Backstreet's Back, Alright.

I bet you missed me, right? 

As you should because I'M.SO.FUN.

and humble.

(And even better in real life.)

So, my best friend got married. 

I wore this:

IT HAD POCKETS. WHAAAAAAT?! 

One of which held a tissue covered in both the bride's and groom's snot.

If that's not love, then I don't know what is.

(I'll tell you more about it all another day...preferably one that involves more pictures!)

I also finished my monster paper for grad class. Whew, what a relief. 

I can officially reenter society.

Since a lot of people complimented today's outfit, I thought I'd share it with ya.

One of my students asked me what was with my hair lately.

I responded, "This is my I-value-sleep-more-than-hair look." 

Anyone else have those 'dos? This one has withstood the test of time.

It was my trusty 'do in high school, too. 

Gosh, I'm cool.

Aaaaand, you're welcome.

Outfit Details:

Shirt: Express (similar)

Cardigan: NY & Co. (similar)

Pants: NY & Co. (similar)

Shoes: Aerosoles via Marshall's (similar)

Belt: Target

Linkin' this piece up with WIWW and Shanna.

5 Days, 5 Ways: Casual Friday

This outfit never made it onto the blog, but it's so sinfully comfortable that it belongs with today's Casual Friday post. Seriously, I felt like I was wearing pajamas all day. Oh, and I didn't adopt a carpenter; that's my Dad. He rocked chambray before chambray was cool on anyone other than a cowboy. Yee haw.

Look #1: A blazer pulls everything together, especially if it's a gold blazer.

Blazer: Mod Cloth

Jeans: Lauren Conrad via Kohl's

Flats: Target

Scarf: Handmade by Momma, of course

Look #2: Chambray and colored pants

Chambray: Rock & Republic via Kohl's

Pants: Candie's via Kohl's (noticing a trend?)

Boots: Franco Sarto via Marshall's

Studded Necklace: Forever 21

Look #3: Peplum, Dark Skinny Jeans, Flats, and a Military Jacket

Top: LOFT

Pants: NY & Co.

Flats: Urban Outfitters

Jacket: Forever 21

Necklace: The Limited

Look #4: Wide Leg Jeans & Blazer

(I swear you could wear this on a Monday.)

Blazer: Jennifer Lopez via Kohl's

Top: Express

Pants: J Brand via Marshall's

Brown Wedges (can't see 'em): Aersoles via Marshall's

Look #5: belted cardigan with skinny jeans

I remember only where I got the cardigan: Express.

All of the looks in one place. 

Which look is your favorite? Mine is, without a doubt, the orange blazer and wide-leg jeans outfit. 

No contest. However, the red pants outfit is soooo comfortable. 

Joining Fran & Whitney for the last day of 5 Days, 5 Ways:

Peekaboo Lace

Though this title is mildly suggestive, I assure you there's no funny business going on in this post. For Marion's challenge of the month, styling lace, I went with something a bit different that incorporates some of my favorite things: plaid, flannel, lace, and bright colors. I rather like my little bit of girly, little bit dude-ish, little bit casual, and little bit sophisticated. And what do you know? I'm a little bit of wowe. That's how it's done, folks. 

Note: tights are not my favorite, but they are a necessary evil at the moment.

(Damn you, cold, pale legs.) 

I love orange and blue together. Of course, I'll tell you that very same thing when I wear just about any other color combination. I just love color, and who am I to resist it? 

I need to brush my hair.  Yikes. 

I really can't wait for the weather to warm up so that I can get this porch in tip top shape. 

I considered boots, but I love these brown wedges...a lot...and decided they were better for a work environment (not that boots aren't good for a work environment).

Outfit Deets: 

Plaid Shirt: Old Navy (all they have left)

Blue Skirt: The Limited (very similar)

Brown Wedges: Aerosoles via Marshall's 

Lace Shirt: The Limited (straight up sexy)

Earrings: Kohl's

Oh, and I also styled the plaid shirt this way. 

If you want to see some other fashionable ladies, check out Marion, Shanna, and The Pleated Poppy. 

Starfish and Stripes

I love my new starfish necklace. I love this top. I love this skirt (my favorite one, in fact). I love these shoes. I love ALL blazers. (Seriously, I have a problem and have since probably the seventh grade.)

As a result, I figured, "How can I go wrong?" Plus, all of these loves coordinate with one another. 

Ah, Monday perfection. 

Jeff is fixing fish stuffed with shrimp tossed over gluten-free pasta. Ladies, I found me a winner. 

Anywho, I need to grade some essays before graduate class tonight. We'll be discussing our reading of Frankenstein. I like Frankenstein WAY better than Descartes. Way better. 

Of course, I like naps best of all. 

Happy Monday, folks. 

I couldn't explain my feet to you in this picture if I tried. Seriously. 

Outfit Deets:

Blazer: Monteau via Marshall's (similar)

Top: Old Navy (exact)

Skirt: The Limited (similar)

Tights: NO idea (I think Momma bought them for me.)

Shoes: Aerosoles via Marshall's (similar)

Linking up with YOLO Mondays (even though I hate the term YOLO because there are actually other things besides living that you do only once). 

Orange Blazer & Navy Stripes

FYI: This post was inspired by Marionberry Style's stripes challenge, but I had to wear this outfit on Monday, not Wednesday, because I just couldn't control myself!

Allow me to show you my weekend (after I recovered from a wicked sinus infection) in pictures.

My parents, Jeff, and I went to see the lights since it was the last weekend.

You drive around, listen to a specific radio station, and watch the lights dance to the tunes.

Is it normal to feel motion sickness because the lights are flashing too quickly for your brain to process them? Yeah, I didn't think it was normal either.

At the same place, there's an arcade when you park at the end of the light show.

Mom and Jeff battled in Dance Dance Revolution. I have no pictures of that wondrous sight. Only videos. However, Dad and Jeff faced off in Nascar. It went something like this:

Jeff earned first place. 

Dad earned 24th/25th.

He then proclaimed, "I am going to throw up. This stuff messes with your head. Jeff, how do you do this stuff?" Jeff probably said something about Dad being a pansy. I probably laughed.

Yes, that blur is Dad's middle finger. Yes, it's on purpose.

We then went to this delicious Italian restaurant that even served gluten-free pizza for me!

My pretty Momma.

She made my WARM gray scarf :)

I keep telling her that she needs an Etsy shop.

Apparently, he's pretending to shoot something. 

This is Dad's smile. 

Now that you've enjoyed my weekend, too, I'll introduce you to today's outfit. 

One student told me that I looked like a hippy.

To that, my husband said, "A very dressy hippy. A 'dippy'."

Here's why today was awesome:

1. I had enough time to blow dry my hair this morning. 

2. I watched three people get popped by radar. I was not one of them. 

3. I switched it up and wore jeans on a Monday. I was sick on Friday, so I couldn't wear my jeans to work. I wanted a do over, so I let myself have one. 

4. I wore stripes.

5. I wore a blazer.

6. I wore a bright color (my favorite kind of color).

7. My legs were excited for extra space in pants that weren't "skinny."

8. Some long awaited packages finally arrived on my porch today :)

For the record, my blazer is a deep orange, NOT red.

When my husband makes me laugh, I lose my eyes.

Outfit Deets:

Blazer: J.Lo via Kohl's (exact for $24--use that Kohl's cash!)

Top: Express (here's one for $29.99)

Pants: J Brand via TJ Maxx (This pair from Uniqlo is $19.90)

Shoes (brown wedges): Aerosole's via Marshall's (these are kind of cute)

Necklace: Stella & Dot

Watch: Timex via Kohl's 

I do hope your weekend was enjoyable :) 

Linking up with Mode Monday and YOLO Mondays.

Fields of Gold

Okay, there are no fields, but there is some gold in this post, and what a great song by Sting. Right?

I can only imagine what my neighbors or the people who drive on that busy road behind my house wonder as they watch me moving around a camera tripod in my backyard. At least I am taking pictures of me and not them, which would be creepier.

At one point this year, I told my mom that I'm not a fan of gold. I said something about how it doesn't look good on me, and blah, blah, blah. Silver is better. Blah, blah, blah. Hot dog, have I proven myself to be a big, fat liar. I have bought gold shoes, this gold necklace, this gold top (can't really see the gold in this picture because I need to improve my self-protrait skills), and I'm sure there's more to come. 

I wanted you to see my Sasha Fierce face. And there you have it.

It's not sunny outside, but I'm squinting. I think I'm actually mean mugging the self timer on my camera.

Blazer & Necklace: NY & Co.
Pants: The Limited (and they're not skinny pants! WHAT!?)
Shoes & Purse: Marshalls (pretty sure the shoes are Aerosoles, but fact checking requires movement, which I don't intend on doing)
Shirt: The Limited (on sale, hooray!)

I know that, yesterday, I posted about picture poses to strike, but this one hand on the other arm thing does not work as well for me as it does for other ladies. I feel super awkward (big surprise there). I'd like to say it's because I was wearing a blazer, and they're not always the most flexible items of clothing, but, if I'm being honest, I know it's just because I'm a little bit like Gumby.

I'd like to add some color to this outfit. What would you suggest?

Since it's November, I shall tell you something that I'm thankful for. I'm thankful for not having killed a child this week. I'm not saying I haven't had to talk myself out of it, but at least I'm not being carried away in handcuffs because for the millionth time, a kid has asked me the question that I just answered...three times. Keep calm and teach on, Wo.

Kicking it in Khaki

On Mondays and Wednesdays, I take a pilates class near work, so there's no way I'm putting my outfit back on once my t-shirt and yoga pants have become my second skin. Sorry, folks.

To make matters worse, I'm still not comfortable asking a coworker to take my picture, so you get these grainy Photo Booth pictures...and the craziness happening with the hairs on the right side of my head. 

However, you get to see my classroom in all of its equally crazy glory. 

Also, please excuse my pedometer. I'm so fit.

Top: Marshall's 

Skirt: The Limited (last year)

Shoes: Aerosoles from Marshall's 

Can I tell you that I should have been born on a boat? I cannot stop buying striped clothing. I have a serious problem. 

I love this skirt, and these shoes. I stand all day long, and my feet still felt great by the end of the day. Yay! Here's a close up of these bad boys.

Since you can't really tell in these pictures, I'll tell you that they're suede, brown wedges. How awesome. 

Want to see my outfit from this weekend? I know you doooo. It's pretty spectacular.

You know how everyone is wearing these green adirondack coats and how they cost a lot of money? Not mine. I found it at F21 for maybe $25. I'm amazing, I know. 

Anyway, here are the deets:

Top: The Limited

Coat: F21

Stretchy pants: Marshall's (too lazy to go find the brand for you)

Boots: I bought them from Steve Madden online. I think I might buy them in gray, too.

Are you digging my duds?