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Our Mother's Day 2024 Gift Guide!
“Mother is a verb. It’s something you do. Not just who you are.”
Mother's Day is almost here! It can be difficult to find unique and thoughtful Mother's Day gifts that express the love you have for your mom, grandmother, or mother-figures - but at Jo Anne's Place, it's simple! From allergy-friendly chocolates to self-care essentials, we have so many options to choose from. Plus, many of our products are locally made, Canadian-made, AND will help the special people in your life feel their best.
Motherhood is how our company began. Our founder, Jo Anne, recognized that her children were experiencing food allergies and other health challenges but had few options available in rural Lindsay, Ontario.
Over the years, Jo Anne’s daughter Margo was by her side, sharing in this journey of expanding her vision of creating a healthy community. Working alongside her mother, Margo learned the in’s and out’s of running a business, following the ever changing trends and experiencing first-hand the benefits of healthy living as she raised her own two daughters. Margo and her husband Paul are the now-owners of Jo Anne’s Place, committed to continuing with Jo Anne’s vision while evolving to meet the needs of the community.
With many staff who are mothers themselves, we can offer experiences and recommendations of products that are loved at Jo Anne’s Place. They say it takes a community to raise a child, we have seen the positive effects within our Jo Anne’s Place community. We celebrate the successes and offer support during the rough times, and we are proud to have multiple generations of families shopping and working at Jo Anne’s Place.
Gifts for Self-Care & Relaxation
For the special women in your life that need some relaxation and me-time, here are some amazing gift options:
- You can't go wrong with a nice candle or two. We have beautiful natural candle options including BeeGlo 100% Beeswax candles, La Luna Soy & Coconut Wax candles, and Ontario-made (Hamilton) Wax & Fire Co Soy candles made with essential oils!
- Is your Mom a skincare aficionado? We have tons of natural, Organic, and clinically-proven cosmetics available from brands like Three Ships (their new Eye Cream is incredible), Andalou naturals, St. Anne's Spa, AnneMarie Borlind, and more! We also have body care like Weleda Ultra-Rich Cream, Miracle Balm made with propolis, and many other options!
- Does anything say self-care more than a relaxing bath? Grab your Mom some bath essentials like Magnesium Bath Flakes, Epsom Salts, Handmade Natural Bath Bombs, Konjac Towels for exfoliating, and more!
- Our new line of Essential Oils, made right here in Peterborough, make amazing gifts and are available in so many wonderful variations and seasonal blends. Check out our essential oil guide to find an oil that best suits your mom! Plus, we have essential oil diffusers in-store.
Gifts for the Mom-to-be or New Mom
If you have a partner who is expecting or are shopping for a new mom, here are some ideas:
- Earth Mama has great products for soothing prenatal and postpartum discomfort "down there", such as their Herbal Sitz Bath and Herbal Perineal Spray - both made with Organic and natural ingredients!
- Attitude also has amazing maternity products. Their Blooming Belly Stretch Mark Prevention Oil and Nursing Balm are vegan, plastic-free, and 100% naturally sourced to help soothe skin irritations and improve elasticity.
- Cheeks Ahoy Nursing Pads are locally handmade in Peterborough and are super soft and comfortable to nursing mamas! They are a great eco-friendly reusable option with 4 layers of protection.
- Stress and fatigue often come with a baby, so gift your loved one a calming cup of tea. Choose from Traditional Medicinal's Cup of Calm, Lake & Oak's Ashwagandha & Chill, and many more!
- Substance Belly Jelly with Shea Butter, Oats, and Lavender helps pregnant Moms keep their bellies hydrated to minimize stretch marks!
Sustainable Gifts
Gifting sustainably is easy at Jo Anne's Place. Whether you yourself follow sustainable living principles or are gift-hunting for someone who does, here are some ideas:
- Sustainable self-care products like Charcoal & Rose Petals bar soaps with zero packaging, Routine natural deodorants which come in reusable glass jars, and Bee Glo Beeswax candles which contain no toxins, don't release soot, and cleanse the air! An Urban Spa pumice stone is also a great option - made of natural volcanic rock, it's eco-friendly and long-lasting.
- For a sustainable homeowner or cook, gift some sustainable kitchen essentials like Ten & Co's tea towel and sponge cloth gift set (fully compostable), Cheeks Ahoy's Organic Cotton Muslin Kitchen Towel (or really any Cheeks Ahoy products), and Colibri reusable snack pouches perfect for food and non-food items. We also love abeego Reusable Beeswax Food Wraps!
- For sustainable food and drinks, we have RISE Kombucha (in many flavours), which comes in a glass reusable bottle and is Canadian. Chocosol Stone Ground Dark Chocolate is ethically farmed (they pay above Fair Trade standards) and sustainably packaged with paper and compostable materials in Toronto with delicious flavours!
- For the sustainable coffee & tea drinking Moms, Level Ground Direct Fair Trade loose leaf tea and a metal tea infuser is a great gift combo. Café William is a Canadian company that makes Organic and Direct Fair Trade coffee packaged in bags made from recycled material!
- For the Moms who love gardening, we have a wide selection of GAIA Organic and Kitchen Table Seed House seeds for flowers, fruits, veggies, and herbs! We also have Sprouting Jars and kits.
- Why not put your Mom's gifts in an Alaffia Fair Trade African Handwoven Grass Basket? Created in in Bolgatanga, Ghana in 12 villages with more than 5,000 women basket weavers, the Alaffia weavers work independently in a creative process. Members of Alaffia basket cooperatives receive fair wages and health care for their families in return for indigenous skills and knowledge. This exchange empowers West African communities and preserves cultural heritage. Each basket is completely unique and the leather tag inside is personally signed by a weaver. Made with wild-harvested Savannah grass.
Sweet Treats for Mom
It's not Mother's Day without some sweet treats. If you're looking for healthier, allergy-friendly, vegan, and gluten-free sweets - we've got you:
- MadeGood's Sweet Cinnamon cookies are DELICIOUS and keep you going back for more. With just the right balance of sugar and cinnamon spice, they're nut-free, gluten-free, vegan, and organic!
- Aēlo Non Alcoholic Mocktails are a sweet gift for mom and come in refreshing Lime Margarita, Aperirivo Spritz, and Peach Bellini flavours. You also can't go wrong with Flow Alkaline Spring Waters - they're ultra hydrating and come in many yummy organic flavours like blueberry peach.
- Smart Sweets & Better Bears are naturally flavoured candies with only 3g of sugar and plant-based with no sugar alcohols added.
- Looking for a cake to celebrate? Susie Sans Gluten's Oreo Chocolate Cake is a delicious option! Or if you're looking for some smaller baked goods, try Konscious Kitchen - they're a huge staff favourite with tons of Paleo, Vegan, and Gluten Free goodies like pistachio bards, carrot cake, muffins, and more!
- Green Sun's Brand New Dark Chocolate covered fruits & nuts are a great healthier (& vegan) option for Mom, available in pineapple, brazil nuts, goldenberries, cranberries, and more.
Other Unique Gift Options
- Did you know that our long-time Lindsay Team Member, Allison, makes adorable greeting cards? Find them for all different occasions (including Mother's Day) at both our Peterborough and Lindsay locations!
- Find tons of other thoughtful and unique gift options in our stores such as:
- Gemstone Bracelets
- Women's Supplements
- Organic Snacks
- Toxin-free nail polish
- Natural shampoo, conditioner, and other haircare products
- Mushroom Hot Chocolate and Coffees, Green powders, and other functional drinks
- Locally made eco-friendly body care like soap bars
- and more!
Be sure to stop by a Jo Anne's Place location to browse our Mother's Day displays and wide selection of gift options! See store hours here.
Celebrate the luck of the Irish with these festive, healthier St. Patrick's Day recipes! We've added some brand new recipes to the list for 2025 - Slainte!
Who run the world? Girls! March is Women's History Month, and March 8th is International Women’s Day. What better time than this to lift up the women around us! Because of the entrepreneurial courage of our founder Jo Anne & the continued efforts of our now owners & team (which is over 80% women), we have been serving Peterborough & The Kawarthas for almost 50 years! We are thankful not only for the amazing women in our team, but for the meaningful connections we have made with so many inspiring women in our community. It is important to us to continue fostering an environment where women feel safe, supported & inspired. We are excited to look to the future and continue to evolve to meet the needs of our community.
Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to indulge in something sweet, and this Avocado Chocolate Mousse is a rich, creamy, and guilt-free way to do it! Made with wholesome ingredients and naturally sweetened, this luscious dessert is vegan, gluten-free, and packed with healthy fats —so you can treat yourself (or someone special) without compromise. Whether you’re celebrating with a loved one or enjoying a little self-care, this silky-smooth mousse is sure to satisfy your chocolate cravings. Plus, it’s quick and easy to make , leaving you more time to savour the moment. Makes about 4 servings.
Why Buy Canadian? While tariff's have been paused for the time being, we still think it is a great time to highlight some of the amazing Canadian products in our store and talk about some of the benefits they have over American items.
Spicy Coconut Vegetable Stir F ry
Struggling to find unique Valentine's Day gifts?
Your body is home to trillions of microorganisms that play a vital role in your overall health. These tiny communities—your microbiome—exist in different areas, including your gut, mouth, lungs, skin, and, for women, the vaginal flora. When balanced, it supports digestion, immunity, and even mood regulation. But when disrupted by factors like poor diet, stress, or environmental factors, it can contribute to a range of health issues. In this blog post, we’ll explore how to nourish and support these essential microbiomes to help you feel your best from the inside out. And we'll discuss how they're all interconnected.
Keep scrolling for some fun, festive, and functional Valentine's Day drinks!
What is Chrononutrition? Chrononutrition is the science of how food, metabolism, meal timing, and your body clock interact. More research is currently needed, but for now, scientists are trying to understand how your body responds to food at different times of the day. They are interested in whether these factors influence metabolic health and the risk of developing obesity and type 2 diabetes. How it effects your body We usually eat our largest meal toward the end of the day. So, chrononutrition researchers are trying to understand whether it's better to eat earlier in the day or later at night. In one study , a group of scientists followed 420 people on a 20-week weight-loss plan. The researchers split the groups into those who ate their main meal earlier and those who ate it later. They found that participants who ate their main meal earlier in the day lost more weight than the late eaters, even though both groups consumed similar amounts of food. Blood Sugar Levels When your body breaks down a meal, sugars enter your blood as glucose. Your body responds to this rise in blood sugar by releasing insulin. Scientists have shown that our body’s ability to control blood sugar varies across the day. On average, blood glucose responses appear to be better in the morning than in the afternoon . Fat Like glucose levels, after eating, levels of fat in the blood rise. However, they rise and fall much slower than blood glucose, taking hours to return to normal. Evidence suggests that our blood fat levels also change throughout the day. For instance, a study on healthy men found that their blood fat levels were higher after lunch than after breakfast — even though the two meals were identical. Avoid Late-Night Meals Avoiding late-night meals is an important part of chrononutrition. The body has a hormonal response any time you eat anything. If you eat late at night, when you're not using much energy, you'll increase your hunger and appetite. What’s more, late-night eating is linked to impaired metabolic function. In the evening, blood glucose levels are high and since you're not moving around as much, it stays that way. By eating during the day time, you can lower nighttime blood sugar levels. How to Get Your Eating Schedule on Track It can be hard to avoid a late-night meal, but if you're snacking before bed or eating late, it will impact your health. Luckily, it's easy to get yourself back on track. First things first, you should be practicing a healthy sleep cycle and try to go to bed at the same time everyday, since your eating habits often revolve around that. Try to make a schedule for mealtimes and stick to it. Try to eat breakfast later in the morning and have dinner earlier, if possible. If you sleep from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., have breakfast an hour after waking—sometime between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m.. If you have to eat later than usual, try to make it healthy. High carbohydrate and fatty foods are not ideal for late-night meals so try to go for protein if you can. Conclusion The time of day that you eat has an impact on your health, but as long as you maintain a strict meal schedule and avoid eating at night you should be fine. If you do need to eat later than usual, try to make sure it's a healthy snack. It doesn't take a lot of work, just perseverance to stick to your schedule. By maintaining a consistent meal routine and making healthier choices, you'll be setting yourself up for better health and well-being. Keep at it, and your body will thank you!
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