Try-it-out Tuesday: iris and gold

silk top, thrifted

cardigan, Gap Outlet

bead necklace, Haitian Bead Project

     I bought this beautiful bead necklace from Haitian Bead Project, and it inspired this outfit. I like purple with .... well, just about any color, really!

 
     One of my favorite things about this necklace is the beautiful variations of color. It includes "true" purple as well as more reddish shades and the small yellow beads really make it pop.
     Whew, it's been a while since I put together a Try-it-out Tuesday post, but what's different about this outfit is that I built it around the necklace, and experimented with a punchy color combo.

  
      Friday is the last day of school before winter break, and one of the fun things we'll be doing that day is "Bringing Books to Life." I'm allowing the kids to dress up as a favorite book character, and I've already gotten wind that I may have several versions of Katniss and Rick Riordan characters in the house. I did have to tell one Katniss that she'll have to leave the bow and arrows at home and figure out a creative way to help people figure out who she is. 
      I'm putting my own costume (based on a picture book) together, although a lot is riding on my Old Navy online purchase arriving in time and fitting correctly! I also have to craft a few simple components, such as a pair of ears. :)

Blue Nile giveaway! {CLOSED}

Velvet Heart chambray tunic and Beau jeggings, Ross

infinity bracelet, c/o Blue Nile

ribbon earrings, Claire's

    Thanks to a comment on Gracey's recent Blue Nile giveaway, the company contacted me and asked whether I'd like to participate in their "Get One, Give One" campaign. That means one pretty thing for me and one pretty thing for a reader! I chose the infinity chain bracelet in sterling silver.

       It's the little details that make this bracelet special. For instance, I like how the curved infinity symbol allows the bracelet to drape nicely, and the dainty double chains add interest. The one thing I would change about the bracelet? I wish it came in a shorter length! I have a smaller than average wrist, which means this bracelet is rather big. Nonetheless, it makes a subtle, simple addition to my daily bracelet-and-watch stack, and I think it will join my regular rotation. 
      I accessorized with my fun yet delicate ribbon earrings (I'll definitely be sporting the silver glitter ornaments tomorrow, though).  ;)

        Would you like to win the second bracelet? Just leave me a comment with:

• your e-mail
• how do you follow me: bloglovin or GFC?
• and a comment: how would you style this bracelet? 

     Good luck! This giveaway is open worldwide. Entries will be accepted until midnight PST on Christmas Eve.
      If you want to pick out your own sparkle, get 10% off with code BNHH10. :)

**The fine print: This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. This blog does not accept any form of cash advertising, sponsorship, or paid topic insertions. However, I will and do accept and keep free products and other forms of compensation from companies and organizations. The compensation received will never influence the content, topics or posts made in this blog.  I was compensated to provide an opinion on this product. Even though I receive compensation, I always give my honest opinion on the product.. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely my own. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider or party in question.

the gift

Tommy Hilfiger chambray shirtdress, Macy's

belt, Old Navy

Cejon scarf, Ross

     I wore this outfit on Monday. I happened to walk by the vice principal in the hallway, and she said, "I appreciate that you are always dressed so professionally." I mentioned that being dressed a certain way helps me to feel more confident in the classroom, and she agreed.
    It's hard to find words for how pleased I was to hear this! I am a quiet and rather awkwardly shy person (explains the online verbosity, right? ;)). Over the past few years, I've experienced the satisfaction of starting to create and purposefully wield a personal style that can give people a hint of who I am and the pride I take in my profession. I'm still basking in this comment, and it was a potent reminder of what a powerful gift we can give to others when we take a moment to notice something about them - and to express our appreciation.

  
     Another gift I received recently is that, thanks to a comment on Gracey's giveaway post, Blue Nile asked whether I'd be interested in doing a holiday giveaway. I hope to get the giveaway up and running next week! Next week will be a crazy one at school, though ... as my colleague so aptly puts it, the kids will be "googly-eyed" with holiday excitement and last-week-of-school-before-winter-break giddiness. Time to break out the pile of read-alouds, fun activities, and learning games and shelve the two-column notes and introduction of any new concepts ... 

last week

Escio cardigan, Ross

tee, Gap

necklace, Forever 21

top, thrifted

yellow cardigan, Gap Outlet

necklace, Forever 21

     

        I liked the combination of two neutrals - black and tan - with the bright yellow more than I expected. I resisted the urge to add an armful of India bangles because the jangling would have driven me (and probably my students) crazy. 

    
      What looks like the Taj Mahal is upside-down on my top! Life is good.

      Some highlights of last week:

• My students wrote letters to Santa to raise funds for the Make a Wish Foundation. When I announced the assignment, I was a little apprehensive ... would someone loudly declare that he or she didn't believe in Santa anymore, creating class-wide consternation? I was amused (and relieved) to discover that everyone believes in Santa. One of my students even threw in a request to Santa to help with his elf on the shelf because his elf hadn't moved for the last few days. 
• I was gifted a beautiful poinsettia by a family friend. It's got a place of honor on my desk at work.
• My little artificial Christmas tree is up! I am not a morning person at all, but looking at it while eating breakfast at 5:30 a.m. makes me smile.

What's making you smile lately? Please share. :) 
 

green and leopard and a Thanksgiving recap

                                                                                    dress, Old Navy
                                                                                     belt, thrifted
                                                                              earrings, gift from M

     I usually wear this dress with blue or green accessories, so it was fun to mix it up with leopard print. In truth, I wouldn't have thought up this pairing on my own, but I hadn't put the leopard-print belt away and it caught my eye while I was planning my outfit. Disorganizia has (one or two measly) benefits, it appears ...

     These earrings are exquisite -- I received them last year, but this was their first outing. Not sure why I waited so long to wear them!

    After a trip through the wash, the dress was reprised as Thanksgiving lunch wear, with my thrifted Countess Mara tie as a belt (soft, stylish and stretchy belts FTW). ;)

   
       It was a quiet weekend with lots of time to sleep in and nap. I graded some papers, snacked on loaded baked potato dip left over from Thanksgiving lunch, enjoyed the company of various family members, and finished Walls' "The Glass Castle." I thoroughly enjoyed my Saturday morning meditation class, as I was much more rested than usual and didn't have to battle exhaustion while trying to keep my focus.
     I stayed away from the mall, although I did some damage online. I scored a great BOGO deal on my organic sunscreen from Mychelle and also picked up some Christmas gifts (and a few pretty things for me) from  The Haitian Bead Project.
     I also popped into my favorite Goodwill on Saturday and found some lovely tops -- all women's clothing was 50% off! One of the silk shirts has a few small stains and a dingy collar, but I'm thinking it might be a good candidate for experimenting with stain removal using vinegar and hydrogen pyroxide. If all else fails, I've got plans to chop it up and make myself a tee like this one, or even small zip pouches. I usually try to steer clear of things in not-so-great condition at the thrift store, but I couldn't pass up the whimsical umbrella print. ...
    If you celebrated Thanksgiving, or even if you didn't, what were some highlights of your weekend?