Right Around the Corner

 Top: Gap (similar, similar) / Sweater: Forever 21 (similar, similar) / Jeans: Gap 1969 Always Skinny, size 00 (same) / Shoes: Target (similar) / Necklace: from Italy / Bracelet: vintage, inherited from my Nana / Bag: from Unique LA  

Today was my favorite day (weather-wise) that I've had in New England as of yet. In the morning it was all blustery winds and bright blue skies, fading in the afternoon to a perfect 75 degrees with a light breeze and warm sunshine. It was the best combination of fall-is-just-around-the-corner and I-don't-want-to-leave-summer-quite-yet. I spent a good chunk of my downtime today (all of it, really) sitting in the sunshine and reading The Sun Also Rises.

Perfect weather, really, for what I was doing the rest of the day, which was Orientation! My program starts classes next week, so this week it's all meeting advisers, signing up for classes, figuring out study cards, and meeting new people. I am so excited to be back in school again, and cannot wait for it to start! Before classes, however, I've got to tackle a big move this weekend into my new/permanent apartment, though it can't be as bad as the Bigger Move across the country, right? :)

In the meantime, I'm going to go enjoy a bit more of this late-summer sunshine. I think I need to store up on it in order to have any chance at getting through my first New England winter.

Hope you are all having a great week!

Counting Down

Top: Gap / Cardigan: from a local boutique / Jeans: Gap 1969 Always Skinny sz 00 / Shoes: Target / Bag: Vintage Coach, via eBay / Sunglasses: Target / Belt: Target / Bracelets: DIY (how to, here!)

 

So the good news is I "inherited" this belt from my mom. Hooray for free stuff! The bad news is is broke all of two hours after taking this picture. :-/ It was a cheap-y belt from Target, so I suppose the fact that it lived for a few years is quite good.

I'm trying to be mindful of what I buy on the (super) cheap and what I spend my money on. Colorful skinny belts that will last a few years? $20, max. But, classic bags or workhorse shoes that will last forever? I'm trying to work up the courage to spend more on those sorts of things. Thus, my decision to buy that beautiful Cambridge Satchel as soon as I move to, fittingly, Cambridge, MA.

Speaking of which, I have only 3 days left working in the elementary school I've been in for the past year, 5 days left at this job, 10 days until I move, 11 until I start school, and 12 until my birthday! Whoah, there. I'm a serious combination of excited and nervous for what the next few weeks has in store. Wish me luck!

Hope you are all having a lovely week!

Brights & Blues

 Top: Old Navy Tie Hem Blouse sz s ($10.99, available in charcoal for $8.99 online!) / Jeans: Gap 1969 Always Skinny sz 00 (same) / Bag: Fossil men's messenger (similar) / Bracelets: "inherited" from my roommate / Necklace: bought in Italy / Glasses: Coach

 

I hope everyone had a relaxing and meaningful Memorial Day weekend.

Thank you to anyone who commented on my Academic/Professional post recently; I really appreciate knowing there are others out there who think about similar questions regarding blogging and the professional world!

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This weekend, after going to my cousin's bridal shower in Santa Barbara (which was compltely lovely, by the way! So good to spend time with family), my mom and I stopped by the Camarillo outlet mall on the way back. We power-shopped our way through and came home with some pretty good deals! A backback for me for school (yes, apparently I am starting middle school, not grad school!), a heavy winter coat, and a Le Creuset tea kettle in an adorable bright blue, all deeply discounted.

 Did anyone else take advantage of weekend sales?

Simple Stripes & Gold Collar Necklace

 Top: Anthropologie / Jeans: Gap 1969 Always Skinny / Wedges: Target (similar) / Necklace: Asos ($20.87, buy here) / Glasses: Coach

 

One of my goals for beginning this blog was to get out of my jeans and a solid-colored t-shirt rut. I'm trying to wear more skirts, dresses, and patterns, and (hopefully) succeeding. This outfit, I think, is a pretty good example of how jeans and a t-shirt can still be a successful (and not always boring!) look. Note to self: wedges, an interesting piece of jewelry, and a patterned top can go a long way to elevating my wardrobe staples.

The main credit has to go to my favorite statement necklace, this gold collar from Asos. I love how it mimics the lines of a dress shirt's collar, and dresses us an otherwise simple look.

Going on a field trip with the class today, to the California Science Center. 80+ 5th graders and six chaperones...wish us luck!

Inch by Inch, Row by Row

Top: LOFT / Cardigan: Target / Jeans: Gap 1969 Always Skinny / Scarf: bought at a book store of all places! / Sandals: Gap / Bag: vintage Coach (via ebay)

  

I spent both days this past weekend shoveling, hoeing, raking, planting, and watering my new garden. A few weeks ago, this baby was a jungle of weeds, as demonstrated here, by Won Ton, who is dreaming of his past life as a tiger:

...ya. Not so good. So, my roommates and I  decided to finally get our act act together and do something about it. Two trips to the garden store, many hours, and a few borrowed shovels later, we finally had a garden. I'm already emotionally attached to these little plants, and also kind of terrified about killing them. So far, though, so good! Wish me luck with my first attempt at this whole being-an-adult-with-a-real-backyard thing. :)

Spring Green

 Top: from a local boutique ($12) / Jeans: Gap 1969 Always Skinny sz 00 / Shoes: Target leopard print flats sz 7.5 / Bag: BCBG / Necklace: from a farmer's market

 

I have a few new rules for myself right now as to what I should and should not buy. The number-one culprit on the not-to-buy list is any solid colored, short sleeved cotton t-shirt (my wardrobe staple since high school). In leui of that, I'm trying to get slightly more "grown up" shirts instead, be it by virtue of cut, fabric, detail, or color.

This shirt is still, obviously, a solid colored, short sleeve shirt, but!, it is made of silk (which wrinkles, apparently, no matter what), and has at least an interesting button detail on one shoulder. I think this makes it a "blouse" rather than a "shirt." And blouses are totally grown up, right?

Pre-Valentines Day

 Sweater: H&M sz xs ($15.00) / Vest: LOFT (gift) / Jeans: Gap 1969 jeans sz 0 / Shoes: Target leopard print flats

 

 

Hello! I'm back! And you know what I've learned in the past week? Valentines Day is a Really Big Deal in elementary school. I went to a Jewish elementary school, where teachers "conveniently forgot" to give us homework on October 31st rather than acknowledge Halloween, and there was absolutely no talk about eating copious amounts of chocolate come mid-February.

So, imagine my surprise when, suddenly, my students are gearing up for the coming holiday with more effort and care than Thanksgiving and Christmas combined. I've already received five Valentines (Pre-Valentines? Rehersal Valentines?), and the promise of massive amounts of chocolate come the 14th. (Not that I'm complaining.)

To brighten up your Monday morning, allow me to submit the text of one of my favorite pre-Valentines that I have recently received (all original spelling and grammar preserved for maximum adorableness).

On the outside: Open it maybe it a dog i dont know open it open it [I have no idea what this means]

On the inside: Hey ms. Lauren I just wanted to ask who is your Valintine? Because I think I found you one it's a girl and she is ten and her name is [Reanne]. you filled me whith lot's of love Happy valintine. ms Lauren is the Best!

:)

Red Jacket & Striped Tee

 Top: Gap ($24.95, buy here) / Jacket: Forever 21 (old) / Jeans: Gap 1969 skinnies sz 0 / Boots: Urban Outfitters / Necklace: homemade

I found these photos on my camera (that had been left at the Boyfriend's house for a few weeks...) from way back at Christmastime. Christmas with my Unitarian side of the family is awesome. For the past few years we've gathered in a restaurant my cousin manages in Santa Barbara, cooked up a lovely feast for dinner, watched the Lakers game on TV, and played tons of board games together. This year my 8 year-old cousin got a Kinect, and I had more fun playing kid's videogames than I ever thought possible.

Oh, and I wore these clothes. :)

Thanks, Nana

Top: Gap sz s /  Sweater: inherited from my grandmother / Jeans: Gap 1969 skinny sz 0 / Boots: DSW sz 7/ Purse: vintage Coach (via ebay)

   

 I just inherited a few beautiful old cashmere sweaters from my grandmother (by way of my mom cleaning out her closet). They are all incredibly well made and of good quality, and definitely give off that vintage grandma-y vibe, on account of they were bought by my Nana 60ish years ago. I love them. And I love wearing them in small central coast towns, just after the rain, where I can take pictures on the street and not worry about embarrassing myself in front of neighbors.  

Review: Gap 1969 Jeans

Back in high school, I thought that I had to pay a ton for denim ($100+) in order to get anything that fit and flattered my small frame. Of course I still had to tailor the jeans, adding on some extra cost. As such, I have a few pairs of Sevens and a pair of Paige jeans in my closet, that luckily have held up for about 6+ years and are still going strong! So, maybe I got my money's worth in the long run, but a few years ago I discovered Gap 1969 jeans and I don't think I'll be going back.

Top: from a local boutique sz m / Jeans: Gap 1969 jeans, size 24/00 "Always Skinny" (buy here) / Heels: Target Pearce Pumps / Necklace: Macy's, borrowed from mi madre

Gap 1969 jeans are relatively cheap (anything from $34.99 on an average sale, though sometimes cheaper if you hunt for 'em, to about $70), and fit and flatter SO WELL. I don't even need to tailor them if I can find them in the petite length, another great cost-saver.

I have three pairs of Gap 1969 jeans: two skinnies that I've had for a few years (and have hardly worn anything else since I got them) and a pair of bootcuts I just bought when I re-realized that there was more to life than skinny jeans, found on sale for $34.99. It should be said that the Boyfriend just got a pair of Gap jeans for $9.00, so I definitely cannot claim the sale-shopping crown in this case.

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Here are the firt pair of 1969 skinnies, size 24/00 "Always Skinny:"
Gap 1969 jeans, size 24/00, "Always Skinny," saturated dark wash (buy here)

They are suuuppper tight when I put them on straight out of the wash, and maintain their shape (though not their organ-constricting-ness, thank goodness) for many wears. The fit is great all around, and the dark wash makes me feel like I can dress them up a bit.

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Here are my other 1969 skinnies, sz 0R "Straight Leg Stretch:"
Gap 1969 skinny jeans, sz 0R straight leg stretch, medium wash (old)

I'm not even going to pretend I ever wear these with heels. These are my uber-casual jeans, good for a pair of sandals and a t-shirt. They have a medium wash and slightly slouchier fit (0 instead of 00), which makes them feel overall more relaxed. They're also "regular" length and I haven't bothered to hem them, so they're a tad bit long.

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And here are my new 1969 bootcut jeans size 24/00, "Sexy Boot:"
Gap 1969 bootcut jeans size 24/00, "Sexy Boot," saturated dark wash (bought on sale for $34.99, buy here)

I could only find these in the "regular" length on sale, so I did get them hemmed. I asked my tailor to re-attach the original hem so it looks like nothing was changed.
The fit on these, as on the 1969 "always skinny" jeans, is great and snug. They hug through the hips and tush, are fitted through the leg, and flare out ever-so-slightly at the bottom. These are definitely my new favorite "going out" jeans!

Anyone else have some cheap but awesome denim they love?