Blooper Scooper: Mother's Day Hits and Kisses

Dress: LC Lauren Conrad; Kohl's; Bow barrette: Wild Fable, Target 

Cake Talk Necklace

Shoes: Madden Girl, Macy's

Proud graduate of Mom's school of I hope it's enough.

Sunglasses: Wild Fable, Target

ShopRite: Baking so moms don't have to.

Bag: Madden Girl, Kohl's

Just two rebels wearing white shoes before Memorial Day.

This was my second year hosting Mother's Day.  And by hosting, I mean serving store-bought dessert after my dad takes us out for dinner.  Still, I managed to drop my niece's ice cream on her dress and my nephew's on the table.  What can I say?  Coordination isn't my strong suit.  Anyway, I loved hearing Charlotte's shrieks as she ran around with her cousins while I caught up with my mom and sister.  And when it was over and it was just cake crumbs and crumbled tissue, I realized what I had to reach midlife to learn: messy is happy.

So, to all who celebrate, I hope that you had a great Mother's Day, one so full of laughter and heart that you had to break out the Dust Buster.

Although not literally.  Because cleaning on Mother's Day is sacrilege.  

And no one has Dust Busters anymore.

A Little Replay of My First Mother's Day

Char Bar, Mom, and me on Mother's Day.

It's hard to believe that a year ago, I was this close to popping out Charlotte.  Large and not at all in charge, I was trudging along on my no-carb diet, one unsalted almond away from losing my mind.  So it's still surreal that she's here and laughing and almost walking, filling my life with more joy than I ever thought possible.  (Also, that oranges, not to mention cookies, are no longer forbidden fruit.)  I love watching her become her own little person.  Because even though my heart stops whenever she crawls under a table or leans over her crib, I can't wait to see what she'll learn next, smiling, stumbling, and smiling again as she discovers her world.

One of my favorite pics.

Mother's Day made me think about that, even amid the holiday hoopla.  And appreciate just how lucky I am to have this amazing little girl in my life.

So, happy belated Mother's Day to all the moms and mom figures out there.  I hope you got a little peace and a lot of love.

And, of course, unlimited cookies. 

Mother's Day Replay

These days, it takes me a little longer to do everything.  But I couldn't let Mother's Day pass without commemorating it with a post.  Especially because it was technically the first one with my mom and me and baby girl -- albeit in utero.  It's hard to believe that this time next year I'll have a nearly one-year-old.  And that I'll know what people mean when they say stuff like, "Until you have a child . . ."

So, Mom, thanks so much for having me.  And for being here for my own mom journey.

And also for promising to bake me a cake once baby girl arrives.

I really miss cake. 

Shower Hour

Dress: kimi + kai, Belk

My sister and me.

Shoes: Katy Perry Collection

Bunny: Michaels

Bag: Madden Girl, Macy's

Blouse: Bongo, Sears

Big bow barrette (belt): Kohl's

Mommy and me.

Why not kick off Mother's Day weekend with the baby shower that my mom threw me last weekend?  It wasn't a surprise -- which was what I wanted -- and was held at my cousin's restaurant, the Maplewood III.  Everything was beautiful.  My mom outdid herself with the decorations, as did my cousin with the food.  Most importantly, opening all those bottles, onesies, and teethers made me realize that a tiny new person will come to live with the husband and me very soon.     

Even as I write this, I can feel baby girl kick.  All of my doctors say that she's "a very busy baby," and one even asked if I'd had caffeine!  (Just for the record, I hadn't.)  It's amazing to think that she's got her own little life going on in there.  Even if I'm a little worried that I won't be able to keep up with her once she comes out.

That said, I know I went overboard with these pics.  But I couldn't decide.  Because the ones at home are all perfect and posed, whereas the ones at the shower are more natural, right down to my outfit unraveling.  Yet all of them are part of my story.  Because as with most things in life, the truth -- and the true me -- fall somewhere in the middle.     

This is the kind of corny kernel that baby girl can expect to hear regularly.  All I can say is, kid, get used to it. 😏🎀👶

Happy Mama-Rama Day

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there!  Especially mine, who's the best in the biz.  (For it is, after all, a business, as they say, "the hardest job you'll ever love.")  She's not just the best mom, but also my best friend.  Not like that mom in Mother's Day Murder who nags so much she ends up six feet under.  

So here's to you, Mom, and all the other matriarchs who've mastered the fine art of listening.  You've had to hear an awful lot over the years, and I treasure your kindness and patience.  

Also, all the meals and mall trips. 

Purple Reign: Wistful for Wisteria

No, I'm not talking about the decades-old drama of Desperate Housewives.  Although maybe I should be, because that was a great show.  I'm talking about this wisteria vine that I saw wrapped around a telephone pole wire on Mother's Day.  Spring flowers being what they are, it's probably long gone by now.  But the sight of it and its spirit stay with me.  I love it when something that's supposed to be frail stakes its claim somewhere it was told it shouldn't be.

Huh.  Maybe I'm talking about housewives (and women) after all.    

That said, don't get me started on pansies.

Pasta for Dinner, Wacky Waving Figure: Mama Mia, What a Mother's Day

Once again, it's that day in May when we take time to honor our mothers.  To say thank you for cutting the crusts off all those PB&Js, showing up for every game and recital, and placing every hideous trinket we ever gave you in pride of place on the bookshelf.  Even when we whined, cried, and screamed.  And sometimes said I hate you.

For those and many other reasons, you deserve more than a macaroni necklace.  And that's not even counting the childbirth part.

My own mom taught me so many wonderful things, including how to read and accessorize.  I don't have to tell you that both came in handy, as I've devoted my life to books and baubles.

So Mom, in keeping with Arcade Fire's performance on last night's SNL, please accept this Wacky Waving Figure as a token of my appreciation:

Not literally, though.  Because I gave it to the husband for Christmas, and I think he'd really miss it.  But it's the thought that counts, right?  

Which puts us back in macaroni necklace territory.  

Then again, what's a macaroni necklace if not the combo of the perfect food and jewelry?

What I'm trying to say is, you get it.  You encouraged every wacky dream (and outfit!) I ever had, listened to every stray thought and worry.  So thanks for always cheering me on and being the best mom -- and friend -- I could ever hope for.  

I love you.  Happy Mother's Day!

Keep Calm, Mom, and Have a Mimosa

What, you wanted brunch?  And a long-stemmed rose handed to you as, full of frittata and fresh fruit, you exit the restaurant into the May sunshine?  Well, buckle up, because it's Eggos and virtual violets for you, Madame Mama.

If you're anything like everyone else in the world, then you're keeping a tally of all the holidays and birthdays claimed by corona.  Today, of course, marks yet another fanfare-free celebration.  This Mother's Day, my family won't be sharing lunch followed by a Duncan Hines vanilla cake (white inside, not yellow) and presenting Mom with an array of Amazon Wish List-curated gifts.  Instead, I made my mom this card and dropped it in the mailbox (actually, I made the husband drop it in the mailbox, as I've yet to cross that hurdle).  I'd like to say that the look-what-I-made-for-you-in-school feel was intentional.  But the afterthought apostrophe and streaky colored pencil strokes happened all on their own.  The inside says, "Just a little produce from the person you produced."  Because I'm nothing if not Dad joke witty.

Later today, my sister and I are going to get on House Party with my parents.  I'll dress for the occasion; the least I can do is spare Mom the sight of my bedraggled, bathrobed self.  Also, it'll help prevent the old, "Aunt Tracy, your hair is a mess!" from my three-year-old nephew.  Actually, I don't mind that.  I miss the little tyke so much he could call me Carrot Top, and I'd say thank you.

Still, despite the whole holiday interrupted thing, there's an upside to time apart.  My mom and I are very close, and we talk on the phone every day.  But even so, in the old days, we were usually too busy to settle down to a proper chat.  One of us was always signing off to rush off to do something else, her to go to Zumba or yoga, me (like the premature geriatric I am) because "one of my shows" was coming on.  Now that we're both housebound, we have the luxury of talking as long as we want, and our conversations are deeper.  Well, at least they are when we're not focused on who scored chicken or bananas in the latest grocery order.  So, slowing down can be nice.       

This Mother's Day, I hope that you too find your own way to celebrate.  And that you're thankful for the little things. 

Like fresh produce in all of its forms.

Mother Earth Mirth

Dress: Mudd, Kohl's
Shoes: Chase & Chloe, Zulily
Bag: Betsey Johnson, Modcloth
Bangles: B Fabulous

 Fabulous Felt Red Folk Flowers Barrette

Dress: Ruby Rox, J. C. Penney's
Shoes: Delicious, Zulily
Bag: Betsey Johnson, Amazon
Top bangle: Silver Linings, Ocean City, NJ boardwalk
Middle bangle: B Fabulous
Bottom bangle: Amrita Singh, Zulily
Sunglasses: Relic, Kohl's

Fabulous Felt Yellow Folk Flowers Barrette

Ah, Mother's Day.  A time to honor Mom -- the perennial keeper of the familial garden -- as the pampered flower she deserves to be.  And what better way to do that than with flowers?  Or in this case, flower barrettes.  (Mom, don't worry; these barrettes are not your gift, just part of my pseudo sales pitch.  Pseudo because 1) Mother's Day is already here and 2) I hope all the moms are getting brunch and handbags and real flowers).  Speaking of my mom, (as we just were), she always planted the first flowers of the season, which were always pansies, on Mother's Day.  And I would think, why does she want to be down in the dirt on her own holiday, when she could be eating Twizzlers or taking a nap?  But the thing is, my mom loves flowers and making things beautiful.  She wanted to be starting her garden, giving root to the first of the many blossoms that would make our yard explode with color.  That's what makes her such a gifted gardener, both literal and figurative, nurturing not only roses and marigolds, but my sister and me through all of our less than lovely years.  So thanks, Mom, for being tougher than crabgrass and grub worms and doing the hard work of helping us grow.   

On that note, here are some of my flowers.  Okay, my only flowers.  I didn't plant these azaleas (that credit goes to the previous homeowner) or even maintain them (the bottoms are choked by dead leaves), but they're blooming just the same.  And that makes me happy and hopeful that maybe someday I'll plant flowers, too.

Even if they're only plastic.  

Dish Out of Water: Mother Mermaid Brigade

Bikinis: Venus 

Swim Cap Cutie Brooches

Maybe your mom was an Olympic swimmer.  (Okay, YWCA league swimmer, second string).  Or maybe she took you to the community pool every weekend and disappeared behind the latest issue of Vogue while you dodged loogies and played Marco Polo.  The point is, we all have our own chlorine-slash-sunscreen-soaked memories.  And our cruise director (Lifeguard?  Swim coach?  I don't know; this metaphor is getting away from me faster than a Swimmie sucked up by a pool vac) was always good old mom.  

With Mother's Day just behind us and Memorial Day fast on her kitten/wedge/stiletto heels, what better way to say thanks to matriarchs everywhere than with a little splish splash flash of felt?  I don't know about you, but I've always been a fan of the paradoxically frumpy glam charm of a skullcap smothered by flowers.  Still, I had my doubts that this awesomeness would translate to my hat lady brooches.  Mostly because, before I added the flowers, the caps looked like hard-boiled eggs or alien heads or, horror of horrors, bicycle helmets.  But the more color I added, the better they got.  By the time I was done, I had a bevy of bathing beauties, or, more to the point, red hot mamas.  Unless that's inappropriate.  Poll, please?  Nine out of ten moms say no.  And the tenth one swims in a parka.  

So, it's official: rocking a swim cap is the best way to play retro.  Not that we needed a poll for that.  

In the retro department, anything beats doing dishes.

Mum (and Sometimes Bird) is the Word

 Shell Belle Necklace

Dress: Olsenboye, JCPenney

Shoes: Chase & Chloe, Modcloth

Bag: Bisou Bisou, JCPenney

Sunglasses: Michaels

Polka dot bangle: Mixit, JCPenney

Green stretch bracelet: Cloud Nine, Ocean City

Shell stretch bracelet: Hawaii gift shop

Rhinestone stretch bracelet: Kensie, Macy's

Ring: Carole, JCPenney

Purple flower clip: Claire's

Mint flower clip: Forever 21

Boucle flower clip: Kohl's

Yellow flower clip: Mixit, JCPenney

Dazzling Dragonfly Necklace

Top: Xhilaration, Target

Skirt: Decree, JCPenney

Shoes: Chinese Laundry, DSW

Bag: Marshalls

Yellow belt: Wet Seal

Mint belt: Candie's, Kohl's

Sunglasses: Relic, Kohl's

Bangles: B Fabulous

Mint flower clip: Forever 21

Purple flower clip: Claire's

Coral flower brooch: Candie's, Kohl's

"Mum" and "bird" are both British words for (albeit different categories of) women.  Can't you just hear some old coot in an ascot murmuring, "She was a mighty fine bird, yes she was," to his mate in the pub on a Tuesday?  Mums can be birds, and birds can be mums.  Not, of course, that you want some coot objectifying your mother.

You wouldn't know it from this intro, but this post is about Mother's Day.  I know it's a day late and a dollar short, but that's how we roll at The Tote Trove.  Still skeptical?  Here's the Mother's Day card I gave my mother:   

See?  Birds and mums, a perfect pair if ever there was one.  You can't see the words, but they say: "Thanks for always putting food in my food hole.  Happy Mother's Day."  Short, to the point, and a little bit weird, it spoke to me.  Even if it was through the voice of the husband who, full disclosure, was the one who picked it out.

Also, here are some things I made (above) and some plants I saw, all very pastel and pretty and mumsy:

Finally, I went with collage-style outfit pics again because Tammy's still out of pocket.  She's in her Amazonian homeland visiting her mother.  I hope it's going well, because those two do not get along.  The last time they saw each other, Tammy's mom set her up on a blind date with a hand model, which is, for those who don't know, a real insult to an appendage-less torso.  Tammy retaliated by planting a bottle of Obsession in her mom's purse at the mall, getting her hauled off for shoplifting.  I don't even want to know what they're up to this time.  Save the drama for your mama, I say!  Anyway, I was with my mom yesterday (no blind dates or arrests, I'm happy to report), and a good time was had by all.

Needless to say, no one wore mom jeans.

Garden State of Mind: Sugarcane for Joe Mama

 Fabulous Felt Corn on the Cob Barrettes

Dress: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's

Shoes: Qupid, Alloy

Bag: Marshalls

Sunglasses: Rampage, Boscov's

 Fabulous Felt Carrot Barrettes

Dress: Modcloth

Shoes: Ami Clubwear

Bag: Call it Spring, JCPenney

Scarf: Marshalls

Belt: Candie's, Kohl's

Sunglasses: Relic, Kohl's

 Fabulous Felt Pea Pod Barrettes

Dress: Marty's, Ocean City 

Shoes: Qupid, Alloy

Bag: Marshalls

Sunglasses: Rampage, Boscov's

Fabulous Felt Beet Barrettes

Dress: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's

Shoes: Ami Clubwear

Bag: Nordstrom

Sunglasses: Michaels

Sure, the dust has settled on Mother's Day, but it's never too late for a mom-friendly post -- even if dirt and tardiness are two things traditionally frowned upon by Mommy Dearest.  Well, that and not eating your veggies.  After all, who among us hasn't heard some version of "If you don't eat those beans, you'll be wearing them!" growing up?  My own mom took a much gentler and more whimsical approach, encouraging me to eat my spinach by saying that if I didn't I would hurt its feelings (a strategy that backfired, as I had no interest in eating anything with emotions more explosive than mine).  So, in honor of moms everywhere, I made some veggie barrettes to wear, if not on your face, then in your hair.  I'm serving up a style salad of corn, carrots, peas, and beets (no spinach, as its blob-like shape doesn't lend itself to the high-flying world of homegrown hair goods).  Cute and sparkly, they've got all the charisma of candy and cupcakes and are a fitting tribute to the Garden State where we're (surprise, surprise) more known for farm stands than factories.  

Super (silly!) foods aside, your mom deserves more than a broccoli bouquet on her special day (tempting as that payback may be).  So hopefully, you let her eat cake.  And had yourself a big fat slice, too.