Cara Sprunk

People often want to know what gets them noticed. While it differs for all people (beware all men: my BFF will stare at your arms), I will tell you that I always notice eyes. Now, I should mention, I do not often notice eye colors, but I notice the shape, eyelashes, and how warm a person seems based on their eyes.

It’s funny that despite my love of a good set of peepers, I never notice eye color. This drives my mom and sister insane and they have taken to playing a game with me called “What Color Eyes Do _____ Have?” The result was: if you have brown eyes, I’ll guess them by default, and unless you have absolutely piercing blue eyes, I’ll have no recollection of them. Oops.

These are some un-ignorable blue eyes

Happy Mother’s Day HC-ers! While you are (hopefully) honoring your mom with flowers, cards, brunch and attention today, this is also a great day to remind her of all the lessons she taught you. Whether it’s something little as a child that affects you all the time (thanks mom for teaching me to swim before I could walk) or something as a young adult that made you the person you are today (thanks mom for not letting me give up) or a lesson she just taught you the other day (how to make pesto – yum!) her lessons have been impactful.

Today, the Her Campus team thanks their moms for these amazing lessons – check them out below, and, as always, let us know what your mom taught you by leaving a comment below.

"The worst thing anyone can ever tell you is no."

This statement has changed so much of my life because it's led me to take chances and reach out to people that I normally would be too scared to. It gives me strength and lights a fire under my butt. A lot like my mom herself!
- Elyssa Goodman, Style Editor, Carnegie Melon

The best advice my mom ever gave me: "You can't control people's actions, only your reactions." This concept has saved me countless times in social situations. It's changed the way in which I approach everyone, especially people who have upset me in some way.
- Briana Morgan, Campus Correspondent, GCSU

My mom always said that you can dream all you want about your future but it's the hard work and dedication you're willing to put in that will see those dreams become reality.
- Kathryn Saulinas, Campus Correspondent, Bloomsburg University

How to apply eyeliner for any kind of night. [YourTango]

The Disney Princess wedding craze. [The Daily Beast]

Top coolest Hollywood moms. [RealSelf]

Priciest gowns from the Met Ball. [MSN Living]

Finals week, as told by Les Mis. [USA Today College]

17 dogs that are straight up better than you. [BuzzFeed]

What do you think of this pretty princess makeover? [Jezebel]

The Internet version of you vs the real you. [Thought Catalog]

The Real ‘Me’ Generation. [The Huffington Post]

At different points in my life, people have taken a “first notice” to different things about me. I thought it would be interesting to ask a few people who I have met along the last 20+ years what they first noticed about me when we first met.

My mom (who obviously “met” me on Day 1): “I first noticed your red hair, and thought: where did that come from [Author’s note: I have long, long not been a redhead, natural or otherwise]. But it was too cute! I also immediately noticed you got your dad’s blue eyes, which I was so thankful for! And then that cry of yours, you coughed then cried, I’ll never forget it.”

My childhood best friend (who met me in first grade): “Your cool Gap overalls. I had the same pair. If that doesn’t make a best friend, what does? Luckily we’ve bonded over more than a shared love of overalls these past years.”