Moms. They are the absolute glue of a family, they raise you, look after you, and love you all while balancing the rest of their life. This can oftentimes be thankless work, so it’s our job to make sure they feel the gratitude they deserve, at least once a year! This Mother’s Day, take care of mom like she’s taken care of you. Need a little inspiration? We’ve got you: below are just a handful of some of the wonderful gift ideas to surprise her with this May!

Nathan Cooper

Loyly Sauna Massage

Loyly Sauna has two Portland locations to choose from. The larger Northeast facility features two cedar saunas, a cold shower cooling room, and therapeutic massage and holistic skincare services. The Southeast location is slightly smaller and features a cedar sauna, steam room, showers, locker rooms, along with their signature therapeutic massages and holistic skincare services. Purchase your special mama a gift card for a massage and sauna experience and we guarantee she’ll be feeling like a million bucks! The whole family will be feeling her afterglow.

2713 SE 21st Ave
503-236-6850

3525 NE M.L.K. Blvd
503-914-4303

Online: loyly.net

Beaumont Florist Flowers

This northeast Portland flower shop is exactly where you want to go for your Mother’s Day bouquet. With flexible pricing options, same-day delivery, and an endless amount of customization options, these master florists are guaranteed to piece together something thoughtful and beautiful. Beaumont Florist targets a certain temperament with each of its bouquets and offers additional gift items like chocolates or balloons to pair with your arrangement! Truly a one-stop-shop. Check out their sister shop in the Laurelhurst neighborhood of Portland, too!

 4201 NE Fremont St., Portland, OR 97213
(503) 281-5501
Online: beaumontflorist.net

Sammy's Flowers Personalized Arrangments

Open seven days a week, this adorable, Parisian gem builds beautiful arrangements that are sure to leave you satisfied and your mother’s dining room table looking great. Want to depart from a standard bouquet and give her something that she can cherish for longer? Sammy’s Flowers sell beautiful orchids in several dazzling shades, as well as cards and chocolates for the ultimate flower-gifting experience! Want to build mom an arrangement made especially by you? At Sammy’s Flowers, that’s no problem! Just pick out some of their individually priced flowers and they’ll arrange and wrap them for you. Make sure to jump online or give them a ring soon, Sammy’s gets especially busy during the Mother’s Day week.

1710 W Burnside St., Portland OR 97209
(503) 222-9759
Online: sammysflowers.com

unique dessert charcuterie board
iStock

Moonstruck Chocolates & Cacoao Sweets

Mom's love is oh so sweet, so why not get her some luxury sweets for her special day? Grab a box of the classic truffle collection at Moonstruck Chocolates. If she likes bars, there's a delectable variety to choose from. And don't forget to scope out the bundles that let you mix and match her treats.

Three Portland locations
(503) 247-3448
Online: moonstruckchocolate.com

Tender Loving Empire Gifts

Need a few things to help mom feel like she’s pampered? Good news: Tender Loving Empire has everything under the sun for helping mom feel adored and appreciated! From incredible-smelling candles and adorably-designed tote bags to jewelry and spa-night kits, they’ve got you covered! Come with a plan or come without! You’ll be sure to leave with something special for that extra-special woman who you call mom. 

Multiple Locations throughout Portland
Online: tenderlovingempire.com

Lush Cosmetics

If you frequent NW 23rd, it is more than likely that you’ve found yourself in Lush Cosmetics dazzled by their soap collection. This Mother’s Day, Lush is pulling out all the stops so you can be in awe even more. From scents like earth and herbal to citrusy and floral, and need-levels like soothing or deeply cleansing, Lush has the gifts that mom needs to let those shoulders down and enjoy a bit of an at-home spa night. Whether it’s a bath-bomb, a shower scrub, a face mask or a vegan body wash, Lush will help you help mom take a load off and enjoy herself. Head online to see their full list of options, or head in to the store today! 

708 NW 23rd Ave., Portland OR 97210
(503) 228-5874
Online: lushusa.com/home

 

Roselinde Bon

Portland Nursery Plants

Gifting a living plant is a long lasting present that will forever remind your loved one of your thoughtful gesture. Pop by one of Portland Nursery’s two locations and find the perfect house plant. Pick from aloes or bonsai to cacti and succulents.

Stark Location
5050 SE Stark

Division Location
9000 SE Division, 97266
Online: portlandnursery.com

With Love From PDX

Love our city? So does With Love From PDX! Maybe mom doesn’t live here in town (but she should!) and you want to treat her to a little bit of the place you call home. That’s where With Love From PDX comes in. They’ve got curated gift boxes that will fit exactly what you need, whether that’s the ultimate charcuterie set or a gardening box for the green-thumbed lady in your life. Have a friend with a newborn? Send her With Love From PDX’s “Mama + Baby” gift set, so they’ll both feel a bit of your love. Can’t find all the right things in one box? No worries, you can create your own custom box, so both gifter and gift-ee can rest satisfied! All the goods in each of these bundles of love are filled with locally-made goods from Portland, so you can give gifts and support small businesses! Head online to check things out today!

 

7412 SW Beaverton-Hillsdale HWY, Ste #103, Portland, OR 97225
(503) 267 - 1472
Online at: https://withlovefrompdx.com/

 

—Hanna Judge

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Photo: Unsplash

From this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part…

But what if it’s not one of you two who got sick? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are 40.4 million unpaid caregivers of adults ages 65 and older in the United States. Nine out of ten people from that group are providing care for an aging relative, and the relative majority is caring for a parent.

Becoming a caregiver changes a lot, and that is not an exaggeration. Your life is different now, and you have to come up with a plan to keep your marriage alive. Here are 5 tips for caregivers about how to protect your marriage.

Tip #1. Support Does Matter
Never underestimate a caregiver’s strain on the marriage. Being a caregiver may feel like having way too much on your plate, which doesn’t become any easier over time. In fact, caregiving affects marriage a lot. For example, dealing with an aging parent can lead to caregiver spouse burnout that will inevitably affect your marriage. The important thing to remember here is that you don’t have to deal with it alone.

Caregiving won’t ruin your relationship if you build your support group with people who are ready to give you a hand or two. It doesn’t necessarily have to be your best friend on speed dial; you can also consider joining support groups or counseling sessions once or twice a week. If you find your safe place and take some time to recharge, you can stay refreshed.

Tip #2. Never Forget to Schedule Some Me-Time
Have you ever felt like caregiving is ruining your marriage? The only reasonable outcome of everyday stress is burnout. To avoid that, you need to take some time to relax and regain your energy. No doubt, it is important to find time for your partner; however, sometimes, you will have to put your physical and mental health first to function at all.

Never underrate your own needs to have a rest. Treat yourself, do that face mask, watch the sitcom you’ve planned to, and, most importantly, don’t shame yourself for being a human. Elder care and marriage can coexist if you are taking care of yourself first.

Tip #3. Communication Is Key
When your spouse is a caregiver, it takes two of you to build strong and healthy communication in your relationship. If you’re the one taking care of an aging person, the bad news is your family members have no clue about your emotional state. So they may have a hard time guessing why you are so frustrated or irritable.

Have there been times when you lost your composure over little things? And your partner is confused because your reasons are not that obvious for them as they seem for you. Spouse caregiver burnout is much more common than you think. Talk with them, explain how you feel, why you feel that way, and what you need them to do to make things better. Actually, it works both ways; they also need to be heard and listened to. Everyone does.

Tip #4. Don’t Forget to Give Your Relationship That Precious Sparkle
Just a few extra minutes of snuggling in bed can do wonders for your marriage. Caregiver spouse intimacy is not off limits! Surprise your partner with a nice bubbly bath and a glass of wine, or take an evening off to do something together.

Sometimes even the little things are enough to show that you love your partner and care about your relationship. Just do it! And maybe one time you’ll come home to see the tickets to your favorite movie, a Broadway show or opera as a thank you for all your efforts.

Tip #5. Consider Other Options
An aging parent with health problems is, in fact, a common situation for most families. It might become a real problem when your spouse is a caregiver, so you may want to explore other options, such as care services. In-home caregiving help can become a lifesaver as you will still have some control over your parents and keep your life balance.

A nursing home gives you back the intimacy of your home, and what’s more, you can stop worrying about your parent’s wellbeing. If your parent has a chronic disease or other health issues, you can also consider a geriatric doctor. Talk with your parents and your partner to figure out what works best for all of you. Remember to keep their interests in mind as it’s not about choosing between a spouse and an elderly parent.

Marriage and caring for aging parents are not mutually exclusive. As long as you put some effort into handling your family-life balance and maintaining harmony at home, nothing is impossible. Patience and understanding are crucial for working through this complicated stage of your life. Just remember to choose your priorities and work out a strategy and stick to it.

 

I'm a certified life transformation coach at OnlineDivorce.com and a freelance writer with expertise in mindfulness and sustainability. In addition, I'm a published author focused on the most progressive solutions in Psychology. I help people go through fundamental life challenges and build an entirely new life by reframing their personal narratives.  

Are you dreaming of snowy scenes, improbable romance, quaint small towns and cheesy but enjoyable dialogue? Then we’ve got the scoop for you! Hallmark has announced its annual Christmas in July event, featuring new movies and binge-worthy classics.

Starting the weekend of July 10, tune in to catch Crashing Through the Snow, starring Amy Acker and Warren Christie. Maggie (Acker) joins her ex-husband and his girlfriend Kate for a getaway to Aspen, Colorado. Before you wonder about the logistics of vacationing with an ex, don’t worry, love is still in the air. Maggie meets Kate’s brother (Christie) and we have to imagine sparks flying on the ski slopes.

Also on July 10, you can binge some of your favorite Hallmark Christmas selections from 2020, including Love, Lights, Hanukkah and A Tree Grows in Colorado. The following weekend, tune in for “Soap Sunday” because obviously Hallmark movies are exponentially better with soap opera stars. Keep an eye out for Cameron Mathison in The Christmas Club and Jesse Metcalfe in Christmas Next Door.

Finally, on July 24 and 25 you can start your countdown to the holiday in earnest with some of the greatest hits from Hallmark. Crown for Christmas, The Nine Lives of Christmas, and Christmas Under Wraps! Similar, but just different enough to keep you glued to the screen. Grab the wine, popcorn and enjoy some self care!

—Sarah Shebek

Featured photo: Hallmark Channel

 

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With many restaurants closed and people still taking careful precautions during the coronavirus pandemic, Valentine’s Day dinner is going to look different. But by now, we’re used to it and this creative option from Cozymeal makes staying in fun.

Purveyor of online cooking classes, Cozymeal is offering some limited-time Valentine’s Day classes that will up your Valentine’s Day, Galentine’s Day, or virtual date night game. The platform has the largest collection of virtual experiences that include cooking, mixology, wine tastings and more, that are all hosted by world-class culinary professionals, starting at $29.

photo: Courtesy of Cozymeal

Looking for something more on the fun side? You’ll want to check out Cozymeal’s pop-culture inspired classes. You can recreate favorite dishes from films and shows that include The Crown, Sex & The City, The Mandalorian (and those galactic macarons pictured above!), Harry Potter, Game of Thrones and more.

Cozymeal also offers more traditional takes on Valentine’s Day like Elegant Date Night Dinner, Date Night at the Italian Opera, Galentine’s Day PJ Brunch, Dark Chocolate Workshop and Classic Steakhouse Dinner. You can also take it to the next level and snag a fine dining culinary experience hosted by a private chef!

Each online offering shares the ingredients and kitchen equipment you’ll need so you’ll be prepared for the big day. Not only that, you can add ingredients directly from Cozymeal to your virtual shopping list and submit to your favorite grocery delivery service. Dinner is served!

To check out all the experiences available, head to cozymeal.com.

––Karly Wood

 

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The debut of Disney and Pixar’s Soul is fast approaching. If you can’t wait for Dec. 25, Disney+ just released an exclusive sneak peek of the critically acclaimed feature film.  In the movie, Joe Gardner (voice of Jamie Foxx) is a middle-school band teacher who dreams of playing in the best jazz club in town. Filmmakers found they could relate to the character’s passion for music.

Director Pete Docter grew up in a musical family and plays the double bass. “My folks are both teachers and both musicians,” says Docter. “There are three kids and we all became musicians. I think my mom enjoyed having the Von Trapp family; when people would come over, we’d have to perform. My two sisters stuck with it—one is a cellist with the Metropolitan Opera, and the other one is violist and a teacher.”

Co-director Kemp Powers, who used to be a music writer, played the alto saxophone in a jazz band during high school. His affinity for jazz plays a big role in his personal life. “My son’s name is Mingus,” says Powers. “He’s named after Charles Mingus. A lot of us Gen Xers, particularly Black Gen Xers, fell in love with the bebop-era jazz artists—John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, Charles Mingus, Miles Davis, of course Herbie Hancock. These guys were musical icons that—specifically in New York City—inform so much of the other big musical genre in the city, which is hip hop. The background tunes of my life are jazz and hip hop.” 

“Life has so much to offer,” says Joe in the sneak peek. “We only have a short time on this planet. Don’t miss out on the joys of life. Remember to enjoy every minute of it.”

Disney and Pixar’s Soul also features the voices of Tina Fey, Phylicia Rashad, Donnell Rawlings, Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, Angela Bassett and Daveed Diggs. The film is directed by Docter, co-directed by Powers and produced by Dana Murray. Jazz compositions & arrangements are by globally renowned musician and GRAMMY nominee Jon Batiste, while Oscar winners Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross (The Social Network) composed an original score.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

All photos courtesy of Disney+ 

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Continuing The Metropolitan Opera’s annual tradition, the Family Holiday Festival will be available as a digital experience. While in previous years, this annual favorite event was at the historic opera at Lincoln Center. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the Met is bringing everything online for a free, all-virtual experience across five days. 

Lincoln Center

The Family Holiday Festival  will run Dec. 17 through Dec. 21, 2020. Among the highlights for the whole family is a free stream of the holiday favorite Hansel and Gretel, a wickedly entertaining adaptation of the classic fairy tale. Complementing this is a lineup of online events to celebrate the season, including arts and crafts, composing carols, a dance party, and a special Hansel and Gretel-inspired baking class (Deep Dark Fudgy Brownies) featuring NY Times writer Melissa Clark and opera star Anthony Roth Costanzo.

The family-friendly opera has inspired a lineup of online events to celebrate the season, including arts and crafts, baking, and composing carols. The opera stream and event information can be found at metopera.org/family.

Below is the schedule for the Met’s virtual Family Holiday Festival.

Thurs., Dec. 17 at 5:00pm ET through Mon., Dec. 21 at 5 p.m. ET – Free Stream of Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel

 

Thurs., Dec. 17 at 1 p.m. ET – Getting to Know Hansel and Gretel

Learn about Humperdinck’s operatic interpretation of this classic story with music educator Timothy Brendler.

 

Fri., Dec. 18 at 1 p.m. ET – Feeling Crafty

Professional clown Stephanie Sine will lead families in a special craft inspired by Hansel and Gretel’s adventure into the woods.

 

Sat., Dec.19 at 11 a.m. ET – Kid in the Holiday Kitchen

New York Times food writer Melissa Clark and countertenor (and avid baker) Anthony Roth Costanzo will guide families in baking Deep Dark Fudgy Brownies, a recipe from Clark’s new cookbook, Kid in the Kitchen.

 

Sun., Dec. 20 at 1 p.m. ET – Creative Carols Actor and songwriter Joel Waggoner will lead a session on how to compose music and write lyrics for carols that are inspired by our own holiday traditions.

 

Mon., Dec. 21 at 1 p.m. ET – Solstice Songs

To celebrate the Winter Solstice, musician and educator Goussy Célestin will share how music and stories have helped us understand the passage of time.

 

Mon., Dec. 21 at 2 p.m. ET – Solstice Dance Party

The festival concludes with a dance party and holiday celebration for the entire family via Zoom.

For more information about the Met’s virtual Family Holiday Festival, visit metopera.org/family.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: Alev Takil on Unsplash

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One of your favorite authors is now branching out into picture books. Wild Symphony, a picture book by Dan Brown, author of the New York Times bestselling novel The Da Vinci Code, was announced by Rodale Kids, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books. The book which is available now is accompanied by Brown’s first official music release.

Wild Symphony - Dan Brown

The full Wild Symphony album was released simultaneously with the book and is available via all major digital platforms. The children’s classical music album is designed to enhance the read-aloud into a multisensory experience for children and adults.

The book features Maestro Mouse and his trusty baton visiting other animals and promises to inspire conversation around topics like compassion, patience, respect, and confidence, as well as mindfulness, taking life slowly, and community. And it wouldn’t be a Dan Brown book without clues and puzzles hidden throughout. 

The book can be read as a traditional read-along book or you can listen to the original music as you read, via a free interactive smartphone app, which uses augmented reality to instantly play the appropriate song for each page when the camera of a mobile device is held over it.

A preview of the music and behind-the-scenes footage is available now at the Wild Symphony website. At publication, the accompanying music app will be available for free download via the website and the QR code located in the book.

“I love storytelling, and my novels always attempt to weave together varied themes,” Brown explains. “With Wild Symphony, I was excited to build on this idea and create a truly layered experience by using three different languages simultaneously—art, music, and words. In the same way that an opera captivates its audience by presenting beautiful sets, dramatic music, and lyrical drama,  strives to be an immersive feast for eyes, ears, and mind, all at the same time.”

—Jennifer Swartvagher

All photos courtesy of  Random House Books for Young Readers

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With the start of school just around the corner, and virtual classes still going strong, it’s time to up your online game with Zoom backgrounds that help kids show their city spirit. They can support local sports teams, feature their favorite zoo animal, even turn back the clock with playful screenscapes you won’t find anywhere else. Find your favorite to download.

Seattle Kraken

nhl.com

Release the Kraken! Our newest sports team hasn't even played their first game yet, but your hockey fan can show their spirit with these backgrounds anytime.

Seattle Center

seattlecenter.com

How would your kid like to Zoom next to Spidey, Kermit or the famous tower of guitars at MoPOP? Or show their science love with PacSci backgrounds? You’ll find those and more with these Seattle Center backgrounds.

Seattle Seahawks

seahawks.com

Because every kid needs a virtual twelfie, download one of these pics before your next chat with the grandparents or virtual birthday party.

Woodland Park Zoo

zoo.org

Animals lovers of all ages will go wild for these zoo animal shots featuring some of your Woodland Park Zoo favorites.

Old Seattle

seattle.gov

From the Kingdome explosion to one of the monorail's first rides, these historic city of Seattle pics will add extra learning to whatever meeting you’re in.

Seattle Opera

seattleopera.org

These stills from past Seattle Opera shows put your kiddo center stage, no matter what class they’re in.

University of Washington

washington.edu

Got a future Huskie in your house? You’ll love these backgrounds that highlight all things purple and gold including UW’s campus (hello, cherry blossoms) and furry mascot.

Seattle Mariners

mlb.com

Sitting in the stands might be on hold, but M’s fans can get in the game with these digital backgrounds that celebrate baseball.

Crystal Mountain

crystalmountainresort.com

Live like the mountain is out with Crystal Mountain’s Zoom backgrounds that showcase Mt. Rainier. Ski slopes, gondola, wild flowers. They’ve got ‘em all.

SAM

seattleartmuseum.org

Let the Seattle Art Museum help your Little add character to a Zoom class with cool backgrounds like the Olympic Sculpture Park, Sammy the Camel, the Porcelain Tea Room and more.

 

Seattle Sounders FC

soundersfc.com

Get your scarves up with these sporty stills that feature players, Century Link stadium and fans.

Seattle Skyline

Paul Galasso via pixabay

Seattle’s got one of the best city skylines around. Water, Wheel, Space Needle—there’s no competition. Download city backgrounds from South Seattle College or this water taxi crossing; they’re as Seattle as it gets.

—Allison Sutcliffe

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In an ongoing effort to keep kids learning and experiencing a little culture, the Metropolitan Opera has launched Free Student Streams! The new program is a slew of free opera streams for both teachers and students all over the globe.

The Met website will release free resource materials on Mondays at 10 a.m. EDT, which will include activities, coloring pages, audio clips and tons of background information for the opera streaming that week. On Wednesdays at 5 p.m. EDT, the opera will begin streaming and will remain active for 48 hours on the Met website.

photo: Courtesy of the Metropolitan Opera

Even more exciting, students can tune into a Zoom call an hour before each performance to interact with an opera singer or a member of the creative team for a virtual conversation! To access the streams, listeners can head to the Free Student Streams page or view the Met Opera on Demand apps.

The next three weeks of free student streams include:

Week of May 11 — Donizetti’s L’Elisir d’Amore

Week of May 18 — Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel

Week of May 25 — Donizetti’s La Fille du Régiment

Head to metopera.org/freestudentstreams for all the details.

––Karly Wood

 

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