Truths

Blouse - Express
Sexy Boot Jeans- Gap
Wedges - Michael Kors (Macy's)

So, I've come to the realization that my mirror must lie to me every morning.

My mirror will say to me:
"Ooh, yeah, these "sexy boot" jeans will make your legs look really lean."

But then the pictures say:
"Guurl, what's not sexy are those baggy knees."

The mirror will say:
"Ooh, yeah, these wedges with the jeans will make your legs look reeeaaally loooong....".

But the pictures say:
"Guurl, those shoes don't fool me.  You just look like a short person...with baggy knees...walking on blocks."

And the mirror will also say to me:
"Ooh, yeah, I like how the loose, untucked blouse has a cool vibe."

But the pictures say:
"Guurl, tuck that shirt in.  You want to add extra pounds to your waistline?!!"

Okay, so now that I am enlightened,
I think it's time for a new mirror.

And camera.

Have a Coke & a Smile

Cardigan - Talbots
Scarf - Ross
White Tee - Loft
Jeans - Express
Sandals - Ralph Lauren (Dillards)

Whaaat a looonngg daaayyy!

Today was Day 2 of our state standardized assessment, and I firmly believe that our district needs to amend our calendar to allow for half-day schedules.  After four hours of testing each day, the kids teachers are done for!  Imagine doing nothing for four hours straight but watching kids take a test!

I mean, I promise, yesterday morning (during the first test) when I looked at my watch and it read 9:24 a.m., I thought to myself,

"Ohmygosh! That's it?!?  I'm not going to make it through these next few hours!" 

(By the way, we started the test at 9:00 a.m........)

I've pretty much eliminated my intake of sodas over the past few months, but today, however, I was able to make it past 9:24 am. thanks to a good ol' 12oz can of Coke.

On a final note, for the first time in my educational career, I cussed.

A couple of days ago, I was explaining to one class about the play that they were going to be doing.  Actually, the term that I kept using was skit.

Except for that one slip of the tongue...

Seriously, it was like an out-of-body experience, but I can honestly say that after that moment, my students were seriously engaged with the lesson.  Go figure.



Details Possibly Unnoticed by My Old Camera:
Green & Black Striped Maxi - Target
Flyaway Mesh Cardigan - Express
Black & Gold Grommet Belt - Target
Zebra Striped Earrings - Target
Purse - swapped with a friend

Happy Saturday!

This dress was a "love at first sight" item, although it took me a couple of stores to track down my size. 
The best thing about this dress is that it is striped!
The worst thing about this dress is that the material is so slinky/heavy, it literally hangs off of me.  For example, what you don't see is the large safety pin tightening the racerback straps so that my chest isn't completely exposed.  And the belt, along with some strategic tucking, is a necessity, otherwise I would be wading in a pool of striped material.

After attempting to wear this dress a couple of times before here and here, I've realized that a skinny, non-contrasting belt is definitely better than a wide or contrasting belt when you combine wide stripes on a person with a short waist.  Hmmm...I think this teacher just taught herself something new.  ;)

Anyway, after a rainy day yesterday, the weather is a little cool, so this thin cardi comes in handy.  It actually used to be some kind of wrap around thing, but I cut off the belt part so now I have a flyaway cardi!

Next week I'll be taking a trip to Chicago for a Reading Convention...so exciting!  By the way, if anyone lives in Chicago, or close to it, would you mind sharing what the weather is like right now...or give some tips on how to dress?  Since the week is usually really busy, I'll be spending today out and about getting the necessities that one needs on a 3-day professional trip.  You know: new shoes, clothes, accessories, purses....

....Just kidding (kind of).

Have a good weekend!

Collarbones

Cardigan - Gap
Striped Tank - Loft
Black Skirt - Loft
Shoes - Payless
Belt - from another outfit

Weird question:

Do you like your collarbones?

I've always liked mine for some reason.  So much so that I will forgo wearing a necklace because I think my collarbones are a good enough accessory. 

But when I look at pics, like the ones above, I can see adding pretty, blue, bejeweled baubles around my neck.  So then I think, "Maybe I should have worn a necklace?".  I don't know...

I did, however, add a second pic today just to show off the little "jewel" in that one.  ;)

Lesson Learned: Dated Shoes



 Dress - Loft
Cardigan - Loft
Green Belt - Express
Orange/Green Shoes - oldies

Hello!

The shoes that I'm wearing today haven't been worn in soooo many years.  Actually, these shoes are a little older than the sixth graders that I teach.  Which, I guess, is obvious because I actually had one student ask me,

"Mrs. C...how long have you had those shoes?"

Before I could even answer, I busted out laughing.  Huh.  I personally don't think that these shoes look that dated.  But, apparently, they look older than they are.  Wait.  I take that back.  Apparently, they look older than I am:

Me (responding to "inquisitive" student):  "Well...how long do you think I've had them?"

Inquisitive Student:  "I don't know...since, like, 1970."



Gotta love the kids.

Wearing the White Blazer

Blazer - Forever 21
Double-Layered Tank - Banana Republic Factory
Cobalt Blue Pants - Express
Hot Pink Shoes - Calvin Klein (DSW)

When I shop at Forever 21, I try to be careful with my purchases because it's very easy to lose one's mind (and money) in such a trendy store with ridiculously cheap prices (and quality to match sometimes, but that's another story).

But when I saw this blazer last October or November, I fell so in love with the tucking details in the shoulder and the tuxedo style of the lapels that there was no question that I had to have it.  I have to admit, though, that I was a little nervous about it.  Even while standing in line, I vacillated between making a purchase that would possibly be sentenced to a life of hanging, unworn, in my closet because I wouldn't really know who to wear or style it OR saving myself the money and trouble from another non-refundable F21 piece.  (Yeah, I could always exchange within 14 days, but that, for me, just creates more rigmarole.  Am I the only one who feels this way??)

Well, I obviously made the purchase, but I also cursed the hell out of F21's return/exchange policy well after the 14 day sanction.  I was so scared to wear this blazer!  I was scared of not styling it well enough...I was scared of it wearing me... I was scared that it was "too much" to wear to work...And, of course, I was scared of getting dirty.   

Anyway, I finally realized that I was just putting way too much thought into "wearing the white blazer" and should just wear the d**n thing. 

So today, I did.

And the funny thing (at least to me) is that I was so caught up in finally wearing the white blazer this morning, that I totally forgot about trying to complete my look with some extra accessories.

Huh. Maybe next time.

Turquoise-ish Blouse - Banana Republic Factory
Navy Cardigan - Loft
Red/Blue Skirt - Gap
Hard-to-see Turquoise/Navy Snakeprint Belt - Express
Shoes - Target

Hello, there!

Shockingly, I don't really have much to say today.

Except...

...don't you hate it when errant items, like flip flops and Spider Man tennis shoes, end up being in the background of your pictures, and you don't realize it until after you've published your post?

And, don't you hate it when you take a bunch of pictures only to find that none of them are really that decent of quality?

I have obviously taken note of both these details prior to publishing this post, however, this was the best pic of the batch.  My camera, I tell you, seems to believe in taking good pics only when there is natural light present... 

...As if my natural radiance is not enough.  (Ha!  Just kidding!)

Anyway, as one of my students always says to me...

Happy Friday Eve!

Sweater - Gap
Button Down - Express
Khakis - Gap
Shoes - Steve Madden (DSW)
Owl Pendant - Hobby Lobby

What have you learned about yourself since you've started blogging?

In looking at my posts for the past couple of weeks, I've learned that I wear:

1.  A variety of shades of blue

2.  A lot of stripes

3.  Hoop earrings with just about every outfit...even though I have a lot of earrings to choose from, hoops have been my "staple" since the 7th grade.

It's all good, though.  Hopefully, it ain't broke, cuz I sure don't want to fix it.

Happy Wednesday!

Red Ruffles & Rawwrr!

I'm a sucker.  Are you?

RED RUFFLES:

Jacket - Cynthia Rowley (TJ Maxx)
Striped Tank - TJ Maxx
Jeans - Gap
"Cut-off" Shoes - Mia (DSW)
Bracelet - Loft

About a month ago, I was successfully leaving TJ Maxx empty-handed when I "ran into" this jacket and instantly fell in love.  I love the color, and the three ruffles were the icing on the cake.  The only bad thing is that it doesn't have pockets.  Oh, well...for $29.99, I couldn't pass it up!

RAWWRR!:

And so, today, I had professional development off-campus (which was why I was clad in jeans).  During my lunch break, I went into Famous Footwear while I waited for my to-go order from the restaurant next door.  I usually never purchase anything from Famous Footwear...in fact, I've never purchased anything from there, so, again, I was successfully about to leave empty-handed when my eye caught this pair of shoes on the back wall.  I wouldn't say that they are totally my style, but...when I saw that the price was marked down from $175 (vs the regular price of $139 that I found on the web elsewhere) to $24.99...I was pretty much sold.  What's even better was the extra discount that I received at the register, bringing my total to $21 and some change!

Maybe being a sucker for some things isn't so bad after all.  ;)

Easter Egg Pink

Dress- Forever 21
Earrings - Forever 21
Sandals - Ralph Lauren (Dillards)

So, I know today was not Halloween, but for an afternoon visit /Easter egg hunt at my mom's, I wanted to go for a kind of "Grecian Goddess-Mom" look. 

After a frustrating hour (or two) of trying to style a maxi dress a thousand ways, I threw on this bubble gum pink dress with neon yellow earrings (that were supposed to go with the maxi).

So, disappointingly, no Grecian Goddess-Mom here.

Instead... I was an Easter egg!  ;)

Hope you all had a great day!

A Good Friday

Hat - Target
Linen Shirt - Calvin Klein (TJ Maxx)
Tank - Gap
Shorts - Forever 21
Flops - Havainas (Gap)
Handbag - Linea Pelle for Target

 

Spring has sprung.

Time for some fun...

A picnic at the park

With my two hons!

Happy Good Friday

&

Happy (Early) Easter!

The One That Got Away

Ruffled Tank - Cynthia Rowley (TJ Maxx)
Cardigan - Gap
Pants - Loft
Shoes - Nine West
Necklaces - Target
Earrings - F21
Bad Hair Day courtesy of moi

Whenever students ask me, "Mrs. C...what do you want me to get you for Christmas?", I always say:

"A pair of Christian Louboutins."  Of course, they look at me as though I've said something in an alien language. 

Anyway, the most money I've ever spent on a pair of shoes was about $120 (and they were actually boots).  But what I reallyreallyreallyreallyreally want is a pair of Louboutins. 

So....

A teacher across the hall mentioned to me a few weeks ago that her daughter has a pair of cobalt blue suede Louboutins that she would like to get rid of (I won't divulge the reason why).  I immediatley lit up and said that I would be more than happy to take them off of her hands...("Ask the size and price first, Kish"..."Ask the size and price first..."). 

And so, without any further conversation, today, she brought them for me and said that her daughter would sell them for a hundred bucks.  A hundred bucks.  For Christian Louboutin shoes. In great condition.

Of course, they were beautiful.

And, of course, they were a size 6.5, and...

...of course, I wear a 7.5.

In my mind, I was already living the dream of Cinderella and rockin' a crazy, hot pair of shoes.  But when I went to put my foot in one shoe, I became one of Cinderella's horrid stepsisters. To my chagrin, though, I was actually able to squeeze fit my feet all the way into the shoes. And as quickly as I was falling in love, I was also losing circulation in my toes. 

And so, after a very difficult and heated argument between me, myself, and my other self about whether or not I should buy a pair of Louboutins for a hundred bucks that I'll never be able to walk in...I walked away without them.


Now, I'll just have to hold onto my dreams...or hope that one day, one of my classes will collect money and take pity on their hard-working teacher....


(Speaking of students and school...Thanks to those of you who responded to yesterday's post.  Your comments are sincerely and greatly appreciated.)

Public Servant Announcement



Jacket - Gap
Dress - Forever 21
Belt - Thrifted
Shoes - Jessica Simpson (Dillards)



Do you like hats?

I wear a hat everyday...even when I'm not wearing a hat...

Moderator...

...Referee...

...Guardian...

...Mentor...

...Psychologist...

...Therapist...

...Babysitter...

...Tour Guide...

...Confidante...

...Disciplinarian...

...Manager...

...Moderator...

...Soothsayer...

...Analyst...

...Public Servant...

TEACHER.

Sigh. Today was one of those days.

If you are a teacher...you know what I mean.

And if you are a parent of a school-aged child (particularly upper-grade level age)...please consider all of the things that a teacher has to go through during an 8-plus hour day.  And please ensure that you are doing your part at home (not saying that you aren't) to bridge the gap between home and school.  It's not just about teaching anymore.  The men and women who are entrusted to educate our children have a lot of hats to wear.

And if you don't understand this,

 please refer to the list above.