Preppy with Puppies & Trendy Tuesday Announcement

What will brighten your Friday more than my face? I'll tell you: my parents' puppies. Although Rudy magically found a way to poop on top of his crate, and they both love rasorially digging at the crotch of my pants, I submit to their cuteness. Let's be honest: my outfit is cute, but these pups are cuter.

(Note: rasorial means "characterized by scratching at the ground, especially for food." I told you that I'd throw some vocabulary your way every day.)

As for next Tuesday, the theme, as chosen by one of the best-dressed males in our building, is "Gingham and Cords." Now, do remember that Trendy Tuesday's "rules" are very loose. You can choose gingham and cords, or you can wear just one of the two. We try to leave enough room for everyone to find a way to participate.

Here is what gingham looks like. I'm already cooking up some ideas. Depending on the weather, I'll probably stick with just gingham, but maybe I'll double up. Who knows!? It's anyone's guess.

This morning, my co-teacher and I taught our first and second periods in the computer lab. While I was down there, I drank from a water bottle that I thought was mine; however, when I returned to the classroom at the beginning of third period, I saw that my water bottle was still on my desk. "OH NO!" I internally exclaimed. Okay, okay, if I'm being honest, I really thought, "Oh, shit. WHOSE water bottle was that? What if I drank from a kid's water bottle? Ewww, what if they have scabies? Oh my gosh, I'm doing to die." Because, you know, that's how normal people think. Later, I told my co-teacher who informed me that she was pretty sure that water bottle was hers. Man, what a relief. I almost ate soap.

 

Sammy is the one with perked up ears (on the right). 

Rudy is the squirmy one on the left.

The Look:

Blazer: New York and Company--similar

Shirt: Tommy Hilfiger outlet (does anyone shop there still? Well, I do.)--similar

Belt: "vintage" (it's Mom's from back in the day)--similar

Jeans: The Limited--same?

Flats: Rock and Republic via Kohl's--similar

 

You cannot see my face, but you can see theirs, so this picture is worth it.

I call this my "if Paris Hilton actually wore clothes and were being stalked by the paparazzi who couldn't believe she was wearing clothes" picture.

 

I considered a necklace or something, but I decided to keep it simple.

I just like the color palette here.

 

Clearly, I said something so witty that I rocked my head back in amusement.

 

What? You didn't think I'd deliver a normal picture?

I also wore the flats this way...

And here are some gingham looks for you...

 

(Look! There's the red belt again!)

Also, I am wearing gingham and cords in this last picture.

Hmm...now I have a "cold weather" idea for Tuesday!

------------------------------

Linking up with

Favorite Fashion Friday

and

Fab Friday

-----------------------------

Wearing Halloween without Looking Halloween (maybe)

In honor of October, I decided to style one orange shirt several ways. Okay, okay, to be honest, I styled it in four ways to see if it was worth saving. Congratulations, shirt, orange you lucky to have earned your keep? (I couldn't help myself.)

Since we will be moving into an apartment and out of our house on Halloween, dressing up and handing out candy isn't really an option. Wearing orange is the best I've got. 

As the move inches closer and closer, I realize how much I will miss our neighbors. Why can't we plant them in the neighborhood of our next home? When we moved in several years ago, the Snowmageddon hit. Welcome to home ownership! I brought you Mount Everest! Our neighbors brought out some bourbon and helped shovel our driveway. (They also watched from their windows as my ridiculous husband climbed onto the porch roof in his no-traction sneakers and used a piece of molding to golf swing snow off the roof. Luckily, if he were to fall, an eight-foot mound of snow would've caught him.) Granted, we live so far from work and find ourselves so exhausted from the drive that we cannot hang out with our neighbors as much as we'd like. I hope our next home has neighbors who are just as lovely and come bearing rum (specifically the Cruzan mango kind) instead of bourbon. One of my colleagues said this winter, according to the Farmers' Almanac, will be a doozy. I am trying to determine whether that's a better or worse thing in an apartment? I cannot be sure. 

Anyway, enough about me, more about the clothes. I know I know. 

LOOK 1

Shirt: Gap

Sweater: The Limited

Pants: Express

Necklace: Kohl's

(I think the ensemble would look even better with a gold belt. Agreed?)

LOOK 2

Same Shirt (obviously)

Blazer: NY & Co.

Skirt: Merona via Target

Necklace: Target

(I think the creepy dog really contributes something special to this look.)

LOOK 3

Chambray: Old Navy

Belt: American Eagle (dude's section...bought it in MIDDLE SCHOOL!)

Pants (they're winter white cords): Forever 21

Scarf: Francesca's

LOOK 4

Cardigan: gift from my sister-in-law :) (it's from Target)

Belt: Target (years ago)

I know this look is quite Halloweenie, but I wholly approve. Why must orange and black always mean Halloween, yellow and black always mean bumble bee, red/white/blue always mean July 4th, and red/green always mean Christmas? WHY?! If my outfits make me look like an insect or a holiday, then so be it. 

Just in case you want some pinteresting orange looks, I compiled all of them into one image for your pinning (or not) pleasure. 

I hope everyone is having a (pumpkin) smashing weekend. 

Teacher Wardrobe Staples: Part 3 [The Outfits]

So, Mom brought over her real camera and her real skills to take this part of the series' photographs. HOLY AWESOMENESS. 

Happy Birthday to me.

I know I said I couldn't write this post today, but the birthday fairies granted me two hours of extra time to work it in :) 

In case you're new, I've started a Teacher Wardrobe Series.

Part 1: The Stores

Part 2: The Basics 

Today is Part 3: The Outfits. 

(Tomorrow is Part 4: The Inspiration, which features readers. You could be a part of it! See more information about it at the end of this post.)

First, I did not pull all of the items from Part 2 to create these looks.

(I'll also need to write a post that includes some considerations after having created outfits with the items. I'm realizing the holes I have in my closet!) 

I'm sorry, but that is a lot of picture taking, and what will I show you for the next month!?

Now, here are the staples I pulled together for this post:

Gingham shirt, blue oxford, striped shirt, yellow (and feminine) blouse,

cobalt blue blazer, khaki blazer, and black blazer

White cardigan, gray cardigan, khaki skirt, black skirt, 

black pants, khaki/brown pants, cobalt skirt, polka dot skirt

black dress, striped dress, cap toe flats, nude kitten heels, black heels, cobalt blue wedges

IMPORTANT NOTE #1: I did NOT create all of the outfits that I could have created because I started to get sweaty and tired. I think what I've provided here is plenty of inspiration, especially since I have some other lovely ladies' outfits to show you tomorrow! 

IMPORTANT NOTE #2: Except for belts, I did not accessorize. If you want to see the series to continue with a post on accessorizing, feel free to let me know. I like you, so I can make it happen.

So, here goes:

The striped dress is great with a blazer, a cardigan, heels, flats, belted, or not belted.

A look I did not include but would be cute is the blue oxford tied over top and knotted in the front.

 (Or a black blazer instead of a white cardigan)

I'm seeing so many more possibilities now that I'm reviewing the pictures.

A black dress works well with a button up, a blazer, or a cardigan. 

OR ANYTHING.

Mom did NOT take the last three pictures. They were in the archive. 

I wanted to include them because one look shows a printed skirt, another shows a printed dress, and the last shows a more casual Friday kind of look.

Your colored blazer does not have to be cobalt blue, but I bet you want one now! 

Who would've thought a little yellow blouse could cover so much sartorial ground?

I prefer it tucked in, but it looks great loose. 

I love the two skirt looks. 

LOOK! My husband came home during the photo shoot and matched one of my outfits. I made him pose with me. As you can see, he's excited. 

Obviously, I could include a bajillion outfits with the striped shirt, but I've already written a post on striped shirt inspiration. (Excuse some of the dead pictures. I need to figure out how to fix those! I didn't know some of them died until just now.)

In all of these looks, both shirts are interchangeable, which is why I included them on a collage together.

I think the khaki skirt look is my favorite. I'm excited to wear it to work! 

After writing this post, I am so game for a 30x30 challenge. Right here, I have 14 looks, and I could easily double them. And I only have 21 items here instead of 30. I might have inspired myself. 

What a cheeseball. And a narcissist. 

If you would like to see me write more posts like this one, I'd love to have your feedback. 

Don't forget to e-mail me a picture of you wearing your favorite teacher outfit. 

(You do NOT have to be a teacher; it can be a teacher-inspired ensemble.)

(You do NOT have to be a blogger either!)

If you ARE a blogger and the picture comes from a post on your blog, provide me with the link to the original content, please! If you're not a blogger, tell me how you'd prefer I credit you :) 

E-mail me at

teamwebchick@gmail.com