Casual Date Night Look

Today's look is pretty much a shameless copy of this one. (Funny story: Kate sent me this look almost an hour after I pinned it. Girlfriend knows me well. If only we could meet all of our blog friends in real life, right?) I opted for cobalt shoes because cobalt is usually the best answer, regardless of the question. I think I've finally mastered "work to weekend" looks. I think. Of course, now that I've figured them out for the winter time, spring will be here, and my weekend wardrobe will befuddle me once again. Anyway, I can add this one to the weekend line up. 

Yes, all of you were right. I loved Frozen. Then again, how could I not?

Oh, our media specialist chose tomorrow's Trendy Tuesday theme (after I annoyed him for several days). I knew he'd pick a good one, and it is! The theme? "Un-Anything: Unzipped, Unbuttoned, Untucked. Just not undressed." Clever, right? See, dudes are fashionably creative, too. 

(Today's look would qualify, but I have another one lined up for tomorrow.) 

The Look:

Flannel: J.Crew (I found it on super sale because that's how I roll. Similar at Target)

Coated Skinny Pants: The Limited (again, on super sale. Similar)

Tee: Target 

Wedges: via Kohl's (Cobalt heels. Cobalt flats.)

Scarf: Made by Momma

Linking up with

* Molly (http://www.themollybuckley.com) 

* The Style Record (http://www.thestylerecord.com) 

* Mix it Mondays (http://www.fizzandfrosting.com/) 

Red, White, and Plaid (and hooray for a link up!)

Some pretty ladies and I are hosting a themed link up this week. Gather your red and your pink for a week of Valentine's Day celebrations. Link up your delicious cuisines, your snazzy sartorial creations, or your home decor (which I will drool over as I sit within my crappily-painted apartment walls). I do hope you'll join us for one day (OR ALL!). Look, I'm even starting off the week in my red pants.

This navy blazer is perfect, the knees of these pants are too wrinkly, this belt is almost 15 years old (vintage?), these boots are my favorite pair, and this flannel is just the right length. 

The Look:

Blazer: The Gap (a gift from Mom)

Pants: Candie's via Kohl's

Boots: Franco Sarto via Marshall's

Flannel: Old Navy

Belt: OLD American Eagle 

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I'm also linking up with

Molly

The Style Record

and

Mix It Mondays

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Reverse 30x30: I don't chop trees. I just breathe, and they fall over.

Oh, HEY, look: it's the return of a cute outfit wrapped up in a crappy quality picture!

Mom said that she'd start taking some pictures of me with her gorgeous camera and kick-ass photography skills, so you might be seeing some of my images take a step in the right direction. Since she housed fetal me in her womb and partook in that whole raising me thing, I don't feel all awkward posing for her, which is good because random drug-dealing neighbors creeping on my photo shoots makes for enough awkwardness. Plus, I want to spend more time with Mom.

Typically, we always go shopping, and I'd like to do less of that this year and more adventuring! Mom loves to take pictures and adventures, so this little arrangement means she can practice her craft while I work on bringing this blog into the land of the pretty and home of the well-written. Plus, we'll get some fun adventures out of the deal. I do believe that's what they call a win-win-win. (A win for me, a win for her, and a win for you)

Until then, allow the following picture to serve as the antithesis of what's to come.

How could I not share this warm outfit with you? Plus, I reversed the heck out of those brown boots.

I will continue my Atypical Love Story telling when Jeff's not blaring a video game in the living room and periodically sneaking into the office just to stare at me. Though I find him wildly charming and comical, his presence is not exactly conducive to my authorial creativity.

Reversed 30x30 Update:

(Original Post in case you want pictures and a run down of this challenge)

1. coral and khaki skirt (might have to wait for spring...looks STUPID with tights)

2. gray and yellow skirt 

3. white pencil skirt (officially waiting for spring--too cold for the outfits I have planned for it)

4. teal velvet pants (officially reversed)

5. polka dot tights

6. khaki pants (officially returned)

7. brown boots (officially reversed)

8. black wedge booties (officially reversed)

9. red heels

10. tri-color wedges (officially reversed--I've added so much gray/navy/burgundy to my wardrobe that these are perfect)

11. aztec scarf

12. teal necklace

13. striped dress (officially reversed)

14. tan dress (officially rejected)

15. navy dress (probationally reversed)

16. polka dot shirt (officially reversed)

17. polka dot cardi

18. polka dot blouse (officially reversed) 

19. printed blazer (on probation, might be leaving the closet, LEAVING the closet)

20. chambray (officially reversed)

21. paisley blouse (officially rejected)

22. gray shirt (officially rejected)  

23. paisley blouse 2 (reversed for today's look)

24. emerald sleeveless sweater

25. navy sweater (pulling one of my favorites: sweater over a dress look!)

26. blush sweater with silver polka dots (outfit planned but might be too cold)

27. silver sweater (officially rejected)

28. black sweater (might be replaced by a crew neck)

29. white lace sweater (officially reversed)

30. orange sweater (might wait for spring--not feeling the brights quite yet)

31. long-sleeve purple shirt (got a plan for this one)

32. gray skinnies (I've already worn them three times, none of which you've seen...oops!)

33. light khakis (got a plan for these)

34. gold blazer (If I could no longer be sick and actually make it into work wearing something other than boots, I'd really like to wear one of the outfits I dreamed up for this blazer) 

Doctor Doctor & A Collage

So, my motivation to post outfits has dwindled to something resembling the number zero. I think this blog might be taking a turn in a different direction. Maybe. Maybe not. I also say that I'll stop buying clothes, and my colleagues know how far that statement has gotten me. Be sad that I was not up to having a picture snapped of my "blueberry" outfit today. Granted, the student who called me a blueberry also sports a mohawk and wears pajama pants to school nearly every day. I consider the source.

Anyway, I've been pondering about how I should word this post. I have a lot to say on the matter, so it might just exit my brain as a stream of consciousness. As an English teacher, I should feel more compelled to organize my thoughts, but I'll call it a free write and feel better about the haphazardness that will soon ensue.

If you've been following my blog for any length of time, you probably already know that it's a miracle Darwin's theory hasn't snuffed out my existence. I'm allergic to a whole host of things (including cocoa...yes, that means chocolate, ladies.) I think my body is confused. I look 21 (or younger...depending on whom you ask), I'm actually 28, and my insides are geriatric. I guess I'm okay with this odd situation because it's character building, right? Right. 

At this point in my life, I've accrued a team of doctors. I have a gastroenterologist, an allergist, a rheumatologist, more than one dermatologist, a primary care physician (ya know, the normal doctor), a nutritionist, and the list continues to grow. I think I missed my calling in the medical profession. In 2007, I visited my primary care doctor, and he ran a bunch of bloodwork. Typical day at the doctor for Danielle. The results indicated that I tested positive for several markers of a rheumatic disease called Sjogrens Syndrome. He relayed the results but left it at that. 


Fast forward to December of 2012.  I returned to the doctor with these same nagging symptoms (such as ridiculous dry mouth that induced wicked stomach aches, eyes so dry that I wanted to scoop them out with a melon baller, and a chest so tight that I was sure a heavy, yet invisible elephant was standing on my lungs.) The good ol' doc didn't know what to do with me, but he knew I never came in unless something really was wrong. He sent me packing with some more bloodwork paperwork and chest x-ray forms. Everything came back pretty clear, so my doctor called me after hours one night. He said that he decided to scour my years of paperwork for answers and came upon those positive blood tests from 2007. He determined that it was time for me to see a rheumatologist to confirm or refute a diagnosis. 


In the mean time, I visited my gastroenterologist who performed another endoscopy (a worse case of acid reflux could be to blame for the chest pain) and a colonoscopy. An endoscopy is really no big deal. A colonoscopy, however, is the pits. My doctor prescribed the worst "make ya poo" drug on the planet. That stuff tasted like regurgitation and made me want to regurgitate. Horrific. Both of these tests came back relatively clear, so the baton passed to the rheumatologist. (Side note: my gastroenterologist is the bomb dot com. He gave his business card to me and said to hand it to the rheumatologist who then needed to keep him in the loop. He said, "if he doesn't find anything, I want to help you. We'll get to the bottom of this." What a great doctor.) 


The rheumatologist asked a battery of questions and ran more bloodwork. And, of course, I had to pee in another cup. I really need to refine that skill or bring a funnel with me to the doctor. Boys sure are lucky. The doctor then explained that the "golden test" for this syndrome involved a lip biopsy. I'll just tell you now that I was wholly unprepared for that visit. I thought biopsy meant scrape scrape, and we're done. I did not know it meant slice slice, stitch stitch, HOLY MOTHER OF CRAP THAT HURTS. Don't even get me started on the stitches removal. 


Last week, the doctor confirmed the diagnosis: I have Sjogrens Syndrome. What does this diagnosis mean? Well, I'm not entirely sure, but here's what I do know:

• It's better to have an answer (even a not-so-wonderful one) than to be left feeling crazy, as if the symptoms are "all in my head." 

• I'll live with it for the rest of my life, but I've lived with it this long. I can overcome it.

• There are means of managing it (which I have not yet mastered, obviously.)

• I'm attending my first support group meeting this weekend (my husband and parents in tow) where I hope to learn a lot from people who know much more about this condition than I do.

• I have the most supportive family, friends, and colleagues. My dad has spent hours (okay DAYS) researching Sjogrens. He wants to have a family meeting to discuss everything. My mom has crocheted me yet another scarf, and she got all of my groceries for me yesterday when my back hurt so badly that crawling to my car on the cold asphalt seemed like a viable option. My husband has been fixing up the most delicious meals and generally just being so understanding and loving. I'm beyond blown away by his kindness. He really took that "in sickness and in health" thing seriously. My in laws so willingly fix meals that I can eat and warm my heart with their support. Long story short? The people I love bless me every day with their kindness, generosity, compassion, and love. 

• I might be unlucky in health, but I am lucky in love. 

If you've made it this far, I'm going to reward you with some pictures. It's the cyber version of a gold star ;) 

Meet Eliot, my elephant friend who humidifies my room. I'm hoping that Eliot helps the nosebleeds stop. Thanks in advance, El. By the way, your name is the same as a character from SVU (who's no longer on...WAH!), so you must be awesome.

I paired my button up from Target's boys' department with a navy sweater. Not rocket science, but it's warm.

I had no idea what to do with this pretty sweater because the neckline was too low. I decided that yellow and teal complement one another, so this pairing works. No?

I feel like Easter in this ensemble, and I rather like it.

 If only I had a warm beach to travel to in this outfit. I think you'll be seeing this one again in the spring :)

In case I'm too lazy to shave my legs, I have this shirt paired with pants, too. 

These are the things I have to think about, folks.

Last, but certainly not least, is one of my new door handles. You see, the previous owners thought it'd be great to put silver knobs on one side of doors and gold knobs on the other side. How does that even happen?! Anyway, the basement door (not pictured) was impossible to open. It heard several expletives fly from my mouth because I fought with it every day. The knob refused to turn. In other words, it refused to do its only job. As a result, my husband pitied me and replaced several knobs today.

He sure is a keeper, but I'm glad those doorknobs weren't!

Orange & Blue Plaid

Guys, I bought a fur vest, but the husband nixed it. I was really leery about whether or not I could pull off the trend. I bought this one at Marshall's for $39. I thought it might be too much for my small frame (it was a lot of fur),  so I tried it on in front of Jeff. He didn't even take a breath before telling me, "No. It's not you. It's that thing. It's so big. Like a wooly mammoth." Back to the store it will go. That's fine because I can use that money toward something that we'll both like better :)

However, another purchase went much better for me. I love me some flannel, especially when it comes in such lovely, bright colors! I wore this little ensemble to a friend's baby shower this weekend. It was between this outfit and another one; I let Jeff choose which one. He said, "That one. It's bright. I like it." Ah, a man after my own heart. He loves bright stuff as much as I do. (Our shoes matched today. Not kidding.)

I thought a leather jacket completed the look. No?

I stole his glasses again.

My necklace is a little bicycle and so are my earrings :)

It's so good to be blonde again.

What's up, wind and weird octopus hair? 

Outfit Deets:

Blazer: J.Lo via Kohl's (exact for $24)

Shirt: Old Navy (exact for $25)

Jeans: Uniqlo (like a year or two old)

Blue flats: Jessica Simpson via Marshall's (these are cute!)

Jacket: Wilson's Leather (similar)

Sunglasses: Nordstrom (pretty sure these are the exact ones)

Oh, and I also wore the blazer this way, too.

Today, I'm linking up with Molly and some other lovely ladies. 

Football Fun & An Etymological Lesson

So, this year marks my seventh as a teacher. Can you believe it? My students never believe that I'm 28, and they thought I was a student in the stands. I'll take that compliment for as long as it lasts. 

I know I shouldn't have a favorite student, but I do. One of my aides has been my student for three of his four years in high school! His freshman year was my first year at this school. Though I know nothing about sports, I ended up with a favorite student who happens to be a star athlete. Go figure. I promised to go to his senior football game, my first football game in my seven years of teaching. Heck, I haven't been to a football game since I was in high school and not teaching it. 

There is something about being a teacher and going to a football game that makes me feel like a celebrity. Luckily, my co-teacher, whom I like to call a unicorn because she is magical, attended and so did my intern last year. It was a little reunion and lots of fun.

This shot is the only one you get of my outfit, which was a nice casual day get up if I do say so myself. I wore:

• my white cardigan from Target
• my plaid button up (which one student said "looks like Easter") from Old Navy
• my bauble-like necklace from New York and Company (another student said he liked it)
• My jeans from Abercrombie (way old because I never shop there anymore; everything there has holes in it!)
• And my new shoes from DSW

Allow me to tell you what's not fun. It's not fun when you've been on your feet all day, realized your feet hurt in these shoes, and live too far from work to go home before the football game just to change shoes. So, I ended up at DSW, looking for a new pair of shoes. I landed on these because...
a.) they had no heel (who wears heels to a football game?)
b.) they could be worn without socks (don't you dare judge me)
c.) they left room for my pinky toes to breathe
d.) they did not cost an arm and a leg

Thank you, Converse, for soothing my aching feet. 

I still want the white ones I asked my mom to buy me for Christmas. 

Again, don't you dare judge me. 

Since I'm a teacher, I'd like to give you a little nugget of wisdom. Do you know the origination of the idiom "it costs an arm and a leg?" Well, allow me to inform you. Back in the day, before cameras existed (*GASP*), people hired painters to illustrate their likeness. Painters charged by the number of limbs they had to paint, so more limbs equaled more dinero for the person being painted. (That's why you see some pictures of people with their arm behind their back or something of that nature.) As a result, we now have the phrase, "It costs an arm and a leg," so it makes sense that the phrase means, "It costs a lot."  Now, I already knew this little story, but here is some confirmation from Snopes. I hope you enjoyed this little etymological lesson.