My Favorite Things: 5 Meaningful Mother's Day Gifts

Welcome to My Favorite Things! Each month, we highlight products to help you create a holistic lifestyle that inspires and nurtures you, so that you can be happier and feel supported.

This month is the month of moms, since Mother's Day is this weekend! If you're still wondering about the perfect gift for the perfect mom, we've got some great ideas for meaningful options that go past a beautiful bouquet (but check out our suggestions if you prefer flowers!). From spiritual art to sustainable beauty products, there is something here for almost any mom!

Abundant Tranquility Mala

One of my friends and favorite clients, Satya Scainetti, has a beautiful collection of jewelry, any piece of which makes an amazing gift. 

Satya does mala workshops, which I highly recommend as a wonderful experience, but if you missed last week's, you can still find meaningful, beautiful malas online. This one represents unconditional love, joy, good fortune and creativity and is one of Satya's choices for Gifts of Love!

Available at: Satya Jewelry

Moon II Yantra Mandala for Nourishment and Creativity

The Moon II yantra, which depicts feminine colors like light blues, pinks and purples, is associated with femininity, nourishment, creativity and emotions. 

This mandala represents self-nourishment and self-care and corresponds to the Relationship area of the feng shui bagua, which is also related to the Mother, making it an ideal gift for the upcoming holiday!

Available at: Holistic Spaces

Warming Herbal Neck Wrap.jpg

Warming Herbal Neck Wrap

Being a mom can be tough work, and it's not always easy to find time or money to relax or take a spa day. These warming herbal neck wraps from Savor Beauty, sustainably created from flax seeds, are an easy way to get a little relaxation without having to take an entire day!

They come in various designs, can be used as hot or cold and are great with essential oils! Just pop in the microwave or freezer and soothe stress! You can order wraps online or check in at their newest location in the Upper West Side, designed by Anjie Cho Architect, PLLC!

Available at: Savor Beauty

Feng Shui Consultation.jpg

Feng Shui Consultation

Sometimes the best gifts are actually experiences, and feng shui can be a wonderful, guiding experience for any mom! Feng shui can be helpful on many levels in matters spiritual and mundane. 

I offer a variety of feng shui consultations, including online services, so even if you're not in NYC or LA, helping your mom improve her feng shui and create a personalized holistic space is a possibility!

Available at: AnjieCho.com

7-Free Vegan Nail Polish Set

Another popular gift for Mother's Day is a trip to the nearest salon for a manicure and pedicure. Nothing quite relaxes like being treated to a massage and some nail upkeep!

This year, instead of relying on traditional nail polish, opt for ella + milla, an eco-friendly nail polish option free of seven nasty chemicals in addition to being vegan and animal cruelty-free. ella + milla comes in many colors and is even PETA approved! 

Available at: ella + milla

Q&A Sunday: Studying Feng Shui

I am an interior designer. I would like to study feng shui to go deeply in that field so that would help me in my career. But I need to know: where can I study and get the perfect knowledge of that? Is the masters degree in feng shui? And how can I know that the certificate that I'll take is recognized worldwide? 

Marwa K., Lebanon

Hi Marwa

Thank you for your email - and what a wonderful question to share with the readers. I’m also so happy that as a designer, you’re interested in deepening into your profession with the study of feng shui. As an architect, I found myself in the same place many years ago. I was working on architectural interiors, and found that something was missing in my life. I started to learn meditation and yoga and started on my spiritual path...which very quickly led me to look at how I incorporate spirituality in all aspects of my life, including work. Chogyam Trungpa didn’t see a separation between the secular and the spiritual, between the scientific and the mystical. And by incorporating feng shui, I also began to see this line become fainter and start to disappear.

There is no “perfect” knowledge of feng shui, but you can begin by looking for teachers that are near you. I studied at the BTB Masters program in NYC. It’s really of the utmost importance to work with a living teacher who holds and passes down their feng shui lineage. First, we can keep that lineage alive. Second, the teachings are transmitted in this way. It’s not something you can read in a book without the assistance of a mentor. I found that the BTB Masters program was just what I needed. The teachers truly become mentors in your life. For instance, Rosalie Prinzvalli officiated my wedding! Steven Post so kindly read and edited my book as well as wrote the forward. Barry Gordon has been a tremendous support in my life. You can listen to podcasts where I’ve interviewed two of the teachers. At the BTB Masters program, it’s a 3-year commitment, and you receive a certification as a feng shui practitioner. I’ve also recently taught a class at the last BTB Masters session.

There are also other schools and resources. First maybe look at what feng shui school resonates with you. There’s BTB Feng shui and there are more classical schools. I also first look at what teachers inspire and motivate you. You can look at the International Feng Shui Guild for more resources there. There is no official certificate that’s recognized worldwide, nor is there an official degree in feng shui that I’m aware of. But again, I’d look at what is out there and what speaks to you. Personally, the BTB Masters program fell into my lap, and it really clicked with me, so I went with it. I had no need to shop around. And I can say with great conviction that I wouldn’t be where I am now had I not gone through that transformative program :)

by Anjie Cho

Thanks for reading our "Q&A Sunday".  We will be answering questions submitted by our readers. Click here to submit any Feng Shui or Green Design questions!

Here's What To Put On Your Walls To Be In A Good Mood Every Damn Day

featured this week on MindBodyGreen by Emma Loewe

While a minimalist mentality will probably never go out of style, we're noticing a new trend in home design: one that's less stark and more showy, less uniform and more flexible. Color has found its way into the muted, hushed feeds of popular design blogs, and the homes we visit for dinner parties are starting to look like people actually live in them.

Instead of keeping the house incredibly tidy and organized, we're starting to encourage a little mess—granted, thoughtful mess. Spaces that are curated with items of personal significance are becoming the norm, and possibilities for creativity abound.

4. Add an element of sound.

In feng shui, metal represents clarity and freshness. Architect and feng shui expert Anjie Cho recommends working metal accessories like bells or wind chimes into your design to pull in some of this joyful energy. "Be sure to select metal accessories that make sounds that are pleasing to you and hang them slightly off the wall so they can actually make some noise when a breeze comes by," she adds. "You can also sing along to some uplifting music while you decorate to really imprint your intention into this new accent wall."

...read full article