As a participant in the Hallmark at Walgreens Card for Dad campaign, I received compensation in exchange for writing this review. Although this post is sponsored, all opinions are my own. @walgreens #HallmarkAtWalgreens #CareWithACard #sponsored
Um…who’s that girl taking silly selfies in the middle of Walgreens?
Yeah, that would be me. Hey, when the urge strikes, you’ve gotta go with it. 🙂
I credit this particular “no shame” moment to my dad, who’s quite possibly the biggest goofball in the entire world.
My dad is one of just a handful of people who can make me laugh so hard that my side aches, and I have tears streaming down my face! Sometimes he does it with his funny nicknames, like how he calls Tabs “Mister,” as in “Hey, Mister! How’s it going Mister? What are you doing Mister?” He nicknamed all of my stuffed animals (like Andolini the teddy bear…who sends me random texts all the time), and he’s a pro at making up nonsensical song lyrics (something I also do on a daily basis).
I think I also look a lot like my dad. Whenever I would meet a distant relative or family friend for the first time, they’d invariably say, “WOW! You look so much like your dad.”
Of course, I didn’t believe it at the time, but now when I look at old pictures of him from the ’70s around the time that he and my mom immigrated to America, yeah, I see the resemblance, and sometimes I also see it when I look at Connor Claire! — which is kind of magical and freaky at the same time.
My dad’s very outgoing too. He’ll talk to anyone. Seriously, anyone! He can walk up to a complete stranger and within 10 minutes get that person to tell him their life story (this happened A LOT on family vacations). I don’t know how he does it, but he always seems at ease in social situations.
I remember one of the company picnics when were all sitting and eating at a table. I got up to get a scoop of ice cream, and when I returned five minutes later, my dad had joined a random volleyball game. Even though he isn’t athletic and had no idea how to play at all, he was high-fiving his teammates like they’d all been playing together every Sunday for years.
I think it’s this charisma that gets him into funny predicaments sometimes. My favorite story about my dad is one from his high school days. One year he was “accidentally” elected class president. Apparently, he didn’t even want the job, but I guess he was elected without running for the position, haha!
Sometimes I wish I could go back in time and talk to my dad when he was young, especially when I see old pictures of him and my mom together. They look so hopeful and excited about the future.
It was my dad’s idea to leave the Philippines in the ’70s and move the family to the Bay Area. It was a big, scary move for them, but my dad’s always had an adventurous streak, which is another trait that I think we share.
Like the time I went skydiving but didn’t tell my parents, whoops! When my mom found out, she lectured me for 20 minutes about how irresponsible it was to hurl my body out of a plane without mentioning it to them beforehand. My dad, on the other hand, asked 1) why I didn’t invite him and 2) if I took any pictures while I was up there. A classic dad move!
Speaking of classics, that’s why I chose this Hallmark Father’s Day card for my dad this year.
It’s from the Hallmark Signature line of handmade cards, which often come with little extras like keepsakes, garland and charms.
I found it at Walgreens the other day when I popped in to get a card and pick up some nail polish and chocolates for myself. Ba-bing, ba-bang! I was in and out.
I liked this particular card because of the classic car on the front. I usually go for funny or silly cards for Dad or cards with animals on them, because he loves animals just as much as I do. (When I was a kid, he was always bringing home strays! Our backyard was like a petting zoo.) And there were also lots of those kinds of cards, but this year I wanted to get him something different.
I think my dad will appreciate this one not only because he’s one of a kind, but he’s also a recreational mechanic.
He’s been a retired accountant for over a decade, but he always keeps busy, whether it’s by learning how to fix cars, or gardening, or getting an x-ray technician’s certificate just because he can.
He’s kind of a jack-of-all-trades like that, always trying something new.
Love you, Dad. 🙂 I’ll always be your little girl!
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Stephanie Smith says
June 7th, 2016 at 8:13 amI think I love your Dad. And the picture of your Mom and Dad on their wedding day made me cry, how they looked at each other. ❤️ I think your Dad and my Dad would be pals, never meeting a stranger!
Karen says
June 7th, 2016 at 9:32 amHi Stephanie,
I love that picture too. It’s one of my favorites. I hope you and your dad have a wonderful Father’s Day. 🙂
Florence says
June 7th, 2016 at 8:34 amConnor Claire will be very lucky with this grand father,when she will be old enough to understand and exchange with him. Have a nice week with your beauties.
Karen says
June 7th, 2016 at 9:31 amHi Florence,
I think they’ll have a fun time together, too.
Have a wonderful day!
Kiss & Make-up says
June 7th, 2016 at 8:41 amAwww, your dad looks so sweet 🙂 And loads of fun, too!
Also: I wish we had Walgreens here… If my hubby hadn’t dragged me outta there when we were in Hawaii last summer I’d probably still be roaming the aisles filling shopping basket after shopping basket. And taking selfies.
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Karen says
June 7th, 2016 at 9:30 amThe Walgreens stores in Hawaii are great! They stock many fun local things.
Have a nice day!
Chris25 says
June 7th, 2016 at 8:59 amCan your dad also be my dad? Please? 😀
Little Karen! So adorable! I actually think Connor Claire looks like you. 🙂
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Karen says
June 7th, 2016 at 9:30 amHi Chris,
She does look a little like me, LOL! I hope you’re having a wonderful day.
Kim says
June 7th, 2016 at 9:38 amYour dad is a rock star!! 🙂 And, your post was so sweet, I got a little misty. Just think, someday Connor will be thinking the same kinds of happy thoughts about El Hub on Father’s Day.
Karen says
June 7th, 2016 at 11:12 amConnor’s going to be a daddy’s girl, for sure. 🙂
How have you been? Are you guys all ready for summer?
Kim says
June 9th, 2016 at 4:58 amBut you’ll get all the fun stuff, like advice on hair and makeup (and boys). 🙂
Hanging in there! We’ve had some strange weather so I’m not sure it’s actually summer yet. HAHA! But, yes, I think so. 🙂 Have you decided if you’ll take any trips this summer? I saw that some people gave really good advice in another post about traveling with Connor. I think you’d have a good time, especially if she likes the car. You probably already have this, but we had little “activity” bars on the car seats that the kids liked a lot when we were on the road.
Sakura says
June 7th, 2016 at 11:13 amAww, what a cute post. That made my day!
Karen says
June 7th, 2016 at 12:11 pmThanks, Sakura! Enjoy the rest of your day.
Pamela Haddad says
June 7th, 2016 at 11:49 amThanks for sharing those photos and memories! I love to see old photos, catching a moment in time! Your dad sounds amazing and I know he can’t wait to show his grandbaby how to have fun!
Karen says
June 7th, 2016 at 12:11 pmHi Pamela,
I love looking at old pictures, too. I think it’s kinda cool that they’re all instagram filtered looking!
denise S says
June 7th, 2016 at 12:26 pmSounds like you’re a Daddies girl! Love the pictures! The one with him holding a mustache seems like something you would do, lol. I found a great Hall Mark store in the mall near me that has a Mahogany card collection that I love. The Walgreens near me don’t have the best selection. So I shop at the Hall mark in the Westshore Tampa mall.
cara says
June 7th, 2016 at 12:26 pmYour dad is so cute! Reminds me of my dad — at gatherings he’ll call me over to meet someone like it’s his old buddy only to find out he just met the guy! He even helped a total stranger he met at the mall get a good discount at a local hotel.
yelena says
June 7th, 2016 at 1:36 pmahhh such a lovely post…I was doing pretty well until you said the words..always be your little girl…then came the waterworks.
such a cute pic of you and Dad at the very end. and I agree, soon as I saw you Dad’s pictures I thought of Connor Claire!
so sweet 🙂
Sandy P says
June 7th, 2016 at 3:16 pmCan’t get my Dad a card this year as he passed away 13 years ago….so I am enjoying your stories. And I agree Miss CC looks like you as a child.
Sherry says
June 7th, 2016 at 4:47 pmYour Dad is adorable Karen!! You do look like him!! By the way, he looks super young in the picture from your wedding.
LindaLibraLoca says
June 7th, 2016 at 4:58 pmYour dad sounds like a very special person, and really lovely.
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Chelsea says
June 7th, 2016 at 7:15 pmLove this post and learning about your dad! Seems like a great guy! I’ll definitely be hitting up my Walgreens across the street for a father’s day card. Should probably get one for my grandpa too!
Laura says
June 8th, 2016 at 3:36 pmKaren, thank you for posting this (even though the overall idea is sponsored, the feelings and heartfelt tribute to your dad is all you). It brought me to tears as someone who lost her own father last year. I hope you’re able to enjoy Father’s Day with your father, and celebrate El Hub’s first Father’s Day with Connor Claire.