Celebrating Your
First Mother’s Day
In partnership with our friends at Swarovski
There is nothing like your first Mother’s Day. You have this whole new—and incredibly daunting—role. You second-guess everything and you really haven’t gotten the hang of this swaddling thing and you might have a lot of hormonal crazy coursing through you and…it’s a lot. But somehow, miraculously, you’re raising another human. For that reason alone, the entire nation wants to celebrate you! Or at least your entire, growing, family does!
“My feeling is that Mother’s Day, especially for first-time moms, is a time for them to intentionally slow down and celebrate the fact that they made it through the first year. The first year of mothering is so focused on the health and development of a child, it can be really hard to want to turn the lens onto yourself,” says Erica Chidi Cohen, doula, author, and cofounder of LOOM, a Los Angeles–based company devoted to every aspect of women’s reproductive health. (LOOM recently launched an online birth class, called NURTURE, to educate and empower parents by preparing them for what pregnancy and birth have in store.) In appreciation of the brave souls doing this for the first time, we talked to a few new mothers—and one new father (Hi, Stephen!)—and found that their ideas for May 12 are all variations on a theme. (Hint: It rhymes with BLEEP.)
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Jessica Robinson
marketing director at goop
Mother to five-month-old Lawson
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Swarovski
Sunshine Bracelet, White, Rose Gold Plating
Swarovski, $99“Something dainty and sparkly to work with my watch.”
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Nobu Ryokan
Nobu Ryokan, rooms from $2,000“I would love to go to the Ojai Valley Inn or the Nobu Ryokan hotel in Malibu for even a night. That sounds delightful!”
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Alireza Varzandeh
Oil on canvas
Artsy, prices vary“On my maternity leave, all I saw were the walls in my home that I needed to hang things on. With artwork, you always want a story, and I think something special to commemorate my first Mother’s Day would be a story I would love to tell over and over. Make it one of Iranian artist Alireza Varzandeh’s brushstroked beachscapes, and even more so.”
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“On my maternity leave, all I saw were the walls in my home that I needed to hang things on. With artwork, you always want a story, and I think something special to commemorate my first Mother’s Day would be a story I would love to tell over and over. Make it one of Iranian artist Alireza Varzandeh’s brushstroked beachscapes, and even more so.”
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Zoila Darton
founder of WORD (We Open Real Doors), a boutique creative agency, and host of The Women I Know podcast
Mother to fourteen-month-old Dakota. “This is technically my second Mother’s Day; our son was two months on Mother’s Day last year, but we were so exhausted, it was a blur.”
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Matek
Serval Squared Sports Bra
Matek, $45“As a gift to myself, I’m going to buy a bunch of Matek’s Serval sports bras. They are incredibly well-made with double mesh, hold in my ladies, and double as nursing bras because there is a latch on each strap. I have searched high and low for a great nursing bra that actually holds up my size G breasts, and Matek has been my savior.”
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Shutters on the Beach
ONE Spa
Shutters on the Beach, treatment prices vary“Greet any new mom with breakfast in bed and present her with a surprise of a full day at the spa and she’ll be thrilled. When I lived in NYC, my favorite oasis was Great Jones Spa. In LA, the One Spa at Shutters on the Beach is incredible. And then as the cherry on top, complete her day of luxury when she gets home—the bedroom set with fresh sheets, her favorite flowers, lavender pumping from a humidifier, and sleeping children.”
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UrbanSitter
Childcare on-demand
UrbanSitter, price varies“I think it’s important to give moms a day off, so the best gift I can think of is time to myself. An incredible gift would be a week of full-time nannying so I can really catch up on my work and personal needs. If you can’t find a sitter, Urban Sitter and Care.com are both great resources. Also, ask more-seasoned parents—they always have the hookup!”
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“I think it’s important to give moms a day off, so the best gift I can think of is time to myself. An incredible gift would be a week of full-time nannying so I can really catch up on my work and personal needs. If you can’t find a sitter, Urban Sitter and Care.com are both great resources. Also, ask more-seasoned parents—they always have the hookup!”
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Jordan Cunningham
senior director of brand partnerships & sales at goop
Mother to one-year-old Vivienne
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Rosewood Miramar Beach
Rosewood Miramar Beach, rooms from $800“We’ve been really into family getaways, even for one night somewhere close, like Santa Barbara. I want to check out the new Rosewood Miramar in Montecito. It’s family- and dog-friendly, which is a huge plus. Not to mention: Our new goop Sundries shop is there.”
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Swarovski
Sunshine Necklace, White, Rhodium Plating
Swarovski, $89“I love layering jewelry, especially necklaces. I would buy this for myself to add to my necklace stack. It also fits in nicely with my V (for Vivienne) necklace that my husband got me for Christmas.”
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Homepolish
Interior design services and renovation
Homepolish, price varies“I’d love to hire an interior designer to help with our condo. We moved in while I was still pregnant, and I haven’t gotten to fully decorating it. An expert would come in and help bring our design vision to life. I’m totally open to using an online service, like Homepolish.”
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“I’d love to hire an interior designer to help with our condo. We moved in while I was still pregnant, and I haven’t gotten to fully decorating it. An expert would come in and help bring our design vision to life. I’m totally open to using an online service, like Homepolish.”
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shira lenchewski, MS, RD
dietitian, author of The Food Therapist, and nutritionist with a private practice in Los Angeles
Mother to ten-month-old Oliver
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goop Beauty
GOOPGLOW 15%
Glycolic Overnight
Glow Peel
goop, $125“I haven’t been taking the best care of my skin this year, but I’m committed to upping my at-home skin-care game. Dead skin, begone.”
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Personal Infrared Sauna
Ultimate Recline Personal Infrared Sauna
Personal Infrared Sauna, price upon request“At the end of the day, I’d love to unwind and shvitz in this personal sauna desk.”
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Sheltered Co.
Milky Way Weighted Blanket
Sheltered Co., $385“I ordered a weighted blanket on Amazon a couple years ago and sleep with it every night. I’m deeply obsessed. This one is handmade and pretty and looks perfect for snuggling on the couch.”
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Elise R. Peterson
Multimedia storyteller and creator and cohost of Cool Moms podcast
Mother to fifteen-month-old Sargent Farrar
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Tarot Garden Niki de Saint Phalle
Tarot Garden Niki de Saint Phalle“One of my greatest inspirations is artist Niki de Saint Phalle. There aren’t many other women who have constructed such large-scale public works. One of the most stunning is the Tarot Garden in Tuscany. The sculptures are stunning mosaic works inspired by the tarot card deck. It’s everything I love in one place, and it’s very family-friendly.”
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Lady Fancy Nails
Manicure
Lady Fancy Nails, price upon request“As an artist, I’m incredibly passionate about making art accessible. Eda Midori aka Lady Fancy Nails has perfected the art of nails. Her designs are fresh, innovative, wearable art. It would be such a treat especially because my nails are usually covered in mortar or paint between working in the studio and making art with my son.”
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Sincerely, Tommy
Poena Excess Vivienne Westwood Bootleg Top
Sincerely, Tommy, price upon request“Since moving to LA, there are definitely things I miss about New York. One of them is the boutique Sincerely, Tommy in Bedford–Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. Sincerely, Tommy is awesome not only because of the vibe in the shop but also because of the unique selection of local designs that owner Kai Avent-deLeon sources. My new favorites I’ve discovered are the Poena Excess Vivienne Westwood Bootleg Tops—a long name for a perfectly peculiar top. Definitely something I’d wear going out without the baby.”
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“Since moving to LA, there are definitely things I miss about New York. One of them is the boutique Sincerely, Tommy in Bedford–Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. Sincerely, Tommy is awesome not only because of the vibe in the shop, but also because of the unique selection of local designs that owner Kai Avent-deLeon sources. My new favorites I’ve discovered are the Poena Excess Vivienne Westwood Bootleg Tops—a long name for a perfectly peculiar top. Definitely something I’d wear going out without the baby.”
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Christine Martinez
(married to Stephen Martinez, VP of operations at goop)
Mother to seven-month-old Weldon. “Since Weldon was born, I’ve been asking for a third nipple and third hand! But that doesn’t seem to be coming anytime soon.”
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Swarovski
Sunshine Pierced Earrings,
White, Rose Gold Plating
Swarovski, $99“With my jewelry, I love simplicity that doesn’t distract from an outfit and also adds a little bit of flair. These rose-gold stud earrings are a perfect complement to any outfit for any occasion, and they pair nicely with my favorite accessory: a brooch.”
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Ten Thousand Waves
Japanese baths
and treatments
Ten Thousand Waves,
prices vary“I’d love an escape to my favorite spa, Ten Thousand Waves in Santa Fe.”
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venice beach boardwalk“I miss nothing more than riding my 1960s Schwinn on the Venice boardwalk. I was riding it every day up until a few weeks before Weldon was born. It’s a great way to escape life stress and enjoy the beach air. I’d love a free weekend morning to go for a ride and enjoy a leisurely brunch.”
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“I miss nothing more than riding my 1960s Schwinn on the Venice boardwalk. I was riding it every day up until a few weeks before Weldon was born. It’s a great way to escape life stress and enjoy the beach air. I’d love a free weekend morning to go for a ride and enjoy a leisurely brunch.”
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Jenné Claiborne
personal chef and founder of The Nourishing Vegan and Sweet Potato Soul
Mother to eleven-week-old baby J
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A.Au
Tuhina Jumpsuit
A.Au, $195““Everything A.Au is fabulous, and I’m really into jumpsuits right now, so this Tuhina jumper makes the top of my list. Each piece from her new India-inspired collection is sourced and crafted Nigeria. I love that 10 percent of every sale goes to a university education fund to help youth from Abuja, Nigeria.”
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Natural Feeling Spa
Deluxe Facial and Glycolic Body Polish by Adina Diaz
Natural Feeling Spa, $200 and $150“There’s only one thing that makes my skin glow and clear up the way pregnancy did, and that’s Adina Diaz. She combines all-natural products, cutting-edge tools, and her magic hands to create the most relaxing and effective facials. Mother’s Day comes just a few short weeks after the end of my fourth trimester, and I can feel my skin craving a visit to Adina.”
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National Bail Out
Donation“I love it when my loved ones make a gift donation in my name. A donation to the National Bail Out is perfect for Mother’s Day because this organization bails out mothers and caretakers, reuniting them with their families and helping to end to pretrial detention and the vicious cycle of mass incarceration.”
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“I love it when my loved ones make a gift donation in my name. A donation to the National Bail Out is perfect for Mother’s Day because this organization bails out mothers and caretakers, reuniting them with their families and helping to end to pretrial detention and the vicious cycle of mass incarceration.”