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/

 

What's in a name?

Yesterday, I snuck it in that my middle name is Danielle. You see, my first name is Heather, but only my flamboyant music teacher in second grade and one of my brother's creepy friends in high school ever called me by the name. Mom and Dad knew from day one that they'd call me Danielle. Mom, however, believes that Heather Danielle has a certain ring to it that Danielle Heather just does not. Dad picked Heather, and Mom picked Danielle in an attempt to name me after Dad whose name is Danny. She argued that she would never name her son "Danny Ray Jr.," so here I am. A Danielle who thinks poop stories and fart jokes are funny.

I guess I should be grateful that Dad prevented Mom from making her first choice: Sammy Jo. I'm from a county affectionately dubbed "Cow" County, so I cannot imagine the overall covered life I could have led as Sammy Jo. (Granted, overalls are making a huge fashion splash these days.) Thankfully for Mom, she can rest easily now that she has a puppy named Sammy.

When I finally change my last name--I realize we are on year three of marriage, but it took him seven to pop the question, which means I can take my sweet time changing names--my maiden name will become my new middle name.

There you have it.

Come back tomorrow, and I will share with you some BIG news. News that makes me look way cooler than I am in real life.

The Look:

Blazer: Express (SO VERY OLD--I had to cut off the "straps" that came with it. So weird.)

Shirt: The Limited (similar) 

Skirt: LOFT (exact)

Shoes: J.Crew Factory (really comfortable...I want them in black.)

Necklace: The Limited 

Once again, I am participating in Sarah's April Challenge and today's theme is lace. 

Also linking up with 

* Shanna (http://becauseshannasaidso.blogspot.com) 

* Pleated Poppy (www.thepleatedpoppy.com/blog)

Pastels & Metallics

Soon enough, circumstances might force me to rename this blog "The Sammy and Rudy Show" because we all know you return with the hope of seeing their fluffy faces. 

I understand that today was our Trendy Tuesday "Orange is the New Black" theme at school, but I forgot to pack that outfit for the weekend photo shoot with Mom. Sorry, guys. Forgive me? Check me out on Instagram (@likewo) if you want to see me sporting orange as the new black. 

I wish I had more to say, but I am catching up on Once Upon a Time, Resurrection, and Believe. Not simultaneously, of course. Maybe I should be grading, but that can wait another hour, right? Right. 

I am participating in another one of Sarah's April Challenges. Today I hopped on board the pastel and metallic trains because awesome is my middle name. (Actually, my middle name is Danielle.) 

The Look:

Sweater: Olive and Oak via Marshall's

Skirt: Jennifer Lopez via Kohl's (Momma bought it for me.)

Booties: Old Navy

Necklace: New York & Co. 

You see, Mom and I tried to take pictures of just me, but Rudy here became my shadow, insisting on joining in on the fun. Who am I kidding? He is the fun.

I also wore the skirt back in the day like this:

Babies & Puppies

When I reach the end of a weekend that involves hanging out with babies and puppies, I feel better. (After an accidental gluten ingestion, I absolutely needed to feel better.) Allow me to clarify: hanging out with babies and puppies in my family makes me feel better. Standing next to the wailing eight-year-old in Target while his mother strokes his head and says, "he's sad" (no shit, Sherlock) does not make me feel better. It makes me feel...well, the opposite of better. I hang out with teenagers all day long, so I grimace for that parent whose only remaining coping mechanism is petting her child's head and saying "he's sad." It's not an easy job when you can't hand 'em back. 

On Saturday, Jeff and I attended a baby cousin's baptism in Philly. The drive sucker punched me in the kidneys, but hanging out with family on either side makes just about anything worth it. 

Tonight, I instantly relaxed as I sprawled out on the enormous bean bag--a mainstay I'd like to join my living room in the near future--with Tater Tot (my niece) and fed her a bottle. She's at that age where she wants to pull everyone around by the finger, and I like walks. Not typically walking in circles, but I'll take it. What she does not enjoy is diaper changing time. (Dude, soak that up while you've got it. Someone is going to wipe your behind for you. It's a blessed thing. Bask in it.) My solution? While my sister-in-law changed her, I poked her in the nose with a marker and made farting noises. It worked. Toddlers aren't so different from teenagers. Or is it the other way around? 

Without further ado, what better outfit to show you than one that involves animal print and puppies? 

The dare devil on the left is Rudy. The cutie on my lap is Sammy. 

The Look:

Cardigan: Old Navy

Tank: White House Black Market

Necklace: Old Navy

Pants: Express via thredUP

Shoes: Jones New York via Marshall's (old)

Belt: The Limited (recent)

How could I not include this glamour shot!?

I know it's not exciting, but I really liked this combination of colors. I feel like I combined black and yellow without looking like a bumble bee, which is a pretty big feat. 

I also wore the pants this way...

(I guess this color combination isn't too far from today's...oops?)

Linking up with

* Molly (http://www.themollybuckley.com) 

* The Style Record (http://www.thestylerecord.com) 

* Mix it Mondays (http://www.fizzandfrosting.com/2013/12/mix-it-mondays/) 

I hate bugs, but I love flowers.

The other day, I talked about how I watched an enormous bug of an unknown variety creep down my wall. Pair this bug with his enormous shadow cast on the wall in the dim light and you have yourself a scary movie recipe. I thought about that bug for a little while, and I realized something. When you live in a house that you can call your own, bugs do not disconcert you quite so much because you think, "hey, that's my bug. I know where that bug came from." When you live in an apartment, you think to yourself, "who the hell owns that bug? WHOSE bug is that? WHO SENT YOU!?" When you run into enough neighbors of dubious quality, that question leaves an unsettling cockroach of a pit in your stomach.

Or maybe it's just me.

Anyway, where there are bugs, there are often flowers. In this case, those flowers are happily residing on my blazer today. I keep meaning to wear this blazer because I really do love it, but other outfits continued to oust it from the line up. Fret not, my pretty blazer, today was your day, and multiple people fawned over you. Plus, you fit perfectly into Sarah's April Challenge.

The Look:

Blazer: Lauren Conrad via Kohl's (similar from ASOS)

Jeans (jeggings...whatever): American Eagle high-rise (exact)

Flats: Audrey Brooke via DSW (love these Steve Madden ones)

Sweater: J.Crew Factory (exact--mine is positano blue...hello, city in Under the Tuscan Sun!)

Necklace: I really wish I could remember where I bought it, but a boy student struck up a conversation with me about it today. "Is that rose quartz, Ms. Wo? I really like that necklace." He loves my favorite book, The Alchemist, so he's clearly an awesome kid. 

This sweater from J.Crew Factory is pretty much perfect. It's the right length, right color (cobalt always wins), and right thickness (not too thick for spring-ish weather). The lovely lady who teaches next door to me was wearing this sweater in purple today, which made me love the sweater even more. 

I also wore the blazer this way...

(Well, I wore them this way in the dressing room. I wish I would've bought those pants!)

I wore the "warm rose" version of this sweater with my floral skirt:

By the way, at the end of next week, you might not hear much from me. I get sinus surgery on Thursday, and I'll be a hot mess for at least five days. If I can, I will hang out with Mom this weekend to get some pictures of future outfits so that you can see what I'd look like without tubes and gauze in my face. (You're welcome for the word visual.) Of course, I might just sit on the couch and chat with her and dad while I play with the puppies, Sammy and Rudy.

March into April

Maybe this is a cop out because Mom couldn't take my pictures this week (thanks, weekend monsoon), but I decided to compile some of my favorite looks from March. Frankly, I think I sort of brought my A game. No, I don't know how one can "sort of" bring her A game, but just go with me on this one. Okay?

Favorite Dressy Look and Color Combination

Sure, I loved my pink and green combination this March, but this outfit came together perfectly without the help of Pinterest. The scarf served up a plate of steaming inspiration, and it was delicious. 

I'm hungry now.

Favorite Work Look

Typically, I throw some bright colors into my outfit because I love me some color, and I love my pants with belts; however, this beltless outfit full of neutrals happens to rank as one of my favorites. This blazer is the perfect fit and so are the pants. As for the sparkle of my sweater and bows on my heels? Happy details. 

Favorite Casual Look

A little sparkle in this shirt, too! Give me mustard, give me stripes, give me a jean jacket, and give me elation. Comfort defined right here, folks.

Favorite Date Look

The best date looks fulfill two criteria: 

1. Make you feel sexy.

2. Make you feel comfortable.

Comfortably sexy. There's a match made in heaven. 

I just spied an insect of an unknown variety scampering down my apartment wall. 

I'm going to go throw up now. 

I wore purple.

I have nothing against purple. Though one would anticipate my wardrobe to boast at least one purple and black jersey in support of my state's football team, the Ravens, purple is a grossly underrepresented color in my wardrobe. (Maybe my apathy for sports, especially football, bleeds into my affinity, or lack thereof, of certain colors? Meh, I don't think it runs that deeply.) Whatever the reason may be, I rarely wear the color. In fact, I could find only two instances of purple-wearing on the blog: here (don't even have that shirt anymore) and here (also don't have that shirt but do still have the scarf).

Anyway, yesterday, I told Kate that I'd wear purple today. I know how much she loves the color, so I couldn't disappoint her, especially because she tells funny jokes. Originally, I planned to wear this sweater over my white lace dress with cute boots. However, I feared rain in the forecast, which NEVER happened, so I opted for boots I knew the weather wouldn't ruin. (I haven't worn the other boots in the rain, so I erred on the side of caution.) Oh well, I have an outfit for another day now. 

By some magical feat, my co-teacher and I managed to run debates in our sophomore classes and finish grading three class sets of essays/outlines before grades needed to be posted by 2:30. Fairy dust skitters through our veins. Speaking of magic, our last class of sophomores pulled a rabbit out of their debate hat today and brought in a guest speaker (another teacher during his planning period) to serve as one of the supports to their argument. Unexpectedly awesome. 

One of my male students said today, "You look really pretty in that dress, Ms. Wo." It melted my heart so much that I couldn't bear to tell him it's a maxi skirt, not a dress. Who cares? He was being sweet and genuine and who's not going to accept that sort of kindness from a teenage boy? 

I don't love the outfit, but I wore purple for like the third time ever, which has to count for something. Better luck next wear? 

The Look:

Sweater: Express (old)

Skirt: American Eagle outlet

Belt: Old Navy

Booties: Old Navy

Scarf: LOFT (old)

BEST PART OF MY ENTIRE DAY? THIS SHIRT CAME IN THE MAIL!

Momma Janet, who lives in California, sent this shirt to me in the mail. 

It goes quite nicely with my "Good grammar is sexy" shirt. 

I might start collecting nerdy tees. 

Don't judge me. 

(Note: all women who are approximately my mom's age and whom I love dearly receive the word "momma" before their names.) 

It's true. 

Linking up with

* Shanna (http://becauseshannasaidso.blogspot.com) 

* Pleated Poppy (www.thepleatedpoppy.com/blog)