Shop Local: Great Gifts for Moms

The reason I started this website was to shine a light on what makes Dallas such a fabulous city. We have many creative and talented designers and manufacturers right in our own North Texas backyard. Their contributions not only bolster our local economy, but impact our image around the world.  Throughout the holiday season, I will be bringing you a series of posts called Shop Local giving you great gift ideas for under $250 from North Texas designers and retailers. Support local companies this season by considering their wares.

Great Gifts for Moms...

There's not a Mom on the planet that doesn't love to brag on her children. I am so proud of my son that I could just burst every time I look at his sweet face. So, in my humble Mom opinion, the best gift you can give a Mom is something that captures the sweetness of her children or gives her a taking point to tell total strangers about how amazing they are. Below are some fun ideas:

Local Lakewood artist Shannon Kincaid, can create one-of-a-kind commissioned paintings featuring family members, memorable scenery or special events. Kincaid can take a family photo and turn it into a unique piece of art painted in oil, pastels or watercolor. Paintings start at $75 for a 5x7 watercolor and can be as big as 36x48 for an oil painting. Visit http://bit.ly/1bqkAyO.

This is the Skinny Thang Bar from All The Wire which is the brain-child of sisters Desiree Cox and Toni Gonzales (you're about to see her every week as Courtney Kerr's BFF on Courtney Loves Dallas).

They are showing it here marking a couple's anniversary. You can also stamp your kids monogram and date of birth. You choose who you love more - your husband or your kid. We all know there's no contest…

• Measures: 41mm x 4mm x 1mm thick 
• Material: Raw Brass 10 Letters Max (Including Symbols)
• Bar can be horizontal or vertical 
• Please specify stamping darkened or not darkened. 
• Choose from 16" or 18" chain
• Stamping centered or on buyers left side.

Cost $30

Available at http://bit.ly/18u3BeW.

Do your kids expect clean folded clothes to magically appear in their drawers? Do they roll their eyes when you suggest they clean the bathroom? By racing in to make their lives easy, have you unintentionally reinforced your children’s belief that the world revolves around them?

Dismayed at the attitude of entitlement that had crept into her home, Kay Wyma got some attitude of her own. Cleaning House is her account of a year-long campaign to introduce her five kids to basic life skills and the ways meaningful work can increase earned self-confidence and concern for others.

I am so using this as a manual at my house for 2014….

With irresistible humor and refreshing insights, Kay candidly details the ups and downs of equipping her kids for such tasks as making beds, refinishing a deck chair, and working together. The changes that take place in her household will inspire you to launch your own campaign to dislodge your kids from the center of their universe.

Cost: $10.89 paperback or $7.99 Kindle

Available on http://amzn.to/1bQuFYz.

What Moms need more than anything is a time out. Even if it's for 10 minutes. A gift card to my favorite nail salon for a mani/pedi is always a welcome treat. Send me to a spa for a massage and I'll love you for life. For those times when you can't sneak away for a couple of hours to pamper yourself, a home beauty treatment can pull you though a bad day.

My go-to for skin care are products from Renee Rouleau. Her popular Triple Berry Smoothing Peel is available in a Limited Edition 1 oz. size just for the holidays. Get glowing skin for the holiday and new year with Merry Berry! It’s the perfect stocking stuffer for beauty jet-setters! Triple Berry Smoothing Peel is a professional-strength, at-home exfoliant that gently removes dull skin to reveal a smoother, younger-looking complexion. It’s available for $39 at http://bit.ly/1cjiuhS.