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Mothers Day

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Why I’m Getting My Mom Butter For Mother’s Day

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My Mom is the type who loves me no matter what I do–even if I were to get her butter for Mother’s Day–which is what I plan on doing.  Butter as in BUTTER CHARDONNAY!

A Mother’s Day Butter Chardonnay Gift Basket

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I made my Mom this fun wine gift basket for Mother’s Day, and I just might add a real tub of butter in it right before I give it to her, because, who doesn’t love butter? My Mom has a great sense of humor and would smile at my butter tub.

I know for certain that the star of the gift basket,  JaM Cellars Butter Chardonnay, will bring a smile to my Mama’s face.

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Isn’t she beautiful? My Mom’s name is Sharon Rose, but even though there is a beautiful flower in her name, I think she would enjoy a bottle of delicious wine over a bouquet of flowers as a Mother’s Day. She deserves a gift that will delight her and that is as fun as she is. I didn’t want a typical Mother’s Day gift for her. I wanted to personalize a gift for her that would put a smile on her face, show her that I know her and was thoughtful with what I bought her, and one that would pamper her.

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I had a ton of fun choosing gifts to fill my basket, and I cannot wait for her to see them, which she will when she read this post. She is my biggest fan and has to live with me posting her gifts online before she even receives them! She won’t mind, especially after she tastes the wine! This wine melts in your mouth! It is smooth, ‘buttery,’ and drinkable with just about anything.

JaM Cellars Butter Chardonnay is  100% Chardonnay, grown in sunny California spots with just the right touch of cool from the coast. JaM Cellars uses great winemaking traditions to make easy-to-love, everyday California and Napa Valley wines. “JaM is actually short for John and Michele, second-generation vintners who own and run JaM Cellars. They have a passion and gift for making exceptional quality wines. You can find Butter Chardonnay in a store near you with the JaM Cellars WineFinder. It is at select stores across the nation including Wholefoods, Kroger & more.

How To Make A Customized Wine Gift Basket

Choose a Wine

I chose JaM Cellars Butter Chardonnay & you should too! Rich, bold, easy-to-love creamy Cali Chardonnay. It is Butter-licious, aged in a blend of oak for a lovely, long, vanilla finish that’s uniquely Butter! Especially choose this wine if the gift basket is for your Mom, because Mom’s deserve Butter!

Choose a Basket

~Choose one that fits the taste and personality of your recipient. I think my Mom is going to love this modern, gold geometric basket. If she doesn’t like the basket, no worries–I will steal it!

~Choose one that will coordinate with your wine. My item was of course, JaM Cellars Butter Chardonnay, so I chose modern & fun, gold with cool angles.

~Choose one big enough to hold all of the gifts you want to include.

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Add something sparkly or something with texture

I got my love of sparkly things from my Mom so when I saw this sparkly ball I knew it would be the great added touch. It is like adding a bow to the package but it is one that is usable and will remind her of me for years to come. It was between this sparkly ball or another ball I found that was soft and fuzzy. I could not have gone wrong with either! Sparkly or soft texture would both add a great effect.

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Add a candle

Wine and candles are always a good thing! I’m loving the wickless- type candles that are battery operated.  My Mom adores scented candles, but she also has some sensitivities to certain scents, so I played it safe and got her a wickless candle. I found one that had the perfect saying on it. It says “You Are My Sunshine.” She IS my sunshine, and it also looked so great with the rest of the basket. I thought the gold basket has a sunburst type quality to it, plus the black, gold and yellow color scheme of the candle fits perfectly, so the word “sunshine” just works for me!

Decided On a Color & Accent Color

~ I used the color of the label of JaM Cellars Butter Chardonnay bottle for my main color

~Choose an accent color or two.  Keep it minimal. I choose black, shades of gold and yellow, and grey.

Add a personal touch

I added a picture of my Mom with my niece and nephew– her grandkids. It is one of my most favorite pictures of her.  A photo is always a great way to add a personal touch, and the photo frame is a great way to add color to your basket. I purposefully chose a holder for the picture that is clip board style, because my Mom makes beautiful art and I thought she could exchange the picture for her drawings if she so desired.

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Add some sweets

My Mom loves butterscotch candies so I thought they would be very fitting for my Butter Chardonnay basket! She also loves chocolate so I added some and paid attention to the wrapper, making sure it would coordinate with the rest of the basket. There were other chocolates that she would like but they were in a variety of bright-colored wrappers. Coordination is key when putting together a beautiful gift basket! Choose sweets with wrappers that coordinate, and again, keep colors to a minimum to avoid clashing & get a more streamlined, professional, custom look.

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Add a filler

This could be anything from shredded paper, to a set of fun cloth napkins or place mats. I chose to use soft grey tissue paper.

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I Love You, Mom!

I sure hope my Mom feels spoiled when she receives her gift. I hope she feels loved and knows what a gift she is to me. She is so fun and has always shown me how to embrace the part of myself that is free spirit. She would sing silly to me as a child, which I passed down to  my children by doing the same when they were young. She giggles when something delights her and her eyes twinkle when she does. She delights in small details, that too many walk through this life and miss.  I love my Mom!

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Want to know more about JaM Cellars Wines?

~Their 2014 Butter Chardonnay and 2014 JaM Cabernet won SILVER at the 2016 San Francisco Chronicle International Wine Awards.

~Follow JaM on Facebook and Instagram for daily wine-spiration.

~Sign up for their monthly newsletter called The Scoop!  to get news on Butter, JaM and Toast!

~Follow/Like JaM Cellars on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter | @JaMCellars  Be sure to search #JaMCellars

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What about you?

Wouldn’t you love this Butter Chardonnay Basket for Mother’s Day? Yep…me too.

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Mothers Day

Mother’s Day Gift & Wrapping Ideas + A Video All Moms Should See

Mother's Day ideas pinterest board
 
Are you needing a gift idea for the special women in your life for Mother’s Day?  There is something for everyone on my Mother’s Day Pinterest board.  There are so many great ideas…I’m in awe of the talent of others and what they come up with.  Keep your eye open for a few ideas from yours truly! {hint…Love In A Jar, Coconut Lime Sugar Scrub, Homemade Lipbalm}
Photo on candles
I’m really drawn to the simplicity of these photos in glass.  I think my Mother-In-Law would love this.  I may just go get some copies made of pictures of my husband and his brother when they were boys.


 
This is a must watch video for Mothers, words written by the lovely Lisa-Jo Baker.
Click Here For More + A Free Printable For Mighty Mothers From Lisa-Jo Baker

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Don’t miss this post, also by Lisa-Jo Baker, where she talks real and raw about 
“I have lost it, yelled it, fought it, cried it and apologized it all before 9am.”


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Mothers Day

A Great Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day is really a great day for me.  I get permission to take the day off.  I get to let go of laundry, dishes, and making food.  I find this permission causes me to focus more on the precious moments I have with my family and enjoy them.  
I also get time to do whatever I want to do.  When the girls were younger, this always meant getting away for some quiet.  Now that they are older, I have mixed emotions.  I still long for quiet still moments and took some this Mother’s day, but when I am away I find myself wanting to be with my family.  

Every Mother’s day for the past 4 years has started out the same.  We load up in the car and drive to Granite City for Mother’s Day brunch.  We meet my Mother-in-law, Sharon, there.  Granite City has wonderful food and gives away flowers to mothers.  I love this tradition.

We then go home and I receive gifts.  This is so much fun.  I delight at each girls personal gift.  They are really the best gift givers and know their mommy’s taste well.  Todd is a wonderful dad who takes them out shopping and gives them each some money to buy me a little something.  This year I took my oldest to the Farmer’s Market and she was sneaky and purchased a beautiful plant for me while we were there with her own money.  Be still my heart!

My middle girl chose yellow tulips.  They are so beautiful!  She also gave me a dark chocolate bar from Trader Joes.  I love that she had dad take her to Trader Joes, she knows it is a favorite place of mine.

My youngest made me an awesome Mother’s Day card.  She said it took her FOREVER so I HAVE to keep it. 🙂  She knows this mama is a trying to become more minimalist and seems to be getting rid of everything, so she had to let me know her art is a keeper.  Taped to the back of her card was a gift card to Starbucks.  Whee!

After gifts, my hubs takes over the kids for the rest of the day.  I took a nap and then laid in bed like a lazy bum and played around on my computer.  I heard some sister drama and felt a bit sorry for my Todd who was playing referee.  So glad it is not me!

I then decided it was time to get up and get out into the beautiful weather.  I tip- toed past the drama, giving my hubs a sympathetic look, and drove downtown, took out my camera, and practiced photo taking. It have to say it was really enjoyable!  I’m hoping practice makes decent…not even worried about perfect!

I got hungry, so I stopped in to Dozo for a sushi snack.  I sat and read a book on…what else…photography.

Right next to Dozo is Scooters Coffee shop, and that is where I sit writing this post with my journal, a highlighter, a coffee and my laptop.  It is the perfect place to edit photos, write, and eavesdrop on a lively debate going on behind me. 

I am picking up a pizza on my way home so I won’t have to cook dinner.  We have plans to sit and watch the Survivor finale as a family tonight.  Can you say PERFECT day?

I feel so thankful.
I know my family is feeling very thankful, too.

My girls and I were talking on the way to brunch about precious young girl we know who is spending the day driving with her grandparents to her Mothers grave, to see the newly installed headstone. We discussed how we need to send a few thoughts and prayers up for her today. I can’t type this without getting choked up.  This girl and her family have become super special to me, as her mom was super special to me, and they have been on my brain all day…all week.  We know their story could be our story, and we pray for them, for healing. For comfort. For courage as they face that beautiful headstone and the reality the writing on it brings.

I know this day is not an easy one for everyone.
I know my perfect day is a gift.
I am thankful.

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Love/ Mothers Day

Thank You, Mom.

I see you, Mother.

You are mine. A gift.

I take a minute to see of all the good in you, and it takes many minutes as one memory leads to another.

Minutes tick, memories come, and I know some of the most life- giving and life-serving moments you gave me, are the ones that I have no memory of.

I see Mom, young

The moments you spent with me as a babe, nursing & bathing.  Whispering sweet nothings and singing melodies.  I know you sang to me with that beautiful voice of yours, so beautiful that at one point in time you traveled and shared with others your melodic singing voice.

You have told me so many times that some of your favorite memories are of us as babes, on your hip.  You would recount the memories and start to bounce, and I can picture it years before, Mother bouncing daughter on her hip.  A mother’s hip, the perfect perch, a shapely mold made for bouncing babies.

I grow, as do my 4 siblings, and Mother grows busy.  I now am grown and have 3 of my own, and I, too, have grown busy.  How oh Mom, did you do it with 5?

I know you sacrificed.  I know you spent days serving.  Constant mouths to feed and bills to pay and house to clean, laundry to fold.  So many underlying worries that I was too young to understand.

You did her best and yet would say your best was not good enough.  Don’t we all, us Mothers, feel this way? I disagree, Mommy, I saw your best.  What more can one do but their best?

I see Mom, sad.  

The day wedding ring slipped & flew across the floor and disappeared forever in an air vent. You walked committed to a marriage, with a finger naked too many years.  Oh if only I were older then and known better, I would find a way to get a ring right back on that finger.  I would make you one if I had to,  for I know this absent ring broke your heart and you longed for the symbol of completeness and commitment. These things matter to us women.  I am now woman and I play with my own wedding ring as I pause from writing, thinking of your pain.  I remember your beautiful ring, and those long elegant fingers, and I too, now mourn.  I mourn for what became and how your heart broke when marriage broke and the pain nearly split you in half.  I mourn that I was not able to comfort you in your pain, for broken marriages bring pain to whole families, and my own paralyzed, as did my age.

I see Mom, happy.  

You sing silly.  Do YOUR Ears Hang Low? Do They Wobble To & Fro? Can You Tie Them In A Knot, Can You Tie Them In a Bow? and How Much Is That Doggy In The Window?  I hear your giggle, I see at times your child-like delight in the quirky details that to many walk through this life and miss.  I see you embrace the part of yourself that is free spirit, I learn to let go of my control as I watch you delight in the free.

I see Mom, most loyal.

One of the most precious gifts you have shown to me is how to be loyal.  You never speak ill of your children, especially from one of your children to another.  You do not judge us.  You are not a gossip.  I know I can share with you and you will keep it to yourself.

I see Mom, forgiving.

In many ways, but one specific is we both know I can be so slow in returning phone calls.  Your forbearance in this makes me want to call.  I will show the same grace to my children, for I have learned from you.

I see Mom, scared yet strong.
You are a Mom who has had the dreaded phone call.  “Your daughter has cancer.”  I so didn’t want to tell you knowing the pain it would bring.  You were there, watching as chemical chemo dripped, as nurses poke, as Oncologist joked about my heart rate “as fast as a train.” You watched as I woke from one of many surgeries, high on morphine.  You tell of how scared you were when I was not responsive, how eyes rolled back, an image that would scare any Mother.  You are this image burden bearer.
You rejoiced with me in the mall when we got the call that scan was clear, you held my heart when I crumbled in the doctors office when we were told the second scan was not.  It was you who I wanted to feed me ice as I woke up from mastectomy surgery.  I think of how strong you had to be in that waiting room, as your daughter was getting cut on and cancer was getting cut out.  I think of how beautiful and symbolic it is, when I lost my bosom, you offer me the comfort of yours in all your actions.  You were there.  You fed my family your famous sloppy joes, you helped me organize my basement which gave me the feeling of order and control when life was spinning. You put away all my Christmas decorations.  You held my gross drains and helped me dress.
 Your texts to me in the night were at times the only thing that could comfort when I was so scared and so sick.  All Day All Night, Angels Watching Over Me the same song you would sing to me when bouncing bald babe on your hip, is the one that you text your now grown bald babe.  “Angels are watching over you my sweet Amy” your text would read.  Nights in a row I would get that same text and comfort came from you to me and I would drift off with angels watching.
One of my most favorite cancer memories was with you, when I took off my scarf to show you my shaved, bald head.  I moved slowly, thought you would break down.  Instead, a twinkle in your eye, then a grunt as you tried to hold in your laugh, then we both bust up laughing.  Oh how I loved that!  I laugh out loud as I write even in this moment.  You spared me the sympathy eyes, you spared me your tears, and you gave me the best medicine–laughter.
People say I am strong from this battle
I am.  But not just from this battle, but from watching your strength as you have battled what this broken world brings.
I have looked, I have learned.
I see you, Mom, in me.

Happy Mothers Day!

 

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Mothers Day

Easy Homemade Mother’s Day Gift Ideas


A free printable to wrap around those mothers day vases.

Put photocopies of your most treasured photos of you and your mom into vases  Group together for a unique photo display.

So easy even kids can make it with dad’s help? Homemade Cinnamon almonds–1 c. sugar, 3 c. almonds, 1/2 t. cinnamon, 1/4 c. water-heat in skillet and then cool on wax paper.  Give in a cute little mason jar, with a tag made from free printables above!

Wonderful breakfast in bed!

Using these tags!

Have you mom over for tea.  A set up like this makes simple, special.

This is actually a teacher appreciation gift, but I for one, would LOVE this as a mother’s day gift!  An easy printable. Send the link to those husbands out there with the subject titled “hint hint.”

This is a fun idea!  It has a free printable that you print and cut, that reads “Excuse me, I need some air. Thanks!”  Then the receiver blows it up to read the message.  I’m thinking to improve the gift, there should be some money in that balloon, and the receiver has to pop it to get it out!  Yes?

A meaningful mother’s day gift from New Nostalgia!  I gave this to my mom a couple years ago and it make her cry. 🙂

5 Ingredient Homemade Chocolate Sauce for ice cream.  I gave this to my mother-in-law one year with a container of gelato.

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I found these ideas at my Pinterest boards.
Wanna see more?  Follow me there.

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Brunch/ Mothers Day/ RECIPES

A Mother’s Day Breakfast-Coconut Crusted French Toast

Mother’s Day is a pretty special day for me.  Not only do I have the honer of being a mom, but I have some pretty special ladies in my life that I get to celebrate.  I know this is a gift.  I know there are many of you out there reading who don’t have Mothers around to celebrate, or babes who call you “Mom.” My thoughts have been with you this week as I prepare celebrating my own.
Today I did just that, and had my mother-in-law, Kathy, over for breakfast.  I can’t tell you how wonderful it was to have her in my home and just enjoy some great talk time and good food!  She is always having the family over to her house, and is really good at entertaining, so it was much fun to have her to mine and serve her for once!
She is a coconut lover, so when I found this recipe for Coconut Crusted French Toast on Pinterest, I knew immediately who I would be making it for.  
Let me tell you, it is GOOD!
If you are a coconut fan, this recipe is a must make!  It uses coconut milk, coconut extract and shredded coconut.  I made it in a jiffy, and had everything ready to go when she arrived.  
{Isn’t she a beauty? Inside and out.}
This french bread is from Trader Joes.  It was perfect for this recipe.

Eggs, coconut milk, coconut extract and vanilla extract with a bit of salt.  Whisk.
Shredded coconut on a plate.  
Dip bread in egg mixture.  Press into coconut.  
Then make cook it just like you would normal french toast. 
Easy!
I added a nut mix, strawberries, & oranges to the table, rounding out the meal.

I picked some fresh roses from our bush outside.

We drank coffee and of course, lemon water!
Coconut Crusted French Toast

3 large eggs
3/4 cup lite coconut milk (canned or fresh)
1/2 teaspoon coconut extract
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 cup shredded coconut
6 slices french bread, 1/2 inch slices
Butter, maple syrup

In a shallow dish, whisk together the eggs, coconut milk, coconut extract, vanilla extract, and salt.  Place the shredded coconut on a plate.  Dip both sides of each slice of bread into the egg mixture.  Dip both sides of the coated bread into the shredded coconut.  Drizzle a little egg mixture on top of the coconut to  make it stick to the bread.

Meanwhile, heat a large non-stick griddle to medium heat.  Cook the slices of bread until golden brown on one side and then turn and cook the other side.  Serve immediately of keep French toast warm in a 250 degree oven.

Serve with butter & pure maple syrup.

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I’ve learned creating meaningful memories takes little effort.
It just takes a bit of thought and follow through.  
Thank you, Kathy, for always being the one who works to have us over and make the memories.  
We’ve made so many good ones, haven’t we?
Thank you for coming to my house for breakfast and making some more.
I love you, and I’m so very blessed to have you as my Mom-in-Law!

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Mothers Day

Happy Mother’s Day!


{one of my favorite Mother’s Day video’s}

I am so very blessed to be a mom. I am soaking up every moment  and cherishing these precious little lives that God has gifted to me.  My girls are so very special so me, I am so proud to be their mom!!
 I am also so very blessed to have a wonderful mother, 2 amazing mother-in-laws, and an awesome step mom.  This equals a WHOLE BUNCH of love in my life…I am so thankful.
My favorite Mother’s Day Reading:

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