Ruffled

Blouse - Forever 21
Jeans - Gap
Shoes - Steve Madden Luxe (DSW)

A couple of years ago, I gutted my our closet to rid it of the standard builder's shelves and rods, and I personally (i.e. by myself!!) installed a modular closet system.

And let me just tell you... it was life-changing!

It made a HUGE difference because, not only was I able to multiply the space across the length of my our closet, but I was also able to make better use of over twelve inches of space vertically!  (I now have to use a step-stool to reach anything from the top shelf.)

Everything, for the most part, has a place.  For example, I keep my larger belts hanging on the back of the closet door and the smaller ones rolled in baskets placed in one section of the shelf system.  For my sashes and material belts, I do, however, store them in a large, wicker hat-basket (since I don't use them that often), but because the basket is too large for the shelves, I put it away in a special place.

Well, last night when I pulled this top out of the depths of my closet, the purple sash that came with it was not attached.  I naturally went to my hat-basket to retrieve it, but I couldn't find the basket anywhere!  When I say that I tore my closet up looking for that doggone basket of sashes...I had to tell my husband to take caution upon entering or else he was going to hurt himself!  Anyway, I went to bed without success, but I was determined (that may be an understatement) that I would find the basket and the purple sash in the morning.

So.... this morning, I began my search again.  I took fifteen precious "morning minutes" to look for that danged sash, yet it was to no avail.  I was really getting pissed off, and just as I was crossing the threshold of defeat, I gave an exasperated exhale with my hands on my hips and my eyes rolled up to the ceiling.

And there...at the top of the highest shelf of my life-changing closet modular system...there was the d**n wicker hat-basket containing the purple sash.

Seriously?

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.

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.

A Big Deal (Part 2 of 3)

Navy striped dress-disguised-as-a-tee - Forever 21
Emerald Green Silk Skirt - Talbots (TJ Maxx)
Shoes- Calvin Klein (DSW)
Belt - Goodwill
Necklace - Talbots

So...last week, I posted about this Talbots skirt that I coveted last summer and was fated to meet again a few weeks ago.  And I teased y'all with another great Talbots a la TJ Maxx find....

and here it is!

This green silk skirt was one that I also tried, twirled, and tempted myself with at the end of last summer.  Even when it was on sale, it was still too much for my debit card.

But Enter TJ Maxx Here.

And a price tag of $14.99.

And another great big deal for me!

(by the way, another great find for me was this striped mini dress from F21 for only $10!  I would have flashed a peek of the dress underneath my skirt, but I'm not like that...)

(...okay, actually, I am like that...I just really forgot to take the picture.)  ;)

Today's Lesson: Learn the Lingo



Top - NY&Co (Marshall's)
Skirt - Forever 21
Shoes - Nine West (Ross)
Earrings - Forever 21
Ring - Loft



 Apparently, I'm not as hip as I thought I was.

Today, with one of my classes, I was trying to be humorous (again, my downfall) and, while doing my "homemade-JJ Evans- jive-turkey- swagger-walk" across the room, I made the statement (referring to the narrator of the story that we were reading) that,

"He wanted to have a l'il shorty by his side."

Unanimously, the crowd went wild.

Not because they appreciated my hip-ness.

But because I obivously had none.

I was promptly and emphatically corrected on my mispronunciation of the term "shawty". 

And what really surprised me was that almost every single student knew the "correct" way to pronounce this slang term (how could they know and I not know!?), and they were serious about correcting me.

So, what can I say?  This English-teacher-shawty stands corrected.

Doublue

Linen Button-down - Calvin Klein (TJ Maxx)
Pants - The Limited
Belt - Forever 21
Shoes - from some store years ago

 

Yes...I do know how to spell correctly. (I mean, I am an English teacher...geez! But I guess I should just stick to my day job and quit trying to be cute and funny.)

Anyway, the point of the title "Doublue" was to express my love for this linen, blue button-down!  I love it so much so that I had to wear it again...two days after the first time that I wore it.  (see Sunday's post)

Unless it's, like, a pair of jeans on the weekend, rarely do I wear the same piece twice in a very short time span...not even two weeks after, much less two days!

But this time...

I don't give a shi(r)t.



Comfy Cozy

Sweater - Gap
Scarf - Target
Pants - Gap
Black knee-high socks - Macy's
Brown Anlke Lace-up Booties- F21

For one of the coldest days of the season so far:

Comfy sweater.

Cozy scarf.

Cheap booties with warm, thick socks. ($6 summer deal from F21)

Bring on the "cold" weather, Houston...

...that is, until it changes back to summer-like temperatures.

(In actuality, I wore this on Thursday.  And sure enough, as of today, the temps have gone back up again.)

Have a great weekend!

Endings and Beginnings

Dress - New York & Co via Ross
Tie - M's (little) side of the closet
Shoes - Target (very cheap at $5.00...but blister-inducing!)

Sooo....I've mentioned before that my summer was quickly coming to an end. 
Well, it's not officially over, but.....it's officially over.  Here's why:

Last week, I taught an AP Bridging class for 7th and 8th graders...it was only for four days, but I was worn out after day one.  Hence, this is why you only get a picture of day one's outfit....I just couldn't muster the energy to take pics after that.  Isn't that sad?

Today, I got the keys to my classroom and arranged my room and my desk. (That's my workout for the rest of the yea! Just kidding...kind of...)

Tomorrow, I'll be helping out with the sixth grade registration. (Should I take a Tylenol now or later?)

Wednesday, is my anniversary.  And an all-day workshop. (Great timing....)

Thursday is my son's pre-K Open House...and also my school's Open House for sixth graders.  (Can we say "great timing" again?)

And then Friday will be P's first day of school ever!  I'm so excited about it!  I'm glad that it's my last day of summer 'cuz I'll get to experience it with him.  It will be my first time taking him to school! 

Aaaaaand it will probably be my last time, too.  Boooo! His school and mine are on two different schedules which will make it difficult for me to drop him off every morning and impossible for me to pick him up in the afternoon.  I've always imagined that I would be sitting in the carpool lane waiting for him, but I guess that will have to be daddy-son time.
 
On another note, while P will be starting school for the first time this coming Friday, my husband finished his two-year program for respiratory therapy this past Friday!  Yea for M!

There was a little celebration in his honor on Saturday.  Some of his family from Louisiana traveled here to celebrate, which made him extra happy. It was really a fun time. 

And I did manage to get a pic of what I wore (by the way...that is NOT armpit hair that you see....promise!):

Dress - Target
Tank - Gap
Belt - Forever 21
Sandals - Ralph Lauren, Dillards 

I've worn this dress before here (I hate how some of the stripes never stay fully horizontal!),  and, interestingly enough, it was to celebrate M's birthday!  Anyway, this time, I was able to put into practice my cool knotting skills:  the belt-knot which I acquired from Designgirl (Thanks, dear!) and my maxi-knot (which kept un-knotting if that's a real action word).  And, I practiced some new eye-makeup tricks of layering two different eyeliner shades (navy on top of black)...which you can't really tell, but I did! 

So, as my lazy days of summer continue winding down, there is one good thing to look forward to:

Fall Fashions!

But then again,  I probably won't really begin wearing anyway until, like, November, when there is any semblance of less-than-hot weather here.....

Sigh....Oh, well.

Stripes, Dots, and Plaid

This post is going to be short and sweet.  I haven't seen my little Tootie since Sunday, so I'm off to go and pick him up from my sister's. 

I did add a few extra photos, though, to kind of chronicle the, uh, patience that Coco, the "cat-dog" has while he's waiting for me to feed him the "good stuff":

He's waiting paitently.

Getting a little tired of waiting.



Now I think he's mocking me.



I think he may have called me
 a name as he walked out...

As far as the outfit goes, the tank and the skirt both are from Forever 21. The skirt is two sizes too big, so it's being held up by a sash that I took from a tunic.  It wasn't intentional, but I think this may be my first triple-pattern mix! 

Happy hump day!

The Fish, the Jaguar, and the Leopard

The Fish

  

To say that yesterday was simply "hot" would be an understatement.  I was lucky to get some pictures taken before I went out and melted, and in order to combat the heat, this was what I wore.  I found this "dress" at Ross on the clearance rack for $4.99.  On the hanger, it was so huge and shapeless that I wasn't sure what it was and passed it up.  But then it reminded me of this dress from I Take Photos in the Bathroom*, and although this Ross piece is not as lovely as Kate's Lilly Pulitzer dress, curiosity got the best of me and I brought it home.  I've had it for a couple of weeks and attempted to wear it a few times, but chickened out...I mean, I'm still not sure what it is...a beach cover-up?  a muu muu?  a really large, sized-small shirt?  But for five bucks, I'll just do what Tim Gunn always says on Project Runway:  "Make it work."  So, for the summer, I'll make it work as a little dress, and for the fall, maybe I'll wear it as a tunic over leggings.  And to add a bit more color interest to the blue, I finally decided to wear my yellow thong sandals from Gap...they're still being sold online, but I got them a couple of weeks ago for about $10.

Anyway, yesterday, I took P to visit his Grammy.  One of my brothers, one of my sisters, and each of their (older) sons stopped by to visit also.  My sister and my nephew brought their huge Retriever/Chow mix dog named Joey that is three times the size of P, but equally as playful.  We were all curious to see who would get tired first...P or the dog?
Poor Joey.

I actually wish we had a dog of our own.  But, as you can see from the first pic, we have a cat. Coco.  I really don't like cats, but Coco is special....he doesn't act like a normal cat.   He's actually kind of like a dog.  Truthfully, we call him our cat-dog.
Poor Coco.

The Jaguar
(sorry for the sucky picture)                 

Dress - Forever 21, Shoes - Ralph Lauren (TJ Maxx, '10)
Cuff Bracelet - my sister (but she got it from F21)
Bangle - The Limited
Jaguar Pendant - F21

After my battle with the excessive heat, I came home, showered, refreshed, and attempted to, ahem, transform  into a decent looking human being for a night out at the movies...Guess which movie we saw??

The Leopard

Tank - Forever 21, Jeans - Gap ('10)
Shoes - Steve Madden (TJ Maxx, '10)
Belt - Liz Claiborne (old)

Today, I went to my in-laws and filled up my belly with some great barbecue!
Although this really was the best picture out of the few that I took (trust me, I didn't choose it just so I could expose my freakish shoulder to you all...or my pink bra strap), it's kinda hard to see the little leopard print belt (with red buckle) that I threw in to add a little fun to my stripes and boyfriend blue jeans.


So, that's it!
3 (outfits) + 1 (post) = 4(th of July)

I hope everyone is having, or has had, a good one. 
Happy Independence Day!

*for some reason, the links that I embed aren't showing up on the published versions of my posts (is anyone else having this problem???), so for added reference, the link is http://itakephotosinthebathroom.blogspot.com/2011/06/love-letters.html