Trendy Tuesday: Animal Print (and link up your red & pink!)

For those of you who are new to these parts, my co-teacher inspired what we've dubbed Trendy Tuesdays at the high school where I teach. Every week, a different staff member chooses the theme for the following week. Throughout the day, people snap small group shots of them wearing their themed outfits. At the end of the day, we gather in or around the front office for a bigger group shot. (We tag it on Instagram and Facebook!)

Every Monday, I send an e-mail to all of the staff members announcing the following day's theme. My favorite part? Guys are participating! Students are participating! Guy students are participating! People are walking up to me and asking, "So, what's the next theme?" A colleague stopped me in the copy room today to say, "I have been participating every week, but I just can't get to the front office in time for the group picture. I love that I have one day of the week where I don't have to think as hard about what I'm going to wear." Note: I also taught a math teacher what the word sartorial means. Proud English teacher moment right there.

You guys, I love it. See, fashion isn't so silly or vain. It's helping to unify more people in my building. What can be wrong with that? On a somewhat related note, a lot of my colleagues (and even students) know about this here blog. I know many bloggers hide their blogs from people they know in real life, for good reasons, but not this girl. Before I really started my blog, people at work commented on my clothes frequently, so an English teacher who loves fashion writing a blog about what she wears? Not entirely surprising. I actually sat down with one of my juniors the other day to give her the basics of starting a blog, specifically a fashion blog, which was one of the highlights of my year! I hope one day to be introducing you to her on here.

This week, my co-teacher picked animal print. (Sidebar: My co-teacher started the "trend," but I've adopted the responsibility of getting out the word and nominating people to choose the theme.) I really need to get better about telling you all the themes in case you'd like to join us.

In fact, would anyone be interested in knowing the themes in advance (probably Friday of the previous week) and participating in a weekly link up? Let a girl know. Okay, not any girl. Preferably this girl.

The Look:

Blazer: Old Navy (this one is $32.99 at Charlotte Russe)

Scarf: Target ($6.95 at H&M...seriously?)

Booties: BCBG (these are quite cute with some gold straps and cost $40)

Belt: Old Navy (exact for $16.94)

Sweater: Mossimo via Target (very similar for $25 at Old Navy)

Jeans: J.Brand via TJMaxx 

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Linking up with

Trend Spin Linkup

and

Style Elixir

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Teacher Wardrobe Series: One Dress Six Ways

It's Tuesday, so let's call it Teacher Tuesday. I'm bringing back the Teacher Wardrobe Series with this striped dress (actually featured in the series). Sure, you will run into a plethora of striped dress inspiration on Pinterest, but I'm giving you six looks with one dress...in one place. You can use the same formulas for a dress shell that you own. It doesn't necessarily have to be striped, but I told you before that a striped dress is a great staple to own in your teacher (or any career, really) wardrobe.

I bought this striped shell at the Banana Republic Outlet for like $25. I love it, but I have yet to wear it. Of course, I am entering only week two of the school year, so I think I can forgive myself. Anyway, I created looks that span all seasons because, if your classroom is anything like mine, you never know what the temperature will be.

Look #1:

The Formula = Belted cardigan + statement necklace (or a scarf)

(I wore gold wedges to make it feel more like summer. I could wear it with boots for a cooler day or heels for the snazzy factor.)

Seasons: The short-sleeve cardigan works well for warmer weather. Swap it out for a long-sleeve cardigan in the cooler months. Try swapping out the necklace for a scarf with this look. You can even belt the scarf with the cardigan (like this). 

Look #2:

The Formula = Neutral blazer + statement necklace

(I chose gold flats for this look since the blazer dresses up the outfit enough.)

Seasons: Please wear this blazer when it's cooler or the AC actually works. I was sweltering in this thing because my bedroom is toasty. I would not swap the necklace for a scarf with this look. I think a statement necklace works better with the blazer. 

Look #3:

The Formula = Colored belt + (daintier) statement necklace + cardigan

(For this look, I would choose heels or dressier flats.)

Seasons: Just like with look #1, you can swap a short-sleeve cardigan for one with long sleeves. You could also swap the cardigan for a blazer. To take this dress to the park after school, substitute the cardigan for a jean jacket and be sure to wear flats. (Obviously.)

Look #4:

The Formula = Colored blazer + chain necklace + chambray (rolled sleeves)

(For shoes, I would choose boots, flats, or wedges.)

Seasons: If you want to be warm, wear this look. Holy hotness alive. I love this color scheme, but I was dying a little. I couldn't peel the dress off quickly enough. I think this look would be perfect with boots in the winter. 

Look #5:

The Formula = chambray (or a white shirt) under the dress + draping necklace

(To make the look dressier, I would wear heels, or maybe some cute oxfords.)

Seasons: You're wearing a shirt with long sleeves under a dress. Do it during the cooler months. Unless you like sweat marks in your pits. Or you don't sweat.

Also, as I'm looking at this photo, I would trade out this necklace for something with color. I was so hot at this point that I couldn't think clearly.

Look #6:

The Formula = T-shirt (under dress) + statement necklace + neutral belt

(For shoes, I would wear booties or flats. This look seems best suited for a Friday.)

Seasons: If it's warm and you don't want to bare arms (bah ha ha), then put a t-shirt on underneath of your dress. Or, if you prefer not to show your shoulders for other reasons, then this look works well for warmer weather. If you like to wear layers in the winter, try a blazer/cardigan over top. Since this look seems the most casual of all, I think it'd be fun with some booties. 

I merged all of the looks into two collages in case you want to see them side by side. 

If you want to e-mail me some of your best teacher looks (one-three pictures) with links to your blog posts about those looks, I'll start featuring some readers' outfits next week. It does not have to be a striped dress, and you don't have to be a teacher. 

It just needs to be workwear for the sensible, everyday gal.  

E-mail your pictures to

teamwebchick@gmail.com

Linking up with 

Striped Peplum: Two Looks

When Jeff and I visited friends in New York, we ended up at the Loft in NYC. I wonder how that happened? Oops. Anyway, I saw this top, and we fell in deep, steamy like. 

I had a small case of buyer's remorse (though Jeff bought it as a Christmas gift) because I had no idea what the crap to pair with it. I didn't want to be terribly boring, but I considered it. 

Enter my a-ha moment, and it wasn't even inspired by another blog or Pinterest.

Holy cow, I can have independent sartorial thoughts. Gasp. 

I decided that my red blazer and new necklace would do the trick.

I considered wearing my red wedges, but I decided against my natural inclination to be supremely matchy matchy. 

One of my senior aides told me that my outfit was Pinterest worthy. Be still my vain, vain heart.

Ya know, I thought my hair was too big today. It's looking a little Marge Simpson-esque. 

I felt mildly self conscious until a previous student saw me and complimented my voluminous locks. 

The best part about our encounter? She wasn't sure of the adjectival form of volume. She looked at me and said, "volum...?" I said, "voluminous?" 

"Yes! That's the word.  I didn't want to say the wrong thing. I mean, come on, you're an English teacher." Ha.ha. 

Sometimes I think documenting my outfits is silly. There are so many bigger things happening right now. I then realized that, regardless of the vanity and triviality of fashion blogging, it might just provide a little bright spot for someone else. Maybe my narratives serve as amusement. And, hey, I try to include some educational links. Ultimately, this small corner of the world offers me positivity and sanity. I see so much misery and feel so much compassion for those who are in need that A Little Bit of WoWe serves as my reprieve from the pandemonium that we call life. 

I hope your visits here help you to escape whatever might be plaguing you. 

If not, there's always this.

Anyway, on with scheduled programming.

Please excuse that unsightly excrescence on the side of the house. I'm typically much better at cropping it out of the frame.

If I wore this shirt outside of the teaching realm, I might style it like so. Like WO. 

Bahaha, I slay me. 

 Welcome to my wardrobe, you fun, red flats. 

I'm not sure why I ended with the most awkward picture of the bunch, but I felt like you'd be disappointed by just one picture of this look. Of course, you might be disappointed anyway, but such is life. Please enjoy my larger than life hair. 

Outfit Deets:

Red Blazer: Old Navy (exact)

Peplum top: Loft (exact)

Nude Pumps: Naturalizer (I like these.)

Necklace & earrings: The Limited 

Military jacket: Forever21 (lots of choices here)

Red Flats: Urban Outfitters (these from Zappos have fun sparkles)

Little Red Heels

My body hates drugs. 

I don't mean illegal drugs, but I'm sure it would really hate those.

I mean legal medications like Advil, penicillin, sulfa drugs, and anything else that's supposed to make a person feel better.

I think my body is actually building up an allergy to Advil.

Every month, the sickest I feel is several days after I start taking Advil for cramps. However, I'm caught in a catch 22. If I don't take Advil, my cramps are so bad that I will crawl the walls. If I do take Advil, I'm reduced to a nauseated, dizzy mess. I can't win.

Today at work, I felt ill all morning, especially after taking Advil, but I chalked it up to Mother Nature's wily ways. I shrugged it off until halfway through the day when I wasn't sure whether I would pass out or throw up all over the floor. I started to shake, I felt nauseated, my mouth was dry, my chest was tight, I was short of breath, I had a headache, and I was dizzy. I remembered all of these symptoms because they were the same ones that visited me when I suffered a much worse allergic reaction to an antibiotic. For the first time in a long time, I flew out of work. My poor intern started last week, and I just left him with a pile of work. If I didn't feel so awful, I would feel awful about it.

I am now loading up on lots of fluids and gluten-free crackers (if I can stomach them.) Luckily, the fluids seem to be helping...some. 

Seriously, body? I know you reject all medications, but what am I to do with you?

And, Advil? I hate you so bad.

Before this bottle of water sends me to the bathroom again, I shall share today's outfit with you. You can't see it, but my dress has little red heels all over it. If I felt better, I would have tried harder to snag a  clearer detail shot. You get what you get. 

Dress: Jessica Simpson via Marshall's ($14.99)

Blazer: Old Navy (~$35)

Silver belt: NY & Co. (old)

Silver flats: Nine West via Marshall's ($29.99)

I am going to take a nap now. 

Bye.