Trendy Tuesday: Something someone gave to you

Welcome to a new school year and a new set of Trendy Tuesday themes. If you didn't already know, I work in a school where a lot of us, even the fashionistos, get dressed based on a different theme each week. Today, I decided on my elephant jewelry from Momma dukes, a polka dot cardigan from my sister-in-law, and a dress and a pair of sandals that I bought with money from Momma, which technically means those are from her, right?

Please forgive my mirror pictures these days. Juggling an intense grad program, moving, class sponsorship, grading, planning, and life has become a bit more challenging than I anticipated. I'll figure it out soon enough. Finally moving out of this apartment by next month will surely help. I hope.

Fun fact of the day: these sandals didn't fit perfectly until I used my new leather punch from Michael's to punch another hole in the strap. I've already punched holes in some belts that needed tightening, and Jeff plans to use it on one of his belts, too. What an awesome $10 investment that was. I highly recommend it! I bought this one and also used my teacher discount at the register, so it was less than $10. 

Anyway, I hope you enjoy today's outfit. Catch me on Instagram, too (@likewo).

 

The Look:

Dress: Apt. 9 via Kohl's

Sandals: Apt. 9 via Kohl's

Cardigan: Target (gift from sister-in-law)

Belt: New York & Co.

Necklace & Earrings: Lauren Conrad via Kohl's

 

(I thought you might want to see the dress by itself. So, here it is. By itself.)

Black Dress & Green Accessories

Not long ago, this dress fit me better, so I feel a little sad that the top looks and feels looser than it has in the past. Since I began a pretty restrictive diet as a countermeasure to two solid months of antibiotics and steroids, I have lost probably 8 pounds that I didn't need or want to lose. (Honestly, I just want to feel better, and I'd rather change my diet than take more pills. After all, medication is what landed me here in the first place.) I am even trying to eat more often. Luckily, my doctor approves of the diet and even gave me a blog to visit for tips on gaining back some weight while cutting out foods that could cause me harm right now. In fact, he printed out the main page from the blog and handed it to me. The solution? Eat more fat (coconut oil, olive oil, avocados, eggs, etc.) to replace the lack of sugar and carbs.

Quick recap of what I'm not eating in an attempt to kill an overgrowth of yeast in my body: sugar of all kinds (even fruit, except for lemons and limes, for a short while), processed foods, peanuts, most dairy (except yogurt), rice, corn, pork, potatoes, beans, fermented foods, and pretty much anything starchy/high in sugar. (Essentially, all "trigger" foods are out of my diet.)

Quick recap of what I am eating: almonds, walnuts, buckwheat, quinoa, vegetables (and lots of them), fish, chicken, eggs, turkey, beef, coconut oil, avocados, lots of spices on foods, lemons, limes, plain yogurt high in live cultures, olives (in water, not vinegar), and oat bran. (It's amazing how many recipes I've found to match up with these ingredients.)

By the end of August, I will reintroduce some foods in small doses like some vegetables that are more starchy (ex: sweet potatoes), low-sugar fruits (ex: blueberries, strawberries, and green apples), and beans.

The diet has been manageable for the past month until Mother Nature and all of her cravings hit me today. I think I hallucinated pizza at one point. Know that this cute outfit and I hung out on Monday. Today, it was all about the sweatpants, ugly hair, and an HGTV marathon when I wasn't napping. At least I know I possess a willpower something fierce. I need to channel that same willpower when I'm shopping.

A big shout out goes to my husband who has tirelessly researched foods to eat and ways to help me through this journey. In fact, he's eating all of the same meals with me and offered no complaints when I asked him to go grocery shopping today and buy feminine products for me. (He even knows exactly which kind to get.) What a man, what a man, what a mighty good man. Yes, he is.

 

The Look:

Dress: Target (similar, inexpensive option)

Sandals: Franco Sarto via TJ Maxx (exact)

Belt: Target (similar)

Necklace (with a little cut out shaped like Maryland): Lou Lou in Georgetown (lots of options at this Etsy shop)

Reverse 30x30: I think I figured out polka dot tights?

My girl, Brynn, inspired me for this item, polka dot tights, on my reverse 30x30. Why is something so fun an enormous source of sartorial confusion for me? Thank you, Brynn, for making me realize how perfectly they would complement this dress. 

I can't stop wearing these hand-me-down booties from Mom. Plus, they add a little bit of edge to the outfit. No? Wait until you see the next pair of booties she gave to me. They're YELLOW! Seriously, prepare to feel overwhelmed by jealousy. 

Do I look like I'm still celebrating Christmas because of this red sweater? If so, I do not care. When the weather outside is frightful, continuing to wear Christmas colors is so delightful. 

Thank you to those of you who wished me well after yesterday's post. If people you have met only online are kind to you, then there's a lot more to be grateful about in this world. Also, as I told someone, I am a silver-lining hunter. I allow myself only a small amount of time to feel any sort of self pity because, honestly, where does that get me? It just dumps me into a land of dreariness. I heard somewhere that life is 10% circumstance and 90% attitude; you cannot control what happens to you, but you can control how you respond to it. Ultimately, I choose happiness. 

Think about it. I might have crappy sinuses and crappy teeth and a lot of other crappy body parts. However, as a result, I have learned a lot about nutrition. I have a "team" of doctors who are extremely helpful people, and I truly believe I am slowly but surely traveling on the road to recovery.  I spent so many years sick without anything definitive to explain the sicknesses. Now, I actually have answers. I have a lot of compassionate, funny, helpful people who surround me (both online and offline). I have my career, my awesome colleagues, and my endearing students. 

I have my family, my friends, and my fur babies. 

Often, I might not feel great physically, but I feel great emotionally. 

And I'm okay with that. :)

The Look:

Dress: Target--they need to make more of these! (Here's a very similar one from Gap; I have it in gray. I love love love it.)

Turtleneck: The Limited (similar from JCPenny)

Belt: The Limited (similar from Target)

Booties: From Mom :)

Tights: The Limited (similar from Target)

Necklace: Target 

Detail shot of the tights :)

Linking up with

Because Shanna Said So

and

The Pleated Poppy

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Similar outfits that involve layers under a dress:

A button up under this very same dress!

original post

my striped version of the black dress:

(I LOVE YOU, TARGET.)

original post

(Someone tell me how else to style this dress in the winter? What other color can I wear with it? Maybe I should've added it to my 30x30.)

Trendy Tuesday...A Date Late (Again)

Eventually, Trendy Tuesday will happen and post ON TRENDY TUESDAY. You can thank the inclement weather for this week's delay. Don't worry; she also peed all over the plans I took four hours to write for my AP students this month. It's cool, Mother Nature. It's cool.

Anyway, a few weeks ago, my co-teacher thought up the idea of a themed day once a week. A bunch of us got in on the action and decided to pick a day and name it. We landed on Trendy Tuesdays. Here was last week's if you're curious. 

This week's theme was flannel and scarves. The rules are relaxed, so interpret the theme as you wish. (My co-teacher settled on a scarf that was flannel, a double threat kind of wardrobe piece.)

Who wants to join us next week? 

Next Tuesday's theme is Red and White (read: candy cane).  

We post on Instagram and tag with #trendytuesday. 

I don't know how to do those fancy link ups (feel free to tutor me if you wish), but my colleagues and I would love your participation. Feel free to write up a post on Tuesday (or a day late), tag me on Instagram, send a picture via carrier pigeon, whatever strikes our fancy, and label it Trendy Tuesday. It's a revolution, people. I don't know what we're revolting against exactly, but it might have something to do with Uggs and leggings worn without something to cover one's bum. 

Let's carry on with our looks of the day. 

First up: my look.

The Outfit:

Flannel shirt: Old Navy (it's current, folks.) Get yours here. 

The Dress: Target (best dress I've ever bought. If they made it in 50 colors, I'd buy them all. I already bought the blue floral/whatever it is pattern and the coral and black striped one.) 

The Boots: Etienne Aigner via Macy's (does anyone know how to pronounce that brand's name?)

Tights: The Limited (they have the BEST opaque tights. They're on sale for $10. Go get ya some.)

Scarf: Calvin Klein via DSW 

Belt: Target clearance last year or something 

And here are all of our outfits! I told students today, and they are already so excited to jump on the Trendy Tuesday train. I hope the next picture is of a LOT more people! 

Will you join us next Trendy Tuesday for our red and white theme? 

Linking up for WIWW.

Teacher Wardrobe Staples: Part 3 [The Outfits]

So, Mom brought over her real camera and her real skills to take this part of the series' photographs. HOLY AWESOMENESS. 

Happy Birthday to me.

I know I said I couldn't write this post today, but the birthday fairies granted me two hours of extra time to work it in :) 

In case you're new, I've started a Teacher Wardrobe Series.

Part 1: The Stores

Part 2: The Basics 

Today is Part 3: The Outfits. 

(Tomorrow is Part 4: The Inspiration, which features readers. You could be a part of it! See more information about it at the end of this post.)

First, I did not pull all of the items from Part 2 to create these looks.

(I'll also need to write a post that includes some considerations after having created outfits with the items. I'm realizing the holes I have in my closet!) 

I'm sorry, but that is a lot of picture taking, and what will I show you for the next month!?

Now, here are the staples I pulled together for this post:

Gingham shirt, blue oxford, striped shirt, yellow (and feminine) blouse,

cobalt blue blazer, khaki blazer, and black blazer

White cardigan, gray cardigan, khaki skirt, black skirt, 

black pants, khaki/brown pants, cobalt skirt, polka dot skirt

black dress, striped dress, cap toe flats, nude kitten heels, black heels, cobalt blue wedges

IMPORTANT NOTE #1: I did NOT create all of the outfits that I could have created because I started to get sweaty and tired. I think what I've provided here is plenty of inspiration, especially since I have some other lovely ladies' outfits to show you tomorrow! 

IMPORTANT NOTE #2: Except for belts, I did not accessorize. If you want to see the series to continue with a post on accessorizing, feel free to let me know. I like you, so I can make it happen.

So, here goes:

The striped dress is great with a blazer, a cardigan, heels, flats, belted, or not belted.

A look I did not include but would be cute is the blue oxford tied over top and knotted in the front.

 (Or a black blazer instead of a white cardigan)

I'm seeing so many more possibilities now that I'm reviewing the pictures.

A black dress works well with a button up, a blazer, or a cardigan. 

OR ANYTHING.

Mom did NOT take the last three pictures. They were in the archive. 

I wanted to include them because one look shows a printed skirt, another shows a printed dress, and the last shows a more casual Friday kind of look.

Your colored blazer does not have to be cobalt blue, but I bet you want one now! 

Who would've thought a little yellow blouse could cover so much sartorial ground?

I prefer it tucked in, but it looks great loose. 

I love the two skirt looks. 

LOOK! My husband came home during the photo shoot and matched one of my outfits. I made him pose with me. As you can see, he's excited. 

Obviously, I could include a bajillion outfits with the striped shirt, but I've already written a post on striped shirt inspiration. (Excuse some of the dead pictures. I need to figure out how to fix those! I didn't know some of them died until just now.)

In all of these looks, both shirts are interchangeable, which is why I included them on a collage together.

I think the khaki skirt look is my favorite. I'm excited to wear it to work! 

After writing this post, I am so game for a 30x30 challenge. Right here, I have 14 looks, and I could easily double them. And I only have 21 items here instead of 30. I might have inspired myself. 

What a cheeseball. And a narcissist. 

If you would like to see me write more posts like this one, I'd love to have your feedback. 

Don't forget to e-mail me a picture of you wearing your favorite teacher outfit. 

(You do NOT have to be a teacher; it can be a teacher-inspired ensemble.)

(You do NOT have to be a blogger either!)

If you ARE a blogger and the picture comes from a post on your blog, provide me with the link to the original content, please! If you're not a blogger, tell me how you'd prefer I credit you :) 

E-mail me at

teamwebchick@gmail.com