Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to all of you moms out there!  And happy mother's day to MY fabulous and wonderful and beautiful mom:

It's a funny thing.  I stumbled upon this book and contest awhile back (My Mom, My Style Icon).  Admittedly, I  used to get jealous when I would read stories from other bloggers about how they would raid their mom's closets for cool pieces to wear.  I used to get really jealous when I'd read or hear about glamorous shopping trips my friends would take with their moms.  "How fun would that be," I would think to myself, "to share my love of style with my mom."

My mom  has lived in South Dakota her entire life.  My childhood wasn't spent playing dress-up in her closet full of fabulous vintage pieces, or clumping around in her too-big-for-me high heels, or borrowing pieces of jewelry from her to layer into my outfits as a teenager. I used to joke that I didn't quite know where I came from with my love of fashion, because...which parent did I get it from?  My dad is known for accidentally wearing my mom's jeans (on more than one occasion, uff da?).  My mom was a tomboy growing up and has mostly remained as such.  I used to think that I really missed out on something there, as we always tend to want what we don't have and I'm definitely not a tomboy, and it wasn't until I saw the contest for the book that it all really clicked for me.

My mom is my style icon.  She is the hardest working person I know.  She is the most trustworthy person I know.  We didn't have a whole bunch of money as I was growing up, but when she found $100 one time she immediately turned it in to the counter of the place she found it--it never crossed her mind to do what most would probably do, which would be to quietly fold it up and tuck it securely into an empty pocket.

She is worldly in spite of having never having lived outside of the Midwest. Saturday mornings were always spent with the windows open as she'd clean, blaring Bob Marley, Paul Simon, and the Talking Heads on her radio.  Even though it's been well over a decade, I can still hear my mom singing along with "The Boy In The Bubble" as the scent of Pledge and Windex would float throughout the air. 

She is kind to everyone no matter who they are or where they come from.  Being a mother to two feisty twin daughters couldn't have been easy, but she is ever the diplomat, never meddling in whatever tiffs my sister and I might have. 

And most importantly, she has always wholeheartedly supported me and my sister and  whatever goofy little adventures we have wanted to have. My sister had piercings in nearly every part of her body while we were in high school and my mom loved her no less.  I wanted to flee to Colorado at the age of 21 with no job and hardly any money....and she loved me no less.  And without the support of her and my dad, and them allowing me to make my own mistakes and to lead my own life, I wouldn't be where I am today. 

My mom is my style icon through and through, and it has nothing to do with clothing or shoes or make-up. 

And I wouldn't have it any other way.

I love you, mom!  Happy Mother's Day to you, and to all the other mothers out there too.<3