined in a house with an endless supply of online websites to shop from?
To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar
Yup – I’m taking you back, way back! I remember when I watched To Wong Foo for the first time, back in good ol’ 1995. Who doesn’t love a great Patrick Swayze movie? Boy, I’m not gonna lie, he was lost too soon and we were cheated out of great movies. If you are a child of the 80s and 90s, then I highly suggest you watching this movie on Netflix while it’s still available. Starring Wesley Snipes as Noxeema, Patrick Swayze as Ms. Vida and John Leguizamo as Chi-Chi, you’ll laugh, you’ll cry and you’ll have all the great feels. I remember when I first watched this show, I was so excited to see Jason London in it, lol. These gorgeous beauties take us on a wild ride on a beautiful Cadillac convertible as they drive cross country from New York City to Hollywood. Their journey takes them through parts of the country where alternative lifestyles are not easily accepted and where they make great friends. Definitely an old-school favorite, but worth the watch again or if you haven’t watched it yet, a good one to check out.
Otherhood
Based on the novel by William Sutcliffe, named Whatever Makes You Happy, Otherhood follows three suburban mothers who show up to their sons’ homes unannounced. Starring Angela Bassett, Patricia Arquette, and Felicity Huffman, Otherhood is about moms who are basically going through a midlife crisis. Yes, it’s kind of a cliche, but the message is basically about a bunch of moms who are going through empty nest syndrome. I found the simplicity of it to be a bit predictable, but as a mom of 3 boys, it also reminded me that this can always be a reality. It’s got some funny scenes, the kind that makes you giggle and remind you of parts of your own life, but also a few moments that make you think about the future. A good Mama Bear movie to watch on a Sunday when you want to stay cuddled up in your PJs in bed, with a warm cup of joe topped with whip cream.
Wine Country
Having just celebrated my 40th birthday, I truly enjoyed watching this movie a few months ago when it was released and have it on my binge-watch list for lock-down. Wine Country celebrates womanhood and comedy in a movie where a bunch of longtime friends plan a getaway for Rebecca’s (Rachel Dratch) 50th birthday. You have every type of personality in this movie, from the workaholic, the homebody, the weary mom and more. This movie is funny and kept me laughing through most of it, but it also has a little bit of crude sexual humor and some content not meant for little ones. I will say though, this is one for moms of all ages and even a great chick-flick for a day-in. Starring Amy Poehler, Rachel Dratch, Maya Rudolph, Tina Fey, Ana Gasteyer and Paula Pell.
Nappily Ever After
Yup – I’m a huge fan of Rom Coms, but truly – who isn’t? Based on the novel by Trisha R. Thomas, Nappily Ever After stars the beautiful Sanaa Lathan as Violet Jones. Like any “discovering yourself” type of movie, it starts out where Violet (a successful businesswoman who seems to have a perfect life) is waiting on her longtime boyfriend to propose to her. When he doesn’t, she breaks up with him and it all goes downhill from there. Violet’s once fairytale life seems to unravel while she has to learn to love herself on the inside as well as the outside to be happy. I fell in love with this movie because as women, we often forget that we live lives full of pressure that instills in us that we must be perfect at all times. This movie is funny and romantic but also reminds us that women of all colors, but especially black women, are often judged for more than just the color of their skin. Sometimes we have no choice but to guard our feelings and we don’t even realize that we do it until things start to fall apart. This is a great movie to watch if you haven’t already and watch it again if you loved it as much as I did.
Falling Inn Love
I have always been a Christina Milian fan and I knew I had to watch Falling Inn Love when it released last year. This movie is a simple rom-com that features a San Francisco city girl (Milian) who has a landslide of problems happen all in the same week and while drinking her sorrows away, enters a contest and wins an Inn in New Zealand’s countryside. After traveling to the location of a place that is basically falling apart, she partners with Jake Taylor (Adam Demos) and works to not only rebuild the Inn but herself in the process. Yes, this is probably your standard chick-flick, but it’s definitely a cute film to watch and if you’re looking to kill some time, I highly suggest it.
Juanita
I happened upon this movie while searching Netflix for a movie from Tyler Perry. Starring Alfre Woodard, Juanita is fed up with her life and leaves her three grown kids behind as she hits the road in search of a fresh new start. It’s a movie based on the novel Dancing on the Edge of the Roof by Sheila Williams. Juanita is on the search for hope and healing as she takes an impromptu trip to Paper Moon, Montana. This movie explores the complexity of life, relationships and friendships. I think that Alfre definitely made this movie a hit in my book. Grab a glass of wine and watch Juanita take her life back while exploring the possibilities along the way.
P.S. I Love You
Yes, I am getting a bit sappy on ya. P.S. I Love You is one of those movies I will always have in a “must-watch” list. In fact, it’s been on my “Watch list” for Netflix for a while now, even if I’ve seen it many times over. Starring Hilary Swank and Gerard Butler, this movie will always have “all the feels”. A widow discovers that her late husband has planned ahead and before he died, left her letters to help her cope with the loss as well as send her on adventures to help her “celebrate herself.” P.S. I Love You is one of those movies that makes you sad, happy and emotional all in one. “Sometimes there’s only one thing left to say.” Before jumping into this movie, make sure you grab a box of tissues… don’t say I didn’t warn ya.
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, The Series
I’m sure if you’re my age, you may remember the original television series Sabrina, The Teenage Witch starring Melissa Joan Hart. This show lasted 7 seasons on ABC and The WB and I remember watching it when I was in High School. Fast forward to 2018 and I give you the new, very dark and sinister – Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, starring Kiernan Shipka as Sabrina Spellman and Ross Lynch (if you have children, you may remember him from Austin & Ally) as Harvey Kinkle. Netflix released Season 3 a few months ago and with true “Honey Fashion”, I binged watched the entire season in 2 days. This remake (or reimagine) takes us on the adventures of Sabrina, a teenage witch that is learning how to maneuver her life as a half-witch, half-mortal while protecting her family and friends from the evil she is born into. This particular series is much darker than the original, but it’s difficult to stop watching it. I’m looking forward to season 4, but in the meantime, I will rewatch from season 1 all over again. There are references in this series that are sinister, so mommies beware – watch on your own time (especially if you have little ones). I think teens may enjoy the series if they like that kind of stuff.
Now that I’ve held you attention and hopefully have given you enough movies and series to get you through the next week, I hope your quarantine allows you to get caught up on all the things we sometimes miss doing in life. I know, it sucks to be cooped up and locked up in the house for hours or days on end, but I think this is so important for the safety of everyone around us. I also know that some of these movies and series may not be your cup of tea, hey, I’m not most people’s cup of tea… but at least it will give you something to check out while you’re stuck indoors. My goal is to release a bunch of other movies for different streaming services like Amazon Prime, Hulu and many others. I’ll also do some updates on different genres that you can check out too. I wish all of you health and an uneventful but fun time during this time when we all need to think of the health and safety of everyone. I’m excited that I get to get caught up on blog posts (I know, I’ve been slacking) and even videos and podcasts. This time will also allow me to do more things with my boys and we really have to get creative here, so I’m enjoying that too.
Here in Hawaii, most of us are on day 5 or more of the self-quarantine, social distancing, and lockdown during this coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak. Our Mayor just released…
It’s been about 3 years since I have done an updated post for my Confessions of a Corrections Officer’s Wife Segment here on Honeygirl’s World. It’s not that…
One of my New Years 2019 goals is to have more movie nights with my fam bam. So, when I heard that Goosebumps 2 was about to release on DVD & Blu-ray I couldn’t help but get extremely excited to watch it. You see, watching movies at home helps to make Movie Night with my family personally, but is also much more convenient than running out to the theater and dealing with uncomfortable seats. Furthermore, I grew up with R.L. Stine books and absolutely loved Goosebumps the Movie, so I couldn’t wait to share Goosebumps 2 with my family.
Goosebumps 2 is now available for purchase on Digital, Blu-Ray and DVD. You can also grab yourself the Combo which includes all three.
Great for Family Movie Night
For my birthday (which was Monday), my family and I sat down in front of the tube (do they even still call it that? In case you don’t know what I’m referencing, I mean the television. lol) and put in our Blu-Ray disc to watch Goosebumps 2. Based on the best-selling book series by R.L. Stine and starring Wendi McLendon-Covey, Chris Parnell and Ken Jeong.
About Goosebumps 2 – The Movie
You know I don’t like to spoil a movie before anyone is able to watch it, but I’m going to share a little run down on what happens. They say that you must “be careful what you wish for.” Well, this is all true when best friends Sonny and Sam hope to find treasure in other people’s trash. While cleaning out the old Stine house, they find a locked book that frees a little nightmare named Slappy! The two friends, along with the help of Sonny’s sister Sarah are in a race against time to get the dummy and the creatures that are roaming the town for Halloween back into the pages of the book before it’s too late.
Goosebumps 2 is funny with a combination of a little scary (not too scary for the littles though) and intrigue. I loved that Ken Jeong played a small role in this movie, but his character really gets an R.L. Stine reader excited about the movie.
Extras
The disc includes a lot of fun extras as well – like: a Gag Reel, deleted scenes, featurettes and Slappy-Oke Sing Alongs.
If you’re a fan of R.L. Stine or have read the Goosebumps Book Series, you’ll definitely enjoy this one. My family and I have been waiting patiently to watch and we really enjoyed it.
The Details
Goosebumps 2 has a run time of approximately 120 minutes and is rated PG for scary creature action and images as well as some thematic elements, rude humor and language. The twins are 9 so they really enjoyed the movie, but there were some parts where they felt the need to close their eyes. Of course, they realized that it was not that scary and ultimately really loved the movie.
I love sharing my childhood with my sons and having some of my favorite books come to life in movies is definitely a great way to share it. I’ve got the twins wanting to read the books so I’m definitely excited about that. Check out some of the fun additions that you can do with your family like the Goosebumps Gummy Bear Slime or Science with Slappy where you can grow, observe and glow your bears.
Have you picked up your copy of Sony Pictures Goosebumps 2? As a family we definitely suggest you checking it out. Whether you want a copy of DVD or Blu-Ray or looking for the Digital copy, all of them are available and out now.
Thank you Sony Pictures Home Entertainment for sending over our copy of this awesome movie. My family and I loved it.
Disclaimer: The product(s) featured in this post were sent for review consideration. All opinions are my own, 100% honest & unbiased. Affiliate links may be posted through out.
A few weeks back I shared with you some awesome info on the Hotel Transylvania 3 movie. On September 25th, the movie became available on Digital HD and…
I know, I know… new year means, “new me” right? Wrong! I’ve realized that I’ve been looking at getting healthy incorrectly all of these years. I didn’t start putting on my weight till after I had kids, so I guess, you could say that my mentality was a tad bit construed, or maybe I was just lazy. But, this year (I actually started in December 2017), I’m making a change in not only my thoughts and how I view things, but what I’m doing to get to my healthy me. Today I share with you my 2018 Personal Fitness Goals. I whole-heartily agree that a person’s fitness and health goals should be tapered and adjusted, customized and unique to that particular person. We aren’t cookies, so, therefore, we shouldn’t have cookie-cutter goals and routines. Don’t you agree?
Try New Things: I really want to be able to embrace new workouts by trying new things and including a variety of different stuff. By doing so you will encourage your body to continue burning fat for energy and increasing your metabolism. While I know it, I often get stuck in the same rut. My schedule is never my own, so I workout and exercise around everyone else’s time. Because of this, I find myself doing what I know works and that fits within that given time frame. The problem is that my body eventually gets to a standstill and as I plateau, I get discouraged. I have somewhat figured out a way around this. By creating a schedule block of different exercises throughout the week, changing between interval training, cardio and stretching as well as a good walk/jog each week, my body will still be active while still burning fat and building leaner muscle. Adding in additional dance and hip-hop fitness into the mix is a great way to jumpstart the routines as I’m changing them around throughout the month. I’ll test my theory and I’ll get back with all of you on how it has worked for me.
Get Running: I also look at my current fitness and exercise regimen and compare it to what I used to do before. I bet most people didn’t know that I was a runner. I ran cross country and track in middle school and high school. I used to be pretty fast too. After a few ankle injuries in the last 20-25 years and a bad knee, I stopped running or even jogging and it’s been a struggle for me to get back on track. By the end of this year, I want to be able to at least jog without being in so much pain. I have been slowly increasing my walks to a light jog lately and I noticed that it’s a challenge for my aches and pains. But with proper support and effort, I think I can include low impact running into my workout routine before the end of the year.
Planks, Pull ups and Push ups – oh my: Before planks were a popular thing, my Daddy had me doing them along with pull ups and push ups each day. It’s how I kept my core strong and strengthened my arms so that I could paddle my surfboard out to the wave breaks and stand up on the board, balance and catch a wave. It’s been years since I’ve been able to really do any of those things. However, I’ve been slowly incorporating all three into my exercise regimen the last month. I’d love to be able to do planks, push ups and pull ups easily, without having to stop to take a break between each set. I’d also like to be able to do it the challenging way instead of easy. I think by incorporating a little of it in each workout, by the end of the year, I’ll be to able to do it without struggling.
Positive affirmation and goals: You see the photo above? Well, that photo was taken in 1998, back when I was smaller than a size 8 and 125 lbs wet. It seems like a lifetime ago. Obviously, I have had three children (2 pregnancies) and I weigh more than 150 lbs above that weight that I am in that photo. I’m realistic that I can do well and I can lose my weight, tone my muscles and build lean muscle, but, honestly, I will never look the same again. I will have saggy skin once I lose my weight and that’s something I have to deal with, but I will be healthy and happy because I accomplished it all. My biggest fitness goal this year is to use my past body as inspiration, determination and drive to be a healthier person, not using it as a way to bring me down. Our lives are filled with enough negativity and lack of drive, that I want to make sure that I’m not soaking all the bad energy in. I’m doing all of this for a healthier me so that I can be there for my husband and sons. It doesn’t matter what anyone says or the looks they give because it doesn’t feed my drive to be a better me. My goal this year is to keep positivity around me as much as possible so that I can be much more successful in this healthier lifestyle.
Just me on one of my daily walks.
My 2018 Fitness goals are minimal but I believe they will make a huge impact on me. Besides, when we try out new things or focus on things to drive us, sometimes starting off small is the key. What about you? Do you have any fitness goals for this year? Is there anything in particular that you would like to try or incorporate into the year to get you on track?
This post was done in collaboration with some of my favorite Beauty and Lifestyle Bloggers. Head on over to their links below and check them out.
We are literally just a few short days away from celebrating Mother’s Day. As a mother, I look forward to spending this day with my husband and sons because they are the ones that make me a mom, but this year, my eldest son will be off island for a band concert and I’m certainly going to miss him. If you’re wondering why it has taken me so long to share with you a little gift guide as I tend to do each year, well – that’s the reason! I’ve been able to spend this day with all of my boys since they were born so I have been in my own little pity party the last few days knowing that he wouldn’t be home. A few days ago, I realized that I needed to get over myself and be thankful that my husband and sons treat me like Mother’s Day is every day and no special day on the calendar is ever required. So – while I am a bit late at sharing my gift lift with all of you – I figured that I would make this post because any day is a great day to get a treat – right?
The first thing on my list is this gorgeous necklace from The Vintage Pearl which you can find on The Grommet. The Grommet has to be one of my go-to websites for finding unique gifts for my loved ones. This Messy Nest Necklace is a cute treasured keepsake and I absolutely love it. Whether you are getting it for your moms or grandmothers, I’m sure it will be a hit. The necklace starts at $42.00 and is handcrafted in the United States of antiqued silver wire. Each nest is handcrafted and filled with freshwater pearls – one for each child in the wearer’s heart. It’s set on a sterling silver ball chain and can be customized to match the number of children in the family. The creator of The Vintage Pearl is a mom herself and started creating from her kitchen table in hopes to be able to be a stay at home and work from home mom. This is probably one of my favorite pieces to share with you because it’s certainly a sentimental piece. I hope that The Vintage Pearl will offer this in gold one day.
Get a Messy Nest Necklace from The Vintage Pearl here.
Next is another gorgeous piece that can also be found on The Grommet. The Family Tree Necklace by Vintage Stamp Jewels is a great piece that can be worn every day. The delicate family tree charm represents the life connections that matter to each of us. You can choose the color and number of Swarovski crystal charms that accompany your tree. The bezel-set crystals can represent any important moments or people from birthstones of children or grandchildren, milestones and anniversaries or any special date or time that is close to your heart.
You can learn more about this gorgeous piece and get one for yourself or a loved one here.
Now, when I think of Mother’s Day – I always associate a really great face mask as a gift. Here’s the deal, I LOVE an awesome face mask and some of my favorites come from Miss Spa. If you’ve been a long time follower of my blog, then you know I’ve raved and talked about this brand a lot over the years. What I love about Miss Spa is their wide range of masks available for a variety of skin types and textures. You literally can find one to fit your needs or someone you love.
Did I mention that these masks are so affordable? Depending on the type you select, they start at about $4.00 each and go up in price from there and you can easily find a mask that suits you. I definitely love a great face mask for Mother’s Day because I don’t have time for an at Spa pampering so I love doing it at home.
You can learn more about Miss Spa products, purchase your own or get it as a gift here or at your local Ulta or Drugstore.
Bath Bombs are a favorite gift to receive and to give on Mother’s Day. For years my sons and I made creations of our favorite scents and dried flowers to give as gifts, a tradition that my sisters and I did when we were teenagers. One of my long time favorite handcrafted websites for great bath, body and essential oils is Sky Organics. I’ve been using their essential oils for a few years now and I just had to include them in this guide. All moms deserve a little pampering and bath bombs are those little fizzy wonders that just help any mom relax. Sky Organics offers their Organic Bath Bombs Gift Set for just $25.99 (one of my favorites besides my own handmade ones) and it includes 6 beautiful bath bombs in an assortment of scents – Caribbean Coconut (my favorite), Lavender Lemon Muffin, Love Potion, Mermaid Kiss, Strawberry Milkshake and Sugar Rose. These beauties are made in the USA and each bath bomb has a net weight of 5 oz. It’s a total steal for sure.
If bath bombs aren’t your thing, then be sure to check out their wide range of essential oils. They offer a set with all of their oils for just $50. Did I mention they also provide FREE SHIPPING. Head on over to their website here for more information.
LATHER is another company I recommend to anyone and they offer gift sets that are perfect for Mother’s Day or any day of the year. Their Dream On set ($58.00) includes their blue chamomile foaming bath treatment, lavender aromatherapy candle, Art of Tea sleep tea handcrafted loose leaf tea (organic), tea infuser, quiet night relaxing balm, eye mask, and a reusable gift box. All of these essentials are perfect for treating mom to a night of a little peace, quiet and relaxation. With my sleepless nights and insomnia, this kid would be the absolute perfect way for me to just settle down and relax.
Learn more about LATHER’S gift sets and products here.
I’ve been swooning over IT Cosmetics the last few months now and I knew I just had to include some of these beauties. Honestly, I’ve been totally stalking IT Cosmetic’s website now making a VERY LARGE wish list of items I want to try. I have literally only tried their Je Ne Sais Quoi Lip Treatment and Bye Bye Under Eye, so I find that this portion of my post has an ulterior motive for me… hehehe! Maybe my friends and family who see this will snatch something from IT for me for Mother’s Day. Hey, one can hope, right. j/k! This year IT Cosmetics is offering a bunch of IT girl essentials that will literally have your Mom feeling her most beautiful on this special day and always.
The Your BeautifulBasics Airbrush 101 5-Piece Face and Eye Getting Started Brush Set $58 is the perfect set for any makeup loving addict. Every woman needs a great basic brush set in her makeup bash and the Airbrush 101 is how you get started with it all. Blend, blur, buff and perfect for a flawless airbrushed finish with a brand of brushes that are known to be super soft and luxurious.
Now – of course, makeup brushes are definitely my thang so I had to share with you the Face & Eye Essentials Mini 5-Piece Face and Eye Travel Brush Set. This set retails for $30 and it wold be a great hit for Mom. An awesome powder, eye shadow brushes and liner brush can help you get ready in a flash. Four brushes are included to line, define, smoke out and blend. Plus, you get an all-over complexion brush for all the basics from foundation to blush and illuminizer. This is a great kit that includes the tools to get that fab look.
The Je Ne Sais Quoi Lip Treatment ( I just mentioned about how this is one of the products I have tried from IT) is also a great gift selection. But, this NEW Je Ne Sais Quoi Lip Treatment is now available in Rose. It contains the essential butters and oils, hyaluronic filling spheres and antioxidants for your softest and smoothest looking pout while it flushes your lip to the perfect rosy pink. The original is my go-to when I’m in a rush or not feeling makeup but want a little color to my lips. It’s definitely something I’d buy for my mom and something I’d love to receive as a gift. It retails for $24.00
Lastly from IT Cosmetics, I wanted to share with you the Bye Bye Pores Blush (retail $24). This award-winning Bye Bye Pores formula is infused with optical-blurring pigments which instantly diffuse the look of pores and discoloration. It’s filled with skin-loving ingredients like anti-aging silk, hydrolyzed collagen, antioxidants, and peptides which will give any Mom (any body) a youthful flush. I definitely think this is perfect for me or my mom because we love a great blush and anything that is infused with ingredients we love, well – it’s definitely a must have.
You can purchase any of these products on IT Cosmetics website here.
Who says hair products and tools don’t make great gifts? Not me! I would love to get a fab hair tool for Mother’s Day so I figured I would include something that would help mom eliminate the “hair tool storage” and get a 3 in 1 that can do the trick. The CHI Ellipse 3-in-1 Styling Iron is a great tool to make convenience mom’s game. You can create a multitude of looks using this very versatile styler that includes 3 styling options in one tool. With Teflon and Titanium plates to create smooth and sleep styles on a non-stick surface. You can great smooth hair, curls and waves with just one tool. The styler has adjustable temperature settings that heat up to 410 °F / 210 °C. It has a ceramic heater for consistent temperature and an LED touch sensitive temperature control and display. You also get a temperature lock feature (oooh… fancy) and a 1 hour shut-off. I also love that it comes with it’s own glove, so you have everything you need for the perfect hair style. The CHI Ellipse 3-in-1 Styling Iron retails for $110 but the price is reasonable considering the quality of the product and the fact that you can use it for more than one style.
You can learn more about this tool or grab one for yourself or your mom here.
This next gift idea is untraditional, but definitely something worth mentioning. The Revolar Instinct (I’ll have a full review on this product in the next week or so) has been a very important part of my everyday. Retailing for $80, this little device can be the perfect gift in a big way. The Revolar is a product that is brand new (the Indiegogo campaign has just completed) but a tool that I think is very worth the while. It’s a quarter sized connect button that with 1-3 clicks, the Instinct can send different custom alerts to friends and family to let them know where the user is and what level of help they need. Unfortunately, sexual assault is on a rise here in the United States and violence against women is at an all-time high. You can send help to your location with a few clicks of this wearable device. It not only empowers you to be proactive about your safety, but this little Instinct will help ou stay in touch with loved ones as well. Did I mention it also tracks your steps? There are no chords, and easy to use device and you can replace a battery in about a year so you don’t have to worry about charging it. Last year my mom was sitting in a parking lot when someone tried to attack her. Luckily she was in her car and was able to escape. When I was 4 years old, a man attempted to kidnap me, I was in his car and he was about to drive away when my dad stopped him in his tracks. Devices like this are easy to use and definitely worth it. I wish I had one for each person in my family. I had to share this with you because it’s a gift I think that would be invaluable to any mom and anyone. Like I said, a full review will be coming soon – so stay tuned.
Learn more about the Revolar Instinct and find out how to get one for yourself here.
I’ll be honest, as a mother, I can honestly say that any type of gift is such a wonderful sentiment, but I never expect it. I think that Mother’s Day is every day of the year for me and I’m so lucky to call myself a mom. I love creating handmade gifts for my mom and my mother in law from all of us because I think it’s special and I’m quite good with a glue gun. Little flowers or hairpins decorated in fabric or paper always seem to make our loved ones happy. At the end of the day – a gift should come from the heart, whether purchased or made. My sons make me handmade cards each year and I cherish them with all my heart.
HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!
I want to remind you that Mother’s Day is every single day of the year. If you’ve been following me a while then you know that I believe this to be so with Valentine’s Day too. Hmmm… I wish Christmas and birthdays were every day of the year also, hahaha! Anyway – no matter the gift or sentiment you give to the moms in your life, make it special. This last minute gift guide was not intended to be late, but I’m reminded that a present for mom doesn’t have to be given only one day a year so even if you miss picking up one of these for that special lady in your life – feel free to use this as a guide to put together a special treat for her at anytime.
I want to take this time to wish all of the mommies out there (whether you have human children or fur babies) a wonderful Mother’s Day this Sunday. May your day be filled with lots of love and hugs and a whole lot of warmth and happiness.
“To the world you are a Mother, but to your family you are the World.”
Disclaimer: Some of the products featured in this post were sent for review consideration, while others were purchased with my own money. All opinions are my own, 100% honest & unbiased, as with anything you see on this site. Affiliate links may be posted throughout.
