Happy Mother’s Day–To Me!

As a mother of three, I’ve taken this Mother’s Day as a good excuse to gift myself.  

I’m taking care of my skin with Thermaderm’s spring skin bundle, which is providing a solid transition to the sunny beach days ahead. 

The set, which came in a pretty cosmetics bag includes four products for daily use. As I won’t be going to any spas for a while, I can use Thermaderm’s NUPeel to gently remove dead skin cells (it’s like an at-home natural facial peel in a bottle. 

The OPC Serum takes care of (and prevents further) sun damage. The Platinum Protection Facial SPF45 protects my skin from harsh UV rays (also further damage). 

The fourth product is especially welcome as I no longer welcome the sun as a way to add summer glow to my skin. Instead, the bronzer from Kokie Cosmetics gives me a believable sun-safe faux glow. 

To pamper my pandemic-wear body, I chose the Natura Mother’s Day Pampering Castanha Body Set, which came with four luscious products in a pretty gift box. The creamy exfoliating soap, made in the Amazon, contains a blend of pure Brazilian oils. My ordinary showers feel luxurious, thanks to the nourishing shower body milk, which is rich in a blend of moisturizers, including castanha oil from Brazil and almond oil.  

Follow with the body lotion and the hand cream and I’m thoroughly moisturized and set for the day. When I’m ready to replenish my products, I can get them separately on Amazon. 

I’ve always been particular about washing all my fruits and veggies, especially as I buy organic and like to eat the skin on potatoes, cucumbers, etc. To I was pleased to discover an easy and inexpensive product, the Sea Witch Botanicals Produce Wash. This organic coconut-based soap works great for scrubbing off wax, microbes, soil, and worst of all–residual pesticides. It’s free of fragrances and vegan-friendly—no phthalates, no parabens, no petroleum 

 I just lather my hand in the soap and apply vigorously to fruits and veggies. For lettuce and other fragile items, I mix it in a bowl of water and swirl. 

Though I haven’t increased my alcohol intake as so many Americans have done this past year, I’ve become more interested in trying out new tastes instead of simply choosing old favorites. One delicious new taste is the Ballotin Chocolate Whiskey, an elegant sipping taste that comes in eight flavors: Original Chocolate, Bourbon Ball, Caramel Turtle, Chocolate Mint, Peanut Butter Chocolate, Chocolate Mocha, Chocolate Cherry and Chocolate Peanut Butter.  

Served over rocks, it makes a nice dessert following a really good meal. 

If I’m having pizza, my beverage of choice is a light beer. Sapporo U.S.A has created just what I like, Sapporo Pure, a new, superior light beer which has only 90 calories, 2.4 carbs and 4.0% ABV. 

The beer, which comes in a 12 oz. slim can and is available in 6-packs, has an appealing golden hue and is crisp and effervescent, featuring bright floral notes with a subtle hop bitterness.   www.sapporobeer.com 

While I’m doing good for myself, I felt I should also do something for Mother Earth, so I tried Cloud Paper, which on a mission to end deforestation, has created bamboo-based paper products as a sustainable alternative to everyday household essentials: toilet paper and paper towels. 

Their 3-ply toilet paper is soft, strong, and lint-free so there’s no sacrifice of quality for sustainability. Not only is bamboo toilet paper good for me and the environment, but the packaging is 100% plastic free, recyclable and compostable. Along with super-absorbent paper towels, they’re delivered to the door for the same price as traditional brands—with the added bonus of carbon-neutral shipping.  

The toilet paper price is $28 for a 24-pack and the paper towels are $34 for a 12-pack. You can try the Cloud products free and cancel at any time. (One-time orders have a $5 flat rate shipping cost.) 

Happy Mother’s Day!