The grass MIGHT be greener on the other side…but that’s just one opinion. It might be greener over on this side, too.

Have you ever worn something that you just weren’t crazy about, feeling like you were having a “bad outfit” day, only to have someone tell you how nice you look? You suddenly wonder if you just lack self-confidence, or if that person needed an eye exam. “Really?” you ask. “This old thing? I left the house in a hurry, and just grabbed something to throw on.” In your opinion, you’re not the best you could be, but to someone else, you look lovely!

I recently went to a customer’s home, and commented on how cute her bathroom was decorated. She responded with, “Oh, please excuse that bathroom. I’m going to change that color, soon.”

I thought it was fresh, and colorful. She saw something different. When I told her why I liked it, she couldn’t believe it. “My husband has complained about that bathroom since I painted it last year, and now he’s made me so self-conscious about it every time we have company! Do you really like the color? If you like the color, and the way I decorated, then maybe it’s not bad. Maybe it’s just him. I like the color!” She was feeling better about her choice. It’s nice to have another set of eyes view what you look at every day. We become accustomed to seeing ourselves and our homes a certain way. When someone else sees us, or something we have, they may have a totally different perspective. It’s refreshing! It’s not always positive, but it’s important to realize that people view things differently, and opinions are just that…opinions.

Now I know taste is all relative. If you love orange, and I don’t, then of course you’re going to love that orange front door, and I’m already thinking what other color I’d choose. But in the big scheme of things, it comes down to one thing…what makes you happy.

One gal might carry a fancy, expensive name-brand purse, and another might carry an inexpensive, functional one, but in this case, the beauty (and practicality) is in the eyes of the owner. Just because something is bigger, more expensive, or more trendy, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s better! It just means that the person who has it, likes it, and feels good about it. Just as liking something practical, doesn’t make it any less than liking something extravagant. It’s a matter of taste.

What am I telling you? I’m saying that sometimes it is so very nice to get someone else’s fresh perspective. Whether it is our appearance, something we own, or where we live, we can become unable to see things in a new light. That patio furniture may be hum-drum to you, but to someone else, it can be comfy and welcoming. Your living room curtains may seem ordinary, but to a visitor in your home, they might be tasteful or traditional, matching the décor perfectly. Who is right? The only person you need to make happy is you. I’m just saying you might already have succeeded in achieving the right “look” and not even realized it. Don’t second-guess you. Appreciate other’s observations, and be grateful for their outlook.

Just be happy with you, and where you are, that’s what life is all about.

Tami Loves… new perspectives and feeling good!

Since I’ve been posting about summer, and all it’s wonders, I thought how fun it would be to see if you, my friends, would like to post your favorite recipe of summer, and share with all my readers! I know this is the time of year, similar to Christmas, when we all have a special dish or treat we love to make and take to gatherings. Summer means so many invitations, and events, there’s always the need to add some new recipe to our ever-growing compilation. 

I have some really great ones that my daughters and I enjoy making, but I’m going to save mine to see what you guys share first. I mentioned this idea to my friend and she enthusiastically gave me this one to start our Summer Recipe Share off!! She found the recipe on Pinterest a couple of years ago, and has received raved reviews! I’ve tasted it, and have to agree it’s wonderfully refreshing!!

 

Blueberry-Zucchini Cake with Lemon Buttercream Frosting

Pamela Beach

 

Ingredients:  

   3 large eggs

   1 cup vegetable oil

   1 Tbsp vanilla extract

   2 1/4 cups sugar

   2 cups shredded zucchini

   3 cups all purpose flour

   1 tsp salt

   1 tsp baking powder

   1/4 tsp baking soda

   1 pint blueberries (tossed in 1 tsp flour)

 

   Lemon buttercream frosting:

   1 cup butter, (2 sticks, 8 ounces) at room temperature

   4 cups confectioners’ sugar

   Juice of one lemon

 

Instructions:

 

   Pre-heat oven to 350F

   Lightly grease and flour a 9×13 baking pan.

   Beat the eggs, oil, vanilla and sugar until well blended. Fold in the zucchini.

   Whisk the flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda to combine. Slowly add it to the wet mixture, mixing just enough to blend.

   Fold in the blueberries, and pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for about 50 minutes, just until the top is turning golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out without wet batter clinging to it. Cool on a rack.

   To make the frosting, put the softened butter into a large bowl. Add the sifted powdered sugar, one cup at a time, beating with a hand mixer till smooth after each addition. After the second cup of sugar add in the lemon juice. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as necessary. Adjust the texture by adding a little more lemon or a little more sugar.

   Frost the cooled cake and store in the refrigerator.***Pam’s note- Store the cake in the fridge, but take it out about 30 minutes prior to serving so the frosting isn’t too hard. Cover tightly and store in the fridge between servings.

 

If you make it let me know!

 

Now it’s your turn! Share a recipe with us that we’ll all be using the rest of the summer!!

 

Tami Loves…sharing good finds with good friends!

Since I’ve been posting about summer, and all it’s wonders, I thought how fun it would be to see if you, my friends, would like to post your favorite recipe of summer, and share with all my readers! I know this is the time of year, similar to Christmas, when we all have a special dish or treat we love to make and take to gatherings. Summer means so many invitations, and events, there’s always the need to add some new recipe to our ever-growing compilation. 

I have some really great ones that my daughters and I enjoy making, but I’m going to save mine to see what you guys share first. I mentioned this idea to my friend and she enthusiastically gave me this one to start our Summer Recipe Share off!! She found the recipe on Pinterest a couple of years ago, and has received raved reviews! I’ve tasted it, and have to agree it’s wonderfully refreshing!!

 

Blueberry-Zucchini Cake with Lemon Buttercream Frosting

Pamela Beach

 

Ingredients:  

   3 large eggs

   1 cup vegetable oil

   1 Tbsp vanilla extract

   2 1/4 cups sugar

   2 cups shredded zucchini

   3 cups all purpose flour

   1 tsp salt

   1 tsp baking powder

   1/4 tsp baking soda

   1 pint blueberries (tossed in 1 tsp flour)

 

   Lemon buttercream frosting:

   1 cup butter, (2 sticks, 8 ounces) at room temperature

   4 cups confectioners’ sugar

   Juice of one lemon

 

Instructions:

 

   Pre-heat oven to 350F

   Lightly grease and flour a 9×13 baking pan.

   Beat the eggs, oil, vanilla and sugar until well blended. Fold in the zucchini.

   Whisk the flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda to combine. Slowly add it to the wet mixture, mixing just enough to blend.

   Fold in the blueberries, and pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for about 50 minutes, just until the top is turning golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out without wet batter clinging to it. Cool on a rack.

   To make the frosting, put the softened butter into a large bowl. Add the sifted powdered sugar, one cup at a time, beating with a hand mixer till smooth after each addition. After the second cup of sugar add in the lemon juice. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as necessary. Adjust the texture by adding a little more lemon or a little more sugar.

   Frost the cooled cake and store in the refrigerator.***Pam’s note- Store the cake in the fridge, but take it out about 30 minutes prior to serving so the frosting isn’t too hard. Cover tightly and store in the fridge between servings.

 

If you make it let me know!

 

Now it’s your turn! Share a recipe with us that we’ll all be using the rest of the summer!!

 

Tami Loves…sharing good finds with good friends!

This morning I listened to the sounds of you. I heard you running water, brushing your teeth then taking your shower. I could see the light in the hall from your bathroom and bedroom. I could hear the cabinet doors opening and closing and the soft hum of your hairdryer . The squeak in the floor in front of your door…. 
For years these were normal sights and sounds that were overlooked – never even noticed but today, I’m hanging on to them for dear life. It’s the last time I’ll hear these sounds for a while. It’s funny the little things that you want to cling to. Things that you just take for granted every day for years and all of the sudden these things seem extra special. 
Today my daughter leaves from our home in Ohio and is heading back to California to live. It seems like such a big scary place but big scary places also offer a lot of opportunity. As a mom of course I’m scared to death for her but at the same time I’m so excited for her. She has dreams and instead of just dreaming about them she’s going for them. She has a lot of goals at a very young age. She’s 21. I could never pack up and leave home and go by myself like she has done. We always want the things for our kids that we didn’t do ourselves. 

So I’ll be following you Abby Neff on Facebook and on Instagram and clinging to every picture you post. I invite all of my friends who follow my page to follow my daughter as she’s off making her dreams come true. 
Abby signed with Found Modeling Agency out of Columbus Ohio, which took her to the Ford Modeling Agency where she signed in Chicago, which has now taken her to The Industry Modeling Management Company in Beverly Hills where she signed again. There is an agency in Switzerland that’s been working with her agents so we will see what comes of that. 
I post some of her pictures on my Facebook page called Tami Loves. If you’d ever like to check it out we would both appreciate it. 

And Abby if you happen to read my blog today I hope you know how much you’re loved by all of us – your dad, your sister and her fiancé, your dog and cat, your friends AND especially me. You’ve shown me so much about clothing, make-up, dieting, exercising; your exciting world. I can’t wait to see more amazing pictures of you which will only make me miss you more but will also make me very very proud. 
I Love you, Mom
PS – I hope you don’t mind if I sleep in your bed tonight ❤️

Colors: How do they make you feel? 

Have you ever noticed how women and men perceive colors differently? Ask a man to tell you what color you have on and he’ll probably say “Blue.” Ask a woman the same question and she’ll say you’re wearing cobalt, sapphire, navy, baby, sky, robin’s egg, or perhaps periwinkle blue. Most men just don’t get caught up in the whole hue, shade, tonal thing when it comes to colors. These are the creatures who wear plain white shirts to work, all year, only changing their tie colors.

 

Soft pink reminds us of baby girls, and sky blue reminds us of baby boys. But hot pink reminds us of teenage girls, lipstick, and nail polish. To a lot of guys, pink is just pink.

 

But colors can remind us of certain times in our lives, and change our moods. Colors make us feel. For example, whenever my friend sees the color green, she thinks it’s calming. It could be hunter green, sage green, or moss green- they are calming and peaceful to her, reminding her of her home.

 

When you see the color red, does it excite you? Red makes me feel bold and energetic. I like red as an accent color. A big splash of red says, “See me!” I recently posted a picture of a wall I painted red, framed in white, with a beautiful painting in the middle. It was eye-catching to say the least, and I love the color it gave to the area. Red is vibrant, red is life!!

 

What do you feel when you see bright yellow? Does it make you look away because it’s too much color, or does it make you feel like a child, opening that new box of crayons? Is it warming and soothing like sitting in a stream of sunshine, or perhaps it makes you thirsty for lemonade. Yellow seems to be a color you either love or hate.

 

Blue can make us feel tranquil, and peaceful. It can also make us feel sad. It depends upon your mood at the time. Every time a friend of mine sees turquoise blue it makes her happy thinking about a trip she made to Arizona. There’s a lot of turquoise in the west. Blue is universal. It’s a safe color.

 

Gray is such a trendy color now. It used to make people feel drab, or plain. But now gray really is the new beige. It’s beautifully neutral, and peaceful; understated so you can accent it with nearly every color! I love grays accented with teal, purple or orange. Bright colors pop with gray. Gray makes me feel grounded and a little mischievous- you never know what color I’ll put with it!! Experiment!

 

Remember how orange used to be not-so-popular? Now suddenly, car makers are producing orange cars like crazy! Clothing offers more orange than I’ve seen in a long time, and the shades are gorgeous!

If you want to make a bold statement, do it with orange! It’s not just for October and November anymore!

 

When choosing colors for your home, take a moment to see how a color makes you feel. Don’t rule out anything based on assumption. Experiment. Nothing is more wonderful than coming home to your color, and feeling safe, and at ease. And don’t be afraid to change if you’re tired of it, or just not sure it’s for you.

 

Tami Loves…we’re here to help you feel at home with color.

 

 

When life gives you lemons…what do you make? 

Bad days, off days, and the occasional rocky road- we’ve all encountered them, and we’re all still making it through, one day at a time. It’s a part of life. Some days are awesome, and others are, well…not too good. Some we’d like to forget ever happened, and some we chalk up to “it’s just a part of life”, but what do you do when life throws you a lemon, or a whole bushel of lemons?

 

If you start the morning off with a pitfall, do you let it ruin your day, or do you “shake it off” as Taylor Swift tells us to do? If one small thing doesn’t happen like you planned, does it mean the whole event is a loss or do you say, “Oh well…” and move on?

 

Sometimes it’s hard to see the forest for the trees as the popular cliché goes. It’s easy to get lost in the small stuff and be upset over what, at the time, seems so important- so huge, that we just can’t get past it. But eventually, if we just take a deep breath, and ask ourselves, “How big a deal is this, really?” we can come around to seeing that not every little things has to be the exact way we imagined, or planned.

 

A friend of a friend recently had one of these “lemonade” days, as I call them. This gal was hosting a dinner party at her home for several of her husband’s business associates and their spouses. The hostess heard the weather was going to be unusually warm for this spring weekend, so she planned on entertaining on her enclosed porch area which was new and impressive in size. There were five couples coming, for a total of twelve with she and her husband. She ordered a lovely meal catered by a local restaurant, so she would have time to focus on the house. She spent the day before the party cleaning, and arranging her table. Everything was perfect! The morning of the get-together, she ran out to get some fresh flowers from the market. In her haste, she forgot to put their dog in his crate, and when she returned home, she found he’d had an accident on the large area rug in the foyer. Distraught, she set about to cleaning the mess. Let’s just say it was difficult at best to get the stain out. She decided she’d either have to go get a new rug, which she had no time for, or hide the stain as best she could. Searching for something large enough to cover the spot, she found a large urn in the basement that she hadn’t used in some time. She cleaned it up and set it on the stain. Though it didn’t match her decor, it would have to do. She went about getting everything ready, and the food was delivered on time. Her husband came home and asked why the urn was in the foyer. She explained what happened. They got ready for their guests, and were just finishing up when there was a loud crash in the kitchen. Both came running downstairs, horrified at what they might find. There, in the middle of the kitchen floor sat the dog, with the whole container of meat from the restaurant, scattered about, bits and pieces here and there, the foiled pan overturned. The woman burst into tears, while her husband removed the dog to his crate. “We’ll think of something!” he said as he tried to help her clean the mess. What were they going to do for the main entrée of the meal? Guests began arriving, and everyone was chatting, enjoying drinks on the screened-in porch. There was no time to re-order food. They had plenty of side dishes and dessert.

Then one guest, who had been admiring the patio, said “Mike, I sure hope this decent weather we’re having means you’re grilling out tonight!” The hostess and her husband both looked at each other and the husband began to laugh. “Well, you know, that’s not a bad idea, Greg. I don’t see why we can’t!” He laughed and grabbed his wife’s hand. “Honey, let’s get the burgers going!” The wife was dumbfounded. How could they serve burgers to their guests? This was a dinner party, not a barbeque. They had a freezer of ground beef, chicken and steaks but that wasn’t what she’d intended to serve to her group. But, she played along, nonetheless, and got the hamburger patties defrosting. It was a lovely evening, and a small enough crowd for the conversation to flow easily. Soon, while the burgers were served along with the potato puff pastry, glazed artichokes, rice pilaf, strawberry-pecan salad and tiramisu, a roar of laughter erupted as the host and hostess shared their story of the dog knocking off the superbly-prepared prime rib all over the kitchen floor. Their guests were amused and impressed with how easily they had transitioned the dinner party into a relaxed indoor picnic. Without a pause, they had gone from a tragedy, to a success, and no one would have ever guessed. But the hostess’ favorite comment of the evening came from two of the ladies, as they were leaving. She overheard one say to the other, “I love how she decorates, especially that big urn in the foyer! It’s classic and eclectic, too!”

 

Making lemonade from the lemons you’re served doesn’t have to be bitter. It can be as sweet as you want it. Taking a situation from bad to good can be a challenge, but what’s life without some challenges along the way? It’s how we handle those challenges that make us who we are. Don’t let your day be a loss just because something doesn’t go as planned. Perhaps it wasn’t meant to go as YOU planned it. There’s always a bright spot in everything. Find that in all you do. Without trying to sound like too much of a Pollyanna, I’m here to tell you that bad days are going to happen. They just are. But if you can overcome them by remaining positive, or having a “Plan B” to go to, it alleviates the stress that can come from our expectations of situations and events going just as we plan. Find the humor, the positive, and the beauty in all things.

 

Now, go make that lemonade when those days happen!

 

Tami Loves…lemons and everything they stand for!

 

 

 

 

 

 

What makes one day better than the next? 

Is there a special “ingredient” in your day that makes it something special? Is there something that sets you off, making a day less than what it was?

 

I recently was talking with a few friends, and this subject came up. One of my friends mentioned that any day she can make it to Starbucks is a “good day” because it is a little extra treat she gives herself. She said since it doesn’t happen every day because of her work schedule, when it does, it’s the frosting on her day. I like that, because we should all treat ourselves now and then! Another friend said whenever she can find some time to see a task completed, she feels good because she feels she can check another item off her to-do list. I feel like that, too. When I’ve been working on a project at home, little by little, it’s nice to finish it, so I can move on to something else. The key, I have found though, is to actually enjoy the process of the project, not just in the completion of it. One of my other friends said that for one day to stand out among others depends on a succession of events: she gets to sleep in a little because her husband takes the kids to school; she has time for coffee before work; she gets all her emails answered; and if she gets done with all her work, she can get home early without sitting in rush-hour traffic. I guess having all that happen would mean a pretty special day.

 

Sometimes just a simple thing, like sharing a snack and conversation with your child after school, or finding the shirt you really wanted is on sale, is all you need to make your day better.

 

Everyone’s “good day” components are going to be different. Some are simple, some might be more complex, but in the end, having that component is all it takes to make us feel good about the day.

 

Do you set yourself up to have a good day every day? I do. I wake up with gratitude each day. I tell myself that it’s going to be an awesome day, and that no matter what may happen, I can choose to be positive, and handle anything. And usually, this is the case! If you know me, you know I can roll with what comes about. I enjoy being happy and full of positivity so that everyone I interact with feels that positive energy, too. It’s contagious!

 

Remember, even if you’re having a not-so-great day, you can turn it around with some positive attitude. You can’t change others’ behavior, but you can choose how you react to it, and to any situation you find yourself in.

 

Tami Loves…making every day a great day!

Sweet!!! 

Yes, that’s how I feel about my customers, but it also describes something yummy in my shop!

 

I’m talking chocolate. What’s not to love? But I’m not talking about the traditional chocolate you find at the grocery or drugstore checkout.

 

Ohhhhh nooooo, this is nothing like ordinary, brand-name, chocolate that we all know, and like. This is something totally different, and even somewhat addicting…in a good way. It’s addicting because it tastes so good, it’s a like a bite-size treat for your mouth and your psyche, and…it can be repeated as necessary! So what it is this wonderful treat?

 

I’m talking about rich, decadent, dark chocolate-covered coffee beans, or if you prefer…milk-chocolate-covered coffee beans! Who can resist? (Well, I try since I can’t eat ALL I want, and still have any left for you.)

If you aren’t a fan of coffee beans, how about scrumptious mini-Buckeyes? Mini salted-caramels?

​ 

These are just a few of our best-sellers, there are more! And these deliciously tasty treats are bagged specifically for Tami Loves! We are so unique and fun, they bag and label our very own chocolate!!

 

Most range about $5.99 a bag, so they are affordable for our customers. If you’re in town, visiting, and need a quick little treat for someone, say…your student at Muskingum University, your friend who just got some good news, or even just a bag to keep in your car as a little self-reward…we have what you’re looking for.

 

Chocolate- in any language says “I love you,” “I’m happy for you,” “Way to go!” “You deserve a reward!” or just “This is for me.” There’s no left-wing or right-wing with chocolate, there’s just “more, please.” Chocolate doesn’t care if you’re beautiful, tired, depressed, jilted, overwhelmed, shy or confused. Chocolate loves you no matter what you are or aren’t. It’s the unconditional-love candy. Everyone deserves chocolate, and now YOU know where to find the very best!!

 

Tami Loves…all the little chocolate goodies residing temporarily in our shop…’til you take them home!

What to Pack? 

Packing for a recent vacation to California made me realize it had been quite a while since I had to minimize my outfits and shoe selection into a small space! I’m here to tell you it can be done. I did it, and so can you!

 

After watching a couple of packing video tips online, I was ready to pack with ease.

Here are my simple packing tips that will get you through any occasion:

 

Know the climate you’re visiting. Check out recent weather trends, and look at the 10-day forecast of your destination. Is it in a milder, wetter, hotter, drier, sunnier climate? Know before you go! Pack your pocket-raincoat, mini-umbrella, sunscreen, hat, boots, etc., based on what’s going on with the weather you’ll be in.

 

Have an idea of what you’ll be doing. Will you be sightseeing? Is there a lot of walking? You’ll need comfy shoes. Will you be eating out? Are the restaurants dressy? Will you be shopping? You’ll need room to bring back items. Take all these into consideration, as you determine what you’ll need. As women, we like OPTIONS!!

 

Pack in a single color palette. For example, let’s say you have a lot of navy in an array of fabrics. This would be the ideal color to pack for you. It allows you to mix and match, accordingly, for everything goes together. Use one color as your accent color. Perhaps red or white- both go well with navy. Use these accent colors in coordinating pieces such as a sweater, scarf, jacket, skirt, shoes, small clutch purse, etc.

 

To illustrate this idea:

1 pair of navy slacks

1 pair of jeans

1 navy sleeveless day dress

1 navy print maxi-dress

1 navy skirt

1 pair of navy leggings

 

For accenting with the above items:

1 white short-sleeve top

1 white scarf

1 red scarf

1 red button-down lightweight sweater

1 white tunic top with belt

1 red clutch purse (small enough for evening-use)

1 pair of navy flats, 1 pair of gold sandals,

1 pair of white sneakers for travel and sight-seeing

 

 

These items can be coordinated easily giving you multiple outfits:

Jeans, skirt, or slacks, white short-sleeve top, red sweater

Jeans or slacks, white tunic and belt, red scarf

Leggings with white tunic and belt, red scarf

Sleeveless day-dress with red sweater and white scarf (dress can be casual with sneakers or flats, but can be dressed up a bit with sandals, and jewelry.

Maxi-dress with red-sweater or either scarf (used as a scarf or a wrap)

 

Remember, these items don’t include what you’ll be wearing for travel days to/from your destination. Wear comfy clothes and roll a light jacket into your carry-on. It’s also a good idea to pack a pair of underwear and a t-shirt in your carry on. In case your luggage doesn’t make it when you do, you’ll have something to sleep in (and/or wear the next day) if need be.

 

This is just a guideline. Every vacation is made up of different components. Your trip may entail many days or weeks or travel. In that case, pack a couple of laundry detergent pods in a ziplock bag in your checked luggage. I take a travel-size bottle of Woolite in case I need to wash my unmentionables in the hotel room. Also, I like the idea I recently saw of taking along a clothespin to use as a toothbrush holder on the bathroom counter. No matter clean a countertop looks, it’s not like home. The clothespin keeps your toothbrush from coming into contact with the countertop. In addition to packing clothes and shoes, don’t forget your jewelry, accessories, make-up and toiletries, and bring a couple of plastic bags for damp or dirt clothes. I always pack a big, flat, beach-bag in the bottom of my suitcase first, in case I’ll need it on the way home.

 

Like everything else in life, the best way to be prepared is to research, research, research! I pour over travel books and websites, read reviews of hotels, restaurants, and places of interests. Keep in mind that a place you visited in the 80’s or 90’s, might be quite different today!

 

Enjoy!! Planning is half the fun!!

 

Tami Loves…a well-planned vacation!

 

 

 

 

 

The Stages of Motherhood… 

Sometimes, as moms we feel like we say the same things to our kids over and over again, each time wondering if they actually hear us. Our level of being “wise and knowledgeable” varies, depending on how old our children are. These are the Stages of Motherhood. If our kids are little, we know everything, and we are revered. Babies delight in watching our expressions and imitating our words. Our toddlers try to behave like us, mimicking gestures and posture. Young kids think it’s cool when we explain to them how things work, and we are sought out for help with homework. It’s nice to be held in such high-esteem. But hold on, when the kids hit the teens, that all diminishes greatly. We go from all-knowing, to know-nothings. Our opinions are outdated, and our methods for anything are deemed, “old school.” Even the term, “old school” is vastly outdated! We sometimes are looked at as being “ordinary” if we’re lucky. Some parents are “lame”, “clueless”, or the ever-popular “weird.” This stage of being can last throughout the teen years, and even well into the college years. As parents, we’re glad our children have become thinking, reasoning individuals, but it would be nice to be needed for something besides cash. Then it happens…the heavens open up and the light shines down upon our now-graying heads…we have come full circle back to being the “wise and knowledgeable” parents we always thought we were. We’re needed for our opinions on buying a home, how to ask for a raise at work, getting a baby on a schedule, and even when to buy new tires! It’s amazing.

 

I have often thought about the Stages of Motherhood, with my own mom. And though not everyone has each stage to the same degree, generally speaking, it’s all pretty much the same for everyone. It’s nice to be an adult and look back to see yourself in each of those stages, and to take the time to stop and say a big thank-you to your mom; both of your parents for that matter, because now, as an adult, we’re in the same stage together. We understand all the reasons our moms and dads helped us ride a bike, taught us manners, gave us a curfew, made us pay for our first car, let us make our own mistakes, helped with student loans, co-signed a loan, and hosted our wedding. Now it’s our turn to do all those things for our children. And we do it happily, thinking back to all we’ve received. The cycle is coming full-circle.

 

This Mother’s Day, if you give your mom just one thing, give her the gift of gratitude. Thank her for loving you throughout all the stages of Motherhood. She’d have done it over again and again, because that’s what moms do. And it’s what you’ll do for your children, too. Tell her you know you made her nuts sometimes, made her cry now and then, but remind her of all the wonderful times you laughed and smiled together. Tell her you picked her as your mom because you knew one day you’d be sharing moments like these, remembering the love that’s between you. Nothing else can compare to showing gratitude and love like that. She’ll be happy you realize all that she went through for you, but she’d never ever say it wasn’t the best time of her life, no matter what stage she was in.

 

If however, you need a little something more to show her your gratitude, along with what I just mentioned, come in to Tami Loves and see all the wonderful items we have for her!! And check out our Mother’s Day Gift Bags!! www.tamiloves.com Order yours fast!

 

Tami Loves…a little gratitude for all moms! (I love you, Mom!)