Foliage Inspired?

What if every one of my post titles just includes a random vocabulary word? Yesterday's was "profundity." (Aside: say that word aloud. You cannot help but smile because the word FUN is inside of it.) How do you like today's? Foliage. I like that word. It starts with an F, just like fun. 

Speaking of the letter F, can I just tell all of you how fantastic you are for your kind comments on yesterday's post? I particularly like what Andi said: "Just because something isn't super deep doesn't mean it's not valuable." Right on, Andi. Right on. We often say how trivial certain things are, but isn't it the small things that often make the greatest difference?

Also, my co-teacher is just tickled that multiple people outside of our building are participating in Trendy Tuesday. I showed her my Instagram feed, and she declared, "We're going GLOBAL!" Gosh, I adore that woman. We're still dreaming up ideas for next week's theme. Feel free to throw your suggestions at us! Just remember that it must be a theme in which both guys and gals can participate. Our most avid male participant was so sad that he couldn't participate in person today. As a result, he e-mailed this video to me: Rapping Irish Craziness (I gave it that name. Surprised? Probably not.)

The Look:

Cardigan: The Limited (same)

Pants: Columnist Pant in Slim Cut (same)

Boots: b.o.c. via DSW

Scarf: Gift from a student (ummm...sort of close?)

Lace shirt: The Limited 

I'm not on drugs though my squinty eyes might suggest otherwise. 

I guess I really needed those shades. 

Of course, this picture might have you believing otherwise.

Yes, I am naturally that sexy.

Yeah, you're welcome.

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Linking up with

Shanna

and

WIWW

Parent-Teacher Conferences (Part 2)

Well, if 10"+ of snow weren't staring at me from below my apartment window, this outfit is what I would be wearing for conferences tonight. Instead, I'm wearing 15-year-old pajama pants, a thermal shirt, and a North Face zipper up. (Hey, it all matches.)

So, we had conferences last night. The snow had started to fall and stick on the roads when I finally left the building after conferences. When I stepped into the parking lot, who was there? My husband. He had cleaned off my car, started it, pushed the heated seat button, and drove behind me so as to keep people off my butt. Seriously, I hit the husband jackpot. Currently, he is driving his truck to his parents' house 15-20 minutes away so that he can shovel their driveway for them. On Saturday, I have a massage appointment that's "not for Valentine's Day because we're not getting each other anything." That man's kindness never ceases to amaze me.

Okay, I'll bypass the sappiness and continue with what would have been today's outfit.

The Look:

Blazer: LOFT (on SUPER sale but very few sizes left--I got it for $32, which is quite a score for a gorgeous LOFT blazer like this one!)

Skirt: LOFT (close option from Target)

Shirt: New York and Company (really cute $9 options at Kohl's)

Tights: The Limited (can't find them online anymore)

Boots: b.o.c. via DSW (bought them almost two years ago)

I wanted to make you laugh today, so I included the following two pictures.

I'm not entirely sure what I was doing, but it wasn't bringing sexy back.

I laugh so hard. She snapped a picture of me as I disgustedly asked, "IS THAT A DEAD BIRD CARCASS IN THE TREE!?" Mom assured me it was not, but I'm still speculating.

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Linking up with

What I Wore to Work

All Things Thursday

and

Look What I Got

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Join our red and white link up :)

Parent-Teacher Conferences Outfit

This Friday, Ginny and Jenn will run another Style Swap link up (learn more here). This week, several ladies and I are hosting a red & pink themed link up (join any day you wish!) 

Both link ups helped find inspiration for this look. 

You see, today and tomorrow (weather permitting), I have parent-teacher conferences, so I wanted to be especially dressy. Sometimes, I wear pants for conferences and, more often, I wear skirts. To find inspiration, I sought out Kate's blog because girlfriend knows how to dress for work. Plus, I'm always a fan of her color combinations. She rocks a pencil skirt like no one I've ever met, but I'm more of a circle or a-line skirt kind of gal myself. 

Kate also loves blazers, bright colors, and stripes, three of my very favorite things. I decided on this look because I recently bought this skirt after a very long hunt. Perk? I found it for half off, a mere $25 for this beauty who will see a whole lot of the world outside of my closet. I like Kate's flats in her look, but I'm boot girl, especially during the winter months. I love the ruffles on her shirt, but my red option had no ruffles. The necklace is a fine substitute, yes?

Note: my eyes disappear in many of these photos because my Mom was being ridiculous. My eyes sort of run away when I laugh. 

The Look:

Blazer: Express (so old)

Blouse: LOFT (not a bright red, but the colors for this tie blouse are quite lovely.)

Skirt: New York & Co. (exact)

Necklace: Target 

Belt: Came with another dress 

Tights: The Limited (I love their opaque tights, but I can't find them online. BOO.)

Boots: b.o.c. via DSW (please never let these boots die)

Not sure what my hair is doing over there on the left, but let's just go with it.

(We are perfect together because of his goony smile and my spastic octopus hairs.)

Tomorrow, I'll show you my other parent-teacher conference look. I can't stop laughing at some of the photos for that one. (I will show you these looks even if snow cancels the conferences.)

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Linking up with

WIWW

and

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At least puppies are cute when they whine...

Teenagers, on the other hand, are most definitely not cute when they whine. I don't know about you other teachers, but all of these snow days and late starts are making my students whiny and lazy, a combination that makes me want to smack my face against the chalkboard.

Let's run down the typical cause and effect scenarios that occur on a much-too-regular basis in my classroom.

Cause: I rearrange the desks so that they're in rows.
Effect: "WHAT!? Are we taking a test!?"


Cause: I tell students to get out a sheet of notebook paper.
Effect: "WHAT!? Are we taking a test?!"


Cause: I schedule a test one week in advance. On the day of the test, I ask students to get out a #2 pencil.
Effect: "WHAT!? Are we taking a test!?"


Cause: I tell students we're taking a test.
Effect: "WHAT!? Are we taking a test?!"


Cause: "WHAT!? Are we taking a test!?"
Effect: I smack my face against the chalkboard.


With that, I bring you to the cute portion of our show today: my parents' new puppies. Well, you get to see one of them, but they look *pretty much* the same. Meet Sammy.

The Look:

Jeggings: American Eagle high-rise 

Boots: Etienne Aigner via Macy's (old)

Vest: Under Armour (last year?) and scored it for $30 down from $120!

Sweater: Holy crap, it's from J.Crew, but I actually bought it for $7 on thredUP, hee hee.

Scarf: gift from a student :) 

Later on, I realized I must have been subconsciously inspired by this pin. Is there such a thing as pinterest amnesia? If not, there should be. 

This picture is the only full-length shot you get. We were more concerned with pictures of his cute face next to mine. 

I want to go back and play with them again. Right this second.

 (I had to show you his cute Mickey sweater!)

LOOK AT THAT FACE. I WANT TO COVER IT IN KISSES. 

Yeah, he's standing on his gross, little pee pad, but he's so cute that I didn't think you would mind.

Some facts about the boys:

Names:

Sammy (featured here) and Rudy 

Weight:

Sammy is 2.5 pounds in these pictures, but he has since gained a very tiny bit of weight. 

Full grown, he and his brother are supposed to weigh no more than 7 pounds.

Breed:

Pure bred Yorkies (they're specifically called Parti Yorkies.)

Likes:

Rudy enjoys fighting with his brother and, more recently, pooping on top of his crate, a physical feat no one yet understands.

Sammy enjoys eating hair and curling up in the crook of Mom's neck.

They both love to snuggle and nap.

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Linking up with

Fab Friday

and

Favorite Fashion Friday

I ate a horseshoe.

Only that statement could explain my very recent luck. Back in November, I told you how to avoid J.Crew (which really boiled down to how to avoid J.Crew in winter because you are allergic to the store's high-wool content. When I say "you," I really mean I.) Well, a week ago, I entered a giveaway hosted by GroopDealz on Instagram; they were offering up $150 to J.Crew. Seriously, for a giveaway that requires so much less effort than the 40+ things you have to do for nearly every blog giveaway, how could I not try?

Let us fast forward to this morning. After two weeks of antibiotics and in anticipation of a third week, I've been feeling--ummmm, how do I put this?--less than wonderful. This morning was particularly unkind to me, but I scolded myself and said, "get your butt to school, Danielle. It's just the stupid antibiotics. You'll feel better once you sarcastically reply to some witty teenager's remark." In the car, as I waited for the heated seats to toast my behind, I hopped on Instagram to check out the visual scene.

To my surprise, the bottom of the screen lit up in orange. Those wonderful little orange notifications brought me to a page with a few tagged comments that linked my Instagram handle (@likewo) and the word "congrats." On WHAT, you say? That $150 J.Crew gift card giveaway. Be still, my weak and antibiotic-laden stomach. Elle Woods was right. Endorphins make you happy, and happy people don't kill people. Well, that rush of endorphins actually made me feel better for the rest of the day. Magical, I tell you. And no one died by my hands today.

Is it pathetic that I am grateful for the gift card but even more grateful that the news of that gift card made me physically feel better for the rest of the day? So, thanks, GroopDealz, you proved how medicinal endorphins can be--maybe I need to work out in the mornings!?--and, from you, I learned that gift cards can now be sent via e-mail. It's like some fancy, electronic sorcery of the most exciting kind.

P.S. I am writing this post one day before you're reading it, which means these events happened on Tuesday. I hope you're not feeling confused now.

P.P.S. What are good, gotta-have-it buys at J.Crew? It's not a store I frequent, so I'm feeling a bit like a baby deer learning to use its legs.

P.P.P.S. Thank you to all of the people and companies who host giveaways. It's so kind and generous of you to do.

My colleague called this my "channeling Sarah Connors" look. 

(The Terminator Sarah Connors, in case you Google her and find some other chick)

The Look:

Sweater: Express (IT'S SO COMFY!)

Shirt: Express

Pants: Old Navy Rockstars 

Boots: Etienne Aigner via Macy's a few years ago

Necklace: New York & Co. a few years ago

Linking up with

Shanna

and

The Pleated Poppy

And so the "Reverse" 30x30 begins.

In case you missed it, yesterday, I told you about my challenge for the month of January. I'm dubbing it, for lack of something more creative, "Reverse 30x30." It's "reverse" because, unlike a 30x30, which involves isolating 30 items from your closet and remixing just those pieces, you take 30 items that you want to reintroduce into your wardrobe. You choose clothes that you love (or think you could love), but rarely show the love. This challenge is a concentrated effort to make all of your closet well-loved. If, by the end of the challenge, you decide to donate/consign/sell any of the 30 items you chose, that's perfectly fine. You're one step closer to a fully well-loved closet. Right?

My first item of clothing is the Lauren Conrad polka dot button down. I love me some dots, I love me some LC, and I love me some button downs, but this shirt just sits on the sidelines. Not today, folks. Not today.

My method for success? It's two fold.
First: pair the shirt with well-loved items (black boots and burgundy pants) and new items that excite me (black cardigan and red necklace).
Second: make the shirt part of a color scheme I always fall back on (black, white, and burgundy)

Will I keep this shirt? Absolutely. It will definitely become well-loved. In fact, I have a few more ways to wear it.

Next time? Boyfriend blazer and jeans with heels?
Or one of these looks that I pinned:
polka dot shirt under dress
polka dot shirt with jean jacket, green necklace, and heels
polka dot shirt with cobalt

How I wore it today?

"Reversed" Item: Polka dot button down (Lauren Conrad via Kohl's)

Pants: Old Navy Rockstar skinnies

Boots: Etienne Aigner via Macy's

Cardigan: Express

Necklace: gift

Feel free to join me for this challenge. It can be for a day, a week, two weeks, the whole 30, whatever! If you participate at any point, I'd love for you to send me an e-mail or comment with the link to your outfit post. 

:)

-Danielle 

Linking up with The Pleated Poppy for What I Wore Wednesday. 

Pinterest, I Own You.

A few people keep asking me to write a post about my hair, but I'm going to throw some truth at you: I have no idea what I'm doing. I have a weird system that works for me, but I'm not entirely sure I can explain it to others; however, I can give it the ol' college try. If I do explain it to those of you who visit this corner of the internet, how do I go about it? Do I film in Photobooth? Do I edit on iMovie? Do I post it on YouTube? Do I set up my tripod while my bathroom mirror and I are hanging out? I can assure you that I do not dare ask my husband to grumble and videotape while I get gussied up.  Also, if I explain my mane, what do you want to know? Do you want to know how I go four days without washing it but still remain presentable? Do you want to know how I curl it? Do you want to know which products I use? 

I'm so confused, dear readers.

If you visit me often, you might already catch the drift that I'm a weirdo of the most endearing sort, but video will provide you more proof than you might be able to handle. 

Why am I even talking about my hair today? Well, take a look at my locks in these photos. Best hair day ever? Quite possibly. I finally figured out my new curling iron. 

The Outfit:

Dress: Gift from Mom (she bought it at Kohl's)

Scarf: Boscov's, I think. 

Belt: The Limited

Sweater: Old Navy

Boots: b.o.c. via DSW

One of my male friends inquired about whether or not belting my scarf was deliberate. Yes, friend, it was deliberate. After all, I need to keep my crumb catcher in place. Plus, I need to prove to Pinterest that I can do things like this. I also wore a sweater over a dress, which was inspired by her. Awesome hair, leopard print, lace dress, red/black/white combination, AND sweater over a dress?

Ladies and gents, I HAVE ARRIVED. 

(I call this my "I almost fell into the stain on the pavement while trying to pose" look. Don't let my smirk fool you into believing I'm coordinated.)

Previously, I wore the dress like this:

Peter Pan?

Moving might just be the world's best way to convince yourself that there's shit you don't need, and there's a lot of shit I just don't need. 72 electric tea lights? Go away. 

Of course, then you realize how much shit you really have. And, quite often, you have many of one particular item...in every color. 392 blankets in a basket puked on by rainbows and ponies? 

WHY NOT 397? 

And I'm dropping the s bomb on you. A lot. 

I think there is something in the blood of high school teachers that makes us potty mouths. Or, I just hang out with equally sailor mouthed individuals. Or, I'm a terrible influence. Or, both. Furthermore, my Mom Mom always told us that "shit, damn, and hell" are fair game. 

Thanks for the validation, Mom Mom. 

The Outfit:

Scarf: Handmade by Momma dukes

Top: Old Navy (recent)

Cardigan: Target

Skirt: Clearance rack at Target

Boots: Macy's

(I think the belt came with a dress?)

The Details:

Occasion: Teaching

Notes: If this skirt hangs on the clearance rack at your Target, BUY IT. It's the perfect length, the material is comfortable, and I found it for $15. Do I look like Peter Pan? Why do I feel like I look like Peter Pan? 

Linking up with Style Sessions.

I'm so smart I scare myself.

So, I wore this open cardigan this way last December. This time around, creativity tipped its hat to me, so I [brilliantly] decided to wrap it around me and belt it. My Uncle David always said this line to me: "I'm so smart I scare myself." Obviously, I scared him sometimes, too. He also refers to things as being "beautimous." Not sure if anyone else ever says this word, but good ol' Uncle David does. Look at that: my beautimous outfit is so smart I scare me. I kindly thank you, fashion blogs, for inspiring me to rethink my wardrobe. 

I need you to know that these boots are the most comfortable boots to ever grace my feet. Holy cannoli. They're b.o.c. brand, and I bought them on SUPER sale at DSW. Sometimes, that store just blows me giant, sloppy kisses with its awesome finds like this one and these awesome gold flats. I was going to wear these really cute black booties from my mom (she always gives me shoes she realizes she can't wear--hooray for being the same size!), but they looked weird with the jeans. I already turned out all of the lights upstairs; I wasn't about to rethink my pant situation.  

The Outfit:

Cardigan: Urban Outfitters

Belt: Pac Sun

Jeans: The Limited

Boots: b.o.c. via DSW

Earrings: Target

The Details:

Occasion: Forty of the students and a handful of the teachers participated in what's called Safe School Ambassador program. It was an all-day, informal setting in our school's media center. (Such an enriching experience. Truly.) The media center is usually one of the cooler parts of the building, so I dressed for the venue. I could move around comfortably, and I wasn't too hot. 

Comments: The students loved this sweater, and I especially loved it styled this way. When I snuck into the hallway for a bathroom break, one of my previous students informed me that I was going to take her shopping. I agreed that I will take her shopping when she graduates next year; she seemed quite satisfied, and I am a woman of my word. Let it be known that I felt a *smidge* like a high schooler because I was sporting clothing from both UO and Pac Sun. 

Participating in the boots & booties link-up here and here. 

Bumblebees Got it Right

Black and yellow. They just go if you ask me. I like making sunshine and darkness befriend one another. Granted, I do try avoiding that whole black and yellow stripes combination because I suppose only bumblebees can pull off that look. However, black and white stripes with a pop of yellow makes for a lovely combination, right?

I considered pairing today's dress with a military vest, but I decided that look was too casual for a Tuesday at work. Plus, I keep telling myself to give more love to unloved (yet wonderful) items in my closet. Meet my sleeveless cardigan.

This necklace. OH, this necklace. It's large and in charge like my hair, which means I dig it. Plus, it's an obnoxiously bright yellow, which gives me another reason to dig it. It also cost $13 at Charlotte Russe. Triiiiifecta of awesomeness.

As for these boots, HOLY CRAP ON A STICK. Not only am I wearing sunshine, but I'm walking on clouds. These boots might honestly be the most comfortable shoes I own, and I got them for $50 (down from $140) at DSW. Because of them, I scored a free striped bag. I'm winning like Charlie Sheen over here. But, seriously, these boots are "gushy" as my Momma would say. Since she might read this post, I'll tell you a funny story about the purchase of these boots.

You see, I was in DSW with my Momma because she's my favorite person to shop with, of course. I put on the right boot and thought, "ooo, I like these." I decided to try on the left boot, but it felt funny and made this horrible squishing sound. I said, "I don't think these boots will work. They squish and feel really funny on the left foot." I took off the boots, and what did I find? That weird little plastic shoe horn was still inside of the left boot. Even my mom wonders how I got the boot on while that thing was in there. All I know is that taking it out made the boot much more comfortable, and they came home with me. They go with skirts, dresses, skinny pants, and they'll look good under pants (an important piece of criteria for this purchase.)

 P.S. I was talking to Jeff while he took these photos, which is why it looks like I'm not smiling. I really am happy. I swear.

Outfit Deets:

Dress: Old Navy (similar from Old Navy--only $20)

Belt: NY & Co (similar for $15)

Necklace: Charlotte Russe (similar from Etsy shop)

Boots: b.o.c via DSW (exact for $60)

Cardigan: Old and don't know! (similar for $7.90)

Linking up for the first time with Style Elixir.