“M is for the moan, and the miserable groan
From the pain that she felt when I was born.”
- Mr. T, Treat Your Mother Right (1984)
I’m not a mother, nor will I ever be (more about that in an upcoming post). But I do know a lot of moms, and of course, I have one myself.
This is an extremely practical gift guide for Mother’s Day. There’s no jewelry, there’s nothing bespoke where the recipient opens it, gasping/thinking: “Wow. I feel special and seen.”
However, these four, carefully curated presents are things I use every single day, and each time I do, I think, “WORTH IT.”
Neiwai Bras — These are the most comfortable bras ever. They are advertised as “Your size is the size” because they expand with you. They are the only bras that I wear. I talk a little more about how I found them (via YouTuber Jenn Im while she was pregnant) in this video above1. I also share a bra twisting hack, so you can wear them under V-neck outfits (as I did when I went back to my college recently). A perfect gift for any mom, especially moms-to-be and moms who are nursing.
Subscription to Thrive Market — in the next, upcoming episode of The Actor’s Diet Podcast, Christy and I will be discussing more about how we grocery shop. Basically, we both used to love doing it, and now, we both hate it. I think Christy might enjoy it less than I do because she has two kids to feed. Anyway, I truly think Thrive Market has saved me from many hours that would be spent browsing the aisles, impulse-buying. A year subscription usually costs about $60 but with my affiliate link you can shave 40% off your first order.
The BEST Curling Iron — I’ve owned a lot of curling irons since junior high, and never once have I felt as passionate as I do about this Ceramic Curling Iron from T3. I have the 1.25” barrel and it always makes a perfect wave that actually holds shape. In the past, I’ve tried cheaper versions that are highly rated, but nothing comes close to this one. It’s definitely more expensive (normally $170) but right now it’s on sale.
East Fork Pottery — I honestly did not expect a coffee cup that went viral from its own hashtag to live up to the hype, but #TheMug (my first East Fork purchase) definitely delivered. There’s something about the shape and feel of their products, but also the colors. OOOOH THE COLORS. I own several bowls (the soup one is what I eat my savory oatmeal out of every single day) and often take advantage of their sales so that shipping is free or discounted. I also love the spirit behind their “Seconds” (discounted, less-than-perfect products, where a portion of the proceeds go to charity) and honestly cannot tell the difference when I’ve purchased from that section. (Edited to add: You can use my referral code “LYNN CHEN” at checkout for $20 off.)
My aim is to keep these posts sponsor-free, so if you’d like to support me directly with a paid subscription, that would be very helpful. Please note: I do use affiliate links and may earn a commission when you purchase something.
I’m going to try to post more regularly to my YouTube channel again!
Ummmm I love the pottery!!!!!!