Wood.

When my husband needs to update his résumé, I think he can officially write "master wood getter" as one of his fruitful endeavors. I know Fifty Shades of Gray is coming out in theaters next Saturday but no letting your mind wander to the gutter. Ahem. Now that we live in a house with a wood stove and my husband is a firebug, that man finds free wood as easily as I got hit by fly balls at my brother's baseball games. A guy at work has a neighbor who cut down a tree? Jeff is there with his truck and an axe. A neighbor cuts down a tree and doesn't want to pay for removal? Jeff is there with his truck (destroying their grass in the process) and an axe. Where there is free wood, there is my husband, a truck, and an axe. I might as well start calling him Paul Bunyan.  This story in no way relates to my outfit unless you count the fact that the shirt is green, green is like nature, and trees are a part of nature.

 

The Look:

Cardigan: Target

Shirt: Apt. 9 via Kohl's

Pants: Gap (Momma gave them to me for Christmas.)

Necklace: not sure, gift from Momma

Shoes: Target (they make surprisingly comfortable, affordable flats!)

Mock, YEAH. Ing, YEAH. Bird, YEAH. Yeah, yeah.

Name that movie, and I shall gift you a figurative million dollars. Or, as I tell my students, you will earn extra credit...in my heart. By the by, I started singing the title to my husband, and he finished it for me. That, my friends, is true love. Yeah? YEAH.

I would offer you a legitimate reason for my extended absence, but all I got for you is this: it got cold. I look even more haggard in the winter months, which must be why the first picture my husband took looks mildly blurry. Heck, I all but dragged him outside to take these pictures during which time (all of thirty seconds) he griped about the temperature. Winter whiner. Yeah, it's still cold, but I missed you guys, which is why I'll try to suck it up enough to visit you all a few times a week.

The Look:

Shirt: LOFT

Cardigan: Old Navy

Jeans: New York & Co.

Boots: Etienne Aigner via Macy's

Overcome with Joy

Last week, I told you about the Joy to the World project that I assigned to my juniors. This week, my students have brought me so much joy that I finally understand the cliche "makes my heart sing." My students possess so many talents that they leave me feeling a sense of wonder and pride. How did I get so lucky to teach these awe-inspiring teenagers?

Here is a list of some of the many projects this week:
* Student brought in materials for the class to make cards for the under-appreciated custodial and cafeteria staff at our school. (Another student had them make cards for the military and another had them make cards for children in children's hospitals.)
* Student told jokes for five minutes. (My favorite? What do you call Santa's elves? Subordinate clauses. BAHAHA.)
* Student, who is first-chair cello in the state orchestra, played four Christmas songs to which the class sang along.
* Student played the piano beautifully and sang even more beautifully.
* Student played the ukelele (fun fact: bought for $25 at a drugstore in Hawaii) and sang "Riptide" and "White Christmas."
* Student constructed an angel out of cardboard that lit up to the tune of a song he mixed digitally.
* Student made a computer game that other students could play. It required the player to dance on the music notes to "Joy to the World" while the song played in the background.
* Student made a huge sheet with pockets labeled with all of the classmates' names on them. The student collected kind words other people said about the students and put the notes inside of the pockets.
* Student wrote spoken word/Slam poetry and performed it for the class.

So many more musicians, joke tellers, gift givers, cookie bakers, and etc. They continue to amaze me with their kindness, creativity, and talent. I love the risks that students took in approaching this project accompanied by NO rubric. (I explained that a rubric for such an assignment would cheapen its value. Instead, I gave them a goal to achieve, not a set of criteria to check or points to earn. They do, however, receive credit for completing the assignment.) Some of them left themselves so vulnerable to their classmates, and I appreciate their bravery.

Needless to say, I plan to assign this project for many years to come. Far into 2015, I will float on the joy these students have brought to me.

My outfit is underwhelming compared to the wonderful things my students have contributed to our classroom, but here you have it anyway.

 

The Look:

 Top (actually dark green): LOFT

Skirt: Elle via Kohl's

Boots: Etienne Aigner via Macy's

Earrings (old): New York & Co.

The most beautiful thing I've ever seen

I am laughing right now because I spy, with my little eye, a thredUP bag in the hallway. Yeah, I've had that thing packed for over a week now, which is an extremely conservative estimate, and have yet to put it in the mail. Good job, self.

Anyway, my Dad installed phase two of my closet system today. Yes, he built and stained the entire shelf system! We planned out phase three: the jewelry station. Oh, the scarf I'm wearing? My mom crocheted it. Seriously, my parents possess so many talents. I need to start figuring out how they accomplish these tasks so perfectly.

The Look:

Cardigan: J.Crew Factory

Long-sleeved tee: Target

Skirt: Francesca's

Tights (fleece lined): The Limited

Booties: Nine West via DSW (they're navy)

Scarf: Mom's handiwork right there (she tried out a new design, and I love it.)

 

I thought you might want to see the closet installation because it really is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen:

 

 

My patterned scarfs are in clear boxes atop the shelves.

All of my heels, flats, and booties are on the shelves. (I keep my tall boots in the coat closet because they are dirtier; I don't want them up in my bedroom. Eww.)

 

Dad and I designed the shelving system so that it wouldn't extend so far to the right (on that wall) that I would lose access to stuff hanging on the rods. It ended up being the perfect width. I have zero problems seeing or reaching clothes on the far left of the closet.  All of my bras sit in a basket on the floor (far left). All of my socks are in that brown basket just beneath my cardigans. I plan to get another basket for all of my tights so that they can sit next to my sock basket.

 

(My most-used scarves are in a pretty basket underneath this shelf that we designed just for my long skirts and dresses. My belts are in a little drawer system next to the scarf basket.)

When the final phase, phase 3, is complete, I will give you a little peek. 

I might just take naps in my closet now.

This past weekend, we celebrated the first birthday of one of Jeff's (second) cousins. In total, between his sister and his cousins, there are seven little kids, and the two of us somehow ended up hanging out with all of them. There we were just sitting on the couch, and one was climbing behind me, another was making googly faces at me from the Lil Tikes picnic table across the room, and another was sprawled out on the ottoman in front of us. I guess there is something really appealing about adults without kids? Or we just ooze coolness. Well, Jeff might ooze coolness. I like to refer to myself as being endearingly awkward. My brother, however, inherited the cool genes in the family.

Today, Dad installed phase two of my closet, and it is SO BEAUTIFUL. Honestly, I might sleep in there. I chatted with Mom for awhile. Dad, Jeff, and I plotted phase three (the final phase) of the closet, the jewelry station. All four of us ate dinner. It was a glorious day, and I finished almost all of my grad project due on Tuesday.

Hanging out with family this weekend reminded me how excited I am for winter break because I can spend time with so many people I love. Plus, my intern and I planned it so that we will take home no grading over break! :) Now that is a Christmas miracle right there.

As for today's outfit, it is reeeeeally comfortable. I bought this sweatshirt thing in black as well. Such a good decision.

 

The Look:

Cardigan: LOFT

Sweatshirt: Target (recent)

Jeans: American Eagle (recent)

Boots: b.o.c. via DSW

Necklace: Lauren Conrad via Kohl's

Kisses

I am fully aware that a smudge exists on the middle of my mirror. It makes me laugh every time I look it it (and I keep forgetting to grab the Windex from the kitchen), so I let it stay. You see, my two-year-old niece loves to kiss herself in my mirror. She winks at herself, smiles coyly, and then gives her reflection a big ol' smooch.

Now that we're on the subject of my niece, let's talk about the conversation we had on the phone the other day when my parents were watching her. (Recently, her vocabulary has exploded, so she is a chatty mcchatterson.)

My mom: Tell Aunt Danielle hi!
Me: Hey, Tater Tot! (my nickname for her)
Juliana:
Me: Hey, kid, say hi to me!
Juliana: HI! ... HI! ... HI! ... HI!

Best conversation I've had in weeks.

I loved this outfit with the blazer, but it did what the name says: set me ablaze. Whew, it was hot. 

 

The Look:

Sweater: Forever 21

Chambray: J.Crew Factory

Blazer: Target

Jeans: American Eagle

Boots: Etienne Aigner via Macy's

Necklace: gift from my Momma, I mean "Santa." (last year)

 

Paddington

When I first bought this coat about seven years ago, I told Jeff that it made me feel like Paddington Bear, a beloved cartoon character of my past. He had no idea who this furry creature wearing a toggle button coat was. What a shame. Obviously, I educated him. He has an official site if you would like to meet him, too.

I am going to go sleep now because I took off work and grad class today for some awful grossness plaguing my respiratory system. (I am also confusing myself because I wrote this post on Tuesday night but scheduled it to go "live" on Wednesday morning.) Later, gators. 

Oh, if you're curious, I did not wear this outfit to work. I wore it for a rainy day of errands.

 

The Look:

Coat (so old): Michael Kors via Filene's Basement, I think

Jeans: high-rise "jeggings" from American Eagle (they're skinny jeans, honestly)

Boots: joules (won them in a giveaway two years ago)

Sweater: St. John's Bay (bought it on thredUP a year or two ago)

Necklace: Lauren Conrad via Kohl's