MOM'S THE WORD | My Dream Mother's Day Brunch with Ann Taylor

1. Bandana Statement Earrings | 2. Pleated Block Print Skirt | 3. Square Fringe Scarf | 4. Foldover Straw Clutch | 5. Honor Suede Heeled Sandal | 6. Halter Midi Dress | 7. Wide Leg Marina Pant | 8. Seersucker Fluted Sleeve Top. 

I don't want anything for Mother's Day. Honestly, I don't. Oh, except for brunch. I would like brunch please. I know I'm lucky to be a mom and I wouldn't trade my littles for all of the brunches in the world. But still...when I scroll through my Insta feed every weekend and see my kidless friends drinking, laughing, eating their way through gorgeous brunch after brunch, I feel the FOMO. The more I say brunch, the more I want brunch. 

So, just now, it's been settled. Cute husband has booked us into our new local hotspot, The Walper Hotel, for Mother's Day tea. It's not brunch, because literally ALL of the brunch spots are already booked (naturally), but this is close. So now, I'm into outfit planning mode with a little help from Ann Taylor. 

The new collection is so on-point for spring and it absolutely screams 'Perfect Brunch/Tea Where Nothing Goes Wrong and Your Kids Don't Destroy the Place and You Actually Get to Finish Your Mimosa'. Doesn't it? The citrus hues (that yellow dress!) and the pretty blues will help me enjoy this Mother's Day in epic style with my favourite people in the world. In my dream, nobody is complaining and they are all wearing white with no blobs of strawberry jam in sight. Stop laughing, it's my dream. Check out Ann Taylor's lovely love letter to moms below. The days may be long but the time really is much too short. Happy Mother's Day x

Stylish Mom's Share What They Really Want This Mother's Day

Sweet homemade cards and time spent with their littles aside, I asked 15 of my fave stylish moms to dream big (bigger, biggest) and dish on what they really want for Mother's Day this year. From jewels (incl this bomb choker) to handbags to epic getaways, see the full list in my article for W Dish here...

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MOM LOVE | Most-Wanted Mom's Day Gifts

via Hello Fashion Blog

Originally posted in The CLOSET

Moms like me don't ask for a lot. Thank-yous, pleases and R-E-S-P-E-C-T are all we moms really need. But I don't know a single mom who wouldn't love a little something'-somethin' from Sephora to really drive home that thank you. I'm not familiar with any fellow parentals who wouldn't love a new handbag (PLEEEASE??). And, of course, nothing shows true appreciation like a pair of gold Dr Dre headphones. Um, do they come in the noise-cancelling variety? Respect. 

Since my kids don't have any credit and I certainly don't want my husband to destroy our family budget on my behalf, I'm guessing that many of you moms are in the same boat. I've rounded up 40 gorgeous gifts - some expensive, most not - that are on my radar this year.  The presents on this shortlist are sure to please any mother-in-law. These picks are designed to delight any doting grandma. This guide will  help, well, guide any lost husbands out there. And if you end up with a card, some flowers, or even nothing at all, feel free to use this list to belatedly treat yoself. After all, being a mom is a 24/7, 365 kind of gig. You just never know when you might need a little pick-you-up after a particularly tantrum-filled/juice-spilled/couch-ruined/tear-out-your-hair kind of day. This is when those gold headphones really come in handy...

SEE THE GIFT GUIDE HERE...

MOM's The Word

Kate Hudson with her son for Ann Taylor Spring '14. Photo via Ann Taylor.

Originally posted in The Fashion Scoop

I have a confession to make: my mission this week has been to find the perfect Mother's Day gifts, but really, what I've actually done is a whole lotta personal shopping. And I don't mean personal shopping for a client but for myself, personally - finding the things that I, as a mom, would really, really love to get as a gift. 

There are very few times of the year when we moms actually focus on ourselves, after all. We go to the mall, fully intending to shop for new clothes for ourselves, but somehow, we leave 3 hours later with bags of little people shoes (they are sooo cute!), and trench coats that our daughters will grow out of in 6 months, and more pairs of pants because the ones you bought 2 weeks ago have already been decimated by the playground...

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A Pandora Bracelet ($350 Value) Giveaway

Originally posted in The LOOK

The one-size-fits-all approach rarely ever turns out well. It stands to reason, then, that there's no perfect gift to please every mom. When I think of the things I've picked up for my mom over the years, I can't believe she didn't burst out laughing more often. From pink sparkly makeup brushes one year to soap-on-a-rope that spelled out MOM (literally) another, my mom was a master at holding it together when we'd give her gifts. 'Oh, thank you!' she'd say. 'That was sooo thoughtful of you!' And my husband has similar stories. I'm pretty sure that green power drill in our basement was once gifted to my poor mother-in-law, all wrapped up in a big bow and promptly 'borrowed' by her questionably-intentioned teenage son.

Though every mom says 'Oh, you don't need to get me anything...' a surprise present is always appreciated. I've put together a list of winning gifts that are stylish, thoughtful and fun, and guaranteed to be met with delight this Mom's Day.  Plus, we're giving away a gooooorgeous Pandora bracelet ($350 value) for one lucky mom. Read on for full contest dets...

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