It's Story Time: Country Girl in the Big City

When the school system in which I teach was hiring me for their county, a most interesting thing happened. You see, it all started with the crazy messages that Dad creates for the answering machine. When the new answering machine arrived and I was in elementary school, I still remember Mom, right before she left for a PTA meeting or the market, telling Dad, "Now, don't you dare go right upstairs and make a stupid message for our machine. I mean it, Danny." Like a small child you put the red button in front of and tell not to touch, Dad scurried (as much as a man who's 6'6" can "scurry") upstairs the moment she closed the front door behind her because he had the perfect message in mind.

For years, the message ran, in his most impressive "redneck" voice, something like this: "Howdy, this yars the ________. We can't come to the phone right now. We're outside sloppin' the hogs and feedin' the chickens. Sure would like to know why y'all called, so leave a message after this thing makes that little ol' beepin' sound." When the school system called my parents' house where I lived at the time, we still had this answering machine message, the same one that people would actually call back our house again just to hear it another time. As a result, the manager in charge of hiring me wrote a special note in my file: "may encounter adversity." Why? He thought I was some country girl from the back 40 who was coming to the big cities of Howard County, Maryland (which is a joke in itself, I might add).

When I called him one day to say that Mom was coming with me to sign paperwork, he thought my shitkicker and overall-wearing (not cool at the time like it is again now) hillbilly of a mother was coming to check out the town and make sure it was safe for her baby girl. All of this truth came out, and I explained that Dad is an extremely eccentric man; I am from a county affectionately nicknamed "Cow County," but I'm not a farm girl despite how many times I watched Green Acres and The Beverly Hillbillies (SO.MUCH.NICK.AT.NITE.)

Several years later, when Jeff and I were adopting our sweet puppies, Roxy and Squirt, the adoption lady called my parents' house for a reference. Once again, someone heard this message on the machine. She hung up and did not leave a message; in fact, she called me, asking whether or not I gave her the wrong number. And, once again, I had to explain my Dad's eccentricities to a stranger. Four of us lived in that house for a long time, but I am the only one who not once but TWICE had an interesting experience as a result of Dad's voicemail creativity. And people wonder why it's impossible to embarrass me.

Anyway, Mom accompanied me to Baltimore City yesterday because I needed to visit one of the professional buildings. If you don't know Baltimore, though it has its allure and charms (I met my now husband in a dance club there almost 10 years ago), then you should know that Baltimore makes a name for itself with its impressive number of murders per capita. Like everywhere, however, it has its redeeming qualities and not-so-bad parts of town. On the ride home, GPS took us the shorter route, which did not translate to the safer route. In fact, many of the houses were boarded up and the loveliest of individuals frequented the streets. As Mom stared at a boarded up house, commenting on its "shaggy curtains" and "light coming through one of the boarded up windows," I scolded her severely. "DO NOT ENGAGE. STOP LOOKING. LOOK STRAIGHT AHEAD. IF YOU MUST, LOOK WITH YOUR EYEBALLS BEHIND SUNGLASSES, NOT WITH YOUR HEAD TURNED." She asked why and I responded, "you're looking into a boarded up window. You don't know what's looking back at you." She kept her head straight the rest of the time. I guess that's what the "country" taught me.

I now understand why my high school Chem teacher told us that if we were somewhere we shouldn't be at a time we really shouldn't be there, we need to pull our hoods over our heads, rock back and forth, and chatter incoherently at a trashcan. No one messes with a crazy person.

Now that I shared story time with you, I will share with you an outfit I wore while signing the offer we put in on a house last week (an offer the seller accepted, I guess I should add?).

 

The Look:

Dress: Some designer for Target via thredUP  (similar options: $, $$, $$$--$20-70)

Cardigan: Target, Mossimo brand (I finally got another one to replace the original I killed from wearing too much.)

Shoes: via DSW 

Necklace: H&M via Poshmark shop

Purse: via Marshall's

Sunglasses: gift from Momma (LOFT)

In Honor of Jack

Recently, one of our beloved science teachers lost his fight with cancer. On Facebook, one of my colleagues posted that Jack was the only person she ever met whose eyes had an actual twinkle in them. Truly, Jack might have been Santa's belly-less and beardless brother. He was a man who radiated positivity. I didn't have to spend a lot of time with him to know that everything about Jack was wonderful; he even smelled nice. (After a day with teenage funk, a lady learns to appreciate the finer smells of life.) 

His wife, a retired English teacher who used to work at our school, is equally as lovely, and she just so happens to own the best vocabulary of any human being on the planet. Even their daughter, who worked with me at summer school one year, has the most pleasant personality. Something about that family radiates warmth. 

In honor of Jack and his love of the hockey team, the Capitals, we all wore red. Of course, I decided to take it to the next level, and wear all of the team's colors. Here's to you, Jack. You live on in the hearts of everyone you've touched with your kindness. 

The Look:

Shirt: Old Navy

Cardigan: The Limited (old)

Skirt: via Marshall's

Shoes: Sole Society

Necklace: The Limited 

Sunglasses: LOFT via my mommacita 

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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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!

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my striped version of the black dress:

(I LOVE YOU, TARGET.)

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(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.)

Reverse 30x30: All that glitters is my gold blazer.

The lighting and clarity are a little better in these pictures, right? 

Who knew that opening the blinds would let in natural light and make the pictures better? 

What a novel idea. 

Okay, here's what I did to get to this outfit.

I realized that I am drawn to the following silhouette: 

blazer/cardigan + tucked in shirt + belt + heels/boots/flats (depending on pant style) 

I used that little formula to style the gold blazer I needed to reverse.

Initially, I was thinking of a white shirt. I decided to try it some other time. Then, last week's Trendy Tuesday theme was coral, so I planned to wear this blazer with a coral shirt. Then the sickness hit, and I missed out on Trendy Tuesday! :(  I actually tried on the blazer with the coral shirt, and the frockets (front pockets--got this word from a witty colleague) looked really weird with the blazer.  I then realized I hadn't yet worn this red blouse, so I gave it a go. I was going to wear a leopard scarf, but it just wasn't sitting right, which is where the leopard belt comes into play. In the spring, I'll wear leopard heels/flats instead :)

Man, do I love this look. I love the sparkles in the blazer. The bright red of the top. The heel on the boot. The pop of leopard print. 

This blazer is officially REVERSED. 

Reversed Item: Blazer from ModCloth (last winter on super clearance)
Belt: New York & Co.
Black Jeggings (high rise!): American Eagle (got 'em during a $25.99 promotion)
Boots: b.o.c. via DSW
Blouse: LOFT (seriously scored this beauty for less than $20)
Scarf: Made by Momma dearest

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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 (planning to wear it tomorrow)

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 (got a plan for it tomorrow) 

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 (officially reversed) 

Some other outfits I've worn that follow this outfit's "formula":
(So many more outfits like these, but I picked some of my favorites)

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(probably my favorite outfit of all time)

Follow my outfit board on Pinterest here. 

Joining up for What I Wore to Work,

All Things Thursday, and

Look What I Got. 

My dog stalks me, and how trendy is this Tuesday?

Every morning, both of my dogs visit me while I primp (read: spray the hell out of my fourth day hair with dry shampoo because, once again, I valued sleep more than my mane) in the bathroom. One of my dogs, Roxy, is what can best be described as dumpy. She's got a bubble booty waddle and can hear the faintest crinkle of a bag that might be nourishment. Her demeanor is equally as lackadaisical, so she strolls (okay, she cannot stroll; she usually barrels into her destination) into the bathroom with zero qualms.

My other dog, however, is what I must label a princess, Princess Squirty to be exact. She crosses her paws when she is lying on the floor. She sits ramrod straight when she's boring into your soul with her semi-frightened (even when she's not frightened) pupils and her pouty bottom lip. She won't poop where she sleeps, something I wish she'd teach her sister how to avoid. Anyway, unsurprisingly, Squirt storms into nowhere. She daintily prances or even scurries, but barreling is not for this princess. As such, for awhile every morning, she sat tentatively outside of the open bathroom door until I doted on her adorable face. Eventually, she tip toed ever so slightly into the bathroom for her morning peck on the snout. This morning, she made great progress, and it looks like this.

In other news, I think Trendy Tuesday was even more successful this week than last week. Our principal said that he'd start announcing the themes in his weekly bulletins. Another teacher is going to post the themes in the copy room. Other teachers are posting about it on class websites/Facebook. And, on the school's Twitter account, our principal will tweet the theme every week. Can I tell you how awesome my colleagues are? So awesome.

Our next Trendy Tuesday will run on January 7th, and one of our male teachers is choosing the next theme. I'll keep you informed. Fear not. This same male teacher told me at lunch today, "I had a burgundy sweater on today, but I thought, 'no, this won't do. Wojcik [that's me] will give me crap. This isn't up to her standards. I have to do better.'" Hysterical. He wore an awesome red, white, and black vest. I loved it! I know fashion/style/whatever you'd like to call it seems so silly to many people, but look at how it can bring people together in a positive way.  I say cheers to that, folks.

The Outfit:
Pants: Forever 21 (size 26 in case you're wondering...and they're corduroy)
Boots: Franco Sarto via Marshall's (bought 'em last year)
Belt: American Eagle (would you judge me if I said I bought it in middle school?)
Shirt: Old Navy (current)
Cardigan: Ann Taylor (very old but not as ancient as the belt)
Scarf: Another Momma Wo creation (definitely my favorite and SO WARM)

 

Here is a small group of us. The larger picture gives away too many heads, so I am posting the one that was easy to crop. The guy in the picture? His red suspenders have Santa's face on them. His socks you can't see? They're red and white striped. Again, my colleagues are awesome.

Previously, I wore the black and white version of this shirt this way.

Linking up with Lauren and The Trend Spin Linkup. 

Accidental Twins

While I was teaching today, my next door neighbor (classroom...not apartment...apartment neighbors, so far, appear to be drug dealers, previous students, scared of dogs, or taciturn) caught my eye with her waving. I looked outside of the room to see her pointing to her pants and top. We were accidental twins! And, let me tell you, she is the woman to match. I've never met a woman with a better shoe collection than her. She has this pair of cobalt blue J.Crew flats that I shamefully covet. If we wore the same size, I'd be raiding her shoe closet. Oh, and we share a love of pretty, on sale things. 

Craziest part of all? I was centimeters away from choosing my skinny cobalt pants to wear with boots! However, I knew the forecast called for 60 degree weather, and large classes of sophomore boys heat up a room. A hot room makes for sweaty calves. Sweaty calves make for an uncomfortable me. Uncomfortable me is no fun. So, these pants and wedges won. 

I realize that I look patriotic, and I'm okay with that. I was determined to wear both the scarf and the pants today. And a patriot was born.

(Note: The blur on her shirt is to cloak her identity. Obviously.)

The Outfit (mine, not hers, should've asked!):

Blazer: Marshall's

Pants: New York and Company

Wedges: Me Too via DSW (they are SO comfortable. I love Me Too. Haha, that sounds funny.)

Belt & T-shirt: Target

Scarf: Old Navy 

Oh, next Tuesday my colleagues (girls AND guys) and I are continuing our Trendy Tuesday tradition. If you'd like to join us, our theme is flannel and scarves. 

Interpret that however you wish!

Two-Toned Blazer Three Ways

So, every Sunday, I spend some time going through my closet, looking for neglected clothes to revive. This Sunday, I found a two-tone blazer that fits really well, but I haven't been wearing it very often because of its length. I challenged myself to style it three ways so that I had some outfit combinations in my arsenal for future use. I hope these looks help you, too! 

Look #1: Work Appropriate 

(For the wicked winter time, I would throw on some tights, but I didn't feel like fighting with them for the purpose of this Sunday assignment that I gave to myself.)

It took me forever to pick out a belt for this outfit. Beige looked weird. I wasn't feeling leopard print. I wanted something big. This black belt from another dress fit the bill.  Also, in the following picture, I wasn't wearing a necklace. When I reviewed the pictures in my view finder, I realized that the outfit did not look complete. I threw on a necklace, and it made a huge difference (to me.) Finally, I considered a red top, but I thought that might be predictable. I like how fuchsia softened the look. 

No idea what's going on with my legs. They're trying to divorce each other in this picture.

They're hesitant but thinking about reconciliation in this picture.

Look #2: Edgy Date Night

Okay, this look challenged me the most. It might have been because I was trying on the top half without putting on any pants. Pants really do complete an outfit in case you were wondering. I didn't like the top half until I put on a pair of pants. Amazing. Anyway, at first, I was leery about this combination of different lengths, but the addition of some trusty pants alleviated my fears. I rather like it, and it might be my favorite of the three outfits even though it includes no pops of color. Sometimes, it's okay to stick with only neutrals. If I wanted, I could throw on my leopard print heels instead of these boots. So many options here, people!

By the way, I also unearthed this button up that has received zero love in at least a year. When I tried it unbuttoned, I realized how much I love it for a more casual look! The more I look at this outfit, the more I think leopard print heels would be a nice substitution. Hmmm. Thoughts?

Look #3: Casual Friday or Running Errands 

If you chose to run errands, throw on some flats (black, red, nude, leopard, whatever).  However, these little kitten heels are easy on the feet and back, so they'd be find for errands, too. 

I liked red in my accessories instead of my top. Also, this long sleeve shirt might be my favorite of the entire bunch. So darn versatile. I love me some stripes! 

(Feel free to pin me. Note: that does not mean we're going steady. Sorry.)

Blazer: Forever 21

Outfit 1 Deets:

Top: The Limited (size XS)

Skirt: LOFT (size 0)

Belt: From a dress

Shoes: Naturalizer

Necklace: Gift from Momma! :)

Outfit 2 Deets:

Top: Mudd via Kohl's (size S)

Button up: Express (size XS)

Black Corduroy Pants: LOFT (size 0)

Boots: Not sure

Outfit 3 Deets:

Belt: NY & Co. (size S/M)

Top: The Limited (size XS)

Pants: LOFT (size 0)

Shoes: Naturalizer