flowers and decorating

This mother’s day I’m treating my mother with flowers.

Beautiful, wonderful, colorful, vibrant, incredible-smelling flowers like this You Rock bouquet from Bouqs.

I’m treating her for all the dances she chaperoned and the cookies she baked and friends she carpooled and the student council posters she printed with “Vote for Kari She’s a Life Saver.”  For all the times she lifted me up and the times she kept me grounded.

And for every single minute and hour and day that she made even more special.

Just like my sixteenth birthday.

spring porch decorating with flowers

I remember the morning of my sixteenth birthday like it was yesterday.

Maybe because it was.

Just kidding.

You know I’m 22. 🙂

That morning I got dressed with my new pair of glittered legwarmers and ballet shoes, applied bright red lipstick, sprayed my bangs up to greet the heavens with a can of Aqua Net….

….and pranced downstairs in all my glory.

Colorful flowers spring porch decorating with flowers

Sixteen.

This was the big one.

I couldn’t wait to see the celebration.  Would they have balloons?  A banner?  A band?  A parade?  Lief Garrett driving up in a new convertible?

With a beating heart full of excitement, I nonchalantly I strolled into the kitchen.

There they all sat.  My ever-supportive family.  Eating Wheaties and toast.

Silence greeted me.

No one even looked up when I walked in the room.

spring porch decorating flowers

I peered at them anxiously.  Did they see the amazing, incredible legwarmer wearing, red lipstick applying teenager that stood in front of them?

Maybe it was hard to tell it was me through the aqua net haze.

I sighed dramatically for extra emphasis and plopped down in my chair.

And rolled my eyes.

And sighed again.

Nothing.

No response.  Not even a smile.

Apparently that morning there was not or ever would be….

…..a Happy Birthday in sight.

how to decorate with flowers

I stormed out the door in a huff, climbed into the station wagon, crossed my arms in protest and waited for my mother to drive me to school….

….because apparently Leif wasn’t showing up.

She opened the car door, put the keys in the ignition, started the car and slowly backed out of the driveway.

I let out a cross between a sigh and a grunt, promptly ignored her and slunk down in the seat.

About two blocks into the drive, I managed to pull my eyes away from my legwarmers to stare out the window.

I blinked.

And blinked again.

What?

spring porch decorating

There before my very eyes a celebration unfolded.  Sign after sign filled the side of the road.

Giant signs.

Full of glitter and sparkles and topped off with balloons.

There must have been dozens and dozens and dozens of them.

Filling every corner and stop sign between our house and the school.

And every sign was the same. “Happy Birthday KariAnne” they read.

Every single glittered line and word for me.

how to decorate with flowers

I turned to my mother with the biggest red lipstick smile a brand-new sixteen-year-old could muster.

“You remembered,” I said.  “I thought you forgot my birthday.  I thought you all forgot.”

She smiled back at me, shifting the station wagon into park and conveniently forgetting the earlier eye rolls and legwarmer tantrum.

“I love you,” she said. “May your birthday be the happiest one ever.”

And it was.

Even without Lief. 🙂

spring porch decorating with flowers

Why not treat your mother this Mother’s Day with fresh flowers from Bouqs.

Bouqs is a new flower delivery service that’s easy, fresh, and beautiful with flowers cut the day you order.  The flowers are shipped directly to your door from sustainable, eco-friendly farms.

These beautiful arrangements on my back porch are You Rock and the White Knight.  They came fresh from the grower packaged with care.  When the flowers arrived, I opened the package and the room was filled with the most wonderful smell.  I cut the stems under water and arranged them on the back porch for a little spring surprise.  The quality and quantity exceeded my expectations.  The Rock Star arrangement was so big, I could have easily made two arrangements from it.  The colors are so beautiful and vibrant and full of the joy that only fresh flowers can bring.

But my favorite?

What you see is EXACTLY what you get.  The flowers I ordered looked even better than the pictures online.

Bouqs is offering a special promotion for Mother’s Day.  Simply use the code BLOOM15 to receive 15% off your order and of course the shipping is always free.

Create a special day for your mother.

For all the special days she created for you. 🙂

disclosure:  This post was written as part of a partnership with Bouqs.

All opinions on flowers and mothers and birthdays are completely my own.

Please my disclosure policy for more information.

Want to know how to decorate your home for free?
Click here to get my FIVE BEST secrets.

Comments

  1. Image for Kim Gibson Kim Gibson

    Leif Garret was such a babe staring up at me from my Tiger Beat magazine with Scott Baio! Haha! So glad your family remembered. For a minute there, I thought you were going to have a Molly Ringwald Sixteen Candles moment!

    1. Image for gina gina

      My thoughts exactly! Too bad last time I saw him it was on Celebrity Rehab! If only we had dated him, we could have saved him! Hope he is well.

  2. Image for Shelley @ Calypso in the Country Shelley @ Calypso in the Country

    Ahh, Leif Garrett. I remember him well. That hair! How many Tiger Beat and Teen Beat magazines did he make the cover?...I was also a big fan of Scott Baio like the readers above! And like the comment above, I thought a Sixteen Candles moment was coming up. "What's happening hot stuff?"...ahh the 70s and 80s! To this day, I still hope to see Ferris Bueller when I go to a parade... Shelley

  3. Image for Suzanne Suzanne

    Oh yes, Aqua Net and the sprayed-up bangs! I can seriously relate to that. Great story and great 16th birthday!

  4. Image for Janet Cole Janet Cole

    The only part you left out was our joint "Sweet Sixteen" party where we played pinochle (peaknucle?) lol

  5. Image for Maureenn Maureenn

    You have made me laugh and cry at the same time. What a wonderful Mom. And you have followed in her footsteps.

  6. Image for Peg Peg

    I want to sit on your beautiful porch, and eat cake on milk glass dishes, and sip sweet tea through a pretty straw, and listen to you tell me heartwarming stories, because I love you, too, KariAnne! : )

  7. Image for Trudi Trudi

    Ah... Leif Garret! How his bad-boy self made me swoon. He and JimmyMcNichol were the reasons I kept my eye out for Teen Beat and Tiger Beat magazines. I remember the Sunday night I chose to go to church instead of staying home to watch a Lief Garret movie that was on that night. (No DVR's, mind you!) I remember being proud of myself for making such a grown up (and sacrificial!) decision. (grin)

  8. Image for Cynthia @ A Button Tufted Life... Cynthia @ A Button Tufted Life...

    Oh… Leif… It was never the same for me after I saw him in an after school special where he took drugs and threw up on the school bus. It ruined the romance for me I'm afraid! Anyway... I love your story and the beautiful flowers. Your mother sounds amazing… apple... tree… no big surprise!! ;)

  9. Image for Judy Judy

    You crack me up, Karianne. You described everything so well that I was literally watching a little movie of you in my head . . . prancing down the stairs and all. Happy Friday!

  10. Image for Julia - Vintage with Laces Julia - Vintage with Laces

    I had to chuckle at the post title. Yes, I remember him as well. What a sweet story, KariAnne. You have an amazing Mom and you are such a wonderful Mom yourself. The flowers are beautiful and oh my, I'm in love with that huge wicker tray.

  11. Image for Julie Renee Julie Renee

    What a beautiful story! My sister really liked him too. One time we went and saw his show and afterwards we both got a kiss from him! She even talked to him once or twice on the phone. I hope he is doing well. I love your blog and look forward to reading it all the time.

  12. Image for nana nana

    Thank you and love you. May everyday be as special as you and may it always be filled with balloons, confetti, and signs saying you are amazing. You were a rock star when you were born and even more so today. Again I love you.

  13. Image for Lori Lori

    Wow - what a story - what a family!!! That is so awesome!! Now, I want to do that for my girls!! But could I ignore the eye rolling and foot stomping and not cave? Probably not! Happy Early Mother's Day ;)

  14. Image for amy amy

    Love the story but my question is...how many people just looked up Leif? Let's be honest, that was my first reaction...not to see who he is bc I also remember him but to see what he is up to now! Ah, the age of internet! Lol

  15. Image for Marijean Marijean

    You are such a gifted writer and we are all so fortunate to be able to enjoy your writings. Happy Mothers day to you also !

  16. Image for Marisa Franca @ All Our Way Marisa Franca @ All Our Way

    Why Miz KariAnne did you bake that beautiful cake to go along with the flowers?? Hope your Mother's Day is Special too -- after all you took after your own mother -- YOU. ARE. A. ROCK. STAR!! Yes indeed, mothers do put up a lot -- at times I was a little too full of myself but my beautiful mamma still loved me.

Comments are closed.