Mother’s Day Gift Guide + DIY Spa Recipes

Ah Mother’s Day, where you can grab a bite at your favorite restaurant, maybe hit the spa, send the kids away… oh wait… Well, in these unusual times, moms will likely be overdosing on the family time or missing those away. So why not send a mother-earth-friendly gift that makes an impact for the mom (or other superwoman!) who’s made an impact in your life. And help her pamper-in-place with the fun recipes below!

Feels *almost* as good as a hug in social distancing…

Show her the love with a beautiful, artisan-made Bloom & Give scarf and you’ll also be sharing the love with girls education programs (10% of every purchase) and the small artisan co-ops that support employment-seeking women in India.

For the fashionista mom:

And just a few more responsibly-made, environmentally friendly pieces to keep your mom looking chic:

Because you probably gave her wrinkles…

Give her skin hand-crafted care with this all-natural skincare set from our friends at Lovett Sundries, a small family company working out of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with their two young kids in tow!

Gifts under $50 for the one-in-a-million mom

When your love for mom has no bounds, but the budget sure does… here are a few more of our eco friendly favorites!

Choosy mom? Let her choose!

Pamper-in-place: 5 DIY home spa recipes

[1] Coffee-grind face masks: Start with this and other recipes by skin type courtesy of Wild About Beauty.

Ingredients:

• ½ cup of ground organic coffee beans (buy pre-ground or grind your own)
• ½ cup of organic, unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 cup of unsweetened whole milk (for those who do not like dairy, substitute with almond milk)
• 1 tablespoon of lemon juice (for those with dry skin, go for olive or almond oil instead)
• 1 tablespoon of honey (for those with oily or acne prone skin, go for more lemon juice instead of honey)

Directions:

1. In a bowl, start mixing the coffee beans and cocoa powder
2. Add milk, and stir until you create a paste. If you want a thicker paste, use less milk
3. Add in lemon juice and honey, and apply to your clean face
4. Allow the mask to dry for 20 minutes, and then wash off. Store any leftovers of the mask for up to 3 days. You can apply it the next day as well
5. If you want extra exfoliation, apply the mask in a circular motion for a quick scrub

[2] Hair masks for growth & thickness: all hail The Oprah Magazine’s hair masks, like this easy one for thinning and breakage:

• Ingredients: 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon and 1 teaspoon of coconut oil.
• Directions: Blend ingredients together well. Apply the mask onto your roots and part, massaging into your scalp. Let mask sit for 30 to 45 minutes, then rinse with warm water.

[3] Home-made foot peel: Well + Good says this one is the closest thing we’ll get to a pedicure

• Solution ingredients: 2 cups apple cider vinegar, 2 cups warm water, 1 tablespoon of baking soda
• Scrub ingredients: coarse granulated sugar, sea salt or epsom salt, lemon juice

• Directions: Soak your feet in the solution for 20 minutes to help soften the calloused areas of your feet thanks to the acetic acid in the ACV. Then, use a textured scrub or pumice stone along with the salt scrub and slough your sole in one direction (avoid going back and forth, as it can cause cracking). This will exfoliate the dead skin, leaving your feet baby soft. Rinse it all off, then apply some made-for-feet lotion with lactic acid to continue the exfoliating process while also smoothing and nourishing your soles.

[4] Home Spa Sugar Scrub & Honey Hand Wrap: WebMD brings you this and more from the Four Seasons Resort and others

• Ingredients: 1/2 cup olive oil, 1/2 cup sugar, 1/4 cup honey
• Directions: Mix olive oil and sugar to form a paste. Massage over hands to lightly exfoliate; then rinse with warm water. Warm honey in microwave and apply to hands (be careful — don’t let it get too hot!). Wrap hands with plastic wrap, and relax for 30 minutes.

[5] Shower Steamers with Essential Oils: DIY Beauty Base teaches variations from aromatherapy to decongestant from this recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of Baking soda
• 1/3 cup Citric acid
• 1/4 cup of Cornstarch
• 15 g Menthol crystals (10 g for aromatherapy ones)
• 40 drops of Essential oils (60 drops for aromatherapy ones)
• Witch Hazel or 91% Alcohol in a Spray Bottle
• Molds Mica powder for color (optional)

Instructions :

1. Dissolve menthol crystals by mixing them with essential oils or alcohol.
2. In a separate bowl combine baking soda, cornstarch and citric acid.
3. Add color if using any.
4. Add dissolved menthol and essential oils.
5. Mix for couple of minutes to ensure that all ingredients are well incorporated. The final mixture should resemble damp sand. Squeeze it in your palm. If the mixture stays together, it’s ready. If it crumbles, spray some alcohol/witch hazel, mix and try again.
6. Take your molds and pack them tightly with the mixture. Keep the mixture in the mold for a minute and then remove from the mold to dry overnight.
7. Add couple of drops of essential oils to the finished steamers. Ideally somewhere on the bottom, so it wouldn’t be seen.
8. Store in an airtight container

A special thanks…

Hey all, it’s Lauren, Founder of Sustainable Travel & Living. I couldn’t let Mother’s Day go by without a big, heartfelt shout-out to our #1 VIP customer, my favorite travel buddy, my biggest fan and my dear friend, my mom Linda.

And to the mom’s on the team, balancing it all and leaving their important mark on our small business!