Try-it-out (Thursday): all thumbs & imaginary travels

     I can't figure out why I'm having such a hard time getting Try-it-out Tuesday photographed and posted by, well, Tuesday. Perhaps it's that school's over and I'm just not leaving the house much? Perhaps the real time-suck has been Youtube how-to hairstyling videos? Recently I've spent some time watching these videos then trying to (futilely) re-create these styles with my own hair.

Rafaella silk shirt, thrifted from Goodwill for $4.99

 denim pencil skirt, Old Navy

Dansko Sakura sandals, Nordstrom Rack

broken and randomly re-knotted necklace, Forever 21

beaded wrap bracelet, Macy's, very old

         My hair is quite long and I'm not planning to cut it for another month.  Initially, I thought it would be fun to find some cute new ways to wear it. I've figured out that: a) I have exponentially more hair than most of the folks posting these tutorials, which means more hair to fumble around with, and b) I have no patience for braiding my hair. Which means this very simple twisted ponytail is a big deal around here (it's OK if you're laughing). ;)

    After wearing this all day, I realized what a great outfit it would be for traveling stylishly. Lightweight crinkled silk shirt = easy to wash and wear as well as cool for hot days. Dark-wash denim pencil skirt = feminine but still comfortable. Chunky-heeled sandals = cool and perfect for walking tours. Add in some inexpensive jewelry and you've got an outfit.

     Sadly, the only traveling I'll be doing this summer will be courtesy of some riveting books borrowed from the public library. I'm not complaining - it's a great way to spend some much-coveted free time. :)

happy Monday, vol. 8

3 things that are making me happy lately ...

1. The oia jules bracelet I won in a giveaway. I've been wearing it whenever I leave the house. :)

2. Goody goody bars: seriously the best no-bake bars I've ever had. They're addictive!  I used this recipe from the Brown Eyed Baker blog.



3. This song. :)
Happy Monday, and happy day off if you are in the U.S. and don't have to work. :)

summer wish list

The shopping ban continues, but that didn't stop me from putting together a few things that would be fun to have for warm weather and longer nights ... :)

summer wishlist by chalcedonyandindigo featuring a knit skirt

Try-it-out (Thursday): happy colors & half-tucking

     Lauren petite buttondown, Macy's, gift from CL

Grane flare jeans, Ross

snake print belt, from dress

oia jules bracelet, won in giveaway

seed-bead bracelet, DIY

sandals, Target

 

    I wore this on Thursday -- the last day of the school year --  to make a cupcake run. The usual drill on the last day of the school year: the students show up bearing cupcakes, chips, juice, cookies ... and there's an overflow of food. The last time my teacher friend C had a party, she literally had 50 cupcakes left over. So she and another teacher S decided to avoid that by purchasing an assortment of light, healthy snacks and charging each student $3.00. However, C was disappointed that S had ruled out cupcakes.
     I offered to drop by with cupcakes (mini red velvet cupcakes from Sam's Club) and plead ignorance of the healthy snacks theme. I had gotten to know C's students over the year and wanted to get them an end-of-year treat anyhow.
     Although some of the students brought unhealthy snacks anyway, S stuck to her guns. For every handful of chips, students needed to take and eat one celery stick or 5 baby carrots!

     This qualifies for Try-it-out Thursday for two reasons. First, I'm combining red and turquoise. Somehow those two colors together make me happy, and it was fun to try out a color combination which I've pinned quite often but never tried.

     Second, I pulled off a half-tuck (are those still "in"?). While I liked that a half-tuck allowed the belt to peek out, I'm not sure whether I attained that effortlessly cool and casual look or just looked sloppy.

   Half-tucking: Do you like it and wear it? Or is it already out?

denial & a remix

     Why yes, I do plan to wear this dress every week, now that it's summertime. ...

  side-zip chambray pullover, via Mom

oia jules bracelet, giveaway win

seed bead bracelet, DIY

Blue Plate dress, Ross

Dansko "Sakura" sandals, Nordstrom Rack

     It's in the mid-80s degrees here, and while there's a breeze, it's undeniably sunny and warm. Somehow, I managed to ignore this when I layered this chambray top over the dress. Upon getting outside I promptly rolled the sleeves all the way past my elbows -- stretch fabric to the rescue. :)
     When I first received this top, I had no clue that it would work well with just about everything. It balances out a floaty or fancy dress or makes a strapless or low-cut dress work-appropriate. 
      I won this gorgeous oia jules bracelet from a giveaway generously hosted by Hayley of The Weekend File. Blogging has definitely changed my taste in jewelry! I've always considered myself a devotee of dainty, understated pieces, and while I still love them, I've made room in my heart for chunky chains and bold stones. :)

 Dainty and chunky bracelets and a fuzzy hedgehog for good measure

     ** Want to see other ways I've worn my chambray top? I wore it in February to dress down a poofy dress and with a wide belt to pull off a monochrome look.

lovely links: who do you dress for?

      While reading this by Elaine of Clothed Much and this by Carol of In Pursuit of Pretty Things,  I was reminded that the whole goal of this blog is to learn to dress like me. True, I'm striving for a more polished image. But in the end, I'll be the same ol' me. The only difference will be that I'll feel more confident and enjoy the everyday pleasure of looking put-together and feeling great. :)
       Reading these two posts reminded me to dress for me: to choose things that fit me and flatter the shape I have, not the lanky model in the magazine; to choose clothing and jewelry that make me happy; to choose items that suit my lifestyle and personality.
     (Wow - I just noticed how many times I used the word "me" in this post. Sorry! Third-person would be even weirder, though). :)
    

like it, pin it, do it: layered jello

     I decided to link up today with Jenn of Passenger Seat Perspective's "like it, pin it, do it" feature. :)



     On Friday I made layered finger jello, using this recipe. (Don't worry, there are no fingers in it -- it's called that because you add extra gelatin to make it firmer so you can pick it up and eat it, vs. using a spoon!)
     I know some people find jello gross, but jello is definitely a Hawaii thing -- you can usually find a seven-layer jello on the dessert table at most potlucks. Asian cultures also use kanten/agar agar, so perhaps that's where the interest in bouncy, gelatinous desserts originates. :)  If you're vegetarian, or a bit squeamish about gelatin's animal origins, kanten is a good option because it comes from seaweed. I haven't made kanten before, but here are some neat recipes I found that I'd like to try out (coffee flavor and amazingly elegant raspberry cubes).
     But let's get back to my finger-less jello -- I didn't have 3 boxes of the same flavor, so I ended up using two boxes of lime and one box of lemon, which worked out fine. The recipe also calls for whipping cream, but I used half and half. You could also substitute in ice cream (see this recipe).
     The jello starts off looking like green slime:

   However, after a few hours in the fridge, it looks like this:

     It's getting hot here, so this is a refreshing treat that's easy to make. :)
    What's your favorite sweet to make/eat in the summertime? Or, what have you pinned lately that you've actually done or tried out?

happy Monday, vol. 7

3 things that are making me happy lately ... 
1. This video, which debuted at the Dalai Lama's visit. Jake Shimabukuro shares such a lovely message and composition inspired by the Dalai Lama's work and life.

Tank (worn backwards), H&M

Necklace and striped skirt, Forever 21

2. Wearing my striped skirt on Saturday. I bought this around Christmastime, after last year's shopping ban ended and after I had spent several months eying this skirt enviously as it made its way around the blogosphere. Knowing it was made of knit fabric and clingy, I sized up when ordering from F21. Alas, knit skirts are just not work-appropriate on my shape, so this skirt hasn't been used as much as I hoped. The funny thing is, seeing me in stripes prompted the Mr. to point out how much he loves to see me wearing jewel tones and florals.
3. Getting a free light-desserts cookbook (our afterschool cooking program wrapped up and the coordinator generously gave us a copy) and having the time and inclination to give some of the recipes a test run. :) I'm not into baking with Splenda, but I am open to using agave syrup or maple syrup instead. Lighter desserts = dessert everyday, right? :)
Happy Monday! What's making you happy today? I'd love to hear! :)

note to self: remember this

Photo by me; text added with PicMonkey

a dash of silk, or, why thrift a silk tie?

     I wore this last week to make a library run. What, you don't think running to the library to pick up your requested books is a special occasion? It is around here, especially when there's free time to read them ... :D

 Blue Plate dress, Ross

Andrade silk tie, thrifted 

Awkward pose #1017, c/o me

        Things I love about this dress: 1) it has wonderful memories attached to it, as I wore this for my storytelling presentation two semesters ago; 2) it's 100% cotton, which is perfect for this climate;  3) it's printed -- I love a bold print; and 4) it's comfortable.
       While unearthing my long-neglected craft project, I came across this tie. Sadly, the silk seems to be deteriorating, but I figure I can eke some use out of it as a belt. I think it would look best against a solid dress, but I don't own one of those. :\ So, I think this is a nice addition to my pattern-mixing explorations. Like a necklace, a tie worn as a belt is a nice way to add an understated dose of pattern fun to an outfit.
    Here are some other great ways to wear a tie as a belt ...

Source: eringirard.blogspot.com via Carrie on Pinterest

Doubled-up stripes and a pin? :) Beautiful.

via 
Too bad wearing the tie-as-a-belt doesn't bestow the power to dance like Fred Astaire ...

 via

Source: hkstylejourney.blogspot.com via Carrie on Pinterest

Belted under a blazer - got to try this sometime!

Source: james1542.com via Carrie on Pinterest

Such a pretty, restrained use of color on a slouchily casual outfit.

Try-it-out Tuesday: white tee, version 2.0

     On Saturday night I took my friend K out for martinis and happy hour. That day, the clutch I won from Joanne of Fabulously Average's Purse & Clutch giveaway arrived, so it was the perfect occasion to break in my new bag. :)

    First off, let me express my awe at how beautiful this bag is! The web site photos don't really do it justice. I love textiles, and these fabrics are gorgeous. I also love the company's focus on empowering women to build better lives for themselves.

The card with the artisans' names is a lovely, thoughtful touch.

      Given the quality of the fabric and the great cause, I think the price they charge ($28 for the classic clutches) is a steal. The only thing that would make this bag even better is a small wrist strap that could be tucked inside, but popped out and slung over your wrist when you need both hands while running errands. However, that won't stop me from using this clutch often. :)
        Now, let's get back to the clothes ... I'm still on the hunt for the perfect white tee, but tucking this slightly baggy one into a pencil skirt did wonders for the shape. I also like the casualness of a white tee juxtaposed with a pencil skirt. I consider this version 2.0 of the tee-and-jeans uniform I'm trying to break away from.  :)

Bird Classic Clutch, Purse & Clutch, c/o Fabulously Average's giveaway

Cherokee tee, Target girls' department

pencil skirt, Calvin Klein outlet

Carole necklace, Nordstrom Rack clearance

Revlon lip butter in Raspberry Pie

happy Monday, vol. 6

3 things that are making me happy lately ...
1. Returning to a long-neglected craft project. On Wednesday morning, I turned in the last assignments for the semester. On Wednesday night, I unearthed my abandoned craft project. It's meant to be a gift, so here's hoping it gets finished this time around. ...

2. Mothers' Day means fresh flowers. Which means some in-house photography subjects. Tulips are my favorite flowers. :)
3.  Kicking off my summer reading last week. Finished Megan McCafferty's "Bumped," just started Marcus Zusak's "The Book Thief."

Try-it-out (Wednesday): don't try this at home

    While I love pattern mixing, there is a fine line between a fun, fresh pattern mix and a crazy one. Unfortunately, I usually fall on the crazy, something-went-wrong side. 

shirt, Savers

necklace, Forever 21

skinny jeans, Ross

   
     However, I figured out with this outfit that a necklace can be a great way to incorporate a second pattern and not look crazy. This necklace is not a favorite of mine -- it's a little too long and tangles easily. But I found it while cleaning the house this weekend and decided to give it another try. 

    This shirt is short and boxy, so I thought a long necklace would balance things out. I also knotted it at the end to make it shorter. Then, while I was unloading my grocery cart, it somehow got caught on the grocery cart and broke. (Don't try this at home -- I am a professional klutz). So now it looks like this: 

Well, one way to shorten a necklace is to break it ...

    By the way, have you read WTF Pinterest's "How to Be a Fashion Blogger" series yet? In my first photo, I'm guilty of #3.
    Have a happy Wednesday! I turned in my last 3 assignments for the semester (bibliography, reference response e-mail, and reflection paper) this morning and am ready to enjoy some free time! :D

happy Monday, vol. 5

Three things that are making me happy lately ... 
1. Sno-caps. There's just something so festive about little chocolate drops covered with white nonpareils. :)
2. The Mr. making me an Indian breakfast on Sunday. Idli swimming in sambar with a dollop of coconut chutney. Yum. :)

Look for beauty ...

3. This post by Ashley of The Shine Project. On Friday, I messed up. It was the one day that I really shouldn't have skipped aikido class ... and I did, to finish up my portfolio. The fact that I really needed to be there completely slipped my mind. It was even worse that my university sensei had mentioned it to me on Thursday morning, and I wonder if he made the effort to show up Friday -- and I wasn't there. Urgh. All Friday night I was upset at myself for forgetting, and at the same time trying not to be upset because I really had to focus on my portfolio. So when I read this on Sunday, it was just what I needed to hear.

the best-laid (lesson) plans ...

   
        So, I haven't been dealing with cantankerous chairs lately, but I have been putting in some serious hours to complete my lesson portfolio for my information literacy class. Sub in lesson plans for the chair and you get an idea of what I've been up to!
        Fortunately, I'm substitute teaching today for my friend's 3rd-grade class. Yay for a chance to earn a little extra money! Unfortunately, this means I won't be able to put the finishing touches on my portfolio until this afternoon and evening (it's due at midnight). I'm not really griping; I confess that I am a world-class procrastinator someone who does best under pressure.
        Last but not least, I get to spend the weekend completing 2 major projects for my Hawaiian resources class, which are due Wednesday afternoon.
      I might just need to treat myself to an end-of-the-semester cupcake on Wednesday, what do you think? 

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!

roundup: gingham and tigers

      A peek at last week's outfits ...
      I usually think of gingham as sweet and a bit country, but I decided to take it in an edgier direction via accessories last week. The jeans are from my generous friend R. She got these jeans as a hand-me-down from a friend, but it didn't quite fit R. So she passed them on to me. Bonus points for the fact that R's anonymous friend seems to have the same inseam I do!

Lauren buttondown, Macy's, passed down from Mom

Rock & Republic jeans, passed down

manaia necklace, Seattle

bracelets: HauteLook, gifted

 

In Maori culture, the manaia wards off evil 

Bracelets in earth tones

   One of the third-graders told me on Tuesday that my dress reminded him of a tiger. Well, if tigers had stripes in navy, citron and white ...

Alfani dress, Macy's

skinny grommet belt, Old Navy

    I know a lot of people would think this belt doesn't match, but I like how it adds a quirky touch to the dress.
    Come back tomorrow to check out Try-it-out Wednesday! :)