Fall Wish List

School starts in just under a week, and I. AM. PUMPED.  I’m serious!  I am very excited to meet my new students, and I am in pretty in love with my new school so far.  I kind of think my new vice principal wants to be best friends for life (in a completely platonic way).

Going back to school wouldn’t be complete without a little perusing of the fall fashions, and there are a few pieces I would love to get my hands on:

1.  Thick black leggings/jeggings

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My post on not understanding leggings as pants is one of my post popular posts (you all need to lay off looking for photos of people’s bums through see-through leggings…), but this is different.  I have a problem with thin leggings as pants.  Thick ones, as long as you can rock them with confidence, are fine with me.  Really.  I want a pair that I am not afraid to show my bum in, so they have to be thick material.  Anyone have any good places to look?

2.  Black riding boots

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I am in shoe love with riding boots.  My brown ones were definitely worn a LOT last year, and I would love to expand my boot collection with a pair of black or gray boots.

3.  Fall dresses

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Pinterest does two things to me:  makes me hungry and makes me wish I could shop without money being an issue.  I see all of these beautiful fall dresses that inspire me, and I want them all!  Just look at how scrumptious these dresses are.  Don’t you want them, too?  No?  Well, you could always buy them for me then.  Just a thought.

4.  Chambray shirt

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This trend totally got me today.  During my district new teacher orientation, one of the special education directors was wearing a gorgeous tailored chambray shirt.  I was sold.  Please find me one, oh fashion gods.  For next to nothing, if you could.

If only we didn’t need to budget so much and save money… Maybe I’ll find some this weekend when B and I hit the thrift stores in the Boston area this weekend!

What are you loving this fall?

Run It!

It’s vacation week!  Finally!  For those of you who think teachers get too many vacations, please go find the closest door, open it, put your hand next to the door frame, and then shut the door on your hand.  That’s how I feel when you make fun of a profession you have never tried but feel that you have the right to say your piece.  Please.  Not even you deal with your kids all day when there is a full moon.  And let’s remember, they are very different kids when they are away from you and around their peers, for better or for… not better.

But I’m not here to write about my kids (whom I really do love and were not the reason I was so ready for a vacation).  I have been noticing that with all of the running around I am doing (more like driving) and with my current stress levels, my time for working out has decreased, which in turn has led to the scale’s increase.  Soooo not good.  Add to that all of the Easter candy our parents gave to us a couple weekends again, and you can tell that I haven’t been feeling super confident with my body image. 

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Yes, I blame you, Mr. Googly Eyes!  Now come here so I can nibble on your ear…

I promised myself that I would step it up during vacation, and I have been pretty excited by the progress I have made in the past couple of days.  True, there is no way that I would see an improvement on the scale, but I am more focused on feeling better about my physical fitness first.  I decided to go back to what seemed to work for me last year at the beginning of the summer:  going to the track.  I set a distance I want to go (typically around four miles), I turn on my iPod, and I go.  As it turns out, “going” is a lot easier these days.

I have never been a runner.  I have never pretended to be.  My own mom has often told me that watching me run looks painful (thanks, Mom!).  I have a problem with one of my hips, and one of my legs is a little shorter than the other, so I kind of “limp” when I run even if I’m not in pain.  I also have asthma, which is tons of fun, and not a runner’s build by any stretch of the imagination.  But that hasn’t stopped me.  I am determined to RUN a 5k, and I started my training this week.

I started with just seeing how far I could run before I had to stop and wheeze.  My muscles are often ready for more, but my lungs say otherwise.  I paced myself and ran a full mile before I had to let myself breathe.  Sweet!  A full mile!  I walked the rest of the four miles.  The second time I went back, I decided to push it even more.  I ran 1.5 miles before stopping, walked a mile, and then ran another 0.625 miles.  That is the most I have run by myself… probably ever.  I’m getting there!

I’m really proud of my progress, and I cannot wait to go back to the track today.  Anyone have any running tips for beginners?  I know a lot of people swear by the Couch to 5K program, but my iPod is too “old” to use the program.  Have you started any new workouts lately?

The Search Is On!

With Easter finally hopping in tomorrow, Lent is coming to a close.  Thank goodness!  I gave up thrift shopping for Lent because it was something that I loved to do, and to me, I find it important to give up something you really like or love in order to show your sacrifice.  For me, that was thrifting.  But now that it’s over, I feel like I have put thrifting back into perspective.  I can’t afford to shop all the time, and when I do shop, I need to keep it within certain restrictions.

That being said, I do have some trends and pieces that I want to try and find in my next Goodwill excursions.

1.  Mint and coral

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Mint and coral colors are very very in right now, and I would love to jump onto the bandwagon.  I could very easily turn these colors into work appropriate pieces, summer pieces, and generally great-for-any-time pieces.  Sounds like a win!

2.  Handbags

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I have such a craving for different handbags.  I am the type of person who gets stuck in a rut with handbags because I almost never change the one I have every day.  Shame on me…  I really need to get better about that.  I am on the hunt for handbags with color, structure, and just all around appeal.

3.  Dresses

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I want some spring and summer dresses because, well, I want the warm weather we got a little taste of back.  Now, please!  I love the feminine touches dresses bring to a season, and I want some that aren’t incredibly dressy.  I mean, I’m not going to cocktail parties all summer, and even if I was, a girl needs some variety, am I right?

4.  Jewelry

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Like handbags, I am craving some bracelets and necklaces.  I want different pieces that bring a little bit more intrigue to an outfit.  I tend to get compliments on my jewelry the most at work, and I can tell you that most of my collection is super cheap costume jewelry.  Why not see what else I can add to it?

5.  Sunglasses

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It’s getting brighter.  A girl needs glasses.  Enough said.

6.  Sandals

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This, of course, means I need to give myself a pedicure, STAT.  But who doesn’t want to have colorful feet that are cool and comfy?

I guess the longer I stay away from shopping, the more time I have for window shopping.  That may not have been a good thing… Time to go clean out my closet!

What are you on the hunt for lately?

Sightful Sunday: It’s So Easy Being Green

Did everyone survive St. Patrick’s Day yesterday?  I certainly hope so!  B and I went to a hockey game with his parents and did a whole lot of lounging before that.  I know, it sounds so very appropriate for the holiday.  Oh well.

I love St. Patrick’s Day, though, because of the green.  I love the color green, and I wish people would try wearing it a lot more.  Who wouldn’t want to get into some of these looks?

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Maybe it’s easier being green than we thought!  Look out Kermit, here we come!

Have a wonderful week!

Sightful Sunday: Everything’s Coming Up Flowers

Whoa!  Where did that whole time change come from?  I’ve been working with very little sleep this week, thanks to my drama club’s competition, so I just wanted to sleep in this morning.  By the time I woke up, it was already “10:45 AM.”  Ugh, time change… why do you have to be like that?

Either way, we have had a couple of days of spring temperatures this week, so I wanted to celebrate that with a post on the quintessential spring print:  flowers!  Who can resist a great floral print?

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Or, if you don’t really want to wear flowers on your clothing, you could always rock it on your nails!

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Hopefully this will make you so much more excited for spring!

Have a great week, everyone!

Salivating Over Salvation Army Finds

Once my goal of only spending $10 a month on clothing was over, I kind of went a little nuts at Salvation Army.  I mean, when the typical person thinks of going nuts while shopping, he or she might think about spending hundreds of dollars.  I think of spending $20.  Yeah… there is a little bit of a difference…

I ended up finding some great pieces for my wardrobe and a couple of pieces to try some Pinterest clothing projects I had tagged for some DIY posts.

Brown faux-snake skin belt:  PRICE ON TAG: $0.99 / PAID: $0.50 / RETAIL: ~$15

Liz Claiborne navy linen button-up:  PRICE ON TAG: $3.99 / PAID: $2 / RETAIL: $74.25

Banana Republic plum button-up: PRICE ON TAG: $4.99 / PAID: $0.99 / RETAIL: $59.50

Faded Glory gray and blue polo for Pinterest project: PRICE ON TAG: $1.99 / PAID: $0.99 / RETAIL: $8.87

Vintage San Moire pink pleated skirt: PRICE ON TAG: $3.49 / PAID: $0.99 / RETAIL: ~$30.00

Old Navy men’s red t-shirt for t-shirt scarf necklace for my cousin Jess:  PRICE ON TAG: $1.99 / PAID: $0.99 / RETAIL: $9.94

Jos A. Bank red with blue pinstripes silk tie for B:  PRICE ON TAG: $0.99 / PAID: $0.99 / RETAIL: $69.50

OTHER COOL ITEMS FROM THE SALVATION ARMY

The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot for my classroom library: PAID: $0.50 / RETAIL: $13.85

Imitation cut glass vase (not heavy enough to be real):  PRICE ON TAG: $3.99 / PAID: $0.99 / RETAIL: ~$20.00

TOTAL:  PRICE ON TAG:  $22.92 / PAID: $8.94 / RETAIL:  $300.91

Savings?  $291.97 without taxes on anything.  You know what?  I’ll take it!  Most of these items have already been worn and loved quite a few times!

Sightful Sunday: They Call Me Mellow Yellow

Is that song about drugs?  I am always the last to know what those songs are about.  Some of them are just too deep in metaphor.  Either way, I like yellow, not drugs.  Hugs not drugs, kids.  For real.  And who couldn’t use some sunshine in life right now?  This girl could!  Bring on the yellow!

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And yes, that last one is me and B at our senior prom.  I really like yellow!  Good Lord, we look so young.

Have a great week, everyone!

Sightful Sunday: Are You Seeing the Pattern?

With my week of vacation coming to a close, I have been here, there, and everywhere this week… and I feel like I need another vacation from my vacation.  Doesn’t everyone feel that way, though, after a week filled with activity?  I’m starting to think that’s the pattern our bosses intend to keep us on, just a little taste of getting everything done we need to get done and then BAM!  Welcome back to work.  Oh well, I’m beginning to miss my students anyway.  They’re just too funny!

To welcome myself back to school, I think I’ll break up the monotony with a little pattern.  Color is great, but what about a little change in motif?

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Break free of the pattern, people!  Have a great week!

Good-Ness

When I was little, I can remember wanting the writing portion of our day to last forever.  My third grade teacher threatened the class that if someone spoke during silent writing time, we would have to write longer.  I used to wish someone would talk through the whole time so I could have that much longer to craft my stories.  They probably weren’t any good, but I loved that writing time.

That’s probably why I like blogging so much.  It’s my chance to write about something I love (fashion, home decor, Goodwill hauls, etc.) and I get the chance to be the writer I want to be.  Thanks, blog creators!  My third-grade self rejoices in your creation (and maybe some of my readers like it, too… maybe).

So why all of this romancing over the art of writing?  Well, it’s because I have been honored through my writing.  I have been posting my blog posts on Twitter to expand my readership (hey, a girl can dream), and it turns out that someone did read it.  That someone turned out to be the communications manager for Goodwill Northern New England.  Goodwill.  The place I love shopping at.  Great!  I have some official readership!  Hooray!

Wait!  It gets better!  It turns out that Michelle, the lovely communications manager, liked the post I wrote on visiting the Buy the Pound Goodwill warehouse and emailed me about writing for the Goodwill blog!  I am now going to be writing pieces here and there, probably once a month, on how to redecorate, find great clothing, anything using Goodwill items.  I am so excited!  I will be posting little sneak peeks here on this blog so you can pop over and see what I’m writing for Goodwill, if you like.

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What are you proud of lately?

Ring in the Spring!

Spring trends have totally hit the runway and YouTube, and there are definitely a few I would love to get my hands on.  I can understand everyone’s desire to start wearing the trends now; I would love some spring myself!  And with these weirdo temperatures we’re having in February (hello, 50 degrees!), who could blame a girl for trying out the latest clothing trends to freshen up her wardrobe?  What I don’t understand, though, is how the beauty gurus on YouTube keep calling $19 and up for a t-shirt affordable.  Sure, maybe I was in that camp one too, but no more, I say!  No more!  I decided to find some of the trends I am currently excited about in my local Salvation Army and give them an affordable spin.

TREND:  Little Gray Dresses
Little gray dresses are becoming great pieces that most girls want to have because of their versatility.  While little black dresses can be dressed up and down for the occasion, little gray dresses can do that same AND be unexpected.  Little black dresses are pretty mainstream, so the gray sister can be a new splash at the party.  Dress the up with some great colorful accessories and you will instantly look chic.  I found this amazing gray dress from J. Crew at Goodwill:

J. Crew gray wrap top dress:  PRICE ON TAG: $4.99 / PAID: $4.50 / RETAIL: $198 (Similar to this one, only no bow)

TREND:  Stripes

Stripes certainly don’t plan on dropping off from the trend wagon for a while.  You can go nautical with them by going for white and blue or white and red, classic with black and white, or colorful with any color combination (trust me, there are a lot out there).  I love the classic boatneck look with stripes.  I found this one at Goodwill and had to have it:

H&M boatneck gray and white striped shirt: PRICE ON TAG: $4.99 / PAID: $4.50 / RETAIL: $17.99

TREND:  Pink! (and Other Bright Colors)

I am so so so glad that color is popular.  It has felt like dull and blah have been on the docket for far too long, you know?  I have fully embraced the color trend by finding lots of pieces in pink, another separate but equally hot trend.  You can find jeans, skirts, shorts, t-shirts, bras, nail polish, etc.  I love neon, I love richer shades, I love it all!  You may be able to see that in what I picked up from Goodwill:

Loft hot pink t-shirt:  PRICE ON TAG: $4.99 / PAID: $4.50 / RETAIL: $29.50The neckline detail is pretty adorable, too.Isaac Mizrahi pink pinstripe blazer: PRICE ON TAG: $7.99 / PAID: $3.99 / RETAIL: ~$40

H&M Divided pink jeans: PRICE ON TAG: $4.99 / PAID: $4.50 / RETAIL: $19.95

TREND:  Floral Print

Flowers are almost always super popular during the spring and summer, but I love it when they are combined with some of the color trends, like brighter colors or unexpected stripes.  Yes, as long as it is proportional, you can wear florals and stripes together!  I promise!  Have some fashion guts!  This Express silk skirt is a great option for getting some color, a funky shape and the floral pattern.

Express floral box pleat silk skirt: PRICE ON TAG: $4.99 / PAID: $4.50 / RETAIL: $49.50

TREND:  Color Blocking

Color blocking has also been popular for a while now, but it took me some time to realize just what it was.  Yes, that seems a little dumb of me, but I always thought pairing colored jeans and a different colored t-shirt was just how my husband dressed.  Turns out it’s a trend!  I’m pretty sure he had no idea, though.  Color blocking can be done in a very flashy way (think combining different neon shades if you really want to make a statement) or in a very subdued but classic way.  It’s all about your comfort level.  This Ann Taylor skirt goes along with the subdued yet classic line of color blocking for quite a steal!

Ann Taylor navy and gray box pleat A-line skirt: PRICE ON TAG: $4.99 / PAID: $2.50 / RETAIL: $98So what did I spend to hit all of these spring trends?  Check it out:

TOTALS:  Prices on Tags: $37.93 (without tax) / Paid: $28.99 (without tax) / Retail: $453.94

Savings?  $424.95!  Check and mate! Go check out your local thrift shops for some of your favorite spring trends for a fraction of what you could spend in retail.

What are your favorite spring trends?