Caution: I am not this cool in real life.

At my age, we women walk a tricky rope when we say, "I have big news for you!" Most people predict a pregnancy announcement. I can assure you that is not the case for the news I am about to share. In fact, as you read this post, I am under the ENT's knife because my face doesn't like itself. Well, the inside of my face doesn't like itself. I'm working on trying to sustain my own life at the moment, not grow another one.

Anyway, as one of my juniors always says, you're probably wondering why I gathered you all here today.

I am not even sure how to tell you, so bear with me.

As you may or may not know, my mom is my biggest cheerleader in life. She thinks I can conquer the world, and the greatest reason I can defeat so many of my health-related obstacles is because of her "you can do it" attitude. She likes all of my blog posts on Facebook. She keeps up with everything that I write on here. She takes my pictures for the blog. She cheers louder for my victories than any of my adversaries could boo. Well, her love for me led her to write a paragraph nominating me as one of Neiman Marcus' Faces of Beauty, a woman who is beautiful both inside and out. I guess I inherited my flair for writing from her because Neiman Marcus picked me as one of their six faces of beauty for this fall. (Seriously, just typing that sentence almost made me throw up with apprehension and excitement.)

When I first received the e-mail, I thought it was a total hoax like those "you have a million dollars waiting for you in Africa" e-mails, so I called mom and hesitantly inquired, "Did you nominate me to be one of Neiman Marcus' Faces of Beauty?" Softly and with a hint of curiosity in her voice, she responded, "yes." So, I responded, "Well, I just received an e-mail that said they picked me. I'm exactly what they're looking for. They love that my mom nominated me." I think my right ear is still ringing from her shrill shrieks that pierced it at that very moment.

So they picked me. I can think of a long list of women I find more talented, beautiful, and giving than I am, but they picked me. Nothing really compares to a mother's love, and I can attest to that truth.

What does it all mean? Well, I fly out to Dallas May 5th-6th, they put me up in a hotel, I have a photoshoot with a NY photographer, I get $1500 in cosmetics/fragrances, I keep the wardrobe from the photoshoot, I get chauffeured in a limo, I get free dinners/lunches, and they use my face for their national advertising campaign. I do not know what I did to deserve a mother as wonderful as mine and an experience as exceptional as this one, but I am grateful. And that word seems so small and insignificant to express how thankful I am for my mom's faith in me. I know you're probably reading this, Mom, so thank you. Thank you so very much for being my mom.

There's the big news. Now, what do I wear?

Mom says this outfit would be a good choice. Since she dresses me better than I do, she's probably right. Plus, it's the spring version of my favorite fall/winter outfit.

The Look:

Cardigan: Sonoma via Kohl's

Top: Merona via Target (recent)

Skirt: Francesca's

Flats: Target

Earrings: Local Boutique called Sweet Elizabeth Jane (find them on Facebook!)

I think this outfit qualifies for the April challenge because it suits two themes: tribal print and local love.

Today is my big link up day. I'm joining all of these ladies:

* What I Wore to Work: http://www.mixmatchfashion.com/

* All Things Thursday: http://www.glitzandgold.com

* Look What I Got (for cheap): http://pennilesssocialite.blogspot.com/ 

* Three-fer Thursdays: http://www.everydayfashionandfinance.com

* Tres-Chic Fashion Thursday: http://vodkainfusedlemonade.com/

 

Lion meets Dolphin.

I didn't want to provide you with just the colors of my outfit. Giving them animal names seemed so much more exciting. You're welcome.

Yesterday, I caught up with a friend, and we happened upon the cutest store in Ellicott City! It's called Sweet Elizabeth Jane. As my friend said, "it's like Pinterest come alive." No joke. This store was stocked full of home goods (turtle shaped salt and pepper shakers? Whaaaaat?), clothes (like this green skirt below--I bought it), and jewelry (at really reasonable prices). If you're ever in Ellicott City, Maryland, go visit. Immediately. I wanted to buy everything, so I settled for trying it all on and picking one thing. Okay, one item of clothing and several pieces of jewelry. 

Cute skirt, right? It's mine now. Fear not.

Anticipate a post about it in the future.

(That other dress is mighty cute, too.)

Today, I hosted a 31 Party because one of my friends recently became a consultant. Aaaaand now I want to buy everything in the catalogue. Self control, do not fail me now. 

I thought you might want to see how cute Mom and I looked. I come from good stock, folks. Good stock, indeed.

For once, I successfully layered necklaces. Baby steps.

Doctor Doctor & A Collage

So, my motivation to post outfits has dwindled to something resembling the number zero. I think this blog might be taking a turn in a different direction. Maybe. Maybe not. I also say that I'll stop buying clothes, and my colleagues know how far that statement has gotten me. Be sad that I was not up to having a picture snapped of my "blueberry" outfit today. Granted, the student who called me a blueberry also sports a mohawk and wears pajama pants to school nearly every day. I consider the source.

Anyway, I've been pondering about how I should word this post. I have a lot to say on the matter, so it might just exit my brain as a stream of consciousness. As an English teacher, I should feel more compelled to organize my thoughts, but I'll call it a free write and feel better about the haphazardness that will soon ensue.

If you've been following my blog for any length of time, you probably already know that it's a miracle Darwin's theory hasn't snuffed out my existence. I'm allergic to a whole host of things (including cocoa...yes, that means chocolate, ladies.) I think my body is confused. I look 21 (or younger...depending on whom you ask), I'm actually 28, and my insides are geriatric. I guess I'm okay with this odd situation because it's character building, right? Right. 

At this point in my life, I've accrued a team of doctors. I have a gastroenterologist, an allergist, a rheumatologist, more than one dermatologist, a primary care physician (ya know, the normal doctor), a nutritionist, and the list continues to grow. I think I missed my calling in the medical profession. In 2007, I visited my primary care doctor, and he ran a bunch of bloodwork. Typical day at the doctor for Danielle. The results indicated that I tested positive for several markers of a rheumatic disease called Sjogrens Syndrome. He relayed the results but left it at that. 


Fast forward to December of 2012.  I returned to the doctor with these same nagging symptoms (such as ridiculous dry mouth that induced wicked stomach aches, eyes so dry that I wanted to scoop them out with a melon baller, and a chest so tight that I was sure a heavy, yet invisible elephant was standing on my lungs.) The good ol' doc didn't know what to do with me, but he knew I never came in unless something really was wrong. He sent me packing with some more bloodwork paperwork and chest x-ray forms. Everything came back pretty clear, so my doctor called me after hours one night. He said that he decided to scour my years of paperwork for answers and came upon those positive blood tests from 2007. He determined that it was time for me to see a rheumatologist to confirm or refute a diagnosis. 


In the mean time, I visited my gastroenterologist who performed another endoscopy (a worse case of acid reflux could be to blame for the chest pain) and a colonoscopy. An endoscopy is really no big deal. A colonoscopy, however, is the pits. My doctor prescribed the worst "make ya poo" drug on the planet. That stuff tasted like regurgitation and made me want to regurgitate. Horrific. Both of these tests came back relatively clear, so the baton passed to the rheumatologist. (Side note: my gastroenterologist is the bomb dot com. He gave his business card to me and said to hand it to the rheumatologist who then needed to keep him in the loop. He said, "if he doesn't find anything, I want to help you. We'll get to the bottom of this." What a great doctor.) 


The rheumatologist asked a battery of questions and ran more bloodwork. And, of course, I had to pee in another cup. I really need to refine that skill or bring a funnel with me to the doctor. Boys sure are lucky. The doctor then explained that the "golden test" for this syndrome involved a lip biopsy. I'll just tell you now that I was wholly unprepared for that visit. I thought biopsy meant scrape scrape, and we're done. I did not know it meant slice slice, stitch stitch, HOLY MOTHER OF CRAP THAT HURTS. Don't even get me started on the stitches removal. 


Last week, the doctor confirmed the diagnosis: I have Sjogrens Syndrome. What does this diagnosis mean? Well, I'm not entirely sure, but here's what I do know:

• It's better to have an answer (even a not-so-wonderful one) than to be left feeling crazy, as if the symptoms are "all in my head." 

• I'll live with it for the rest of my life, but I've lived with it this long. I can overcome it.

• There are means of managing it (which I have not yet mastered, obviously.)

• I'm attending my first support group meeting this weekend (my husband and parents in tow) where I hope to learn a lot from people who know much more about this condition than I do.

• I have the most supportive family, friends, and colleagues. My dad has spent hours (okay DAYS) researching Sjogrens. He wants to have a family meeting to discuss everything. My mom has crocheted me yet another scarf, and she got all of my groceries for me yesterday when my back hurt so badly that crawling to my car on the cold asphalt seemed like a viable option. My husband has been fixing up the most delicious meals and generally just being so understanding and loving. I'm beyond blown away by his kindness. He really took that "in sickness and in health" thing seriously. My in laws so willingly fix meals that I can eat and warm my heart with their support. Long story short? The people I love bless me every day with their kindness, generosity, compassion, and love. 

• I might be unlucky in health, but I am lucky in love. 

If you've made it this far, I'm going to reward you with some pictures. It's the cyber version of a gold star ;) 

Meet Eliot, my elephant friend who humidifies my room. I'm hoping that Eliot helps the nosebleeds stop. Thanks in advance, El. By the way, your name is the same as a character from SVU (who's no longer on...WAH!), so you must be awesome.

I paired my button up from Target's boys' department with a navy sweater. Not rocket science, but it's warm.

I had no idea what to do with this pretty sweater because the neckline was too low. I decided that yellow and teal complement one another, so this pairing works. No?

I feel like Easter in this ensemble, and I rather like it.

 If only I had a warm beach to travel to in this outfit. I think you'll be seeing this one again in the spring :)

In case I'm too lazy to shave my legs, I have this shirt paired with pants, too. 

These are the things I have to think about, folks.

Last, but certainly not least, is one of my new door handles. You see, the previous owners thought it'd be great to put silver knobs on one side of doors and gold knobs on the other side. How does that even happen?! Anyway, the basement door (not pictured) was impossible to open. It heard several expletives fly from my mouth because I fought with it every day. The knob refused to turn. In other words, it refused to do its only job. As a result, my husband pitied me and replaced several knobs today.

He sure is a keeper, but I'm glad those doorknobs weren't!