Wow! What would we do without wise moms? Thanks so much for sharing your wisdom with the rest of us. It was a tough job choosing from over 100 comments… there were SO MANY wonderful ones! But here are the 10 lucky lady's who'll be getting a pearls of wisdom necklace for Mother's Day.
by: Kellie Story
When I had the first of my two children, my Mom gave me a copy of this saying:
When I look at a patch of dandelions, I see a bunch of weeds that are going to take over my yard. My kids see flowers for Mom and blowing white fluff you can wish on. When I see a homeless person and he smiles at me, I see a smelly, dirty person who probably wants money and I look away. My kids see someone smiling at them and they smile back. When I hear music I love, I know I can't carry a tune and don't have much rhythm so I sit self-consciously and listen. My kids feel the beat and move to it. When I feel wind on my face, I brace myself against it. I feel it messing up my hair and pulling me back when I walk. My kids close their eyes, spread their arms and fly with it, until they fall to the ground laughing. When I see a mud puddle, I step around it. I see muddy shoes and dirty carpets. My kids splash in it. They see dams to build, rivers to cross, and worms to play with. Enjoy the little things in life, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things! I wish you Big Mud Puddles and Sunny Yellow Dandelions! Best advice I ever got….thanks Mom!!
by: Shannon Tetreau
When my oldest son was in kindergarten I told him never to make fun of people or tease them because everyone has feelings. I know kids can be very cruel and I wanted to express how everyone should be treated with respect. I told him even though he may think it's funny and the people around him too, the person getting made fun of has feelings just like he does. I often reminded him not to judge people. One day when I reminded him of not teasing people he said, "I know Momma, there's this girl on the bus and she has really buck teeth and I never make fun of her."
by: April Krebs
"It's always your choice. So choose to be happy"
by: Barb
My mom taught me strength, not so much in a little saying or jingle but more so by her actions. I've admiringly watched her demonstrate her strength for as far back as I can remember with all the challenges she gets thrown her way. More recently, she jokingly said, "oh, come on ya wimp" when I got choked up having to shave her head during her chemo treatments. Not long after that, she held me together when we got stuck in Hurricane Katrina. When most people break-my mom keeps right on going, never complaining…and always, ALWAYS looking out for others over herself. I hope to pass this on to my twins which will be born very soon!! :) As Abe Lincoln said, "All that I am or hope to be, I owe to my Mother" Couldn't be more true.
by: Donna Colemand
There are many pearls of wisdom that I want to pass on to my two children but the one that comes to mind this morning is that I want them to know that it's okay to laugh at themselves when they make mistakes and not take life too seriously!
by: Karen Vavrick
My mother always reminded me, and I will never forget as this has held true many times in my life…."Life and death is in the power of the tongue. Be slow to speak and quick to listen…choose your words wisely!" How TRUE!! Thanks mom! :)
by: Andrea Lafferty
When I was in Kindergarten we had to do an activity where we had to jump over a broom stick and follow each other around in a circle. My mom practiced this with me at home because I was terrified of falling! I am 30 years old and she still uses this pearl of wisdom to encourage me to try new things by telling me to "Just jump over the broomstick!" This is something I always try to remind myself to do, and something I want to pass on to my children.
by: Nicole Reister
My Mom taught me to accept imperfections in all things…the weather, animals, people, everything. I pick flowers with missing petals. I choose pottery with cracks. I adopted a senior golden retriever that tinkles in his sleep. I married a man that wasn't perfect. I have never been happier.
by: Marci
My favorite pearl of wisdom comes from Mother Teresa. I hope that I will be able to be an example of these wise words so that my children will grow to live them out as well.
People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centered; Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, People may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; Be Kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies; Succeed anyway.
What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight; Build anyway
If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous; Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough; Give the world the best you've got anyway.
You see, in the final analysis. it is between you and God; It is never between you and them anyway.
by: Ginny
One of many of Mom's pearls of wisdom was "you do not always have to return a favor, but you need to always pass it on", and "if at the end of the day, you can say you have made someones life better by a smile, a touch, a listening ear…then your day was well done".
Thanks again firefly fans for sharing your wealth of wisdom with us and we wish you a lovely Mother's Day filled with love, laughter and lot of goodies from catching fireflies – of course:)
Remember catching fireflies when you were small? And poking holes in plastic cups? Remember running across freshly mowed grass with a carefree abandon, cupping your hands around dancing yellow lights? Those were the days . . .
This nostalgia warms my heart, much like the whimsical gifts from Catching Fireflies. With Mother's Day quickly approaching, I'd encourage you to stop by and take a peek at their wide variety of unique, stylish gift ideas. They have everything from recycled artwork to personalized jewelry to hand-crafted pewter goods. Here are my favorites from a.i. paper design:
FOR THE NEW MOM: I've gotten countless compliments on a baby ribbon frame that hangs in my bedroom and reads "little miracle." I know what you're thinking: Not another frame! But these are different; They are handmade, sophisticated and chic- perfect for the modern mom! Look at the one below . . .irresistible!
FOR THE PROUD MOM: You can show off your child's latest and greatest masterpiece and eliminate fridge clutter at the same time. Ingenius! Below is an adorable brag board for your "little Picasso." They can be personalized too!
FOR THE BUSY MOM: Thank God for post-its. I couldn't live without them. Here is a fabulous little post-it holder that actually makes me want to jot down more! And, always losing your keys? It takes care of that too! So cute!
I'm a big fan of Pottery Barn and Crate and Barrel, but it's the same old stuff after awhile. So head on over to Catching Fireflies, and take a trip down memory lane. Go ahead . . .brighten someone's day!
Thanks so much MaryJo for your marvelous mentions about our handmade wares!
Since Mother's Day is just around the corner, we're putting a twist on our normal giveaway package. This time we're giving away 10pearls of wisdom necklaces to 10 special winners! (32.95 value)
So how can you score one of these pretties?
1. We want to know…
What pearls of wisdom has your mother passed onto you? …or
What pearls of wisdom do you hope to pass onto your children?
Simply share your wisdom at the bottom of this post by Thursday, May 7 (no registration or sign-up required)
2. On Friday, May 8 each firefly team member will choose their favorite wisdom comment and we will post the 10 pearls of wisdom winners on the blog Friday afternoon.
We'd love for you to spread the word about our Pearls of Wisdom Giveaway on your Facebook page by clicking the Share on Facebook link below or posting it on your blog… because I figure a little extra wisdom can go a long way in this crazy world we live in.
And remember, not all wisdom has to be serious. It can be sweet, sentimental or just plain silly. Have fun! We can't wait to share your wealth of wisdom with the rest of our firefly fans.
Don't want to miss out on future fantastic firefly giveaways? Then be sure to get them delivered to your email inbox bysigning up here!
New technology, hand-crafted items and inventive recycling may seem like an unlikely combination, but April McCrumb is as adept at using social media tools to promote her Berkley business as she is at promoting independent artists and creatively reusing found items to create a cheerful environment at Catching Fireflies.
April uses an array of online promotional tools like a Web site and social media tools like a blog, Twitter and Facebook to promote independent artists and eco-friendly merchandise.
“It does take a lot of time, but it’s viral, guerilla marketing,” she says of her social media efforts.
The path to becoming an online-savvy merchant began in a far more traditional and offline way, though.
April began an entrepreneurial career by selling her handmade paper, cards, frames and books at area art fairs while she was still an Eastern Michigan University student in the late 1990s.
April graduated from EMU with a degree in special education as the mobile art business continued growing. Eventually, she and husband Steve took the scary step of leaving behind the idea of teaching careers and committing full time to the papermaking and gift business.
In 2000, the couple opened a wholesale business with a small retail section to help defray some of the expenses in a former pharmacy building at 3117 W. 12 Mile in downtown Berkley.
The store became a colorful and cheerful environment with the help of a lot of paint and April’s creative use of found and recycled objects to create display racks, shelving and storage spaces.
The retail store eventually took over the entire Berkley space and the art studio moved to another nearby building. Catching Fireflies currently has a second retail location in downtown Rochester at 203 East University, in addition to the Berkley store and an ever-growing Web presence.
“We have everything, including the kitchen sink here,” says April during my recent visit to the store in downtown Berkley.
She’s not kidding. An old kitchen sink serves as a display area for kitchen-themed items.
The sink display, painted lengths of eaves troughs attached to discarded doors to create card racks and flea market finds like armoires repainted in a rainbow of bright colors are just a few of the creative ways April showcases her work and the work of other independent and eco-inventive artists at the store.
I loved the cool eco-style merchandise like photo albums with covers created from old vinyl record albums, recycled T-shirt tote bags and glassware made from recycled wine bottles or soft drink bottles.
Shoppers can also bag a special deal with a $30 purchase that earns them a 50-percent discount on a roomy reusable shopping tote regularly priced at $9.
The work of independent artists figures prominently at Catching Fireflies, where the search for interesting merchandise takes April everywhere from the major industry gift shows to local art shows and sites like Etsy.
“Etsy was a huge revelation. I wish there was something like that when I started my papermaking business,” she says of the online marketplace for buyers and artists creating handmade goods.
“We’re able to carry a lot more local stuff in the store because a lot of local artists do more one-of-a-kind pieces rather than production.”
Artists whose work fits the funky flavor of the store can place their work with the store on commission.
“We carry more non-traditional gift items—things that are more funky and a maybe little cheeky.”
Catching Fireflies gathered more than 900 fans in the first few months following their Facebook debut, but shoppers at the local store are among the store’s biggest fans.
“I want to make the store a comfortable place for customers to visit, but if you don’t have time to come to the store, you can shop online and sign up for free in-store pickup. That way you can shop locally and still have the luxury of shopping online at your leisure.”
The 3/50 project was just introduced via the web a month ago and has gained incredible momentum. And it's no surprise why… it's simple, makes sense, easy to put in practice and can change your community.
How can you make a difference?
1. List out some of your favorite independent stores, restaurants, coffee shops, salons and so on that you enjoy going to or having in your downtown.
2. Next time you need a card, birthday present, flowers, spray paint, produce or a break from your busy day, choose to go to one of the businesses on your list instead of a big box store. You'll be surprised how easy it is to put $50 a month back into your community.
3. If you value having a downtown filled with desirable shops, restaurants and such, spread the word on Facebook and start this 3/50 trend in your town.
And for all our loyal firefly fans - THANK YOU for choosing to shop at catching fireflies – you guys are already way ahead the trend in my books :)
Every Tuesday I make dinner for friends and I always like to try new dishes. To get some ideas, I paged through our Six O'Clock Scramble cook book and this tasty dish caught my eye.
12 ounces penne pasta
1 pound Italian sausage
1 medium onion chopped
1.5 teaspoons minced garlic
1 28oz can diced peeled tomatoes with their juice
1 7oz container of refrigerated prepared pesto sauce
1 6oz bag of baby spinach
8oz shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Cook the pasta according to the package directions and drain. Meanwhile, brown sausage and add onion & garlic (10 minutes) Add tomatoes with their juice and simmer until sauce thickens (10 minutes) Stir in pesto.
Preheat oven to 375* and spray a 9×13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Combine pasta, spinach and mozzarella cheese and 1/3 cup of the Parmesan cheese in the baking dish. Gently stir in the tomato/meat sauce. Sprinkle 2/3 cup of Parmesan cheese over the casserole.
Bake 30 minutes until sauce bubbles and cheese melts.
Enjoy with garlic bread and favorite salad.
It's pretty cool how this book is set up – there are actually 52 weeks of recipes that are categorized by the season and if you want to make a certain week of recipes, you can even download the grocery list at thescramble.com. Even O, Oprah Magazine said, "Creative, healthy, unprocessed, and kid friendly without being adult-alienating… a whole new kind of happy meal."
I can't wait to see what else I can cook up with this handy recipe book.
Like to try new dishes? We love finding & sharing scrumptious recipes. Don't miss out on our future finds… simply sign upto receive these blog posts in your email inbox!
Dear Mom – Thank You for Everything book $9.99 I bought this book for my mom because I do not think she realizes how much I appreciate what she has given me. And the monkey on the cover was the seller, because when I was 10 I told my mom I wanted to own a monkey as my baby and from then on I was given stuffed monkeys and anything related. Perfect she will love it. I am also writing on each page an experience with her that I remember.
Pouchee Purse Organizer $25.95 I just purchased these pouchees for each of my daughters. My one daughter, whose a lawyer, keeps her pouchee in her briefcase. No need to carry a purse. My other daughter, whose always on the run, finds it so convenient to change from one purse to another without any hassle.
Eight Flute Rectangle Vase $31.50 Who doesn't relate Mother's Day to flowers? In the past I've purchased hanging baskets, flats, and fresh cut flowers for Mom. This vase will make a great gift to display the many different types of flower buds she has growing around the house. I would also recommend taking time to fill the vase with flowers before giving it. It'll be icing on the cake.
She… inspirational book $14.50 I'm getting my girlfriend this for mother's day. I always tell her that I don't know how she can work full time, raise 3 kids, cook dinner almost every night, remember(most of the time) the kids activities schedules and deal with her husband. She not only does all of this, but she does it extremely well. Hopefully in all the chaos this book will remind her that her care and accomplishments do not go unnoticed.
Gurgle Pots $39.95 These gurgle pots rank high on my gift giving list for a number of reasons… they're pretty, functional, oh-so-clever and are sure to liven up any brunch or dinner party. My mom's getting the green one for Mother's Day. Knowing her, she'll most likely always leave it sitting out as a decoration on her counter.
Ceramic Wall Tile $19.50 While we gather in the kitchen to make dinner, my family likes to open a bottle of wine and share in the cooking experience. This creative tile captures the humor that is shared between us during those times.
'There is more to life…' Calendar Keeper $59.50 I bought this for my mother last year and she loves it! It was the perfect gift to help her get a little more organized and add some decoration to her kitchen. I love the quote too, I think everyone could use a daily reminder to slow down.
Flower Measuring Cups $11.95 Unfortunately I didn't get my mom's wonderful knack for baking up something delicious. But I know she will just love these festive measuring cups. With all of those hours she spends in the kitchen, it's nice to have fun, bright and useful things around you…which doesn't include me.
Do you like seeking out sweet gifts that bring bright smiles? We're happy to share some of our clever ideas. Simply sign up to receive these blog posts in your email and you'll be the best gift giver around!
The moms over at Mudpies and Mary Janes think some of our Mother's Day gifts are marvelous.
A thoughtful Mother's Day gift doesn't have to be expensive. Take, for example, the Mom Magnet from Catching Fireflies. The sentiment expressed on this 3.5" by 2.5" magnet is something that any mom would love to receive and at $5.00 it fits just about every budget. I'm so excited to send this magnet to my mom for Mother's Day this year, as I know that she'll love the whimsical drawings and the special words will touch her heart.
Catching Fireflies has a wide range of original gifts perfect for moms with many types of interests. For the mom that loves to cook there are recipe books, unique cutting boards, serving utensils, cake servers and coffee scoops. If your mom loves photos, Catching Fireflies has cool frames, brag books and photo boxes to help preserve and showcase important pictures. The beautiful jewelry at Catching Fireflies includes the pearls of wisdom necklace, inspirational charm necklace, or green crystal bracelet. If you are looking for a practical gift this year, Catching Fireflies has purses, change purses, wallets, jewelry pouches and cosmetic cases in great colors and patterns.
Whether you desire a gift that is practical, sentimental or whimsical, Catching Fireflies has you covered. Visit http://www.catchingfirefliesgifts.com/ to view all of their unique Mother's Day gifts.
Thanks for the wonderful words about our little gift gallery!
