It’s been a crazy couple of weeks. Hell, it’s been a crazy year. And while we may not be able to bring the madness to a dead stop, we can most certainly put the brakes on… HARD… if we get out and vote.

So of course I hope you are all double checking your registrations and making sure you and your posse have a specific plan for voting. You can also join the Demo Crew and reach out to potential voters to help us out with all of the above.

And then you can keep voting at the forefront of everyone’s minds by rocking some of this gear. Because now is the time.

Studies say that people respond more to being part of a group (voters!) than to a command (vote!) So invite them all to be a part of your glorious family of citizens with this T shirt. They have hats, masks and sweatshirts, too… I am a voter T, $25

Maybe you’re playing tennis or basketball. Or maybe you hate sports but your feet are cold. Whatever the reason, these are your socks. So you can keep voting top of mind. Women’s VOTE socks by Kule, $28

VOTE rhinestone bobby pin. Need I say more? Vote hair pin, $29.

If you say it over and over again, maybe the message will get through… Vote sweatshirt, $85.

A safety pin to remind you of what you are supposed to be doing at some point between now and Nov 3. Vote pin, $39.95

Get your message across while also learning a new language that you can use when you go to the land of red wine and pain au chocolat. Clare V canvas tote, $25.

Because it is a pandemic, after all, and we all want to stay safe. Vote masks, $11.20.

(Oh and by the way, the enamel pin up at the top of the post is by Madewell and runs $4, so you can get a few and give them to friends!)

That said, sleep is not currently for sale, and Mother’s Day is around the corner, so I’ve come up with a list of things that might at least help the mamas in your lives feel more rested, cared for and loved.

Goldie’s Candle Club.
Because what mom doesn’t want an all natural, mystically formulated scented candle arriving at her doorstep each month to help her find harmony with the seasons? Each candle also arrives with a beautifully written discussion about the particular qualities of each scent and how it relates to the time of ear it arrives.

Photo courtesy of The Alchemist’s Kitchen

photo courtesy of The Alchemist’s Kitchen

CBD bath salts by Vertly.
Because nothing says relax like soaking in a big old tub of CBD infused oils. I would like a lifetime supply, please.

Photo Courtesy of laurensallpurpose.com

Lauren’s All Purpose Salve.
Because what mom wouldn’t appreciate a creamy salve full of sumptuous natural ingredients that is as good in your hair as it is on your elbows, palms and feet?

Photo courtesy of Goop

Ceramic to-go mug by Porter. Because sometimes you are just tired and are going to have to go straight the the cafe for a cappuccino. And wouldn’t it be nice if you had a reusable mug with you that is as kind to the eyes as it is to the earth?

photo courtesy of Goldie’s

photo courtesy Red Flower

Photo courtesy of Southampton Soap Co

While we’re on the topic of feet, reflexology is the science of massaging along specific energy meridians of the foot to help heal all sorts of physical ailments. Give a gift certificate for a 60 minute session at Perry St Reflexology ($125)… because we have all been marching since January 21 and our feet (and bodies) have had just about enough.

Palo Santo incense ($20), or Holy Wood, wards off evil spirits and creates positive energy. And Lord knows we could all use some more positive energy these days.

Photo courtesy of Puerh Brooklyn

Photo by Julia Robbs for Homepolish.com.

Meditation is probably the one thing that is most consistently recommended by doctors, therapists, yoga teachers and hippies alike for helping to relieve the stresses of this crazy world we find ourselves in. I have never, EVER, heard anyone say it is anything but beneficial. But it can be hard to start a consistent practice, which is where MNDFL Meditation Studios comes in. They provide the space and the teachers, so all you have to do is show up. Easy peasy. Think of a gift certificate from MNDFL like a gym membership for your mind.

My first choice for cooking would have been this one-use wooden grill, but since I’ve already written about it, how about considering this portable charcoal grill by Bodum? Because every dad should be able to carry a BBQ in his proverbial back packet, right?

I bought a couple of these solar rechargeable lights last year before we took a trip to an off-the-grid cabin in Maine and they are AWESOME.

Leave it to Fredericks & Mae to take the humble playing card to the next level. Fredericks & Mae Playing Cards.

How about giving him the gift of organized keys? Keysmart Key holder.

Speaking of keys, I gave one of these to my own father (with his initials, natch) a few years ago and he still uses it… a victory I savor. Jill Platner silver keychain.

It’s a lunch box for the cool dad who seems like he doesn’t really care about such trivial things as lunch boxes but in reality would rather not eat than be caught dead with some random plastic bag from the drugstore. RainbowBeeDesign Lunch Bag.

Because Horses Atelier has managed to make a pair of overalls that are elegant without being at all precious. Yes please. Horses Atelier overalls, $310

Because covering the iPad with something as organic as cork just makes it all feel better, right? Cork iPad case, $30.

Because a deep purple clay coffee pot just makes the coffee taste better. $98.95.

Because a wood wallet is… well… a wood wallet. Walnut Wood Wallet, $65.

Because evidently the path to health and happiness runs through our noses and the best way to get a scent into the air is one of these diffusers and this one in particular is as good looking as it is effective. Stone Diffuser, $119.

Because they say nothing preserves and promotes youth and energy in the skin like roses, and this new blend of Monk Oil packs a triple punch of three different rose scents in one. Monk Oil, $52.

Because this is one of my all time favorite necklaces that I almost never take off and so your mom will probably love it too. Jill Platner necklace, $255.

The actress Gaby Hoffman rocks Jill Platner like it’s nobody’s business…

Jill Platner makes some of the most beautiful jewelry on the planet. And I’m not just saying that because she is my friend. Every piece is made by hand in her SoHo studio and her store feels like a secret sanctuary in the midst of one of the craziest shopping districts in New York City.

I’ve been photographing her work for years now, and wearing it for even longer. They are the kind of pieces that you can’t take your hands off of, once you’ve put them on. And when you see someone else on the street (or in the airport or on the beach…) you nod to each other like you are both members of some kind of exclusive society that only a precious few know about.

But right now, for the first time that I can remember, she is having a huge sale both online and in her store. So don’t ever say I don’t love you guys. Go check out her site and then get your hands on some of the magic while it’s discounted. You won’t be sorry. You have till Valentine’s Day.

A beautiful low hanging pendant by Jill Platner

My mother and daughter got together over the weekend and made some holiday cookies… This was one of my favorites.

It’s been a hell of a fall.

And now, suddenly, it’s practically the 25th and, if you are anything like me, there are still all sorts of folks that you need to buy things for. Here are a few ideas that may just save you.

Who doesn’t need a keychain screwdriver? (You have to order this today to get free expedited shipping, but at $9 what’s stopping you?)

Pretending that your iPad is a piece of paper is evidently all the rage these days. I’ll bet there are at least a few people on your list who would love to get their hands on one of these stylus pencils by Digital Gold.

It’s cold and dark these days… for all sorts of reasons. A reviving wellness ritual set from Red Flower is just the thing to set anyone back on the path to sanity. Plus they are on sale right now for $50, so maybe you should get one for yourself while you’re at it!

Everybody drinks tea once in a while, if not obsessively. So a teapot never fails. Especially when it looks like this Alessi “Cha” Kettle/Teapot.

This is technically a toy for kids, but I can think of plenty of grownups who would be into the challenge of putting together this 3D Earth Puzzle.

Here is a box full of goodies that anyone would love… artisinal chocolate, coffee, handcrafted mug, sage bundle and other treats carefully curated by Chef Deena and offered by the ladies at Stone Fox Bride. Order by the 17th. Father’s Day Gift Box, $95.

The gift of organization is always appreciated, especially when old school style meets new school tech. Leather iPhone earbud keeper, $28.

Who wouldn’t want their daily shower to be filled with the scent of evergreen, snowmelt and Mt Hood’s Timberline Trail? Juniper Ridge Trail Body Wash Soap, $32.

Sure it’s just another stainless steel water bottle… But it looks so cool! S’well stainless steel teak wood bottle, $50

If your dad has a back yard, doesn’t he need a pizza over to go in it? Uuni 2S Wood Fired Pizza Oven, $299.

And if there isn’t a back yard for the oven, upgrade his kitchen-made pies with a pizza stone. Sparq Home Pizza Stone, $65.

And once he has made the pizza, he’ll need something to eat it with, right? Hobo eat kit, $28.95 http://shop.coolmaterial.com/products/hobo-knife

But if not, here are a few ideas of things that a mother like me might like… should you still be in need of suggestions.

When in doubt, anything from my all-time favorite natural beauty line Red Flower is the perfect thing. All natural plus supreme luxury equals home run every time. Right now I’m feeling plum blossom silk cream, but you won’t go wrong with anything from their selection.

Oh happy day… Jill Platner is having one of her rare sales! Run don’t walk… mother or no mother.

Our kids have their lunch boxes. Now it’s our mothers’ turn…

Buy this little light so that never again will your beloved mother have to dump all the junk out of her bag to find the coat check stub…

What mother wouldn’t appreciate a little white magic energy spray?

I bet your mom remembers a time when everybody’s calculator wasn’t also their phone. And I also bet she wouldn’t mind going back to that time if her new calculator was made out of bamboo.

Upgrade her sonic and visual situation at the same time with this bluetooth tube steel speaker.

And last but not least, Greenhouse Holistic Spa is offering a 2 for 1 deal on massages through the end of the week, so you can get one for your mom and pocket the free session for yourself!

Gift giving at it’s best…

Two recent issues of Short Stack on of my new favorite food related magazines.

Gather Journal is technically a food magazine, but each issue is built on a theme (the current one is called “Origin” and explores a few areas of natural history that are particularly relevant to where the food we eat comes from.) There are recipes, of course, and beautiful photography. Plus they have great playlists on their website. Two issues a year, for $35.

While Faerie Magazine is written for adults, it might just be the perfect thing for your pre teenaged daughter who not-so-secretly wants to be reborn as Arwen from Lord of the Rings. There are crafts, “otherworldly beauty tips”, gowns made entirely of roses and basically all things enchanted. Published quarterly, at $28 a year.

Esopus is not just a magazine, it is a foundation dedicated to the unmediated distribution of the art and writing of the people it publishes. Every spring you get the most beautiful, uniquely put together, entirely free of advertising (and advertorial) journal of creative work you have probably ever encountered. And if you give a premium subscription, it includes a limited edition artwork every fall. Published annually, starting at $30.

If you or your loved ones don’t already subscribe to The New Yorker, you need to subscribe THIS MINUTE. Thoughtful, intelligent, beautifully written articles about all of the issues and people of the day. You are automatically smarter after you read this magazine. Published just about every week. Subscriptions start at $12 for 12 weeks.

Short Stack looks like a zine, but it is actually a series of small format cookbooks bound by hand and filled with recipes built around a single ingredient and written by various luminaries in the culinary world. The first time I saw one I snatched it up, and as soon as I read it I knew I had to have them all. Six volumes a year for $75.

And last, but not least, is Apartemento, which is an interiors magazine about real spaces that real (and creative with great taste) people live in. Unmanicured and at times really messy, but always captivating and full of inspiration, it is the perfect antidote to your standard, uber-polished shelter magazine. Published twice a year for only €27.