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. 

Friday Teacher Favorites

One of you asked me to post about cute things I love/my favorites, so hooray for me and my A+ in this week's Friday Favorites and High Five for Friday. I'm telling you five of my favorite things that all deal with teaching. Now, you're probably wondering what in the name of Hades dry shampoo and food have to do with teaching. Well, fear not, dear reader, I shall answer all of your questions because that's the kind of teacher I am.

(By the way, if you want to know how to make a collage easily for your blog, use one of my favorite programs for teaching: PowerPoint. Just drag and drop images onto the PowerPoint slide. Instead of clicking "Save As," click the option under it, "Save as Pictures." All of the slides save as different pictures in one folder. If you're linking to items, include the links in the note section of your slide. If you include links in the notes section that you want to save, just be sure to save the PPT as a PPT in addition to saving it as a picture. I have one folder on my desktop labeled "Blog Pictures." Easy peasy lemon squeezy as my co-teacher would say.)

The Favorites:

Maroon Exact Stretch Straight Work Pants: I love The Limited. One, they give a teacher discount (even on sale items), and I can actually find pants that fit. (Apparently, being short-crotched but with thicker thighs and an actual behind makes finding pants rather troublesome.) I probably wear these pants at least once every other week. For fall, the color goes with everything: lace and gingham for a start. The pants are actually work pants, but they don't flare at the bottom, a quality I've come to realize makes it difficult to find the right shoes. The straight or skinny cut is great for flats, heels, or booties. I know these pants will be workhorses for me this fall.

Black Skinny Work Pants: Express is the other store that always provides me with pants that fit. They do not provide a teacher discount, but their clothes are quality and have lasted me for years and years. If you consider cost per wear, they pay for themselves. Oh, and these pants feel like pajamas. They are so soft and comfortable. God bless you, 2% spandex.

Cognac/Camel Cardigan: I wanted a cardigan this color for awhile, and Old Navy did not disappoint. PLUS, they have matching flats (should've included them in the collage...maybe next week.) Old Navy has been killing it recently. I walk in and want to buy ALL OF THE THINGS. This cardigan, especially because its color goes with my boots and flats, is my current favorite. Plus, it's soft and just the right length. I like it a bit baggier, so I sized up.

Redken Dry Shampoo: I wake up at 5 dark thirty. I do not want to style my hair every morning particularly if I'm surrounded by teenagers who clearly own nothing other than booty shorts, leggings, and sweatpants. In a future post, I will show you how I make it three-four days without washing my hair. For now, I will tell you that this little bottle is my not-so-secret-anymore weapon. Previously, I used the Suave dry shampoo (got it at Target.) That worked okay, but not nearly as well as the Redken has. This stuff rockets grease out of my hair. Sorcery, I tell you. Disclaimer: my stylist said that it works well on blondes, but it might make brunettes look like they have dandruff. Since I'm a blonde, I can speak only to the fact that it works beautifully for me.

SunButter Crunch : Why a snack, you ask? We teachers are conditioned to think that 9:30-10:30 a.m. is lunch time while the rest of the working world is waiting at least two more hours. Every other day, I can't eat until noon, and I will wither away to nothing squared if I wait that long. As such, I need to wolf down a snack between 2nd and 3rd periods. Enter these delicious snack bars. I have tried the mixed berry, caramel apple, and sunbutter crunch. I love them all, but I love SunButter best. I can't try the chocolate one because I'm allergic to chocolate. (Horrors of horrors, I know.) All of the bars are dairy free, nut free, and soy free. If you have loads of food allergies like I do, then you might want to try out the Enjoy Life brand. I find them at the local Martin's, Giant, and natural foods stores. (The link takes you to the company's website where you can buy them. Plus, they put the nutrition facts right there for you to see. I love the transparency.)


Any of these things on your list of favorites? Do tell if you decide to try them at my suggestion and actually like them as much as I do!

Gingham? Isn't that plaid?

I wore this outfit yesterday in preparation for the gingham and plaid link up. One of my juniors raised his hand to ask a question. When I looked at him, I exclaimed, "What!? Gingham twins?" Yes, yes, he was donning a similar blue and white gingham shirt. Obviously, he's an awesome kid. Of course, I then had to explain to several students that this print is, in fact, gingham, which is not, in fact, the same thing as plaid. Sheesh.

If you would be at all interested in a post about how I make it three-four days rocking hair like this, please let me know. I've finally whittled the process down to a fine science, and I'm even impressed with myself. However, I don't want to spend the time writing such a post if very few people will read it. Disclaimer: I am not a hair stylist, but, along the way, I have picked up several tips from the multiple stylists who have worked with my mane. I can show you my methods of hair washing (okay, not really "show" you...yikes), blow drying, and everyday styling (which saves me quite a bit of sleep time.)

The Outfit:

Cardigan: Target

Shirt: Marshalls

Pants: The Limited

Flats: Old Navy 

Belt: NY & Co.

The Details:

Occasion: Teaching all the live long day

Comments: LOVE these pants from The Limited; they're exact stretch straight leg. Perfect amount of spandex, perfect amount of awesomeness. I also love these flats. I've been searching for a pair this color, and Old Navy did not disappoint. Is anyone else noticing how out of the park Old Navy is knocking it lately? I can barely control myself in there. Good thing I have $40 in Old Navy cash. Woot!  I'm chomping at the bit for it to finally be valid. I am eyeing a pair of black flats like these and those cute sweaters with the sparkly elbow patches are lovely. Oh, and I need a new gingham shirt. This one sucks at tucking into pants. Good thing the cardigan covered it up. 

Jeff and I watched This Means War last night. Can I just tell you how much I love everything Reese Witherspoon wears in that movie? I am in love with every.single.outfit. I even died over the gray sweatshirt she was rocking out in. It's a cute movie, but you could watch it just to drool over her wardrobe. Not kidding. 

Linking up with Style Elixir and The Trend Spin Linkup. 

Luna Lovegood

Apparently, I need to catch up on my Harry Potter books/movies. 

A student I've never taught told me I look like Luna Lovegood, and you can imagine my joy upon finding that she's a good character and kinda cute. 

Anyway, meet my third-day hair because I set my alarm clock to some weird static sound, which did not wake me up but rather induced loopy dreams. There may or may not have been some yet-to-exist animal frolicking in sparkly fields. Husband decided not to wake me up until 30 minutes later. 

Gee. Thanks. 

The Outfit:

Cardigan: Target

Pants: The Limited (in exact stretch straight leg)

Heels: Aerosoles via Marshall's

Top: The Limited 

Belt: NY & Co.

The Details:

Wore to: work

Comfort Rating: 9 (heels started to tug juuust a smidge at the very end of the day)

Comments: These pants are so comfortable, and they hit at the perfect length (and height...no plumber's crack for me.) I decided to try this color combination on for size. I've already done the cognac, white, and black thing, and I loved it. I threw some maroon/wine/burgundy/whatever color it's called now into the mix, along with some leopard, and I'm a fan. 

Grr, Baby, Grr.

Or should I say, "Brr, Baby, Brr?" I do suppose either statement would work. Baby, it's cold outside, but my leopard heels are on fiah! (My computer just autocorrected that word to "fish." Come on, computer, don't correct the English teacher. I meant what I typed.)

Momma dukes took my photographs today. I did not include the picture of me laughing hysterically because my mom said, "I hope that's not poop." She's a funny one, I tell ya, so is my dad who taunted the dog by farting on him and squealed when the dog actually bit his butt. It serves you right, Dad.  

I need you to know that this outfit did not work for me until I put on the necklace. I had also planned to wear a pair of nude pumps. I'm so glad my brain was firing on all cylinders this morning and chose the leopard print heels. Thank yoooou, two hour delay. 

Additionally, I felt like my work slacks felt neglected because skinny jeans are my favorite clothing children.  As a result, I revived those plaid pants yesterday and these maroon (?) pants today. My calves thank me. Every now and then, they like to take a little breather. 

Any clothes you're unearthing lately and giving a fighting chance against another article of clothing you clearly love better? 

That dog is the definition of a creeper. Not kidding.

This picture has not been edited. My eyes are that color. 

Obviously, if the picture had been edited, I would have smudged out the octopus hair flying about my head.

Mom wanted a detail shot. Isn't she cute? 

Outfit Deets:

Pants: The Limited (here are some in velvet)

Sweater: Target (LOFT, Loehmann's)

Belt: Target (cute alternative)

Blazer: Express (so dang old)--(Target is always a safe bet.)

Necklace: NY & Co. (similar)

P.S. With all of these crazy names for colors, it takes me twice as long to find similar items. I have to not only type in maroon, but also burgundy, oxblood, and red. I can't just type in yellow. I need to type in mustard. Craziness, people! Words are important.

Linking up with Mix & Match Fashion.

Gold Cardigan

Disclaimer: These pictures are terrible. However, I liked this outfit too much not to document it for you. Unfortunately, I was at the doctor's office until 4, then CVS, then Office Depot, then Michael's. No more natural light for me when I arrived home. Oh well. You are lucky enough to see little Squirty do. 

So, as some of you may or may not know, I drive approximately one hour to work every morning. 

I hate driving, but I decided to find the silver lining and create a list of "long commute advantages."

And here you have it:

1. If you spill apple juice, tea, Gatorade, or pickle juice all over yourself, you have ample time to dry out. (I can't say much for the leftover stickiness or smelliness though.)

2. You have time to do everything but shower (unless you consider a wipe down with Wet Ones a shower). Not that you curl your eyelashes or apply your concealer in the car. Absolutely not, Mr. Officer.

3. You can listen to an entire CD. (Do people still listen to those?) You might even be able to listen to an entire Stephen King novel on CD.

4. Who needs to charge his or her phone at night when it can fully charge during the morning car ride? 

5. You have ample time to ponder the meaning of life...and sneaker wedges. I'm still pondering that one.

6. You can mentally plan all of your outfits for the week...and your meals...and your life. If you're a teacher who didn't have enough time to pull together the day's materials, you have an hour to mentally plan your lessons for the day. 

7. If you're lucky, you can gaze at the pretty scenery.

8. If you collect roadkill, you have a long time to find some. 

9. You can practice multiple ways to flip someone off without actually flipping him or her off. 

10. You can scout all of the places you'd like to live if you had enough money to actually live near work. (Okay, this one isn't an advantage. It just makes me sad.)

And there you have my list. Feel free to leave a comment with some of your own.

As for today's outfit, my most fashionable male student (whose shirt was the color of my pants) told me that I should have paired my leopard print belt with this outfit. Now that I think about it, I do believe he was onto something there. 

I think this outfit is one that looks better in person than in pictures. 

You can kind of tell in this picture that this cardigan is metallic. 

I couldn't find a gold blazer, so I settled for this stand in.

I love this dog. She's so stinking cute.

Outfit Deets:

Top & Necklace: NY & Co (similar top, similar top #2, love this pale blush one)

Cardigan: Old Navy (exact--it doesn't look metallic on their site unless you zoom in)

Pants: H&M (similar pair from Target)

Heels: Aerosoles via Marshall's  (these are $130 but a smaller heel, cute Target pair for less)

Watch: Timex 

That's all, folks. 

Happily linked up with The Pleated Poppy today :)