coffee, my dear friend

   I have never been a morning person. It still amazes me that for several years I dragged myself out of bed before 6 a.m. to make the 45-minute drive to the school where I taught. I overslept a time or two, and got stuck in traffic jams a few other times, but overall I was prompt.

Classiques Entier silk blouse (Nordstrom Rack)

BR Factory petite trousers

       The funny thing is, now that I'm away from the classroom for a year, I've committed myself to waking up at 5 a.m. twice a week to get to the university for 6 a.m. aikido class. I was studying there once a week last year, and not consistently, but I want to make sure I'm prepared for my February test. However, saying goodbye to my pillow on Thursday morning was harder than it was on Tuesday.
      An hour of practice is a great way to start the day. I feel a glow of accomplishment at 7 a.m. as I'm driving home to shower, enjoy a cup of coffee and eat breakfast. That glow of accomplishment slowly morphs into ... exhaustion. I found my eyes sliding shut at about noon as I read my textbook about teaching kids to solve information problems.

Friends necklace: gift from CN

Pearl necklace: previously loved by Mom

     To finish off Thursdays, I have a class from 5 to 7:40 p.m. I'm hoping the mandatory discussion component will keep me awake (and hopefully, learning) on those days that I'm ready for a nap.
     Yesterday's weather was delightful -- sunny with bright blue skies, yet not blazing hot --  what I call long-sleeve weather! To celebrate I wore my long-sleeve silk blouse that just doesn't get enough outfit love. I figured that I could at least look put-together while I dozed --  er, I mean participated -- in yesterday's class.

   

Silver bangles: Amrita Singh via HauteLook

Gray pearl and circle bracelet: gift from TM

tan bead bracelet: old, gifted

rhodium filigree bracelet

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

Try-it-out Tuesday: a little problem with big prints

The Web abounds with petite fashion tips, of various utility and quality.
On Tuesday, I take a thrifted top and break some rules.
Some questions:

• How far will I go to wear a top I love?
• How do I make a boxy, short top work for me?
• Will that fuschia belt show up again?
• Are all big prints created equal?

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!