2018 Mother’s Day Gift Guide

Since Mother’s Day is just around the corner, to help prepare you to find the perfect gift for mom, we’ve assembled our annual Mother’s Day Gift Guide. A special thank you to those of who sent in your gift ideas and suggestions for this occasion.

If you’re looking for a gift idea, our annual gift guide features a wide variety of ideas.

JBL UnderArmour FlexFor the Fitness Lover

JBL Reflect Fit: The latest addition to the popular JBL Reflect line-up, JBL Reflect Fit Bluetooth headphone features in-ear heart rate monitoring and provides spoken, on-demand heart rate updates with a simple press of the button. It’s also compatible with the most popular fitness apps so athletes can access all of their workout stats in one place. JBL Reflect Fit is designed with IPX-5 sweat proof material and a reflective cable for comfortable and safe workouts. With a battery life of up to 10 hours, athletes can power through multiple workouts before having to recharge. It also features a microphone for crystal clear calls and a vibration alert to let athletes know of incoming calls while at the gym or on-the-go.

UA Sport Wireless Flex: These wireless neckband headphones offer a sleek design, JBL’s Signature Sound and impressive versatility to provide athletes with a secure fit at the gym or on-the-go. The headphones feature bend-and-stay Flex Zones in the neckband so athletes are guaranteed an adjustable fit and all-day comfort. Additionally, when rushing out the door to the gym, the headphones only require a quick five minutes of charging time for one hour of playback. UA Sport Wireless Flex are also engineered with an embedded RunSafe LED feature with three flashing modes for increased visibility and safety in low light conditions – perfect for running at night or before sunrise.


SBFamilySmallerWebsite 600x600For the Tech-Savvy

ZVOX

ZVOX, a TV speaker that uses hearing aid technology to bring voices to the forefront so mature viewers can easily hear and understand dialogue.

There are now 95+ million Americans over 50 and according to some studies, nearly half are suffering from hearing loss. However, many baby boomers resist purchasing hearing aids because of pride, cost or other factors.

The frustration stemming from hearing loss even extends to seemingly benign activities like watching TV. Many new flatscreen TVs make matters worse with sound systems that suffer from low fidelity due to small speakers that face backwards, which can make dialogue nearly impossible to understand at normal volumes.

ZVOX understood the need for an affordable solution to this widespread issue and worked with audiologists to develop a solution. Its Accuvoice Technology speakers utilize hearing aid technology and use an advanced digital processor to analyze a TV’s soundtrack. The speaker instantly activates computer algorithms that bring the voices forward when it detects dialogue.


PhotoSpring angled girl dog 768x650For the Gadget Lover

PhotoSpring

PhotoSpring is redefining the digital photo and video experience with its portable, Wi-Fi connected, touchscreen frame.

This smart automated frame, designed with parents and grandparents in mind, streamlines the way that family and friends share and display photos and videos, keeping loved ones connected.

Features:

  • Automatic selection and optimization of photo and video slideshows to be displayed each day
  • Simplified photo and video sharing through wireless companion apps for Android, iPhone, Mac, PC and web interface
  • Photo and video enabled slideshows
  • Portable 1280 x 800px resolution, touchscreen interface to browse and interact with images
  • Retails starting at $149, available in black and white on Amazon, Best Buy and the PhotoSpring website

Urban Armor Gear

Urban Armor Gear leading designers of lightweight mobile device cases, announced the launch of their NEW Plasma Series iPad cases available exclusively at Best Buy. The Plasma Series is designed for those who require ultimate rugged protection for their iPad in a slim yet sturdy design.

The Plasma Series for the iPad provides 360-degree protection in a feather-light design and features uncompromised functionality and capability. The new Plasma Series includes a two-position kickstand for laptop mode, and Apple Keyboard compatibility. The case also boasts a dedicated Apple Pencil holder for creators on-the-go. UAG’s newest Plasma case is available for Apple iPads and iPad Pros, exclusively at Best Buy stores and BestBuy.com.
MSRP $69.95 – $89.95 UAG Plasma Ice Case for iPad Pro 12.9”, Pro 10.5”, and iPad (6th & 5th Gen)

  • Feather-light composite construction
  • Impact resistant soft core
  • Apple Pencil Holder
  • Easy access to touchscreen and ports
  • Apple Smart Cover/Keyboard Compatible
  • Two Position Kickstand supports Apple Keyboards and laptop mode
  • Meets military drop-test standards (MIL STD 810G-516.6)

For the Stylish Mom

Bath & Body Works

Mom deserves to be pampered! Bath & Body Works’ new Garden-inspired collection (Pink MagnoliaChamomile & Honey, and Wild Rose & Apple) is created from steam distilled natural oils.

Available in Floral Mist ($14.50), Body Cream ($13.50), New Botanical Body Scrub ($16.50), Mousse to Oil ($16.50), Lotion ($12.50), and Shower Gel ($16.50).

Best Mom Ever Gift Set: This set is ready to gift, complete with a Japanese Cherry Blossom (the best selling B&BW fragrance) Fine Fragrance Mist, Lotion, Bath Fizzy, and a floral cosmetic bag.

Mother’s Day Gift Set: No wrapping required! Includes the Hello Beautiful Fine Fragrance Mist, Lotion and Shower Gel, and two hair scrunchies.

Candles ($24.50): Let the candle do the talking with the “Best. Mom. Ever.” Fresh Cut Lilac 3-Wick and the “Mom, You’re Amazing” Endless Weekend 3-Wick.

Screen Shot 2018 05 02 at 10.19.24 AM

Screen Shot 2018 05 21 at 4.49.17 PMLuster AM/PM Whitening Toothpaste System

New Luster AM/PM Whitening Toothpaste System is the first and only daily whitening and cleaning toothpaste system designed around morning and nighttime dental hygiene needs.  The system includes two toothpastes.

Use Luster AM in the morning for instant whitening with just one brushing, fresh breath, and stain protection.  At night use Luster PM to remove deep stains, kill bacteria and strengthen enamel while you sleep.  Of course, the formulas also contain fluoride to fight cavities.

All in all, you get professional grade peroxide-based whitening, clean teeth, fresh breath, cavity protection and stronger enamel, all with zero sensitivity.

ThinOPTICS

Whether you are gearing up for a long international trip or a fun weekend getaway, we all have that worry that we are going to leave something behind. With travel season upon us, people often forget important items – like the reading glasses. Thanks to ThinOPTICS there is now a way for travelers to always have their glasses on hand.

ThinOPTICS just launched a few new products with so there is an option for everyone:

ThinOPTICS can be purchased either at ThinOPTICS.com or Amazon.com and for under $30!

Screen Shot 2018 05 02 at 10.37.04 AM

oh happy dayVera Bradley Giftwrap Collection

Iconic fashion brand Vera Bradley has partnered with Pennsylvania publisher Fox Chapel Publishing on an exciting and gorgeous new gift wrapping paper collection.

Just as founders Barbara Bradley Baekgaard and Patricia R. Miller envisioned their elegant designs brightening up airports many years ago, the company has once again imagined their colorful patterns bringing beauty and joy to the pleasure of gift giving. Vera Bradley and Fox Chapel Publishing are pleased to launch five gift wrapping paper books, which include gift tags that you can customize and color in, to celebrate life’s many milestones.

The giftwrap series includes: 

  • Baby Bump Wrapping Paper
  • Birthday Bash Wrapping Paper
  • Happy Holidays Wrapping Paper
  • Oh Happy Day Wrapping Paper
  • Wedding Belles Wrapping Paper

Toasted Sunflower Honey Loaf close upFor the Foodie

La Brea Bakery Breads: These artisan-crafted breads are the perfect gift for mom. They’re made the old world way, which means they take time into making one of their loaves. Use these breads to make mom brunch or dinner, or just as a snack for the mom that loves good food. You can find these breads on Amazon Fresh or your local grocery store. 

  • Rosemary Olive Oil: Subtle and savory, aromatic sprigs of rosemary and extra virgin olive oil give this bread its soft texture and sublime flavor.
  • Sunflower Toasted Honey Loaf: Nutty and delicious with a golden, crisp crust. A touch of honey and whole roasted sunflower seeds add a delightful crunch.
  • Roasted Garlic Loaf: Rich, soft and aromatic. Roasted with whole garlic cloves and extra virgin olive oil for a perfectly moist and savory flavor.

Karv Image 3 2Karv: Karv is a monthly service that offers the finest quality meats sourced from U.S. farms. Their meats are the healthiest you’ll find out there with subscription-type services containing 100% Angus grass-finished beef, 100% organic free-range chicken and 100% heritage pork. In addition to proportioned, trim and lean meats, subscribers can opt to add-on entrees which are made with organic, non-GMO ingredients. Entrees like beef stuffed with kimchi can be put right on the grill, no defrosting or prep necessary. This way, you’re already prepared and don’t need to run to the butcher to get your grilling items!


For the Cord Cutter

Mohu

The Arc – is Mohu’s most versatile indoor, curved HDTV antenna. Sold exclusively at Best Buy, it comes in two colors (black or white) and has a multidirectional range that captures clear broadcast signals within its 30-mile radius. It’s also easy to set up! The plug-and-play operation provides a convenient enhanced TV setup giving consumers more time to tune into their favorite channels and less time spent on setup. The Arc is compatible with HDTV units, letting consumers enjoy the full quality of Full HD and Ultra HD over-the-air programs.

Leaf Glide: this HDTV antenna delivers outdoor antenna performance with the simplicity of an indoor antenna. With its a 65-mile reception range, the antenna offers unlimited access to free, OTA broadcast TV (including NBC, ABC,CBS, FOX, etc) for a one-time fee of $89.95.

Untangle.TV: is Mohu’s free online application that provides suggestions on how to cut the cord based on your TV viewing behaviors. Untangle.TV provides a customized list of product recommendations – a mix of OTA and OTT devices and services – in order to help consumers save time and money by taking the guesswork out of their cord cutting journey. Users can save about $100 a month by using Untangle.TV to guide their cord cutting journey.

This year, give Mom, your #1 inspirational hero, a gift that returns the favor – something that will inspire her. With over 10 billion records and 100 million family trees on Ancestry.com, you can show Mom your appreciation by helping her uncover the source of her strength.


Honoring Mom and Her Heritage

AncestryDNA

This year, give Mom, your #1 inspirational hero, a gift that returns the favor – something that will inspire her. With over 10 billion records and 100 million family trees on Ancestry.com, you can show Mom your appreciation by helping her uncover the source of her strength.

For even more inspiration this Mother’s Day, pair the subscription with an AncestryDNA kit – and allow Mom to uncover even more about where she comes from. Perhaps she’ll be inspired to plan an excursion to pay tribute to her family’s origins, or try a new cuisine from a country in which she has roots.

From May 2-13, gift subscriptions are 30% off on Ancestry.com.

 


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For the Bookworm

Unlocking Greatness: The Unexpected Journey from the Life You Have to the Life You Want

You have all the resources you need to succeed, says Charlie Harary, author of UNLOCKING GREATNESS: The Unexpected Journey from the Life You Have to the Life You Want (Rodale; March 13, 2018). The business executive, adjunct professor and acclaimed lecturer believes that everything you need in order to achieve your dreams is already inside you. The key to realizing your full potential starts by tapping into the astonishing ability of your brain by understanding its neuroplasticity. That means just by changing your thoughts you can change the structure of your brain.

Based on Harary’s popular “Principles of Success” course and Unlocking Greatness podcast, UNLOCKING GREATNESS is an uplifting guide to discovering your ideal self—and your ideal life.


Business Boutique

Business Boutique is a great addition for the bookshelves of those business savvy moms. Authored by business coach and national best-selling author Christy Wright, Business Boutique is a proven, step-by-step plan to help women take their business dream and turn it into a reality.

Business Boutique retails for $19.99 at BusinessBoutique.com.


Dying Well

2.7 million Americans die every year, 1.2 million from cancer or heart disease, according to a recent report by the CDC. Many more are battling life-threatening conditions. Far too many people die in hospitals, in pain, isolated from their friends and families.  Although 90% of those on Medicare say they want end-of-life care at home, only one-third achieve it according to a study in the Journal of American Medicine. In fact, twenty-five percent of all Medicare spending is for patients who are in their final year of life, most of that money spent in their last couple of months for care which is often of little apparent benefit.

But when author Susan Ducharme Hoben’s husband was facing terminal cancer, they made a decision to savor every fleeting moment by spending the time he had left doing things he loved, surrounded by his family and friends. She chronicles this journey in her new memoir, Dying Well: Our Journey of Love and Loss (March 2018). Part love story, part “how to”, part inspirational retelling of their nine-month journey from diagnosis, Dying Well takes readers through celebrations, sadness and, ultimately, a peaceful death free of fear and regret.


50 Ways to Draw Your Beautiful, Ordinary Life: Practical Lessons in Pencil and Paper

From the creative directors of the groundbreaking international magazine Flow and authors of the bestselling A Book That Takes Its Time comes an unparalleled guide to drawing: 50 Ways to Draw Your Beautiful, Ordinary Life: Practical Lessons in Pencil and Paper (Workman Publishing; On sale: April 3, 2018; $24.95). Inside these pages, you’ll find a drawing guide filled with beautiful illustrations and plenty of “paper goodies,” from bound-in tracing paper and colored paper to a daily drawing pad, a paper doll fashion sketchbook, and DIY postcards. While encouraging readers to draw inspiration from personal items that carry meaning (things on your desk, furniture in your home), 50 Ways to Draw Your Beautiful, Ordinary Life includes fun, approachable step-by-step drawing lessons from professional Flow illustrators across the globe; each exercise allows readers to put techniques into immediate practice as they develop their unique artistic style.


Everything Is the Worst: A Book for People Who Just Can’t

The struggle of daily life is so real—making an effort is hard, and the probability of actually getting your sh*t together is basically zero. Some days you just don’t feel like going to work or even getting out of bed. Or hearing one more person tell you to “Have a great day!”—seriously, what’s so great about it? Introducing Everything Is the Worst: A Book for People Who Just Can’t (Workman Publishing; April 3, 2018; $12.95), your new source of anti-inspiration. This collection of gorgeously hand-lettered expressions, such as “Don’t be an idiot” or “Not feelin’ it,” reveals how most of us really feel. Also included are lists, such as “It’s Okay to Give Up When…,” quotes from your favorite sassy spirit guides, such as Michael Scott from The Office: “I am running away from my responsibilities and it feels good,” and life advice: “Enough with the f*cking gratitude. Make a list of everything you hate. Fun!” And if you want to be crafty but not put in too much effort, punch out and string up the “Everything Sucks” banner included in the back of the book. Everything Is the Worst makes an excellent Mother’s Day present for the mom who raised you to be the cheekster you are today.


 YOU CAN HAVE IT!: More Than 125 Decadent Diabetes-Friendly Recipes

Devin AlexanderSince leaving her position as the celebrity chef on TV’s The Biggest Loser, Devin has turned her focus to the 1 in 3 Americans that have either type 2 diabetes or are in a state of pre-diabetes. She’s on a mission to help people eat healthier and smarter without sacrifice while championing the fight to reverse the growing number of new diagnoses in North America.

A diabetes-friendly diet isn’t a special diet but a smarter diet… and with 1 in 3 Americans living with diabetes or on the brink of it, it is timelier than ever.

Using her chef secrets, tips, and techniques that helped contestants on the show lose weight and wowed customers in her restaurants, Devin has crafted easy, diabetes-friendly recipes that bust the myth that eating well means giving up the comfort foods you love. YOU CAN HAVE IT!: More Than 125 Decadent Diabetes-Friendly Recipes includes beautiful photographs, easy-to-follow tips and techniques, affordable ingredients, and mouthwatering meals; this is the cookbook every person who cares about their health (whether they have diabetes or not!) will want to own.


Screen Shot 2018 05 02 at 10.28.07 AMGetting My Bounce Back

Carolee Belkin Walker is a wellness blogger, podcaster, and freelance journalist whose work appears in the Washington Post, Women’s Running, the Chicago Tribune, the Toronto Sun, the Huffington Post, Thrive Global, the Baltimore Sun, the Tyler Morning Telegraph, and others. She was a featured blogger for the Daily Awesome at GovLoop, and her articles on U.S. life and culture have been translated into multiple languages and published around the world.  Her former trainer, Reuel Tizabi, the author of two chapters in Getting My Bounce Back, is a certified personal trainer and a doctor of physical therapy student at the University of Maryland, Baltimore.

While most people know Walker for her for her fitness and wellness writing, a fascinating and little-known detail about Walker is that she is a career professional at the U.S. Department of State. She serves assignments as a public affairs specialist and a public diplomacy writer and editor and as a consular officer specializing in assisting U.S. citizens overseas and crisis management. Over the years, Carolee’s worked around the clock on the Department’s task forces, including during the Haiti earthquake and the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

Getting My Bounce Back is an inspirational story about Walker digging deep inside, discovering who she is, and seeing how far she can push herself to be strong, fit, healthy, and most importantly, resilient. Her writing is full of humorous situations as she decides to be an active participant in life and not take setbacks, or herself, too seriously.


BeautyofDirtySkin CoverImageThe Beauty of Dirty Skin: The Surprising Science of Looking and Feeling Radiant from the Inside Out 
The Beauty of Dirty Skin: The Surprising Science of Looking and Feeling Radiant from the Inside Out (Little, Brown and Company; April 17, 2018) by Dr. Whitney Bowe has been featured on Good Morning America, The Rachael Ray Show, The DoctorsDr. Oz and more.
In recent years, science has shed new light on the connection between the gut and the brain. Now, for the first time, The Beauty of Dirty Skin spells out the connection between the microbiome—the balance of healthy microorganisms that inhabit your body inside and out—and skin health.
Dr. Bowe provides data-driven knowledge and life-changing, actionable advice, and dispels the myths behind what it takes to have—and maintain—great skin. Topics include:
  • An explanation of the gut-brain-skin axis, the hidden factor of skin health
  • How you can turn your diet into a solution to myriad skin problems, including 5 fundamental dietary rules about what to eat and what to avoid for glowing skin
  • How oral probiotics are the new emerging antibiotics, and can work wonders on skin health
  • Why we have an epidemic of adult acne, rosacea, eczema, and premature aging today (including skin cancer!)
  • Why some of today’s skincare products, including organics and antibacterials/antimicrobials, can inflict lasting damage
  • How to send signals of beauty to your skin through 3 lifestyle interventions: the power of sleep, exercise, and meditation.

With simple explanations of the science behind Dr. Bowe’s findings, do-it-yourself practical skincare strategies, and a life-changing 3-week program, The Beauty of Dirty Skin will forever change the way you look at loofahs, Diet Cokes, fat-free milk, energy bars, and antibiotics.


SecretLifeofWeightObsessedWomanThe Secret Life of a Weight-Obsessed Woman

Do you think about food too much? Envy those “skinny bitches” and wonder how they do it? Use the needle on the scale as a measure of your self-worth? Are you “just ten pounds” away from happiness?

You are not alone. Iris Ruth Pastor too was a weight-obsessed woman who found a way to eat all those tempting goodies—without putting on a pound. At age eighteen, she began bingeing and purging daily and didn’t stop for forty-six years.

How did she tame the triggers that led to bingeing and purging? Deal with the ravenous monster within? The Secret Life of a Weight-Obsessed Woman is Iris’s story of ripping down the façade of her “perfect” life and taking steps to break free of her lover ED (Eating Disorder, not Erectile Dysfunction!).

If you are grappling with anything that prevents you from operating at full throttle, Iris’s bluntly honest, humorous, and inspirational story reminds us all that recovery is within our reach.


Acid Reflux in Children

Acid Reflux in Children, a parent’s guide to reflux in infants, children, and teens, teaches parents and families how to combat one of the most common and misunderstood health epidemics of our time. Best-selling author Dr. Jamie Koufman, Director of the Voice Institute of New York, co-wrote Acid Reflux in Children with Dr. Karen B. Zur, director of the Voice Program at the Center for Pediatric Airway Disorders at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and Dr. Julie L. Wei, pediatric surgeon-in-chief of Nemours Children’s Hospital. Rather than prescribing medication, their approach to respiratory reflux is to offer healthy dietary and lifestyle change solutions that fix the root cause of the problem.

Acid reflux in children can be difficult to diagnose. In this book, available now, you will learn:

  • How to recognize “silent respiratory reflux” symptoms in children
  • What is the healthiest diet for your child by age group: newborn to age 2, children 2 to 12 years, and teens
  • Why most babies born healthy get sick by the age of two
  • What are foods and bad habits to stay away from to avoid reflux, childhood obesity, asthma,  and more
  • When healthy eating isn’t enough and medicine or procedures may be needed
  • Why a child’s health usually depends on how the entire family eats
  • How a lean, clean, green, and alkaline (low acid) diet makes for a healthier reflux-free life

Paisley Rabbit and the Treehouse Contest

In celebration of wonderful women around the world, meet the gutsy heroine with a heart of gold that proves anything is possible with grit, determination, and imagination.

With astonishing, award-winning illustrations throughout, Paisley Rabbit and the Treehouse Contest by Steve Richardson takes readers through the story of a lone girl rabbit competing against her friends to win a big treehouse construction contest. To everyone’s surprise, Paisley Rabbit, who has never touched a hammer or a nail and has no one to help her, joins the contest as a long shot to win. But as thing heat up, Paisley shows she has some tricks up her sleeve.

Defying gender stereotypes which her male peers and friends perpetuate, Richardson offers readers a truly inspirational character that will open children and adult’s minds.


The Only Way Out is Through: A Ten-Step Journey from Grief to Wholeness

Books on grief fall into two categories: memoir or science. The new book by Dr. Gail Gross, PhD, EdD, combines the two in an inspiring story of loss alongside the analytical psychology that helped her find her own re-entry into life. Your coverage is invited.

The Only Way Out is Through: A Ten-Step Journey from Grief to Wholeness tells the story of a mother’s sudden, unexpected loss of a child and its impact on the family as a whole. It offers a compressive approach to healing for the bereaved and helps them re-enter life on new terms.

Not only about grieving, the book is a guide to navigating all major transitions in life. Dr. Gross helps readers learn to identify and listen to their own inner voices, so that reshaping the future seems possible. Offering strategies for dealing with not just profound grief, but with living beyond a devastating loss, she provides a map for those looking for guidance, comfort, care and hope.


Re-Engineering Humanity

Re-Engineering Humanity, Brett Frischmann and Evan Selinger’s magnificent new book, examines what’s happening to our lives as society embraces big data, predictive analytics and smart environments.

Everybody is suddenly worried about technology. Will social media be the end of democracy? Is automation going to eliminate jobs? Will artificial intelligence make people obsolete? Brett Frischmann and Evan Selinger boldly propose that the problem isn’t the rise of “smart” machines but the dumbing down of humanity. This refreshingly philosophical book asks what’s lost when we outsource our decision-making to algorithmic systems we don’t own and barely understand. Better yet, it proposes conceptual and practical ways to reclaim our autonomy and dignity in the face of new forms of computational control.

Re-Engineering Humanity is a must-read for those interested in fully understanding how technology is threatening the future of our society, and what we can do to fix the situation.


 

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