February Freeze, vol. 8: things girls like

    I wore this necklace yesterday with a charcoal gray tee and jeans, and the necklace was a big hit with the first-graders I worked with after school. I had a few girls come up close and reach out to touch and admire the strands. The funny thing is, none of the girls said, "nice necklace" or anything like that. ... but those curious hands and eyes said it all. :)

     turquoise and pewter seed bead necklace (Macy's)

"Let Go" tee by Lim Heng Swee (Threadless)

cardigan (Forever 21)

Drew Barrymore

    I was belatedly inspired by two birds' inspiration monday post featuring Drew Barrymore. I have an absurd affection for graphic tees, and add in jeans? Um, this is what I wear just about everyday. I liked how the addition of a statement necklace can bump this outfit up a notch, from "this is what was cleaned and ironed" to something slightly more intentional.

    I thought the different shades of blue would be harmonious, but the necklace kind of gets lost against the graphic tee, so next time I'd try it with a different shirt. I considered sneaking this in as a belated Try-it-out Tuesday post for this week, but since a tee and jeans is what I just about live in, I'll be posting a more challenging outfit this week. :)

lovely links: leap year bonus

     Today you get two, TWO, two wonderful links for the price of one! We (when did I start using the royal we??) at Petal by Petal believe in celebrating Feb. 29 in style.
     Nnenna of Star-Crossed Smile started a sweet little Correspondence Club and posted a roundup. Check out the post if you'd like to join in the snail-mail fun for March ... :)
 

 My pen pal Camille sent me a little gift

 in some very fun collage wrap.

     Kelly of Alterations Needed posted a must-read post on finding a great-fitting blazer. When I reviewed my tweed blazer, I went through her archives and tried to figure out what were
some key fit features. Turns out I missed a lot, so check out her thorough and detailed post!

February Freeze, vol. 7: (dress)ed down

     I've been procrastinating on wearing the really difficult items in my closet. I felt like this dress would be just too much for work or class. However, when my friend and I decided to go out for an early dinner on Saturday, I figured it was the perfect opportunity to wear this.

 Calvin Klein strapless dress, (Ross, old)

chambray pullover (passed down from Mom)

navy-and-green leatherette colorblock belt (Forever 21)

      I'm not very comfortable wearing strapless dresses or tops, so I layered on a chambray pullover. (What on earth possessed me to buy a strapless dress? Can we say, impractical?) It also gives the dress a more casual feel. I added a belt to balance out the full skirt with a well-defined waist.

   The very full skirt is a different look and feel for me, but I love the print, color (the tag says it's "electric pink") and the length actually makes it suitable for work. I think it would look really cute with a buttondown tied at the waist, a red cardigan, or even a different belt.
    My friend and I went to an Italian restaurant, and there was a basket of warm, crusty-on-the-outside, fluffy-on-the-inside bread. Empty carbs with a slathering of butter=<3. I was reminded of comedian Jim Gaffigan's discussion of bread, especially when we ended up chomping our way through most of a second basket. Let's just say I needed to loosen the belt a bit on my way home ...

February Freeze, vol. 6: a nice discovery

   Happiness is figuring out that a skirt you've had for a while, but never wear, has POCKETS. :)
   Brown is a color that baffles me. I feel comfortable pairing black with just about anything, but brown??? I'm just not sure what colors go best with it. I've never paired it with blue before, but I like the look.

Top, Forever 21

petite skirt, Banana Republic

shell earrings, New Zealand

   I got this skirt from Banana Republic's sale section a while back for about $17. I've always wondered if the front detail -- gathering below the waistband and resulting pleats -- looks weird. However, it looks fine in the photos.

   Help me out, please -- What are your favorite colors to pair with brown?

musical femmes - a video roundup

     Some of my favorite female singers/musicians. :) 
     I'll admit, unlike people I know who are constantly immersed in music -- scouting out new groups, reading blogs, etc. -- there are periods when I don't listen to much more than the radio.
    But I was in a mood for music yesterday, so here you go. I couldn't find an unblocked Bjork video to add, but she's on the list too.
    I'd love to see some of these ladies live (and if I ever got my hands on a time machine, Billie Holiday is high on the list of musical acts I'd want to catch). I saw Tori Amos in L.A. quite a few years ago and really enjoyed it. It was easier to catch musicians live when I lived on the Mainland, but I guess that's the price of paradise ... 

lovely links: artistic inspiration

I love Nancy Zhang's style -- it ranges from drop-dead elegant, to tomboyish, to pure fun. For this outfit, she was inspired by the work of one of my favorite artists, Yoshitomo Nara.

Try-it-out Tuesday: texture + monochrome (almost)

   Today's Try-it-out Tuesday features two rarely worn items: an embellished linen tunic and a boldly printed dress (this dress takes my love of big prints to new heights). I thought this would be a fun, subtle way to double up on the florals, and I liked the texture of the linen embellishment contrasted with the skirt.

Charter Club embellished linen tunic: passed down from mom (Macy's)

     Style & Co. petite dress: Macy's

6-strand red lucite necklace: eBay

     I've always thought this dress would look cute with a red necklace. Due to its size, this necklace is out of my comfort zone, but I like how it looks peeping out of a black shirt.
     I feel like this outfit is my first step out of a style rut. I felt good wearing it and I got to play with texture and prints! :)

 

   It doesn't really show up in the photos, but the big flower print on the skirt has splashes of a very light gray/tan. That gives me some ideas on how to wear it the next time around.

     Something else that, thankfully, doesn't show up in the photos: a fresh bruise the size of a half-dollar on my right shin. Just a souvenir from early morning aikido practice, and another merit badge for the Klutz Scouts. What, you mean you aren't a member??

February Freeze, vol. 5: chambray + a splash of animal print

     I'm enjoying this dress-simply kick I've been on for the last few days. While I really love creative pattern mixing, I'm still too new at it and end up looking like a mess instead of marvelous. I don't wear this chambray tunic much, but I'm starting to see its possibilities. :) I was inspired by Linda of Little Tin Soldier's outfit here.

 Velvet Heart tunic, Ross (old)

Beau skinnies, Ross (old)

snake print fabric belt (from dress)

hoop earrings, Old Navy (old)

Micro-ruffles and subtle yet sparkly earrings

     Speaking of simple, the Mr. and I had a quiet Valentine's night. I had planned to pick up some mochi ice cream on the way to his house, but when I drove past the ice cream place, there was a line spilling out the door onto the sidewalk. We have a mutual dislike of crowds, so he's just going to have to wait until the weekend for his treat. ...
     Luckily, he had picked up a chocolate cheesecake. We traded Valentine's Day cards, watched some Stephen Colbert, and spent some quality time with each other (and the cheesecake, of course). :)

Try-it-out Tuesday: white jeans & February Freeze, vol. 4

     I've been in the style doldrums lately, so I decided to wear these jeans as simply as possible. Red, navy and white are a classic color combination. I actually bought this cardigan to wear with the red tank, but this is the first time I've paired them together! Three of these items don't get worn much (jeans, tank, gold sandals), so it was nice to put them together. February Freeze trifecta! :)

DKNY red tank with navy chiffon and gold chain trim, Off 5th

navy cardigan, F21

DKNY white jeans, Macy's

gold sandals, Target

     

The Mr. grumbles that I always walk around with my hands in my pockets (SO not true). ; )

     Obviously, 12 seconds is not enough time for me to cross the room, put my shoes on, and be ready for the camera ...
     Happy Hearts Day! <3

what I've been wearing: a collage

 Friday indecision: I really wanted to wear this henley top and pleated skirt together -- I thought it would be fun to juxtapose the casual henley with the girly, dressier skirt. But it just didn't look right, so I ended up stomping off to work in an old green tee, my Volcom shirt jacket, jeans and boots. *sigh*

   Sunday's outfit: playing with animal print, red and charcoal gray (the shirt you can't see under the scarf). Saturday night: flowy patterned Cinnamon Girl (local boutique) top, F21 cardigan.

tag, I'm it: all about books

     Erin (her blogs are here and here) was sweet enough to tag me to talk about one of my favorite things .... books! :)

Favorite poet(s): Li-Young Lee, Pablo Neruda, Shakespeare, e.e. cummings.
Least favorite/hated poet(s): I don't hate Marianne Moore, but I don't enjoy her work, although I know she's considered one of the "greats."
Favorite fiction authors: Haruki Murakami, Barbara Kingsolver, Pamela Dean, Hans Christian Andersen, Gish Jen, Jeanette Winterson, Michael Ondaatjie, Charles Dickens, Jose Saramago, Lynne Rae Perkins.
Least favorite/hated fiction authors: Hmm, nobody comes to mind at the moment ...
Favorite nonfiction author(s): Jane Yolen (Touch Magic), Susan Orlean (The Orchid Thief), David Mas Masumoto (Epitaph for a Peach)
Least favorite/hated nonfiction author(s): I have to agree with Erin about the library sciences readings. The textbooks intended to give you an overview of the discipline are the worst -- they are so general that they are mind-numbing.
Favorite graphic novel author: I don't read many graphic novels (want to start, though) but I did enjoy Shaun Tan's "The Arrival." Would love some recommendations. :)
Worst reading habits: Buying new books when I have a stack to read.
Worst book you ever read: "Tulip Fever" by Deborah Moggach. I got a few chapters in, realized I didn't care at all about the characters, and returned it to the library.
Favorite book (at the moment): It's a tie between "All the Names" by Jose Saramago; "The Lacuna" by Barbara Kingsolver, and "Criss Cross" by Lynne Rae Perkins.
Favorite genre: young adult, picture books, and, judging from the list above, what would be called literary fiction  : p (sounds a bit snobby, doesn't it??)

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Try-it-out Wednesday: in the pink (gingham, that is)

    I don't know what it is about Wednesdays, but I've noticed that I'm so tired during class, which starts at 9 and lets out a little before noon. Even after my usual cup of coffee, my eyes have a tendency to glaze over. It's not that the class is boring -- I find the topic interesting and definitely useful for my future career. I guess the common-sense solution is to get to bed earlier on Tuesday nights ...

 Crinkled pink gingham petite buttondown, Coldwater Creek (mom's closet)

Denim shirt (previously loved by mom)

Pearl necklace, gifted, Philippines

birdie earrings, gifted

pearl bracelets, HauteLook

        I've wanted a gingham shirt for a while, after seeing so many bloggers style it and show how versatile it can be. My wish was answered when mom bought this shirt for herself, and then was kind enough to let me borrow it. :) I don't think you can tell from the photos, but the shirt is made of a crinkled material which puts a fun spin on the usual gingham. It also has practical benefits -- it doesn't need much ironing!

     Speaking of benefits, one of the things I love about being a teacher/librarian in training is getting to read kids' books. There are so many fun ones out there! "The Cow That Laid an Egg" by Andy Cutbill is a humorous story that gently reminds children that everyone has a special gift and that love knows no boundaries. There are laughs for the adults, too -- I had to smile at the illustration that showed the cows reading a newspaper called "Moos of the World."

     Happy Wednesday!

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

CREATE: Fortunate February's donation

   Just a little update on my February budget donation: at first I was thinking it would go to the Hawaii Foodbank, which I usually try to donate to several times a year. However, while reading my school librarian listserv e-mails this morning, I saw this request. Basically, this librarian has $0 in funding and dozens of avid readers on her hands. As a teacher and school-librarian-in-training, one of the most rewarding things I do is connect children to books and foster a love of reading. My $30 is only a fraction of what is needed to stock the library, but I'm sure it will be put to good use. :)

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.

    

    

February Freeze, vol. 1: embellished purple shirt

   I picked an easy piece for my first February Freeze outfit post. Layer a cami underneath, jeans, red earrings and gold jewelry ... done and off to class.

 
     Then my instructor showed up wearing a fabulous cream swing jacket. And I realized how much fun it might be to wear this top with a cream blazer. White and cream are not usually colors I gravitate to, out of practical fears of getting them irreparably dirty, but one of these days I need to get out of my black/navy/denim comfort zone.

 Top: India, gifted
Amrita Singh "Marion" earrings, HauteLook
gold and amethyst ring, wholesaler
gold-plated hammered ring, craft fair

Fun February: 2 challenges

     As I mentioned in my January roundup, I have designated this month as Fun February. Since my word of the year is CREATE, I have decided to do two things this month to help me create a life of appreciation and balance.
     Fortunate February: Counting my blessings should be a daily activity. To celebrate all that I have, I'll be forgoing shopping and donating my budgeted $30 to a charity.
    February Freeze: To better appreciate the bounty of my closet, I won't be adding anything new to it. Instead, I'll be shopping my closet, and determinedly wearing all the nice things that I, uh, have never worn, or have maybe worn once.  (Hmm, that strapless poofy dress is definitely going to make for an interesting outfit!) This challenge might, realistically, run into March because I suspect that I have tons of eligible clothing items.
      Do you have a bunch of pretty but unworn things in your closet? Drop me an e-mail or comment if you decide to create an outfit incorporating something you have never worn, or only worn once. :)
   

January roundup: gone astray

ALLOTTED FUNDS: $30.
I SPENT: $24.84.*
* Some items purchased with credits from 2011.
     So, I'm not too impressed with myself for the inaugural month of my dollar-a-day budget. Thanks to credits at Ross and Old Navy (my shopping kryptonite), I had some wiggle room for purchases, and wiggle I did.
    Actual total, counting items bought with exchange/return credits (ulp*): $71.22.

1 = FCUK tweed blazer, Sears, $27.99 (gifted).
2 = floral ruffle top, Old Navy, $6.49.  *
3 = green dress, Old Navy, $7.73. *
4 = green cable sweater, Old Navy, $6.29.*
5 =  Julie's Closet lime green animal-print cardigan, Ross, $11.99. *
6 = Grane flare jeans, Ross, $11.99. *
7 = lucite tassel necklace, eBay, $3.99.
8 and 9 = enamel necklace and 6-strand red necklace, $8.48, eBay.
10 = Fossil belt, $14.24, Macy's. *
11 = Not pictured - Lush eggplant pleated midi skirt, Nordstrom Rack, $5.40 (gifted).

Favorite additions to my closet: 1, 6, 8 and 10.
Most challenging to style: 9 and 11.
Likely return: 5.

     The interesting thing about documenting all of my purchases for the month is that patterns emerge. Can you tell what color I've been drawn to?
     While shopping is so much fun (if I could have underlined that 10 times, I would have!), about halfway through the month I had to stop and ask myself: do I need any of these things? The answer, frankly, is always NO. Sure, I'm excited about finding a classic blazer, and adding flare jeans to my denim lineup. But do I absolutely NEED them? No. I could keep my wallet closed and still have lots of clothes to wear.
      This month showed me that I'm still looking for balance in regards to what goes into my closet.
Sure, I love owning tons of pretty things, but if they only get worn once or twice -- is it worth it? I dream of having a closet of carefully chosen items. Everything would fit well, express my personal style, and suit my career/lifestyle. Items would be beautiful and quality -- that doesn't mean designer, but it definitely means not disposable. These items would be made of fabrics that wash and wear well.
     Whew. Obviously, I have a ways to go before reaching my dream closet.
     In that light, I'm dubbing this month Fun February, and I'll be doing something worthwhile with my monthly budget and my closet. I'll share details this week. :)