Tuesday, April 20, 2021

Some Silliness For Mum's Bon Voyage

 John's mom (aka Mum) is moving back to Maine this weekend. After over two decades of Florida living - during which she never once turned on the air conditioning in her tiny studio apartment - she's decided to swing to the other extreme and never feel warm again.

::finger guns wink wink HEYOOO Mainers, just kidding::

The rest of John's family still lives up there, including Mum's grandkids and now great grandkids, so she has lots to go home to. Plus all the local pizza joints up there sell whoopie pies, so I can see the appeal. (Whoopie pies are a heavenly northern creation that's basically a cake hamburger, except instead of a meat patty you get icing, and instead of a bun you get cake, and instead of lettuce and tomato you get a brief nirvanic experience that assures you all is right with the world.) (I'm a fan.)

We want to send Mum off with a proper to-do, so I've been planning a party for the night before her flight. Well, "party" is a bit generous. It'll just be us, Mum, and John's sister who's flying down to help with the last minute details. We'll all be in masks and distancing, so I guess it's less like a "party" and more like a wait at the DMV, only with a "Bon Voyage" banner and balloons.

Hmm. Yeah, I definitely need to up my game here.

I am proud of what I brainstormed for Mum's going-away gifts, though. (Don't worry, she's not online and won't see this.) Mum LOVES a big to-do, loves surprises and celebrations and making the mundane into an occasion. This is a woman who once gift-wrapped a single-serve bottle of ketchup and made a dramatic presentation with it. She won't have much room in her suitcase, though, so I needed little things, with an emphasis on quantity over quality to make it fun. 

Here's what I've got so far:

First we'll have a card saying we got her a few Florida mementos, then the first gift will read,  

"When you miss the Florida sunshine, wear these."

Sun Hoop Earrings


(I'll add links since everything's from Amazon, but this is more about the ideas behind the gifts than the actual stuff.)

These are super cute in person, and came with 4 different styles of earring backs, so you can choose your favorite. Not bad for $10 earrings.

Next a silly one:

"When you miss the power outages during hurricane season, turn out the lights and use this to find the bathroom."



I like that this one's still practical: I have a push light in my purse and it is a lifesaver when you're looking for lip balm or dropped M&Ms. This comes in a teeny gift box with extra batteries, plus a cute little Stormtrooper charm that John is totally keeping. 


 Mum once asked for a plastic flamingo for her birthday, saying she wanted to lean in to the classic Florida retiree look, and has proudly displayed it on her porch ever since. SO...

"When you miss all the glorious tackiness that is quintessential FLORIDA, look at these beauties and remember 'tacky' is only a state of mind."
 


These are bigger and heavier than I expected (nearly 6 inches tall with the stakes), but they're also much prettier. Hopefully Mum finds a nice house plant for them in her new place.


"When you miss sweating - especially during those cold Maine winters - put this on."




Obviously, we had to. Ha!


"And finally, when you miss your Florida kids, look at this and remember how much we love you:"




 
We're having John's sis bring the key to Mum's new apartment, which we'll present to her on this. Cute, right?


The final element for the party is a key lime pie, Mum's favorite Florida dessert. Publix sells a pretty decent one, but I think we'll buy a few slices from a local restaurant, Bahama Breeze, since I've read theirs is even better. Then I'll try not to be too sad I can't eat it, what with all that delicious-yet-gut-murdery condensed milk in it. (I don't miss much going Low Fodmap, but I do miss that!)

Now help me out, gang: am I missing anything obvious? Mum's not a big Disney or Uni fan, otherwise I'd have some fandom things in there. Or how about any party games or activities? ::thinks:: Should I write up some Florida-themed cards to play Apples to Apples?
 
I know this is a silly thing to share, but maybe it'll inspire you the next time you're seeing a loved one off to parts unknown. Themed gifts like this are so much fun to brainstorm, and if there's one thing I've learned from Mum, it's to make EVERYTHING, no matter how mundane, just a little bit extra.

In fact, this is also your reminder to celebrate something silly this week. Go try that new donut place across town, or dress up for no reason, or break out your favorite childhood movie and watch it with an unsuspecting friend, ha. If you don't have an occasion, make one up. And please, please, take it too far. Make it silly, make it too much, make it extra. Then pass it on!

Or if you don't feel like celebrating, know that I get it. I've been there - the last few days, even - but eventually it does get better. Just wait. Just breathe. Then wait some more. I've found the more completely I let myself fall apart, the faster I come back together - so go ahead and fall apart. Everything will still be there to celebrate tomorrow, I promise.

::SQUEEZY INTERNET HUGS::

36 comments:

  1. Wait! You can make your own non-milk condensed milk and have your own pie! (If there's time). https://www.instructables.com/Condensed-Almond-Milk/

    Also, the pie filling itself is only condensed milk, lime juice, and egg yolks. You can always bake it without the crust if you need to. Or find one that fits your dietary needs.

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  2. I mean, the good thing is, you now have a direct contact who can send you Whoopie Pies on demand! Winning!

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    1. TRUTH! John's sister has sent us a whole case of whoopie pies before, which I froze and ate throughout the year. Funny story, those are how I finally discovered Low FODMAP; turns out a lot use powdered condensed milk in the icing, so when I ate a bunch for my birthday several years back I was sooooo sick, ha. I need to find a brand I can eat again, I miss them!

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    2. I just moved to Maine about a year ago, but I, too, am in love with whoopie pies! We just had one tonight that had a marshmallow creme filling instead of icing. Maybe that would help?

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    3. Does Lactaid milk cause the same issues? We cook a LOT with that at our house.

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  3. tiny bottle of sand? a kitschy orange (fruit) fridge magnet? stationery/cards & stamps? photos of y'all for her to frame when she gets to ME? Custom "I lived in FL for 20 years and all I got was this lousy [item]" using your cricut?

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  4. You could make a Florida Snowman snow globe with a floating top hat,coal,carrot, and twigs. Then make a Maine Snowman snow globe with the snow man all put together. :^ }
    And you have to give Mum a framed photo of you and John...the one where you are taking a selfie and he snuck up behind you. I think you posted it in your IG stories last summer. It's my fave pic of you two. <3

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  5. This is so sweet:
    Jumping on the alternatives to condensed milk key lime pie bandwagon. I've had this ice cream and it is yummy:
    https://products.wholefoodsmarket.com/product/so-delicious-dairy-free-toasted-coconut-and-key-lime-coconut-milk-ice-cream-94940e
    There is also this coconut condensed milk:
    https://www.amazon.com/Sweetened-Condensed-Coconut-11-25-Ounce/dp/B00XV44F2G/ref=asc_df_B00XV44F2G/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=241990299491&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=17819934630124256713&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9031279&hvtargid=pla-557574455989&psc=1
    And I've never had these but they popped up in my searches and sound good:
    https://www.aldensicecream.com/products/dairy-free-key-lime-sammie/

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  6. Genius! The whole thing is genius. So are some of these ideas in the comments. I love a good, tiny, thoughtful gift like this. Every time she wears those earrings or uses the keychain it will make her smile. Great ideas!! And I'm totally buying some of those flamingos for my office.

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  7. have you tried Coconut condensed milk? That would go wonderful with key lime pie.

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  8. This key lime pie doesn't have any dairy and it's SO much better than the sweetened, condensed milk kind.
    https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/12528/key-lime-pie-vi/

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  9. Telestrations would probably be quicker/easier than Apples to Apples for customizing. You don't even need the game itself, just a spiral notebook for each player, pens, and a bunch of FL/ME references on slips of paper in a hat for people to draw each round. As for other general silliness, pin the gator on the swimming pool, bobbing for oranges (perhaps with each person having their own Dollar Tree mixing bowl and oranges), homemade Dole Whips...

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  10. What about a subscription service of fruit? We had relatives who would send us a crate of oranges/grapefruit every so identical and it was so much fun to get. I was looking to see if I could find one and found this website that had so many great ideas. Maybe one would work for your Mum?

    https://www.leahingram.com/popular-subscription-boxes-by-state/

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    1. There's a grove stand on 17-92 in Maitland we've used for YEARS to send citrus to Mich. https://hollieanna.com/ they are incredibly helpful and it's a family grove.

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  11. A cake shaped like... Florida... a la one of the best Golden Girls episodes ever?? :D :D :D

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  12. I am very sad and a little horrified that there are no whoopie pies down there. It's funny, but we have noticed a recent northern migration of people who had retired to Florida years ago. My mom has a hat like that ,she wears it every time she goes outside all winter, except hers has a brim like a baseball cap so that snow doesn't get on her glasses. -some random thoughts by Ann

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  13. You need a lawn sprinkler running on your lawn, and a stuffed moose sitting next to it!

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  14. Gotta find one of those tourist spots and buy her a snack, something like gator poop

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  15. She needs an alligator to take to Maine! And sunscreen for the 2 weeks of hot summer.

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  16. you could give her a sunbird OJ item (juice/jelly glass?) a small bottle of sand, a stuffed manatee, an alligator thing, a tiny bottle of sun lotion,(cos, really she won't need it up there.) and a large plastic roach. (not the kind you take a hit on, but the kind you hit.)

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  17. we have a tradition that if you add a cookie & a paper napkin to our usual cup of tea, it officially becomes a Party. An easy way to cheer someone up or celebrate a tiny thing.

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    1. I love that! My family would do little things like this we'd enjoy. They are all gone now and it makes me sad not to have someone to share little things like that with!

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    2. This makes me sad - I'd be happy to share tea and a cookie on a napkin with you

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  18. Talking about party games, there IS a party game called "Florida Man" that's basically a guessing game about which "Florida Man" headlines are actually true. XD

    https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/329145/florida-man

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  19. Where in Maine? I had some inlaws from there for about 20 years and would regularly go visit mostly in the Lewiston/Auborn area but would regularly go to Freeport and on up to Bangor. Nothing in the world is better than some Italian sandwiches from Sams Pizza. I miss those sandwiches but not the cold lol

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    1. Omigosh, what are the odds: it's Lewiston! That's where John was born, and his family is still there. And Sam's Pizza is where I had my first-ever whoopie pie!

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    2. please when you go visit have a sandwich for me, an italian with the bell peppers and pickles yumm and top it off with a whoopie pie! lol

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  20. Something orange-y that says "Maine squeeze"?

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  21. Pretty sure you meant quality over quantity ;)

    Those earrings are adorable. I added a couple of the styles to my wish list. Hope everything goes smoothly with the move!

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    1. I dont think she did, lol. She wants it over the top and goofy so I dont think the quality matters as much as the quantity.

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  22. How about a cute little plush manatee? Or a baby gator?

    https://www.amazon.com/s?k=plush+manatee&ref=nb_sb_noss_1
    https://www.amazon.com/Aurora-World-Dreamy-Plush-Bubble/dp/B00339DTY4/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=plush+gator&qid=1619085987&sr=8-2

    Have a great party! :-)

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  23. I never knew Whoopie Pies were regional... I've been taking them for granted all these years! There's a place near us that heats the whoopie pies in a brick oven then serves them with ice-cream and hot fudge as a sundae...

    All those gift ideas are very clever! Have a great time with the Bon Voyage party.

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    1. I've never been to Maine but I know what Whoopie Pies are! (I've spent most of my life in Indiana and Illinois.) I am actually a little baffled that they don't have them in Florida? Because I can buy both whoopie pies and Key Lime pie at the grocery store here...

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  24. As a life long New Englander, I love your love for the Whoopie Pie! (I make a darn good one, if I do at so myself...) My niece had a giant Whoopie Pie as her wedding cake last summer, with individually wrapped little Whoopie pies for guests (COVID wedding....).
    Enjoy your party! Safe travels for Mum!

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  25. I've gotten some very tasty key lime pies at Whole Foods. Not the frozen ones, but the ones made in house at the bakery. I think it might only be a seasonal offering up here in New England, but I'm sure you could ask if they use the sweetened condensed milk

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