Mother's Day Guide - Part 1

Joseph Schmidt Confections
This tale of confectionary delight began in a small shop in 1983 in San Francisco. Joseph Schmidt, who is a European-trained baker, got together with his partner, a European-trained confectioner, and together they opened their first store.

Twenty-four years later, Joseph Schmidt Confections Inc. prides itself on supplying luscious chocolates to the masses. Their Spring 2007 Collection has designer truffles and one-of-a-kind chocolate sculptures that will take your breath away. The collection includes Belgian chocolate filled with flavors of the season such as strawberry, tangerine and lemon. Each confection is packaged in a handmade box or basket with designs reflecting spring and Mother's Day. Collections that are available include:

Flower Fresco Box with 25 mini truffles: The package is adorned with a floral design and contains five flavors of spring mini truffles including Milk Strawberry, Dark Tangerine, All Milk, All Dark and Champagne. The price is $38.00.

There are also Spring Card Boxes. These vividly boxed confections seize one's attention and are filled with eight mini-truffles.

"My Spring Collection captures the joy of the season. The fanciful designs and refreshing new flavors are a treat to the senses," said Joseph Schmidt, Master Chocolatier. Joseph Schmidt's Spring 2007 Collection is available nationwide at Joseph Schmidt Confections boutiques, Macy's, Neiman Marcus and online at www.jsc.com.

Farm Fresh Foot Scrub
Do you suffer from dry, cracked feet? Do you long to have soft, touchable skin? Then, "Farm Fresh Foot Scrub" is the answer for you.

With sandal season fast approaching, "Farm Fresh Foot Scrub" comes in three distinctive scents. The quintessential gift for Mother's Day, "Farm Fresh Foot Scrub" is formulated around one key ingredient: rice bran oil. Long used in Japan and parts of Asia, this non-sensitizing rice bran oil is lightweight, non-greasy, and contains high amounts of Vitamin A as well as other skin antioxidants that deliver exceptional moisture to skin.

"In formulating these scrubs, I wanted to combine the richest, softest skin care experience possible with the delicious organic fragrances I remember from my childhood visits to my friend's family farm," said Shannon McLinden, founder of SummerSoles.com. "This is why I combined the finest grain, fresh sea salts and the rice bran oil with ripe fragrances that embody homegrown goodness. The result is a silky feel to your skin that is immediate and long lasting."

The "Farm Fresh Foot Scrub" trio set arrives in a chest-like box that contains three 6-oz. vintage-inspired covered jelly jars with attractive jar toppers and a wooden spoon for scooping out the three refreshing scents such as Early Apple, Sweet Cream and Whipped Honey.

McLinden explains that the "Farm Fresh Foot Scrub" isn't just for feet. "Although developed for feet, these exfoliating, nourishing scrubs are also great for hands, elbows and knees." After testing on women, the products were given to men and some of them admitted to keeping a jar next to their sink for daily use. McLinden then added, "With these unique scrubs, you'll both want to cuddle up feet first."

LightWedge Mini
Do you like to read in bed? Have you looked high and low for a book light that doesn't shine so bright that it will wake your partner while they are sleeping? If so, then the LightWedge line of products is what you have been searching for.

LightWedge are energy efficient, cool-burning LEDs and what makes these products different from the rest is the patented LightWedge technology which directs all of the light down onto the page, NOT into the room, so you can read in bed and not worry about disturbing your partner. It's ideal for reading on a plane or even in the car.

The LightWedge comes in several styles like the LightWedge Original and LightWedge Paperback. There is even a LightWedge Mini which is perfect for travel and can fit conveniently in your purse. Its discreet light makes it perfect to use to read menus in dimly lit restaurants and even your program during a Broadway show. It even has the LightWedge Lens, a built-in 1.5x magnifying bar, great for reading small print and for those with less than perfect eyesight. To top it off, it comes in a sleek carrying case.

LightWedge products are sold in stores such as Barnes & Noble, Borders, Books-A-Million, Amazon.com, Staples and Office Depot.

Tuff Chix
Star of ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Paige Hemmis has the quintessential Mother's Day gift for those mothers who like to "do-it-themselves."

There is the Tuff Chix Guide To Easy Home Improvement and the Tuff Chix Pink Tool Belt. You can purchase it in Pleather with a personalized autograph by Paige, or in canvas with the autograph as well.

Keep in mind a portion of the profits go toward Habitat for Humanity.

Nova Skin Care
Are you in search of a skin care regiment that will slow the effects of aging, such as fine lines, wrinkles and age spots?? Well, look no further than Valcent Product's Nova Skin Care System.

This system includes a teardrop shaped applicator for targeting those hard to reach areas around the nose and eyes. It also features the patented drive system that surrounds the motor with powerful, rare Earth magnets. Also included are triangular shaped microfiber parts that have exceptionally fine and absorbent microfibers that can penetrate skin pores. In addition, a foaming deep cleanser is also included as well as an exfoliater and a deep-penetrating moisturizer which comes with step-by-step instructions.

MIO Watches
Are you in the market for an exceptional exercise watch that goes above and beyond what other exercise watches do? Then, a MIO watch is just for you.

MIO watches are the first to monitor heart rates, calorie intake and burn without a confining chest strap. MIO reads your heart rate through sensors on the front and back of the watch. All you have to do is place your index and middle fingers on the sensors located on the face of the watch.

MIO watches can help dieters count calories and manage their weight. Several models can be programmed with your personal statistics so you can calculate how many calories you take in and how many you burn during exercise. MIO is so efficient that it will notify you when you have reached your calorie goal for the day.

MIO watch models include the MioPink, which is a spin-off of the original MIO, featuring interchangeable pink watchstraps.

They are also available at Costco stores nationwide and at Amazon.com where 10 percent of the retail price will be donated to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

Grandparentgiftcompany.com
Formed in the mid-1990s, founder Teri Harrison began the Grandparent Gift Company with her first poem, "Grandma's Heart," and the sentiments and tears drawn from that poem inspired her to create more touching poems and gifts to warm the hearts of other grandmothers and relatives.

All of the poems and sentiments at grandparentgiftcompany.com were written by Harrison. Gifts available on the site include autograph frames, brag books, gift books, greeting cards, Handprint/Footprint products, keepsake boxes, ornaments, personalized gifts, religious gifts and ultrasound gifts.

In addition, the site also offers gifts for new mothers, parents, friends and family, as well as holiday goodies such as ornaments and even gifts for occasions such as anniversaries, weddings, and sympathy gifts.

PCA Skin Products
PCA Skin products have a variety of home care products such as cleansers, moisturizers, toners, topicals, masks and exfoliants, as well as professional facial treatment options such as body and facial peels, salicylic acid oxygenating & detoxifying and Retinol treatments that people with any skin type and condition can use. If you are battling acne, rosacea, sun damage or age, PCA's products are formulated with the most technically advanced ingredients to fend off skin's challenges and give one's complexion a glowing radiance.

PCA even offers products for men such as the Total Wash Face & Body Cleanser, Total Strength Line & Pore Minimizer and the Total Defense Calming Hydrator SPF 25.

Claire Burke Products
Do you like your home to smell of sweet fragrances the minute you walk in the door? Then, the array of Claire Burke products and Vitabath are just up your alley.

Claire Burke home fragrances are available for sale at fine retailers across the country and the Claire Burke line of potpourri, candles, refresher oils, diffusers and specialty items will soothe your soul.

There is the Original, and fragrances added since include Applejack & Peel, Simply Jasmine, Citrus Blush, Wisteria Sheer Vanilla and Mocha Silk. These products and scents are continuously updated to maintain a contemporary and stylish design to any d?cor. The latest fragrances that were released are White Lavender in February and The Sea in April.

Established in 1967 and formulated by European skin care specialists with a unique blend of vitamins and moisturizing elements, its first creation was Vitabath bath and shower gel?e. The Moisturizing Bath and Shower Gel?e is the company's signature product and is recognized as the gold standard in bath and body care.

Vitabath is offered in a variety of scrumptious scents such as the Original Spring Green, and updated fragrances such as Fresh Citrus Twist, Spa Skin Therapy and Plus for Dry skin. Each combines botanicals and minerals to create a spa-like experience.

ThinkProducts
Do you yearn to eat healthy on the go?? Then, ThinkProducts natural nutrition bar is for you.

In honor of Mother's Day 2007, ThinkProducts is introducing the new ThinkThin Pink bar. A portion of the bar's proceeds will benefit the Susan G. Komen for the cure. The bar is wrapped in breast cancer awareness pink and available for $1.69 at your local grocery, drug and health food stores. "I wholeheartedly believe in the functional power of pure natural foods," said ThinkProducts CEO Lizanne Falsetto. She added, "My personal family experience with cancer which we treated with natural methodology proved to me the viable connection between food and health."

ThinkThin Pink comes in two delicious flavors: White Chocolate Raspberry and Peanut Butter Caramel. Every bar has 20 grams of protein, all natural ingredients, is sugar and gluten free and has only two net effective carbs.