The Moms Code: 5 Insanely Cool Mothers Day Gift Ideas

Let's face it.  Mom is cool.  She's a purse-toting Babe that you rely on for everything -- every day.  Also, yes, finding a Mother’s Day gift is hard. Finding a Mother’s Day gift that doesn’t break the bank while still showing years of gratitude can feel impossible. 

Yes you could craft a DIY Mother’s Day gift that she’ll love, but some people just don’t have the skills or the time. Still, you shouldn’t stress or take out a loan just yet! There are a number of affordable Mother’s Day gifts that don’t look cheap. 

From luxurious beauty products to a smartphone apps, there is something amazing (and affordable) out there. 

Take a look at our list of Mother’s Day gifts — all under $75!

It’s time to trade in those boring gifts for some out-of-the-box gift ideas. We’ve put together a list of gift ideas every mom or grandma will love, you can click the links in this article to buy them.

1. Blissy Silk Pillowcase - Mom Will Wake Up Every Morning With Perfect Hair & Skin

The Blissy silk pillowcase is turning out to be one of the best kept secrets of 2019 and is one of the best mothers day gifts you can give. This 100% Mulberry silk pillowcase promises to not only help you get the best sleep of your life, but it also actually improves the look of your hair and skin (because it doesn't absorb the moisture like cotton does). The Blissy Pillow has no chemicals, it's non irritating and it's actually antibacterial. Say goodbye to dust mites once and for all! Don't believe it will actually help? They have an iron clad refund policy so if it doesn't work just send it back to them and get your money refunded.

2. PhotoStick - The Gift Of Never Losing Another Photo or Video

Has your mom ever asked you where she can find those old photos or videos on her computer? Or maybe she signed into her cloud backup only to find she's missing precious photos and videos? That's why this neat gadget called the Photostick is currently one of the top purchased products worldwide. But don't just think about getting it for your mom, it makes the perfect gift for anyone who has a slight distrust for computers (think the baby boomer crowd).

With new computer viruses emerging everyday and hackers gaining access to computers around the world, this is the perfect solution to making sure her photos & videos are protected... It’s the ONLY product of its kind that makes saving up to 60,000 photos and videos painless, and completely hassle free! It's a small thumb drive that you plug into your Mac or PC. You just open the program and click 'GO' and it'll automatically find all your photos and videos and back them up to the PhotoStick. That's how simple it is. This is one of those gifts that your mom will actually use! 

3. Essio – The Gift of A Spa At Home

Does your mom love going to the Spa? Essential Oils? Then you can get her the Spa Experience without her having to spend huge chunks of money on actually going to the spa. A startup from Santa Monica called ESSIO has released the first in-shower essential oil diffuser, which replicates the spa experience at home. To many spa lovers, aromatherapy and essential oils have become synonymous with the spa experience. And with good reason.

When you step into a luxury spa, you’re likely to get swept away by a mysterious scent that transports you to the rainforests of Bali. Odds are, you are actually smelling the rare ylang ylang essential oil. Not to mention doctors are increasingly finding that essential oils act on our bodies in a number of ways that could improve our health. So how does ESSIO work? The ESSIO diffuser fits on almost any shower head and it can be easily adjusted to disperse more or less essential oils. You can get the ESSIO starter kit now while supplies last.

4. Vivian Lou Insoles: Turn Her Expensive High Heels Into Comfy Shoes

There's nothing moms value more than being comfortable, so wearing high heels isn't exactly fun for them. If you're a woman, you know just how uncomfortable spending a night in high heels can be. Sure, they make your legs look great and add a boost of confidence in your stride, but for many it's just not worth the pain. But just maybe your mom doesn't have to give up those expensive (but uncomfortable) Jimmy Choos just yet... There's a new genius product called Vivian Lou that women are now using to turn their high heels into comfortable walking shoes. With over 1,657 5 Star Reviews this product is no joke and actually works!

Vivian Lou has received high praise from news outlets such as Forbes, Good Morning America and USA Today. They have even been tested and earned the Seal of Acceptance from the American Podiatric Medical Association.

5. XY Find It – She’ll Never Lose Her Keys Again

Let’s face it, as our parents get older, they seem to misplace things more often. But when you attach this coin-sized tracking device to an item you can see exactly where it is at all times. The XY Find It app enlists the help of millions of users to locate your lost bag, bike or even dog. The XY Find It app displays how far you are from your keys or purse you dropped, and it will sound the alarm to help you pinpoint its exact location. If you realize you left your bag in another location, all the other XY Find It users (millions of people) in the network are used to pinpoint your lost items exact location. But what happens if you can’t find your phone? Use XY Find It to ring it, even if it’s on silent mode, and you’ll find your phone fast. XY Find It helps you keep your stuff...especially if you’re a chronic (keys/wallet/bike/car/bag) "misplacer" like me. This is the perfect gift for a mom who is constantly misplacing her glasses, keys, wallet or phone.

Disney's Bizaardvark: Survival Tips for Set Parents (Part 5 of 5)

Back Off Candle Snuffers!


One of the many smart things my good friend (and set mom) Hilary said was, “Your candle does not burn brighter because you put someone else’s out.” It is easy to forget this when your child has finally secured the acting role of a lifetime; as exaggerated as this sounds, it feels a little like this for every child who lands his/her first major role. And everyone else in your circle is excited as well. Grandparents are sworn to secrecy but can’t help bragging. The schools are pleased that they had a hand in developing a talent. Uncles and aunts sharing in the gene pool are quietly smug and proud! In our case, we secure an LA apartment and the 2 of us relocate from Honolulu for the new series Bizaardvark. The excitement overshadows the sacrifice of leaving half the family. We show up the first day for work to an atmosphere that is buzzing. No one wants to blow it as a parent or have their child make some mistake that might get him/her labeled as a bad seed or even worse, make casting think they made a grave error in casting your child. In hindsight, this seems dramatic, but in that moment, the stakes are seemingly very high. And this can lead to, well, both good and bad behavior.

In life in general, if you are not likable, no one will like you (except those who are forced, like your mom or long-suffering spouse). Just kidding, no not really. Usually, ‘likeability’ is behavior-based so you can always change, but better to not to start off on the wrong foot. People gravitate towards people they like. When you go to the set, you have to go in wanting to like the other people. It’s like forcing yourself to smile and then somehow you actually feel better. Because it sets a tone. And believe it or not, everyone brings a personal tone that influences the vibe of the set and show.

This is not the show Survivor. And NO ONE is getting voted out of any episode. The series/show only wins as a team. Outwit, outlast and outplay are not desirable qualities on a set – politics and competitiveness are exhausting. Everyone has to coexist 50 hours per working week, so everyone has to make continuous positive contributions to the culture of the show.



Think Moonstruck – SNAP OUT OF IT!

No matter how it feels on set, when you walk outside the set doors, everyone is equal. Anyone who acts differently eventually gets left out because everyone else tires of it. If you start to feel this way (like you or your child is superior to the others), immediate throw cold water on your own face! Get over yourself and your child as quickly as you can. Sorry, but you are not the greatest thing ever and everyone does not exist to make your child look better. That is the job of the writers, producers and executives and they do it very well. And trust me, the production team, writers, teachers, etc. have seen countless rounds of new kids coming in and they dread the new parent politics as everyone settles in. The good news is tomorrow is always another day so if you act high and mighty, you can always come back with a refreshed attitude and everyone will forgive you.

One behavior our set does not tolerate is any set parent criticizing someone else’s child (to his/her face) in the form of ‘constructive advice’. The kids are off limits. I would never tell Ethan’s castmates how to behave, eat, talk, study, run lines, deal with Disney or other show execs, OR interact with Ethan. I would happily give advice if requested but this is not the behavior I’m referencing. It’s not my place to jump in or parent another person’s child. The other parents are the same and this has a very positive effect on the set. Don’t take this to mean there was no private venting to perceived injustices that constantly occur, but they are channeled effectively between set mom friends (and with humor) to minimize the drama and the kids are left out (protected).



We also treat guest stars and other visitors with respect and include them in the social aspects (lunch, breaks, etc.). It is wise to be nice to the guest stars. They are often stopping by, on their way to bigger things. Just because your child is a series regular on this show does not put them above anyone. Guest stars from our series have become youtube sensations, leads in commercial movies, and, countless others are series regulars on their own shows. Everything shifts around in this industry and no one knows who will become the next big success.

I don’t view the cast as Ethan’s competition. I also go out of my way to help or advise any of them if they want it. They are my set family. Life is a long game and if the kids and the adults take away good relationships, this is a valuable network for the future.



Best advice for this week - Remember they are CHILDREN. Never go after anyone’s child. Stop yourself from being overtly or covertly competitive. People see it and it is not an attractive trait. Take a deep breath and put everything back into perspective. Figure out a way to reign in the difficult personality, without being mean. Because there will absolutely be a difficult personality in the mix.

Thanks for coming back again to read the blogs! More tips and insights forthcoming on balancing academics and crying on set. Have a great week.



With Aloha,

Eileen

Disney's Bizaardvark: Survival Tips for Set Parents (Part 4 of 5)

Beware of Food and Identity Thieves!


Be ready to watch your waistline (expand). The amount of food on any set is crazy and delicious. And it’s easy to be sedentary. For the first time in ten years, I could not button my ski pants. I was willing to let them be so tight that I had to walk bowlegged, but I couldn’t even zip OR button them up. This was a visible embarrassment as no one has extra, bigger, pair of ski pants lying around, including me. I had to go out and make this major purchase. Then I was forced to admit it to my husband and four kids because everyone noticed. Can’t just slip in with new ski pants. Upon spotting me, each child asked, “Why do you have new ski pants? I liked the pink ones.” I wanted to scream, “I liked the pink ones too! It’s those shooting days--the steak and chicken buffets and treat-ladened food trucks did me in. Sigh. I’m trying to minimize the damage, but I can’t even button the pink ski pants lying down.”

Amazing food is a perk for all the cast and crew that work on any show. There is an entire small team, affectionately named Crafty, that buys all the meals (breakfast and lunch on non-shoot days) and also has a fully stocked kitchenette with snacks, drinks, fruit, and anything else that people indicate they like (ice machine, ice cream freezer, and more). Most of the time in life, there is no such thing as a free lunch. That does not hold true on set! At all! You will be surrounded by food non-stop. On shoot days (when they are filming), there is breakfast, lunch and dinner PLUS a morning and evening snack. And when I say snack, I mean they bring in the pizza oven and make custom pizzas for all. Or they set up a taco bar and hand make tacos for all. And usually on one of the two shoot days for an episode, a delicious food truck shows up. Lobster rolls, ice cream, coffee trucks, you name it, it rolls in and I find myself eating yet again.  My son doesn’t really like or eat sweets. He would not really eat any of the amazing cakes, pastries, ice cream sundaes, or cookies. Somebody had to eat them. And the set parents, along with the crew, can’t seem to resist.

It’s not the weight creep that left me questioning who I was or what was important to me as I lived in LA with my son, but away from my husband and other kids. I work very hard to NOT tie my identity or my son’s identity to the show. Sometimes when my son is recognized, the child refers to him as Bernie. To the audience, Ethan is Bernie but Ethan is a distinctly different person. He acts the character of Bernie. That is hugely important. If the writers want Bernie to be a little clueless, clumsy and say ridiculous things to be funny, it is Ethan’s job to pull that off as best as he can. Ethan doesn’t analyze the lines and say, “I don’t want to say that. It doesn’t reflect me or show me as I want to be shown.” The parent has to keep telling the child actor that they are separate and distinct from their character. They have to deliver the storyline at the highest level as written by the writers and coached by dialogue coaches, directors and executive producers. This is much more of a challenge than it appears because the kids’ characters will always have flaws and challenges because it makes them more relatable, funny and believable. So, child actors have to do embarrassing and uncool things, a lot.

Another important point is that your child’s identity should not be tied to how many lines they have, or if they are called the ‘lead’, series regular, recurring guest star, etc. Because they are all lucky to be on the show and no one is more important than anyone else on life’s playing field. I will dedicate an entire blog to this later as this is a major point and a source of drama on many shows. There is some racking and stacking and parents have to do everything they can to help their child keep things in perspective; lessen the impact of the rack and stack nature of the business.


My set mom friend Jennifer made an excellent observation when I asked if she had advice for new set parents. She said, “It is very important to keep your own interests and encourage your child to have outside interests as well. So, as child keeps growing as a person, the parent has to do the same. My identity is not only the mom of a Disney Channel actor and I try to never let that mindset creep in.”


I do everything I can to keep outside interests and work remotely as much as possible. I love to play tennis, write blogs and children’s books; I’m on a hospital board and a school (for different learners) board. I talk to my husband and kids every day. I stay current with my friends back home even as I make new ones from the show and Disney. Because I’m now navigating two worlds and I want to do it well. The show life is all encompassing but I have other things in my life to keep me in balance and grounded.

Last advice for this week - it is critical to be more invested in yourself than you are in the show. Becoming overly invested in your child and their success will take you down a bad road. Being in a show is like living in an intense bubble. Sometimes it just takes over and small things seem important. Everyone has to get out of the weeds sometimes; regain your balance and retain your sanity.

Thanks for coming back again to read the blogs! More tips and insights forthcoming. Have a great week.



With Aloha,

Eileen

Disney's Bizaardvark: Survival Tips for Set Parents (Part 3 of 5)

Anyone who has ever thrown a kid’s birthday party knows this secret truth. Creating fun is A LOT of work. It’s back-breaking and exhausting and I sigh with relief when the big event is over (and successful). A set environment is no different. The fun doesn’t make itself and there are always underlying forces that conspire to suck the fun out, like a giant Hoover (or Dyson) vacuum on a mission. Deadlines, moods, balancing school, annoying behavior by parents, fatigue, invites and non-invites – the list is endless. As one of my closest friends on set, Vanessa, said once, “is it really only Tuesday? I can’t see myself through to Friday. Good Lord.” Please picture my Kentucky friend Vanessa saying this with her cute Southern twang.

Disney plans and invites their kids to AMAZING events; everyone should attend those because they are awesome--premiers, promo shoots, fan fests, days in Disneyland and Disney World, etc. However, the fun factor needs to be ‘pumped in’ at a series level as well, and this includes both on-set and off set activities.

During Season One and much of Season Two, Jake Paul, a notorious prankster, played a series regular character on Bizaardvark. He was always filming, a camera nearly glued to his hand. He wanted to capture interesting and funny things on video. Well, he definitely did that. Sometimes Production was not happy with his vignettes– like going up into the rafters with the kids or driving off of the set hidden in a car trunk with Ethan during lunch. But the element of fun was an extremely positive by-product. So we, as set parents, began staging fun, fairly benign and harmless, pranks. Recognizing we were novices, we first put our toe in the water and plotted with the kids against Jake. One time, we removed literally all Jake’s furniture (and mementos and art and everything) from his dressing room and replaced it with only dolls, funny signs, and fluffy plush toys. We covered his name plate as well and sealed his door shut with HAZMAT tape. It was hilarious and everyone loved it, especially Jake. Another time, we moved his beloved truck from his parking spot and pretended it was stolen. We often pulled the ADs, teachers, and production people into our pranks. For Jake’s birthday, we asked Production if we could hold a food (cake) fight on set and video it. They put out plastic sheets to contain the mess and the kids all mushed cake all over Jake’s face and hair. Then, they smashed the entire sheet cake into his torso. Again, stomach holding laughter and fun. When Jake left the show, we cried of course, and then had to move on; we knew the pranks had to continue. We would have to be wise. We would have to be clever.

We continued our pranks on set and sometimes combined them with our Mom’s Night Out. I attach a link of one of our adventures. Since our show shoots downtown, we typically plan things around that area. On Mom’s Nights Out, we go to really cool venues like Red Bird, Bottega Louie, and Hamburger Mary’s (yes, we went to drag queen bingo!). Most times, we laugh until we cry! It is cleansing to have a few hours where I show up as myself and discuss things other than the kids or the show.  Typically, the kids have their own fun – for example, a pizza party and swim, play hide-and-seek, or just have old fashioned movie night at one of our apartments close by to wherever we go. Older kids are in charge of younger kids. As a parent-child group, we see a lot of movies and go bowling!

It’s vitally important to build good relationships on the set. Birthday cakes, pranks, home-made videos are all part of our show’s BTS (behind the scenes). We plot out thoughtful group gifts for the staff and crew, so they feel valued. Everyone plays a part in creating the episodes from the camera guys to wardrobe to hair and make-up. We involve wardrobe, props, dialogue coach, teachers, ADs in our little escapades because it keeps the set light hearted! Sometimes our kids are involved in the mischief and sometimes they are just embarrassed by us; either option works for me.

The most positive aspect of having fun with pranks and activities on and off set is that it takes up ‘space’, leaving less room for drama, competitiveness and ‘comparing’. We all have something to laugh talk about. It bonds us.

Thanks for coming to read the blogs and I hope they are useful. Come back next week for more tips and insights.

With Aloha,

Eileen