A Maxi & a Fedora on a Hot Summer's Day

Green maxi - Bourdeaux Los Angeles (TJ Maxx)
White Tank - The Limited
Fedora - Target

I was just about to begin my hair-washing routine today, when my husband suggested we go to lunch.  Ugh. 

Agreeing to go, I was faced with the dilemma of quickly having to go from really-not-feeling-it to being date-ready-on-a-triple-digit-temperature-summer-afternoon-while-having-a-bad-hair-day.   So, how does one do that?  Here was my solution...

First, throw on a cute summer dress or maxi, and anyone can go from zero to cute in a matter of minutes.

Then, add a fedora, and you can go from cute to cool in a matter of seconds.

Lastly, step outside into the Houston heat and humidity, nice and ready for your date, and you'll go from cool to hot-as-hell (literally) in less than a fraction of a second (again, literally).  Then, enjoy your lunch while recuperating from your dissolution into a liquid state of matter.

And that's how it's done.

Hope y'all are staying cool!  ;)

A Weekend of Pinks, Reds, & Greens

Friday's outfit

Saturday's outfit

Three members of my family graduated from high school this weekend!  Congratulations to my niece, Haley, and my nephews Devon and Eric!!!

To Haley's graduation, I wore a pink NY&Co dress that I found at TJ Maxx.  I have been vacillating for a long time as to whether I should return it or not because it came with a skinny matching belt that, when paired with the dress, created all kinds of wrong.  After trying several styles of my own belts with this dress, I was on the verge of tossing it back into its bag so that I could return it until my husband said that the dress looked fine without the belt.  (I don't know why, but he has a thing against belts....always wants to know why I have to belt everything....maybe it's just cuz he's a man...). 

Anyway, this time, he was actually right.  I paired the dress with a blue/teal/gold color-blocked shoe that I had passed up many times at Target because it wasn't really my style....
...But $8.98 is definitely my style, so I snatched those suckers up after I saw them on clearance!

Dressing for my nephews' graduation on Saturday presented itself with a whole new set of challenges.  First of all, it was ridiculously hot, and knowing that we would be standing outside in the heat, I knew that I would have to wear something that wouldn't cause me to wither away into a puddle because...
...melting in my clothes is not my idea of looking hot.  (pun intended)

My second obstacle was finding something to wear with the second pair of Zara sandal's that I got from the Fed-Ex guy last weekend.  I bought these shoes because I don't have a lot of red or fuschia in my closet.  Funny how the reality of that hit me when (surprise, surprise) I couldn't find anything red or fuscia in my closet!  (The dress that I wore in the link above matched perfectly with the shoes, but it was way too hot this weekend to wear that again.)

Again, I considered throwing the damn shoes back in their box and shipping them back to Zara in exchange for the blue/green ones that I could coordinate with more outfits (like this one!).  But rather than doing that, I decided to challenge myself to "match outside the box".  The seafoam green of this Loft ruffled top has nothing to do with the red/fuschia going on in the shoe, but I figured that separating them with the black Express skirt might just make it work.  I hiked the skirt up and belted it to add a little more, oh, should I say, flirtiness?  I liked the outfit at that point, but it was still missing something to draw at least one color from the shoe.  I decided to coordinate with accessories...again, a frustrating reality check!

I lucked up and found these hoop earrings with red dangly things that I haven't worn (or seen) in ages.  The bracelet is, like, the only red bracelet that I have (I think).  And the purse?  I had forgotten that I had it until I was rushing out of the door and realized that I couldn't take my big, black, everyday purse. 

So, in all, this Saturday outfit was a stretch for me, but I liked the way it turned out.

And now that all is said and done, I still find myself with another problem:

Now, I want need want need the blue/green Zara Basic Sandals!



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!

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!

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.)

Special Delivery

Pink Cardigan - Banana Republic
Scarf - from my mom
Top - Loft
Pants - Express
Shoes - Target

I'd like to deliver some advice... juuuuust for you:

Whenever you get dressed in a pair of pants that are too big and sag in the waist, don't use a large safety pin in the front in order to hold those pants up.

Why, you ask?

Cuz wearing pants that are saggy +

Constant fumbling with your, uh, lower abdomen area +

=

Not a good look in the "frontal-nether-regions"

Trust me...Not good at all.  I mean, every time I stood up, it was like I was...standing up.  And you can only try to make so many adjustments in front of a bunch of twelve-year olds before you start to look suspicious!

So, anyway, now that you've received my package, please do not return to sender, 'kay?

Cardi From Tiffany

Well, hello there!

Cardigan -Giveaway from Tiffany
Scarf - Target
Jeans - Express Zelda
Belt - Joe's Jeans
Rain Boots - Michael Kors MK City Rain Boot

Gosh, you probably don't remember me, but my name is Kish. 

I'm the owner (and abandoner) of this little ol' blog.

But, I'm back!  (I think...)

Really, I wanted to officially make a post about this adorable polka-dot cardi that I won in my homey-blogger-friend Tiffany's giveaway last summer.  (My favorite item from my loot was the necklace that I wore here.) 

This is my first time wearing this cardigan (it even has ruching and a ribbon/bow detail on the front), and it was the perfect piece to add a bit of fun to an otherwise dreary and wet day!

And so, this post is a shout-out to Tiffany!  Thanks for helping me to feel cute today! (I even tried to channel one of your poses in the first pic!)   ;)

Hope all of you are doing fashionably well!



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!

Leaving a Little to the Imagination



Navy/Grey Cardigan - Gap

Grey/White Gingham Button-down - Target

Red Tank - Loft

Green Cargos - Gap

Shoes - DSW

M'kay.  I know the pic is a little "off-looking", but there was a lot of extra, er, stuff going on in the background that just wasn't necessary to include on a blog. 

I know, in the past, that I've shared things about my life on here, but I'm not into airing my dirty laundry.

Literally.

Good night!  =)

Boo!

Thought you saw a ghost?

Tunic - Banana Republic
Skirt - Loft
Tights - Target
Shoes - DSW

It's just me stopping in to say Happy Halloween!

And since I teach reading/language arts, my "costume" today was "Little Reading Riding Hood".

Hopefully, this won't be the last you'll see of me this week....  ;)

Back to Basics

Top - The Limited (old)
Jeans - Gap
Shoes - Michael Kors (old)
Scarf - Target


Today, as I was leaving school, I thought to myself, "I miss my blog."  My one-week absence sure has felt a lot longer!  And I can't promise how much it will get better.  With losing one whole planning period this year, it is essentially impossible to get work done...at work. (Go figure.)

So, I'm dropping in to say, "Hello" to all of you.

And Good Night!  Miss y'all!

(By the way, we have another Jeans Week at school, so I went basic with a white tee and jeans.  Oh, and then there's one of my favorite pair of shoes to top (or bottom?) it all off!)

Hakuna Matata About Grading Papers

Dress - Thrifted via Goodwill
(w/Target Xhilaration label)
Belt - Thrifted via Goodwill
Shoes - Jessica Simpson (via Dillards)
Necklace - another goody from
Tiffany's summer giveaway
(and what is now my favorite piece of jewelry)
Clutch - Chinese Laundry, Thrifted via Goodwill

Handbag - Aldo (several years old)

So, I lied.

I didn't spend today slaving over a stack of ungraded papers as I stated that I would in last night's post.  (The successfully graded ones are in the foreground in the first pic....just so you know that I'm not a complete fibber.)

Instead, I went out on a double date.

And by "double", I mean that I had two dates.

Speaking of two's, I posted these pics just to show the two different handbag options that I had with this outfit.  The second was the one that I actually carried.  The first was the one that I wanted to carry, but with one of my dates being a four-year old, it just wasn't practical.


And so back to my double-date: 
We went to go and see The Lion King in 3D.  I mean, I can't tell you how long it has been since I've seen that movie, but it didn't really matter.  I still, literally, got chills and goose bumps during the opening scene (when all of the animals of the Serengeti are preparing for the presentation of the future king)... I cried when Mufasa was murdered (by his evil, lower-than-dirt brother, Scar)...I was able to recite many of the characters' lines...and I sang along to most of the soundtrack. (Yes, out loud...but not too loudly.  And, hey, I wasn't the only adult either!)  Sigh.  Anyway. 

Spending a beautiful Saturday...

watching one of the best movies ever...

with two handsome guys on my arms...

Screw grading papers!

Saturday Perfect

Fedora - Target
Racerback Tank - Target
Shorts - Loft
Shoes - Jessica Simpson, Dillards
Handbag - Thrifted from Goodwill

I found this bag yesterday during a brief stop at Goodwill.  I walked passed it and then immediately turned around to get a closer look.

I wasn't sure about it at first....kind of big for me, but could be great for a weekend....weird design that's seventies/carpet-bagger-ish, but I do love navy blue and the design was different.  So then I looked at the price tag.

Four bucks? 

OK. It's mine.

After purchasing it and investigating for the maker of the bag, I finally found a label on the inside reading "Estee Lauder"....so I figured that this probably wasn't a purse after all, but more so a gift-with-purchase bag from the makeup counter. 

But that's okay. 

Cuz today, it was the perfect accessory for a perfect Saturday hanging with my perfect men.

My First Open House

(sigh) Don't ask me what that kid in the background was doing.
I can tell you what he was NOT doing, though:
 getting dressed for his first Open House!
Dress - Ross (old)
Belt - ?
Shoes - Target
Purse that I stalked for several months
until it was marked down from $400 to $100 - Gaetano Navarra, TJ Maxx

This year, as a teacher, I will be participating in my sixth Open House/Meet the Teacher event.

Yet, today, as a mother, I participated in my first Open House/Meet the Teacher event.

Luckily,

There was no crying.

No worries about not making friends or not liking the teacher.

No balling up in a corner in fear of the new surroundings.

Nope.  None of that.  Just a brave face and readiness for a new start.

Oh, and P did really well, too.  ;)

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.

A Soberly Striped Saturday of Skee-ball

Liked that l'il tongue twisty?

Tee - Gap
Dress - Target

 

Soo... I think I cleaned up pretty well today.

Considering that last night's game night at our friend's/neighbor's house turned into:

(1) a concoction of alcohols,

(2) prank calls to each other (see #1), and

(3) an early morning bedtime (a 3:48 early morning bedtime, to be exact).

And I had a 7 a.m. hair appointment today.

Fortunately, the "beverages" had worn off by the time we did get home, and two hours later, I was up and, at 6 a.m, out of the house.  I was very awake and alert, but my tummy didn't know what hit it (was it the Orange Petrone? Nouveau ((was that what it was called??)) or that third drink that I definitely can't remember the name of?)!!

Anyway, other than an unsettled tummy (I'm not much of a drinker...yet still downed three different drinks!  Makes sense, huh?), I made it to my appointment on time, stopped at my mom's for a visit, and made it home by noon.  After a two-and-a-half hour power nap, I cleaned myself up and wore this outfit to spend an afternoon with my little tootie.

With P and his mommy playing Skee-ball...it was Chuck E. Cheese's that didn't know what hit it!

(By the way, I was well aware of the peek-a-boo stripes that could be seen through the tee, but I was too lazy and it was too hot to consider adding another layer. So, peek-a-boo it was.)

Bon week-end!

MOMents

Hello Weekend!

Old shirt from Marshall's,
Loft Shorts, Target belt,
Havaianas from Gap

I was left to my own devices yesterday to take pics, so this is what you get...a little peek into that place where you know what happens!  (That would be sleeping, by the way.  And obviously watching t.v.)

This is what I normally look like when just running errands to the Bank/Target/TJMaxx/Ross/Grocery Store that are all conveniently located within a five mile radius from our neighborhood.  Nothing special on this menu.  Just a t-shirt, bottoms (which usually aren't short-shorts cuz these tree trunks might scare some folks), and a good ol' pair of Havaianas.

Now, if I had to go six miles away from home, then maybe I would dress up.

Anyway, I spent the day in the hot-as-Hades sunshine with This Guy:

This Guy, who wanted to take the pictures for me...but only while he was doing his Power Rangers Ninja moves.  ("Umm...thanks, but that's okay, Preston.")

This Guy, who after his PK4 assessment this week was introduced to scissors, so I bought him a pair of kid-friendly ones to practice cutting with.  And now, when I ask him to go outside to ride his bike, he tells me he's busy b/c he has "paperworks" to do (read: cutting up paper).  Oh, and he's also asked me several times to cut the cat's whiskers. 

This Guy, who, while laying in bed and watching t.v. with me two days ago, discovered a new, um, "feature" of his...you know...and, out of genuine curiosity, asked me, "Mom, where did this come from?  It's tall!"  (Trust me, although I was trying not to laugh, I was totally taken aback, too!)

For you moms out there, do you remember when you first got pregnant, THE go-to text that everyone would tell you about was "What to Expect When Expecting"??? 

Yeah, I looked through it, but didn't refer to it as much as I thought I would. 

But I'm wondering now if they ever come out with a version that covers What to Expect From the Unexpected? 

Cuz I may need that one.

Have a Happy and Safe 4th Everyone!

Lace Me Up, Baby

Fedora - Target
Dress - INC, Macy's (c. 2006)
Shoes - Guess, Ross (2011)

Yesterday's post was about laces.
Today's post is about lace.

Wow! What consistency she has!

So, anyway.  Where am I going in this outfit?

Everywear.

And for whom am I wearing this outfit?

Everybody.

Everybody, Everywear, that is!


Today's feature is lace.  I've worn this dress before here, so I tried to do something differently for this post.  I tried it as a tunic with jeggings and a "blouse" with shorts.  Sadly, neither of them were likable...so this is what you get! 

It's hard to tell, but I "fluffed" this dress over the belt quite significantly in order to create the "mini effect".  It's also difficult to tell that the entire dress is made of lace over a knit-ish-type of "underdress" (that's how I describe it), and it hits about mid-knee.  I was attempting to make it look more like day-wear, which is something that I would not associate with this dress at all.  I was glad to be able to participate today because, sadly, I really don't own anything else with lace.

Wait.  I do own some lace underwear...

(just kidding...I wouldn't scar(e) you guys like that!)

Have a great day and be sure to check out the other stylish ladies at Everybody, Everywear!