Let’s be real. So far, this year’s celebrations have been a bit, erm, shall we say, unconventional? From holiday’s to birthday’s, it’s been hard to feel like our normal festive selves at a social distance of 6 feet or more.
Regardless, Mother’s Day weekend is here and we’re bowing down to the queens of our existence. 2020 has brought a whole new meaning to motherhood – from homeschooling, to working from home with tiny, hyper-active humans, it’s hard to believe that moms everywhere have managed to stay sane for this long.
Show your mama (or any influential lady in your life) some love on May 10th inspiration for at-home activities, and Mother’s Day gifts curated by two of the Botkier team’s resident moms.
At Home Spa
-Haley, Marketing & Social
Mom’s been working HARD. Treat her to a day of pampering from the comfort of your own home. Have her throw on her comfiest robe, a pair of furry slippers, and set her up with a selection of treatments. If you’re like us, you have a collection of nail polish in every shade under the rainbow. Give your mom a salon-worthy mani as she sips on a mimosa or pull out your favorite selection of sheet masks for a facial. Don’t have any? You can make your own all-natural face mask using kitchen cabinet staples. Haley loves Marie Claire’s recent list of DIY (and delicious sounding) face masks for inspiration.
Bond Over Baking
-Melinda, Marketing
You might be a professional chef by the time quarantine is over, so why not put your skills to the test and whip up an amazing meal to serve to mama. If you can’t physically be with her, you can bond over a Zoom baking session, complete with both of your favorite recipes.
Melinda’s Banana Bread Recipe
Ingredients:
2 cups of sifted flour
1 tsp Baking Powder
1/2 tsp Baking Soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/4 cup sugar
1 stick butter unsalted (room temperature)
1 cup really ripe bananas = 3 bananas
2 large eggs (room temperature)
2 tsp of orange juice
1/2 cups sour cream
1 tsp good vanilla extract
Optional:
1 bar of good semi-sweet chocolate cut in small chips.
Instructions:
Whisk eggs and sugar until fluffy. Add butter and keep beating until very smooth.
Blend sour cream with vanilla and orange juice and add to mixture together with pureed bananas in 2 or 3 batches.
Mix dry ingredients (sifted flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt), and carefully fold under wet mixture together with chocolate chips. Be careful not to over-mix.
Pour mixture into a 9 ¼ by 5 ¼ by 2 ½ inch loaf pan (use parchment paper to avoid sticking) and bake on convection setting in pre-heated oven at 350 degrees for about 55 minutes.
Mother’s Day Staff Picks
Melinda’s Fave:
The Hampton Tote is a classic, multi-purpose tote that fits all my things without being too oversized. There’s a removable canvas pouch that you can use in the bag, or on its own. Carrying the tote without the pouch is a fun way to show off what’s inside, even if it’s just after a trip to the farmer’s market (once they open again).
Haley’s Fave:
Right now, I’m really into the Yani Mule. It’s an on-trend sandal mule with clear straps and the perfect mid-height chunky heel. I can’t wait to style them with all the summer outfits I’m planning that aren’t sweats. I’m also loving the Greenpoint Tote, which I use as a cool, makeshift diaper bag. It’s minimal and sleek, so it doesn’t look like I’m actually carrying diapers when I’m out with my daughter.