Lily Pad Flower Shop • Florist McKinney TX • Wedding Arrangements & Special Occasions • Floral Design • Delivery Available

I am so excited to have met with Tammy from Dancing Angels today about their upcoming recital.  The Lily Pad will host a booth of bouquets for the little ballerinas so they can be showered with flowers after their performances.

I can’t wait to see tights and tutus! It’s my heritage, coming from a grandmother who taught dance until she was 98 years old. I’m surprised I don’t still have a pair of tights somewhere, although having lost the dancer’s body is no surprise : )

We will be manning the flower counter  at McFarland Auditorium @ SMU on April 30th.  Recital time means the school year is winding down and prom and graduation are just around the corner  – ultimately, it means it’s time for all those teachers or graduates who are engaged to have their weddings!  We move seamlessly from one season to the next, often overlapping each by a few weeks. 

If you are spending this summer planning your fall or Spring 2012 wedding, we would love the opportunity to talk about your vision and help you in the planning process.   Call now and schedule a consultation!  972-547-4534.

As always, visit our fan page on Facebook to see what we are currently doing : ) http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Lily-Pad-Flowers/168832645230    Become a fan and help us grow!

Monkey tail!  What a funky and fun accent!  And a great way to use brown in a natural form for you girls with brown as part of your color theme.  David knocked out about 20 of these puppies today, and they looked great on the lapels!  We almost never get to see the flowers in or on our clients, so today was a treat.  The groom mouthed “thank you!” while lining up for pics, and made my day!

Luckily, this one is being photographed by Laura at Fairy Tale Photography, so I know we will get some unbelievable professional pictures, but I’m getting pretty good at this too!

Please visit our facebook fan page to see more pictures of our most recent weddings! http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Lily-Pad-Flowers/168832645230

Now on to packing and moving the shop….

Having just shared a synopsis of how The Lily Pad came to be,  I am now reflecting on the last 7 years of being a flower shop owner. We have gone through a lot of changes since we first opened our doors, and though while living through those changes was difficult and more than a bit scary, I feel we have come out the other side a much better flower shop – and our clientele is the proof!

In our story, life experience was the driving force to opening the shop.  Both of my parents had passed, too early in life, and it gave me and David a different perspective on what we wanted to do with our time left on earth.  My parents, their work ethic and the  life they built for my family growing up was a great motivator.  I realized soon after their passing that life is too short.  They worked for decades to make a life they weren’t able to enjoy due to their health.

David and I took this lesson and decided that being in control of our own destiny was far more important, both in lifestyle and as lessons for our own children, than drudging to work for someone else with none of the “security” my father was afforded in the “old world”, where he worked at the same corporation his whole career.  We began to brainstorm ideas for our future, from the crazy to the mundane.  David had spent his whole life loving golf, so he branched out and got his PGA Card and began working and playing in the golf industry.  Talk about a change!  How great to do something you love and have it provide for your family!

I stood on the porch of an old house in historic McKinney and looked across the neighborhood.  I thought “Flower Shop” and that was it.  No lifetime of yearning to work with flowers, no dream of being a florist.  Just a memory about working in high school at a flower shop I loved, and that was it.  I began to put together a  plan to see if this was a flight of fancy, or a real, viable, business plan.

Soon into my research, I got excited.  I thought, “this is something that I could do, love, and pass on to my children”.  I went to Austin and took floral design classes from the Texas State Floral Association and began to develop skills that I had previously not known I had!  Corsages were my nemesis, and when I got good at those, the confidence began to build.

I opened the doors to The Lily Pad on Oct. 1, 2004, and haven’t looked back since.  We were in the original space for 3 years, but closed the doors when the long-standing Edwards’ Floral relocated to a block in front of us on a one-way street.  I figured, again, being in control of my own destiny now, that I wasn’t going to wait to see if this damaged our ability to sell flowers, so we moved.  Since there was no other place to go that I felt was appropriate to our business at that time, we brought everything home – cooler in the garage and the extra bedroom became a vase haven.  The website was still going strong – perhaps the best business decision I made in the early years was to hire the firm we used for the website.  It has really made an impression, brought in lots of business, and we didn’t have to “man the counter” to cover retail hours!  With 3 small children that never saw the inside of a daycare, we were committed to our way of life not changing, so this shift in business still catered to our standards.

I really thought that maybe the Lily Pad would slowly fade away, making it on the list of ideas that didn’t work.  In reality, closing the retail shop was the best thing we ever did!  Our lack of overhead led us to offer pricing that was far below the competitors, and our business grew, grew, grew!  The year we “closed” the shop, we did 38 weddings.  2 years later we were at 75.  This year, we expect to top 100!  And we are still just Kirsten and David – no employees, no extra expenses!

Two years in a row we have made the top of the list at theknot.com. We are now the preferred florist for several wedding venues, and are on the list at dozens of other locations.  Awards, accolades and support from our past clients has allowed The Lily Pad to grow unimpeded!

Next week, we relocate again, riding the wave and moving into The Flour Mill in McKinney.  Back in the public eye, but still little to no overhead, will surely continue the growth of our little family-owned business.  I think our flexibility has allowed us to survive.  When tons of businesses were going under due to the bad economy, we shuffled and not only stayed open, but increased our business each year!  Now, in year 7 – I feel confident that The Lily Pad has made a name for itself and will continue to be successful.

Sting of good luck?  Maybe.  The blind leading the blind?  Absolutely.  But it was that handicap that made us fearless in running our business.  In the process, we have taught our children great lessons.  We have learned ourselves that nothing is worth doing unless it’s done right.  And maybe most rewarding of all, we have been a part of very special days in our client’s lives – weddings, anniversaries, new babies and funerals – talk about the circle of life!  We are honored to be a part of each one of these…….always providing flowers that translate each occasion into celebrations of life – life to come, or lives lived.

So as I reflect on the life of The Lily Pad, I feel lucky. And thankful for all the families that have touched our lives.  And grateful for the ability to control our own destiny.   And most of all, I feel blessed to do something I love, with clients I love, for the family I adore!  Thank you to everyone and anyone who has inspired me, taught me, helped me and loved me through the process : )

The Lily Pad had a busy weekend.  Keeping in mind that The Lily Pad consists of mostly me and seasonally David, my husband,I think we do pretty well, even with 4 weddings and an open house in 48 hours! 

Tomorrow David goes back to work full-time at the golf course, and though I am thrilled that we both are blessed with occupations we love, I have gotten very used to having David’s assistance.  He has become a boutonniere making machine, and not only is he good, he has an artistic eye that I don’t posess.  I must give credit where it is due – “we” will miss David as he goes on to tanner, golfing pastures. 

And speaking of moving to better pastures, The Lily Pad is relocating next month to the Historic McKinney Flour Mill, one of McKinney’s newest event venues and center of some fabulous upcoming expansion.  We can’t wait to get back in the public eye and gain a  little more exposure.  Our brides do a great job of referring friends and family our way, and we have all the business we could dream of, but we think that the move to The Flour Mill will be the next big step in The Lily Pad’s history.

Here’s a look at our busy weekend!

This was a gorgeous wedding with pink pink pink! Love it when we get to do something different on the gazebo at Fairy Tale Manor.  This bride, with all her girly pink, had a distinct vision and we were thrilled to make it a reality.

We love what we do!

I mentioned in the last post that you could use pew flowers at the reception and thought this would be a great time to explore all the things your flowers can do for you at your wedding.  I have a “leave no flower behind” mentality, and am always thinking of new ways to get a bride as much as she can for her particular budget. 
We have made very modest budgets go a long way by making choices that allowed for double duty of flowers; those flowers you can use again and again and get the most out of your floral dollars.  Your guests will notice all the flowers without ever realizing they saw them earlier in the day.

Here are a few ideas on how to pump up your floral presence without exploding your budget

Pew flowers – in whatever form, can be moved to reception, placed in ladies’ restroom or in groups on a gift table or bar.

Altar arrangements – perfect to flank the couple’s sweetheart table at reception, or place by cake and entry.

Bride’s Maids bouquets – for you girls with many bride’s maids, use those bouquets!  The girls won’t carry them around all night, and they can still take them at the end of the evening, but supplement, or even replace, centerpiece options and stretch that budget.

Flower girl pomanders – again, they won’t carry them all night, so place some cylinders of differing heights on the candy table, or place them directly on gift tables or bars to add a pop of color.

Of course, I am gone hours before the ceremony, so you will have to designate someone to move these things for maximum effect.  I like to think of groom’s men as stagehands.  That keeps you and your groom posing for pictures while the magic happens.

I have yet to meet with a bride who has a limitless budget, no matter the dollar amount.  We are all interested in getting the most for our money, and I am confident that we can find ways to get you exactly what you want; your vision fulfilled with professional, beautifully designed and affordable wedding flowers.

The weather is warming, flowers are blooming and wedding season is in full swing.  We have just had our first few outdoor ceremonies of the season, and though I hate to harp on things, I am reminded of the things that need consideration when planning any part of your wedding festivities under (pray for it) blue skies.

Last week, the altar arrangements the bride had planned to flank her golf course ceremony had to be relocated due to wind.  As we “built” this arch today, the wind was again whipping through the space unimpeded.  Though the structure was sound, and the flowers in no danger of leaving their intended place, the bride had also ordered a large amount of rose petals to place beneath the gazebo.  If we had placed them at the time of installation,  they would have blown completely away before the bride even got to see them, so we left them with the venue to place just before the ceremony. 

 In this case, as most, the staff at your venue is top notch and will be happy to do this.  I’m usually long gone by ceremony time, so I can only hope that the petals had their desired effect.  Nothing compares with a full aisle of rose petals, but let’s face it, Texas is a windy place.

So it brings me to my usual “plan for the worst, pray for the best” place.  Let’s talk about alternatives to the gorgeous, but flighty, rose petal.  There are great ways to enhance the aisle of your ceremony that will ensure that your money is well spent, visible in photography, and true to your overall wedding theme.  Staggered height cylinders with pillar candles sitting on a bed of petals (thereby “weighing” them down), clusters of flowers and greenery, or even a simple bow will create the runway that every bride wants.  In our “leave no flower behind” style, most anything you use on the aisle can also be taken into the reception and used again in a space, which can greatly stretch your budget.  Pomanders on pew ends can be placed on cylinder vases on a candy table and be a great place to keep the flowers working to their full potential.

The obvious concern is rain when planning an outdoor ceremony, but it isn’t the only culprit.  We have battled swarms of mosquitoes, gale force winds, angry geese and a lake-side set up with swarming copperheads just 10 feet offshore of ceremony.  Some things you just can’t plan for.  It just makes all the things you do plan for more important.  The ability to be flexible, in light of a very minute-to-minute scheduled day, will be the one thing that makes your day perfect, no matter what blows in.

Wow, we have had a full 2 months of meeting with brides and vendors.  We are excited to announce that we have been asked to be a preferred vendor for the McKinney Flour Mill (www.mckinneyflourmill.com), a new, rustic reception venue in historic McKinney, Texas.   An open house to introduce the space is scheduled for Sunday, March 27th, where we will be showcasing  a series of 6 centerpiece styles to help brides and planners visualize all the room has to offer in style and decor.   Our first wedding will be at The Flour Mill this spring, and we can’t wait to book more!

Our affiliation with Fairy Tale Manor in Frisco (www.fairytalemanor.com), voted #1 Wedding Venue in D/FW area has exposed us to so many brides and families, and we have enjoyed working with them all.   There are so many ways to transform this venue  – we have made it a fall spectacular with pumkins and fall leaves to  vintage 40’s themes with birdcages and feathers.  You just can’t go wrong at Fairy Tale Manor, and their staff is top notch!

Gazebo with kermit pom pomanders, Fairy Tale Manor, Frisco

Another great venue that has become popular in the last year is Ashton Gardens in Corinth, TX. (www.ashtongardens.com)

Bride at Ashton Gardens' Chapel

Pew Decor at Ashton Gardens

We have several weddings planned there this year, in some gorgeous vibrant colors to compliment the natural setting, and can’t wait to share more pictures when we get them.

If you are looking for a florist, we are here to help.  We also have a  tried and true list of fantastic vendors, from coffee bars to photobooths to cakes,  that we would be happy to share with you.  Call or e-mail at 972-547-4534 or kirsten@thelilypadflowershop.com

So you are engaged. Congratulations! Now starts the process of planning, to do lists, meetings, phone calls, and an endless list of e-mails and more e-mails….
I have often said a new bride should receive a certificate of completion upon getting married, not for the marriage itself, but for the hard work and many hours needed to plan an event. It’s a tiring and sometimes frustrating experience, but one that culminates in the most beautiful day you can imagine. We like to think that the flower meetings are on the top of the list of the “fun” things to plan, second only, I admit, to cake tasting : )  It should be fun. What other time in your life do you get to buy lots of flowers, just as you want them, to make your wedding even more special?

The floral consultation shouldn’t be one to dread, even if you are aren’t a  ”girly-girl” or care much about flowers. Those girls who come in and describe themselves as undecided about flowers usually leave our consultations  excited about the vision of their day because the flowers have more clearly defined it.   That’s our goal.  A fun, unstressfull meeting that  leaves you happier  and more confident than when you arrived. 

You don’t need a huge budget for flowers to make an impact on your wedding day.  Many planning books say that your floral budget should consist of about 15-20% of your overall budget for the wedding, and while we love to fill a wedding with hundreds of flowers to make a statement, you can have a beautifully designed wedding without spending big chunks of your budget to get it.  We are well-versed on alternative ideas and flower designs to fit even the most modest budget, and getting more bang for your buck is our specialty.  The right flower or color can change a picture even in small amounts, and we are here to help you navigate those choices.

Whether you are a bride who has envisioned her wedding day her whole life, or one who is just trying to get through the process, we can help put your ideas into action or put ideas in your head.  Bring us your short list or album overflowing with ideas.  We are up for the challenge!  And though we have no sweets to share, we think that this meeting will be almost as fun as your cake tasting!

What better gift to give this time of year than yourself? From Thanksgiving through New Years, thousands of guys ask the ulitmate question: “Will you marry me?”
The race is on. Almost immediately brides-to-be begin planning. Whether they have had a lifetime of ideas that now get to be realized, or they are starting from scratch, the planning process can be an overwhelming process. That being said, it is a “process”, and by definition, is a “series of actions that produce something”.  That something in this case is a wedding, but in all cases, it takes time, patience, changes, tweaks, omissions and additions and a mindset to get through it all.
Flowers are a part of the process, but as I tell my brides, it is fluid and will change. During our first consultation, we get the information the bride has at the time, which in many cases is a general idea of the overall feel for her day. Color schemes, favorite flowers and a list of needs is a good start, but don’t be concerned about needing a precise list of everything. For instance, a bride can estimate, but probably won’t have an exact guest table count for the reception until she receives RSVP’s  much closer to the wedding date.
For us, we only require that your flower order is set about 2 weeks prior to you wedding, when we order the flowers. That means that you could potentially scrap everything and start over up to that point, though we recommend for your sanity that you don’t. But it is a good illustration of the fluidity of the process, as things do sometimes change.
Don’t be intimidated or feel you are annoying your vendors with changes. We all want you to have the wedding you want, and if any vendor you chose doesn’t get that, perhaps you should move on.  It is our pleasure to help realize your wedding dreams, and that means a commitment to your vision and whatever path is necessary to get there.

If you found your man on one knee this season, Congratulations!  Now pace yourself and relax into the process of planning your wedding.  

No matter what the season, bridal bouquets set the tone of the wedding. Your wedding style is enhanced by your choice of flowers, whether they be accent colors to your wedding palette or the focal point of the day. Pink in fall or jewel tones in spring, it’s the brides vision for her day that dictates the flowers she chooses.
Just when I am ready for a seasonal change, a bride chooses pink for her October wedding, or orange at Christmas. But when paired with the overall theme for the wedding, all colors work all year. This is why the bride’s vision is so important, and our ability to gleen from that which direction her flowers will take her can make or break a wedding.
It is so important for us to listen closely to the bride….to ask questions that may seem inconsequential but help achieve an overall cohesive style, whether color or flower, that makes your wedding day flow. What color linens will you use, the color of the bride’s maids dresses, even the color of the bride’s dress, in all the fancy terms for white and ivory; these are the foundations of your wedding. The more a bride can convey about her “vision”, the easier it is for us to complete the day with the perfect bouquet.

Paired with brown bride’s maids dresses and a vintage theme, this pink bouquet fit perfectly with the bride’s vision, even in September…

Regal tones of purple in a fabulous venue made this wedding an upscale, elegant affair.  It’s all in the details, and adding pops of color in unexpected places greet guests with the tone for the evening

A little taste of the evening as guests walk through the door:

And then, traditonal fall flowers for a fall wedding….no surprises, but beautifully accenting an outdoor gazebo with flowers that are abundant this time of year creates a stunning setting for your ceremony

In designing flowers for weddings, I listen closely to the bride’s vision and try to translate that into a bouquet that sets the tone for the evening.  We love to make brides happy.   In doing so, I have found that it doesn’t always make me happy to construct that same round bouquet, even with diverse flowers and textures.  I was renewed last weekend with my bride, Megan, who had a unique vision for her wedding, and allowed me to use her ideas to create something other than the round bouquet so many enjoy.  Megan’s theme was organic, natural elements that included an array of herbs.  The centerpiece of the bouquet was a beautiful purple artichoke, surrounded by peonies, ranunculus, anemone, lilac and hydrangea in a gathered bouquet with movement and freedom.  It was simply stunning, and to continue the theme throughout the rest of the bridal party, we deconstructed her bouquet into bridesmaids bouquests and boutonnieres to match.  The bride made her own centerpieces, which consisted of potted herbs in decorative containers for her guests to take with them as wedding favors.  What a lovely and unique way to make the most of your wedding decor.

Finding a way to put yourself into your wedding doesn’t always mean writing someone else a check.  The more of “you” that is represented in some way through your decor or flowers, the more personal and memorable the event becomes to all that attend.  You are a unique couple – make your wedding a unique evening.  It doesn’t take a lot of effort, but is appreciated by both vendors and guests alike, and makes for some stunning photographs to keep forever.

These sleek designs are a wonderful accent to any wedding style.  Clean and simple, suspended roses in a cylinder vase of any size is an inexpensive and styish way to increase your florals without increasing your budget.   Add some submersible led lights and you have an eyecatching piece that will make a big impact.  Call us today for more creative ideas for your wedding!

courtesy Lacymariephotography.com

This cluster of cylinders can highlight a bar, buffet tables, or guest book.  The clean design allows for flowers without space needed for other floral designs.   We stock cylinder vases in 6″, 8″, 10″, 12″ 16″, 24″ and 28″, with specialty fluted vases at 22″ and 24″.

We have made it through the summer!  Our busiest ever, with a bunch of creative and beautiful brides.  We did a lot of bright summer colors, but ended with a gorgeous set of assymetric and architectural design using the most gorgeous antiqued green hydrangea we have ever gotten in :

The bride’s vision, with our creative staff, have made a lot of Saturdays this summer the most memorable of their lives.  Thanks to all the families who have put their confidence in The Lily Pad to create a day that makes wedding dreams a reality.

Here’s a centerpiece we have been waiting to do!  The clean, contemporary lines make an enormous impact even though the floral accent is minimal.  It is a great design for buffet tables, entry pieces and other areas that need something that won’t compete with the other elements on the table.  Thanks to Laceymarie Photography for the great photo!

We have had a wonderfully busy summer this year!  So many weddings and events, and opportunities to try new things!  From blue roses to neon, funky centerpieces for a Sweet 16 party, The Lily Pad has been hard at work for our clients.

We wanted to share a few of these favorite designs.  Let us know which is your favorite!

This picture perfectly represents the look our Sweet 16 girl was looking for.  Bright and cheery, with a little funky mixed in.  Credit to Laceymarie Photograpy and Significant Events of Texas

The illusive blue rose !  We have been asked many times about the (always dyed) blue rose, and have never recommended using them.  A bride finally convinced me to order them for her wedding, and they were very pretty.   Here is how they stood up against a white rose.

This gorgeous peach bouquet was the most amazing accent to the garden wedding.  Mokara orchids, roses,  freesia and some hypericum berry formed a natural but chic feel to the day.

I rarely get to see the bride with her bouquet in hand, but I snuck around a corner when I returned after the ceremony and caught a few pictures.  This was a stunning bouquet of hot pink roses, freesia, and mini callas with green cymbidium orchids and hypericum berries.

We love to decorate the gazebo at Fairy Tale Manor in Frisco.  Wrapped with white fabric, pomanders seem to be the favorite floral accent for the ceremony site.  It makes for some stunning sunset weddings!

Here are some more of our favorite weddings this summer! This trio of vases is an inexpensive way to decorate your guest tables with color.  Alternating this group with tables with fuller floral designs makes a stunning and modern landscape to any reception venue.

The owner of the Bingham House said no one had ever put flowers on her columns.  I couldn’t believe it!  It was great introducing a new element to the venue and making our bride’s vision a reality.  Such a romantic setting for an intimate wedding!

Green has been the most popular color this year!  Whether using it as the main color or an accent, we have made hundreds of these wonderful boutonnieres, using green kermit poms and hypericum berry.  The black stem wrap makes it disappear against a tux, making the green really pop!  And the labels make it so easy to get those elusive groom’s men pinned and ready to go!

This combination of flowers and textures makes me smile.  Love the dahlia, freesia, gerbers and orchids – and the bright colors are perfect for this August bride.    Here’s how it looked with in the bride’s hands.

Now that Mother’s Day has come and gone, wedding season is upon us.

Just like the most loyal postal employee, neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night will keep a bride from choosing her perfect date for her wedding.  And since weather is not predictable, every bride can contest to the fact that choosing the right date, with all the Farmer’s Almanacs in the world, is a daunting challenge.  June has always been one of the most popular months to be married.  However, in Texas and throughout the south, another month has given June a run for it’s money in wedding dates – October.  It must be that October represents the month when the crazy heat and weather dies down – a month when we can all venture outdoors again with comfort and  a bit of confidence that, though something may go wrong, it won’t be the weather.

I am all for it.  As a wedding professional, I know the importance of weather on your wedding day.  Even the most “got-it-together brides” want sun on their big day.  Knowing that in some cultures it is good luck for rain on wedding day is not a confidence builder when you are planning your outdoor wedding.

Last year, just as one of my bride’s ceremony was about to begin, the infamous straight-line winds came in and tore down the whole area, followed by a deluge that I hadn’t experienced on a wedding day in years.  As everyone scrambled inside, and all of the vendors valiantly braved the elements to move, again, all of the set up, this bride was not interested in the good luck the torrential downpour would bring.  She stood in the atrium of the country club and had a bridal tantrum amidst the collapsed tents, knocked over chairs and quickly flooding greens where just moments before a lovely wedding had been set to begin.   Nobody blamed her.  We were all horrified for her, as we watched her 12 months of intense planning  literally blow away in a matter of moments.  This was an early May wedding and my bride had no Plan B.

As discussed in earlier posts, Plan B is a necessity when choosing an outdoor venue.  Obsessing about the weather forecast for two weeks prior to the wedding is no way to spend the last two weeks of your single life.   That being said, all the forecasts in the world can’t predict if a storm will well up just before your ceremony.  Having a Plan B is an instrumental part of wedding planning – and though Plan B is always the second best choice, having one can eliminate a lot of stress riding up to the big day.

So be it May with spontaneous storms, or June with it’s incessant heat, or even October, when historically the weather is calmer, Plan B is a stress reliever.  On a day when everything is supposed to be just right, when the planning of months and months of every detail has gone smoothly, knowing how to spin and turn on a dime to resist Mother Nature is essential.  The “back up plan” can be as wonderful as Plan A – and in some cases even better, though you hadn’t planned it that way.  Just to have some say in what happens if the worst happens makes a bride more confident that she will still have the perfect wedding day, no matter what forces conspire against her.

It’s all in your head.  The bride who has thought of everything but a Plan B will surely be tested by something.  Those with a Plan B shift seamlessly into the unexpected because it was in the back of their mind that this could happen.  Those who blindly and with the best of  faith believe that it can’t happen on their big day often have the hardest time adjusting to the shift.  It all goes back to the saying that “attitude is everything”, and in this case it couldn’t be better stated.

So, while neither rain nor snow nor heat nor gloom of night will keep you from marrying your best friend, Plan B can keep away the dreaded disappointment that should never accompany a bride into her reception

Of all the gifts to give on Mother’s Day, in my humble opinion, flowers are the best.   Any mom who has received a handful of her own prized sunflowers or tulips from her garden, delivered by a sweet and innocent “didn’t know I shouldn’t pick those” face knows the joy that only flowers can bring.  It is “the bringing” that give Mother’s Day flowers give such joy.

Sure, mom could use a new oven mit, and even a really pretty one that matches the kitchen is appreciated.  But nostalgia and sentimentality are heart-felt gifts that find translation in only a few tactile ways.   Giving her a gift that takes her back to your 3 year old hands full of tulips, roots and all, is a treasured way to celebrate her life as a mom.

It’s the thought that counts.  And in this case, it couldn’t be more true.  Those gifts given with meaning and thought are always received with joy.  And after the many years of burping and feeding and cleaning and driving and cheering you on, what we really want is for our children to put thought into the gift.  That’s what melts our hearts.  Those are the gifts we never forget.

So, cliche or not, send you mom some flowers on Mother’s Day.  Not only will she enjoy their beauty for days but with them will come a warmth and meaning that so many other gifts don’t offer.