Impish threads

This week has been a beast of studying and paper writing. It was also 84 degrees yesterday. Not (literally and figuratively) cool.

Between history papers and humidity, I opted for this little get-up. For some reason, the combo of cut-off jean shorts, boat shoes and shirt dress left me in an impish sort of mood. Wearing this outfit made me feel a little bit like a kid again. Maybe I was feeling a bit nostalgic about days before...well...adulthood.

Being in school, however, actually makes me feels a little bit like I'm in limbo between between the "real world"(adulthood) and the "world of play"(childhood). While I have been teaching full time all year, my teaching courses have now ended, so for the last few weeks I have mostly been just a graduate student. And while it would be easy to complain that life is SO HARD, in reality, writing papers and taking finals seems a lot easier than the work I would be doing if I wasn't in school. In a strange way, I find myself immensely appreciative to even have the opportunity to pursue graduate education knowing that are a lot of less interesting ways I could be spending my time, even if it means several arduous papers and two finals (one that is tomorrow at 7:30am...BOOO!)

Anyone else grueling through finals?

yellow tank top: swapped

red shirt dress: thrifted (?)

cut-offs: made by me

boat shoes: Payless

necklace: Revival boutique

belt: target

Things I miss...

1. This guy

After finishing up his last semester in law school (congrats, love! I'm so proud of you!!) J took a long, much needed trip back home. I would have joined him had the four papers and two finals not been in my way. I feel like a 5"9 pine tree. He comes back tomorrow and I can't wait to see him!

2. This season

Um...I think we have missed each other, like two ships in the night. I would like you to return. Even in just for a few days. Going from cold, rainy and 45 degrees to hot, sweaty, humid and 80 is a little too drastic for my liking.

3. This little lady

In light of my upcoming moves, I have made the hard decision to re-home my beautiful 9 year old cocker spaniel named Maddie. I was extremely lucky to find a wonderful new home for with a family that I know will take great care of her. That said, I have had many moments of sadness being home and her not being here. It will get easier, I know.

4. This feeling of relaxation

William Worcester Churchill (1858 – 1926) Leisure

With all the grading, papers and finals, it has not left me much time to relax. Though I will still be taking classes this summer, it will be nowhere near the marathon I put myself through this semester. I am looking forward to that.

Anything you miss?

So...it's been awhile

But I do have an excuse. Actually, it has been a mix of busyness and laziness. We'll call it lazbusness. Yes, I quite like that.

I needed to post because I was TIRED of looking at the last post. BAAAD hair. Better hair with this post.

With the weather turning nicer I am happy to pull out some of last spring's pieces. I have a sort of love/hate relationship with this skirt. I'm giving it one more spring/summer. I have to say it feels a little full for my liking and a little short as well. Can only wear it on windless days (and there are so few of those in Iowa.)

I have spent quite a bit of time recently purging my closest of things I don't wear, shouldn't wear or don't fit. I emptied almost an entire drawer of t-shirts. That felt good.

The Necklace is a bird cage. So cute! Definitely one of my favorite pieces.

Tee-shirt: OldNavy

Skirt: Thrifted

Belt: Target

Boots: DSW

Necklace: Revival Boutique

Oh my god, shoes.

Have you ever seen this video? I absolutely LOVED this video when it came out a couple of years ago. Recently, I have sort of felt like Kelly in the video. I have been really into shoes and slightly awed by all the possibilities out there. But I am also recently trying very hard to not spend excessive amounts of money. But then boots like these come along, and they are on sale, BIG sale, and well, they became part of my shoe family.

>

I have been trying to incorporate more heels in my shoe family. Heels that I will actually wear. I actually have several pair of heels but it always feels slightly daunting to wear them, knowing the risk of a public tumble (heels still feel like stilts to me). To avoid this problem, I attempt to look for "stable" heels. These boots are just that: stable. Stable and now a staple in my wardrobe.

Speaking of staples...This dress is a long time staple and this sweater is an emerging one. I can't say enough about this little dress. Pattern, colors, pockets and weight all make it one of my fav's.

sweater:target

dress: Kohls

belt: Mom

tights:Target

shoes: DSW

Must Love Bikes

It's biking weather and I am gleeful with this realization. Also gleeful about the bike I have hijacked from my mother...and the fact that it is pink. Actually, this part I don't really like but it's growing on me. It's more of a reddish pink, anyway.

Since I'm now biking (with J) to classes, my sartorial options have to adapt accordingly. This outfit was bike-easy, and cute to boot.

Please ignore the uneven leggings. Hey, it happens, right?

This outfit was one from last week. I have to say, this probably is one of my favorite outfits I have put together. I think you can tell by my impish grins in the pictures.

These shorts are just too cute and so comfortable. I was also proud of myself for fixing the always annoying "I am not a man and actually have breasts" button-up shirt gaping problem by putting a piece of double-sided tape in between the buttons. I know, I'm brilliant.

Any annoying sartorial problems you have quick fixes for?

For the love of dressing

Another quick post. I think until my schedule lets up, most of these posts will be short.

OHMYGODILOVETHISDRESS! I thrifted this dress years ago, have had it hemmed twice and now that the weather is getting nicer (very light fabric) this baby will be coming out to play a lot more. It has itty bitty polka dots all over it, which given the dress a touch of interest and the collar has little tie strings that hang down. In the morning, I wore the dress with a sweater and scarf but as the day wore on (ha!) I shed my layers and let it stand alone. Which it did a great job, if I do say so myself. Much later in the day, I swapped the boots for little red flats.

Sidenote: Hair.getting.long. I always have this urge in the spring to opt for a shorter cut. My hair has just been feeling alittle flat-ski, lately.

Do you ever get the spring urge to chop?

A quick post

Not much to say. But a quick look at an outfit I liked quite a lot.

Hope you are having a great Tuesday!

Professor RaHow

Several of my students thought I looked like a professor today. They clearly have not gone to college because if they did they would know that most professors do not dress like this (There are wonderful exceptions to this out there) . Maybe it's the glasses (the result of wearing my contacts too much) or the shoes (aren't they cuuute?!) that they felt I had entered "professor" territory. I took it as a compliment because, in high school talk, looking like "a professor" translates to looking like "an adult". And, like I have said before, any time I can look more like an adult, the better.

I know what you are thinking. You LOVE this scarf. I do, too. The boyfriend has great taste. This was one of my birthday gifts. Something I love very much about him is his impeccable gift giving skills. He takes great time and care selecting items that are meaningful. What a guy, right? Early in our relationship, we were away from each other for a weekend and, without prompting, we separately went to thrift store and got little somethings for each other. That has been a real mark of our relationship, since.

What was a meaningful gift someone gave you, recently?