I Got It From My Mama

 {Zac Posen dress on sale here, Prada calf hair leopard pumps on sale here, Eternity band c/o Anjolee, Mia Jewels evil eye ring, Fendi cuff)

This red-hot dress. My mama bought this Zac Posen stunner for me on her last trip to Washington, D.C. It’s fierce and the fit is beyond (meaning it hides my odious post-children belly pudge which is a seemingly impossible feat).

But back to my mother. We all know heaven holds a special place for moms because they are entrusted with the most difficult and often times most thankless job on the planet. As for my Womb Warrior, in particular, she’s provided me with countless selfless acts (such as driving my ass all the way to Kendall for John Casablanca acting classes…um, embarrassing), favors (like that time she baked a Greek feast for 31 college friends) and advice (from parenting two children to dealing with crappy bosses to simple items like how many garlic cloves are needed for stuffed peppers).

Most importantly, though, I’m thankful my mother wasn’t a Tiger Mom. She encouraged coloring outside the lines. She never once hounded me about my C-riddled report cards. She encouraged swinging on our swing set for hours when most other kids were pounding their heads deciphering their math homework equations. She gave me the freedom to choose a career in journalism (Read: veritable poverty). She was able to sniff out the evil boyfriends much like a basset hound on a wild chase. She taught me how to Greek dance in a loop with finesse and moxie. Above all, she fed my soul copious amounts of confidence. The latter being the greatest gift anyone can relinquish onto another in my humble opinion.

And sure, she always made sure my hair was perfectly coiffed with Crayola-colored ribbons. And that my smocked dresses were ironed to crisp perfection. She instilled the belief that dressing elegantly is the key to a stellar first impression. All these attributes contribute to this blog, clearly.

So thank you, mama, for all these wondrous lessons. You are my inspiration and the reason I am the zany creature I am today. And, yes, your stuffed peppers alway trump mine. Why? Because they’re made with your unconditional love.