little black skirt

The LBD is a staple in most closets. But, what about the little black skirt? It's tending to be more popular than the LBD this season and is perfect for work. Here's how some of the celebs are rockin it

Please ignore Rebecca and Katherine

The LBS is such a great staple because you can really dress it up or down (I mean, how cute is it with a hoodie!)

Here are a few things I've picked up recently to add to my teaching wardrobe (warning - you will notice a button trend)

Michael Kors Jumper

Adrienne Vittadini skirt in merlot

Sofft Mary Janes

And my first "pre-teaching, just observing" school outfit included black Seven's jeans, Juicy Coutoure Flats, and a Forever 21 blouse.
*I'm working on finding a better way to capture the outfit & shoes. It may just have to be 2 pics.

Sweat in Style

One of my 5 new years resolutions was to make it to the gym at least 4 days a week. This means, that the fellow gymmers will be seeing me more than my friends. I think they deserve to see me sweat in something cute. It's the least I can do since I can pretty much promise my face is going to be red, I'm going to be sweating, and I won't be wearing makeup. Well, I may be wearing makeup if I go after work, but it envitably will be dripping off my eyes...which really won't be pretty. So, in accoradance with my new years resolution - I NEED new gym clothes! Gone are the days of my bar crawl tee doing double duty as work out gear. It's time to update the gym attire.

Here are some looks I like on celebs



Simple seems to be key here. Simple colors, maybe a hat, a change of fendi flats, and a pair of sunglasses seems to turn any workout outfit into a hit. My feeble attempt today (including black capri's, a white hanes top, chanel sunglasses, and a free people coat) doesn't seem to elevate me to Jessica Beil workout hotness....but it will have to do.

Cute to Boot

A boot conundrum:

Hunter Wellingtons $115

Burberry $195

I love both looks. Both are appropriate for work, both can be worn with jeans, both are classic styles. I'm leaning towards the wellies because they may be just a little more versatile.

What I really, really, want.

Entering the work force in one week. Working with 1st graders. It's hard to find appropriate teacher clothes, because I have to find a balance between professional, fashionable, and logical. Jcrew is sort of where my heart tells me to look. Jcrew, and a new pair of TB reva flats. Preferably in python. However, if for some reason, any color of TB reva flats land on my doorstep, I promise I won't care what color they come in.


I am also on the hunt for cotton tights. Again, I would like a spattering of colors. If I could find a combo pack of black, brown, and gray, I would be a very happy teacher.

A few other things that I desperately need in order to be the most fashionably, broke teacher I can be include:




I would have never thought I would don wayfarers, but I'm loving them. They may be a little trendy, so I'm gonna give it til Spring. If I still like um, me and ebay may have a date.

This is probably the first thing I will be getting. It's a classic scarf that instantly makes an outfit. It's an I-want-it-now kinda scarf.



And finally, some outfits that I wouldn't mind replicating every morning:

Sad, Sad, Sad

My sweet comet. I am so heartbroken to say that we had to say goodbye to this little baby yesterday. He lost his battle to a blood disease. We miss you so much.

Paradise

We woke up to beauiful sunrises, and got to watch sherbet colored sunsets

Only 1/2 the group!

Ringin in the new year

It looks like I waited too long to post this, because now, looking through these pictures only depresses me. Our trip was perfect. Great weather, great group, lots of hikes, swimming, and dancing. I even kayaked and snorkeled. Hannah got stung by a scorpion, and we made two trips to the E.R.

All in all, Mexico treated us well.

Adios Amigos

Tomorrow at 6:30am, a limo is arriving to take my family and I to our favorite home (sorry Illinois). No--Santa's sleigh is not arriving to load us to the North Pole (although we are on the short side). We are off to our vacation home in Punta Mita, Mexico! We will be spending the next 15 days in the sunshine, with a crew of 29 other family members who are meeting us there on Christmas Eve. I can't wait to

Walk on the beach...

take dips....

Make friends with the locals....

Take in the views...

Go whale watching in richity boats...

Spy on the beach hotties.....

Read about failed marriages....(I'm still bitter about this one)

See beautiful sunsets...(2-pictures-worthy)

Get a little crazy...

And toast in the new year!

Can you tell I'm excited???

For Emily

Joel and I celebrated our 3rd Christmas together. We exchanged the nicest gifts yet. Joel got a shiny new Swiss Army watch, and I received this david yurman bling below...


Not bad!

An Iowan no more...

University of Iowa, you have served me well. I just moved out of the lovely Iowa City, and am back at home. It doesn't seem long ago that I had moved into the dorms. I was so nervous to meet my random roommate, Jamie, from a small town in Iowa. I came in from a run and she and her family were moving in. There was no turning back. That year, she became my closest friend. She is so different from me; she is the life of the party, with no reservations. She is wild and crazy, loud and spunky, and anyone that gets the unique pleasure of meeting Miss Jamie, can't help themselves from loving her. Four years later, we looked at each other and couldn't believe that time had passed so rapidly. I am forever grateful for meeting Jamie and know that we will be in each other's lives forever.



Our next door neighbor in the dorms was Sara. Our little Sara who wore her pants too high, loved(s) pink, and kept us laughing every single day. Sara is someone I could spend days and days with. She and I could talk for hours, over analyzing every word we've ever said. Sara recently accepted a job offer in Chicago and will be moving to the Land of Lincoln in the next month. I'm so happy that I get to have you all for myself!



My last few nights were spent with all of the people I have truly come to love

1 for 2

I'll take it! Yipee!

Blizzard Warning

Blizzard warning is in effect. Do you think it could blizzard so bad that the Iowa City Public Schools cancel school Tomorrow and Wednesday? That would make me a really happy camper.

"G-O-D Hey! Give us a snow day" - Repeat at least 50 times.

When I was a wee young one, we used to chant this in order to produce a snow day. I think I will start my dancing now.

Please?

Dear Santa:

This is would make for a great teaching interview outfit. Thanks!
Love,
Tess