As a participant in the Hallmark at Walgreens Signature Mother’s Day campaign, I received compensation in exchange for writing this review. Although this post is sponsored, all opinions are my own. @walgreens #HallmarkAtWalgreens #CareWithACard #sponsored
If you happened to be cruising the Walgreens on Third Street in San Rafael, California a few days ago (among all the places in the world!) and saw a teary lady standing by the Hallmark Mother’s Day cards…yes, that was me, in all my sniffly glory, LOL!
Oh, didn’t you know? I cry in all public places now, and I’m especially susceptible to it when a holiday like Mother’s Day is involved, because I get all the feels, man!
I was there picking out a Mother’s Day Hallmark card for my mom, and as I stood there looking through the cards and reading them, I started thinking about my baby girl standing there in an aisle someday looking at Mother’s Day cards for me… Next thing you know, the tears are pooling up, and I’m on the next nonstop train to Emo Station.
That’s one thing having a baby has done (other than make me cry at the drop of a hat in public spaces). I have a whole new appreciation for my mom and how strong she’s always been.
She was born in a village in the Philippines and moved to the U.S. with my dad in the ’70s. She was in her mid-20s at the time, and I can’t imagine how hard it must’ve been to move halfway around the world to a place where she didn’t have any family or friends, and where the customs and culture were so different from where she came from.
This was when keeping in touch with people was much harder than it is now. You couldn’t just jump online to find the answer to any question, or Skype your family when you felt homesick, or wanted advice on babies, or job searching, or fitting in.
When I think about how it must’ve been to live and work here and raise two kids without help from any family, while also holding down a full-time job, it hits me — really hits me — how hard it must’ve been, and just how strong she is.
But yet, whenever my mom came home from work, even when she was tired after a long day, she was usually in a good mood and happy to see me and my brother, which brings me to another thing that I think of when I picture my mom — kindness.
She’s always there when I need a caring word, or a little bit of sympathy, or some encouragement. She has a sweet and tender nature about her, and she’s always there with a hug if you need it.
And even though I joke with her sometimes about how she loves to pinch pennies (she’s a retired accountant, after all!), I have to give my mom mega props for being so darned practical when it comes to finance-related things, especially when it comes to planning for the future. It’s one of her many superhero talents!
Just one example: my mom wanted me to go to college, and she didn’t want me to worry about having to take out loans or be in debt after I finished, so she planned and saved enough money while I was growing up to put me through school. My education is a gift from her that I don’t ever take for granted.
What can I say? My mom is pretty darned amazing when I think about it. 🙂 She’s like my angel, which is why I picked out this particular Mother’s Day card for her while I was at Walgreens the other day.
It’s from the Hallmark Signature line, Hallmark’s line of handmade cards. I like to think of the them as the cards with the fun extras, because they’ll often have little charms or baubles on them that the recipient can remove and keep. Like a gift that keeps on giving!
The Mother’s Day cards I looked through had a bunch of sweet keepsakes. One card had a necklace, another had a butterfly garland, and another had a knitted coffee cozy with a heart on it (which I kinda sorta wanted for myself, not gonna lie!).
So many of them were cute and touching, so it took me a while to decide on *the one*.
Ultimately, I ended up getting this card with angel wings on it because my mom is like my angel. Plus, she recently told me that, when I was a baby, she used to say that I was playing with angels when I smiled in my sleep.
If you’re still looking for a card for Mom, these have their own section in the Hallmark area at Walgreens. You can’t miss ’em.
And to all the moms out there…you are amazing. Happy Mother’s Day to you!
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
I love all the photos posted especially the one with your parents in the 1970s. It reminds me of mine too. Also LOVE the wedding photo. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Paol,
Aren’t those retro photos cool? I love them too and wish we had more.
thanks, hugs back to you, connor’s mom!
your mom sounds like the classic tiger mom.
mom passed away a few weeks ago, and it still hits me hard when least expected. like when i read the penny-pinching part and think ‘just like my mom!’ and then realize, my mom is no longer penny pinching.
happy mother’s day to you, karen.
I’m sorry for your loss. Sending you a hug!
You’re Mom did a great job with you! And now it’s you’re turn to be a great Mom to baby girl. My Mom is great at budgeting too! She know’s how to make a dollar holla!Lol I didn’t appreciate that as much when I was younger but I see now how her saving and bargaining has paid off through the years especially during the recession. I like that Walgreens carries Mahogany greeting cards and cards for other ethnicities! I just brought cards for my Mom and husbands birthday tomorrow. Haven’t picked up the Mother’s day cards yet. Every year I spend a lot on cards for Mother’s day for all the special women in my life! Great wedding photo!!
Thank you, Denise! I really hope I can do a good job with Connor Claire. 🙂 And lol, I’m going to have to borrow your “how to make a dollar holla” phrase (so good). Happy birthday to your mom and your hubby, and happy (early) Mother’s Day to you! Do you have plans yet with your family?
I know you are a great Mom Karen! Happy first Mother’s day! No plans for Mother’s day yet. My family lives in Baltimore and I’m in Tampa. Happy I’ll see Mom at my son’s graduation in New York in a couple weeks!!
Congrats to your son, that’s so exciting! What are his plans after graduation? Does he have a job lined up or will he be going to grad school?
Thanks. He’s getting a masters degree from Columbia University college of Physicians and Surgeons, Institute of human nutrition. And plans to apply to medical school.
Wow, good for him! That’s such a huge accomplishment. Congrats and I hope that he gets into his first choice medical school. *fingers crossed*
This card…OMG…is the sweetest card for a mom. Dang, I started crying too.
Happy Mother’s Day Karen!
Aww, Mira! Sending you a hug over the interwebz…I hope that you are having a nice day so far. 🙂
Okay, *sniff, sniff*, I need a Kleenex. *Blows nose* I’ve never seen these cards and I love that they come with bits and baubles because it makes it more special to me. Such a cute pic of you & your mom. She looks like a fashionista. And hubba, hubba- you were a stunning bride! Off to wipe my eyes now. And do my makeup over. 🙂
You’re the sweetest. 🙂
And you know this already, but I’ll say it again — I’ll take any excuse to slap on some more face paint! In fact, I’m about to do it right meow (with your niece chillin’ in a baby carrier, LOL!), so I’m right there with you.
Sounds like you have an amazing and awesome mom. I bet you’re going to be one, too. Hope you have a wonderful and happy first Mother’s Day!! Love your wedding photo!
Hi Tatiana,
She’s pretty rad. 🙂
I hope that I can be a good mom to Connor! I’m going to try my best.
How has your week been? Mine has flown by in a blink of an eye. I can’t believe tomorrow is Friday!
As long as you’re trying, I think you will do a good job. The best advice I ever got was from one of my dear daughter’s pre-school teachers. She said to choose your battles wisely. It didn’t really apply until my daughter got older, but then I understood. If you nag about everything they hear nothing. So I decided what I thought were important parts of her character to develop and I let the other things go. (So you want to wear mismatched socks and outfits that don’t co-ordinate to school, ok. Just remember to be the best student you can, study hard and treat the teachers and other kids with respect, whether they’re your friends or not.)
TGIF! Hope you have a relaxing and fun weekend!
That’s great advice, Tatiana. I’m going to try to remember it when she’s a teen and driving me absolutely crazy, LOL! P.S. Do you have any advice on how to raise her so that she doesn’t grow up too fast? These days it seems like kids aren’t kids for long.
Loved hearing the different ways in which your mom has been, and still is, awesome! So heartwarming. I”m sure you’re following right along in her footsteps.
Moms are wonderful and certainly are not to be taken for granted. I love my mother immensely. Can’t go a day without talking to her! 🙂
That’s wonderful that you talk to you mom every day. It sounds like you two are close!
I totally know what you mean. My mom moved here from the Philippines in her 20s and traveled all around the US and Canada with her friends. She would send back the money she made to her brothers and sisters in the Philippines. It’s amazing to think about how things were back in the day. My mom used to say the same thing about smiling when you are a baby and playing with angels 🙂
I know, right? I remember how something like making a phone call to the Philippines was a BIG DEAL. Now you can just get on skype! Amazing.
Were you born here? Or in the Philippines?
I remember my mom calling the Philippines when I was little and now you can just FaceTime people there.
I was born here but my Lola took care of me when I was little. She told me that if I didn’t talk to her in Tagalog then she wouldn’t give me the things I wanted. So I understand and read Tagalog really well but speaking I’m not that great at. How about you?
It’s really amazing how easy it is to communicate with people across the world now. I remember those phone calls were a once a year thing, now you can just FaceTime whenever you want.
That’s cool that you can read Tagalog. I was born there and came over here when I was young (2 or 3, I think). I used to be able to speak Tagalog, but I lost it because my parents would speak to me in Tagalog and then have me talk back to them in English. So now I understand it, but it’s only the stuff you hear around the house. I’ve tried to watch news and shows in Tagalog, but I always end up getting lost because my vocabulary’s very limited. I’d love to learn, though, so Connor could have a second language.
Now people speak mostly Taglish. I noticed as my parents get older they speak Tagalog more. After my mom had a mini stroke she spoke mostly in Tagalog. I did take a Tagalog class in college but they were teaching super deep Tagalog that even my parents were confused. You should ask your parents to speak to Connor in Tagalog so she can learn the language.
I’ve noticed the same thing with my parents, too. I think it started when they retired. Now since that they don’t have to speak English all day long, I think it’s just easier for them to speak Tagalog. Oh, and does your mom ever pretend to not speak English when you guys are in public now?! Like, we’ll be out at a restaurant ordering food, and my mom will leave it to me to do all the communicating. It’s hilarious!
Oh girl you made me teary, I fight a lot with my mom due to a lot of stuff (some are really unimportant things and some that are really tough) but now you make remember that she really loves me in her way.
You really start to understand how much your mother did for you once you have kids on your own. And how much they still do, even if you are all grown up and Independent. I hope I can be as good as a mom as my mother was.
We never celebrate Mothers Day, my mother never cared. She always told us to appreciate her every day, so we wouldnt need an extra day, and I am keeping it this way with my children.
But happy early Mothers Day to you, Karen. You will be a great mum and make Connor Claire all teary eyed when she is old enough as well.
Gee Connor’s mom, thanks for making me cry.
Love the pictures of your parents and you and your mom. Totes Adorbs! Your mom is so cute.
I can’t imagine moving here from Asia, especially before the age of Internet.
I’m the first person in my dad’s family to be born in America. He and my grandmother moved here from England when he was a boy in the 50’s. But, aside from a few vocabulary differences, they were moving from one English-speaking country to another one. I can’t imagine moving to a world with a foreign language. Your parents were so brave!
I got my mom a card last week but it’s a funny one. I think I found it at Papyrus. It’s all purple and sparkly and it has a line inspired from Mean Girls. It says, “You’re not like a regular mom. You’re a cool mom.”
I hope Connor and Tabs let you have a relaxing Mother’s Day 🙂
Awwww, so sweet!!! Now I miss my mom…
I hope both generations of mommies in the family have a great Mother’s Day this year!!!
What an amazing post. I can’t imagine moving at such a young age and the culture shock!! I have culture shock currently but nothing like your rock of a Mom must have had. 2 beautiful Moms in this post…much appreciation for the hard work you Mom’s do.
Wonderful, sweet post, thank you for sharing. You have a loving mom and you are/will be too!
This was a lovely post to read through! I’ve been fortunate enough to know my mother, her mother, and her mother as well, all very strong women! Happy Mother’s Day Karen, to you and your momma!
Hi Karen thanks for sharing with us how sweet your mom is! You are so lucky. And it was so funny to hear that you were seeing cards that you wanted to receive yourself. I know that this Mother’s Day will be extra special now that you have Connor! Happy Mother’s Day to you!