hail to March and a few iPhone outfit photos

 Top: Bobeau cardigan, Nordstrom Rack; top and necklace, Forever 21

Middle: Old Navy floral top, Savers; Banana Republic gray cardigan, from Mom;

 lucite necklace, eBay

Bottom: Pleione lobster print tee and Carole agate necklace, Nordstrom Rack clearance; 

Gap Factory yellow cardigan

      
       I guess you're getting old when you find yourself commenting often, "Wow, I can't believe it's already 2014/February/March/almost April!"  But here we go ... I can't believe it's almost April.
      But before we welcome April, let's talk about March, which is a big month for my husband and I! The 18th is what I call our "meet-a-versary" -- the anniversary of our first date. The funny thing is, we went to this Thai restaurant for dinner, and we haven't been able to eat there since! Whenever we're in the area and pop in, it's inevitably closed. If I was a bigger romantic, I'd imagine that it was open just for that one special night ...
     March 30th makes one year since we got married, too. Sometimes I'm surprised that it's already been a year, and other times I'm surprised that it's only been a year. (Does that make sense ...?)
      Outfit talk: I think the middle outfit is my favorite, because before I might have shied away from pairing the necklace with a ruffled top. I really like how the necklace picks up the different hues in the top. In regards to the bottom outfit, I'm not usually drawn to nautical  themes - I have no interest in anchor-emblazoned anything - but I found the lobsters strangely whimsical. I'm already looking forward to pairing this top with my navy polka-dot skirt! 

my riff on the lady tie

Merona buttondown, hand-me-down

skirt, Target

necklace, eBay

silk tie, from Banana Republic top

      Thursday was school colors day (red, white and blue). I grabbed the silk tie to lengthen the necklace, and initially had the bow tucked in the back. Then I decided that the bow was too pretty to hide. I wish it was white instead of celadon to pick up the dots in the skirt, but I do like the overall effect. It's my take on the lady ties that Gracey of Fashion for Giants rocks with such flair. It's a novel way to lengthen a necklace, and the silk drapes so beautifully. I'm thinking about sewing my own silk necklace extenders by repurposing some thrifted ties - it could really pep up an outfit with a little color and pattern.
       I like the idea of this navy buttondown, but for some reason it's difficult to tuck. It could be because it's a size too big, but I've noticed that it always puffs up and looks terrible.  I tossed it on my donations pile, and hope I have the willpower to restrain myself from snatching it back up.

      The first two days of break were pretty glorious. Admittedly, I didn't do any grading or lesson planning, but I did:

• make apple oatmeal for breakfast. It was lovely to not have to wolf down my breakfast in 10 minutes, the way I usually do on a workday.
•  play around with Mod Podge for the first time. (It kind of smells, and wow, you really have to be careful where you stick your paper, because it will be there forever, crooked edge, air bubbles, and all. I just don't think I'm cut out for decoupage, but it was fun to try.)
• start "Women Who Run with the Wolves" by Estes
•  take a long nap
• make it to 6 a.m. aikido class, which is one of the things I miss about my full-time-grad-student schedule
• run a few long-overdue errands

    It doesn't sound like much, but they were nice quiet nonproductive days at home. Sometimes it's restorative to do nothing, right? ;)

February Freeze, vol. 2: stalking pays off

     I love silk, especially silk with colorful pretty prints, but I love a bargain more.

  Trina Turk top (Nordstrom Rack)

      Red cardigan (JJ Basics, previously loved)

      Amrita Singh "Marion" earrings (HauteLook)

      6-strand red lucite bead necklace (eBay)

      Tweed jacket, FCUK for Sears (gifted)

Cheesy dating/flirting books (gifted - thanks, Sis!)

     Therefore, I stalked this shirt at Nordstrom Rack, waiting patiently for the price to drop and keeping my fingers crossed that no one would snap it up in my size. At last, the price tag sprouted a 65% off sticker, and I ended up paying a grand total of $17.
     (Cue upbeat romantic music, as Carrie and her silk shirt dance out of the store).
     One of my favorite kinds of love stories. :)

     I love silk, but at the same time I don't wear my silk shirts enough. I think they're a little too fancy, but then it's heartbreaking that they just hang in the closet while the T-shirts get to have all the fun.
     From the topic of stalking, it's a short hop to thoughts of Valentine's Day (or is that just me?) -- which is what inspired me to add a red cardigan for some pink and red fun.