Dear Mom? What to write to the woman you love most

It’s that time of year again. Time to tell your Mom, or wife or grandmother, etc.- how much you love and value her.

Uh-oh. What to say?

KISS! Keep it simple, sweetheart!

Many moms would prefer a few, heartfelt, sweet words than all of the diamonds in the world!

Here are some tips and tricks to get those heartfelt diamond words just rolling off the tongue!

1) Make her a card. Freshen up on that penmanship Mom always loved! Emails & texts are nice…for every day. Not for a holiday and certainly not for the special lady in your life on her special day! Write a card, use personal stationery, draw a picture. But just make sure it comes directly from your heart to the pen to the paper to her heart. It will mean much more to her than a text or email ever could. And, by the way, who doesn’t love getting mail?

 

2) Recall a favorite memory with Mom. Write it up, as you remember it, and include it in a sweet card or – better yet – make a card yourself by choosing a personal family photo to accompany it. Maybe a pic of you and Mom coming home from the hospital? Graduation? Wedding? You and Santa?

Use an 8 1/2 x 11 inch sheet/cardstock and double-stick tape or glue the photo at the top. Underneath, include the moving memory. Whether it be sweet, funny or sad, it will take Mom on that long-needed walk down Memory Lane.

4) Find a poem online that tells her how you feel. Pinterest is great for this. Also , google “mom quotes” or “mom poems” or look at my quotes on BeautyFrosting. If you’re coming up dry, please email me and I’ll help you out!

Also, check out Thursday’s Mother’s Day Gift-Giving Guide, Part 2: Long on Love, Short on Time & Money for thoughtful gifting tips for the Mom in your life!

xoxo,

BF

 

BF Asks: What’s your favorite quote about moms?

In the Bag: Mother’s Day Delights

Mother’s Day is coming up and, hopefully, you’ve already gotten the perfect gift for your perfect mom! But if you haven’t yet, here are some gifts to help Mom look and feel her beautiful best!

You should have just one goal while shopping for the mom in your life: Give her something that will delight her! Ask yourself, “What makes Mom giddy with glee?” This month’s In the Bag features some of my pretty picks that will really make your mom’s heart skip a beat!

In-The-Bag: Mother's Day Delights

1) Jessie Steele Citrus Blossom Rubber Gloves $12: If your mom is a dazzling domestic goddess, you can’t go wrong with one of my favorite companies: the jovial Jessie Steele! Jessie’s retro-fabulous, kitschy kitchen gloves come in a variety of colors and designs, so there is a pair destined to match your mom’s kitchen décor. With this one reasonable-yet-ravishing gift, you can turn Mom’s least-fun kitchen-cleaning task into a glamorous affair!

2) SoapyBliss Flavor Collection Bath Collections $45: If your mom’s a sucker for sweets and/or is a bath addict like I am, she will love these treats from the delicious small businessSoapyBliss! These precious little confections satisfy moms with a sweet tooth without crashing their diets! Between the Cupcake Bath Bomb, Shower Sugar Cubes and Whipped Cream Body Frosting in this set, Mom is sure to soak in sweets to her heart’s content! And with prices starting at just $5 for Cupcake Bath Bombs, everyone can find a gift within their budget on the SoapyBliss site. Plus, the pretty pastel packaging that resembles cupcake wrappers and chocolate boxes is sure to sweeten the surprise!

3) Caldrea Variety Sampler Set $75: Is your mom less on the glamorous side and more like Monica from Friends? Then this Caldrea Variety Sampler Set will impress your lovely, loves-to-clean lady of the house! Safe for her, her family, her home, and the earth, this set is filled with all the everyday essentials she needs to keep her home clean and sparkling. And with a variety of Caldrea’s best-selling scents, Mom’s sure to find a favorite for future purchases!

4) Sherrieblossom Icebox Wide Acrylic Makeup Organizer $395: This deluxe, sure-to-delight celebrity favorite is a triple-hitter! For the mother who’s the ultimate organizer, the mom who wishes she were more organized, or the mama who dazzles as a glamazon, Sherrieblossom is the gorgeous way to go! With its five see-through drawers and six tiers, Mom’s makeup will never go rogue again! Plus, Mom will have all of her beloved beauty products at her fancy fingertips while primping for a big night out! So lavish some luxury on your marvelous mother!

5) FabFitFun VIP box $49.99/season: If you want to bring a little red-carpet luxury to your mom’s everyday life, the FabFitFun VIP box is your answer this Mother’s Day! Giuliana Rancic – and the FabFitFun femmes themselves — handpick the pretty, primo products for this luxury box delivered straight to her door four times a year. While your mom won’t receive the box on Mother’s Day, you can let her know that your Mother’s Day gift is a gift that keeps giving all year long! With fun, full-sized products from the beauty, fashion and fitness worlds, Mom will be giddy with glee every time she receives this seasonal surprise!

6) Clarisonic Mia Sonic Skin Cleansing System in Pink $119: For a beautiful no-brainer bet, you can’t go wrong with this gift that gives Mom gorgeous, glowing skin. An investment in Mom’s skincare and a little daily luxury, the Clarisonic skin cleansing system is loved and trusted by women across the world who want softer, younger-looking skin. Cleaning deep to the pores and increasing circulation and oxygen, this small, travel-friendly treat comes in every color of the rainbow. If your mom’s partial to pink like I am, the pink Mia is the perfect accent to any beauty’s bathroom counter. Plus, she’ll be impressed that you care about her complexion!

And, ladies, don’t forget to treat yourself with one of these In the Bag fab finds. Happy Mother’s Day to all of you beautiful ladies out there who help shape the women we become on a daily basis! May you experience as much love and beauty this Mother’s Day as you have brought into your loved ones’ lives!

 

xoxo,

BF

 

BF Asks: What are you delighting your mother with this Mother’s Day?

 

Mother’s Day Gift-Giving Guide, Part 2: Long on Love, Short on Time & Money

So you still don’t have the perfect, pretty gift for the pretty lady in your life? Well, with Mother’s Day right around the corner, you still have a few last minute, lovely options that are sure to tickle Mom pink!

Our moms were there for us when we cried our first tear, said our first word, took our first step. So even if you’re short on time and/or money, you’ve gotta find a way to show the most important woman in your life how important she is to you on Mother’s Day!

Here are my top tips on how to honor and celebrate Mom this Mother’s Day without breaking the bank or running out of time.

1) Give Mom a present every month. Beauty boxes are a new, thoughtful, little service that Mom will love! A few times a year or once a month (depending on the service you select), she’ll get pampered with an assortment of beauty products to try. There are so many choices that it can be overwhelming so let me break it down for you.

Is Mom a glamourous woman? Does she love any and all things beauty? Is she always looking for the best new makeup or skincare?
New Beauty Test Tube is the way to go! For only $29.95 every 3 months, Mom gets a beauty box filled with goodies like this:

New Beauty Test Tube: The GoodsNew Beauty Test Tube: The Goods

For more info about New Beauty Test Tube, read our BF post here: http://www.beautyfrosting.com/mailbox-monday-new-beauty-test-tube

Is Mom eco-conscious? You’re own earth mother incarnate? A goddess of green?

 Eco-Emi is the way for you to go!

For more Eco-Emi details, read our post here: http://www.beautyfrosting.com/mailbox-monday-eco-emi-glamour-you-can-feel-good-about

There are lots more beauty box services where those came from but those are my BF-Best picks for this Mother’s Day! And while Mom won’t receive the actual box on Mother’s Day, when you tell her what you’ve done and that she’ll be receiving gifts all year long, she’ll be utterly delighted at your forethought!

2) Favorites are fun! Does Mom have a wine she adores? Buy her a case of her favorite wine at BevMo. Too expensive? Buy her a bottle and a fancy wine opener like CorkPops! The cork pops right off thanks to CO2 cartridge. I don’t wanna say she won’t need you anymore but…you get the idea!

Mom more of a tea-totaler in that she loooooves her tea! Buy her an antique teapot, a teacup and a box of her favorite tea (most people don’t mind an Earl Grey, English Breakfast or Darjeeling).Wanna be extra thoughtful? Buy her a box of sugar cubes. Every true TEAista loves ‘em!

3) Spa Day at a steal. Subscribe to  YipIt.com (even if only for 2 days) and get the best deals on all discounted spa services and favorites (everything on Lifebooker, Groupon, Daily Candy, Living Social and all the others in one place!!!) for your favorite lady!

You will get DEEPLY DISCOUNTED spa, restaurant and more deals that will make you look like the prince you are while paying like a pauper. Nice. How cheap am I talking? I’m talking $5 manicures, $29 massages, $25 blowouts, $30 hair coloring and more. Yes, it can be more than that but that’s as low as they go!

4) Pack a picnic. Gather your Mom’s favorite foods and beverages and hit a park, museum, beach, lake or backyard. Every girl, no matter the age, loves a picnic. It’s really that simple. Be sure to pack glassware, utensils, plates, napkins and a candle too!

5) Movie Matinee. Take Mom to a movie. Just don’t forget to sneak in her favorite champagne or candy! It’s that little extra step that makes it special!

6) In-Home Spa. Can’t get away? Need a last minute solution? Pamper your pretty lady at home. Many women I’ve talked to said that it really couldn’t get better than just getting a few moments alone. Draw her a bath, light some candles, pour her a glass of her favorite wine (or steep a cup of her favorite tea), grab her favorite book/trashy magazine and set her up in her own personal in-home spa night! Perfect for those moms with little ones running around. Let her relax and unwind in the bath while you pop in a dvd for the little darlings! And pop the bubbly for her. Just remember that she’s in a spa treatment. That means NOOOOO disruptions!

7) A Little Something Special? Maybe you love all of the ideas above but still want to give her a little something special. Check out my In-My-Tub-Tuesday: Mother’s Day Edition post to get a few bathtub-ready treats. Anything by Kai or Darphin will tickle her toes!

8) Super Last Minute Fix. Buy 2 bouquets of flowers at Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods or your favorite neighborhood florist. This can be done for under $20. Keep it simple. Don’t buy a mixture of 15 colors. Women don’t want it.

Buy 1 or 2 colors (I’m partial to pink, violet, yellow or white and roses, hydrangeas, peonies, tuberose, tulips or gerber daisies) and divide them into 5 different smaller-medium sized vases.

Put one each in the bedroom, bathroom, living room, kitchen and anywhere else where when she sees them, she’ll smile. It’s that extra thought of scattering them through the house that means the most! Just be sure to clean up your mess, throw away the trash – and oh!- be sure to put water in the vases with a touch of Sprite (may sound crazy but they’ll last longer)!

***
If you do one of the above, I can guarantee you a smile (and probably a hug too) from the Mom in your life. And, if she likes it, drop me a note or send me a pic!

 

xoxo,
BF 

BF Asks: What’s the best Mother’s Day gift you’ve ever given or received?

 

Mother’s Day Gift Guide #1: Pretty Picks for Mom

I experience so many unbeatable beauty and lifestyle products all year long that when it comes to picking the perfect gift for my Mom, I can get a little overwhelmed. Lucky for me – and you, too – I have gathered a host of heavenly products that are sure to make Mom feel even more beautiful than she already is. These 5 picks are my favorites for when you have a few days prep time to head to a store, order on Amazon or just basically need a gracious gift fast with just a bit of forethought.

Mother's Day Gift Guide 2013 #1: Pretty Picks for Mom...with just a little forethought

1) Lorac Mother’s Day Collection ($32) will help you gift a little gorgeousness to Mom! Among the pretty products included are Lorac Starry-Eyed Baked Eye Shadow Trio in Star Studded, Special Effects Conditioning, Defining & Lengthening Mascara, Hot & Spicy Blush/Bronzer Duo and Couture Shine Liquid Lipstick in Trendsetter – all in a sleek, black croc makeup bag. Valued at $112, this glamorous collection for Mom won’t cost you a pretty penny! It’s only $32 for a limited time!

 

Lorac Mother's Day Collection ($32)

 

2) Aerin Lauder’s line, Aerin, has a slew of pretty products sure to delight Mom! I’m especially partial to Aerin’s Spring Color Palette in Effortless Spring Radiance ($70). Even though Summer might be right around the corner, this pretty palette will put a little spring in Mom’s step!

Aerin Spring Color Palette in Garden In Bloom ($70)

 

3) If Mom is a domestic goddess and loves her palace to polish and shine, she’ll be thrilled to get a basket of Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Kitchen Basics Set ($9.99). The Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Kitchen Basics Set is an easy way to introduce Mom to a new way of cleaning with her favorite scent! The set contains their eco-friendly cleaning products and includes Liquid Dish Soap, Liquid Hand Soap and Countertop Spray. My favorite scents? Rosemary, Basil and Honeysuckle. And at $9.99, it’s a steal!

 

Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Kitchen Basics Set ($9.99)

 

4) If Mom loves to smell as sweet as she is on the inside, your best beauty bet is the Trish McEvoy Mother’s Day No. 9 Blackberry & Vanilla Musk Fragrance Collection ($145). One of my favorite all-time scents, Mom will be left smelling like Trish’s iconic blend of sweet blackberries and rich vanilla. And with an assortment of Trish’s bestselling products – including fragrance, body cream and sugar scrub – Mom will feel pretty pampered and pampered pretty!

 

Trish McEvoy Mother’s Day No. 9 Blackberry & Vanilla Musk Fragrance Collection

 

5) If your mom’s been saying that she wants to take care of her skin but she just hasn’t gotten around to it, why don’t you help her take that healthy step? Murad Environmental Shield Introductory Kit ($39.95) is the perfect introductory set that will get Mom on the healthy skincare track she’s been intending to jump on. This satiating set (with a value of $125) includes smaller sizes of the Essential-C cleanser, Active Radiance Serum, Essential-C Day Moisture Broad Spectrum SPF 30 as well as a few bonus gifts! By getting this gift, you’ll be enrolling Mom in a monthly skincare program that she will receive monthly for only $39.95/month. I can’t imagine a gift as good as this investment!

Murad Environmental Shield Introductory Kit - an anti-aging superhero! (only $39.95)

And if you get a little something extra for Mom – or for yourself – in addition to Mom’s gift, you’ll get a fun gift for Mom or for you, as well! (FREE with any $120 purchase)

A Murad BONUS this Mother's Day!!!

 

 

Happy Mother’s Day shopping and, more importantly, Happy Mother’s Day!

xoxo,
BF

Happy Mother’s Day 2012!!

Happy Mother’s Day to all of of you beautiful mothers out there!
You make a difficult-yet-delicate job look as easy as pie!

Sending you as much love, as you dole out daily, today!

Every day I become a little bit more like my mother...and I couldn't be prouder!

Every day I become a little bit more like my mother...and I couldn't be prouder!

For more posts on my Mom and BF’s Mother’s Day Gift-Giving Guide and BF Mother’s Day Card Writing Guide!

xoxo,

BF

 

BF Asks: How are you celebrating Mother’s Day today?

 

Recipe Box: BeautyFrosting’s CCC Brownies – in honor of my Mom

When I think of moms, I think of my Mom baking brownies when we were growing up. I think of “getting to clean” the beaters from the mixer, licking the spatula, my mom taking a big finger’s worth of buttery brownie batter and my eyes widening in delight as I savored the gooey goodness. YUMMY!

So, on Sunday, when I couldn’t find my Mom’s brownie recipe (which she originally got from her dear friend, Judy Rainey), I decided to make up my own! I tried something out and it just worked beautifully! I love it when that happens. So here are my CCC Brownies. Why CCC? Because the key ingredients are cocoa and cream cheese! And butter, of course! Now, you can share my buttery, brownie recipe with your kids!! May their memories be as sweet as mine looking back on it one day! Happy Mother’s Day!

And, Mom, thanks to you and Nanny for giving me the baking bug! I am forever grateful.

xoxo,

BF

BeautyFrosting's CCC Brownies

CCC Brownies (Cocoa Cream Cheese)


Preheat oven to 325.
2 sticks (1 c.) Butter, softened
1 package (8 oz) Cream Cheese, softened

3 eggs
3 c Sugar
2 tsp Vanilla extract
3/4 c Cocoa
1/4 tsp Baking Powder
1 c all-purpose Flour
1/2 tsp Salt
Line baking pan with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, combine softened butter and cream cheese. Whip ’til light & fluffy.
Add eggs. Add sugar. Add vanilla.
In a small bowl, combine cocoa, baking powder, flour and salt.
Add mixture to creamy mixture. Mix well.
Pour into parchment paper-lined pan.
Bake 30-45 minutes (I bake mine for about 40 but my oven’s a little slow).
Mixing up CCC Brownies in the BF kitchen

Ready for the oven!

Yummylicious!! CCC Brownies

 

Dear Mom? What to write to the woman you love most

It’s that time of year again. Time to tell your Mom, or wife or grandmother, etc.- how much you love and value her.

Uh-oh. What to say?

KISS! Keep it simple sweetheart!

Many moms would prefer a few, heartfelt, sweet words than all of the diamonds in the world!

Here are some tips and tricks to get those heartfelt diamond words just rolling off the tongue!

1) Make her a card. Freshen up on that penmanship Mom always loved! Emails & texts are nice…for every day. Not for a holiday and certainly not for the special lady in your life on her special day! Write a card, use personal stationery, draw a picture. But just make sure it comes directly from your heart to the pen to the paper to her heart. It will mean much more to her than a text or email ever could. And, by the way, who doesn’t love getting mail?

David "Davy" and Mom and me

2) Recall a favorite memory with Mom. Write it up, as you remember it, and include it in a sweet card or – better yet – make a card yourself by choosing a personal family photo to accompany it. Maybe a pic of you and Mom coming home from the hospital? Graduation? Wedding? You and Santa?

Mom and me and Great Grandmother, Delaney

Use an 8 1/2 x 11 inch sheet/cardstock and double-stick tape or glue the photo at the top. Underneath, include the moving memory. Whether it be sweet, funny or sad, it will take Mom on that long-needed walk down Memory Lane.

Mom and me and my big brother, David in Destin

4) Find a poem online that tells her how you feel. Pinterest is great for this. Also , google “mom quotes” or “mom poems” or look at my quotes this week here on BeautyFrosting. If you’re coming up dry, please email me and I’ll help you out!

Also, check out yesterday’s Mother’s Day Gift-Giving Guide: Long on Love, Short on Time & Money for thoughtful gifting tips for the Mom in your life!

xoxo,

BF

 

BF Asks: What’s your favorite quote about moms?

Thirsty Thursday: Mother’s Day Dixie Peach-Champagne Punch

Does Mom love punch with a citrus kick?

What could be more lovely than a sweet-tart punch for your sweetheart?

Stir up a batch for your magnificent Mom this Mother’s Day!

Mother's Day Dixie Peach Champagne Punch

Mother’s Day Peach-Champagne Punch

3 (11.5 ounce) cans peach nectar (or I love Trader Joe’s Dixie Peach punch!)
1 (6 ounce) can frozen orange juice concentrate
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/2 cup peach brandy
1/4 cup grenadine syrup
1 (32 fluid ounce) bottle carbonated water
3 (750 milliliter) bottles champagne

DIRECTIONS
Chill all ingredients.
In a large punch bowl combine peach nectar, concentrated orange juice, lemon juice, brandy and grenadine. Mix well and pour in the carbonated water and champagne.

 Enjoy with the fabulous women in your life!
xoxo,
BF

BF QOD: Moms – Never Once Asked For Anything In Return

Quote

BFQOD: Moms never ask in return...

 

“My mother gave me life and never once asked for anything in return. That is her secret, you know; always giving without expectations. She is as constant as the sunrise, the moon, the stars and I count on her. She helps me find my way through the years and makes me laugh while doing it. There are some things that only a mother can do.” (Unknown)

BF QOD: My Mother’s Prayers…

Quote

“I remember my mother’s prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life.” (Abraham Lincoln)

So true…

 

xoxo,

BF

BF Asks: Do you have any prayers from your mother that have stayed with you since childhood?