June 12 is my mom’s birthday so I wanted to do a tribute post to her. She did, after all, make this blog possible.

Before I became a wedding decorator, I was my mom’s official photographer, so after shooting repeated pictures of guest table arrangements, backdrops and our other wedding decorator staples, I would very often turn the camera on my mom as she worked.

Most times, she would look at me impatiently and say, “don’t waste the film!” Heheh, then I got a digital camera.

Before the work was done, my mom would have a set, focused look on her face. But afterward, especially if we got to work with her teacher Silverio, above, or other friends from her design classes, you could see how much joy she got out of the work we did.

See? That’s that set, focused look. I love this photo.

Very rarely, I was able to coax a smile out of my mom. I think it was possible on this day because we were at a family party.

But those smiles were so worth it.

Thank you, mommy, for everything you’ve been to me.