Paula’s Picks

Yesterday, our dear mother celebrated her birthday. We partied hard with a family fiesta over the weekend. She is truly one of the coolest people I know. Some facts about Paula:
1. She plays the piano and organ, and I used to have an electric organ in my bedroom because of her talents.
2. She can china paint, and we have a kiln in our basement.
3. She spent much of her life teaching preschool and could probably recite a Raffi record or two by heart.
4. She loves dogs more than most people.
5. She always has cookie dough in the freezer in case of an emergency.

What a champion.

I didn’t get her input on this. I’m going on my own accord, but I wanted to share some of her Top 5 favorite things or things that will always make me go, “Yep. That’s Pippy” (what the grandkids call her).

Temptations Bakeware from QVC
Honestly, I could have just put QVC-channel 275, and that would have covered a multitude of spending sins. But she LOVES these dishes. They come in fun patterns and are dishwasher safe. The way these dishes have “swept [her] off her feet, ya know [they] could have been a broom”. Different Temptations there, but same sentiment.

Zero bars and Diet Coke
Caroline and I have talked a lot about our love of sweets. We got it honest from both of our parents; however, Paula’s taste is sometimes questionable. Her favorite candy bar is a Zero. I honestly don’t know how/why they still make them because I cannot think of a single person, besides my mother, who would claim that as their favorite. It’s her road trip candy of choice, and she can make that one candy bar last from her home in Crawfordville, GA to Hilton Head, SC. It’s about a five hour trip. Gilligan spent less time on the Minnow than it takes my mom to savor that nougat.
And Paula has never had coffee in her life. I’m actually the only coffee drinker in the family, but her caffeine shot of choice comes in the form of a Diet Coke, preferably one from McDonald’s.

Murphy’s Oil Soap
Oprah always asks people, “What do you know for sure?” I don’t know a lot, but I know to my core that if my mom is expecting company, then she’s getting out the Murphy’s Oil Soap above all else. She’s probably going to die at this picture, but it’s “so Pippy”. I came home one day, and all this was on the counter. It’s quintessential Paula.
Sheet music from 1971, laundry she started folding then got distracted, Murphy’s Oil soap, Chapstick, and a loose pill.

The Real Housewives
My mom is a very practical person, so the fact that she LOVES The Real Housewife franchise is hysterical. I mean we are all allowed a guilty pleasure. And she’ll tell you that the best of the franchise is New Jersey. She even introduced Caroline to a song that one of the Housewives of Atlanta wrote and sang, and Caroline found it so ridiculously funny that her wedding party entered the reception to it.

A handwritten note
I get this from my mom. I love a handwritten note too. If you’ve written her a good quality note, there’s a strong chance that she still has it tucked away somewhere. She used to keep “really good” thank you notes and “generic, little thought” thank you notes and use them to teach students how to write a thoughtful card to someone. It’s important to her, as it should be to all people. It’s a small gesture that goes a long way.

Pippy, thanks for teaching us the importance of a good dessert and that we are, in fact, gone with the wind fabulous!