February Freeze, vol. 3: girly in green

     Green is a color I always avoided. That is, until the Mr. introduced me to this color. He dragged me to Abercrombie & Fitch or Hollister -- I have trouble telling them apart, as they both reek of cologne/perfume and require me to elbow aside the 8- and 12-year-olds also shopping  in the sale section. He picked out a long-sleeve henley top in a sprightly shade of green. The henley eventually developed a hole (proving my point that their stuff is massively overpriced and poor quality), but my affection for this color continues.

     This dress is previously loved by my cousin K, but it's been hanging in my closet for the past few years. I took my cue for accessories from the gold buttons at the waist and decided to go with girly. I found the deer charm jumbled up with some jewelry I had as a kid.
     I would normally pair this dress up with a neutral blazer/cardigan, but I decided to throw in some colors. The cardigan's print always reminds me of exuberant crayon scribbles.

Banana Republic dress, previously loved by K

Joseph A. cardigan (Macy's)

gold and "fancy stone" earrings, India

gold deer charm, old

        I tried to find a way to make this outfit suitable for Try-it-out Tuesday, but I didn't think I did anything new with this outfit. So come back later this week for a belated Try-it-out Tuesday post!

Banana Republic dress, previously loved by K

Joseph A. cardigan (Macy's)

gold and "fancy stone" earrings, India

gold deer charm, old

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.

    

    

the Good Ship Stripey

   The navy blue, stripes, and vaguely flag-shaped enamel pendants made me feel just a bit nautical in this outfit.

     I've been wearing this necklace with pretty simple outfits, just because I think the turquoise, mustard and purple are pretty on their own. However, I'm going to eventually challenge myself to mix it with something other than a neutral to see whether I like the look.

Try-it-out Tuesday: stripes + boots + tights

    Forever 21 was offering free shipping last week, so I caved in and bought the striped skirt I had been eyeing all throughout my shopping ban, a pair of black tights, and a navy and green colorblocked belt. It amuses me that the tights cost just a bit more than the skirt.

F21 bodycon skirt with foldover waist, $6.50

    I got this skirt in a large, hoping that would make it less clingy in the back. However, while the waist is a little big, it's still much too snug in the rear for work. I will need to wear  a flowy, longer top or a longer jacket/cardigan to make it work-appropriate.
   I tried the tights on with my new boots, in the hopes that the all-black look might neutralize the boots' stump-ifying powers. Wishful thinking, anyone?

F21 textured striped tights, $6.80

     I'm excited about owning my first pair of tights! It will allow me to wear dresses and skirts to class and not freeze to death.

a happy ending

        Today was my big presentation for storytelling class. My topic was Hans Christian Andersen. He wrote "The Princess and the Pea," "The Little Mermaid," "The Ugly Duckling", "The Snow Queen" and many other stories. While many of us are familiar with the basic outlines of his stories, it's surprising to read them in their original form! The language is beautiful, and his imagery is almost cinematic.
         It wasn't mandatory to dress up for the presentations, but most of us did in some way or another. Andersen often made paper cuttings while he told stories, so I thought this dress would be perfect. The print is reminiscent of his paper cuttings (a very elaborate creation of his is shown below).
    

       Looking at this photo makes me realize that these tights are definitely the wrong length for me.  I suspect they're supposed to be capri length on someone of average height. They were a necessity, however, for surviving the air-conditioning. I'll be looking for an affordable, longer pair sometime.
      It's a big relief to be done with my presentation! All I have left is an informal reflection that's due Sunday. I'm really happy to be done with my first full-time semester. It was intense and rigorous at times, but I'm glad that I did well and stayed focused. For next semester I'd like to think about having some kind of schedule to keep myself on track with readings and a way to organize my papers better.

Goodbye, ponytail! I'm excited about getting my hair cut tomorrow.

     For my next post, I'll be reviewing two pairs of boots. I'll be keeping one pair as a birthday present to myself, so I'll be trying both pairs on with different outfits to help me make a decision. I hope you can come back and help me decide! :)

Try-it-out Thursday: it's not easy being green (and red)

     I decided to continue my exploration of color, and since the holidays are coming up, I just had to take on red and green. I thought mint would be a fresh alternative to the forest green usually associated with Christmas.

          Can you tell I'm still giving this red cardi a lot of love? :)
          Today I met the group of first-graders I'll be working with for the next 5 weeks, and they're kind of adorable. :) Our Green Thumb Club will be growing lettuce and beans, and learning science along the way. I'll admit I've never grown anything from seed before, but I've got my fingers crossed that this will work out. :O (The kids actually applauded when I announced at the start of the class that we were going to grow plants).
         Next week I'm hoping that we can start our bean plants, so I'm trying to sprout some beans in a zip bag. I put the zip bag on a windowsill that gets some sun, and I can't help checking them multiple times a day. I know that's such a kid thing to do, but I'm excited about seeing that first itty-bitty sprout!
        An excerpt from today:
        Me: What plant can we see outside our classroom? (a large tree)
        First-grader: A pumpkin!
       Happy Thursday!

double florals & next time, I'll just stand

    Next week's rule-breaking challenge over at Clothed Much is double florals. I pondered my options quite a bit before settling on this combination. I don't own many florals, and what I do own is more on the abstract side.

   I tweaked something on my camera settings, and while I like the effect, it's not very good for showing the outfit's actual details (see second photo). I didn't have time to figure out how to untweak the settings, so here I am using the unsophisticated stretch-your-arm-out photographic method.
   Speaking of unsophisticated, I was such a klutzoid when I met my adviser to plan my spring class schedule.  First, I accidentally banged the metal chair into the metal desk, which made a sound so loud that people on the fifth floor probably heard it. Then at the end of the meeting, I put the chair back very awkwardly as I juggled my notebook and backpack. I felt like I was doing a comedy routine, except that implies planning and an intention to entertain. Me? I was just trying to deal with a chair. Oh well. At least I looked good.

         The Mr. does not understand this sweater -- he thinks it looks weird. My cousin, however, complimented me on it. Given that my cousin has possessed distinct opinions and preferences regarding her clothing since the age of 3, I'm more inclined to trust her opinion.
     What item of clothing do you love that baffles the men in your life?

Try-it-out Tuesday: Pinterest-inspired

     During the summer, Pinterest and I were likethis. I was enthralled with the possibilities - no more ripping things out of magazines and losing them or having no neat way to collect them! Everything in one place! I can write little captions to remind me of why I ripped it out in the first place!
     I pinned recipes, possible DIY projects, 2 million cupcake recipes ... anything that caught my eye. And then to balance out the cupcakes I dutifully started a board for other foods (i.e. breakfast, lunch, dinner).
     Alas, Pinterest and I have cooled down to a long-distance relationship. I stop by once a week, and only for a minute or two at that. We're still fond of each other but it's not the same. This blog has become my new time-suck project, and Pinterest knows it.

Source: weardrobe.com via Carrie on Pinterest

     I seem to excel at pinning outfits that prominently feature things I DON'T own (i.e. colorful things). But I've seen so many bloggers wearing cool outfits inspired by pins that I decided to browse my board one more time for Try-it-out Tuesday. And the one shown above looked perfect.

     According to the tag, the dress print is "Fresh Zebra." Looks like I was on an animal-print kick when I was shopping a few months ago.
     Things I like about this dress: the fuller skirt, the colors, and that it's lined.
     Things I wish I had noticed before: the dreaded chest-button gap. Very odd, as I'm not busty and the dress fits well everywhere else. Now I know to try a size up in this brand.
     Luckily, I'm not teaching this year, so I don't need to go into my "power stance" (hands on the hips) on a daily basis and risk giving someone an accidental eyeful. I first heard of the power stance from a teacher in my education program. He said he used it regularly when teaching middle school and that it was helpful for projecting physical presence when you're on the short side. When I first saw the power stance, I thought, "Nah, I can't see myself doing that." Fast-forward a year or two to my stint as a classroom teacher and I found myself using it ... everyday.

Fossil "Mystic" necklace

      I played around with buttoning the top button and adding a necklace, but it seemed like a little too much.
       Happy Tuesday!

Try-it-out Tuesday: the versatility of red

    Way back when (OK, maybe a year or so ago), I thought black or brown were the best colors for things like shoes, jackets, or anything you would end up wearing often. I figured it matched everything and no one would notice how often you wore it. Color was pretty, but seemed impractical.
     This cardigan has changed my mind.

JJ Basics cardi, AE camisole.

    While I've paired this camisole with stripes before, I like how pairing it with red makes the bright colors in the camisole's floral print pop. (Florals might need to be added to the list of surprisingly practical items too!)

Forever 21 flower ring

    For a dash of whimsy I added my flower ring (a garden can never have too many flowers, right?) I also put on faux-pearl studs from Forever 21 and a classic pearl pendant.

Pearl necklace (previously worn by mom)

      Happy Tuesday! What's something you once thought was impractical, but now can't live without?

blue & yellow

    I was very excited to find a new way to wear both this cardi and necklace (see necklace in full here). 

Leopard cardi and necklace, Macy's; gray camisole, Forever 21

     Tucking in the necklace puts the focus on the blue and how well it plays off the yellow. Here's hoping that the necklace stays tucked! I'm headed off to class now, so we'll see how well it stays in place.
     

Try-it-out Tuesday: mixing brights

    The original plan was to participate in the red and pink fun happening in honor of Rule Breaking Mondays at Clothed Much. Alas, a quick scan of the closet told me that it wasn't going to happen. I hardly own anything pink, for starters.
    Plan B: figure out how to wear a scarf and play with some bright colors.
    The biggest problem with wearing a scarf was how to pull it off without looking irredeemably foolish, as the temperatures are well into the 80s right now. I decided a light chiffon scarf would be a good way to introduce scarves into my wardrobe.

   I wore this outfit to class, where I usually wear two jackets at a time to deal with the frigid, bottom-of-the-library-so-it's-on-full-blast AC.  I figured the scarf would be functional in this environment. I stowed the cardi and scarf in my bag during my walk to class so I didn't have to worry about heatstroke. (Yay for tropical-weather-friendly layering!)

You've got mail!

    I love the look of pins on a coat, cardi or jacket, but I never do it. For a smidgen of cute I added my Moomin pin at the last minute. (I'm not sure what a Moomin is, but I do know they have a TV show, star in books, and for a brief time had their own store here).

    Note to self: remember to comb your hair before shooting photos ...   :O

viva la arm party!

     Signs that you probably watch too much "South Park": when your Traditional Literature and Oral Narration class reminds you of a specific episode. The teacher shared with us a snippet of Robert Bly's "Sibling Society," which posits that society has moved from a parent-in-charge view to the child-makes-her-own-decisions mindset. And then the teacher even referred to "dog whisperer" Cesar Millan! (The episode I'm thinking about is the one where Cartman's mom, fed up with his running the show, calls in Cesar Millan to help her take charge.) 

       For this outfit I wanted to play with shades of blue and also try out the arm party idea. I originally didn't include the two jade bracelets, but then I decided, the more the merrier.

      I'd be embarrassed to admit just how much time I spent admiring my arm party during class. I truly hope everyone else was too absorbed in the classwork to notice me. I can hope, right?

make your mark

     Just a quick post today -- papers and assignments keep piling up. Just when I'm sighing with relief about finishing one project, I've got two more needing urgent attention.
     While it's tropically toasty outside, it's frosty cold in the bowels of the library (where all my classes are held). Halfway into class I actually put on a second jacket because the cardigan wasn't warm enough.

     It's interesting that I haven't worn this cardigan more. However, I clearly remember the first time I wore it. It was the first day of my first year as a classroom teacher. It was also the first day I had taught in a classroom for a whole day. I was woefully unprepared, and that year ... it's hard to find enough words to describe that year. I felt overwhelmed, unappreciated, and incompetent. It was frustrating to try so hard and work so hard and still fail. That year taught me that failure is hard work. (A good thing to keep in mind with those students seen as unreachable or uncaring).
    I finished that first year emotionally exhausted. Despite some trepidation, I devoted much of the summer to reflecting on what I wanted my next classroom to look like. I took copious notes on the procedures and routines that happen everyday --  things that may sound trivial, such as how students should move from their desks to the floor for story time. I was scared, but determined. I jokingly call msyelf an expert on how not to run a classroom, and I used my expertise to figure out a different way.
     That second year in the classroom was AMAZING. Yes, I had my share of kinks to work out and failures. I still have so much to learn about building a safe, positive classroom for all learners, about differentiating lessons so everyone can learn, and thousands of other things. But the improvements I saw were undeniable. I believed that all that attention to detail made the students feel safe and that I was looking out for them. This allowed both me and the students to focus on learning and teaching and building relationships.
     It was hard to choose to leave the classroom to focus on attaining my library sciences degree. I wondered whether I was cutting myself off from more deep learning. I had never wanted to be a classroom teacher, but the second year showed me why so many teachers return, year after year. But being an elementary school librarian is my dream job, and it was time to commit and go full-time.
    And you thought this was just a quickie outfit post ...

   Do you have clothing/accessories/jewelry that evokes memories or stories? I'd love to hear your story, either as a comment or as a post on your own blog!

outfit tweak: adding purple and sparkle

I wore this outfit last week, except I put a gray T underneath.

I know I need some new poses, but this isn't it. While I liked last week's outfit, I thought it would be fun to add some unexpected color. Enter these really cute Bandolino flats, which I love but haven't worn much.

The color purple completely baffles my camera, so I've done some heavy-handed tweaking via Picnik to better represent the color. I thought the yellow and purple would play well together. And then, I found my favorite long necklace, so I decided to throw that into the mix as well. (Rumors of me being supremely organized are untrue. For months I've believed this necklace to be lost, only to find it hanging off the knob on the back of my bedroom door.)

I think this outfit tweak was a success, and I can't wait to wear it. It was also lots of fun ... can't you tell by my smile?