White Out

Hat: Asos / Top: F21 / Shorts: Old Navy / Shoes, Belt: J Crew final sale / Earrings: DC street market / Necklace: Brighton / Watch: Anne Klein

I've been wanting a Panama hat for awhile now, but they can be quite pricey. I kept waiting for the one at J. Crew to go on final sale, like these shoes and belt. Their cost together was less than that darn hat. But alas, patience isn't my forte, and the pressing knowledge that summer only has a little over a month left {!!Where did it go?!!} forced me to give up and get this one from Asos clearance. It came really mashed and bent out of shape. I tried steaming it, then wetting it with warm water to shape it. Obviously, it's not the quality of the J.Crew version. I guess you get what you pay for. Anyone out there know how to make crown indentations on a paper straw hat?

In other news, monochromatic white has become my new very best friend this very hot summer. Not only does it keep me cool, but I also kind of like constantly feeling like I'm about to hop a plane to some exotic, beachy destination. Yes, all you staring at my all-white ensemble, you keep on thinking I'm that fabulous.

Meanwhile, you see those earrings up there? One of my best purchases to date. They're the perfect pop of color for white, black, and everything in between.

P.S. I'm working on more Europe posts. Monaco is almost finished, but I've got to pop up to Portland for a few days for some very important business. I'm taking the train for the first time in the U.S. I'm afraid it won't hold a candle to my visions of the Hogwarts Express, but at least the scenery is bound to be nice on a train called the Coast Starlight, right?

Color Blocked, Finally

Dress: Consigned at Periwinkle / Skirt underneath: Charlotte Russe ($5!) / Shoes, Jewelry: Gabes / Belt: Thrifted

Um, I missed this month's Everybody, Everywear. And it was...are you ready for it? Color blocking. Yes, color blocking. The very trend I've been nominating and voting for for over a year, to no avail. Then it's finally chosen the one month I'm not paying any attention because of vacation. And just before I left for vacation, I found this color blocked dress at a local consignment shop for just a few dollars, wore it to school, and photographed it. It would have been so perfect. 

So here it is, my color blocked dress. What I love about this dress is that it's a bit too short. In the past, that would've stopped me cold. But I didn't flinch when thinking about throwing on this black skirt underneath, and voilà, the length works, and I've added a third block of color. Smack. Down.

I also love that it has pockets. Pockets on a skirt or dress are like whipped cream on hot berry pie. It just makes sense.

Neon Summer

Top: Ross / Skirt: ModCloth / Necklace: BlueFly / Belt: J Crew final sale / Shoes: J Crew via DownEast

I spent quite a bit of time today with my sister and cousin surrounded by the 80s comeback neon clothing that have taken over shopping malls across America. Glittery, glowing-green bustiers, anyone? I also spent the past week wearing a pair of neon-tipped shoes I got for $1 at Old Navy, along with a citrine tank I scored on clearance at Ross, and a lemon-striped scarf I found at Target. I even photographed the neon pink and orange dress I recently thrifted, but didn't post it before leaving such evidence behind, on my desktop at home.

Yet despite all this neon glow I've recently added to my life, I'm traveling at the moment and found myself with nothing to show for it when Everybody, Everywear announced Neon Day at the last minute. I decided, nonetheless, to participate by grittifying a photo from this old post from several months ago when neon was just making its comeback. That's right, I was wearing neon in the winter. Sometimes I even wore open-toed shoes with tights. It's a lawless world, my little bubble.

I thought the grit effect from PicMonkey quite suited the 80s flashbacks I've been experiencing all day, and it also provided a nice remedy to the wicked bout of boredom I'm currently fighting at 2a.m., which will quickly be replaced with jetlag come morning. It seems no matter how tired I make myself on my first day, I can never adjust back to Eastern time. Kind of like how I can never adjust to the lack of being sandwiched between the Husband and the Hound in this lonesome bed. I wish one of my pillows would steal my covers or snort in my ear.

In other news, I've got a whole week of visiting family and friends ahead of me. Then, the Hound-sitter will take over at the S domicile, the Husband will join me, and we'll be, ahem, you could say, getting our Francy-pants on. 

That's right. I said that.

So this is adieu for the next little bit. I'll not be attempting much blogging this time. Instead, I intend to fully enjoy my holiday, and then to return with an artillery of fun travel posts AND to finally finish my European 30x30 that I did last year. Also, expect a moustachioed-cupcake filled post from the last days of school. I never got around to posting that in the wild mess of trying to prepare to leave less than 12 hours after finishing up the school year.

Have a lovely summer, all!

A bientot! { I can't figure out how to make the accents on my netbook, and it's killing me!}

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*A bientot = See you soon!

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Nautical

Pants: Victoria's Secret / Top: F21 / Necklace: Macys / Shoes: Sperry / Bracelet: Second Hand Brighton / Watch: Fossil

So, I got these pants at Victoria's Secret. People are always surprised when that is my response after they ask. But seriously, VS has the best deals. I found them a few years ago for ~$20, and I had a free-shipping offer. They're one of the few companies to which I will give my e-mail address, because they send so many offer codes and really excellent coupons by post. Their sales section online is fabulous, and a few times a year I get a free pair of unders with $10 off of a bra or a free $10 to spend in their shop. Who can complain about that?

Anyhow, this week has been a killer. I've pulled two almost-all-nighters, graded almost 100 essays, and baked more cinnamon rolls and cupcakes than I can count. I also made my very first diaper cake, the picture of which I must have accidentally deleted. But trust me. It was dang cute.  The Husband was so proud. And also kind of weirded out. 

Then I realized that I'd missed this month's Everybody, Everywear.

For whatever reason, that was terribly distressing to my little blog-life. So I got up super-duper early { 20 minutes totally merits a duper } this morning to take a picture in my nautical outfit just for you, dearest blog. You should feel very special. I hate to get up early. Especially on weeks when I've gotten very little sleep as it is. 

However, this weekend the Husband and I are celebrating five years of marriage. Five! I can't believe it's already been five years! And we just might have booked a little couple's massage session, which will more than make up for one crazy, wild week. Oh yes, yes it will.

Is it Friday yet?

Editor's Note: Proof of diaper cake's dang cuteness found! You may hold your applause. :)

Three's Company

 Dress: Thrifted vintage / Tights: ModCloth / Shoes: Sears / Belt: Ruche / Blazer: Urban / Earrings: Gabes /Necklaces: Grandmother's crystals, silent auction-won pearls, and Betsey Johnson Valentine's gift

The X chromosome dominates in the S household, and with this dress on, I can't help but feel like I'm living in the Three's Company world. Without the sunny beaches and California flowers, of course.

I was hoping to break out my newly thrifted pastel dress amidst springy flowers and blue skies, but I settled for a gray Easter. It's been overcast for days now, and though it's April, we still haven't a single sign of Spring. No buds, no flowers, no warm love from the sky. But I complained about that for virtually the entire last Spring, so this year I'll spare you the diatribe against Mother N and move on with my life this year.

Clears throat.

So, did you notice those pearls around my neck?

They're real.

That's right. My very first set of real pearls.

Which I purchased for myself. Keeping it ever so classy over here.

It was difficult to resist. My school's robotics team is going to worlds! I got to see them at regionals in Portland, and it was the coolest nerd-fest ever. More exciting than a basketball game, I tell you. Who knew that robots shooting baskets, playing defense, and balancing on see-saws to blaring hip-hop could be so much fun?

Anyhow, there was a fundraiser and silent auction to help them attend the world competition in St. Louis, so I put down the minimum bid on this set of pearls and won.

To the Husband, this all sounds like "yada, yada, yada..." So if Jack...I mean the Husband...wants to know where my share of the rent money is this month, I'd better come up with some wonky scheme, fast. And since Slurpee's about as bright as Chrissy with those sorts of ideas { also like Chrissy, she survives on being cute }, I'm all own my own.

P.S. On a completely unrelated note...in addition to the pearls, did you notice my nails, too?

Now you have no excuse-- here they are, pearls and nails.

I'm making certain you did, because it took work to do them. I did them with my darling niece over over spring break. I think it was the first time I've painted them since before I met the Husband--about 6 yeas ago. I did have them done once in that time, for my reunion back in August.  I dislike caring for nails so much that I got gloves to wear for my wedding. But when I saw the new trend in nails, I couldn't resist.

Now I remember why I quit painting them in the first place. It takes a massive amount of work and lasts about one whole grand day before chips begin to appear. Is it always this bad?

Check out all the other pastel ideas below for Everybody, Everywear's pastel day!

Also linked up to a new party for thrifty thrifters! Click below :)

 

One Year Later...

 Top: Ruche / Dress: Old Navy clearance / Skinnies: F21 / Shoes: Blowfish / Belt: J Crew final sale / Necklace: Secondhand Brighton / Bracelets: J Crew final sale / Watch: Fossil / Earrings: DC Street Market

My one year blogiversary came and went and I didn't even notice.

I guess that's about on par with how my first year of blogging panned out. Sometimes my life is just too busy to keep up with consistent blogging.

I've got mixed feelings about this little landmark. While blogging is certainly fun, and I still stand by my initial reasons for starting a style blog, there are a few downsides.

Like, I need a budget. Shh...Let's keep that from the Husband, shall we? Do you see that Ruche top and those Blowfish shoes up there? I didn't even know those shops existed till I got sucked into the fashion blog world. Though I'm sure glad I know them now...

And thrifting. Boy, is it fun. But it's not an excuse to buy everything fab item you see just because it's a ridiculously good deal. That's a tough lesson to master. So saith she who just returned from a trip to Portland where she hit up Value Village, both Buffalo Exchanges, and 2 Goodwills...

And I've pulled far too many late-nighters for this blog than I really ought to have done. For example, it's 1:49 a.m. and I'm desperately trying to fit in this post after a long weekend in Portland and before EBEW tomorrow morning. Oh yea, and before going to work, too. Those pesky "real jobs"-- mustn't forget about them...

Also, pretty much everything Jentine says here. She states it all so well.

Sometimes I feel just a little bit like the last kid left on the playground, waiting to be picked or labeled "cool." I don't know why I let blogging do that to me. It's a blog, and I'm an adult now. But every once in awhile, I'll see other bloggers who've just reached their year mark, and they've got over a THOUSAND followers and are celebrating with a fab giveaway {or ten} from one of multiple sponsors. Or maybe they're like Jentine and got 68 comments on their one-year post. Then I look at my stats and feel like slinking into some dark corner, hiding my face, and pretending like I never tried to be a real style blogger, after-all. Denial is so much easier to accept than failure...

But then I remember that I didn't do this for stats. And I don't advertise my blog, like, at all. I don't ask people to follow me, and I don't follow people so that they'll follow me back. I've no time for that. Besides, I didn't do this to be a business. I did this for me. Because it's fun. And I certainly didn't fail at having fun. Non, pas du tout.*

Isn't it fitting/ironic that this post would fall on the day that Everybody, Everywear does a "Green with Envy" theme. Oh, little green monster. I officially karate chop you out of my life.

Hi-Yah!

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*Non, pas du tout = No, not at all -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Valentine's Date Night

Blouse: Vintage Oleg Cassini / Tank: Thrifted LOFT / Skirt: Express clearance ($13!) / Purse: Express via Gabes / Faux Fur Coat: Consigned at Periwinkle / Shoes: 6pm (TCP) / Watch: Fossil / Bracelets, Belt: J Crew final sale / Earrings: AE

After a few years together, date nights start to blend in with the norm { Yea. It happens...}  This is especially true when you live in the middle of nowhere and your husband rarely consents to ice-skating, which is the only fun feature your town offers. So for Valentine's this year, I put together few fun little date nights...

1. Make some peanut-butter play-dough-- mix PB, confectioner's sugar, dry milk, and honey-- and check out what's new on your favorite funny site. I Can Haz Cheezburger, Failblog, People of Walmart, or one of Ryan Gosling's many "Hey Girl" memes are all valid options { I like the Literary and Feminist versions, but dang. Handmade and Silicone Valley Ryan are a riot. } Use your play-dough to sculpt some of the funnier pictures for pictionary. Then eat them.

2. Take your Hound { any medium dog will do } to the playground. Put her in a kiddie swing and swing her. Pretend not to notice the staring parents of real kids. Then put your Hound down the slide. Clap with glee. Praise her vociferously. And don't forget to snap lots of pictures. Then stop suddenly and race each other to the car. Pick up some fro-yo on the way home and laugh wildly at the pics.

3. Pull a mattress or memory-foam topper in front of the television, make a fort, light a bunch of candles, and watch a favorite movie. Take turns giving massages and camp out for the night. Or for a month, if you're like us.

4. Teach your man how to apply your makeup. Let him make up categories and have his fun. Then have him teach you how to tie a tie. Bonus points for strapping him to the bed.

5. Play Blackjack. Strip Blackjack. You deal. Heh-heh.

Testing has proven these to be quite agreeable :)

 Joyeuse Saint-Valentin!



P.S. In honor of St. Valentine, it's Red Day over at Bloggers do it Better and Red & Pink Day over at Everybody, Everywear. Red & pink and I are bffs already, in case you didn't know. We went to school together today { and to church on Sunday-- I can't take outdoor photos on winter school days.}

We also went to school together yesterday and we went to a party this past weekend.

At Christmastime we attended an imaginary soirée together, and last summer we frolicked in a field.

We've even gone to the coast together.

{And tonight we're gonna play #5 with the Husband.}

It's getting serious. 

P.S. Express is having one of their "Take an extra 40% off clearance" sales right now! Could make a fun V-Day gift to yourself. Just sayin'!

A True Story About the Husband and the Hound

   Cashmere Sweater, Skirt: Consigned at Periwinkle (Vintage Saks made in Scotland, Old Navy) / Bracelets:  F21 & Christmas gift (J Crew) / Leather Bracelet & Earrings:  DC Holiday Street Market / Crystal Necklace: Grandmother's

Once upon a time there was a lonesome non-Husband working his way through long hours of medical school in Missouri. One day, he saw an ad for beagle puppies and thought, "Hey, that would be fun!" Upon meeting the seller, he found a mess of tri-colored pups in the back of a pick-up. He paid the man $50, plucked out the wiggliest, squiggliest, smallest Hound-pup of the bunch, and put her in his car.

She whined and whimpered on the ride home till the non-Husband put her in his lap. Then the Hound-pup was very contented. They lived happily the next couple of years, learning to howl at rabbits and having adventures and such, providing one another quite good company.

Then one day the non-Husband had to go away for his internship and residency and couldn't take the Hound-pup, who was practically all Hound by this time. So she moved to Nevada with the non-Husband's brother, and then to Utah with the non-Husband's parents after the howling didn't work out too swell with the Vegas neighbors.

Meanwhile, the non-Husband completed his intern year in Arizona, and then went off to West Virginia for his residency. This is where he semi-met Girl by asking her to play football at a picnic. Girl declined, by the way, so he arranged to pick her up for a trip with mutual friends to jump off of a waterfall the next day. This was a surprise for Girl.  Pretty soon, the non-Husband was showing up at Girl's apartment and asking her to go for ice-cream. Where he told her stories about his Hound, kept her out to the wee hours on a playground, and tried to teach her to drive a stick at the end of the night. Girl is pretty sure that last part was because he didn't want the night to be over. She didn't either.

The weekend of Girl's birthday, the non-Husband flew to Utah for his sister's wedding. He'd invited Girl to go with him. He'd even offered to pay halfsies. But that Sunday was Girl's birthday and she was expecting family. And she'd only just begun to date the non-Husband, after-all, and didn't want to appear presumptuous.

The non-husband returned on Girl's birthday, bringing the Hound with him. They arrived in time to both be big hits with Girl's family. Pretty soon, the Hound was whining at the door for Girl after she left from visiting the non-Husband at his place. Then the Hound began staying the nights with Girl, whose job allowed her to walk the Hound throughout the day. It wasn't long before the Hound moved in with Girl, and not long after that the non-Husband became the Husband, and he moved in too.

And that, friends, is a true story of how the Husband became the Husband, the Hound got a mama, and the Girl found herself with a Husband and a Hound fighting for snuggle space in her bed.

  Clockwise from top left:  non-Husband and Hound-pup, Girl jumps off waterfall and is photographed by non-Husband on that fateful day, non-Husband becomes Girl's Husband, Hound takes over Girl's bed

And you thought this post was going to be about my outfit...

P.S. It's black and white day at Everybody, Everywear! C'est très chic, le noir et blanc, n'est-ce pas?*

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C'est très chic, le noir et blanc, n'est-ce pas? = Black and white is very chic, is it not?

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Sparkling Soirée

Skirt & Top: J Crew final sale / Jacket: Gap final sale / Shoes: Ross / Belt & Express Purse: Gabes / Earrings: AE / Necklace: Grandmother's / Bracelets: F21, Gabes, J Crew Factory

I just love it when J. Crew has one of their "take an extra 40% off final sale items" sales. Christmas came early for me with this top and skirt. I got them a few weeks back, but right now they're having an extra 20% off final sale.

Thank heavens for Everybody, Everywear, which provided me at least one opportunity to get festive for the holidays. Festive, in my mind, clearly involves sparkle. Classy sparkle, that is. I've a grand total of 3 ugly sweater parties to attend this year.  I briefly considered protesting by throwing my own sparkling soirée { have you seen Ruche's holiday lookbook? It's to die for...} But then I remembered that I don't have time because I'm too busy attending ugly sweater parties.

I was invited to one last year and just didn't participate. I have a difficult time purchasing something I don't anticipate wearing again, even if it is inexpensive, and I didn't realize this was a trend.  So this year I searched high and low till I found a vintage dog sweater and plaid skirt, which I intend to wear to every ugly sweater party from now to the end of eternity.

I planned to have a photo for you here, but an Episode of the Missing Hound ensued this evening and all havoc broke loose. { Thank you, Mr. North Wind, for breaking down our door...} After scouring the hills behind the house, we found her deep beneath the neighbor's brush, happily sniffing out rabbits. Completely ruined my plans, she did, so now I'm grading rather than decorating for Christmas and dressing up the Husband in his ugly sweater. He was a big hit at our first party. But no worries. Our next party is Thursday.

Puissent vos vacances de Noël scintillent de la joie!*

 

P.S. Sorry for the ridiculously inordinate number of photos. Husband should become a photographer, should he not? He makes it difficult to choose.

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*Puissent vos vacances de Noël scintillent de la joie! = May your Christmas holidays sparkle with joy!

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Magenta Leopards

  Dress: Target ($10!) / Tights: Kohl's / Cardi: Maurices / Shoes: Ross / Belt: Nordstrom Rack / Jewelry: Gabes (Monet) / Scarf: DownEast (LOFT)

Confession:  I went through a phase where I thought I was obsessed with leopard print. Because MTV was still cool {barely}, and so was decking yourself out with matching velvety leopard pajamas, robe, and slippers while roaming the dormitory at night. My little Ford Tempo was also bedazzled with cherries, at the time, mind you. It was the early 2000s. I'm calling it 90s after-shock.

It lasted a bit, then I realized I was walking around in head to toe leopard and driving a car that screamed 70s wild-child wannabe.  A few days later I relinquished yet another attempt to define my personal style, and all things leopard and cherry were cleansed from my life.

These days I've upgraded to a Dodge Caliber, decorated with dog covers, and flannel pjs. Sometimes I sleep in tonal striped satin. Because I'm classy now. I also keep my cherries for food and my leopard a bit more subtle. In case you were wondering, the leopard on this dress is subtle in that it's black and white. Black and white leopards don't exist, people. Right?

You may be led to believe I'm wearing this to honor the current animal prints trend for EBEW, but this month we're honoring colored tights instead. I've always loved colored tights.  I had a hard time choosing between red, gold, and magenta. La vie, c'est difficile, eh*? But then again, anything goes with faux leopard, no?

 

P.S. In case you missed all that snow up there, it got cold here. No worries. Husband and Hound are nice and toasty.

They melt my heart. 

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*La vie, c'est difficile, eh? = Life is difficult, eh?
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The Fixer Upper, Reinvented

 Skirt Suit, Belt, Bracelet: Gabes / Shoes: Ross (Aerosoles) / Lace Top: Charlotte Russe / Tank: Thrifted (Loft) / Necklace: TJ Maxx

My sad little blogger world suddenly revolves around EBEW, which I can't bear to miss despite the fact that my photos are still too large { I finally got my new computer! Just waiting for files to be rescued from the old one and to get Photoshop on here so 30x30/Europe posting can recommence :)}

With my insane schedule I thought there was no way I could participate in this month's DIY feature. I can barely keep up with planning and grading, and I'm not super savvy with a sewing machine. My mamaw got me a basic one for Christmas in college, because I desperately wanted to be the next Coco Chanel. I promptly used it to spruce up my spring break swimsuit with what I thought to be some very sophisticated decoration, then considered myself appropriately versed in all things sewing and gave it up entirely after remembering I was a French major planning to vacation at Cocoa Beach, not a fashion apprentice headed to Saint Barts.

I briefly considered featuring that swimsuit, but how lame would that be for October? Then I remembered  there was another project I tackled before retiring from major DIY.  I'd purchased a cherry skirt suit from Gabes, thinking I got a sweet steal for a perfect grad outfit, only to get it home and find the sleeves were two different lengths, the jacket was too wide, and the hemline was most unflattering.

I managed to modify it well enough before retiring my machine to a lifetime of mending and easier projects, like adding lace inserts to mischievous skirt slits.  My little red suit served its purpose well, then I tucked it in the back of my closet and haven't looked at it since. Till now. When I realized I could bust it out not only for a DIY feature, but to also continue my allegiance for a color blocking feature.  In the most fashionable way possible. Which, of course, is by breaking the rules and following the fab footsteps of Emma Stone, SJP, and Zoe Saldana.

There was a time I was too traumatized to dare reds and pinks in the palest of doses, but I'd say this rich combo proves I'm fully cured. {You can read about my traumatizing experience with reds at the end of this post, if it strikes your fancy.}

And there you have it. I've no tutorial for you. Not even any before shots. There was no process to my madness. I don't think I even had a measuring tape. And I'm certain I didn't do a zigzag stitch to prevent fraying. And because I know I'm going to feel completely outdone seeing everyone else's marvelous masterpieces, I thought about throwing in a photo of that plain white tankini, which the sting of a fresh break-up inspired me to fancify with an extra strap, belt, and ties. Stitched by yours truly.  It's amazing, the creative energy a blow to your self esteem can expose. And I didn't even know about DIY tutorials at that time.

But then I remembered my computer crashed. Quel dommage!

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*Quel dommage = Too bad!

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Color Me Crazy

Coral Capris: Gap ($8!) / Top: B Moss / Shoes: Asos / Belt, Necklace: J Crew final sale / Earrings, Bracelet: Gabes (Monet, Kissaka)

My brain is far too frazzed to create a proper post. {Remember? I'm teaching 4 different courses this year. All of which I've never before taught. Yes, that's 4 preps for 4 new courses. And because class sizes are so lovely and large, I have over 180 students. There are 44 freshmen in just my first period. I must be mental.}

Thus, you get a list:

1. Gap is having an amazing sale right now. Extra 40% off sale items = $8 colored capris.

2.  Refer to the introduction { yes, teaching is always on my brain these days...if my conclusion / final paragraphs summarizes this list, please disregard it...} for one reason I've still yet to finish my Europe and 30x30 posts, which I began in June.

3. A second reason is this:  I found I've already used over half my allotted free space for my blog because my photos are evidently gi-flipping-normous. Half, and I've only been blogging since March. April, really. When I tried to make them smaller with Picnik, they got all weird. Not sure why. I don't know anything about photos, actually.

4. I've ordered Photoshop with my fab-dab-abulous teacher discount! Now I just have to find time to learn to use it...any recommendations for a fab reference guide?

5 Till I do so, I'm a bit afraid to continue posting. Will I have to go back and re-do all the photos in prior posts in smaller sizes? Probably. Do I have time for that? No, certainly not right now. All this is despite the fact that I've got half a 30x30 to finish and an entire summer to blog... I guess for now I'll just learn to cut the photo size, tweak it a bit, and start posting again with that. Once my school schedule slows down, that is. Till then, we'll continue with this glacial snail of a posting pace and it's very possible I'll still be posting summer outfits when it begins to snow.  Thrilling.

6. Since my posts have few and far between, I figured I'd better go all out for this one. So I combined coral, color blocking, and colored pants into one outfit. Three trends with one outfit. Then I threw in an apple tree for good measure. I'm a teacher, yo. And apples are in right now.  Wham. BAM. 

Fin.*

P.S. Do you remember The Odyssey? That wretched, confusing tale we all had to read back in the day? Check out here what brilliant things students are doing with it today. Ah, thank heavens for silver linings :)

P.P.S. I've been consigning at my fav little local shop. And it's super fun. Last week, I got an uber cute little plaid wool blazer from Ralph Lauren, two wool jumpers from Ann Taylor, and a darling Banana Republic dress, all for only $12 after my credit and the current sale were processed. Can't wait to show you!

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*Fin = End { The Frenchies don't add the "The."}

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Mixed Prints: Yes, Another 30x30 Interlude

 Dress: B Moss / Top: F21 / Scarf: Charlotte Russe / Shoes: J Crew final sale ($15!) / Bracelet, Earrings: Gabes / Bangles: AE

HOW is it time for another EBEW already? C'est pas possible!* I've done a measly three posts since the last one. I can't wait to get this 30x30 behind me. It's actually finished; I just haven't finished posting it. Because the Europe posts take for-ev-a. And I'm trying to get my house in order and take care of things at home, since I've been away most of the summer. Piles of classroom clutter litters my floor as I type. I'm pretending it's not there.

So, down to business. I've been voting for color blocking the past few months and was disappointed it still hasn't won {seriously, how did it not beat yellow? I love yellow and all...but still.} I really just want it to win because it's something I've yet to blog. I've done mixed prints. Or maybe I just want an excuse to buy one of those super cute color blocked dresses out there...

Either way, I embraced defeat and pulled out this old printed wrap dress, threw a stripey shirt and flowery scarf on top and a dotted slip underneath, and bada bing. Loads of mixed prints, all in one outfit. Yet my favorite part is the solid shoes. Extra 40% off of final sale and free shipping with no min. Thank you, J Crew for making my summer. I stuck with a color theme to pull my outfit together, but now I'm wishing I'd been brave enough {or had clothes cool enough} to try something like this.

P.S. By tomorrow I'd like to have ready my posts for Outfit 12 at the Villa Carlotta and 13 at the 50s-style Cuccaro Club in Italy. But there's a plane ticket with my name on it heading East bright and early tomorrow, so we'll see. I'm spending a week with my family and attending my first class reunion. Remember this dress? Well, I won it. And found some more cost efficient coral shoes and lipstick to go with it. Can't wait to try it out:)

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C'est pas possible =  short for Ce n'est pas possible = It's not possible!

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