field trip!

Today we took all the ESL students to a museum called the Strawbery Banke, a place where several houses have been preserved from different periods in New Hampshire's history, and furnished in historical style. It was pretty entertaining to watch my students try to tactiralk to the people wandering around in period dress, in character as people from history, and even more entertaining to watch the actors try to stay in character when dealing with my students! It was great to get out of the classroom and wander around in the sunshine chatting with my students - I feel like I got to know them as people.

When I'm going to see students but am not actually going to be teaching, I always want to dress down a little, to signal that this is a time when I'm not "on" and we can interact as equals.

Wearing shorts is always a bit iffy for me, as they often make me feel self-conscious. But taking inspiration from academichic and What Would A Nerd Wear, I added an embellished white top and a belt.

I felt polished but still casual - and I was super comfortable walking around in the heat. So...yaya shorts!

Top: Calvin Klein Jeans via Costco

Tank top: ancient

Shorts: GAP outlet

Belt: L.L. Bean outlet

Sandals: Nine West

Earrings: inherited from my grandmother

ode to a skirt

I enjoy wearing this skirt. I love the bright colors, I love the slight floatiness of it, and I love that people often ask me if I a) embroidered it myself (ha!) or b) bought it in Russia (Forever 21, ages ago). It's light and comfortable and the waistband never pinches. I've had it for several years - it's been to Russia twice and all over Southeast Asia - and is still in pretty good shape.

So here's to you, floral skirt! Thanks for all the good times.

Shirt: Banana Republic, thrifted
Skirt: Forever 21
Shoes: Bandolino via TJMaxx
Earrings: hand-me-down

self-imposed challenge

This week I'm going to try to pull myself out of this rut by wearing old pieces of clothing that haven't yet been seen on the blog. I think this jersey top fits the bill.

It's one of my favorites - I love the neckline and the curvey silhouette.

Even better, it's sleeveless AND teaching-appropriate! This humidity is making me nuts. I am sweating all over the place. It is gross. 'Nuff said.

Had help with my pictures again today. Thanks, little dude.


Top: Sears, ancient

Tank top: Costco

Pants: GAP, hemmed by me

Shoes: Bandolino via TJMaxx

Necklace: hand-me-down

perfect Saturday

Yesterday was the most perfect Saturday morning: a long run before it got too hot, banana pancakes cooked by the boyfriend, and a trip to the farmer's market resulting in an all-local-produce lunch. Yay!

And look, I'm wearing something different than I always do!

I inherited this awesome top from my sister. It is super soft and a pretty teal, and the loose, flowy cut is perfect on hot days. Plus it has sexy cut-out shoulders. Thanks Kiddo!

Top: hand-me-down

Shorts: Calvin Klein via TJMaxx

Flipflops: GAP, ancient

bleah

On Friday, I was trying to work my new white button-down into an outfit, and pulled this together:

I love the detailing at the top of this blouse but the cut is really boxy, so I tried belting with a scarf. Eh. Not amazing. At least I like the scarf and shoes together.

And THEN I realized it's basically just this outfit over again. Same skirt, same shoes, same scarf, white short-sleeved blouse. Lame.

I feel like I'm in a rut. I think it's partially the heat, which restricts layering, and partially that most of my clothes, including all of my skirts, are neutral colors. All of my color is in my tops, scarves, and shoes. Bah. I don't want to spend any more money on clothes - I want to get creative with the stuff I own. Ok, that's the project for next week.

Blouse: Banana Republic outlet

Scarf: TJMaxx, ancient

Skirt: Banana Republic

Shoes: JCPenny's

And I'm back

Whew! After a slight mix-up with the plane tickets, J. and I ended up in Wisconsin until late Monday night...which made preparing for my Tuesday morning class a huge scramble! I was relying on tried-and-true repeat outfits while I was trying to catch up from being gone.

Here's what I wore to the wedding:

Dress: Banana Republic outlet

Shoes: TJMaxx

Corsage: gift from the bride

Earrings: JCPenny's

Afterwards I swapped my heels for flats so J. and I could walk around downtown Madison - a fun place to spend a weekend, I must say.

It was beyond hot and humid (the Midwest in June, natch) so I was living in shorts and tank-tops. Humidity zaps the creativity right out of me.

Tank top: TJMaxx

Shorts: Columbia, ancient

Sandals: Nine West outlet

Hope everyone else had a good weekend/week!

copycat

This post from Tina totally inspired me to pull out my own green jersey dress.

This is a terrible picture because my usual picture-taking spot was filled with neighbors and I was way too self-conscious to take more than one. Oh well. The outfit was cuter in person, I promise!

Off to a wedding in the Midwest this weekend. The boyfriend and I will be attempting to fit all our clothes for three days into one little rolling suitcase, plus a garment bag for his suit. I am a terrible packer, but I am looking forward to the challenge. Bring it, little roll-y suitcase!

Dress: TJMaxx

Tank top: 2 pack from Costco

Cardigan: kersh essentials

Flats: Rocket Dogs

Scarf: ancient, TJMaxx

mmm, cinnamon

I made granola tonight and my house smells AWESOME. I think baking granola is one of the homey-est smells.

A light breezy outfit for a sunny day. I love my eyelet skirt in the summertime.

Shirt: H & M

Belt: thrifted

Skirt: TJMaxx

Sandals: Nine West outlet

Earrings: ancient

the Monday after

I spent the weekend in Pennsylvania with my family, taking part in a memorial service for my grandmother. It was a good experience, an opportunity to spend time reminiscing with people who loved my grandmother, and sharing a lot of wonderful memories. There was some travel drama (delayed flights, messed up car rentals) and I also squeezed in a 5K race. I'm glad I went, but man, it was exhausting. I need a weekend after my weekend.

For me, denim skirt + bright cotton top + neutral sweater + neutral shoes is a go-to when I'm rushed or sleepy. It's nothing especially creative but at least I felt pretty and presentable enough for teaching and meetings.

I think the kitty approves.

Top: TJMaxx

Cardigan: kersh essentials

Skirt: Levi's via Sears

Shoes: Payless

Bracelet: gifted

Earrings: hand-me-down

stripey mcgee

A haiku for my Friday outfit:



Navy and stripes need
a pop of mustard or I
look like a sailor.



Button-down: via TJMaxx
Cardigan: kersch essentials via Costco
Skirt: Banana Republic, ancient
Shoes: Target

summer sweater

I picked up this very lightweight sweater on my hooray-I-have-a-paycheck-again shopping spree, thinking that it would be a nice polished option for teaching on the cooler days of summer.

Now that I see the pictures, I'm not sold. It looks...cheap. And lumpy. Anyone know any tricks for smoothing out a sweater over a button-down? Maybe I should ditch the belt?

At least my skirt is twirly.

Sweater: GAP outlet

Blouse: Banana Republic outlet

Belt: thrifted

Skirt: j.crew outlet (okay I am sensing a theme here)

Boots: Steve Madden Girl via DSW

Bracelet: gift

Monday monday

I've really been enjoying this group of students. Our theme this week is food, so today we talked about their expectations for American food and how American food is different from Asian food. Food is an awesome topic for an ESL class - it is so deeply intertwined with culture, and everyone has strong opinions about what they like to eat!

I love this floaty white dress. I love the shaping in the bodice. I also love the deep v of the neckline, but I do a lot of bending over when I'm teaching, so I put a tank under it for modesty.

Dress: street vendor in New York, shortened by my mom

Cardigan: hand-me-down from C

Tank top: GAP body

Belt: thrifted at Goodwill

Shoes: Payless

a little behind

So this is actually what I wore last Wednesday. I love this shirtdress because it basically is an outfit on its own, making getting dressed super easy.

I brightened up the dark color with my absolute favorite scarf, and threw on my new favorite wedges for height.

Fashion blogging got shoved to the side the rest of last week as I had some serious decisions to make. I am proud to announce that next year I will be living in part of the former Yugoslavia, teaching English as part of a U.S. governmental program. Though it will be hard to leave, I think this is a great opportunity and I am excited for new adventures!

Dress: Mossimo via Target
Scarf: hand-me-down
Shoes: Bandalino via TJMaxx
Earrings: ancient

cropped

I like my cropped pants a lot better with heels. I felt tall and posh!

This outfit features pretty much all the things I like about myself - blue for my eyes, a boat neck for my clavicle, skinny pants for my legs, and strappy shoes for my feet. This outfit, I think I can say, was inspired by Dress Your Best! :)

Shirt: thrifted, Banana Republic
Pants: GAP, shortened by me
Shoes: Bandolino via TJMaxx
Earrings: gift
Ring: Alaska state fair