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. :)