My Week in Photos May 31 - June 10

The last ten days have been quite a whirlwind! As the school year was closing, I was feeling less and less inclined to look like anything other than an ad for the local City Sports store. So I put together a fashion challenge for June so that I'd have some motivation to look halfway human during this lazy time of year. Between my eighth graders' promotion ceremony, the DC Pride Festival, a retirement party for two of my sweet co-workers, and our 7th grade awards ceremony, I didn't even want to think about grading finals, cleaning my classroom, or all of the chores around the apartment that still need tending to. More detailed outfit breakdowns are coming, but for now, here's a quick rundown of the more fun times of the last 240 hours :-)

Clockwise from left: with my eighth graders who I had as seventh graders; my polka dot OOTD; my black and white OOTD; with my chica Georgia at the DC Pride Festival; at home after giving myself a blowout; with my co-worker Danielle at the retirement party; with my co-worker Jim (AKA JT) at the retirement party (and, no! he wasn't one of the retirees!); with Thom at the DC Pride Festival; my "collar" OOTD (even though you can't see the collar, haha..... it's gold studs).

Pink Polka Dots and Canary Yellow Cardigan

Cardigan: Old Navy (sale for $4.99); Polka Dot Blouse: TJ Maxx ($12.99); Black flared skirt: H&M ($17.95); Fuchsia pumps: H&M ($24.95)

This is a really quick post about the outfit I wore to work yesterday since I got a load of compliments on it. It's actually been hanging in my closet as a "potential" outfit for over a week now. We had a spurt of warm weather in DC and then were smacked with a straight week of rain and under 70 temps. Not exactly bare legs weather.

At the first chance I put on this outfit. I've been eager to wear this blouse again, as it has one of my favorite features -- a self-bow neckline. The top is super sheer and sleeveless, and since I'm a teacher, I put a tank underneath and a cardigan over top. I like the contrast of the yellow against the black and fuchsia pink. It really pops, especially atop a black flared skirt. I finished things off with a pair of fuchsia platform pumps that are in desperate need of some sort of "foot slipping forward" prevention pad.

Sorry for the wavy mirror. I left my flat mirror at my previous place. It looks great in the living room but isn't the best for outfit selfies :-) I am seeking a replacement! Hopefully one that doesn't resemble a fun house warped reflection of myself.

Happy Saturday, sweets!

Split Personality

"Tell me what do they see when they look at me
Do they see my many personalities"

- "Split Personality" by P!nk (from Can't Take Me Home)

Okay, so it's really more like multiple personalities, but I digress...

I'm one of those people who has a fear of commitment, or rather, I steer clear of commitment -- at least when it comes to clothes. I think people are too multidimensional to stick with one style. Even those of us who feel like we have the most die-hard classic sense of style are sometimes seduced by the rebellious, anarchist attitude of studs, leather, spikes, and jet jet jet-on-a-red-eye black (blackest black if you're further indulging your rocker side with liquid eyeliner). That's why sometimes you'll see me in sweats and a skirt, a motorcycle jacket with jeans and lace, or a sheath dress and pearls.

H&M - head to toe

H&M - head to toe

Old Navy - cardigan, polka dot chambray shirt, polka dot Rockstar skinnies, plaid flats

H&M - navy cropped peacoat

TJ Maxx - navy quilted vegan leather chain crossbody bag

Don't be uncomfortable picking up something new just because it doesn't fit in with your normal style. Too many of us get bogged down by the expectations that we think others are putting on us. And this leads to a suppression of self. Whether it's at work and we're afraid that we'll be looked at peculiarly because we have an out-of-box idea, or whether we take an unconventional approach in meeting new people... we need to be true to ourselves and stop worrying so much about perception.

Take it from me: if I can snatch a dude's hand as he's walking by me on campus my freshman year of college, spark up a conversation about anime and occult fiction, and then be best friends with him for the next 12 years, you can do a similar feat.

Feats over fear. Split your personality. We all have more than one.


As always, thank you for reading! Stay true to you!

Dog Park Prep

Munki is a fan of pretending like she's going to be Speedy Gonzalez if I take her to the dog park in the afternoon. She scratches at the door, whines incessantly, and looks up at me with those big caramel eyes, imploring me to leash her up and drive her down. But alas, when we reach the park, instead of being like that Mexican mouse she is more like cat-and-mouse (sad for a dog). She runs for a good three seconds while another dog chases her and then flops on her belly under a bench in submission. This has earned her the nickname "Punki Munki" and I am left to leave only my wardrobe as some kind of hope for redemption.

Shirt: H&M $12.95

Shorts (old): H&M

Belt: Banana Republic $9.99 on sale

Purse: H&M $24.95

Shoes: Express $13.99 on sale

Sunnies: H&M $6.95

Bracelet (old but just took the tag off!): Forever 21

Scarf: TJ Maxx for $12.95

"Come on, mama! Let's go!!!"

I get a LOT of stares when I wear these to the dog park but I don't care! You can be chic even when you're picking up your pet's poop!

Last Days of Casual

With the new school year quickly approaching, I have been running out of casual options to wear without doing a new load of laundry. When work resumes on Monday I'll be back to more structured, but still fun, attire but snapped shots of my "outfits" from Sunday and Monday. I'll try to snap a pic or two of today's outfit as well (if it warrants a photo in the first place). 

Dress: H&M $12.95

Hat: H&M $7.95

Sandals (old): Gap

The ultimate in casual: hat and pigtails

Shirt (old): Express

Shorts: H&M $24.95

Belt: Betsey Johnson at Marshalls $12.99

Bag: Deux Lux at TJ Maxx $39.99

Wedges (old): Nine West

On Monday I went into school to meet the new principal and make sure I'm still in my same classroom as last year. I wanted to look professional but still able to climb on tables, move furniture, and put up materials if need be. 

This is my first time wearing this belt. It's a bit big on me, which is why it's sitting outside of my belt loops, but I love the metal ladybugs so much!

One of my favorite pairs of wedges! I got them at Nine West about 4 years ago and wear them all the time every summer.

Lounging in Leopard

I'm not dead! Haha, I promise that my absence is warranted. I adopted a puppy and it's taking A LOT to train her. Most days, or nights, I guess, I only get about 4 hours of sleep. She's going through the terrible teething phase and is learning how to play without biting so she's been driving me quite mad. But I love her nonetheless. Hopefully these PuppyK classes will kick her butt into gear! And give me some tips on how to continue training at home, since my feeble attempts are costing me more in paper towels and pet odor remover (for the not-so-occasional "accidents") than dog food.

My Mess-maker: Munki 

(full name: Munki HarleyQuinn Morgendorffer)

4th of July

At the dog park

On the way to her new home!

Bye-bye Rescue League! Thanks for taking

good care of my new little lady!

I did manage to get out once since getting Munki. My friend/neighbor/co-worker/Munki-wrangler and I went to see the Oscar-worthy performance of Channing Tatum in "Magic Mike." It was pretty bad, despite all of the eye candy, but it made for good laughs, good future inside jokes, and a good excuse to nom some Cheesecake Factory eats to erase the memory of the previous two hours. I also managed to get together a casual and cute outfit, experimenting with brights against a neutral animal print palette.

Leopard Hi-Lo Top: TJ Maxx for $12.99 

Black Ankle Pants: H&M for $12.95

Poppy (red/orange) Flats: Express for $6.99 ($9.99 on sale plus 30% off sale items)

Yellow Crossbody Bag: H&M for $24.95

Earrings: JCPenney for $9.95

Sunnies: H&M for $6.95

Polka Dots and Prints

Top: Express (old); Skirt: H&M for $24.95; Jacket: Express (old); Belt: from an Express dress; Heels: Steve Madden (old); Purse: H&M for $24.95; Sunnies: purchased at TJ Maxx for $7.99; Earrings: Target for $4.99

So my car decided to be AWESOME and have a flat tire. Apparently running over screws in your parking lot results in deflation. After DIY attempts with said-tire, I decided that like with most things that malfunction in my life, it was best to seek the assistance of a professional. Of course I did not realize my handiwork was defunct until after I'd already gotten ready to attend my teaching workshop for the day. The result above is what colleagues would have seen had I not thought that I was a master grease monkey the night before. At least I was able to snap a couple of pics before slipping back into shorts and a tee.

The night before I went to show my support for OKC (and DC native Kevin Durant) with my friend Andrea at a local bar. Here, we do the ever-classy pose of "fish face."

I had a love affair with Andrea's earrings until I realize that, as with men, that love was unrequited and they chose to stay with Andrea (who gets "all da menz" anyway :-P)

How I used my "brain" for this outfit: 

I love OKC's colors because they are opposites on the color wheel and shows a definitive contrast, which is pleasing to the eye. A warm color (such as my orange) is paired with a cool color (my blue) and communicates balance. It also communicates anti-LeBron. :-)

Dress: Pink Crayon, purchased at TJ Maxx for $20; Wedge Sandals: Express (on sale for $13.99!!!); Purse: Deux Lux purchased at Marshall's for $40; Sunnies: Franco Sarto, purchased at TJ Maxx for $10

Now, because I'm not a huge OKC fan nor a crazed face-painting man who shouts obscenities for every play of the game, I tried to think of a way to communicate my team preference in a subdued manner. Hence the blue with orange polka dots dress. Throw in a blue bag, heels, and sunglasses that I didn't even realize were the same color (don't you love when that happens?) and you get that you shouldn't ask me what I think of the Heat's #6. 

Hope everyone's enjoying the Playoffs!

WATERCOLOR

 Outside of the party

When I was 19 I fell in love with the diluted world of Claude Monet. His seemingly haphazard brush strokes created beautiful images of nature on previously blank canvases. That's what I love about this dress. The mix of purples, dark pinks, greys, and even the faintest tint of green are a soft cascade of color across an on-trend hi-lo hemline. The shoes were a last minute addition. Originally opting for nude strappies, I took a chance and slid on these Enzo Angiolini pumps I recently scored at the Nordstrom Half-Yearly. My favorite sales girl dropped her mouth into a surprised "O" when she saw me ask for the mate from the sales rack. Someone had JUST returned them, they were the only pair, and, at $44.90, they were 50% off of the original price. Throw in my Forever 21 clutch from four years ago ($9 price tag) and it was the ideal balance of shine and chic.

Dress: Necessary Objects at Marshall's for $24.99 (similar feel here and here)

Shoes: Enzo Angiolini 'Mistle' pump at Nordstrom Half-Yearly for $44.90

Clutch: Forever 21, old, for $8.90 (similar here and here; and Jimmy Choo here)

Before the party

After the party

Cinderella's slippers (Prince Charming sold separately)