A Mother's Day Wish List

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Here’s a little round up of all my favorite things this Mother’s Day. (For all details and links to resources, visit my SHOP page.)

And, for a sappy pre-Mother’s Day post, keep reading…

Mother’s Day is always sentimental to me.

I remember when all I ever wanted to be called was “MAMA”. For fourteen long years I waited to hear those words.

These days I hear it from my little blessings ALL THE TIME. “Mama, what are we eating?” “Mama, where are you?”(I hear from the bathroom door) “Mama, where are my shoes?” “Mama, I need help.” “Mama, I'm ready for you to tuck me in.”

I have been told that being a mother is the hardest but most rewarding thing you will ever do in life. I agree. The calling, although it may be exhausting at times(shout-out to all the quarantine moms) is always rewarded abundantly.

Just when you think you are at the end of your rope, those twinkling eyes and sweet little arms know exactly how to win you over. With the best squeeze, they unexpectedly whisper “Mama, I love you.” And for that moment, I pause and everything feels wonderful in the world.

So, to all the MOMS - the mamas, the future moms, the almost moms, the birth mothers, the adoptive mamas, the grandmothers, the step-moms, the aunts, the nannies… (because it truly takes a village)

Cheers to you! May your day be full of peace and joy and hope and laughter.

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A Circus-themed 1st Birthday Party, Pre-Quarantine

Celebrating a birthday soon? Receiving a recent E-vite to one of our favorite four year old’s birthday party has me reminiscing of the times when we could celebrate parties in a grand way. I remember the way we celebrated our first child’s very first birthday. Because I love doing parties in a BIG way, I thoughtfully selected a circus theme way in advance and started planning all the custom details to make this first birthday special. The custom invites from Paper Built Shop were carefully designed, printed and mailed to all our friends and family. I had a birthday poster made to commemorate our birthday boy’s first year of achievements. The name and birthday banners along with the precious smash cake outfit, keepsakes we have treasured, were carefully crafted through Etsy. An artistic friend painted the lion photo booth for me and a local baker made the fabulous fondant and buttercream cake you see below. When the big day arrived, the celebration came together complete with a Big Top for guests to dine in the shade and a mini Big Top for the kids to play, a bouncy house, a ball pit, clown noses, games, presents and lots of cake! As the circus music played, our friends and family arrived to celebrate our son with plentiful smiles and hugs. It was a grand and joyous day!

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Browse the photos for all the party details and to see my adorable Oscar when he was just one year old.

Birthday parties are going to look different these days.

Making the best of the situation and adhering to physical distancing, our dear friends decided to celebrate in a new way this year and host a drive-by bubble parade for their son who was turning four. Requesting no gifts, they simply invited each attendee to drive by their home during on a Saturday morning to blow BUBBLES and give a SHOUT out to the birthday boy. Some guests decorated their cars, some played music and sang, and everyone blew bubbles. Each guest had their special moment with the birthday boy as they paused in their vehicle in front of the house. It was so easy on everyone yet it made this little boys day! It was simple and perfect.

I typically love a big celebration with all the works but considering the times, I think this party couldn’t have been more meaningful. Simple in its creation, it made a BIG impact on this little boy and brightened the day of every participant. Now, that’s GRAND.

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Orchids and Silver Linings…

I have always had an attraction to orchids.  The beautiful bouquet of exotic blooms on such a dainty stem with these quirky roots that have a mind of their own; they get me every time.

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Flowers have always refreshed my soul, so it is no surprise that orchids captivated me.  In Alabama, I always bought them to enjoy inside the home.  I loved displaying them in the perfect container to show off their magical beauty to guests.  They also inspired me as I would walk past going about my daily tasks. I loved that their blooms lasted much longer than cut flowers.  The only problem was that after their first glorious show, I could never get them to re-bloom again.  Impatient and frustrated with the inability to get the plants to re-bloom, I would regretfully toss them.  It was not until recently that I have a whole new appreciation for orchids.

Since moving to Florida almost two years ago, I kept hearing how this was the perfect orchid growing climate.  With the temperate weather and humidity here, supposedly the orchids would naturally grow in the wild.  With this new motivation, I began moving my spent orchids outside after blooming.  I would put them in various spots in hopes of giving them a new life; some under the lanai and some under a tree where there was dappled sunlight and rain.  It was just an experiment really.  I never tended to them(other than an occasional splash of water when I remembered).  No fertilizer.  Nothing really.  I practically forgot about them.

Until one morning recently, when I walked outside to find the most unexpected surprise.  There she was in all her splendor.  My neglected orchid, that had been dormant for a year or more, had practically transformed overnight.  Out of nowhere, there was this pioneer bloom and all these tiny buds to follow suit.   I was stopped in my tracks. 

A re-birth. Beautiful positivity.  At no better time than I could have planned or predicted, she miraculously came through.  A silver lining of hope.   

• For more orchid inspiration: Check out the The Tiny Orchid Co. on Instagram(who wants to take a road trip???). And if you are ever in Sarasota, definitely visit Marie Selby Botanical Gardens. It is magical.