Moms should expect to get their fair share of macaroni necklaces on Mother's Day, however I'm sure my mom didn't quite expect what I gave her a few years back. 

As the oldest child I'm usually responsible for picking out and coordinating Mom's gifts with my sisters and brother. This particular year I decided to go rogue and do my own thing. I had planned early and knew exactly what I wanted to do. I was going to send flowers. Simple, right?

My mother wouldn't be impressed with a bouquet that's super feminine or something that's too pink. I scoured online florists for the perfect arrangement that would fit her personality just right and I found them. They were rustic and cool and exactly what I thought my mom would buy for herself. She'd love them. I added the flowers to my cart and, with a sense of pride in my selection, clicked "buy." 

The Friday before Mother's Day arrived while driving home after work I realized I hadn't gotten a phone call from Mom. Had she not received my surprise? I called to check. 

Me: Hi! 

Mom: Hey

Me: So... anything happen today?

Mom: Oh... Yeah... Thanks!

Me: Did you think they were pretty?

Mom: Pretty? Well, they will be. 

Me: What do you mean?

Umm... turns out instead of sending a beautiful bouquet, like a normal daughter would, I actually sent my mom a plant. When they called to tell her she had a delivery, my mom walked up to find I had given her a bucket of dirt.

We had a good chuckle about it, but I still felt guilty. It still goes down as the worst gift ever. Oh well, moms love you no matter what, right? 

When it comes to holidays, one of the toughest for men to shop for is Mother's Day.

The lucky ones only have to shop for their moms. The others have to shop for both their mom AND their wife. Double whammy!

I'm no expert, but one thing I know for sure: 

It's all in the presentation

It's not necessarily about WHAT you give them, but HOW. This is especially true for the wives.

Follow these simple rules:

• B Thoughtful
• B Considerate
• B Sincere
• B Understanding of all the things mothers go through (It's about 10,000% more than what you are already thinking)

I like to give practical gifts – it makes me feel like I’m doing someone a favor by giving them something they need, even if they don’t know they need it. One Mother’s Day, being the caring daughter that I am, I gave my mother a new shower curtain as a gift …

For years I had endured the sight of her nasty shower curtain. It was a horrible plastic material with a mirage of seashells repeated every few feet. One word: hideous. So, I went to Target, bought a metal shower rod, metal shower hooks, a mold-free shower curtain liner and an attractive lilac shower curtain. I individually wrapped each item, making her open the shower curtain last.

Needless to say, she wasn’t overly amused when she opened up the mold-free shower curtain liner on Mother’s Day. I guess the sentiment behind "20 years guaranteed no mold" was lost on her. By the time she finally unwrapped the shower curtain, I think she was more annoyed by the whole process than anything else. In the end, I had to assemble the gift myself.

My advice: don’t go practical when you shop for your mom this Mother’s Day. Just buy her the new purse she wants and call it a day. 

I finally reached the age that I realized that my mom was right. About everything. Ever.

In honor of Mother’s Day, I wanted to eat some crow, and recount my top 3 “Damnit. Why didn’t I listen to mom?” moments. Hopefully you can identify with a few.


1. Dating Dilema
“Why don’t you date Justin Thompson? He’s such a nice boy.” I roll my eyes as if my mother’s just suggested I attend school on a Saturday.

“He weighs 80 pounds, Ma. And he’s... too nice.”

Now, I’m not saying I should have dated Justin, but boy was she pretty accurate in pointing out the losers in the past. I’ve started to listen. The last thing I want is to trap myself in the kitchen on Thanksgiving 10 years from now, as my (future) husband and Mom rotate through the door bickering about each other. Ell, if you're reading this... you're one of the "good guys".


2. Step AWAY from the Twinkie
“I know it’s college, but you guys drink too much. And this late-night food is not good. Trust me. The freshman 15 is real. Good habits start now.”

Mom finally lied about something. It wasn’t the freshman 15... it was 45! Slight exaggeration, but still. Yeesh.

I wasn’t raised on a diet or with certain foods that were banned from our house, and my mom was always reassuring me that I was “perfect the way I was”. I was extremely active, and ate whatever I wanted, but she still reminded me to make healthy choices because apparently, it wouldn’t be like that forever. Once I moved away, she made it a point to bring up my unhealthy habits on every single phone call. Kind of wish I’d listened.

Now that I’m at a stationary desk for 8 hours each day, I’m forced to rethink my food choices and activity level. In case you’re wondering my fellow Bs, yes, those 25 laps each day around the big table are part of my workout plan. I think my metabolism has narcolepsy. Oh, and I have... well I wouldn’t call it an addiction, but maybe a relationship? I have something special with carbs, that’s not likely to stop anytime soon.

Why didn’t I listen to Mom and develop a love for veggies?


3. Get jiggety with it
Every morning before school, Mom would blast music to wake us up. For a month it was The Phantom of the Opera (yeah, the neighbors probably thought we were serial killers), for another it was Natalie Merchant’s 10,000 Maniacs, and for the longest month ever... it was Will Smith’s Big Willie Style.

I have this vivid memory of her dancing around with a mop and yellow gloves pointing and tapping her toe from side to side (potentially a cool dance move in the 70s?). She was singing at the top of her lungs, “Yeah... I’m gettin’ jiggety with it. Come on, Al!” Nobody was home except for my brother, but I still managed to die of embarrassment.

For those of you who aren’t Will Smith fans, the lyrics (and song title) are “Gettin’ Jiggy wit It.” I kept correcting her, and she kept singing the wrong words louder.

Years later, I’m finally understanding why parents think it’s funny to embarrass us. Because nothing matters, and what if it did? Who cares. These days I make an effort not to backseat drive, correct grammar in Facebook status updates (this one is difficult), notify lyric-butchers, or generally “sweat the small stuff.”

Thanks, Ma. Sorry I didn’t listen sooner (but it’s got to make you feel pretty good, huh?) Love you.

I’m sure I will be revealing “Damnit. Why didn’t I listen to mom?” moments like these for years to come. Have some of your own? We’d all love to hear them :) Comment below to share.

Photo courtesy of: AMCTV.com

I am literally the last person to jump on the bandwagon for anything. So, in natural fashion, I never watched “Mad Men” – even though everyone was raving about how good it was. I actually work in advertising, so my coworkers were constantly harassing me about it. I even gave them these really cool “Mad Men” promotional pens I didn’t want – the ad man falls from the building, just like the intro to the show.

Finally last month, I added all four seasons of “Mad Men” to my Netflix list, and immediately regretted giving away the pens! The show is incredible – witty, smart, captivating and tantalizing. I literally can’t get enough of the characters and the complex storyline.

Set in 1960s New York at the fictional Sterling Cooper advertising agency, “Mad Men” portrays account executives and creative types spending most of their days drinking, smoking and schmoozing clients. So, what’s changed?

I’m just kidding – a lot has changed. Obviously, we don’t smoke inside the office anymore.

But really, what are the differences between the Sterling Cooper agencies of the 60s and advertising agencies today? Obviously, 

Differences:

• Women aren’t restricted to simply working as secretaries.

• The dress code is far more casual.

• We use computers instead of typewriters.

• It has to be closer to 5 p.m., not 10 a.m., for us to start drinking.

• We don’t take naps on the couches in our offices.

• Lawn mowers are strictly prohibited from office use.

Similarities:

• Advertising remains a fun industry.

• We bring our dogs to the office, just like Duck brought his dog, Chauncey.

• Practical jokes still run rampant.

• We host office parties, although our Christmas party could never be compared to the “Führer’s Birthday.”

• The basic creative process remains the same: copywriters conjure up witty taglines, art directors create the artwork, and creative directors have the final say of what goes before the client.

For the most part, the advertising industry remains as colorful as it’s portrayed in “Mad Men.” The people are unique, and every day is different – you never know what is going to happen. In the words of Roger Sterling: "Believe me, somewhere in this business, this has happened before.” No matter what “this” is, it is probably true!

The award-winning series “Mad Men” returns to AMC this Sunday, kicking off Season 5 with a 2-hour premiere. If you haven’t seen “Mad Men,” I highly suggest you jump on the bandwagon. Trust me, I work in advertising.

Elvis Presley is considered to be the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll (undisputed in my opinion), but is his influence lost on the youth of today? Most people under the age of 30 think of Elvis as a cartoonish, lip-curling, pantsuit-wearing person who died on a toilet. Elvis died seven years before I was born; however, his impact is not lost on me.

On April 16, 1956, my grandmother and her friends, all teenagers at the time, saw Elvis Presley perform live at the Memorial Coliseum in her hometown of Corpus Christi, Texas. They were chaperoned by a mother of one of the girls, and on the ride home, after witnessing Elvis’ hip-shaking renditions, the girls asked her: “But Mrs. Campbell, how on earth are you going to go home to Mr. Campbell after seeing a man like Elvis?” Apparently, Mrs. Campbell softly giggled, kept her eyes on the road and replied: “Well, girls, it sure isn’t going to be easy!”

At the time, Elvis’ gyrations on stage were foreign and scandalous, but they were nothing compared to what you see kids doing today. Nonetheless, the present generation is so far from understanding how instumental Elvis was to bringing about change—not just to our culture, but to things we consider liberties, like dancing. Elvis was instrumental in pushing both racial and social boundaries, both with his music and his stage presence. Although he gained monumental success, he was also held accountable for allegedly tarnishing the youth at the time. Even as an overnight success, the road wasn’t always easy for him.

In 2009, my grandmother took me to Graceland—a first for both of us. It was a wonderful trip; however, at 24 years old, I was one of the youngest people there. In this day and age, apparently, Elvis just isn’t considered “cool.” My generation doesn’t want to learn about him or understand his legacy.

While watching the Grammys this past weekend, I noticed one performance in particular that appealed to me. Bruno Mars, one of the most talented breakout singer/songwriters of recent years, gave a riveting throwback performance of his 60s-inspired hit song “Runaway Baby.” Mars and his band were outfitted in black and gold metallic tuxedos, performing on a Vegas-esque brightly lit stage, with “Bruno Mars” written above them. Mars wore his hair in a 50s pompadour and shook his legs and moved his feet in a way that made little girls scream with delight. Sound familiar?

So, what were we witnessing here? I know what I saw, but did the youngsters even pick up on the nuances of Mars’ throwback performance? Probably not. (Mars even paid homage to the late James Brown.) Young girls confess their undying love to Mars on their blogs and Twitter pages, but it’s doubtful they even understand the correlation or significance of his Grammy performance.

Mars credits a wide array of musical genres as influences, which shows in his songwriting and performances, but one of his greatest influences was Elvis. Not only that, but as a young boy in Hawaii, Mars used to perform as an Elvis impersonator. Other influences include Little Richard and Michael Jackson, which is apparent when watching his Grammy performance. (wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruno_Mars)

Combine these influences with his dancing ability, his incredible voice and versatility, and you have a recipe for success. Mars’ Grammy performance inadvertently appealed (in many different ways) to a wide demographic of viewers, male and female, young and old. His Grammy performance was old school yet current—it was impossible NOT to enjoy watching him. He had that energy and appeal of someone we know as “Elvis.”

Let's hope that Bruno Mars makes old school cool again so our generation doesn’t wind up being remembered for “artists” like Nicki Minaj.

Watch Bruno Mars’ Grammy Performance of “Runaway Baby” and decide for yourself: bit.ly/RunawayBaby-BrunoMars

Sigh. Woody Allen once again creates a masterpiece of American filmmaking with his latest film, “Midnight in Paris.” I waited for the film to come out on DVD, so excuse me for just now writing about a film that was in theaters last year.

From watching the trailer, Owen Wilson’s character, Gil, is believed to be cheating on his fiancée, Inez—played by the lovely Rachel McAdams; we witness Gil leaving his hotel room at night to walk the streets of Paris alone. It is presumed that he is rendezvousing with a glamorous Parisian woman. While this is partially true, the film is, in fact, much more complex than your average romantic comedy.

Gil is actually leaving his hotel at night and being transported back to 1920s Paris. In his current life, he is unfulfilled by the lackluster American city in which he lives. His relationship with Inez is strained, and she doesn’t seem to understand his psyche. As a writer, Gil is nostalgic about the great writers who emerged during the early 20th century in Paris, and the era and city itself. When he is transported back in time, he encounters some of the literary greats, and truly feels like he has found his place. The idea of time travel can be hokey, to say the least, but “Midnight in Paris” works it in seamlessly and with comedic freedom—as only Woody Allen could do.

The film closely mimics the era, when up-and-coming American writers, such as F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway, flocked to Paris for inspiration—usually leaning on each other for camaraderie while simultaneously being each other’s competition. Every party that Gil attends is like the Who’s Who of the Roaring Twenties. For the audience, it’s like a literary trivia game.

Intentionally or unintentionally, the film’s greatest attribute is its underlying theme of nostalgia. Although the film is ultimately a love story, it is the nostalgia premise that will resonate with anyone who has an appreciation for literature, the arts or history. In truth, you’ll become nostalgic about the film that is about nostalgia; although, the youngsters will undoubtedly be hard-pressed to grasp the essence of what makes “Midnight in Paris” so mesmerizing.

The film is Oscar-nominated for Best Picture, although I believe either “The Help” or “The Artist” will beat it. Woody Allen is nominated for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay, both of which would be a well-deserved win.

All in all, “Midnight in Paris” is a truly heartfelt and whimsical film that will leave you wanting to be transported to the Jazz Age with Gil to drink a stiff drink with Fitzgerald and Hemingway … and then maybe get in a boxing match with the latter.

If you've seen our Vicarious Vacations photos on Facebook, you know the B team likes to travel. This year we wanted to share that love of adventure with our friends through the B fly contest. We took entries on our Facebook page for a chance to win a $200 Virgin America flight voucher as a prize.

The lucky winner? Stephanie Arnold, right here in Fort Worth, TX.

“I was so excited to win the B fly contest! I had never flown on Virgin America before, and let me tell you, it was AWESOME! They really know how to treat people. I used my voucher to fly to San Francisco to visit my best friend, who moved there 2 months ago. I had never been there before, and I had a great trip! Thanks so much, Balcom, for giving me this opportunity!”

Connect with the Bs on Facebook, Twitter or sign up for our quarterly Letter B emails. Who knows, you might be our next winner.

When I was five years old, I underwent surgery to remove both my tonsils and adenoids. Apparently, I was rather “nasally” when I spoke. The surgery required a two-night hospital stay and I was put in a room with five other beds, most of them empty.

There was a girl about my age in the bed across from mine. I remember her vividly because she had tubes going in her nose and she wasn’t able to leave her bed. At certain points during the day, the nurses would enter our hospital room and section off her bed with a curtain for privacy. At this point, they would beat on the little girl’s back with such force that she would cry, and I would sit in horror listening to all the commotion.

On my second evening in the hospital, I was recovering from my minor surgery while my mom read to me from my favorite “My Little Pony” book. A few pages into the story (which I had heard a thousand times), my mom stopped and looked across the room at the little girl who was sitting all alone. My mom got up from my bedside and said, “I’m going to go read to her for a little while.”

What happened next is something that I am still ashamed about to this day. As my mom walked away from my bed, a pang of jealousy hit me. I started kicking the bed and screaming, “No! That’s my book. I don’t want you to share it with her. It’s mine!” My mom hadn’t even made it halfway across the room before she turned on her heel and marched right back to my bed with fury on her face and her finger pointed in mine. Whatever she said shut me up quickly. She then walked back over to the little girl (who looked mortified to be the unintentional cause of such commotion), and read her my “My Little Pony” book. I sat there seething over the next hour as I watched the little girl warm to my mom’s presence as they read, laughed and talked together.

The next morning, I awoke feeling rather guilty for my selfishness; I felt bad that I had embarrassed the little girl with my behavior. I sat up in bed and looked across at her bed, smiling apologetically; however, the little girl was not there. Her bed was neatly made and what little belongings she owned had been removed.

It turns out the little girl had succumb to her illness during the night. I would later find out that she had spent her short life battling cystic fibrosis.

My mom later told me that the little girl had been sick for so long, her parents had no choice but to go back to work and take care of their other children at home. Understandably, they did the best they could and made sure to visit her at least once a day.

I can only hope the kindness that my mom showed to the little girl overshadowed my actions that night – I will always regret the way I acted. I was too young to truly understand the situation. Now, when I think about the little girl, I can’t imagine what her life must have been like to live in a hospital and to be so lonely and scared. Sadly, a story similar to the little girl’s is one that you will find in every hospital, in every town, in every country across the world.  

This Thanksgiving, I would like to give thanks for my health and the health of my family members; our health is something that we often take for granted, but it should be cherished as it can be taken away without a minute's notice. On Thanksgiving Day, I will take a moment to think about the families that are spending their Thanksgiving in a hospital room or with a sick family member. I certainly have a lot to be thankful for again this year.