:: She Wears the Pants ::

Happy Friday, my printed-pant loving pals! If you knew how often I wore this exact outfit (literally, no variation) you might be embarrassed for me. Or, maybe it’s just that it is the ideal work-weekend-pushing the limits but still professional enough-type outfit that you would do the same.

Eh. Either way, these pants find their way into my line-up weekly because they have such a unique pattern, a stretchy waist-band, and a baggy-in-the-right-way kind of fit.

Oh, and pockets. Could they be any more perfect?!

Pants // Anthropologie

Top // boutique find

Shoes // Forever 21

Necklace // Bauble Bar

Bracelet // Tory Burch + Fit Bit

Rings // H&M

:: Golden Globes ::

I’m not one to actually watch an awards show, but you better believe I’ll spend a good chunk of time on the internet the following day!

1. LOVE green and LOVE the sheer accent on Shaun Robinson.

2. What’s not to love about a pantsuit with a gigantic bow? Well played, Emma Stone.

3. While the color on her skin isn’t perfect, I can’t help but adore the way this beauty shines.

4. Zuhair Murad – my favorite designer. The middle of this dress is distracting, but the intricacy is gorgeous.

5. Satin is tricky and shows loads of wrinkles, but THAT TOP!

6. Hate radiant orchid, but Lupita looks absolutely amazing. The texture, the flow – perfection.

7. Tina Fey – you made the casual sequined tux cool again. Where can I get one of these puppies?

8. Easily my favorite. This silhouette is so flattering – particularly the gathered peplum and belted waist.

9. I honestly just threw this in because I like symmetry and a classic shape.

:: I Plaid the Fifth ::

There is something about a plaid skirt that just says “holidays.” I feel like I can never break this one out until we begin approaching the Thanksgiving/Christmas/New Year’s trifecta!

When it comes to mixing prints and patterns, I think we all know where I stand. Some believe there is a formula to doing this – I believe it’s our inner five-year-old intuition breaking free of the adult norms we hold against ourselves on a daily basis.

In sixty years I’m sure the grandkids will be teleporting back and forth and happen upon this old thing called the internet with my virtual closet from years long gone. When they ask, in their Hunger Games inspired futuristic world wear, what on Earth (or by that time, Mars) I was thinking…

Well, I’ll just have to plaid the fifth!

 

Top // J. Crew

Skirt // J. Crew

Boots // Tory Burch

Necklace // Olive + Cocoa

Clutch // C. Wonder

Bracelet // C. Wonder

 

:: Dallas Cowgirl ::

Let’s first clarify that I am not claiming to be a Texan. I suppose it’s kind of like the first time you refer to your college residence as “home,” when on the phone with your mom. You are promptly reminded that the city you currently live in is not “home.” It will never be “home,” because let’s be honest – home is where your mom is.

Now, do I love Dallas? Yes. Surprisingly, I’m far more attached to it than I was to Tulsa, but perhaps have not met it with the same admiration I had for Oklahoma City. To be frank, a lot of that had, and currently has, to do with the exact part of town I get to claim as my little piece.

This little part, my neck of the woods city, has quaint homes, quiet sidewalks, and a dover of ducks. Seriously – loads of them and the cutest ducklings! I’m just removed enough from downtown (too much for me), and uptown (if you’re feelin 22), but a quick run to my favorite shops is not far enough to be out of the question.

People are friendly, everyone has a dog, and no one has seemed to mind too much that I am using their front porch as a photo op. However, I do have one neighbor who runs outside to frighten the ducks off his lawn, only to go back inside as they settle in on his green grass for the day. He then returns to his stationary bicycle – which can of course be seen through the front window

So, here I am in my new cowgirl-esque booties –  fit for an Oklahoma soul who still dresses up as a Dallas cowgirl from time to time.

 

Dress: Gap (no longer available – ADORE and NEED this one!)

Shoes: Shoe Mint

Bag: C. Wonder

Necklace: J. Crew (and on sale!)

Rings: David Yurman, ℅ Lawson Gems

My favorite outfit circa 1996, minus the perm. Be glad you missed out on that part.

:: Somewhere in the Mountains ::

I’ve been traveling for the past week, so blogging was not much of a priority! More on our beach adventure later, but let’s throw back to my time in Utah!

When packing for this trip, I tried to bring as few pieces as possible. Fortunately, this skirt served me well and can be paired with most tops I own. You’ve seen it with stripes, florals, solids, long sleeves, short sleeves, tanks, and just about every color as well. Navy feels like a neutral these days. While I attempted to “pack light,” I am still the person who celebrates when they hit a mere 43 pounds on the luggage scale. That means I can stimulate the local economy with seven pounds worth of findings!

Like a Boy Scout, I am always prepared. Therefore, I have to bring everything but the kitchen sink. Sadly, my Kate Spade bag bit the dust during our trip, so it shall be sent off to *fingers crossed* be mended by the Kate Spade elves. I’ll be adding a toolkit to my next packing list.

 

 

Skirt // J. Crew Factory

Top // H&M (old)

Necklace // Bauble Bar

Bag // Kate Spade

Sandals // Sam Edelman

:: Oppa Gingham Style ::

I absolutely cannot hear the word “gingham” without reminiscing over this song. It made its debut in my second year of teaching, with a group of five-year-olds more hip than their twenty-something teacher. We began using this song as part of “graphics practice,” which teaches students pre-writing skills from correct grip to letter formation. Everything is a game in PreK (if you’re good at it – better actors tend to find the best success), so they would create the formation when the song was playing, and freeze when I trickily paused the music. (Hey-o, fine motor skills, literacy AND self-regulation!)

But once Gangnam Style was introduced as a graphics practice song, I realized that I wasn’t as smart as I thought I was. Students jumped up, markers flew across the room (markers without caps), dry erase boards were tossed, and they were doing dance moves which would make Michael Jackson turn over in his grave. It. Was. Unreal. So, Gangnam Style has a special place in my heart (and a lot of data of dancing kiddos acting a fool on my phone).

Last week we visited my sister in Park City, Utah where I was unprepared (but overpacked) for the weather and even more so for the allergies which persisted. It is a beautiful place, and this Main Street is seriously the cutest. It rivals Solvang – I know, hard to believe! The days were VERY warm (although not humid), and the evenings were a bit chilly. It was a wonderful escape from the air which is currently trying to strangle me here in Oklahoma. I found myself layering a lot, and loved dressing for spring-like weather, since we often go from snow to pool in our neck of the woods!

When asked where I was headed at Salt Lake City’s local Lush counter (my skin started flaking the minute I stepped off the plane), I told the salesgirl and she replied with “Oh, ritzy.” But only after getting in my bubble, slathering three scrubs on my hands, and tangling my arm hair with some crazy lotion bar. When she pulled out the purple shampoo, we headed for the hills mountains. Who needs “ritzy” Gangnam Style?

Oppa Gingham Style!

 

 

Top: J. Crew

Skirt: Old Navy (no longer available – great option here)

Bag: Kate Spade

Sandals: Dolce Vita

Oklahoma Necklace: Just like this one

Loved Necklace: Olive + Cocoa

Bracelet: Vintage

Ring: David Yurman

 

:: The Stripe Type ::

With a plethora a few striped tops in my closet, it should come as no surprise that this striped skirt had to come home with me. I suppose when it comes to a type, I’m of the striped variety!

Top: Forever 21 (old, love this)

Skirt: Dillard’s

Sandals: Tory Burch (similar)

Bag: Kate Spade

Necklace: Neiman Marcus

Rings: David Yurman, H&M

:: Stripes and Sequins ::

Man. I thought Christmas was busy, but spring has brought so much more in every aspect of life! I have been waking up, so excited at the anticipation of the seventy degree weather – only to put a halt to my skirt and dress-wearing with the THIRTY MPH Oklahoma winds.

As I was going through my closet and trying to decide what gets to transition to spring, I realized that I really didn’t have much in terms of warmer weather wardrobe. With two years of teaching behind me, I had time off during the hottest months (cue – nothing appropriate , and my classroom was never warmer than the arctic, so I was wearing sweaters up until the last day of school.

You’ll be seeing a lot of interesting things coming out of this blog, since I’ve been blowing my already minuscule monthly shopping budget on my new hobby – sangria swirls on the Iguana patio hot yoga. I seriously don’t know what I did before it, and have never felt so at peace with myself. I leave after an hour of forced water drinking, with sweat pouring from places I didn’t know it could, and a clear head which cannot think of the trials of each day for those 60 minutes. In the past, I spent multiple hours working out – but it was never a stress reliever because I felt like I had to do it. (And to be honest, I did have to do it to reach the goals I had set, and could not have done it without the help of the world’s greatest trainer). With yoga, I’m not doing it for anyone or anything but myself, and that feels amazing.

So, in the coming months you may see me in yoga pants, because that’s all I own. Or maybe I’ll just restyle this skirt every other day. Because – why not?!

Top: J.Crew, Skirt: J.Crew, Shoes: Converse, Bag: Kate Spade, Necklaces: J.Crew, Ring: David Yurman

Photography by Kurstyn Mills

:: Through the Windowpane ::

Top: J.Crew (almost identical), Skirt: J.Crew, Vest: Stella Rae’s, Clutch: Tory Burch, Heels: Aldo (adore these), Jewelry: Neiman Marcus (fun option), Beyond Baroque, Michael Kors, C.Wonder, J.Crew (very old, from my favorite personal shopper)

B: What should I call this one?

T: Something with Urban Cowgirl. You’ve got the construction and your flannel on so I think you could do a play on words.

B: This isn’t flannel. It’s windowpane.

T: I guess that’s why they call it window pain?

And so, this post was born out of my love for J.Crew and Taylor’s knowledge of Eminem rap lyrics. An unlikely pair, an odd couple if you will, but one that somehow still works perfectly together. Will this be my Valentine’s outfit? I’ve been promised ice skating (I’m a total surprise ruiner – suggested it myself and was met with the “that was the plan” response), so no – sequins won’t do. The Chanel knee pads from the recent Paris show would be much more practical!

With snow and ice still on the ground here, I’m dreaming of the warmer temperatures we are predicted to have this weekend. Two years ago, I got the greatest teacher gift of all on my 23rd birthday – A SNOW DAY! This year, I’ll be equally excited to see the somewhat green remains (maybe brown is a better descriptor) underneath the snow and ice which is coating our red dirt. I’m no longer wishing for snow days, but warm weather so the show will go on (and I won’t be tempted to bring a space heater for my frigid bones). Maybe it’s a quarter-life crisis….or just the stirring of my soul. Who knows?

 

:: Jailbird ::

Top: J.Crew, Skirt: Shoptiques, Shoes: Steve Madden, Jewelry: Max and Chloe, Kate Spade, Sunglasses: Fendi

And like that, a paper doll jail-bird was born. Well, born about twenty-four years ago. I’ve always loved fashion – the fabric, embellishments, and most importantly – how wearing something you love can put you in a totally different mood. It’s like ice cream, but less fattening.

I suppose I really have my sister to thank for my passion – the first time I ever selected my own outfit was the day she was born. It was in that moment that I opted to tell a teensy weensy white lie to the neighbor that I was allowed to dress myself. You think I threw on something wild like my ballet leotard with silver, glittered cowboy boots and a pony tail? No. Although, I would have beaten Lady Gaga to the punch if I had. I donned an outfit which said “big sister” but “totally teenage Barbie.” Clearly, this meant a white jean skirt with a purple top and matching, embellished white jean vest. An obvious choice for a five-year-old.

As I grew older, I was taught the value of a dollar – and how far that dollar would go if you were a savvy shopper who could “dig.” This served me well as I spent two years teaching preschool with Teach For America. I was constantly on the look out for inexpensive, dispensable wardrobe items, to be stained by homemade play-doh, markers that aren’t as washable as they claim, and bodily fluids which were not my own. This is part of closing the achievement gap, and if I had more energy and a place to call home, I would have followed those little buggers until they graduated high school.

This blog has been my dream ever since I began stalking following Blair Eadie and telling everyone I know that she could totally be my sister. But for real – don’t you see the resemblance? We’re just off by a few inches, a few pounds, and a few 0’s at the end of our paychecks. I hope you enjoy some aspect of this – whether it’s my rambling ways or the photos which cost me brunch, and an afternoon of cheering on fantasy football players. Welcome!