

Here's Exactly What To Get Your Mom For Mother’s Day
Sponsored content by Pandora Jewelry
Mother's Day is right around the corner, and that means many of us will be frantically shopping, trying to find the perfect gift to give our moms. From guiding us through life to literally giving us our lives, our mothers truly are the root and foundation that binds families together. What could possibly be a sufficient show of thanks?
Luckily for you, we decided to go straight to the source by asking real moms what they want for their special day. We found a few recurring themes to help spark inspo and even shared some top picks from Pandora that'll show your mom you appreciate all she does.
A Little Time Off
Hands down, the most popular pick when we polled moms was time off to rest and recharge. For some, like new mom Kathy Juana Aiyegbo, the founder of Mission Lane, one day off from parenting duties was at the top of her list. But many moms chimed in with requests for five-star hotel stays and trips to luxe spa resorts for some much-needed pampering after a very trying year.
Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Sentimental Jewelry
While jewelry is always a popular choice for Mother's Day, get her something that doesn't feel like you waited until the last minute to go shopping. This Family Tree Heart Clasp Snake Chain Bracelet from Pandora will let your mom show the world that her family is always a priority. A bonus: It can pair well whether your mother is dressed up or casual.
Photo Credit: Pandora
Upgraded Goodies for Hobbyists
Mother's Day is the perfect time to upgrade your mom's hobbies with items that you've heard her name-drop all year. If you know for a fact that your mom loves to cook (like many of the women we spoke to!), why not upgrade her cookware, utensils, or even appliances? While you shouldn't imply that you expect mom to cook on her special day, she'll appreciate that you remembered she's had her eye on that gorgeous new Great Jones set!
Photo Credit: Courtesy
A Little Quality Time
Unsurprisingly after the aftermath of 2020 and coronavirus, one of the other top-requested "gifts" for Mother's Day was quality time with family and loved ones. Sharon Smith-Akinsanya, the founder of People Of Color Careers, noted that the pandemic made it impossible to visit her daughter who's now grown — but now that both of them are vaccinated, her big wish is to see her daughter again and shower her with hugs and kisses.
Photo Credit: Shutterstock
A Ring to Upgrade Her Wardrobe
We know that jewelry can tie an outfit together, which is why it never hurts to pick a gorgeous ring for your mom this year. This Rose Petals Statement Ring from Pandora is eye-catching without being overwhelming and would make so many moms swoon. The blended rose gold plated sterling silver ring features a crystal flower and can act as a conversation piece, helping your mom make an undeniable statement (as if she needed help).
Photo Credit: Pandora
Gift Her a Year Subscription Box
Go big with a gift that keeps on giving long after Mother's Day is over. If you know your mom's likes and dislikes, signing her up for a lifestyle subscription box could be a big hit. These can be for clothing, beauty, snacks from around the world, and more. Andrea Tran, an RN and lactation consultant with the blog Breastfeeding Confidential, loves the idea of a gift that keeps giving, month after month. "It's like multiple gifts throughout the year. My kids gave me one of these last year and it was so fun getting it every season."
Photo Credit: Shutterstock
A Fun Daytime Outing
Based on the moms we queried, one thing is clear: Experiences are never not appreciated. And it's understandable, since memories last forever! Joi Light of Its Joi To My World mentioned, "...a trendy picnic with the floor pillows, mimosas, and good food" was her big wish for Mother's Day.
Photo Credit: Shutterstock
A Charm to Complement Her Jewelry
"Thoughtfulness" topped the charts of our moms' requests, and this charm says so much. The Love You Infinity Heart Dangle Charm from Pandora features the infinity symbol wrapped around a heart with a beautiful cursive note engraved on it. This rose-hued charm will look beautiful either as a mixed metal effect or with other rose gold jewelry.
Photo Credit: Pandora
A Tasty Indulgence
Lucy T., a writer for Sarasota to Stonington, noted that she'd love a vegan box of Mochidoki (the cutest Mochi in the world) for Mother's Day. Whether you know your mom has a sweet tooth or that there's a tasty savory dish she rarely gets to enjoy, this is the time to indulge her senses. Take her to that cafe she's always mentioned to you, or have a yummy curated gift basket full of some of her favorite treats delivered just in time for her big day.
Photo Credit: Courtesy
Things That Make Daily Life Easier
The phrase "busy mom" is a bit of an understatement, especially these days. Tiana Coates, the founder of Winding Wick Candles, wants a gift that will make her routine tasks easier. So what's on her wishlist? An air fryer, "...because at the end of the day I don't always have the time to create the full meals for us that I would like to."
Photo Credit: Courtesy
Featured image by Shutterstock
Smile, Sis! These Five Improvements Can Upgrade Your Oral Hygiene Instantly
This article is in partnership with Sensodyne.
Our teeth are connected to so many things - our nutrition, our confidence, and our overall mood. We often take for granted how important healthy teeth are, until issues like tooth sensitivity or gum recession come to remind us. Like most things related to our bodies, prevention is the best medicine. Here are five things you can do immediately to improve your oral hygiene, prevent tooth sensitivity, and avoid dental issues down the road.
1) Go Easy On the Rough Brushing: Brushing your teeth is and always will be priority number one in the oral hygiene department. No surprises there! However, there is such a thing as applying too much pressure when brushing…and that can lead to problems over time. Use a toothbrush with soft bristles and brush in smooth, circular motions. It may seem counterintuitive, but a gentle approach to brushing is the most effective way to clean those pearly whites without wearing away enamel and exposing sensitive areas of the teeth.
2) Use A Desensitizing Toothpaste: As everyone knows, mouth pain can be highly uncomfortable; but tooth sensitivity is a whole different beast. Hot weather favorites like ice cream and popsicles have the ability to trigger tooth sensitivity, which might make you want to stay away from icy foods altogether. But as always, prevention is the best medicine here. Switching to a toothpaste like Sensodyne’s Sensitivity & Gum toothpaste specifically designed for sensitive teeth will help build a protective layer over sensitive areas of the tooth. Over time, those sharp sensations that occur with extremely cold foods will subside, and you’ll be back to treating yourself to your icy faves like this one!
3) Floss, Rinse, Brush. (And In That Order!): Have you ever heard the saying, “It’s not what you do, but how you do it”? Well, the same thing applies to taking care of your teeth. Even if you are flossing and brushing religiously, you could be missing out on some of the benefits simply because you aren’t doing so in the right order. Flossing is best to do before brushing because it removes food particles and plaque from places your toothbrush can’t reach. After a proper flossing sesh, it is important to rinse out your mouth with water after. Finally, you can whip out your toothbrush and get to brushing. Though many of us commonly rinse with water after brushing to remove excess toothpaste, it may not be the best thing for our teeth. That’s because fluoride, the active ingredient in toothpaste that protects your enamel, works best when it gets to sit on the teeth and continue working its magic. Rinsing with water after brushing doesn’t let the toothpaste go to work like it really can. Changing up your order may take some getting used to, but over time, you’ll see the difference.
4) Stay Hydrated: Upping your water supply is a no-fail way to level up your health overall, and your teeth are no exception to this rule. Drinking water not only helps maintain a healthy pH balance in your mouth, but it also washes away residue and acids that can cause enamel erosion. It also helps you steer clear of dry mouth, which is a gateway to bad breath. And who needs that?
5) Show Your Gums Some Love: When it comes to improving your smile, you may be laser-focused on getting your teeth whiter, straighter, and overall healthier. Rightfully so, as these are all attributes of a megawatt smile; but you certainly don’t want to leave gum health out of the equation. If you neglect your gums, you’ll start to notice the effects of plaque buildup, which can irritate the gums and cause gingivitis, the earliest stage of gum disease. Seeing blood while brushing and flossing is a tell-tale sign that your gums are suffering. You may also experience gum recession — a condition where the gum tissue surrounding your teeth pulls back, exposing more of your tooth. Brushing at least twice a day with a gum-protecting toothpaste like Sensodyne Sensitivity and Gum, coupled with regular dentist visits, will keep your gums shining as bright as those pearly whites.
Russell and Nina Westbrook Dish On The Key Ways To Avoid Resentment In Relationships
Russell and Nina Westbrook are one of those low-key, unproblematic couples we don’t talk about enough. They met in college and got married in 2015. They also have a beautiful family with three kids. While Russell is an NBA star, Nina is a licensed family and marriage therapist and a mental health advocate.
She recently launched the podcast The Relationship Chronicles with Nina Westbrook, and in the latest episode, she had none other than her husband on as a guest. The college sweethearts dived into important topics from marriage to children and how they navigate it all.
One of the topics they touched on was dealing with resentment in your relationship. The former MVP highlighted the sacrifices his wife has had to make in order for him to pursue a career in the NBA, and that’s why it’s also important for him to support his wife whenever he can.
“For me is respecting and understanding what your partner do and the time it takes,” Russell said. “Not kind of downplaying what they do, understanding the time and energy and effort they're doing to make sure whether it’s their job or making sure home is taken care of, and understanding that, I think that is the challenge of not being resentful.”
Nina agreed and also shared her thoughts on resentment. According to her, one of the best things couples should do is have their own identity and passions outside of the relationship in an effort to be fulfilled.
“I also think that when you’re in a relationship, that’s why it’s so important that each individual kinda pursue their own passions and follow their own dreams as I feel like it only becomes or leads to resentment when one person is not feeling fulfilled in what they're doing in their lives,” she explained.
“And so, they will start to look at the other partner who’s happy or excelling or promoting or moving along in their journey, then they’re left feeling stuck like they sacrificed themselves, their happiness, their career, their future and have not pursued it in the name of the relationship or their partner. So, it’s so much easier to avoid those feelings of resentment when you’re each equally pursuing your passions.”
The couple has many passions that they work on together and separately. Outside of basketball and his family, Russell has become known for his eclectic style and started the fashion brand Honor The Gift. Nina has her podcast, and she also started the mental health website Bene. Together, they run the Why Not? Foundation, which works with kids in underserved communities.
“I’m a firm believer that one person can’t be everything to you, so you have to sort of seek out those different friendships or groups or hobbies or activities that help to fulfill you,” Nina concluded.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for daily love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Feature image by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images for Religion of Sports