Posted by Les Mauvaises Herbes
This text was written by Mariane in 2019… and oh my god, it feels like it was 20 years ago! And in this month of April 2026, as we update this post, Mariane is a mom herself. A little baby fresh out of the oven!
A story of motherhood, entrepreneurship & gratitude
In 2018, I had the chance to spend almost every day of her pregnancy with Audrey (one of the 3 wild women behind Les Mauvaises Herbes), as it coincided with the early days of starting the business.
We were so inseparable at that time that I felt like I was experiencing her pregnancy by proxy! I even gained a few pounds and had a sympathetic pregnancy (hmmm no okay, that was the effect of too many spaghetti dinners with tomato sauce during that period haha).
Charlotte was born on August 12, 2018, exactly one month after the official launch of the online store, and pretty much at the same time our first edition of our book À fleur de pots went to print!
You could say that 2018 (and that whole period in general) was a year full of… deliveries hahaha.
Because the company was also in its infancy and it was hard to go without one of its #girlbosses for too long, Audrey aka Wonder Woman started working again 8 weeks after giving birth. I still can't believe it. For two months, she came to work at the studio every day with her little one. Her mom, Danielle, came to help out two days a week.
The interaction between Danielle, Audrey, and Charlotte made me realize the intensity of the bond that is forged between a mother and her child, which remains just as vivid as the years go by. I was theoretically aware of it, and also through my relationship with my mother for as long as I can remember. However, this “motherhood by proxy” allowed me to see with my own eyes this pure love and selflessness that my mom has also given me since birth. I also realized that you remain your mother’s baby your whole life, whether you become a mother yourself or not.
So to you, Mom, and to all the mothers in the world, I send you my most sincere thanks. We wouldn’t be here without you. Thank you also, Audrey, for sharing your pregnancy and motherhood with me. You were so generous. I feel privileged to have been able to witness and take part in all those first moments.
What can a "mauvaise herbe" offer her mom?
You are the best person to know what your mom would like. This day exists primarily to show her that we appreciate her. But if you need ideas to do something different this year, here are mine!
For any occasion, my favorite gifts are:
- time
- handmade items
- living things (plants, not a puppy! …well, a puppy if you want, but an animal is for life!)
1. Give the gift of time
It could be an outing to a restaurant or the Botanical Garden, a walk in the forest, a day at the spa or the movies, a workshop, or a music concert.
In our community, one of the testimonials that comes up most often is from women who say that making homemade cosmetics, which they discovered through our book and our online store, has brought them closer to their mother and/or their daughters and that since then, these shared moments have multiplied.
You can't even imagine how much we love reading this kind of story.
If the experience interests you, you can obviously give our book À fleur de pots: cosmétiques maison simples and our 10-ingredient starter kit for skincare (pssst… we have tons of free content on the online store), or simply a soy candle making kit or whipped body butter kit for a simple first experience.
Otherwise, our workshops are also a wonderful opportunity to share a beautiful moment together.
2. Give a handmade gift
Handmade is easy and brings immense joy to those who receive it. Here are some recipes that we love to give!
Eye contour cream - rose and immortelle
A rich, silky cream perfect for preserving the suppleness and vitality of the delicate skin around the eyes. Its texture is thicker than what we usually formulate and it is made of refined ingredients that give it a luxurious feel. A luxurious treatment!
Préparation
45 min
Conservation
6 à 12 mois
Rendement
50 ml
Face serum for mature skin
Here's a great serum recipe to support the health of mature skin, as well as skin with imperfections. It contains rosehip oil, an oil with incomparable healing and repairing properties.
Préparation
2 min
Conservation
6-12 mois
Rendement
50 ml
Whipped Shea Body Butter
We love shea butter for its many properties: softening, healing, nourishing, perfect for baby bumps and irritated baby bottoms, fights against the harmful effects of the sun, non-comedogenic, etc.! We suggest transforming it into an all-purpose whipped meringue, with a luxurious texture and easy application.
Préparation
30 min
Conservation
12 mois
Rendement
250 ml
And what about new moms?
In addition to the options above, I like giving small personalized gifts to my mom friends.
Coffee eye balm for tired eyes
Feeling tired and your body letting you know with dark circles under your eyes? You can activate blood circulation around your eyes by applying this super simple coffee balm. And it smells great too.
Préparation
15 min
Conservation
6-12 mois
Rendement
50 ml
No-rinse cleansing water
My solution for countering the discomfort and irritation caused by diapers is to choose simple, natural products. But when an explosive number two from last night's peas makes itself known (literally) or a morning pee threatens mini's delicate skin, a gentle and effective cleaning is essential.
- Estelle xx
Préparation
5 min
Conservation
1 mois
Rendement
230 ml
3. Give plants or flowers
I love giving plants, especially babies I’ve propagated myself. I feel like it’s like offering a bit of life, a touch of green.
As for flowers, more and more florists are offering dried flower bouquets or local flowers, like our friends at Jungle Fleur whom we absolutely love. Otherwise, take advantage of the summer season to do some foraging and drying, and keep it all jealously to offer later!
Now you are all set to spoil the moms around you! <3 Happy Mother’s Day to everyone!
Mariane xx
