Little Bea Red Star Fletcher Packs a Big Laugh

Cortney Clift
Oct 01, 2018

Little Bea Red Star Fletcher Packs a Big Laugh

Podcast aficionados and fans of comedy may already know Bea Red Star Fletcher. The pint-sized podcaster is the host of Bea’s Big Laughs, a show where the 10-year-old interviews her comedy heroes — almost all of whom are women.

Inspired by her mother, Wendy Red Star, an outspoken indigenous artist and feminist with whom Red Star Fletcher regularly collaborates, and her father, Harrell Fletcher, an interdisciplinary artist, Red Star Fletcher uses her comedy podcast as well as her art to explore everything she loves: Aikido, horseback riding, books about girls, and fashion.

Since starting Bea’s Big Laughs at age eight, Red Star Fletcher has interviewed Carrie Brownstein, D’arcy Carden, Abbi Jacobson Fred Armisen, and “Weird” Al Yankovic, among others. Here, we talk with the comedian about collaborating with her parents, interviewing her heroes, and how she hopes to change the world.

B+C: How did your podcast Bea’s Big Laughs come to be?

Red Star Fletcher: When I was around seven years old, I became really interested in comedy and started researching it. When I was about eight years old, my dad and I came up with the idea for the podcast. Then, last year, I had my first interview with Carrie Brownstein. I try to interview all female comedians, but sometimes I will interview a male comedian just because I get the opportunity, like Fred Armisen and Weird Al Yankovic. The big idea of my podcast is that I really want to inspire other girls to make their own platform to do stuff, like have a podcast or do art or all sorts of stuff.

B+C: What do you usually do to prepare for an upcoming podcast episode?

Red Star Fletcher: I usually watch a lot of [the comedian’s] material, read their Wikipedia page, and I always have to write some questions, because if I don’t have them it’s harder to go off anywhere. I usually also do some improv stuff, but I definitely research as much as I can about them. I keep a notebook for all of my questions and try to get their autographs and pictures after each one.

B+C: What are some of your favorite interview questions that you’ve come up with?

Red Star Fletcher: Well, the most classic question that I’ve used is definitely, “What’s your favorite flavor of gelato?” I think it’s a nice way to lighten up the podcast and then move into more intense questions about their careers and stuff like that.

B+C: Do you have a favorite guest so far?

Red Star Fletcher: Probably D’Arcy Carden, because I think we really connected. There was a very funny moment where I told her something about Siri and then we pulled out her phone and tried it. I thought that was very funny. Also, I think I like that one because a lot of my friends listen to my podcast and they all say that one was their favorite.

B+C: Why do you want to focus on talking to mostly female comedians?

Red Star Fletcher: I feel that women don’t really get to be out there with their careers and stuff like that. When you think of a career, you usually think of a career that is more man-oriented, like a fireman or a policeman. But there are a lot of amazing female comedians, and I want to shine a light on that because women really have a big role in our society, even though it’s hard to notice sometimes.

B+C: You and your mom have worked together on multiple art projects. What do you like about working with her?

Red Star Fletcher: I feel like it’s really great to work with my mother because we have more than just the bond of two people who are collaborating. We also have a mother-and-daughter bond. I think that really helps our artwork and makes it better. One thing she’s taught me is to never overthink things. Because if you get stressed out, it’s not going to be the best thing you can make because you were thinking about it too much.

B+C: You also collaborate with your dad on art projects. How is it different collaborating with your mom as opposed to with your dad?

Red Star Fletcher: The difference is probably the work topics. Me and my mother do most projects about us being female and Native Americans. With my dad, he’s the co-founder of this thing called “social practice.” How do I describe it? It’s where you make art, but it has more of a social aspect. We usually do more social practice-themed things.

B+C: Do you feel like people underestimate you because of your age?

Red Star Fletcher: Yeah, I actually deal with that a lot. When I’m collaborating with my mom, some people think that I’m her assistant or something. And also, it seems like since I’m a kid, I would know less because I haven’t been on the world long enough or something like that. Once I hear that it always drives me to do more so that I can prove them wrong. I usually actually take it as a goal, or I just don’t even think about it because it happens so often and it’s not worth my time, right?

B+C: Do you have a dream art exhibit that you’d like to create?

Red Star Fletcher: I really love cooking and I’m interested in creating sculptures made out of cake. I’d want to make one that everyone could eat. People would come and eat a certain amount of it. It’d have to be a big cake. I think that would be really cool because that cake would get to have more meaning — maybe it’s about how people are eating up the media or something like that, and it would be decorated like a media-themed cake.

B+C: What flavor cake would it be?

Red Star Fletcher: Vanilla with chocolate frosting.

B+C: How do you want to see the world change by 2030?

Red Star Fletcher: I would like to have seen the first female president and I would also like women to be getting paid the same amount as men. I would also want there to be more equality for animals because I am very interested in that — I’m a vegetarian. I want people to not hurt each other as much, like, not say mean things, not do mean things. And I’m very against what’s happening right now with all the children being separated from their parents, and I wouldn’t want that to still be happening by then.

B+C: What do you hope to be doing when you’re all grown up?

Red Star Fletcher: I actually have a lot of jobs I really want to get. I’m not sure if I’d get any of them, but I kind of want to be the chief justice of the Supreme Court or a boxer. A comedian would work too!

B+C: What do you say to other girls who have big career dreams like you but aren’t sure how to go about achieving them?

Red Star Fletcher: First is to always keep your eyes on the prize and don’t get a big ego about what you’re doing, because that can slow you down. And second, do what you love, because if people hear, see, or feel the love that you have in what you’re doing, they’re probably gonna love it too.

Written by: Cortney Clift and Kat Armstrong

Design by: Yising Chou

“Future Women of America” is a multimedia project spotlighting 15 young women under 20 who are making bold moves. Click here to see all the trailblazing women and girls featured.

Amanda Gorman Is Speaking Out and It’s Pure Poetry

Before youth poet laureate Amanda Gorman recited her breathtaking poem, "The Hill We Climb," at the inauguration of President Joe Biden on January 20, 2021, Brit + Co featured her as part of our "Future Women of America," a multimedia project spotlighting 15 young women under 20 who were making bold moves. Click here to see all the trailblazing women and girls featured.

In November of 2017, Amanda Gorman went on MTV to deliver her “State of the Union" address. Standing at a podium in a sparkly, coral dress, Gorman leaned into the mic and began reciting her poem: “History doesn't wait / It doesn't reach out / Change only comes to those who speak out / So I did." Gorman wasn't addressing the nation as president (although she does plan to run in 2036), but rather as the nation's first-ever youth poet laureate. The title, awarded to Gorman in April 2017, wasa trailblazing role and one that Gorman seemed born to play.

As a spoken word poet, she's used to taking center stage and using her work to speak out on topics like oppression, feminism, race, and marginalization. But in this new role, she made a point to take some time to sit back and listen to America's youth. During her year as youth poet laureate of the U.S., she went on a summer tour to visit libraries and schools across the country. She also focused on bringing poetry into places (like MTV) where it isn't typically seen.

Gorman has now passed the year-long tenure to another talented young poet, but her career has only just begun. A student at Harvard, Gorman still performs frequently across the country, all while maintaining a 4.0 GPA (she has since graduated cum laude). Here we talk with Gorman about what it was like to be the first-ever youth poet laureate, what inspires her as a writer, and what happened when she finally met her hero, Lin-Manuel Miranda.

B+C: What was your greatest accomplishment of the last year?

Gorman: I got to meet Lin-Manuel Miranda last month, and I'm sorry, it doesn't get much better than that! I was asked if I wanted to perform a poem honoring him and also Dick Van Dyke — they were both receiving an award — and it was kind of like, “Duh," with a capital D-U-H, exclamation mark! I didn't bring world peace. I didn't find a cure for cancer. But I have to say, getting to meet Lin-freakin'-Manuel Miranda literally makes me feel like I have an armored shield on my chest. He is such an idol, especially with what he did with Hamilton, really revolutionizing the way in which stories can be told. That is always what I'm aspiring to with my own work as a poet.

B+C: Speaking of celebrity run-ins, back in 2016 you were invited to the White House to meet Michelle Obama. What was that like?

Gorman: When I got there, I was looking out and I saw the White House lawn. I remembered Michelle Obama's Democratic National Convention speech, where she mentions looking out at that lawn and seeing her daughters play in the house that was built by slaves. I'm the descendant of slaves, particularly one further up the line whose name was Amanda as well, and I was just having a full-circle moment. Meeting with the first black First Lady as a descendant of slaves, being honored for writing when my ancestors would be prosecuted for doing the same thing, I was literally about to faint from just the majesty of it.

B+C: There's often this idea that poetry is archaic and boring. What do you think of the relationship between young people and poetry today?

Gorman: I think there's something in the way in which poetry is taught in the classroom that gives it a characteristic of being old and this kind of medieval form that only has one shape and one voice. Growing up, I wasn't always really deeply exposed to young writers, writers of color, or writers that were women. What's really exciting, especially now with technology and the digital age, is there's a lot of access and exposure that instantly happens when you have spoken word poets who can get millions of views online. You have poets posting their work on Instagram, and that becomes shareable and accessible. So poetry is no longer just siphoned to an exclusive realm, but it really can be by anyone, for anyone. It's really the art of the people, and I think younger generations are really the ones who are taking that, running with it, and doing really phenomenal things.


B+C: How do you think poetry and performing have affected your confidence and your self-esteem?

Gorman: You know, I think it's a dual relationship. My poetry is all the more self-assured and profound when it's coming from a place of security rather than a place of doubt. That's not to say that I don't question myself, but being a performance poet, being a spoken word poet is 80 percent about body language. It's about convincing people that my words deserve to be heard before they even hear my voice. If I'm going to pursue my art, if I'm going to continue doing that which I love, then I have to love myself. I have to be confident enough in myself that I can compel other people to love my work as well.

B+C: What do you do when the writer's block hits?

Gorman: My game plan changes depending on the situation, but what I've been doing recently is reading memoirs, letters, or essays by mostly women writers who struggled with the same thing. I read about how they knocked down those barriers. There's this one essay I've been reading and rereading. It's called “Thoughts on Writing: A Diary," by Susan Griffin, in the collection The Writer on Her Work. There's a line where she says, “This experience renders a precise meaning," and I just repeat that to myself. This experience of having writer's block, this experience of suffering, this experience of doubt, has a precise meaning through my writing. I might not see it yet, but over time and with work and with perseverance, that meaning will make itself clear to me.

B+C: What is the biggest struggle for you in your work?

Gorman: Being a full-time student [at Harvard]. I'll be traveling to Colorado, California, New York City… but I also have a paper due that's not going to write itself. I hope that challenge doesn't sound too self-centered, but I'm trying to be honest about it because I don't like to pretend I'm someone I'm not. What I can say is that I'm someone who's in love with poetry and sharing it with others, and I'm also someone who's in love with learning and being a student.


B+C: What's on the horizon for you?

Gorman: Finishing my last two years at Harvard and graduating. My life is a mosaic of many different things. I'm really taking the time to focus on my writing. I'm working on some book ideas, and I'm hoping that I can turn those out before I go back to school and have more essays due. That's definitely something that's on the horizon for me. Also, probably stalking Lin-Manuel Miranda.

B+C: What do you say to other young women who are your age or maybe your age when you started, who have big career dreams but aren't sure how to go about achieving them?

Gorman: I don't believe in an aspiring anything. I don't believe in an aspiring writer, an aspiring director… If you want to go do it, go out there and do it. If you want to lead your community, if you want to be a scientist, that's something you can desire to do, but it's also something that you can get started on right now. Don't hesitate, don't wait. Don't aspire. I'm trying to find something that rhymes with this to make it sound cooler. Oh, maybe like, “Don't aspire, achieve!"

Written by: Cortney Clift

Design by: Yising Chou

Photos courtesy of Anna Zhang and Amanda Gorman

This article has been updated from a 2018 post.

Premieramanda gormanpoetryFuture Women of America

15 Graduation Gifts Perfect For The Class Of 2024

College and high school graduations are just around the corner, and you may be wondering what to get your favorite Gen Z grads. Luckily for you, we compiled a list of 15 fabulous graduation gifts for every price range that are guaranteed to put a smile on your graduate’s face!

Set of 4 Meal Prep Containers

Who doesn’t love pretty Tupperware? Whether your 2024 grad is a gym rat or a library lover, they will definitely find a good use for these air-tight, leak-proof containers.

Benevolence LA New Beginnings Scented Soy Candle

Send them off with this sweet-scented candle that celebrates their achievements, as well as the next steps ahead of them!

A Hundred Other Girlsby Iman Hariri-Kia

This book is like a modern day Devil Wears Prada, and would make the perfect gift for any grad going into journalism, media, or PR — especially if they’re moving to a big city.

Stanley Quencher H2.0

Hydration is key for anyone, especially a new college student that's running between classes, club meetings, and friend hangs! This tumbler will also keep their liquids cold overnight so they don't have to go down the dorm hall in the middle of the night for a fresh refill.

Dagne Dover Mila Repreve® Recycled Polyester Large Toiletry Organizer Bag

If you're sending off a high school grad to communal dorms, they'll definitely benefit from having a compact toiletry bag like this one. This style is particularly nice since it's made from recycled polyester that resists water and debris.

2024 Daily Planner

Using a planner is such an underrated way to stay organized, whether it's prepping for college coursework or adulting stuff like work events, grocery shopping, and plans with friends. This all-in-one daily planner will help your grad keep their ducks in a row with fields for all of life's details.

Honeywell Mini Cool Mist Humidifier

This humidifier, made especially for small rooms and personal spaces (ahem, dorm rooms!) helps maintain humidity levels between 40-60%, which can help relieve congestion and keep the throat and nasal passages hydrated to prevent sickness. This is crucial for soon-to-be college students who may hang around a lot of different people.​

Fresh Sends Flower Bouquet

Flowers are a staple for any major life event, especially a graduation! Fresh Sends is perfect for sending beautiful bouquets for those who live far away, since they ship directly to the recipient's door.

The Beast Mini Blender

This super-effective, high-power portable blender is the perfect size for a dorm room or small apartment, plus it's very aesthetically-pleasing even if it's just sitting on the shelf. It comes equipped with a screw-on lid and straw, too, so your grad can take it on walks and in the car.

Béis The Sport Backpack

Perfect for grads on the go, this bag can hold their water bottle, phone, wallet and so much more when they're trekking across campus.

Loop Quiet Equinox Earplugs

These design-forward earplugs are multipurpose – they block out extra noise for study sessions and sleep time, or even loud parties and concerts! Your grad will appreciate that they come with an easy-to-carry case for keeping them on-hand in unforeseen, noisy situations.

Crush Your Goals Inner Truth Affirmations Deck

For an extra dose of motivation, this 40-count deck of cards will keep them going when times get tough!

Keurig K-Mini Single-Serve K-Cup Pod Coffee Maker

Coffee will ​always ​be a part of any new grad's life. Keep 'em caffeinated with this convenient coffee maker that's compatible with K-Cups for everyday ease.

Hoka Clifton 9 Sneakers

Hokas are undoubtedly the cool girl of running shoes, and they will definitely make your grad hit the pavement smiling, no matter if they're stepping foot on their college campus for the first time or making big moves in a new city.

Great Jones The Starting Lineup

This trio of cookware is such a stylish way to give your recipient's post-grad kitchen an upgrade. All three pieces are oven-safe and dishwasher-friendly to make cleanup a breeze.

Find all of the greatest gifts with Brit + Co!

Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

This post has been updated with additional reporting by Meredith Holser.

graduationcollegedormshoppingshopping roundupshopping guidepartygraduation giftsgifts

Brit + Co's 'Grammable Guide to Holiday Cookies


Brit + Co's 'Grammable Holiday Cookie Guide

As long as Rudolph’s nose is red and wintry wonderlands are white, the holidays and cookies will go hand in hand (or, preferably, in both hands). We teamed up with cookie artists Ashley McNeal and Vickie Liu to help you create some of the prettiest cookies on the block! Get ready for serious inspiration, whether you're a total cookie newbie or a next-level baker.

Cookie Decorating Essentials

Cookie Decorating Essentials

Must-have tools and equipment

Half the battle of whipping up the perfect batch of cookies is having the right equipment. Here are all the essential tools you'll need in the kitchen to help master any recipe.

FOR MAKING DOUGH

Measuring Cups & Spoons

$10
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Stand Mixer

$229
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FOR ROLLING OUT DOUGH

Parchment Paper

$4
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FOR BAKING COOKIES

Baking Sheet

$14
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Cookie Cutters

$18
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FOR DECORATING

Mixing Bowls

$23
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Piping Bags

$17
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FOR FINISHING TOUCHES

Gel Food Colors

$12
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Pearl Sprinkles

$4
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Succulent Cookies

Succulent Cookies

Homegrown… well, homemade!

Create a Christmas succulent garden on top of a round cookie for an on-trend treat. We used a peanut butter sugar cookie as the base and vanilla buttercream for the cactus effect, but you could always go with your fave flavors and apply the same decorating technique.

(Makes 24 cookies)

Ingredients:

  • 1 batch peanut butter cookie dough
  • 1 batch buttercream frosting
  • gel food colors: green, black, brown, terracotta, lime green
  • pearl sprinkles: red, white, gold

Equipment:

Directions:

1. Bake the cookies. Roll out the cookie dough, cut it using a round cookie cutter, and bake until golden brown. Allow the cookies to cool completely before decorating.

2. Dye the buttercream frosting. Divide frosting into five bowls and use the coloring to create varying shades of green plus terracotta. Bowl one: Dye with black and green food gels, beginning with just a drop until you create a dark green. Bowl two: Add drops of green and brown to achieve a less-dark green. Bowl three: Dye with black and green to form darkest color green. Bowl four: Dye with terracotta. Bowl five: Dye with lime green.

3. Transfer frosting into piping bags. Bowl one goes into a piping bag fitted with tip #243. Bowl two is fitted with tip #62, and Bowl three is fitted with tip #2. Bowl four and five go into the bag together (one on each side), fitted with tip #21.

4. Pipe on details with buttercream icing. Use tip fitted with #61 to pipe on a large succulent on the cookie. Pipe a cone-shaped base for the center, then pipe arch-shaped rows from top to bottom as you turn the cookie. Then use a medium rosette piping tip #243 to create smaller succulents. Pipe multi-color spikes for filler succulents with #21 piping tip. Lastly, apply small green pearls for final filler with #2 piping tip.

5. Sprinkle on those pearls. After icing each cookie, quickly sprinkle a few pearls. Allow to dry.


Get the Recipes

Peanut Butter Sugar Cookies

Buttercream Frosting

Galaxy Snowflake Cookies

Galaxy Snowflake Cookies

Hello, cosmic creation

These starry night snowflake cookies look pretty stellar, don’t they? There are various icing techniques used in this intermediate recipe. You can make them simpler by skipping some of the decorative piping and focusing on the mirror glaze. The results will still be out of this world.

(Makes 24 cookies)

Ingredients:

  • 1 batch peanut butter cookie dough
  • 1 batch royal icing
  • gel food colors: purple, blue, black
  • edible silver stars
  • edible gold luster dust (mixed with vodka to create a gold paint)
  • white pearl sprinkles
  • white sanding sugar

Equipment:

Directions:

1. Bake the cookies. Roll cookie dough out, cut it using a snowflake cookie cutter, and bake until golden brown. Allow cookies to cool completely before decorating.

2. Dye the royal frosting. Divide it into four bowls. Bowl one: Dye with enough purple food gel to create a vibrant color. Bowl two: Do the same with the blue drops. Bowl three: Dye with black, beginning with one drop and adding more as needed. Bowl four: Leave white.

3. Transfer frosting into piping bags. Fill the purple, blue, and half of the black royal icings into a bag fitted with tip #2. Put the remaining black icing from bowl three into a piping bag fitted with a #1 tip. White icing goes into a bag fitted with tip #1.

4. Line and fill each cookie. Use the black icing bag and outline each snowflake to create a dam for flooding with icing (AKA filling the entire cookie with icing). Flood with the purple, blue, and black mixture. Drizzle in a little white. Use a toothpick or chopstick to lightly swirl the frosting to the outside edges.

5. Add galactic touches. Sprinkle on stars, and splatter on the edible gold luster dust with the paint brush. Let royal icing dry until hardened.

6. Pipe on the snowflake. Pipe on a snowflake design on the tops of each cookie using the white icing. Add a pearl sprinkle to the center. Coat with sanding sugar and shake off excess. Allow to dry.


Get the Recipes

Peanut Butter Sugar Cookies

Royal Icing

Candy Cane Sloth Cookies

Candy Cane Sloth Cookies

Slow things down

We're always rush-rush-rushing during the holidays, so why not take after the sloth and slow things down. Bake cookies and meticulously ice them, sloth-like, so every detail is perfectly placed. We created our own custom cookie cutter! Download our cookie cutter printable, take it to your local baking supply shop, and have them 3D print the cutter for you. Or, in a pinch, print the doc, cut out the shape, and use it to trace around the dough.

(Makes 24 cookies)

Ingredients:

  • 1 batch peanut butter cookie dough
  • 1 batch royal icing
  • gel food colors: brown, black, red, pink, green
  • edible black pen

Equipment:

Directions:

1. Bake the cookies. Roll out the dough out, cut it using a candy cane sloth cookie cutter, and bake until golden brown. Allow the cookies to cool completely before decorating.

2. Dye the royal frosting. Divide it into six bowls. Bowl one: Adding one drop at a time, create a light brown color with brown food gel. Bowl two: Dye black, using one drop and adding more as needed. Bowl three: Dye red, using those drops a few at a time. Bowl four: Do the same with the pink gel. Bowl five: Leave white. Bowl 6: Dye green using those drops, a few at a time.

3. Transfer frosting into piping bags. The green icing goes into a piping bag fitted with a #1 tip. The remaining icings go in separate piping bags fitted with tip #2.

4. Sketch on your design. Use the edible black pen to draw out your design.

5. Pipe on the icing. Line the candy cane with white and red. Flood the candy cane with white and red icing, and allow for dry time. Line the scarf with green icing, the Santa hat with red and white icing, and the sloth body with brown. Flood the scarf and hat with green, red and white icing. Repeat for the sloth body and add the eye detail with light and dark brown. Allow dry time.

6. Add final details. Draw on a mouth and nose with the edible marker. Add eyes and toenails with black icing in piping tip. Line the scarf and hat. Add face details by dotting eyes with white, and adding pink cheeks with #2 piping tips.


Get the Recipes

Peanut Butter Sugar Cookies

Royal Icing

Grinch Linzer Cookies

Grinch Linzer Cookies

Hearts that are two sizes too small

Linzers get a Grinch make-over for this beginner decorative cookie recipe. Start with animal cracker cookie dough, dye it Grinch green, and cut out tiny hearts in the center of each cookie. Then, sandwich the cookies in-between bright red raspberry rosé jam. You can’t help but get in the spirit of Christmas after one bite of these cookies.

(Makes 12 cookies)

Ingredients:

Equipment:

  • ruffle-edged round cookie cutter
  • mini heart cookie cutter

Directions:

1. Make the jam and Santa hats the day before decorating. Allow jam to cool completely and chocolate hats to firm up (pop them in the fridge or freezer to speed up time).

2. Bake the cookies. Using a stand or hand mixer, dye the cookie dough Grinch green with green food gel (use 2 drops or more as needed.). Roll out the dough, cut it with ruffle-edge round cookie cutter, and bake it according to directions.

3. Cut out the hearts. Once out of the oven, on half of the cookies, cut out a small heart in the center of the cookies using the mini heart cookie cutter. Allow the cookies to cool completely.

4. Assemble the sandwiches. Spread a dollop of jam on each solid cookie. Carefully sandwich with the heart cut-out cookie. Use a little bit of leftover melted compound chocolate to glue the hats (directions below) to the top side of each cookie.

GET THE CHOCOLATE SANTA HAT RECIPE










GET THE RECIPES

Raspberry Rosé Jam

Animal Cracker Cookies

Blue Ombré Pinwheel Cookies

Blue Ombré Pinwheel Cookies

Hypnotically colorful

Although these look complicated, the recipe and technique is quite simple. The trickiest part is all the refrigeration needed. In total, these cookies will take about seven to eight hours to complete, so plan to divide the labor into two days. The best part, of course, is rolling the dough in the sprinkles of your choice. Just be sure they won't melt! We found sanding sugar and jimmies work best.

(Makes 12 cookies)

Ingredients:

  • 1 batch animal cracker cookie dough
  • blue food gel
  • sprinkles: dark and light blue jimmies, white and silver sanding sugars

Directions:





































Get the Recipes

Animal Cracker Cookies

Rudolph Corgi

Rudolph Corgi

Fluff-tastic

Surely nothing is cuter than a corgi tush, so of course, we had to create our own custom cookie cutter. Just like with the sloth, download our cookie cutter printable, and either have the custom cutter made or print and cut it out.

(Makes 24 cookies)

Ingredients:

Equipment:

Directions:

1. Bake the cookies. Roll it out, cut it using the corgi cookie cutter, and bake according to directions. Allow the cookies to cool completely before icing.

2. Dye the royal frosting. Divide it into six bowls. Bowl one: Dye light tan with food gel, beginning with just a drop until you achieve the desired shade. Bowl two: Dye red, using those drops a few at a time. Bowl three: Dye black, starting with just one drop at a time. Bowl four: Repeat with the pink dye. Bowl five: Leave white. Bowl six: Dye brown, using a few drops at a time.

3. Transfer frosting into piping bags. The brown icing goes into a piping bag fitted with a #7 tip. The remaining icings go in separate piping bags fitted with #2 tips.

4. Pipe on details with royal icing. Line the rump and feet using skin tone, and line the tail and fur with the same icing. Allow to dry completely.

5. Ice the body and ears. Flood the top part of the rump with light brown, and the bottom part with white. Add a small dollop of pink on each ear, and lightly spread with an offset spatula. Allow to dry.

6. Create the face. Line the head and ears with skin tone. Line the center of the face with white. Flood the cheeks with light brown and the center of the face with white, and allow for dry time.

7. Add the finishing details. Add antlers with brown icing. Allow to dry. Use an edible marker for the mouth. Add eyes with black and nose with red. Re-line the rump with skin tone.


Get the Recipes

Animal Cracker Cookies

Royal Icing

Millennial Pink Ornament Cookies

Millennial Pink Ornament Cookies

Sweet, simple, and of-the-moment

Just because you're new to the baking game, doesn't mean you can't wow in the cookie swap. Cut out these simple ornament shapes, and replace those standard reds and greens with of-the-moment millennial pink icing and decoration.

(Makes ~40 cookies)

Ingredients:

  • 1 batch sugar cookie dough
  • white compound chocolate or candy melts
  • pink and white hard candy or candy canes (crushed)
  • pink oil-based food coloring

Equipment:

  • ornament cookie cutters
  • pink or white ribbons/string

Directions:

1. Bake the cookies. Roll out the cookie dough, cut it using an ornament cutters. Cut a hole in the top of the ornament with a straw before baking to put the ribbon through. Chill, then bake according to directions. Cool the cookies for 30 minutes minimum.

2. Melt the chocolate according to package directions. Divide into three bowls. Set aside one bowl. In a second bowl, add 1-2 drops of pink dye and stir to form a light shade of pink. In another bowl, add 3-5 drops of dye and stir for a darker shade of pink.

3. Dip the cookies into various shades of melted chocolate. You can dip multiple layers to create an ombre effect. Sprinkle with crushed candy. Allow to dry completely.

4. Attach ribbons/string to cookies. Hang them up to show off your work!


Get the Recipe

Easy Sugar Cookies

Reindeer Jolly Rancher Cookies

Reindeer Jolly Rancher Cookies

Brighten up your cookie tray with these little Rudolphs.

Ready to step it up a bit? Grab a standard gingerbread-man cutter, and invert these guys to create reindeer — voila! Rudolph’s red nose gets a sleek upgrade thanks to melted candies.

(Makes ~40 cookies)

Ingredients:

  • 1 batch sugar cookie dough
  • hard red candy like Jolly Ranchers (crushed)
  • 1 batch royal icing
  • gel food colors: brown, black

Equipment:

Directions:

1. Bake the cookies. Roll the cookie dough out and cut it using gingerbread-man cutter. Cut round hole in head of the cut-out men to make space for the red nose. Transfer to baking sheets, and chill in freezer for 15 minutes. Bake for approximately 10 minutes.

2. Remove from oven and fill nose holes with crushed hard candy. Bake for an extra few minutes (until candy has melted). Cool cookies for 30 minutes minimum.

3. Dye the royal icing. Divide it into three bowls. Bowl one: Dye light brown with brown food gel. Bowl two: Dye darker brown with brown food gel. Bowl three: Dye black with black food gel.

4. Pipe on details with royal frosting. Outline the reindeer's face with light brown royal icing. Fill in, then use a toothpick to swirl the icing to fill in any gaps. This also helps it dry in an even layer. Allow to dry completely.

5. Use dark brown to pipe on the antlers and ear detailing and black to dot on the eyes. Allow to dry completely.


Get the Recipes

Easy Sugar Cookies

Royal Icing

Read More

Holiday Llama Sugar Cookies

Holiday Llama Sugar Cookies

Fa-la-la-la llamas

Now things get a bit more challenging and a lot more adorable. Decked out in scarves, hats, and holiday decor, these almost too-cute-to-eat cookies will have you singing fa-la-la-la-llama.

(Makes ~25 cookies)

Ingredients:

  • 1 batch orange-spiced Christmas cookie dough
  • 1 batch royal icing
  • gel food colors: pink, green, red, black, blue, yellow
  • Christmas-themed candies: Red Hots and holly

Equipment:

Directions:

1. Bake cookies. Roll out cookie dough, and cut it using llama cutter. For some of the cookies, cut out hats with a small triangle cookie cutter to give your llamas a tiny holiday hat. Chill and bake according to instructions. Cool for 30 minutes minimum.

2. Dye the royal icing. Divide it into seven bowls. For bowl 1: leave white. Remaining bowls, dye light pink, green, red, black, blue, and yellow with gel food colors.

3. Transfer icing into piping bags. Fit each icing into a separate piping bag, fitted with a #2 Wilton icing tip.

4. Pipe on details. Outline the llama's body with light pink royal icing. Fill in, then use a toothpick to swirl the icing to fill in any gaps. This also helps it dry on in an even layer. Dry for 30 minutes.

5. With the same technique, use the white icing to ice on the second layer (the face and feet of the llama). Dry for 30 minutes.

6. Ice the third layers (green scarf, red Santa's hat, black strings of the lights). Dry for 30 minutes.

7. Ice on final details (face with black icing, lights with different colors, white fluff of Santa's hat, etc.). Add any candies. Allow to dry completely.


Get the Recipes

Orange-Spiced Christmas Cookies

Royal Icing

Read More

Snuggly and Pugly Gingerbread Sweaters

Snuggly and Pugly Gingerbread Sweaters

Warms you up on a cold day

Kick your sweater cookies up a notch by sketching out adorable furry fondant friends, and attach them to the front of your sweater creations.

(Makes ~24 cookies)

Ingredients:

  • 1 batch royal icing
  • gel food colors: orange, brown, black, red, green
  • 1 batch gingerbread cookie dough
  • fondant (white, dyed red and green, rolled and cut out into sweater shapes)

Equipment:

Directions:

1. Make royal icing, dye it, and transfer into piping bags: Divide icing into six bowls. Bowl one, leave white. Remaining bowls, dye orange, brown, black, red, and green. Transfer each into separate piping bags fitted with a #1 tip.

2. Pipe on the royal icing transfers. On a parchment sheet, pipe on the transfers like the pug with Santa hat on parchment paper. Allow to set overnight, then carefully peel off once totally try. Set aside.

3. Bake the cookies. Roll out cookie dough, and cut it using sweater cookie cutters. Bake according to instructions. Cool for 30 minutes minimum.

4. Decorate the fondant base layer. Pipe on sweater decoration with white royal icing. Dry for 1-2 hours. "Glue" on pre-made royal icing transfers with royal icing. Add any final touches and allow to dry completely.

5. Attach the fondant layers to the cookies. Outline each cookie with white royal icing, and carefully attach fondant base layer. Allow to dry completely before serving.


Get the Recipes

Royal Icing

Gingerbread Cookies

Palm Springs Gingerbread House

Palm Springs Gingerbread House

Spice up your cookie display

Sure, anyone can make the standard gingerbread house, but if you're looking for a real challenge, you'll love our Palm Springs variety. Mid-century design enthusiasts — and edible house aficionados — will salivate at this reimagined version of the classic gingerbread construction.

(Makes 1 gingerbread house)

Ingredients:

  • pre-baked sugar cookies: cacti, pool, plus crushed cookies (for sand)
  • 1 batch gingerbread cookie dough
  • fondant: dyed in light pink, light grey, and dark grey
  • gel food colors: pink, black, green, blue
  • clear piping gel
  • royal icing
  • compound white chocolate or white candy melt
  • pastel Jordan almonds
  • green sprinkles (for grass) — enough to fill base
  • white chocolate blocks (steps)
  • small chocolate pebbles (if possible) — can be replaced with crushed chocolate cookies for dirt
  • green taffy candy (palm tree leaves)
  • long rolled wafer biscuit (palm tree)

Equipment:

Directions:

1. Make the cactus and pool decorations. Roll out the dough, cut it in various shapes, and bake. Decorate with fondant and piping gel dyed blue with gel food coloring. Crush some baked cookies for sand.

2. Bake the gingerbread. Refrigerate the dough for 1-2 hours. Preheat the oven, and roll out the dough. Cut out the cookies according to templated shapes and bake. Cool the cookies for at least 30 minutes.

3. Construct the gingerbread house. Place a large white foam board on a flat surface and construct the house on top of it, using royal icing as the mortar between the cookie pieces. Decorate house with fondant/royal icing.

4. Finish with surrounding decorations. Glue on the pool, fondant driveway, cookie palm trees, sprinkle grass with royal icing. Allow it to dry completely.


Get the Recipes

Gingerbread Cookies

Royal Icing

Pastel Chocolate Tree Cookies

Pastel Chocolate Tree Cookies

So simple and lovely

When it comes to giving your tree-shaped Christmas cookies some added personality, you won't want to rely on the typical red and green icing. Instead, give your trees a chocolatey base and some pastel shades on top.

(Makes 12-24 tree cookies, depending on size)

Ingredients:

  • 1 batch chocolate cookie dough
  • 1 batch royal icing
  • gel food colors: blue, pink
  • pearl sprinkles
  • white sanding sugar

Equipment:

Directions:

1. Bake the cookies. Roll out the cookie dough, cut out using tree cutters, chill, and bake according to instructions. Cool the cookies for 30 minutes minimum.

2. Dye the royal frosting. Divide it into three bowls. Bowl one: Dye Tiffany blue with blue food gel. Bowl two: Dye light pink. Bowl three: Leave white.

3. Transfer into piping bags. Each color goes into a piping bag fitted with a #2 tip.

4. Line and fill the cookie. Pipe a border of royal icing on each tree using pink or blue royal icing. Fill in (AKA flood) with more frosting, then use a toothpick to swirl the icing to fill in any gaps. This also helps it dry on in an even layer. Allow to dry completely.

5. Add final touches. Pipe on white royal icing details and sprinkle on sanding sugar and position pearl sprinkles. Allow to dry completely.


Get the Recipes

Chocolate Cookies

Royal Icing

Peppermint Penguin Sandwich Cookies

Peppermint Penguin Sandwich Cookies

Almost too adorable to eat

If you've got an Oreo lover on your list of loved ones to treat, these adorable peppermint-filled penguins are perfect. Our DIY version pairs just as flawlessly with a glass of milk as the classic store-bought cookie.

(Makes ~6 cookie sandwiches)

Ingredients:

  • 1 batch chocolate cookie dough
  • 1 batch royal icing
  • gel food colors: orange, black, red
  • peppermint candy, red Skittles, mini marshmallows, mini red heart sprinkles
  • fondant: white, red
  • water

Filling:

  • 3/4 cup unsalted butter
  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • 3 tablespoons of milk
  • 1 teaspoon of peppermint extract
  • red gel food coloring (optional)

Equipment:

Directions:

1. Bake the cookies. Refrigerate dough for 30 minutes to 1 hour. Preheat oven, then roll out dough. Cut it with round cookie cutters, and freeze/chill for 15 minutes. Bake for 12-14 minutes. Cool the cookies for 30 minutes minimum. Allow to cool completely.

2. Make the filling. Beat butter until light and creamy. Slowly beat in 1 cup powdered sugar, followed by 1 tablespoon milk. Alternate until all is added. Beat in peppermint extract. Lastly, stir in red gel food coloring until swirls are formed (don’t beat in).

3. Assemble the sandwiches. Add small dab of filling to cookies and sandwich them together.

4. Dye the royal frosting and transfer it into piping bags. Divide it into four bowls. Leave one bowl filled with white icing. Dye the remaining icing in each bowl orange, black, red with gel food colors. Transfer each into a separate piping bag fitted with a #1 tip.

5. Decorate. Glue on white fondant belly to top of sandwich cookie with royal icing. Pipe on details of penguin's face, bow tie, etc. Make hats out of peppermint candy with a mini marshmallow glued on top using royal icing. Allow to dry completely.


Get the Recipes

Chocolate Cookies

Royal Icing

Hot Cocoa Cookie Cup Cookies

Hot Cocoa Cookie Cup Cookies

Cocoa and cookie in one

From hot chocolate to peppermint schnapps, the holiday season is filled with festive beverages. Add your favorite to these edible jiggers that have a chocolate coating to prevent them from getting too soggy before you can say, “Bottoms up!”

(Makes ~6 cookie shots)

Ingredients:

  • 1 batch chocolate cookie dough
  • compound chocolate: milk and white
  • shortening or coconut oil (to thin the chocolate if necessary)
  • candy canes (for the handles)
  • sprinkles in Christmas colors
  • 1 batch royal icing
  • gel food color: black
  • white sanding sugar
  • pretzels
  • red M&Ms
  • whipped cream, marshmallows, and cocoa dusting (for garnishing)

Equipment:

Directions:

1. Bake the cookies.Roll out the cookie dough, and cut it into shapes similar to a shot glass. Prep the cookie shot mold with non-stick cooking spray, and press dough into molds. Cut off any excess. Preheat oven. Chill dough in molds for 15 minutes. Bake for 15-18 minutes. Cool completely for 30 minutes minimum before you unmold them from the shot glass mold.

2. Melt chocolate. Thin out with shortening or coconut oil, if necessary. Coat the inside of cookie cup by swirling melted chocolate inside, and leave to set. Glue on candy cane handle with white chocolate. Dip cups in white or milk chocolate followed by a plate of sprinkles to create a sprinkle rim.

3. Add extra decoration. Pipe on holiday designs with royal icing and white sanding sugar, or transform your cup into Rudolph faces using candy and royal icing "glue."

4. Fill with desired drink and top with whipped cream, marshmallows, and cocoa dusting.


Get the Recipes

Chocolate Cookies

Royal Icing

Disney Holiday Cookies

Disney Holiday Cookies

These are pure magic.

Every Disney fan at your cookie party is going to to go nuts for these beauties. We teamed up with Disney Freeform and cookie artist Aime Pope to craft six magically frosted goodies from across the Disney and Freeform holiday lineup. Check them out!

Disney Holiday Castle Cookie

Every Disneyland fan will love this cookie version of their favorite theme park's central landmark.

Mickey Clause Cookie

You really can't have a proper Disney cookie display without the Mouse himself. Watch our tutorial on how to create this classic version of Mickey Claus.

Buddy the Elf Cookie

We all know the main food groups are candy,candy canes, candy corns, and syrup. But did you know the fifth is holiday cookies? They are when they're Elf cookies!

Olaf the Snowman Cookie

Do you want to build a snowman...cookie? This Frozen buddy will definitely bring huge smiles to even the the smallest faces.

The Grinch Who Stole This Cookie

If your fam's favorite holiday character is actually more green than red and has a heart two sizes too small, this cookie is a perfect pick for your next gathering.

More Holiday Cookie Inspo

More Holiday Cookie Inspo

Winter themes for your cookie platter

You know you want even *more* ideas for amazing holiday cookies. Well, we've got 'em! We teamed up with cookie artist Aime Pope to create four more adorable winter-themed treats that are simple and stunning.

Jolly Ol' Santa Cookie

Nothing goes better with milk than this Santa cookie. Leaving this one out for Kris Kringle should definitely get you some extra goodies in your stocking.

Bright Little Snowflakes

Inject some technicolor into your cookie game with these gorgeous colorful snowflakes, laced with delicate white royal icing.

Chillin' With the Snowmen

Take a basic snowman cookie to the next level by adding earmuffs, mittens, scarves, and even sunglasses. These frosty friends are too cool and too cute to eat.

Share your cookie creations with us @BritandCo!

This article has been updated from a previous post.

Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

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Avoiding Your Next Haircut? Don’t Make The Same Mistakes As Me

I have such a love/hate relationship with haircuts. While I love the feeling of a fresh look as much as the next girl, I hate having to spend $100+ for a simple cut and blow dry session. During my recent trim, I talked with my hairdresser, Jack Rehak of Jack’s Hair Design in Hinsdale, Illinois, about ways to keep a haircut looking new and best practices for keeping hair healthy. Here's what he had to say!

Here's How Often You Should Cut Your Hair, According To Professionals

Photo by cottonbro studio/PEXELS

I’ll admit it — it had been eight months since my last haircut. My hair had lost its shape, my layers were nowhere to be found, and my ends were begging for mercy. Life got busy over the last few months and I was neglecting my haircare like never before.

My hairdresser could immediately see that I was beyond due for a cut and said I needed to get more taken off than I was hoping. I was definitely disappointed — I'd been working on growing out my hair for a while now, and it just felt like my hard work had completely gone to waste. He explained that getting consistent haircuts is the key to growing out healthy and strong hair, rather than letting it grow and grow until it eventually breaks. So let's dig into the top three things you can do to avoid this scenario!

1. Just Get The Dang Haircut

Photo by RDNE Stock project/PEXELS

Also avoiding a haircut like I was? You might want to schedule one at your nearest salon. Like my stylist said, when you wait too long between trims like I did, you risk your hair becoming heavy, dull, and lifeless. When the hair is dry or even dead, it’s nearly impossible for it to hold a curl or style, essentially collapsing on you and taking on more and more heat damage all the while. I know the pain of spending time on a blowout only for it to fall minutes later — it’s the worst.

According to Jack, getting a haircut every 10-12 weeks is the best time frame or your ends will pay the price. Between blow-drying, curling, straightening, sun, and weather, our ends get dry and start to break without the proper care. Getting consistent haircuts allows hair to bounce back, shine, and perform the way we want in a healthy way.

2. Leave-In Conditioners Are Your Friend

Photo by cottonbro studio/PEXELS

His top piece of advice to keep your hair looking and feeling hydrated between trims? Invest in conditioning treatments. Jack swears by the Olaplex conditioning system, specifically the No 3 Hair Perfector. Made with patented OLAPLEX Bond Building Technology™, this conditioning treatment repairs and prevents damage in as little as three minutes. No 3 promises to reduce breakage and visibly strengthen hair, so it’s the perfect assistance to keep ends fresh between cuts. Another conditioning treatments I’ve used and loved for years is the Moroccanoil Intense Hydrating Mask, which is designed to restore moisture, elasticity, and shine to dry hair.

3. Switch Up Your Shampoos

Photo by Karolina Grabowska/PEXELS

Switching shampoos frequently is a pretty hot tip that I honestly hadn't thought of. Our hair gets used to the same products and grows tired of them, resulting in lackluster locks. Jack’s advice is to switch brands after finishing every bottle of shampoo to bring life back to your hair. Have two brands that you’re loyal to? Even switching back and forth between them after every bottle should make a big difference in your hair. I’m a huge fan of the R+Co Dallas Biotin Thickening Shampoo, which makes my hair look thick and full, as well as the Moroccanoil Hydrating Shampoo, which is so hydrating and gives so much shine.

Photo by cottonbro studio/PEXELS

In the end, navigating your back-and-forth relationship with haircuts often feels like a rollercoaster ride between wanting that fresh look and cringing at the receipt. Luckily, by using conditioning treatments and switching up your products,, you can keep your locks healthy, shiny, and full of life between trims. But take a newly learned lesson out of my book: don't let your ends pay the price for procrastination and just book the haircut.

If you need some more hair inspo and advice, be sure to sign up for our weekly email newsletter!

Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

Header image via Nataliya Vaitkevich/PEXELS

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20 Nifty Gifts To Give Your Step Mom This Mother’s Day

With Mother's Day around the corner, it's time to celebrate moms of all kinds, and step moms deserve some special recognition, too! If you're grappling with finding the perfect gift that expresses your love and gratitude for your step mom, these 20 gifts are the way to go. This curated list of thoughtful step mom gifts for Mother's Day will get you going on a gifting kick and make any step mom's heart swell with joy and appreciation. 💓

Rinna Beauty Larger Than Life Lip Plumping Oil

The glossiness of this lip oil alone will feel like a total gift! One swipe using the soft, sizable wand delivers a sheer tint of color, all while encouraging plumpness and moisture with its peptide formulation.

The Larger Than Life Lip Plumping Oil from Rinna Beauty comes in 5 other shades for $24 on Amazon.

Anthropologie Faye Planter

For the step mom with an undeniable green thumb, this decorative purple planter from Anthropologie makes repotting process super fun! Dotted in adorable outdoor creature and plant motifs, the pot is not only practical, but looks good, too. It measures about 8 inches in diameter to fit a variety of small house plants.

The Faye Planter is currently on sale for $31 (was $44) for a limited time.

Barefoot Dreams CozyChic Cotton Checkered Throw

She's gonna want to live in this cozy throw blanket 24/7. It's crafted from a blend of Barefoot Dreams' CozyChic material and a light cotton for added breathability. The light, neutral checkered pattern makes it the perfect match for any space!

This stylish throw, made to last a lifetime, goes for $148 from Barefoot Dreams.

DedCool Room & Linen Spray

Think of this spray as an instant refresh for any bedroom, bathroom, or living room, supplying a saturated scent of bergamot, vanilla, and amber. It's also compatible to spritz on sheets, blankets, and pillows to create a soothing atmosphere every time your step mom comes home!

The DedCool Room & Linen Spray comes in two other scents for $40.

Compartés Mother's Day Chocolate Flowers 20-Piece Truffle Gift Box

When all your other gift ideas fail, there's nothing wrong with chocolate! This truffle box is perfectly elevated to give as a standalone gift – it's impressively decorated and seamlessly packaged for a memorable Mother's Day treat. Some of the spring-inspired flavors included are: raspberry rose, lavender, poppy seed, and passionfruit.

The Mother's Day Chocolate Flowers gift box is $60 and comes with 20 gourmet truffles.

Fig.1 Ceramide Moisturizer

This moisturizer delivers 24-hour hydration with a dense formula of peptides, hyaluronic acid, squalane, and glycerin. It has a lightweight yet creamy feel, perfect for slathering on under SPF and makeup. Your step mom's skin will absolutely soak this clinically-proven cream up, and she'll be feeling like a new woman every single time she puts it on!

The Fig.1 Ceramide Moisturizer goes for $32 and is also refillable once it's fully used up.

Little Secret Round Sunglasses

Keep her lookin' so cool with a pair of trendy sunnies! This timeless style from Free People channels the 90's and makes for chic everyday eyewear with any outfit.

The Little Secret Round Sunglasses are shoppable in 5 other colors for $30.

The Pioneer Woman 3-Piece Floral Check Ceramic Lidded Bowl Set

Your step mom's serving, baking, and cooking projects just got such a stylish upgrade! This trio of checkered ceramic bowls designed by The Pioneer Woman make every dish look stunning, plus each one comes equipped with a decorative wooden lid for convenient storage.

This 3-piece bowl set goes for $33 at Walmart.

Sand + Fog Pistachio Dream Eau De Parfum Oil

This perfume oil can be used sparingly – meaning it'll last a long time – and delivers delicious notes of pistachio, vanilla, brown sugar, and cream to make step mom smell like a total treat. She won't want to go a day without putting some on!

This perfume is $13 at Marshall's.

Versed Total Package SPF 30 Body Lotion

This body lotion is really a 2-in-1 deal: hydrating and protective against the sun. It's packed with SPF 30 to give the skin a light shield against harmful UV rays, all while replenishing moisture with a delightfully-smelling mix of cupuaçu butter and grapeseed oil. It's not sticky or oily at all!

The Versed Total Package body lotion is $20 at Target.

Maeve Buckle Slide Sandals

These trendy slip-on sandals from Maeve are the epitome of cool girl style for summertime. Your step mom will be stepping out looking so good with these as a gift! The upper is made from durable leather, while the sole is a comfortable rubber material to withstand walking.

The Maeve Buckle Slide Sandals are shoppable in 4 other colors and are on sale for $104 (was $130) for a limited time.

Chamberlain Coffee Strawberry Matcha Latte Mix

Switch up her morning routine with this deliciously sweet matcha mix from Chamberlain Coffee! It's earthy, fruity, and made with oat milk for otherworldly creaminess. All it requires is some hot water, a good froth, and from there, your step mom can customize her sip with more milk or creamer.

This drink mix goes for $19 at Target.

L.L. Bean Open-Top Boat and Tote

This classic tote bag from L.L. Bean is the perfect vehicle for carrying work essentials, groceries, clothing, and more! It can be ordered in small, medium, large, or extra-large sizes, with the option for short or long straps.

This bag comes in 11 other colors. The small size is $30 and the extra-large is $45.

Ban.do Oven Mitt Pot Holder Set

For the step mom that loves all things colorful, this oven mitt + pot holder set will bring some joy into her kitchen set-up. Both are crafted from cotton with quilted stitching and feature small loops for easy hanging.

The duo is shoppable for $30 from Ban.do.

Auburn Home 3-Piece Glass Taper Candle Holders

These funky candle holders can go together as a set, or spread out around the house for a unique touch. Bundle them with some taper candles to complete the gift!

This colorful trio goes for $25 at Marshall's.

Verloop Raffia Phone Sling

Any on-the-go step mom will appreciate this convenient phone sling for its carrying capabilities, but it's also supremely stylish! The bright colorway is summertime's perfect match, so she can take it along for vacations and outdoor outings alike. The thin shoulder strap is adjustable in length so she can find the best fit for her needs.

The Verloop Raffia Phone Sling is shoppable in three other colors for $38.

Osea Bestsellers Bodycare Set

Gift sets are always a good bet if you're stuck on what to get your step mom for Mother's Day. This luxe 4-piece set from Osea comes complete with body butter, body oil, body balm, and body scrub (all inside a cute zip bag) so she can treat herself to a full-on spa day right at home!

The Osea Bestsellers Bodycare Set is $52 (a $78 value).

UrbanStems The Parade Bouquet

Flowers are welcome any time of year, but a gorgeous bouquet like this one is so fitting for Mother's Day. With UrbanStems, you can select a specific delivery date, and your step mom will receive a fresh grouping, ready to display at home!

The Parade Bouquet is $60, with the option to add a vase for $15+.

Material Kitchen The Cloud Pitcher

Whether it's used for a batched cocktail or a big serving of iced coffee, this stylish glass pitcher from Material Kitchen is a statement piece to be reckoned with. The glass is surprisingly light for transport, and it's dishwasher-safe for added convenience after the fact!

The Cloud Pitcher comes in three other colors for $95.

Ban.do Meal Planner

This meal planner pad is *the* way to keep track of what she'll make and when she's gonna eat it. It has three lines for each day of the week, plus a roomy list for ingredients she may be missing.

This meal planner is $15 from Ban.do and has 50 sheets.

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Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

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