Yep it’s almost here, MOTHER’S DAY! And you gotta have a gift. This last Christmas I put together a couple of last minute round ups of stocking stuffers that could all be ordered on Amazon Prime. A lot of you found that post super helpful, so I put one together a list of last minute gift ideas for Mother’s Day as well. So, there is no need the wander the halls of the mall in panic to search for a great gift for the moms in your life. All the items I have sourced here can be on your door step in just 2 days!

This is a little bit of a random list of gifts, but it’s things I would actually like to receive or things that I really would give to my mom or mother in law.

1 // 2 // 3

4 // 5 // 6

7 // 8 // 9

10 // 11 // 12

So, have you bought your mom something or is there something here that you would love to receive Sunday morning?

**This post contains affiliate links to Amazon.

Don’t worry, I am fully aware that I am by far the furthest thing from a beauty blogger. But, in the last year I have been trying to move towards “cleaner” beauty products, especially the things I put on my face. I know that I love getting recommendations from my friends, sister-in-laws and other bloggers for products that work well and are not full of a tone of unknown chemicals. So, I thought I’d share what I’m using everyday on my face with you. And in true O+P fashion, all of these products are at a very affordable price point, it’s just how I roll.

Now, I know that these products aren’t all 100% perfectly clean or organic, but they are very close. I’m working towards finding the best things for my skin.

These are all the none-make-up things I use on my face. If you like this post, I’ll put together another post with my make-up favorites.

Here’s what I’m using daily:

• ALMAY Eye Makeup Remover Pads – I have used these pads for at least 8 years, nothing takes off mascara like these little ALMAY pads. I love that they save your facecloths from makeup stains. These pads are also oily, which I see as a benefit for my eye area. Any extra moisture I can give my eye wrinkles feels like a good thing.
• Rocky Mountain Soap Co. Fennel + Charcoal Soap – First things first, a clean face it #1. I love so many of Rocky Mountain’s products, but this soap is simple, inexpensive and makes my skin feel squeaky clean.
• Thayers Witch Havel Toner – I use this toner morning and night! The Lavender is my favorite. This toner is alcohol-free and never dries out my face. It leaves my skin feeling fresh and revitalized.
• Trader Joe’s 100% Organic Argan Oil – This product is a new discovery and I love it! And yes, it’s a Trader Joe’s product! I use it on my face and hands almost every night.
• Botanics Facial Oil -This might be my number one favorite product in the bunch. I use it every morning before any makeup. I’m huge face oil fan! When I first heard about it, I was sure it would leave my face oily and prone to breakouts. But, now I can’t see how my face would survive without it now. Good face oils are clean and absorb into your skin unlike any lotion or cream.
• Botanics All Bright Night Cream – This is a new addition to my routine. When I turned 40 last year, there was definitely some panic and lots of night creams were tested out. This one is winning right now. It smells great and the price point is totally affordable.
• Fresh Sugar Sport Sunscreen SPF 30 – This is a wonder stick! I use it on my lips everyday, but it also can be used all over your face and eye area as a sport-proof sunscreen. And in Fresh product style is spells fantastic!
• Bare Minerals Prime Time – This is the most make-up-like product on my list. But, I do wear this daily. I’m always looking for ways to add one more layer of sun protection to my face. So, this primer goes on whether I am wearing make-up or not that day.

Do you have any clean beauty products that you would recommend? I’d love to hear your suggestions.

I know this is a departure from my regular content, but is this interesting or helpful to any of you? I love having your input and feedback.

I teamed up with a few of my favorite companies to send out some treats to some of my favorite bloggers. This job I have can be lonely at times, but I am so grateful for the women that support, encourage and inspire me across the internet.

I’m also so grateful for my faithful readers. Ya, that’s you! Without you, there would be no O+P. Thank you for following along on this little blogging journey of mine. I can’t send everyone a gift box. But, I do want to giveaway one box full of all these very fun treats. You can enter on Instagram. Simply go to the post that shows all these treats, tag a friend, and make sure you follow Oleander + Palm on Instagram. I’m only going to run this giveaway till Friday morning so that I can get this in the mail and shipped before Christmas. So, head over there now to enter! And again, thanks for making this job possible for me.

Now, let’s talk about the fun treats in the box. First of all, there is a gorgeous Fossil Hyrbrid watch. It has a gorgeous rose gold face and a tan leather strap. This is more then just a pretty face, it connect to your phone to give you notifications for social media, you can take pictures, it can track you sleep, and so much more. This is a watch you will be wearing for years to come.

If you have followed me for a while now, you will know that I am obsessed with Black Bird incense cones, especially TENOVERSIX! I try to limit myself to burning just one a day, but they smell just so darn good.

Dick Taylor Craft Chocolate is probably the both the prettiest and yummiest chocolate you will ever have! Their shop is located in Eureka, CA (where my parents live), so I always stop in for a bar or two, when I’m in town.

I’m all about a good smell. And I recently discovered Slow North this year. These candles are divine and they have the best smell combinations. They are bright, fresh and burn so clean (oh, and they are pretty candles, they come in lovely glass jars with cork tops and these cute little brass tins).

And last, but definitely not least, the cutest “HERS” key chain from Schoolhouse Electric & Supply Company. If I was to pick one store that represents my style most closely, I would have to say Schoolhouse. You guys, when there catalogues come in the mail, I study every inch of every page. They make and sell the most beautiful things.

Ok, that’s enough chit chatting, now head over to Instagram and enter!

This post is sponsored by Pier 1 Imports, thank you for supporting the companies that help make this blog possible. 

It is the season for parties and get-togethers. I hate to come to a party empty-handed. I know how much work goes into having guests over and entertaining. Bringing a little gift is always a nice gesture. I often like to make a homemade gift, but lately I feel like there just isn’t time in the day. In this busy time of year, it’s nice to find some short cuts.

One trip to Pier 1 Impors, and I have four delightful gifts that I think any host or hostess would love to receive. If you haven’t been to Pier 1 Imports lately, you need to go, (or visit their website). It’s so packed with Christmas and Holiday treasures. And not only did I find pretty gifts, but I also found wrapping paper, glittery gift bags + boxes, ribbon, bells, and bows.

These JOY mercury glass votives were the first thing to catch my eye. Paired with Snowy Birch scented tea light candles, these really can go with anyone’s decor, that’s the beauty of the white and metallics. I wrapped both of these packages in Pier 1 Import’s gorgeous birch bark wrapping paper and then added a couple jingle bells to the top of the package. I have a feeling most of my gifts will be wrapped in this pretty paper this year.

This is the easiest, grab and go gift ever. These Holiday Forest jar candles smell of freshly cut fir trees.

Already festive with their green glass, I simply added a white and gold looped bow and this gift was ready to go. These would also be fantastic gifts for teachers, mail delivers, or maybe your favorite barista.

If you are headed to a house party, chances are the host or hostess likes to throw a party. So, this pretty Christmas platter paired with a set of marble handled cheese knives will definitely be put to use.

I wrapped the cheese knives with metallic silver tissue paper and then tied a ribbon around both the platter and the box and topped the gift with a sprig of Pier 1 Import’s faux greenery. I love these pretty branches, they are very life-like and I divided them up and added them to vases around my house and saved smaller pieces to tying to the top of gifts.

I’m sure you a sensing a them here, but candles really are such a great gift. I really don’t know anyone who doesn’t love them. This Snowy Birch 3-wick candle is the most pleasant, light scent, that I think everyone will enjoy. It’s a nice generous candle with three wicks. It’s shiny iridescent white glass container shines without even lighting the candle.

For the easiest wrapping job ever, I simply topped this candle with a pretty platinum boxwood leaf napkin ring.

I hope this is helpful. I am all stocked up. I have pretty candles, votives and platters all ready to be gifted. And these gifts didn’t break the bank, but I really feel like I have something special to give.

Well, this week definitely felt like the end of Summer. After being on the road the last couple of weeks, I hit the ground running and worked a jam packed week. It feels good to get stuff done and put out some new content. Today we are going to try REALLY hard to finally finish the painting in the hallway and stairway. We started the week with a good 2 1/2 days of wallpaper scraping. But, I’m so happy to see the yellow stripes GONE. You can follow along on Instagram stories for all the riveting wallpaper removal and painting posts.

This is our last weekend of the Summer. So, we feel like we need to get ALL THE PROJECTS done! I’m kind of mourning the end of Summer, I don’t think I’m ready for all the hustle and bustle of getting three kids off to school. But, maybe a little routine will feel good.

Wildflowers in Glacier National Park

Here’s a few things I think you should check out:

• The last days of Summer should involve trips to the pool and lots of watermelon, especially these Chili Lime and Sea Salt Watermelon Pops.
• And this Summer playlist will be on repeat.
• We installed this AC unit in the guesthouse yesterday and now the room is perfectly chilly. The old unit just couldn’t keep up.
• Since there isn’t a H&M Home store near me, I’m going to have to do some online shopping. There are some great pics in this round up post. If you’ve never checked out their home line, be prepared to want all the things.
• I’m still only drinking iced coffee, and this Mint Mojito Iced Coffee is the only way to go.
• I want to spray all the things! Just look at how cool this dish looks!
• If you are looking to keep those Summer vibes alive in your home, may I suggest a cool, airy Rattan Chair.

Happy Friday, hope you all have a great weekend. Soak in all the Summer you can friends.

Cactus Pool Float

Well, Summer is here in California. Yesterday we hit 95 F and today is supposed to be triple digits. So, shorts and sandals are definitely out and the thought of putting on a swim suit in public has been giving me hives. I was I’ve kind of been in an exercise rut. To change things up a bit, I’ve been swimming laps at our local community pool. The gym definitely wasn’t fun and running was really bothering my joints. I love swimming and kind of forgot that I did. Now, I look forward to my workouts. Imagine that!  Lonnie has even been getting up with me a few mornings a week and we’ve been swimming at 5:30 am together. I’m about 3 weeks in and I feel like I’m getting a great workout and my joints aren’t complaining at all.

The only downside is the sun and water draining all the moisture out of my hair and skin. So, I’ve had to up my skin and hair routine. I’ve found a few things that are really helping, so I thought I’d share some of my favorites for Summer Swim + Sun Skin Savers.  I’m definitely not a beauty blogger, just a real person with fair, sensitive, and kind of old-ladyish skin. And in true O+P style, these products are all very easy on the budget and almost all of them can be found at Target (because you know that’s the only place I go).

1. Conditioning Hair Mask – Not only is the packaging pretty, this hair mask smells so good. I use it at least once a week to help with the pool hair situation.
2. Body Scrub – If you want to feel as soft as a baby’s bottom, definitely use this all over your body.
3. Facial Oil – Summer of the Girls with Glasses introduced me to this. I don’t ever use lotion now. I LOVE this oil so much.
4. Foot Mask – My sister in law gave me one of these for Christmas and oh my do they work well. I live in my Birkenstocks and flip-flops – so dry heals happen. You won’t believe how great your feet look and feel after using this mask.
5. SPF Lip Balm – Definitely a winner and so many great flavors.
6. Body Brush – Exfoliate exfoliate exfoliate!!!! It’s the name of the game when you are dealing with dry skin. I use a soft brush like this in the shower almost daily to help get rid of dead skin.
7. Body Oil – I just started using this last week and I love it! I have very dry skin and I spray this all over my body when I get out of the shower. It smells sweet and soft and doesn’t compete with my perfume. And it moisturizes so much better then just lotion.
8. Oil Free Sunscreen – This is my go-to! As a redhead, I’ve tried all the suncreens, believe me. Hawaiian Tropics is oil free and doesn’t feel plastered on and sticky. I even wear this on my face and my very sensitive skin loves it. It also smells the way Summer should smell – a hint of coconut.

Do you have any go-to skin and hair products that I should be trying? I love a good “real person” recommendation.

This post contains affiliate links, but these really are all great products that I 100% use and recommend.