disclosure: this post is sponsored by Lamps Plus
You might have heard me mention this before…
…but there are days when I’m amazing.
Days when every foot that I put is right.
Days when every “t” is crossed and every “i” is dotted.
Twice.
Days when my hair curls perfectly and my nails grow overnight and my new velvet pants look like they stepped off the runway and my red lipstick stays on after two cups of coffee.
Those are the days when it is a good day to be me.
And then?
A day comes along that all that amazing goes out the window.
I wake up and randomly pluck a hole in my eyebrow and leave the tags on my jacket and slip on a hill and bring a roast to garden club and reglue my Lee Press On Nails and break down in tears in a newspaper publisher’s office.
Those are the days when I’m trying with every beat of my heart and wave of my hand to be amazing.
But instead of amazing?
I’m simply….
….so close.
I spent yesterday getting the house ready for all the wonderful, incredible, amazing ladies that are showing up this weekend for the second annual Inspire Workshop.
I added more pumpkins to the dough bowl and changed out the batteries on the candles and straightened the bookshelves and added beads to my side table and fluffed the pillows on my new slipcovered couches.
And mid-fluff the phone rang.
It was my mother.
And just like EF Hutton, when my mother speaks….
…I listen.
“Are you going to Waco tomorrow?” she asked me.
“Yes,” I said, excitedly. “They asked me to speak during the Silobration. I’ll be at the Findery. I’m going to be signing books and I’m on a panel with Leslie and Amy and we are giving away some really fun stuff and talking about some of our favorite things that we have to decorate our homes for Christmas.”
All the words came tumbling out one after another—spilling over the phone line.
“It sounds fun,” my mother replied.
“Do you want to drive down to Waco with me? “ I said. “I’m driving a couple of friends down and you could come with us.”
I could hear my mother pondering this suggestion on the other end of the line.
“I’m not sure,” she replied. “I’d have to rearrange a few things to make it work.”
And then she added, “Is Joanna Gaines going to be there?”
Ummmm.
No.
Not even close.
“Mother,” I explained patiently. “Joanna Gaines is a giant big deal. She is running the Silobration and decorating her farmhouse and putting together a TELEVISION NETWORK.
And besides—she is basically in charge of Waco.”
I paused and tried to put it gently to my mother.
“She doesn’t really have time to come to a book signing.”
“So Joanna won’t be there?” she replied with a wistful tone.
“Okay. I’ve already heard you talk before….
…so I think I’ll just stay here.”
Sigh.
See what I mean?
Somedays I’m so amazing your head would spin.
And all the other days of the week?
I’m so close. 🙂
This slice of humble pie is brought to you by this amazing slipcovered sofa.
It has the softest polyester and feather filled back cushions channel-sewn into compartments for durability and the slipcover comes off for easy washing.
I shopped around looking for a quality slipcovered sofa and Lamps Plus had one of the best prices I could find.
You can see more about the sofa here.
And the best part?
It’s only amazing.
Never so close.
disclosure: this post is brought to you by Lamps Plus.
I am lucky enough to be an ambassador for them, but all opinions are my own.
Please see my advertise page for more information.
Oh my gosh!!!! Girl, I would travel to Waco to hear you speak even for the 10th time...because you ARE amazing! Here's a page out of your book... P.S. I used your blog as an example in our 12th grade Literature class because they are creating blogs as a project. P.P.S. I hate what I'm wearing today. I changed my clothes twice before I left home and I still don't like what I have on. :( The sun'll come out tomorrow though. :) Nancy
I’m seriously crying, KariAnne! You are such a big deal!! You were the blog that inspired me to start years ago. You are my Joanna. And now I call you friend. It’s going to be amazing and people will come to see you.
Your mom is so used to you being amazing, that it is normal to her now lol! Love your new sofa! Have fun with all of your exciting happenings!
If I could get to Waco I would love to hear you speak! You are a talented writer and home designer and I bet Joanna Gaines would say the same!
KariAnne, how are you going to clean these slip covers? Manufacturer recommends dry cleaning. Couch is beautiful and great price....biggest drawback is dry cleaning.
Oh, Karianne!!!! If Waco wasn't a zillion miles away from me, I would definitely come to see and hear you. Maybe I could inhale some of your abundant joy and creativity if I got close enough? This doesn't just happen to bloggers, by the way. Way back when I was in charge of a very busy county government office, overseeing many departments and about 100 staff, my dear late mother in law introduced me to everyone as a secretary. There is nothing wrong with being a secretary, I couldn't have done my job without my own, but that sure blew a big fat hole in my ego. Which is just what I needed, lol.
Dang! I would have come to hear you in a heartbeat if you were mine...and just to go to Waco again. OH! How I LOVE that city, and it just keeps getting better. But more than that...that sofa! Thanks for the referral. The sofa in my rec room downstairs I have disliked since I bought it. I may have to consider replacing it with this one. :-) (By the way...my living room is done! My Big Lots pillow is done! And you inspired much of it. I'm so happy when I walk into that room. Thanks dear!) Happy Thursday and book signing!
It may take awhile, but mothers just think of their children as their sweet babies, someday she will see you the as the person you have become, You are a fine young woman who has become very successful. I love reading your books and your blog.
I bought almost the identical couch plus two chairs and ottoman from IKEA. I LOVE THEM. the slipcovers are perfect with my two doggies.
I have to work on Friday or I would go to hear you Speak and shop😊you will be awesome!!!!! The info on the sofa is great and I loved your tips for choosing the right paint color,
Today!!!!! I cannot wait to meet you. I will be there. You are my inspiration.
Please don't be offended by your mother's comment. Sometimes things come out differently than we actually mean. I agree with Linda's comment. You have creativity oozing out of you 24/7 . We love you !
Love that you are always so real...and love that sofa(!) You are amazing indeed. :)
Those sofas look intriguing! I have an ikea one and it just looks a little slumpy sometimes! Those look so nice and crisp! Best wishes on your speaking engagement! Hoping to meet see you in person one of these days!
I love the mini wood pumpkins in your dough bowl. Where did you find those?
Suzanne, I got those at Home Goods! Happy day friend! karianne
Ha - great story - I'm sure we've all been there at one time or another! :) Love your sofa, the pumpkins, and everything! I so wish I could meet you in Waco today! Say hi to everyone for me - can't wait to hear all the details! 💗
Sorry..but I had to go back and reread what you wrote several times..lol..I still don’t understand really what was wrong? Were you hurt or offended that your mom didn’t want to go and hear you speak? I'm not sure how old your mom is, or how far Waco is from you, but I don’t think she intentionally set out to hurt your feelings, KariAnne. She was honest with you and it likely would be quite tiring to go and hear what she's already heard before. Sometimes, it’s just easier for us oldies to stay home. She already knows how "great" you are.
Where did you get those absolutely gorgeous beautiful slip co ears. I live in. Anada
Excuse the above, misspelled words. I meant covers not co ears and yes I do know how to spell where I Live. .... Canada
You said that the slipcovers come off "for easy washing," however, the link indicates that these are dry-clean only. Have you already washed these? Just wondering if "dry clean only" is absolute.
Let us know if Joanna does show up! Love the mini pumpkins and good luck on your speech and the Inspire workshop!!!
Don't worry, your mom KNOWS you are amazing! p.s. Please stop plucking your eyebrows - at some point they stop growing back and nobody ever told me that!! Someday you'll wish you had more lol.
You are amazing-your mom is just conserving her energy, as she knows you are AMAZING!!!!! Love the couch-it looks so comfy!!!!
Your writing is very entertaining, sometimes funny. Your photographs are great! However, might you consider matching the photo to the storyline - as in a book, where the illustration is designed to follow through what is happening? Just a thought...
Oh KariAnne, I'd love to hear you speak! I always look forward to your posts!! I love your new slipped covered sofa and those beautiful framed etched botanicals behind the sofa. Would you mind sharing where you found them?
You should hear the things MY mother says! And she does not mean what they sound like I don't think but it hurts my feelings. I just chuck it up as that's the way she is and go on...
Ask me if I wanna be your mother!!! Yesssssssssssssssss, in a heartbeat.
Enjoy your time in Waco. I know that you will be amazing!
You are always amazing and your mom knows it.
Now this is funny! My mother would so say that! I’m coming to Waco Friday with family but MOM not coming either!
You are always amazing....even on your bot-so-good days. You always uplift, encourage, and make others smile. Knock 'em dead in Waco! ❤
YOU ARE AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You ARE amazing!!! See three exclamations amazing. Your room looks lovely and cozy, love the rug could you tell me were you got it?
Dear Moms! They sure know how to make sure we're grounded. But YOU, my dear friend, are better than Joanna Gaines -- yep! You can make me laugh and cry all within several minutes. I admire Joanna Gaines, but I love and admire you.
I live how so many are trying to comfort you. You live in such an honest family that I can hear the conversation even with all the voice inflections. 🤣😜 Love the sofa.
Haha, Moms!... they're hilarious ...and down to earth! What do you want to bet Joanna's mom is saying the same thing to her?!? 😁😄😁
Hahaaaa, so true, Becky!! Wish I was headed to Waco. Better yet, wish I was in the car with you girls headed to Waco!! Have a fabulous time!!! Love slipcovered sofas. I consigned mine as it sadly didn't work in my room sizewise. They are so versatile and go with everything!
This rug! Where can I find it?
At the end of summer, my family and I came to Texas to visit the University of Dallas for my daughter who is a senior. We came all the way from Washington state. We visited Waco and I took pictures with Joanna Gaines" mom at their restaurant. It was nice but I would have liked to run into Joanna! Heres the thing... I also wanted to run into you!!! Would I see you when we were driving around neighborhoods? Maybe I would spot your house. I know I would recognize it. Maybe I would run into you if we went to Hobby Lobby. However, I had no reason to go to Hobby Lobby when I was on vacation! Oh well. Your Blog makes me happy. Thank you for all that you do. Believe me, If you had been speaking when we visited it would have made our trip greater than it already was.
Moms!! Gotta love them!! Mine can lift you up, then turn around and bring you right back down a notch or so. And I unknowingly probably do it to my daughter too! Love the new sofa. I've always wanted a slip covered sofa, but didn't know how I would like it after the covers were washed, kind of like how clothes always look better when they are brand new! ha ha If Waco wasn't so far from GA, I would come hear you!
I wish I could have done Waco with you and the couch is amazing. Just like you.
KariAnne, keep on being that special amazing gal that you are! Bless you!
You may have thought you were only close to amazing on Thursday, but let me tell you, on Saturday you were beyond amazing! So, some days if you don't quite make amazing, I think the days you are BEYOND amazing, more than balance out the so close to amazing days! What a great day Saturday was. I am so excited to pitch a couple of brands! You are not just amazing, you are FABULOUS! Your kind and giving spirit is a blessing to the world!
We were at Waco for the Silobration....amazing time. Wish I had known you were going to be there, we went to the Findery. In fact, I actually looked around for you, I thought you might attend!
You are ALWAYS AMAZING!
I just went to the lampsplus site to look at your sofa. It says the slipcover should be drycleaned! Have you washed yours? I would hate to have to dryclean as often as I would want to have it cleaned, plus I hate all the chemicals. What is your take on this issue?
Love the sofa and LOVE your mom!! xoxo
You are amazing, you are our Joanna Gaines ( wink). Your Mom is amazing ( she made you), hey straight talk, thats the best way. Her reply made me giggle. Biggest hugs! Katherine P.S. the annual Season of Giveaways started, pop over and get your entries in!
Out of the mouth of Mom's is the same as out of the mouth of babes....there is so much LOVE in honesty...especially when Momma's say it.....I'm positive you hit it out of the ballpark, and feel your Mom knew you would without her there. Otherwise, if she was truly worried about you and your success in Waco, Heaven and Earth would have been moving. :)