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) 

An Atypical Telling of Love: Part One

Ever since she passed away a few years ago, Mom Mom visits me in my dreams, waves of contentment undulating within me when I awake. In those precious, few moments just before I first open my eyes, I can still feel her and though I miss her so deeply, Mom Mom's presence in my dreams leaves me feeling whole. Mom always tells me, "You are your grandmother's granddaughter." We share the same wit, the same candor, the same vivacity. Yes, our bloodline is linked, but I think it is these shared bits of personality that leave me forever intertwined with Mom Mom. 

I have this one picture of Mom Mom and me that I frequently untuck from its drawer. My arm wrapped around her shoulders, we are sitting on the porch of our family's house by the lake. Watermelon, our favorite summertime food, sits on the red and white printed table next to us. This much I assume because I hold a fork in my hand. Presumably, her coffee, despite the sweltering summer sun, sits in the mug just inside the frame of the photograph. The background blurs behind us. Laughing, I am open-mouthed, closed-eyes, head-back while she is head-bent-forward, lips-puckered, and hands-outstretched. She always pursed her mouth after she said something of particular candor, usually something for which Pop Pop scolded her with a stern "Jerry!" 

With Mom Mom, life ambled on beautifully in its simplicity. Life with Mom Mom, though filled with little, special, often comical moments, amounted not to those moments, those facts, but to the warmth her presence evoked, the feelings of the sum of those moments. I think her soul was made of those sunshine beams that tiny specks of dust dance upon and those sweet-smelling summer raindrops that seemingly leap back into the sky just as quickly as they fall to the earth. 

In the few years before Mom Mom's death, she developed dementia. She resented Pop Pop for taking the car away from her even though it was because she continued to get lost in the town she called home for so many years. She stood in the middle of the market, devastated that she wrote "sugar" on her list, but she no longer knew what it was or where to find it. She sometimes forgot people's names. (Of course, long before the dementia, she called my cousin Brian Donald, a Disney character he regards fondly.) Unlike most of my cousins, I lived farther away from my grandparents, so physical distance betrayed me. 

And so did my cowardice. 

I knew what everyone said about Mom Mom's "failing" mental health. How could she be my Mom Mom if she failed to recognize me? That fear paralyzed me. If I am being honest, I would tell you that I cannot remember whether or not I spent much, if any time, with Mom Mom when her dementia took a turn for the worse. And why not? Even if I could not remain her granddaughter in name, she was still my Mom Mom. A mind might forget the words, but does the heart? I just could not handle missing her before she was actually gone. But I did anyway. I missed much more than I have the courage to admit. 

I think Mom Mom visits me in my dreams to tell me that it's okay. She understood my young heart. She understood my absence marked my fear, not my apathy. She understood my love when I approached the podium at her funeral to read the poem that in a few short breaths brought us all from tears of laughter to tears of sadness. She understood my grief when I folded up that poem, ever so carefully and slowly, and placed it in the casket with the body that looked nothing like her. It wore her clothes. We mischievously placed a tissue up the sleeve, her favorite hiding place for a hankie.  Without the warmth that defined Mom Mom, however, that body could have been anyone else's. 

Today, Love

Like so many other personal style bloggers on the scene, I am growing weary of what I bring to you here every day.

First of all, my pictures generally rank at a consistent subpar rating. I have bought no fancy camera for you, dear readers, and though I sprung for a $1.99 spiffy photo editing app on my iPhone, I rarely use it for my pictures, dear readers. I just slap up these pictures of my face and my body wearing outfits that I hope you find inspiring.

I, however, feel uninspired by my work here. Though I, and I'm sure the public's eyes, enjoy putting on clothes every day--who am I kidding? I love athletic leggings and Medusa hair as much as the next gal--I want to bring this corner of the webs something more. Sure, I believe my witty banter must often force you to crack a smile, but I am a teacher at my core. As a teacher, I want to make you feel something. Really feel and think about these little things that add up to a great, big thing called life.

(Very Important Note: If you are a personal style blogger, please do not feel offended. I am in no way hating on or shaming what you do. I am hating on what I have not been doing as well as I could...as well as so many of you do. And maybe, just maybe, I fail to reach my potential because I need this outlet to serve a different purpose for me and for you, a purpose more central to what compels me as a human. Man, this ish is getting deep.) 

For months now, I have pondered what I could write about--my schtick, if you please--that would be any sort of different from what so many other beautiful, sincere, unique voices bring to this cyber stage. After a week of sickness (thank you body, for choosing this method of forcing me into a "vacation"), a little light bulb flickered in my congestion-filled head. Who inspired it, you ask? The very people around me.

On Facebook yesterday, I posted the following:

I thought my students made my job awesome, but it's also my colleagues who never fail to make me laugh and always lend a hand. Thanks, guys, for holding down the fort for me while I fight off the plague. If my tooth is the root of all of this distress, I might get dentures.


On Facebook today, I posted the following status (I am nothing if not verbose):

Forgive me for being sappy, but just learn to deal with it. We spend so much time complaining that it's nice to spend more time counting our blessings. Allow me to share with you what love looks like through my husband's actions this week: 
* Jeff woke up with a coughing, pathetic me at 5a.m. to fix me toast with a side of Mucinex DM and Lemon Zinger tea with extra, real lemon (which he accidentally, in his sleep deprived state, mixed up with hazelnut coffee...hazelnut coffee with lemon tastes as horrific as it sounds.)
* He sprayed Lysol on a Swiffer mop to clean the walls and ceilings of any possible pollutants that could further contaminate me
* He took multiple trips to the market for all of my whims (which included such items as "real lemons" and "snack bars.") Upon arriving home, he declared, "the Vick's vapor rub had stuff in it that I use on car parts; I wasn't letting that touch your skin."
* He commenced a dance party for one in order to make me smile. 
* When I called him at work, all a twitter about Comcast robbing me of the last hour of my Wesley Snipes movie, he checked out the situation on our online account. 
* He entered a building of teenagers to retrieve midterms for me to grade now that I can see words on a paper without falling over. 
* Every day, he has arranged for someone to be on call in case he's unavailable. 
Yes, I could tell you, "He took care of me this week," but sometimes you need to pinpoint all of the little things that add up to a big love. I will also need to revisit this list next week when he can't manage to hang up his coat, put away his electronics, or put his dirty clothes in the basket next to his side of the bed.  

As I cleaned the plague out of sheets and the bathrooms and the couch and eyed the dogs long enough to decide that no energy remained to give them a nice, long soaking in the tub, I said, "what the world needs now is love, sweet love." (Thanks, Diana Ross and The Supremes. You're welcome for that video and the ear worm.)

Anyway, I decided I could bring you love, but with a bit of my wit and banter. At first, I considered a different name for this adventure: what love looks like. I decided that was too long and not profound enough. I decided on Today, Love.

Why this name? Well, I appreciate the many interpretations it allows. It can be a soft command, telling you to love (someone or something) today.  It can be an affectionate address to a person, calling him or her love. It can be a personification of love, a testament to love itself: today, love, you are a husband taking care of his sick wife. Like love itself, the name encourages posts and tweets and instagram shots to take many forms.

What do I want to do with this expedition? I want to share with you and I want you to share with me what love looks like. No pretenses. No fabrications. All truth. Be it in the form of articles or life experiences or observations. It need not be romantic love. It can be love for your fellow (wo)man, your compatriots, your clients, your students, your patients, all of the whoevers who enter your life (in any way that they may enter it). 

I am not sure yet what shapes (for sure, I know it will evolve into multiple shapes) this idea will take: a post several times a week? a brand new blog? a weekly guest post? a daily picture of love? a weekly love link up? 

Throw your ideas my way. 

Until the next post, enjoy Squirt, one of my puppy loves, wearing her party hat:

P.S. I will still get dressed and periodically show it to you because sometimes my love takes that form, folks.

Reverse 30x30: Paisley Blouse

I have the best colleagues. 

After school today, two of the women in my department raced each other in their motorized wheelchairs/scooters. All the way around the school. 

So hysterical.

The dentist called this morning to bump my root canal appointment to tomorrow at 8:30 (instead of next Wednesday)! Two of my colleagues offered to watch my classes until I could come in. 

So generous.

Every week, a different staff member decides the theme for the following week's Trendy Tuesday. Tomorrow's theme is CORAL. I sent out a staff e-mail informing my fellow fashionistas and fashionistos of tomorrow's theme. The number of dudes who responded was fantastic. They might actually be having as much if not more fun than the ladies are having!

So fun.

Reversed Item: Paisley Blouse (LOFT)

Pants: The Limited (Exact Stretch Skinny Pants)

Flats: Audrey Brooke via DSW

Blazer: Lauren Conrad via Kohl's

Scarf: Made by my Momma

Reversed 30x30 Update:

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

1. coral and khaki skirt

2. gray and yellow skirt

3. white pencil skirt

4. teal velvet pants (officially reversed)

5. polka dot tights

6. khaki pants (officially returned)

7. brown boots

8. black wedge booties (officially reversed)

9. red heels

10. tri-color wedges

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

26. blush sweater with silver polka dots

27. silver sweater (officially rejected)

28. black sweater

29. white lace sweater (officially reversed)

30. orange sweater

31. long-sleeve purple shirt

32. gray skinnies

33. light khakis

34. gold blazer

Reverse 30x30: White Lace Sweater

Husband, move quickly! There's sunshine! Open those blinds. Soak in some rays through the window. Oh, and take my picture. Outside. Please.

Is this what that quote sayer meant by chasing daylight? Perhaps. 

Anyway, I put on these jeans and this sweater, soon realizing how easily the outfit could be switched up just based on the finishing touches. 

What will I do with my outfits that look so much better with a scarf once warm weather strikes again? Statement necklace? Winter, you ruin me. 

Outfit number one is most suitable for work and outfit number two is what will accompany me to dinner at my parents' house tonight :)

Reversed item: sweater (Lauren Conrad)

Pants: Lauren Conrad (if I improve the picture quality on my blog, do you think I could meet her in real life? Maybe?)

Blazer: Lauren Conrad (oh, dear...)

Reversed item #2: Liz Claiborne wedges via Marshall's 

Scarf: crocheted by Momma 

Boots: Madden Girl (Mom and I think they're from Boscov's.) 

Coat: Old Navy (got it for half off of $18.99! WHAT!?) 

Reverse 30x30: Chambray Shirt

I needed to introduce this chambray shirt into my closet after months and months of not wearing it (cue your wild gasps at my blasphemy.) 

I had it picked out to wear with a skirt, but it's the freakin' weekend and it's raining, which means I want pants. 

I'm not sure how well the boots and bun will go over in the dressing room (headed to the sartorial kingdom, my friends), but I'm a woman on the edge. I might return water logged and unkempt, so I bring you these pictures in advance. 

Cardigan: Old Navy (Inge, Brynn, and I need to wear our matching ones on the same day!)

Pants: Old Navy

Boots: Steve Madden Barton boot (I hunted down this color on eBay. They have the red, exposed zipper in the back. These boots are bringing sexy to their backs.) 

Shirt: Rock and Republic via Kohl's 

Reverse 30x30: Yellow Polka Dot Blouse

It's raining, so I get to wear my rain boots from the best giveaway I might have ever won and will ever win.

I wanted to winterize this polka dot top, my reversed item, so I paired it with this navy blazer from Mom (Santa's got style) and fun boots. I'm almost 30, and my Mom dresses me. I have no shame. 

Oh, and the unexpected two hour delay today? Absolutely glorious. It's amazing how well I function after actually sleeping. 7-7:30 am is the perfect wake up time in my humble opinion. 

Reversed item (top): NY & Co

Blazer: gift (Gap)

Necklace: Target 

Boots: won them in a giveaway this summer (Joules) 

Jeans: The Limited