Figure out the dress code.

Every party has a dress code and this one is no exception. Whether it is casual or more like a nightclub, discovering what is acceptable is your number one tip.

How do you figure out what the dress code is? If it is a Black Tie event, the RSVP or invitation will indicate the requirement. NMNO is not traditionally a Black Tie, but you never know. Look at past event photos to see what other moms wore. Take a look at what the organizer and/or hostess wear since they set the tone for the whole evening. If you are still not sure, then go ahead and email the event planner. They will be more than happy to help you feel your best with clothing choice.

Shop your own closet.

You don’t have to break the bank for just one night out on the town. Look through your closet for those clothes that still have their tags on. Are they the ones to wear? If not, maybe they don’t need to be in your closet anyway.

Think you have nothing to wear in your closet? Go through your clothes again and find that outfit. You know the one. The one you always wear because you get compliments or you just feel great in it. Confidence in your clothing choice shows all the way through your body. What do you want your body to say about you?

Choose a fun, expressive necklace.

While it is fun to understand fashion, this is one area of my life I lack in. The hot, trendy necklaces of today always seem to escape me, but it doesn’t mean my neck is bare. I learned the hard way about wearing a beautiful beaded necklace with my camera strap, but chances are you can wear a necklace without having the beads strewn through the restaurant at your very first event. Yes, that is a true story.

Pick something that is uniquely you. Seriously. I have one necklace that always gets complimented, no matter where I go. Everyone loves it and thinks it is amazing. It is a simple piece of jewelry but the response is overwhelmingly positive. Take your favorite necklace and wear it.

Buck the trend. Wear what you feel good in and can afford.

Grab your favorite pair of jeans, as long as they are not mom jeans. A nice pair of dark jeans paired with a beautiful shirt is wonderful. Pair it with fun heels you never get a chance to wear or choose the comfy flats that mean the world to you.

When you feel good, your body and mind will be relaxed. You will enjoy the event more and so will the other moms!

Put on your smile.

This may seem like such a simple thing to remember. It is. Your smile is your greatest asset, no matter what you are wearing. A smile welcomes others and greets them warmly.

Chances are good that you can come just as you are, even if you have spit up on your shoulder. If you haven’t washed your hair that day or any time this week, you are more than likely the only one to notice.  We have all been there. That’s the beauty of NMNO! We are moms who understand what it is like.

Don’t tell anyone else this, but the clothes are not the essential part. You are.

If you were reading this and looking for an excuse to go shopping for this one extra special day of the year, then by all means go ahead and shop. This mom is not a fashionista by any means so enjoy every minute of your shopping spree. Just be sure to send pictures!

For the rest of us still fearful the clothes will not work, remember that you are uniquely you. Just be yourself and you will have a great time, no matter what you wear. Guaranteed!

This post was brought to you by our March Mom of the Month, Wendy of ChoosingLove.net!

There is nothing like your first blogging conference. If you have been reading here or watched my Twitter stream, @ChoosingLoveAZ, you may have noticed the hashtag of #SheStreams when I went to Florida.

SheStreams was a room filled with highly successful women poised with confidence and I was completely overwhelmed with gratitude and awe to even be surround by so much strength.

For those who were not able to attend in person, or watch live streaming on SheStreamsTV, you are in luck.

AT&T is a sponsor of SheStreams 2012 and asked me to take video of my experience at the conference so I could share it with you.

I chose to take the view of what a conference newbie would see. Through this I learned that I am very good at being a tourist and is shot pretty much to show you the highlights of what I saw during the event.

Please know that, of course, I learned so many things at the conference that would have made this video even better. I did not learn those tips until after I had filmed the majority of the video and I also learned much of the video that I did take was not usable because of legal issues I learned at the conference.

This is probably the longest video I will create, since it violates the rules of videos in this fast past world.

If you have never been to a conference or are thinking of going to one, here is what it might look like for you. Enjoy this video.

Highlights of my video:

• My boys were completely thrilled that the parking garage at the Phoenix International Airport was just like one of their toys.
• My request for my husband to take a little video at the airport turned into what it must be like to have paparazzi around when you are famous. Not that I am or ever hope to be.
• The difficult goodbye to my birthday boy. Thankfully the final moments with me crying was not recorded.
• Ignore my paranoid state of riding alone in the cab and totally playing a tourist. I saw my first drawbridge and I spared you the entire 20 minute ride. I definitely did tape the entire thing because my cab driver was the funniest and best cab driver in the world but I have limited knowledge to compare since I think I have been on four cab rides in my life. Two of the cab rides were on this trip. Someday I want to yell “Taxi” just to say I have done it.
• Maria Bailey, Jennifer Labit, Teresa Kroll, and Dr. Daisy Sutherland were definitely highlights of the conference. I heard from so many others and ended up in that moment of awe where I totally and completely forgot to press the record button.
• Love Build-A-Bear? Enjoy the sneak peek at their new line of Under the Sea friends arriving in June.
• Lunch on a yacht with Disney Parks, Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and Laura Spencer!
• This was my first time ever in Florida and first time ever seeing the Atlantic Ocean, not that it is evident at all in the video.

Disclosure: AT&T provided the Pantech Burst 4G Smartphone to use during my attendance at SheStreams. No compensation was received. Content selection for the video was mine and is my opinion.

Name: Wendy Wright

Hometown: Gilbert, Arizona

Blog: Choosing Love and Arizona Moms Network

URL: http://www.choosinglove.net and http://www.arizonamomsnetwork.com

How many years have you been celebrating NMNO?

The upcoming event will be my second celebration. There has been a tremendous growth and transformation during the last year, all of which makes the upcoming event even sweeter.

What are your plans for NMNO 2012?

National Mom’s Nite Out 2012 is an exciting time for women in Arizona. We are in the planning stages now as we have outgrown our location and are moving to one that can accommodate the growing group of women! Generous sponsors provide giveaways for moms at our event, which have included both nationally known name brands and local small business owners. Many moms have their own home based business and this provides a way for them to meet other women face to face. One of the highlights of our night in May is a free chair massage provided for every mom at our local event. That alone is a great reason to attend!

Any tips for moms who are new to NMNO?

Every mom deserves a night out where she is known by her first name and can actually finish a thought without being interrupted, even if it is for only a few minutes. Moms who are new to NMNO are definitely in for a treat.

For the mom who is afraid to go, I want to talk to you for a moment. It can be intimidating attending a new event with a room full of strangers. Fears of being judged or not accepted may be passing through your mind as you try to talk yourself out of going. Seeing the other women as friends you just have not met yet may help calm the nerves. One year ago I had never attended a NMNO event before, yet here I was pulling in the parking lot of the restaurant for the event that I planned. I sat in the car and took a deep breath. I was scared to go in. But then I thought of you, the one who is new to town or does not know anyone. I thought of the mom who really needed to just have five minutes to herself outside of the bathroom and then I thought of the one who has not showered in three days. I pushed my nerves down and walked into the restaurant. All because of you.

Any mom who attends a National Mom’s Nite Out event will come home a more relaxed, healthier mom. The laughter, smiles, and enjoyment from the night will live long in your memory. Moms who have attended an event are passionate about attending the next one because one time is never enough! Just take a look at the pictures on the Facebook page and you just might hear the conversations and laughter.

Additional Comments:

National Mom’s Nite Out was introduced to me through an email but there were no events in my area. Instead of physically moving our family close to an event or just wishing there was one and going on to the next email, I created a local event. If I can do it, anyone can do it. Seriously. It is so much fun to plan for the moms. What began as a one time event, ended up with quarterly events because it was so incredibly hard to wait an entire year for the next NMNO.

Join with me and millions of other moms on May 10, 2012. Attend an established event, start your own, go out with a friend, or join online. Take time for yourself. You deserve it!