starting a collection

Soprano crochet-trim crop top, Nordstrom Rack

trouser jeans, Macys

Banana Republic cardigan, from Mom

necklace, Forever 21

     The crochet detail on this top is so pretty, but it doesn't stand out against denim. I'm looking forward to wearing this shirt with white jeans the next time so the trim really pops. 

     I wasn't sure whether I could make this top look professional enough for work, so I chose to wear it on a professional development day when the students were at home. I think adding a cardigan made it look a little less playful.  

     This week, my class will be getting wet and muddy on our field trip to a lo'i (taro patch). On Monday, I went over the guidelines. As a health precaution, students with cuts on their legs and feet will not be able to enter the lo'i. The pronouncement of this guideline led to everyone intently examining their feet and legs, and then questions such as - "If my cut is scabbed over, can I go in?" and even requests for me to examine said cuts. Ah, the glamorous life of a teacher ...

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! 

reconsidering: neutrals

edc top, from sis

Jolt pants, Macy's

Fossil key necklace, Nordstrom Rack

bubble necklace, InPink

belt, from dress

       This was an outfit that I've been eager to recreate since I first wore it for lunch over Christmas break. I'm not much for neutrals, normally, but I like the mix of charcoal gray, black and cognac. I wasn't sure about the cognac belt the first time around. However, I like that it's a lighter color, and I tried to tie it into the outfit with some bracelets.The sparkly little details - the beading on the top, the layered necklaces, the bracelets -- also add some texture and interest to what could be a very plain outfit.

     I'd been on the lookout for a pair of slim-fitting black pants for a while when I serendipitously found this pair in the junior's department. I had to size up to accommodate my massive thighs - a problem that Aya refers to as wushu legs. That means a belt is necessary, but they're cute and otherwise well-fitting.  Another candidate for the alterations pile that I likely won't tackle until the school year ends ...
     Random bits of goodness from the last week or so:

•    During my students' P.E. lesson, I jumped in and practiced kicking a soccer ball with my girls. I am the least athletic person around, but I have to admit it was fun. 
• On Monday I got back into running during morning recess. I sat out Mileage Club in January due to illness, so it was nice to get out there! I am not a fast runner, but I'm proud of myself for managing to run/walk three-quarters of a mile in less than 15 minutes. I'm the only teacher out there running along with the kids, but the kids seem to enjoy seeing me huffing and puffing alongside them! As I write this, my legs still hurt, but I'm looking forward to today's run.
• I'm currently reading "The Holographic Universe" by Talbot. Someone in my meditation class lent it to me, and it's definitely intriguing. I also finished "Winger" by Smith and am working on Roorbach's "Life Among Giants."
• I've learned to enjoy logging into my Mint account and tracking my transactions and purchases. It's oddly satisfying to see the little bar graphs comparing current spending to my monthly budget. I'm also trying to switch to doing more cash purchases vs. credit card transactions, in an attempt to rein in spending and limit new debt.
• I've spent $14.64 so far of my February clothing budget. I hope that since it's a short month, I can come in under budget again!    

missing syllables

top, Calvin Klein Outlet

Calvin Klein petite jeans, Ross (birthday present to myself)

Banana Republic cardigan, from mom

    I bought myself a new pair of jeans as a birthday present, and I'm still figuring out whether I like them. I wish the waist was a bit smaller, since the legs are so fitted and stretchy that they tend to slide down a bit. (Does that make sense? I don't quite know how to explain it, but that's what it feels like when I'm wearing them). Anyhow, hitching up my pants in front of 25 fourth-graders is not going to happen, so for this outfit I settled for pairing it with a longer top. I did like these pants better the second time I wore them, compared to the first. I also have to admit, I really like the way they look in the above photo. They make me look long and lean, which is a feat when you are about 5 feet tall.

     On Tuesday afternoon, my colleague and I decided to combine our classes for a showing of a Magic School Bus video on cells, then have some guided discussion.
    During the discussion, I asked the students, "What is the scientific name for living things?" One of my students had her hand up, so I called on her, and she proudly announced .... well, let's say that she didn't say organisms. But if take out the "ni" in that word, you'll know what she said. ; ) All I could say was, "Well, I think your word is missing a syllable. Anyone else know the scientific word?"
     Keeping up with 25 fourth-graders is a lot of work, but they can be extremely entertaining at times!

luck of the (non)Irish

        

top, Forever 21 

Banana Republic cardigan, hand-me-down from Mom

DKNY Soho jeans, Macy's

pearl earrings from Philippines, gift

     As my blog photos attest, 99% of the time I wear blue jeans. But on a not-so-recent Thursday, I decided to mix it up and wear my white jeans. And wouldn't you know that for my last stop of the workday - a kindergarten classroom - I was asked to help the kids create lucky four-leaf clovers for St. Patrick's Day using their handprints and a lot of green tempera paint? After the first few kids randomly plopped their hand down on the paper, I figured out that I needed to guide them by holding their wrist and turning the paper so their handprints would create the clover shape. And then I had to supervise the hand-washing, as it seems kindergartners think it's fine to turn the faucet on full blast, while scrubbing their hands off to the side and admiring the green soap bubbles.
        Miraculously, I think I managed to keep my jeans paint-free, although my cardigan didn't do so well.
         

    I think that one day I'll try wearing the top backwards, as I like the geometric print on the back. I'll just need to use a seam ripper to remove the label first.

Try-it-out Tuesday: all-star outfit

     I wore this two Saturdays ago, to catch up with a friend. This is one of those rare outfits that makes me smile when I look in the mirror: it just looks like my style. Garnet, onyx, gray and a splash of aquamarine are a pretty good color combo.  (Note: I wore black wedges instead of the gold ones I'm wearing in the photograph.)  I haven't really worn this top due to the too-long straps, but I figured out that knotting them was an easy fix -- and I felt like a genius aaaalll night. :)
 

rayon-linen top, Old Navy (pink cotton)

beach INC linen shorts, Macy's (Old Navy's version has cotton)

Banana Republic cardigan, passed down from Mom

Carole necklace, Nordstrom Rack clearance (this one is cute, too!)

Oia Jules bracelet, giveaway win

    And before you go, let me sing the praises of these linen shorts for you: a) great length and fit = not too short or too long, not too tight or too loose; b) linen = cool; c) pull-on waist = comfy and lots of room for that Greek pizza; d) black, so even though they're made out of wrinkly linen, the wrinkles are harder to see.

Try-it-out Tuesday: summer layering

     Summer layering? The idea makes no sense, particularly in very warm Hawaii. Nonetheless, I gave it a shot with the lightest layer I could think of ...

My inspiration:

                                                                                      Source: thisisnotnew.com via Carrie on Pinterest

My take:

Rafaella crinkle-silk blouse, thrifted, Goodwill

Studio M shirtdress, Macy's

cardigan, Banana Republic, from Mom

belt, Old Navy

     I did wear the cardigan in class (the AC in that room is strange -- it's either freezing or warm and stuffy), but I thought it would be too much to wear the belt, too. It's one thing to unobtrusively extract a sweater from your bag, another thing entirely to extract a sweater and a belt ...

     Note to self: remember, you can smile while wondering whether the camera's focused, or the exposure's right ...  :)
     Happy Tuesday!

Try-it-out (Wednesday): texture + sparkle

     I wore this on Thursday and felt pretty and put-together all day. :)  The funny thing is, I just threw this together without the pondering and thought that's gone into other outfits. Does this mean I'm improving at this getting-dressed business, or just got lucky?

Collective Concepts top, previously loved by stylish cousin K

Banana Republic cardigan, previously loved by mom

petite pencil skirt, Calvin Klein outlet store

necklace, Forever 21

Jeffrey Campbell Tab-2 shoes, Nordstrom Rack

    Either way, cozy cardigan + top with pretty colors and a dainty floral pattern woven into the fabric + sparkly necklace = happy.

     While the photos show this outfit with a pencil skirt and heels, I actually wore this with jeans.  I didn't get to take photos the day I wore this outfit, so for the photos I thought I'd see how it looks with a pencil skirt and shoes.
    I think I prefer wearing this top untucked and with pants, because tucking makes it poof out and makes the cardigan poof out, too. Although I did experiment with a different, leaner tuck which I have dubbed the origami tuck because it results in some interesting pleats.

Origami tuck = less poof

        I don't play with texture enough when I get dressed (although every time I do, I love the results), so that's what qualifies this for Try-it-out Wednesday. Also, I have to confess to being excited about how easily this outfit came together and how much it feels like "me" -- it's visually interesting without being over the top, it features a print and pretty little details, and a pencil skirt. And I'm even wearing shoes in these photos! (Major bonus points.) :)
    Happy Wednesday!

Try-it-out Tuesday: turquoise pants & double cardis

    I was thrilled to find these pants at Ross the other week. They fit great, are amazingly soft to the touch, and are a perfect length -- just a bit of excess at the end that can be scrunched or folded.  

   Velvet Heart jeggings, Ross, $22.99 

gray Banana Republic cardigan, previously loved by Mom

Joseph A. cardigan, Macy's

 Fossil "Mystic" necklace, Macy's

     Ever since then, I've been determinedly pinning outfit ideas on Pinterest. I'm excited about pairing these pants with neutrals (black, gray, white),  patterns (stripes, florals) and punchy colors (red, blues of every shade, purples).
   It's gray, overcast and chilly here, so I decided to double up on the cardigans for some layering fun. 

   I'm pleased that I've finally become a member of the Bright Pants Club! I feel really comfortable with this color, so I think these pants are going to be well-used.
   Happy Tuesday!