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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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. 🙂
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.
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!
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.
I can't wait to see how many readers don't even know who Leif Garret is. ;) Regardless, he or Scott Baio didn't show up for my birthday either.
Now that is a fabulous way to celebrate a 16th birthday! Thank you for reminding me of all the special things my mama did for me. Off to buy some flowers!
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
Oh yes, Aqua Net and the sprayed-up bangs! I can seriously relate to that. Great story and great 16th birthday!
The only part you left out was our joint "Sweet Sixteen" party where we played pinochle (peaknucle?) lol
You have made me laugh and cry at the same time. What a wonderful Mom. And you have followed in her footsteps.
How cool was your mom to do that!? I also was "in love" with Leif Garret! LOL
Love this story! My sister and I were crazy over him too. We used to convince my grandpa to drive us to the store to buy Tiger Beat magazine... The good 'old days.
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! : )
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)
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!! ;)
How lovely...my goal is to be that kind of fun mom...for always.
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!
I completely forgot about Leif til your post. Memories. Beautiful flowers!
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.
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.
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.
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 ;)
Love your stories! Love that vase with the You Rock Bouq. Did it come with the Bouq? Thanks!
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
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 !
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.
What a great story by a great writer with a great mother!!! :)