For many people, the sounds, smells and tastes of Mom baking are indelible experiences that recall a sense of stability and safety.  A cocoon of delicious aromas in which you could withdraw from a world of competition and the angst of childhood challenges.

There was also the element of surprise - what kind of bread is it today?  Wheat?  Anadama? Bran? (yumm, the best!), Banana? (treat!), Cheese? (can’t wait for dinner!).

I had the good fortune to grow up with a Mom who baked bread every week throughout my childhood which made me the envy of my friends and resulted in some notoriety as you can see from the photo (yes, that’s my Mom in a newspaper photo from the 50’s).  In high school, my friends were quick to dismiss the local drive-through in order to have sandwiches at my house made with Mom’s bread, while we watched soap operas - there was nothing better than devouring her sandwiches while watching Susan Lucci as Erica Kane at her scheming best.

So now, many years later as my life has evolved into the typical fast paced routines where the sense of security and stability are fleeting, I’ve had the good fortune of finding another route to the happiness that is homemade bread - through my husband!  Yes, Mom has provided the lessons and ongoing supervision necessary for proper kneading, patience and love which are all the ingredients to achieve the perfect loaf.  He likens it to the process of developing film in the pre-digital days of photography.  Last week it was anadama and there are promises of banana bread on the horizon.

At HarmonyWishes we celebrate Mom’s everywhere year around, but with Mother’s Day approaching want to remind you to do the same.  You can find the perfect image - we’ve even included the iconic one here!  Check out your choices and get ready to celebrate your memories of Mom!

Here in Mexico Valentine’s Day bears a different name: Día de Amor y Amistad (Day of Love and Friendship). While it could be a clever marketing strategy to expand the pool of people for which you can potentially present valentines, I enjoy that the 14th need not be a day only celebrated by the romantically entwined.  I think my cohorts here at HarmonyWishes would say the same. You don’t need a reason to reach out and let the people most important to you know you care; but a day of love and friendship certainly is a good pretext.

So whatever reason you have to celebrate the day, let us help you send a message that is personal, thoughtful and creative.  We’ve got some new images up just for the occasion. So stop by the galleries and look around!  Or take a quick tour here:

Con cariño,

Megan