Okay, let’s get some business done first:

If you’re waiting on me for a Shop My Closet shoe bid response, it’s coming. I was away from my computer all day yesterday.

Also, if you’re doing the 30 Day Husband Encouragement Challenge with me…YAY! I hope yours is going fantabulously, but even if it’s not, hang in there. It’s worth it! Pinky promise.

I thought it might be kind of fun to have a little chat about our progress so far. So THIS Saturday at 10 AM (CST), I’ll be posting an update about how mine’s gone so far (if you follow on Instagram, you’ve probably noticed my nightly updates already), and I’ll be online to talk to you guys, via the comments, about how yours is going as well. I’d love it if you’d stop by and share. I’ll be sure to respond right away so it’ll (almost) be like we’re chatting about it over coffee (except I’d be sipping a chai tea latte, of course). I realize it might be smarter to have a Twitter party, but I don’t actually know how to do that (I’m Twitter-illiterate…Twilliterate?…oh, man, now I sound like I’m obsessed with RPatz), and I also want other people to be able to see/read the comments and be encouraged/encourage.

So, yeah. Meet me here at 10 AM this Saturday? I’ll be the one in the navy polka dot p.j. pants.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

Okey dokey. So, you’re aware that this Sunday is Mother’s Day, yes? AKA: the holiday that reduces grown men to empty-eyed shells of their former selves as they wander the grocery store aisles late the Saturday night before, mournfully trailing their fingers over the bruised and wilting petals of the last three bunches of $4 carnations and wondering if they can actually get disinherited for buying their elderly mother the last card on the mangled display—you know the one which has a sparkly-red-undie-clad Chip ‘n Dale dancer jumping out of a cake with the words, “Mommy dearest” issuing in a bubble from his lips on the front. (The answer: Dude, YES! Run far away!).

Yup. It’s pretty much a fake holiday—right up there with Valentine’s Day and Cinco de Mayo (raise your hand if you think that Cinco de Mayo is Mexico’s Independence Day…hmmm…thought so).  Now, International Punctuation Day, though. There’s a holiday I can get behind.

Still, for all its forced closeness, unfortunate greeting cards, and the potential it has to be a very sad day for many (the barren, those who have lost or are estranged from their mothers, those who have lost a child), here are 5 reasons why I still think Mother’s Day is a good thing.

1.

Because I will be awakened by the soft chorus of little voices saying, “Happy Mama Day!”

2.

Because it gives me an excuse to have pigs in a blanket, a cinnamon roll, and chocolate milk for breakfast (I can almost feel the glorious ache of the stomach cramp I’m going to get already).

3.

Because I get presents just for pushing children out of my body. Hang on a sec. Let me reword that. Because I ONLY get presents for pushing children out of my body??? (when I looked at the phrase “pushing children out of my body,” it suddenly occurred to me that a Congressional Medal of Honor might be more appropriate than a charm bracelet…this goes for having children cut out of your body too).

4.

Because I am pretty much guaranteed to be surrounded by my favorite people in the whole wide world. All. day. long.

5.

Because I will get a nap (I’m looking forward to it already).

BONUS:

Because I get to offer you an awesome giveaway, with not one but TWO winners.

Our first place winner will receive these pretty, sterling silver chandelier leaf earrings from Blue Nile.

leaf earrings

leaf earrings 5

I don’t wear a lot of silver these days, but I absolutely love the way these manage to be sparkly (the photos don’t do justice to how they glitter when the light hits them) and still carry a bit of a vintage flair because of the delicate leaf design.

Blue Nile was nice enough to send me a pair for me AND one for you guys. I wore mine with a dress and a statement necklace to church last Sunday, and I got compliments on my new earrings from several friends.

leaf earrings3leaf earrings

leaf earrings4    

I can see pairing them with a simple tee, jeans, and wedges to wear on date night or even wearing them with a more formal dress to a fancy occasion (because I attend so many of those these days). They really are that versatile.

And light! I love how weightless they feel on my ears and, because they are made of a series of interconnected little silver “beads,” they bend and move with each turn of your head.

I love them, and I know you will too!

And since earrings are nothing without a fabulous dress to wear them with, our first place winner will ALSO win $50 shop credit to Shabby Apple, the land of gorgeous, vintage clothing and accessories, like the Gondola dress, which I have drooled over for at least 2 years now.

gondola

In addition, another lucky winner will receive $25 shop credit to Isaboo Designs, which is run by the adorable Erin, who makes a variety of pretty handmade pillow covers, burlap banners, and other super-cute accessories for you or your home.

isaboo designs

All you have to do to enter is:

1) Fill out the easy Rafflecopter form below

a Rafflecopter giveaway

and

2) Leave me a comment telling me what you love or are most looking forward to about Mother’s Day.

0 Comments

  1. Pingback: graffiti
  2. I love that my 80 yr old Mom makes feel so specials because all 6 of her daughters have become such good mom’s and have passed it on to the her grand-daughters and great-grand-daughters!!

  3. Got to gather all mothers and daughters connected with my household (mine, my mother-in-law, and our roommate’s mother), my step-daughter – and we were able to treat them to a play (Driving Miss Daisy) at our local theater of the performing arts. So nice to spend an afternoon with all of these wonderful women.

  4. This year was sweet because it was the first time that my three year old “got” the idea of making a day special for someone (me!) and she even had a great little art project gift for me that she was actually able to keep a secret! So fun!

  5. I had to delete my original reply because I misread it and was in a bad mood when I posted originally… let’s try this again. Especially since it’s the day after:
    Mother’s day was more special this year than ever before and I don’t know why… it just was. No fanfare, nothing spectacular, but both my boys made it a point to tell me how much they loved me yesterday, completely unprompted. And I was able to spend some time with my own Mama who needed our love more than ever so it was a beautiful day.
    Happy Mother’s Day to all you ladies out there whether you have children “of your own” or not. It takes a village and every one leaves your mark on the future just by being amazing women. Thank you!!

  6. Mother’s Day comes shortly after my only childs’ birthday. My first Mother’s Day was wonderful and this one, 40 years later continues to be spectacular. This is because I happen to have the most wonderful son in the world, in my eyes anyway!

  7. I’m looking forward to spending the day with some of my favorite people-my husband, my daughter, my mom, and my mother in law. I’m also looking forward to going to church and praising God for blessing me with such an amazing, beautiful silly little girl.

  8. I’m looking forward to a lazy Sunday spent with my 2 year old! But that’s most Sundays in my life. 🙂 My husband is deployed, my mom lives 40+ hours away, so it’ll just be her and I.

  9. I’m looking forward to my first Mother’s Day! My son is 7.5 months old & so much fun. I can’t wait to spend all day with him and my husband. Also, my birthday is the day after Mother’s day this year so I’ll have an “extended” celebration.

    Hopefully these celebrations consist of a trip to the flower conservatory, a pedicure, a nap,and tons of baby kisses!

  10. I’m looking forward to helping my Mama paint faux bricks on her wall! It’s something she’s been wanting to do for a while now, so I decided that I would finally tackle that project for her this Mother’s Day.

  11. I am going to have my 4 year old and 10 month grandson’s over Saturday and the 7 year old grandson Sunday. I love spending time with them, they make me feel so wonderful. Di@Cottage-wishes

  12. Well, it’s kind of a weird mothers’ day because my husband is out of town at a conference. But I get to pick him up in the evening, so that’s good 🙂 At some point in the day, I’ll have him take pictures of me with my two year old and one month old. First mothers’ day as a mother of two!

  13. ok, so in no order of importance…
    1. Going to the bathroom by myself and not feeling guilty about locking the door
    2. possibly a long bubble bath with a tabloid magazine
    3. especially that all other activities are cancelled just so that we can be home together!
    4. going on a bike ride altogether and letting dad pack the lunch and pull the baby trailer=)

  14. I love Mother’s Day. My kids love to luv on me all day. After church, my husband and children make a big lunch, clean up every bit without my help and I will take a nap!

  15. i luv being around my family all day! i look forward to the day that i will hear a chorus of little voices saying “happy momma’s day!” hopefully soon, we finally finished the the requirements and are certified foster and foster to adopt family now!! i am lucky that i have one little voice that says “happy momma’s day!” and have for the last 7 yrs.

  16. Looking forward to spending the day with my beautiful daughter and my mom, sister and grandma and nieces and nehew. It will be a day full of love and laughter. God bless!

  17. Mother’s Day is very hard for me, this year especially. I’m beyond grateful for my mother, but my heart hurts that I don’t have children of my own yet, and with my 31st birthday looming, it’s even more frustrating. Still, I am thankful for the Godly mother I have! She’s awesome!

  18. My husband and I just moved back to my hometown area after I’d been living 5+ hours away from my family for 8 years. It’s not TOO far to visit but it’s still far enough that it makes it hard to do just in a weekend. It’s going to be so wonderful to see my mom and extended family this Sunday for Mother’s Day and they’re so close! It’s been so nice having my mom so close now and before I’d barely see her a few times a year now I see her a few times a week/ or two!

  19. Celebrating the wonderful gift of our little baby, due just one week later! Also, I’m loving getting to spend the month of May with my husband for the first time ever! Last year, we were separated by the Atlantic and planning our wedding, and the year before we didn’t know each other!

  20. Just simply enjoying some family time and praising God for this third little baby that I’m carrying! Being a “mom” is an honor and privilege that I think can come in many forms…and all are beautiful!

  21. Unfortunately my mom and I live several states away, so I won’t be able to be with her on Sunday. I guess I’m still looking forward to our phone convo that day, at least! Thanks for the giveaway!

  22. Spending the day with my husband and daughter (and our little bun in the oven, only 3 more weeks!).

  23. An excuse to soak up extra cuddle from my four sweet babies … who aren’t really babies anymore but a mama can ALWAYS pretend.

  24. Looking forward to eating out with my family and not cooking. I am looking forward to a nap as well hopefully. I am also looking forward to just spending the day with my husband and 2 precious little ones (5 and 2 1/2).

  25. What’s not to love about Mother’s Day 😉 Becoming a mother was one of the BEST days of my life! A holiday to celebrate…..you betcha!

  26. This year we’re spending it with my mother-in-law since my ‘home’ is 2 hours away my parents are coming to visit us next weekend. I am most looking forward to celebrating my sister in law who gave me another nephew as of this afternoon!! eek! 🙂

  27. I’m looking forward to breakfast with my hubby and the gifts my daughters made for me. Also, my favorite thing about Mother’s Day is saying “I’m not doing that today…it’s Mother’s Day!”

  28. I’m looking forward to my daughter coming home from college and having all my birdies back in my nest. We’ll have breakfast in my bed, cooked by my daughter and the boys, then on to my mama’s grave, followed by planting pansies for my ex’s mama. Fake holiday, or not, any day with all my birdies is a great one!

  29. Well Mother’s Day is my birthday and my baby could be born as well! I am due today but I have a feeling it will be mother’s day/birthday that baby boy will be here.

  30. I am looking forward to spending the day with my four year old daughter, and making the last mother’s day of only one child special! We welcome daughter #2 in July, and it is really important to me to make special memories with my 4 year old now, before her life gets crazy!

  31. I’m hoping to get my nose pierced again after my last one got pulled out (and subsequently closed) by my daughter. And by pulled out, I mean her hair pulled the stud out of the hole…it didn’t rip my nose!

  32. I love to get presents from my kids that they made themselves! They are the best! I cherish them and save everyone of them! I love to celebrate it with my momma too!

  33. This is my first Mother’s Day so I am excited to see what my husband comes up with. And, I already told him I want to spend the day just the three of us. Maybe a hike and a picnic.

  34. I think watching my kids plan is half the fun. My 6 year old daughter (also named Abby!) has been having “secret” meetings with my husband all week.

  35. Those earrings are gorgeous and so is that dress! I am looking forward to my first Mother’s day and I am curious to see what my husband does!

  36. My favorite part of mothers day is the same thing that is my favorite part of everyday….hearing my daughter say “I love you Momma!” I also don’t mind going out for a fancy coffee date with my husband and daughter where I can indulge in a little extra chocolate!!!

  37. I am so excited about everything for this MOther’s Day as it is first Mother’s Day and I thought this day would never come! I am trying not to get my hopes up too high though and just enjoy what comes my way. So the answer to your question is that I am looking forward to the day itself!

    1. OMG your last name is the same as my maiden name! I don’t think I have ever met anyone with this last name that wasn’t family! Sorry for the random comment, I just had to say something :-). I am sure you are aware of how unique the last name is lol!

  38. Unfortunately I have to spend my mother’s day morning out at breakfast with my mother in law, I’d much rather be sleeping in, nothing against her. My favorite part is being excused from all household chores and my husband not being able to complain about it. 🙂 BTW pigs in a blanket for breakfast sound delicious!

I love hearing from you guys!