May is a whopper of a month around Louisville. Derby is this Saturday, Mother’s Day is on Sunday, then there is graduation season and the end of the school year to get through. That’s a lot of gift buying on your horizon. We’ve gone through and curated a gift guide for this month’s FINDS that will help you be efficient with your precious time. We have divided it into those three categories — Derby gifts, Mother’s Day and general gifts. Happy shopping!
DERBY GIFTS
It’s not too late to grab that perfect Derby gift for your hostess or yourself.
Platter
And they’re off! You can sense the motion in this handpainted plate from Louisville Stoneware. Perfect for your country ham and biscuits or to display during your Derby party, it sells for $75.
Derby platter, $75, at Louisville Stoneware
Glasses
Everything you love about Derby season, all displayed on one glass! These would hold a nice size mint julep or lily. They can also be used year-round for those of us who just love Kentucky. These are sold for $18.99 each at Hallmark USA Oxmoor Center. Hallmark will ship this to you for free if you cannot make it into the store to pick it up; simply call or order online.
Kentucky Derby glasses at Hallmark USA Oxmoor Center for $18.99 each
MOTHER’S DAY GIFTS
Mothers across the world deserve something special on Mother’s Day. Be sure to get your gift soon, as Mother’s Day is the day after Derby this year.
Flowers
Flowers are a sure bet for your mother, not only for Mother’s Day, but year round (hint, hint). But it is also an easy gift, as you can simply order it and get it delivered all from your phone. This beautiful arrangement is from Blooms, and it retails for about $75. Flowers + Shopping = A Happy Mom. Place your order by calling (502) 222-1626.
Make Mom happy with this beautiful arrangement from Blooms. This retails for about $75. Image: Blooms
Massage
Elements is offering a wonderful Mother’s Day gift card special, where you can purchase one 70-minute massage for $69 or two 70-minute massages for $119. Buy online here or at both Elements locations in Westport Village or Middletown. We promise she’ll appreciate it after a long week of celebration.
A 70-minute massage at Elements for only $69
Dry shampoo
Dry shampoo is the savior of many a mother, and now Aveda is making Shampure in the dry shampoo version as well. Hallelujah! Hair will have the lovely smell of Shampure that we all know and love. Buy this time saver at Omagi Salon Spa for $30.
Shampure Dry Shampoo for $30 at Omagi Salon Spa | Image: Aveda
Spa services
J. Michael’s Spa & Salon is expanding, and while they are under construction they are offering discounts on many of their spa services. Buy ’em up for your mother, and she’ll love you for that. A one-hour massage is $50; facials are $65. Haircut and style are 15 percent off, shellac manicures are $45 and pedicures are $45.
Get discounted spa services at J. Michael’s Spa & Salon for your mother. A one-hour massage is $50. Facials are $65. Haircut and style are 15 percent off. Shellac manicures are $45, and pedicures are $45.
Jewelry
A rose is a rose is a rose … but this rose is special because it is forever. Made from a real rose, this brooch can be attached to pearls, any necklace of your liking or your lapel. The rose is $44, and the pearls are $216 at Clater Jewelers.
This beautiful red rose brooch rests on pearls at Clater Jewelers. The rose is $44, and the pearls are $216.
Reading sunglasses
No more wearing your cheaters under your sunglasses this summer. Now you can get cheaters and sunglasses all in one. For those of us who are visually challenged, but not challenged enough to warrant prescription sunglasses, this is a game changer. These come in many shapes and colors at Clay & Cotton for $59.
Cheaters and sunglasses in one with Let Me See sunglasses at Clay & Cotton for $59
Laundry organizer
We know, we know, this is an uber practical gift. BUT it’s a genius idea to have a laundry center that is cute and functioning. Let’s just admit that all mothers do a lot of laundry, so this will definitely get a lot of use. We found this at Work the Metal for $109.
Laundry room organizer at Work the Metal for $109
Totes
Replace the freebie reusable bag that your mother always uses for groceries and errands with one of these cute oilcloth totes. Sold at Apricot Lane for $16, she could actually use it for much more than groceries, maybe her books or for a beach bag? We are sure she can figure out something to fill this cute bag with!
Oilcloth totes from Spartina at Apricot Lane for $16 each
Glasses case
Need somewhere to store your new cheater sunglasses? Here’s a good place: a new Lilly Pulitzer glasses case. These are cute and protective, letting you carry your glasses with you without scratching them up. These colorful cases are sold at Celebrations for $40.
Lilly Pulitzer glasses case (for your new cheater sunglasses?) for $40 at Celebrations
GIFTS AND MORE
Here are gift options for just about any celebration this spring: graduation, baby shower, hostess gifts, end-of-year gifts … we’ve got you covered.
Weekend bag
This bag, appropriately called “The Weekender,” is an ample size, featuring a horse print and a shoulder strap. It is lightweight and perfect for throwing in the backseat to go on an adventure. This can be found at Digs for $195. Now, where to go???
Weekender horse print bag at Digs for $195
Popover collars
We all know how hard it is to get a child dressed up for a special occasion. What if you just had to pop a collar on over their onesie? Voila! An instant cute outfit. Animal Crackers sells these popover collars in pink and white gingham for girls and blue and white gingham for boys for $22 each.
Popover collars for girls and boys at Animal Crackers for $22
Twine art
This is just one of many creative and complex pieces of twine art at Revelry, and this one certainly was one of our favorites. It just tugs at the heart “strings” a little, doesn’t it? (Sorry for the pun.) It is twine hooked on nails on a piece of wood, with chalk writing. It is simple and poignant, and it retails for $60.
My Old Kentucky Home twine art sold at Revelry for $60
Bud vases
We loved these bud vases at Robin’s Nest Interiors because they were so … frosty. They are frosted glass and come in dark gray, lime green and blue. Buy one or all six, it makes no difference; but at $19 each, they are quite a steal. Flowers not included.
Frosted vases at Robin’s Nest Interiors for $19 each
Louisville pillows
Everybody likes to know where they are, literally. These pillows, custom-made for Dolfinger’s, can tell you down to the latitude and longitude where you are: Louisville. These come in two sizes and retail for $32 for the small and $58 for the large.
Custom-made Louisville latitude and longitude pillows at Dolfinger’s for $32 for the small and $58 for the large
Wax sealed glasses
Kentuckians always do a double take when they see a wax seal on anything, for it conjures up thoughts of a certain bourbon from around here. These iced tea glasses have the seal of Kentucky and retail for $15 each at The Urban Farmhouse Market. Feel free to fill it with something that also comes in a wax sealed bottle.
Iced tea glasses with a wax Kentucky seal sold at Urban Farmhouse Market for $15 each
Decorative bamboo boxes
Small, medium or large, take your pick with these elegant boxes with bamboo handles. Large enough to store keepsakes, photos or even necessities, such as remote controls or keys, they come in blue and coral at Fleur de Lis. Small is $142, medium is $164 and large is $228
Bamboo boxes come in three sizes at Fleur de Lis Interiors. Small for $142, medium for $164 and large for $228
Candles
These Alixx candles at Cale & Cole come in a variety of scents and colors. Best part, when you are done burning the candle, you have a hand-blown glass vase that you can use forever. These are $29 for the small and $52 for the large. (The cute small bell jar-covered candles are the smell testers, where when you lift up the top, you smell it inside the dome rather than directly on the candle.)
Alixx candles at Cale & Cole are $29 for the small and $52 for the large. They come in a variety of colors and scents.
Happy May to everyone, which here in Louisville, is the best month of the year!
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