candied walnuts, oysters, atonement

      The high point of Thursday (besides managing to drag myself out of bed at 5 a.m.) was making oatmeal for breakfast, and getting the idea to throw in homemade candied walnuts I got as a Christmas gift. Wow -- it made that humble lil' bowl of oatmeal sing and dance. I immediately began to fret about what to do when my stash runs out. Either look up a recipe and make my own, or beg my friend to get her mom to make more. Which would be a bit awkward.
      Another awkward story about food: a few years ago a different friend invited me to hang out at her house. Her dad was grilling oysters -- they had picked up a box from Costco. I was in oyster heaven until I realized that I was tossing down oyster #8 while everyone else had stopped at oyster #2 or #3. I regretfully stepped away from the grill.
     The above stories may explain why this dress doesn't quite fit anymore. What a shame! I loved the color, the fit, the cool and breathable linen-cotton blend, and it was great for work. I can still put it on but the hem is higher than it was before, and I need to do some major sucking-in to make the placket look decent. I'm reluctant to toss it in the donation bag, so I'm determined to use it for layering.

     I added tights and a pair of purple suede flats to this outfit before heading to class on Thursday.
    The blue on blue pairing is my version of atonement for the other day's style mess. (I'm also assigning myself a rigorous reading of the latest issue of People StyleWatch). Or, if we unbearably extend the food metaphor, it could be considered a style palate cleanser as well.

    Fossil "Mystic" necklace (Macy's)

     Is it standard for thicker belts to not have a leather loop/keeper? This belt is so cute, but when I buckle it the end just sticks out, and it's too thick to tuck. Solutions, anyone?
     After I wore this outfit, I realized how many other things can be layered over this dress. Come back Monday to see a few variations on this look! :)

Try-it-out Tuesday: Pinterest-inspired

     During the summer, Pinterest and I were likethis. I was enthralled with the possibilities - no more ripping things out of magazines and losing them or having no neat way to collect them! Everything in one place! I can write little captions to remind me of why I ripped it out in the first place!
     I pinned recipes, possible DIY projects, 2 million cupcake recipes ... anything that caught my eye. And then to balance out the cupcakes I dutifully started a board for other foods (i.e. breakfast, lunch, dinner).
     Alas, Pinterest and I have cooled down to a long-distance relationship. I stop by once a week, and only for a minute or two at that. We're still fond of each other but it's not the same. This blog has become my new time-suck project, and Pinterest knows it.

Source: weardrobe.com via Carrie on Pinterest

     I seem to excel at pinning outfits that prominently feature things I DON'T own (i.e. colorful things). But I've seen so many bloggers wearing cool outfits inspired by pins that I decided to browse my board one more time for Try-it-out Tuesday. And the one shown above looked perfect.

     According to the tag, the dress print is "Fresh Zebra." Looks like I was on an animal-print kick when I was shopping a few months ago.
     Things I like about this dress: the fuller skirt, the colors, and that it's lined.
     Things I wish I had noticed before: the dreaded chest-button gap. Very odd, as I'm not busty and the dress fits well everywhere else. Now I know to try a size up in this brand.
     Luckily, I'm not teaching this year, so I don't need to go into my "power stance" (hands on the hips) on a daily basis and risk giving someone an accidental eyeful. I first heard of the power stance from a teacher in my education program. He said he used it regularly when teaching middle school and that it was helpful for projecting physical presence when you're on the short side. When I first saw the power stance, I thought, "Nah, I can't see myself doing that." Fast-forward a year or two to my stint as a classroom teacher and I found myself using it ... everyday.

Fossil "Mystic" necklace

      I played around with buttoning the top button and adding a necklace, but it seemed like a little too much.
       Happy Tuesday!

show what you (don't) know

   Do you ever have one of those weeks? You know, those weeks in which you realize several days after the due date that you needed to post your assignment online; in which you feverishly prep for an in-class exercise, only to figure out that it's really scheduled for next week and you have a little more time. And let's not forget this morning ... I showed up a bit late to aikido class and it turned out I had to take the instructor's place. Which is interesting to do when it's 6 a.m., I haven't had my coffee, went to sleep later than I should have the night before, and didn't sleep well in the first place.
     I wish I could say that midterms are eating my brain, but I haven't really had my midterms yet.
     I picked out this outfit thinking I needed to be in front of the class today. Wearing some jewelry always gives me confidence, so I added a colorful necklace and a pared-down arm party.

I broke the pearl bracelet during class, while I was putting on my blazer. :( More proof that this blazer is a size too small for me!

Fossil "Mystic" necklace (Macy's)

    Hope you are having a more organized week than I am!