Saturday, June 21, 2014

Hannah's Garage Sale Birthday Presents...


Since my 20-somethings were big kids, they have opted to get cash for birthdays and Christmas...with small gifts to open. 


Around that time, I somehow become clueless as to what they liked anyway, and when I found out something they DID like, it changed quicker than I was aware.

Cash worked for all of us. Green goes with everything, and it's one-size-fits-all.


Still, the mom in me WANTED to be able to shop for my children. I really needed to know what they liked, so I could bless them. I didn't like being a clueless mom.


But sometimes, my gifts were a bust. They sat in closets unworn, or got returned to the store, which was better than wasting the money spent. 



A few years back, when Hannah was planning to move to an apartment, or maybe it was her house in college, I found out she liked my decorating style. We were sitting in the den, looking at blogs and decor styles of how she wanted to decorate, and she said, "I want....that."  I looked up to the gallery wall behind the sofa, and said, "Well, you can't have that, but we can shop for items LIKE that, if you want."  


And so we did. And it became an opportunity for me to feel like a good mom again. I bought things I wanted to use in my own home, and Hannah liked them. 


It became a tradition for me to go to her new apartment or house and help her arrange furniture and decorate. I enjoyed it. She said kind things like, "How do you DO that? You can just look at a bunch of stuff and figure out how to put it all together so it looks good."


Moms love that kind of stuff. It was a great way to be a parent to a young adult. 


So this year for her birthday, the game had changed. She had a great job making a great salary in a city some distance away. The birthday cash would be...well...sort of a drop in a bucket. 


So I asked her if she'd rather have me shop for things for her house than getting cash. She said yes, which sounded like another win/win situation; I got to go to thrift stores and garage sales shopping for my favorite 23 year-old in the world. 


And sometime before too long, I'll deliver the goods to her, and we'll decide where they go in her house.


We'll spend a weekend arranging things, eating in restaurants, and probably shopping. We do that...my girl and I. Recreational shoppers, we are.


So until that weekend, I'm on a mission. 


I'm looking for elegant, industrial, transitional, metallic, neutral, cool stuff for my favorite young woman.


Word for the Day:
Psalm 37:25-26
I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread. He is ever lending generously, and his children become a blessing.


Possibly Linking With:
Sunday
Nifty Thrifty Sunday
Sundays at Home
Tuesday
Vintage Inspiration Tuesday
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
The Scoop
Inspire Me Tuesday
Inspiration Exchange Linky Party
Wednesday
What’s it Wednesday
Cottage Style Party
Penny Pinching Party
Thursday
Share Your Cup Thursday
Friday
Feathered Nest Friday
Frugal Friday



8 comments:

Tina@WhatWeKeep said...

Hannah Banana is really beautiful- inside and out. (I know this because her Mama told me so.)
I know she will be thrilled to see what treasures you have found for her.
They will be her special keeps.

Vickie @ Ranger 911 said...

Happy Birthday to your very beautiful daughter! Our girls and I love to go antiquing together. We don't always buy, but we sure have a lot of fun looking! I like to buy one vintage thing for them for birthdays, too. Cash is just to impersonal and quickly forgotten. Enjoy your visit when you go!

Jeanette@Creating a Life Studio said...

What a great post! How fun that you get to shop for things you love knowing she will love them, too. My 23 year old daughter and I have very similar taste and love to hit the thrift stores together, too. It really is so fun to be mom to an adult daughter :) Enjoy your time with that special girl!

Jeanette

Audrey said...

Oh Reve, what fun to be able to shop for your beautiful daughter and feel comfortable knowing she will like and enjoy what you select for her. Looks like you have already found some neat stuff. The old mirror is beautiful. I shop for my daughter too.
Have a fun week.
Audrey Z. @ Timeless Treasures

Betsy@My Salvaged Treasures said...

You are so blessed to have such a beautiful daughter who loves and appreciates your decorating style. This sounds like so much fun!!

Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces said...

It's so fun when you share interest that way! Happy birthday to your lovely daughter!

Julie said...

How lucky you are, Revi :) And your daughter is gorgeous! My 24-yr-old daughter often tries to lay claim to things in my house that I have just bought or still love, haha. It's fun when they appreciate our style.

farmhouse-story said...

hannah's is just gorgeous! and i'd say her bday will be favored for many years!