Language of Flowers

Mother's Day seemed the perfect occasion for the next Language of Flowers post. While many mothers will receive flowers this Sunday, you can send your mother (or the mother of your children) a specific message, using floriography- the practice of selecting flowers for their meaning.

For Mother's Day, pink carnations are a popular choice as they signify 'motherly love'. Although carnations can be boring, and sometimes downright ugly (dyed blue flowers anyone?), used in the right arrangement, or even in a bouquet all by themselves, carnations can be lovely- plus they last a long time. To add in a little more meaning, peonies mean 'happy life', and some rosemary indicates 'remembrance'. For texture, but not meaning, I rounded the bouquet out with some lambs ear, and a unusual filler that the folks at the flower market called 'dogs eye', though I can't find any information about such a plant.

If my mom lived nearby, I'd bring her this bouquet to say that I love her, am thinking of her, and am thankful for the happy life she gave me. What would you like to say to your mom (or mother-figure) with flowers?

finds to fancy: mother's day edition

blame it on the fact i've been collecting, washing and packing so many of them in preparation for The Farm Chicks Show but i've got mason jars on the brain.

mason jars on our easter table

i've always loved old canning jars. they're useful, simplistically beautiful, and so durable they've stood the test of time. you see them go in and out of fashion, but i think they're a classic- and why shouldn't they be? there's so much you can use them for!

for this finds to fancy roundup of DIY mother's day gifts i used two guidelines- it had to incorporate a mason jar and it had to be simple enough to make in a day, using easy to find supplies....

{photo via Rawmazing}

a recipe for body butter from Rawmazing that sounds good enough to eat. customize the scent using different essential oils. use your imagination with the packaging- twine, fabric, washi tape, permanent markers- the options are nearly endless!

{photo via Sippy Cup Mom}

another way to pamper mom- a yummy and exfoliating mojito sugar scrub from Sippy Cup Mom. using this basic recipe you could also make different scents by changing some of the ingredients. i love her packaging, with the little wooden spoon.

{photo via Ruffled}

you might surprised at how easy these soy wax candles from Ruffled are to make! all of the supplies can easily be found at any of the larger craft stores (if you don't have a candle supply store in your town).

{photo via Lovely Little Details}

an idea i've seen used in a variety of ways lately- wall mounted mason jars. this simple bathroom storage project from Liz Marie for Lovely Little Details uses supplies found at any hardware store.

{photo via Camille Styles}

another awesome variation on the concept, this mason jar herb garden from Claire at Camille Styles is on my project list for this summer. i love how the painted pipe clamps add a little more polish to the project.

{photo via BirdHouse}

okay, so these succulent terrariums aren't in mason jars, but the tutorial from BirdHouse was so good i had to use it. the process will work the same in a wide mouth mason jar. this is another project i'm itching to work on!

{photo via The Nap Time Chef/Babble}

rhubarb is in season and one of my favorite ways to use it is in a crisp (or crumble)- yum. food made in jars is all the rage right now, and this strawberry rhubarb crumble recipe from The Nap Time Chef via Babble looks both cute and delicious! make a batch, grab some spoons and have a little dessert picnic for mom in the yard, or nearby park.

{photo via Some Drink Recipes}

no special day is complete with a special drink! this Shoo-Fly punch from Evie on Some Drink Recipes, served in a mason jar, fits the bill perfectly! (if mom isn't a drinker- just substitute the bourbon and ginger liqueur for some orange juice).

what are you giving mom this mother's day? do you have any project ideas you'd like to share? leave a a link in the comments so we can all check it out.

happy mother's day to all you mamas out there! i hope you feel loved and well cared for this weekend and always!

gratitude

with Mother's Day just around the corner, what else could i be grateful for today other than, my own mother?

that's her there- circa 1985. isn't she pretty? i love her outfit in this photo too- pretty sure that was a pink skirt with an awesome blazer that had pastel vertical stripes.

my mom is an amazing lady. after my parents divorced when i was 7, she basically raised me largely by herself. she worked several jobs, but things were tight, so we would hit the estate sales, yard sales, and thrift stores frequently. my mom taught me how to spot a valuable antique in a pile of junk, and how to bargain for a better price. by the time i was 12 we would divide and conquer at estate sales- splitting up and searching for all the good stuff. i loved those Saturday mornings spent driving around town, newspaper in hand, looking for good sales, digging through boxes, and discovering new treasures!

i think kids who grow up around antiques, vintage, and thrifted items either grow to love it or hate it. i love it (obviously), and i owe much of that to my mama. she taught me the value of things with a history all their own, and that saving useful or beautiful items from being discarded is more rewarding than buying something brand new.

i am the person i am today thanks to my mom and i hope i can do her proud when i become a mom myself in the future!

what about your mom (or other mother figure) are you grateful for? how did she influence you? i'd love to hear- just leave a comment below!