Pinspiration & Organization

 I wanted this skirt so desperately, and after Mom (I mean...Santa) bought it for me, I was at a loss. How would I style it? It seemed too dressy to style it exactly like my other black maxi skirt. It's a bit too cold to wear just a t-shirt with it. What to do? What to do?

Well, first came a brain fart, and then came styler's block, and then came Sydney in a Pinterest carriage. I am not sure any of us remember how we dressed ourselves before Pinterest.

However, I am happy to report that I need Pinterest less often than I did in the past, but it sure has helped me make more sense of my closet. (Too bad it does not help my husband make more sense of my side of the closet. Is there an app for that?)

When the weather warms up, I think I will try a graphic tee with this skirt.

Feel free to send your ideas my way.

 The Look:

Shirt: Old Navy

Cardigan: The Limited (it's old, and it had a tie, but I cut it off.)

Skirt: Lauren Conrad via Kohl's 

Flats: Steve Madden via DSW

Necklace: Okay, it's either Francesca's or The Limited. 

 I wanted you to see the fun backs of these flats.

Speaking of Pinterest, I wanted to discuss how I organize my style boards. I used to have one big style board, but that thing was such a disorganized dump that the frustration it caused me prevented any kind of pinspiration from taking place. And then I got organized. If you do not mind indulging me, I thought we could discuss how I cleaned up shop.

Look! I made a fun graphic!

2014 Closet Resolutions -- Pictures of outfits that I can recreate with items I want to make sure I'm wearing but don't wear enough. I delete pins once I've worn the outfit and just add a picture of how I wore it on my outfits board.

Warm Weather Fashion -- (for spring and summer) some of the pins, I put a tag in the description "with tights and boots" so that I can find it when I search my boards for winter looks with tights

Cool Weather Fashion -- (for fall and winter)

Color Combinations -- This board is my favorite. It's full of color combinations I want to try (ex: coral/blush and cobalt blue). If I've tried the combination, I might move the pin to another board like "Warm Weather Fashion" because I like the silhouette.

My Outfits -- all the looks from my blog

DIY Fashion -- Tutorials AND pictures of things I want to learn to make. For example, I really liked a checked dress that I want to figure out how to make one day.

Fashion Tips & Helpful Websites -- I include pictures of one item many ways in this category. I'm thinking about making a new board for those pins.

Closet Holes & Wants -- I pin items I'd like to add to my closet. I delete them once I've added them to my closet.

Geez, that's a lot of boards, but I've found that one big board for all of the stuff is not as easy to navigate. 

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Linking up with

* Molly 

* The Style Record
* Mix it Mondays 

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Goin' Fishin'

When I teach my students how to write essays, I always tell them they want a "hook" at the beginning of their introductions. They have to grab their readers and pull 'em right into that essay, no matter how poorly written, littered with "theres" instead of "theirs," it happens to be.

Today, I am taking my own advice. I lured you in with the promise of pretty pictures (the first outfit) in order to show you what I'm really wearing today. Haha! Look at me! I'm so tricky! What a good fisherwoman I make. The cherry on top? The vest I'm wearing in the "real" pictures is something much like what a fisherman would wear. Don't you just love happy coincidences? Me too.

Oh, and random thought (because I never have those...ahem): as I walked out of the x-ray place today, I walked past a man who had clearly just finished smoking thirteen packs of cigarettes, and he stunk to high heaven. Do you know I actually waited until I passed him before I coughed? When I realized what I had done, I mentally rebuked myself. Why on earth was I at all concerned about HIS feelings? Seriously, that turd bucket was polluting my airways (and his) with junk I am highly allergic to, and I was the one being cordial about not coughing so as not to offend him? Well, never again, my friends. Never again. Cherry on top? I was just exiting the building from a SINUS x-ray, which clearly shows how royally screwed up my face is. And here I am all worried about this joker's feelings. Stroke my narcissism and make me feel a little better here. Does anyone else do this? Avoid offending someone else who's actually in the wrong?

 

The Look:

Sweater: Gap Outlet (old)

Necklace: NO idea

Jeans: The Limited

Flats: Audrey Brooke via DSW 

Now, here is today's outfit wrapped up in terrible selfies. 

Forgive me.

 

The Look:

Jeans: Simply Vera via Kohl's

Shirt: Old Navy

Belt: New York & Co.

Vest: American Eagle

Boots: Steve Madden 

Necklaces: Target 

 

In all honesty, I really wanted you to see my elephant necklace.

I got it at Target just before Christmas.

The tree necklace came with it :)

Also, please admire my new shoes from Sole Society. 

I decided to head the UPS guy off at the pass,

and then we had a nice little chat about all of this stupid snow.

Linking up with

Favorite Fashion Fridays

and

Fab Friday

Why do you build me up, buttercup...

Just to let me down (let me down) with your unpretty pictures? I'll tell you why, sugar pie. I like this outfit so much that, poorly taken pictures and all, I wanted to share it with you. Sure, the outfit might not be amazing, but doesn't that pale yellow just make you smile? Add to that the polka dots and you've got a winning combination.

Yes, I had to have Jeff help me put on my cardigan, but I wore just enough layers to remain comfortable at work. Rewind a moment. Does anyone else suffer from sleeves-too-tight syndrome? Let's get real here, people. I have spindly little arms of which I am fully aware. However, you would think I was trying to squeeze a leg into some of my cardigans. I mean, for whom are they making these sleeves anyway? If even I struggle to stuff my toothpick arms into the armholes, we have a problem, Houston. So, I have to buy cardigans in a size small if I want to wear anything other than just my arms under those sleeves. Of course, the small sleeves fit better, but then my 12-year-old-boy-sized chest just floats under the rest of it. I am not talented enough to make my own cardigans, so suffer I must. Oh, these first world problems of mine.

 

The Look:

Cardigan: New York & Co.

Oxford: Lauren Conrad via Kohl's

Black Jeans: American Eagle (technically "jeggings," but who likes that word anyway?)

Belt: Target (love me some Target belts)

Boots: b.o.c. via DSW  

 

This look was loosely inspired by this pin.

Obviously, it's still too cold to copy the pin exactly, but I liked the idea

of a yellow cardigan with my polka dot oxford.

 

I also wore the jeans this way,

and the cardigan this way,

and the oxford this way.

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Linking up with

What I Wore to Work

All Things Thursday

Look What I Got

Pinned it and Did It

Three-fer Thursdays

and

Tres-Chic Fashion Thursday

(You'd think I would've linked up better pictures for all of those links. Well, I hope the words make it worth it.)

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Favorite Outfit Recreated & Thoughts on Yoga

So, I tried yoga...again. You see, I've always been a lover of pilates and a believer of "yoga? oh, yes, that's an hour of trying to avoid one of two things: farting or laughing at someone who has farted."However, I have not visited the gym for a long time, and I needed something easy on my geriatric body, so I took a gander at the class offerings. Spinning? No, I don't need to set my ass on fire today. Body pump? Ohh no no no, my biceps and I are far from prepared at this juncture. Lil' Dragons? Welp, I am not in the 4-6 age bracket, so no. And then I saw an "Alignment Yoga" class, and it sounded (the most) appealing. 

You see, aside from the flatulence (and snoring at the end) that accompanied the three other yoga classes I attended, I am about as flexible as a titanium rod. The fact of the matter is that I cannot touch my toes unless I bend my knees. You see why yoga intimidates me?

Anyway, I arrived early because I was not going to be that girl in the front of the class to show everyone what not to do. I forgot a mat. Doh. Some kind lady told me we had to wait until the instructor arrived and opened up the Narnia cabinet, so I waited and I observed. I had to size up my competition. (Really, I needed to see if a room full of Lulu Lemon girls strutted in and proved to me that I was absolutely in the wrong place with my leggings I wear as pajamas, all covered in Roxy and Squirt fur.) The lady in front of me was stretching before yoga, which both confused and worried me. Then, a man in his, I'm guessing here, 70s sort of hobbled into the room. I was starting to feel better. Also, that man's "buddy," a younger man in his 60s, asked me what color my shirt was. I liked the class already.

Guys, I finally like yoga. Apparently, the class is filled with noobs. One lady didn't know she had to take off her shoes (despite the sign outside the door). Another lady also forgot a mat. The instructor never had to correct my posture. And I felt much taller and relaxed after class.

However, no one farted, and I can't help but feel a little disappointed.

In case you want to know--you might not, but I like to spew word vomit around these parts, which means I plan to tell you anyway--I plan to do yoga with that same instructor four times a week (along with some Zumba, of course!) for the next two-three weeks so that I can move on up to strength conditioning and, who knows, maybe even Body Pump. Whoa whoa whoa, let's not get ahead of ourselves here. 

Anyway, let's carry on. Shall we?

Now that Mom takes my pictures and does a darn fine job at it, I wanted to recreate one of my favorite outfits previously taken in terrible lighting. 

 The Look:

Sweater: Elle via Kohl's

Skirt: Francesca's (got this bad boy for $15!)

Booties: Old Navy

Scarf: Made by Momma

Blazer: Express 

 Belt: Came with a dress

 

What would a post be without some outtakes for your viewing pleasure?

I call this first one, "Mom, I got this."

 I call this second one, "No one in yoga farted, but it looks like I did."

 

Before I leave you, I have three more things:

1. Next Trendy Tuesday is Pretty in Pastels.

(My colleagues and I are trying to usher in warmer weather.)

2. If you want to laugh so hard that funny tears obstruct your vision, read this Haribo review. (If you do NOT appreciate potty humor, then I suggest you scroll on.)

3. I think we should start a book club based on this list.

Carry on, folks.

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Linking up with 

Shanna

and

What I Wore Wednesday

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Trendy Tuesday: Gingham and Cords

Just call me an accidental American. I seem to like this whole shades of blue, red, and gray/white color palette. Hey, when it works, it works. Even if I'm the only one who thinks it works.

I just have some random thoughts today, and I like lists, so I shall list these random thoughts in no particular order. What's a random list if it's not randomly generated?

1. Since when did "matchy matchy" become a frowned-upon-fashion thing? Yes, my belt pulls in the white of the gingham and the necklace. Yes, my nude pumps match my nude belt. And, why not? From some people, I get the impression that things should now "go" instead of "match." (Granted, I think that line is so fine I could erase it with my foot.) Although I appreciate how much this blog has broadened my sartorial horizons, I am who I am. Though things that "go" now make my closet seem like a much more creative place, I still like things to match. In fact, as I have probably said before, I cannot go to sleep unless my pajamas match. I tried pattern mixing once, and I kind of liked it. Some people, like Ginny, are pattern-mixing bosses. So, if I match, just go with it. Hey, I don't flag down every girl stuffing her sweatpants into her Uggs, so I can rock a "matchy matchy" outfit.

P.S. What exactly qualifies as matchy matchy anyway? As long as I don't do this, no matter how much I love houndstooth, am I okay? I looked up "matchy matchy." This scared the yoga pants off of me. This made me rock my head back in laughter. You're welcome.

2. Lesson learned (not for the first time): do not attempt to pull on pants after slathering Gold Bond on your legs. You will tear off one of your belt loops and have to sew it back on after rebuking yourself for making such a rookie mistake.

3. After yet another day off, I am beginning to wonder two things: one, what am I teaching anymore? Two, what do my feet look like without boots?

I have nothing else for you except what I wanted to wear to school for Trendy Tuesday and what I would have worn if school weren't cancelled on Trendy Tuesday. I considered showing you what I'm really wearing, but I've gotta cut you off somewhere.

First up: what I would have worn if the temperature did not necessitate tights on my legs and boots on my feet. Can I tell you how excited I am to wear this outfit in warm weather?

 

The Look:

Shirt: Target! (I love it much more than the one I returned to J.Crew Factory.)

Skirt: LOFT (it was an online return, only one in the store...my size...fate?)

Heels: Nine West via Marshall's

 Belt: Target

Necklace: Lauren Conrad via Kohl's

Close up of both my DIRTY mirror and clothing.

 

Next up: what I planned to wear for Trendy Tuesday at work. Now, I originally planned for my white cords, but their pant loop is still waiting on me to fix it. I realized, however, that I really like how these cords fit me. Happy accident.

 

The Look:

Shirt: Target (I found it in the store.)

Cardigan: Croft & Barrow via Kohl's (it's a little thick, which I like.)

Pants: old from LOFT

Booties: Old Navy

Necklace: New York and Co.

At first, I wasn't going to show you my make-up-less face, but I decided to join in with Agi and other ladies for the I Am Beautiful link-up.  This is my 7a.m. face. Enjoy. 

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Linking up with

Agi

Lauren

Trend Spin 

Style Sessions 

and

Lauren

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If you participated in Trendy Tuesday, feel free to tag me on Instagram (@likewo) with #trendytuesday or e-mail me that it's up on your blog. I like showing my co-teacher that 

our fun Trendy Tuesdays make it past our school! :)

Double Your (my?) Pleasure

Shame on me for taking so long to respond to Rachel and Caroline separately nominating me for the Liebster Award. I think I will remain eligible for this award for as long as I blog because you will never see a thousand (or even hundreds of) followers to my name, and I'm cool with that. I like responding to a smaller number of blogs and developing what I feel are really worthwhile friendships (even if most of you live too far away. BOO.) Hey, that's why I chose a small college over a large university.

Anyway, the quick rundown of the award:

1. You must link back to the person who nominated you. 2. You must answer the 11 questions given by the person who nominated you. 3. You pick 11 nominees with under 200 followers to answer your questions. 4. You cannot nominate the person who nominated you. 5. You must tell the nominees that they have been nominated by you.

 (I'm rebelling and not choosing 11 people because I have a difficult time choosing favorites.)

Since two ladies nominated me and that totals 22 questions, I will pick and choose from the questions they asked. 22 feels like homework, and I have a lot of papers left to grade!

Rachel's Questions 

1). What is your style or look? I took several "what's your style quizzes," and the verdict is in: my "style" is classic, colorful, and comfortable. However, I realized I am best described by my go-to silhouettes and items that complement me.

Go-to Look:

        * skinny pants/skirt + 

           tucked in shirt/blouse + 

           blazer/vest/cardigan

           belt + 

           boots/flats/heels

 What looks "good" on me:

        * skinny pants look better with boyfriend/longer cardigans

        * flare leg jeans look better with blazers 

        * flats look better with A-line skirts

        * heels look better with pencil skirts 

        * all pants and skirts look better/more polished with a belt

 
2). Rachel asked who my favorite designer is, but I guess I can answer Caroline's question better: "Where do you find yourself shopping the most?" I am not even sure what qualifies as "designer" wear; is that sad? I just know the following stores are my first stops: Old Navy, Gap, LOFT, The Limited, TJ Maxx, Marshall's, Francesca's, and DSW. I do like J.Crew and its Factory (only recently and only on super sale). I guess Franco Sarto is a shoe designer because I love his stuff that winds up at Marshall's. Some of my favorite shoes, like these boots, are by him.

3). Greatest fashion tip you want to share with the blogosphere? Seriously, figure out what silhouettes/items of clothing look best on you and use it as a "formula" for getting dressed on particularly rough mornings. Note: I must pick out my outfits in advance because I am such a TROLL in the mornings. My poor husband.

4). Tea or coffee? Absolutely tea. Preferably Earl Gray. Coffee meets acid reflux leads to ultimate gastrointestinal disaster.

 
5). If you had to meet one person who had died again who would it be? I do not want to "meet" anyone. I just want to spend more time with Mom Mom, my maternal grandmother. Years later and I still miss her so much.

 
6). What article of clothing do you love the most? The most comfortable ones. Really, what answer were you expecting from me?

 

7). What is your faith background? Originally, I wasn't going to answer this question, but let me be honest with you. I have been baptized three times by three different Christian sects. I joke that I am "clean" wherever I go, but I am much like Pi Patel, ambiguously religious but privately faithful. 

Caroline's Questions 

8) What do you like to do when you aren't blogging? Watch Netflix with Jeff (currently absorbed by House of Cards), go to this awesome fully gluten-free restaurant near our apartment, and browse stores when almost no one is there. (I find it so peaceful.)

 

9) Do you have a favorite outfit memory? I met Jeff in a club. My friend and I were dancing on stage. Okay, that sounds HORRIBLE. No, we were not dancing for money. (Of course, I'm not knocking anyone who does.) Let me clarify. The club had a makeshift "stage" in front of the DJ boot. Only girls were allowed up there. My friend and I hopped up there in an effort to escape the creepy mccreepersons on the dance floor. However, I saw Jeff from across the smoky bar. Yes, cheesy. Yes, true. I was wearing a light blue/black polka dot shirt and white pants. I was sporting my naturally curly hair. The fact that he'll never forget that outfit is what makes me happiest. Duh.

 

10) Why did you start your blog? I teach English, and I love fashion. Why not combine what I write with what I wear? 

 

 11) Which season is your favorite for fashion & beauty purposes? Fall or spring because of their tepid temperatures. I can still wear layers without feeling like a sherpa or sweating like a man. I do not particularly enjoy the allergies that accompany both seasons, but with this severe sinus infection lasting the ENTIRE winter season? I guess the "allergies" during fall and spring aren't so bad. 

 

Feel free to answer these questions, too :)

 

 

Style Swap

Shout out to my girl, Brynn, for providing me inspiration that I so pitifully lacked on Saturday as I sluggishly prepared to leave the apartment. I really liked the colors of Brynn's outfit, so I wore my lime green cardigan again. I guess this little blog-a-roo has shown me a thing or two, particularly which items in my closet happen to rank above the rest. Who would've thought a lime green cardigan could be so versatile? I certainly did not.

I realize that these pictures might deceive you into thinking my pants are black. In fact, they are a dark blue jean, and they feel like soft puppy ears. (Come on, you know what I mean, right?) 

Two things before you hang out with my outfit shamelessly copied from Brynn:

1. I think we need to institute a new rule on Facebook/social media: do not tell your "friends" that everyone in your house has "the vomits." I have a pretty legitimate, intense fear of throw up (used to be so bad that just hearing the word made my stomach churn and send me into a terrible shaking fit), so I would greatly appreciate not hearing about how frequently and violently the members of your household are losing their cookies. (Yes, part of the reason I chose to teach high school was because of the better control of bodily functions. Granted, my second year of teaching was accompanied by a puker in my room. I taught outside for a week. Not kidding.)

2. If you want to bring forth a greater possibility of a snow day, then just book the computer lab and plan out the week. Mother Nature will say poo poo to you. Oh well, I have one more day to procrastinate grading. I mean...

 

The Look:

Cardigan: Target

Blouse: New York and Co.

Belt: Target

Jeans: American Eagle (they're technically jeggings, but I agree with Brynn that the word "jeggings" is stupid.)

Boots: Etienne Aigner via Macy's several years ago

Airplane Necklace: gift from Momma (it's Lauren Conrad...go figure)

 

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I've also worn the cardigan these ways...

 

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Linking up with 

Molly 

The Style Record 

 Mix It Mondays 

and

Style Swap 

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Don't forget that tomorrow's Trendy Tuesday is "Gingham and Cords." You can choose just gingham, just cords, or both! Whatever strikes your fancy. Give a shout out on your blog, tag me on Instagram (@likewo), or mention it on Twitter (@littlebitofwowe). I'd love to come check out your looks!