For Mother’s Day: Everyday Rituals & Gift Ideas
This Mother’s Day, we’ve gathered a few everyday rituals and thoughtful gift ideas from Soukra founder Pauline. When she feels her energy and flair waning, Pauline—a mother of two—returns to a handful of small rituals that help her reset. Whether you’re a mother, daughter, sister, cousin, niece, or aunt, we hope these offer a moment of pause—a short, thoughtful respite from the rhythm of everyday life.
A touch of self-care
The Orangeraie en Fleur candle by L’Odaïtès, with notes of orange blossom inspired by Tunisian gardens.
For an everyday reset, I turn to a few small rituals that bring both comfort and renewal. I keep the L’Odaïtès Orangeraie en Fleur Candle close by, lighting it at the end of the day as its delicate orange blossom fragrance fills the room, evoking the gardens of Tunisia in bloom. Paired with the L’Odaïtès Fine Fleur Body Cream, a deeply nourishing blend enriched with botanical oils, it becomes a moment to slow down and reconnect, leaving skin soft, supple, and lightly scented.
These small gestures, which are rooted in nature and tradition, offer a quiet pause, a way to restore both body and mind.
Schedule screen-free time
With so much of the day spent in front of screens, whether a computer or phone, I try to carve out time in the evening to read something in print. A magazine, a book, even the newspaper (we still subscribe to the Sunday print edition of the New York Tims) offer a different kind of focus, a slower rhythm to end the day.
On nights when I know I’ll fall asleep within minutes, I reach for something light and easy to dip into, like The Tunisians, a collection of short, one-page portraits. Or I page through DOM’s Architectural Guide to Tunis, letting its images and entries guide me and shape ideas for my next trip to Tunisia.
DOM ARCHITECTURE GUIDE TO TUNIS $50
Move your body
Whether it’s a 20-minute ab set, a quick walk, or a longer weekend run, movement has a way of shifting both mood and energy. I try to build it into my week—short sessions in the morning before the household wakes, and a longer stretch of time when I can.
I keep a fouta close at hand, light and versatile, to wipe away sweat or fold for support. Like so many Tunisian essentials, it’s both practical and quietly beautiful.
Dress up—even for the everyday
A light layer with architectural lines—an effortless way to elevate the everyday.
Working from home, with days filled by Zoom and WhatsApp calls, it’s easy to slip into the ease of jeans and a tee. When a stretch of days passes without in-person meetings, I try to bring a bit more intention to how I get dressed—small choices that help me feel more pulled together.
Even for something as routine as a trip to the grocery store, I’ll reach for a look that feels considered. Lately, that might mean something simple, layered with the Anissa Aida Swallow Wings Kimono Jacket, whose architectural lines bring a quiet sense of structure. Paired with the Anissa Aida Raffia Bag in Butter Yellow—a sculptural everyday piece that adds just the right touch of color.
And when I return home, I slip into my well-worn balgha slippers.
LES TROIS CHAMEAUX BROWN BALGHA SLIPPERS $74
Prepare something simple
A spoonful of baklouti harissa—bright, slow-cooked, and rooted in Tunisian tradition.
On evenings when time is short, I return to a few pantry staples that make cooking feel effortless. A drizzle of Tunisian extra virgin olive oil, a spoonful of baklouti harissa, or a handful of sea salt–packed capers can transform even the simplest meal.
These are the ingredients I reach for again and again—products rooted in tradition, prepared with care, and full of flavor. Whether tossed with pasta, layered onto roasted vegetables, or simply enjoyed with fresh bread, they bring a sense of ease to the kitchen.
A small gesture, perhaps, but one that turns a quick meal into something more considered.
LES MOULINS MAHJOUB EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL $32
LES MOULINS MAHJOUB HARISSA $14
LES MOULINS MAHJOUB CAPERS $15
Every day, we celebrate the communities of women around the world who shape, sustain, and move us forward. The ones who fight and endure, who break barriers, and who quietly move mountains. From the Tunisian designers, artisans, and entrepreneurs we partner with, to the creatives and experts behind our work, to the peers, friends, and small business owners we lean on, and the clients and customers we are grateful to serve. To our global community, thank you.
