workworkworkwork

 Dress: local boutique / Sweater: Zara / Scarf: homemade by mi madre / Tights: H&M / Boots: local boutique / Socks: Target / Glasses: Coach
  







 Grad school has truly and completely eaten my life. I haven't been able to post in forever (obviously) and am incredibly behind on seeing what you other lovely ladies are up to....I miss it!

I'll do my best to be back here as much as I can, but oh my goodness, I don't even know what free time is any more! Can't complain, though, I am so happy to be doing what I love and learning so much along the way.

Hope you're all doing well, and having a good start to your week!

ASOS Skater Dress

This might be my new favorite dress. I think I'm in love.

 Dress: ASOS Skater Dress (size 4, $36.45) /  Belt: came with a dress from H&M / Sandals: Gap / Purse: vintage Coach, via eBay / Necklace: DIY

I found this skater dress thanks to Hello, Framboise who wore it here. I was immediately drawn to the stripes (of course), the cute short sleeves, the classic silhouette, and the fact that it was on my "List." To keep from splurging on clothing I don't need, I keep a running list on my phone and computer of the things I really want and/or need. Most of the items on my list have been there for years (I'm still waiting on you, tweed mini skirt!), and I know that if they stay there, it means they're really worth buying.

A dress to replace this one (second outfit in that post) has been on my list for a few months now. Though I looove that Modcloth dress, I do realize that it is a few (ahem, many) inches too short to be much more than super-casual. I wanted a similar dress that I could wear to class, dinner, or any time when I don't feel like baring my entire thighs. I'd say this cute number from ASOS fits the bill. It is so soft and comfortable, fits like a dream (in a size 4, ASOS has odd/British sizing, though it this dress was supposedly in US sizing), and doesn't wrinkle at all. Perfection.

Designer Backpacks and Other Oddities

Top: Gap / Skirt: Thrifted Urban Outfitters ($13.00, down from $58) / Bracelet: passed down from my mom / Necklace: bought in Italy / Sandals: Gap / Backpack: Coach ($70, down from about $270!) / Glasses: Coach

Please pardon the pouty face! 

Sometimes, you find what you're looking for in the strangest of places. In this case, in the Coach Men's outlet store.

My mom and I went outlet shopping a few weeks ago, before I left for Boston. We wandered about the Camarillo Outlets north of LA for hours, finding a few things we needed and, the oddest purchase of all, this backpack.

I wanted a backpack because I knew I'd be biking a fair amount over the next two years, and I've finally realized how bad a cross-body bag laden with books is for my back. Yes, I'm going to grad school and not middle school, but c'est la vie, I thought it was for the best. :) Enter: this Coach backpack. (I know, it sounds weird to me, too.)

The sturdy canvas and leather, the idea of Coach quality, the simplicity, and the classiness all made it feel like so much more than a middle-school backpack. Also, it was $70, down from a completely crazy $270-ish! So, I now own a Coach backpack? Strange to say, but awesome to have around. My back already thanks me!

p.s., I waterproofed the canvas and leather with a camping-and-outdoors spray a lot like this one,
  (the Sales Assistant said it was already weather-treated, but I wanted to make super-sure) to prepare for the MA rain and snow, and so far it has held up fantastically in the summer storms.

p.p.s. Your comments on my recent post were so so sweet. The Boyfriend was very proud of his pictures and the reaction they received. :)

Hope you're having a great start to your week!

Shoe Woes

 Top: Gap (similar, and similar for $9.49!) / Skirt: H&M / Bag: Vintage Coach, via eBay / Sunglasses: Target / Bracelet: gift

 

I've quickly figured out what one of the main differences between my style in LA and my style in Boston is going to have to be: shoes. By which I mean, I went (almost) everywhere in LA by car. I'd drive somewhere, perhaps walk for a short while, and drive back home. Thus, I lived the first 22 years of my life with what I am now realizing are some damn impractical shoes. I've never been a heels-in-the-daytime kind of a girl, but I do have a shoe collection that is 90% paper-thin flats, sandals, and a few pairs of (pretty decent) boots.

Now that I live in a walking/public transportation city, I'm realizing just how impractical most of my shoes are. I bought my first pair of sneakers in years the other day, but I REALLY don't want to have to wear those every day. So, blogging community, help! What are some cute, comfortable, and preferably not too expensive sandals, flats, and/or waterproof shoes that I could wear in a walking city?

My feet will thank you. :)

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!

* * * * * * * *

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?

Peach and Navy

 Top: Urban Outfitters / Shorts: Gap / Sandals: Gap / Bag: Vintage Coach via eBay / Necklace: Asos ($20.87, buy here) / Sunglasses: Target / Rings: gifts, from local boutiques

  

I hope everyone had a nice Mother's Day and a relaxing weekend!

Mine was chock-full, with a trip to Unique LA, hanging out with my family, going to a birthday party for a friend I've known for two decades (!), gardening (more weeding, really), having Mother's Day breakfast, and seeing the Avengers (awesome movie). Now, it's back to work, and helping my students stay sane through the second week of the California State Test.

Hope you're all having a good start to the week!

Going Green

 

Dress: Urban Outfitters ($10!) / Sweater: H&M / Sandals: Gap / Bag: vintage Coach, via eBay / Necklace: bought in Italy / Blue ring: gift from the boyfriend / Green ring: Amrita Singh, via Hautelook ($12)

 

 
Things I'm really going to miss about LA:

-tacos, and great Mexican food in general

-amazing fresh and local produce, all year 'round

-being 15 minutes away from my family

-the pacific ocean and the LA skyline

-my dogs and cat

Things I will not miss about LA:

-traffic

-smog

-(more) traffic

-having to drive everywhere

-the amazing weather that lets me wear something like this for 85% of the year.

* * * * * * *

I swear this is my last short-blue-dress-and-green-sweater combination. It's out of my system (for now...). And, more importantly, I've finally ran out of short blue dresses.

Do you ever get set on a style and stick with it many days in a row? Sometimes, when it works, it works!

Sun and Shades

 Dress: gift, from a local boutique / Cardigan: from a local boutique / Hat: borrowed, from my sister, from her boyfriend / Bag: vintage Coach, via eBay / Sandals: Gap / Earrings: from a local boutique / Sunglasses: Target

 

I love getting clothing as gifts. Clothing given as a gift often leads to me owning something I might have passed over in a store on my own. See: this dress. I own very few brown things (purses and shoes aside, this dress is the only brown thing I own), I don't think brown looks that great on me, and I probably wouldn't think twice about this dress in a store. But, as a gift? Turns out I like it!

Hope you are all having a lovely week.

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. :)