What Mom Wants featuring RedEnvelope + a giveaway
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of RedEnvelope. 
Yesterday I went into a clothing store and the young sales girl asked, "Are those... Cheerios stuck to your shirt?" I said nothing. I simply gave her a wry smile and gestured at my kids: Caroline, who had soaked her shirt with her own drool, Lucy, who was making pig sounds and rooting furiously on her fist, and Jude who was clutching a matchbox car and doing what one can only describe as a combination break dance/ Irish jig. I watched as the sales girl took stock of my crew, my shirt, and my unwashed hair, and her face faded from her salesgirl smile into something akin to terror. In that moment, I knew she was considering her future, "Could that be me in ten years?"
Ten years ago, I would have recoiled at the sight of a mom like me, too, but now? Now I give moms like me a knowing smile. Besides, Cheerios clean up easily compared to other things (see also: 1, 2, 3).
This has been my first week on my own with all three kids. And do you know what I've realized about motherhood? It is exhausting! It's also hilarious and precious, but it's astonishing how challenging it can be. Of course we've had a doozy of a week: Caroline is teething, Jude started his new homeschool curriculum, and Lucy can be officially diagnosed with colic now. Oh, my! Thank goodness God designed parents to think their kids are cute!
I don't think I understood how challenging motherhood could be until I had kids, which is why I never really thought much about Mother's Day. I didn't start thanking the mothers in my life until I begun to see that it's not just buying clothes and reading stories and preparing meals.
Mother's Day is May 11th this year. It's your chance to show the moms in your life that you see how hard they're working and that you appreciate their efforts. If you have ever been in a relationship with me or had to audacity to actually marry me (haha- Chris!), then you know that my love language is gifts. RedEnvelope is my favorite place to peruse Mother's Day gifts for my loved ones, but also for myself.
Here's what I'd like for Mother's Day, and what I suspect any mom would appreciate:
1. Picture frames // I'd hang these in my bedroom and populate the frames with encouraging words and flattering photos of my offspring. You know... because as I go to bed I'd like to be reminded that my kids are capable of not having snot or dirt on their faces.
2. A bath caddy // Along with the bath caddy I'd also like time to soak and someone to stand guard outside the bathroom door so I can actually have a few minutes of uninterrupted / unhurried bliss.
3 & 4. A record player and record case // Mainly because my kids won't have any idea what these are or how to use them.
5. Hanging planters // And a prayer that no one treats them like piñatas.
6. A pretty jewelry box that locks // My 1.5 year old already steals my necklaces and bracelets. I need a place to keep things tucked away from her!
7. A cashmere sweater // I've always maintained that giving someone a sweater is like giving someone a hug. I'll take both, but the sweater will last longer. Plus, like a trench coat, a cashmere sweater is on the Tim Gunn 10 Essentials list!
8. Beautiful placemats // My wood dining room table is starting to look like the surface of a golf ball, with all its dings and nicks. I need a pretty way to protect what's left of it.
9. A pink bag that isn't a diaper bag // There will come a day when I won't have to carry a diaper bag anymore. Or when my husband will take me out on a date (after I feel comfortable leaving Lu). On that day, I'd like to carry something that isn't riddled with milk stains.
10 & 11. Personalized bracelet and necklace with my kids' names // In hopes that I can remember my kids' names when I'm going on just one hour of sleep and two cups of coffee.
I'll admit, I'm a list maker when it comes to gifts. I'll often send Chris an email or point him to an appropriate Pinterest board or blog post with gift ideas for me. If you're like me, you can download this graphic and email it to the person of your choice with links to what you want from RedEnvelope this Mother's Day. You've earned it!
Because I survived my first week alone with the kids, I went ahead and treated myself to the photo frames from RedEnvelope. I love that what I ordered from RedEnvelope actually came with a red envelope! Other (smaller) things I've ordered from them in the past have come in pretty red boxes, instantly making the receiver giddy to open it.
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of RedEnvelope.
