My Boys

There is a fine line in children's clothing where there are kid versions of adult clothes.  If you go too far, it just gets creepy (like the old-woman hat and pearls I wore in glamour shots when I was nine).

Cute:

Dressed like Carl from the movie "Up"

Too far:

Celebrity's son

I think I've found the right balance here.  Love my two guys dressed in their button-down shirts with the sleeves rolled up.

A Love Letter to Cardigans

Note: My intentions were to document my clothes for a week or so prior to posting this so you could see just how much I love cardigans.  Since I leave the house at 6am, that plan never came to fruition.  So, you get a picture-less post.

I love several articles of clothing.  I love my reversible belt that keeps my pants up whether I'm wearing brown or black.  I love my camisoles that keep my girls from being shared with the public.  But there is nothing in my wardrobe that I love more than my cardigans.

Oh cardigans, how I love thee!

Cardigans cover a multitude of sins.  

When I was pregnant, I was able to wait until four months before I started sharing the news with the world, all because of cardigans.  They break up the front of my outfit, which hides any belly bulge (and up-top bulge that was also a result of pregnancy).  This is even more helpful right now, since I'm back in pre-baby clothes but don't have my pre-baby belly back yet.

Cardigans make any outfit a little dressier.

How can I make tanks and tshirts a little more work appropriate?  Throw on a cardigan.  Teacher chic!

Cardigans make my wardrobe stretch all four seasons.

No need to pack away the sleeveless tops come wintertime.  I just put on a cardigan.  What to wear to the chilly movie theater in summer when it's 95 degrees outside?  I wear a tank outside and bring along my cardigan for inside.  That's some bang for my bucks!

Oh cardigans, you are my friend.  I love you.

Thanks, Mom and Dad (and Jason)!

My mom and dad went a bit crazy with the birthday money this year, but I decided not to complain!  Here's my birthday purchases.


Purchase #1: New Leesville Shirt:

We get to wear LRHS t-shirts and jeans on Fridays, and I wanted one that wasn't kelly green so I could wear my bright green sneakers without being too matchy matchy.  Not the best picture in the world (probably shouldn't have taken it at 5:45am after working 14 hours the day before), but it does showcase the shirt.



Purchase #2: New Black "Teacher" Shoes:


Mama and Daddy bought my current pair of black teacher shoes about two years ago, but the wear and tear of 10-hour days has become too much for them, so I needed a replacement pair.  Sounds simple, right?  It's really hard to find shoes that are comfortable enough to wear walking around all day that don't make me look like an 80-year-old woman.

Mission accomplished?

Jason and I went to the mall Saturday and struck out in Macy's, Rack Room, and Clark's before finding these in Nine West.  I'll think they'll do the job.



Purchase #3: "Splurge" Shoes that make me Smile


I love my husband.  I don't know if it's because he wants to make me happy, knows I rarely spend money on myself, or wants ammunition when he wants to buy yet another camera lens, but I eyeballed these shoes, whimpered a bit, and walked over to the practical plain-black shoes instead.  I kept looking back at this pair, though, until he made me try them on.

Once I got them on my feet, I protested about their lack of practicality.  They have too much of a heel for teaching... they're a lot to spend on a "just for fun" pair of shoes... where would I wear them?  My mouth was protesting, but my feet were dancing around in the store, modeling in front of every mirror I could find.  Finally, my wonderful husband insisted.  Now I'll just have to get him to take me out somewhere where I can wear them!

Happy birthday to me!!!

Circles and Sparkles and Leopards, Oh My!

Between moustache parties and mystery dinner parties, my friend Amanda and I get together for girl dates. These usually center around lunch and/or shopping.  On Wednesday after (her) work, we got together at Crabtree Valley Mall and did a lot of talking and a bit of shopping.

Amanda and her adorable new shoes.

We're actually good shopping partners for each other.  Amanda, a self-proclaimed shopaholic, tends to buy less when I overanalyze each of her purchases.  Plus, she breaks me out of no-spending shell and talks me into purchases I wouldn't normally make.

Wednesday, she gave me a bit of tough love and pointed out that I always flock to "the most boring clothes" in a store.  I know what she means.  I have so many solids in my closet because patterns scare me.  Is this floral cute ... or old woman-ish?  Is this polka dot fashionable ... or does it hurt your eyes?  Solids are safe, practical purchases so that's what I tend to buy.

What does she mean I never buy patterns?

Well folks, I'm patternless no more.  I bought three new shirts the other day, all with some amount of pattern:

From left to right, polka dot/circle print shirt from Gap, white t-shirt with silver flecks from NY&Co, and a leopard (yes, leopard!) print shirt, also from NY&Co. 

How cute is the shoulder detail on the Gap shirt?

Do these three shirts make up for a whole wardrobe of monotony?  Maybe not, but it's a start.