southern giftologist

Hello, July - how did you sneak up on us so quickly?! 'Tis the season for beach trips, girlfriend getaways, bachelorette weekends and weddings, so today I'm sharing a gift idea that can be customized and used for your gal pals for any occasion!

The base of your gift would be a fun cosmetic or make-up bag - then you can fill it up with general necessities (such as mine above) or make it more focused to a particular theme: makeup, hair, nails, luxe toiletries - be creative! The possibilities are endless! The best part is you can go as low-end or high-end as you like to fit your budget.

Happy Summer and Happy Gifting!

What's in my bag, above: Essie nail polish, Herbivore Botanicals body oil and after sun spray, gum, face blotting papers, fun keychain, designer bandages, blister bandages, pill case (with Tylenol and Advil), Emi-Jay hair ties, mineral water face spray (great to keep in your cooler by the pool or beach), Scout cosmetic bag, rollerball perfume, Nash+Jones natural lip balm and Marvis toothpaste.

Have you seen the calendar? Mother's Day is May 8th! My dear grandmother used to wear a "mother's ring", as we called it, with a birthstone for each of her 7 - yes 7! - children. I remember, as a child of the 80s, birthstone jewelry took up pages and pages in the JC Penney and Service Merchandise catalogs (yes, I just dated myself). Maybe times have changed or maybe I'm way out of touch (or possibly a little of both), but birthstone gifts don't seem to be quite as common as they once were. However, as we look ahead to Mother's Day (or any special birthday) let's look at two local artisans who offer a modern twist on birthstone jewelry.

I first saw Dear Mushka's work at last year's Made South Market and love her simple, yet beautiful designs. These beautiful gemstones are candy for the eyes! Create a set for Mom or treat your best friend, sister or daughter to a special piece or one of the other fabulous pieces available on her website.

Birthstone bracelet, earrings and necklace from Dear Mushka. Image Dear Mushka. — Birthstone bracelet, earrings and necklace from Dear Mushka. Image Dear Mushka.

Another Nashville artisan that I've had my eye on for a while is m.florita. While her Nashville-pride jewelry is what I typically see on my social media feeds and around town, I recently caught sight of her gemstone pieces and think they also deserve a place in the spotlight! The bracelet below reminds me of a current-day mother's ring...but in bracelet form. I think my Granny would have approved. This piece and several other gemstone items can be found on her website or at her shop in the Arcade in Nashville.

Hammered bangle & gemstone bracelet by m.florita. Image m.florita.

While we've focused mostly on these gifts for Mother's Day, we can't overlook the upcoming wedding season! The above pieces (and many others from Dear Mushka and m.florita) would make beautiful options for bridesmaid gifts as well.

Happy gifting!