Putting Away the Pre-Pregnancy Clothes

I edited this post from Tuesday to include why I like each of my favorite nurseries, so check it out!

My husband and I have our own rooms. Well, technically, his room is our room because we both sleep there, but we call the guestroom "my" room because I use the closet in there. Yes, my husband has a bigger closet than I do. Yes, I'm a little jealous.

Soon, the guestroom will become the nursery and I'm going to have to move most of my clothes into our master closet (which means my husband is going to have to get rid of some stuff). I know a baby/toddler doesn't need a whole closet of their own, so I'm going to use half of it for special occasion pieces, but I want to move my everyday clothes into our room so I won't have to disturb the baby when he or she is sleeping and I need to get ready or do laundry.

I decided the first step in this process should be to go through all of my everyday clothes and pack up the things I can't wear now that my stomach is protruding. I know that those clothes will be out of commission for longer than just my pregnancy, so I think packing them in a big plastic bin for 9-12 months is a good idea so I don't have to worry about taking up valuable space in our soon-to-be shared closet.

I forgot to take a picture of my stuffed to the brim closet before I packed, but here's what half of it looks like now:

Look at all those empty hangers! And here's the bin full of pre-pregnancy clothes:

I put my bras in there, too since I can't wear them anymore. I have two bras I can wear now and I'm sure I'll need more before I have the baby (and after for nursing), but my bra drawer was getting really full so I decided to store those as well as some spanx.

Here was my criteria for what went in the box:

Uncomfortable
Shirts/sweaters too short
Too tight
Too form-fitting
Haven't worn it in ages

That last one should have gone into a giveaway bag, but I wasn't ready to deal with that just yet, so I just packed them up anyway.

How often to you go through your closet to get rid of stuff? Did you or would you pack away your pre-pregnancy clothes or would you just leave them in your closet?

Done with the heat

It was 107 here today. Yes, I was inside an air conditioned classroom all day, except when I went outside to walk to the bathroom, but it's just too hot!! I'm ready for fall and winter. I'm ready for rain and pumpkin bread and mexican hot chocolate.

I also want these:

Only $35 at Target! Love them. Come one, fall. Hurry up. I'm ready for you.

FFF

FFF stands for the Fat Finger Federation, a club my friends and I created in middle school because we all had chubby fingers. Some of those friends have grown out of that stage, but not me! I still have pretty chubby little stumps on my hands.

Since we got married two years ago, I've gained some weight. Not a ton, but enough to put me up a size or two in clothes... and rings. I never take my wedding rings off. Ever. As a result of that and the extra weight, my left ring finger is now deformed. 

I have been really worried about my rings getting stuck as I got further in my pregnancy and I've had visions of them being cut off my finger. To put my fears at rest, I decided to bite the bullet and take them off for the remainder of my pregnancy (and probably for a few months after. As a temporary replacement, I got a ring from Nordstrom for $22. It is a little too big, but I figure I'll grow into it...

I have been taking this one off every night before bed, but sometimes I forget to put it back on in the morning. Hopefully it will become a habit soon!

Back to School Shopping!

Aren't I lucky that I get to go back to school shopping every year? I always like to get a few new outfits before the new school year to get me in the mood for work after a nice long break.

Ohhhh my goodness, I almost forgot to tell you!! Remember how I said that the scary teacher dreams would start any day now? WELL I had a big one last night. It was my new school, but with the same teachers. There were some bratty students and I stayed until 8pm (!!), but at the end of the day I was happy to be back. Strange...

Ok, so let's look at my new clothes, shall we?

This dress from White House Black Market. I used an online coupon code and had an old store credit, so I think I only spent $50. I already had the shoes; they're from DSW. I actually got this dress for my 10 year high school reunion that's coming up in a few weeks, but I can wear it to work, too.

This dress from Old Navy. Yes, it is a maternity dress. NO, this is not an announcement. I wandered over to the maternity section and thought it was cute and flattering, so I bought it. It works now and it will work later when I need some extra tummy room.

These shoes from Old Navy. I have them in black and they are so comfortable.

The pups wanted in on the photo shoot.

I'm sorry this photo is so blurry, but it was the most flattering in this outfit.

Here's an unflattering in-focus one. The skirt is the only thing that is new and it's from Old Navy, but it's not on the website. I'm having second thoughts about it and might be returning it soon...

This dress is from Burlington Coat Factory and was only $18! I already had the sweater and shoes. I have a styling questions for you guys: Do you like the sweater buttoned like it is above?

Or unbuttoned like this? I can't decide.

As I was linking to Old Navy, I found this dress that I really want. Maybe if I return the black skirt I can get it instead...

As for school supplies, I haven't bought much. I want to wait until I see what the school gives me when I go in for meetings at the end of the week before I buy a bunch of stuff. I did get a small fan for my desk (my room in newly painted and smelly), hand sanitizer, and a planner. I might get a new desk chair (the one in the room is wooden and stationary), but I'm going to see how uncomfortable the provided one is first. Luckily, I've been teaching for a while so I have a lot of stuff already.

Did/do you like back to school shopping? What's your favorite part?

Midnight In Paris

My plan was to see this movie after I found out I won Oh Happy Day's trip to Paris. I didn't win, but I went and saw the movie tonight anyway. I went by myself, which is a luxury I will have to give up once I start working at my new school because there is a good chance I would see students at my local movie theater. I've never had to worry about that with my current job because I don't live in the same neighborhood as my students, but that will change very soon!

Anyway, back to the best movie ever. I am obsessed. Besides the references to the most amazing writers and artists, I love the fashion in the movie. I have a bit of a girl crush on Rachel McAdams and her wardrobe in this movie took it to another level.

Image found here

I need this outfit. All of it.

Image from here

And this one. Please.

Image found here

Just gorgeous.

Image found here

I'll take the outfit and the hair. I wish mine wasn't so huge and frizzy because I do have the wave to pull this off.

Image found here

So many belts! I need more belts...

Image found here

In the scene with this outfit, she had sweaty armpits. I love that they left it in the movie because it was so real. And I've always been afraid of aviators, but now I think I might take the plunge.

Overall this movie was like an amazing date with a charming man. So fun and refreshing.

What's the best movie you've seen lately? Did you love it because of the plot, the fashion, the music, or all of the above?

WTF Tuesday: Rompers

I've decided to start a weekly post about things I just don't get. This week's selection is the now trendy piece of clothing known as the romper. With some calling it a onsie (yes, like what an infant wears), the romper is typically a one piece shorts/shirt combo that young ladies wear with heels, wedges, or another one of my favorites: gladiator sandals.

Rompers have been spotted on the runway...

via

On the red carpet...

via

And on the streets of Hollywood/NYC/your-home-town...

via

They're everywhere and honestly? I just don't get it. Why on earth would a grown woman want to wear anything that a newborn baby wears? I get that they're comfortable and easy to throw on, but so are footie pajamas and you don't see people walking around outside in those.

via

If you're ever a guest on The Ellen Show, you can wear footie pajamas in public. Other than that, only in the privacy of your own home, please.

What do you think? Am I the only one that hasn't jumped on the romper bandwagon?

Currently

Borrowed this from Beth of Always Looking for Something New.


Current Book(s): Just finished Bossypants by Tina Fey. I was devastated when it ended.

Current Playlist: All Glee all the time.

Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure: Donuts for Saturday school. I ate three this morning and I feel like hell because of it.

Current Color: Peach.

Current Drink: We had margaritas on the rocks the other night and it was a nice break from our usual beer and wine. 

Current Food: I have had PB&J for lunch every day this week. Exciting, no?

Current Favorite Show:Glee! Duh. I've also been watching a TON of Sex and the City reruns.

Current Wishlist: I can't afford one, but I really want a new dress for my friend Laura's rehearsal dinner. Something like this...

from Mango

Current Needs: Patience.

Current Triumphs: Making it through my first (and hopefully last) cycle of clomid without completely losing it.

Current Bane(s) of my Existence: Saturday school and after school workshops. Only one more week!

Current Celebrity Crush: Cory Monteith, aka Finn on Glee. He's pretty adorable.

Current Indulgence: Wearing dresses all the time. I haven't been able to wear pants the past couple of days because of the horrid cramping and bloating from clomid.

Current Blessing(s): A husband who is just as, if not more, excited to get pregnant as I am.

Current Outfit: Dress! Navy and white with a white cardigan and red flats.

Current Excitement: Pretty excited about my mom's mother's day gift. I'll share it after I give it to her.

Current Link: http://www.999reasonstolaugh.com/

Oh, to be a Princess!

Well, I guess she is actually a Duchess, which I don't really understand, but whatever, she looked AMAZING today.

I love how her bouquet was an appropriate size for her body. Tiny girls with ginormous bouquets look silly.

Was I right about the simple long sleeved elegant dress? Oh yes, I was. And it is so good.

Can I get married again? In this dress? With this body? But my face and hair and husband? Ok good, thanks.

I like to think that all Kate could think about as she walked down the aisle looking at the back of William's head was, "I'm marrying a balding 28 year old, but at least he's a prince!"

So happy!

All photos above are from Go Fug Yourself.

Are you ready for my favorite photo of the event?

via A Cup of Jo



Romantic and adorable. That flower girl/bridesmaid/attendant is too cute for words. And call me crazy, but I think this royal couple is going to make it.

100 years of Brides

With the royal wedding a mere hours away and with millions of women dying to see what Kate will wear, I thought I'd take us on a little tour of bridal fashion from the last 100 years. I included only photos of real brides; no runway pictures here.

Bride, groom, and attendants from 1910, photo from here.

High buttoned-up neckline and no smiles. I bet this wedding was tons of fun.

1920s bride, photo from here.

Flapper style has always been one of my favorites. I also love how she is pointing her toe in front like a ballerina.

1930s bride and groom, photo from here.

Depression era weddings called for a simpler look, but they still found a way to show their style with the headwear.

1940's bride and groom, photo from here.

Hollywood glam, yes please! The calla lilly bouquet compliments her dress perfectly.

My maternal grandmother and grandfather on their wedding day in 1955.

I wish this dress was still around because I adore it. The 50s were all about the tea length dresses with some extra volume in the skirts. And that bolero jacket? Perfection.

1960s bride, photo from here.

Super sweet details with a streamlined sillouette. She looks so happy!

1970s bride, photo from here.

Check out the caption with the cost of the wedding! Gotta love those sleeves.

The quintessential 1980s bride, Princess Diana with her Prince charming uhh... well, you know. Photo from here.

Her train was 25 feet long. Holy cow. I had a dream the night I got engaged that I was suffocating in a dress just like this. I woke up covered in hives!! That's a story for the grandkids.

1990's bride and groom, photo from here.

Spaghetti straps and long gloves - oh the 90s, how I loathe you.

Mrs. Cowboy Boot in 2009, from my favorite wedding on Weddingbee.

The early part of the 21st century was all about the strapless wedding dress. Belts were also big and usually had either flowers or rinestones. The dress above originally came with little cap sleeve (which I loved - so jealous of this dress), but she had them removed because strapless was is so IN.

I have a feeling that the dress that Kate wears tomorrow will set the trends for the next 10 years of bridal fashion, and beyond. My prediciton? Long sleeves, clean lines, elegant, but playful, and absolutely georgous. I can't wait!!

Interview Season

Well, it's that time again. I'm officially on the hunt for a job. While I really don't want to leave my current school, I'm trying to stay positive and see this whole RIF/lay-off thing as an opportunity. Ironically, I'm pretty happy I didn't get pregnant when I wanted to last summer because I would be huge right now and hugely pregnant women don't do so well on job interviews, I suspect.

Yesterday was resume and cover letter day, so today is interview outfit day. While I know it is what I say that should really matter, if I'm feeling good about how I look, I will do much better in the interview than if I feel yucky. Here is a little polyvore board to show what I'm thinking to wear for the first round of interviews...

Job Interview by amym83 featuring glass bead jewelry

#1: I don't wear glasses, but these from zennioptial.com for $30 would make me look super smart.
#2: Royal blue is a power color and this cardigan from debenhams.com for $56 would give me an edge.
#3: I recently bought some black patent pumps like these from zappos.com, but mine were far less than their $248 price tag. I love how mine are not too high and not too low: perfect for an interview.
#4: I've been wanting a black patent purse for a while, but I would only be able to sport this $1,795 one from YSL in my dreams.
#5: I have a black pencil skirt similar to this one from zappos.com for $69. It is professional and classic.
#6: I'll wear my husband's grandmother's pearl necklace, but this one from gerarddarel.com is lovely, too.
#7: While this shirt from farfetch.com is cute, I'll have to find one that is about one-tenth of it's $280 price.

What do you think? Would an outfit like this land me the job?

SFAS Filming: Day Two

The first reveal!

I was really nervous for this one, mostly because it was my style layer and I felt a lot of pressure to react the "right" way, whatever that means. I should have worked a half day because it would have given me something to occupy my mind instead of worrying all day.

Some things were totally amazing. Some things were kind of strange. Some things were down right shocking.

One thing I have realized about this experience is that it is first and foremost a TV show. Yes, we get free stuff out of this deal, but this is also going to cost us. Our electricity bill will no doubt skyrocket after all those lights and gear have been plugged in all day every day. We will need to make some changes to other parts of the house fairly quickly because this one room kind of sticks out like a sore thumb.

I knew I would be speechless and I was. I was in shock at first and I had a hard time processing all the change in my brain. What the producers and director and designer don't really seem to understand (they might totally understand this, but it didn't come across that way) is that this is our home. We don't just live in this one room, we live in the whole house. So, when I see the room look COMPLETELY different than it did a few days ago, I'm not just thinking about that one room; I'm thinking about the entryway and the hallway and the kitchen and all the other rooms in the house and how we're going to get everything to look cohesive.

Don't get me wrong. I am really super duper incredibly grateful for this opportunity. I'm so happy we get all of this amazing stuff for free. I absolutely love that Emily showcased a very special work of art in the space (this made me tear up!). She was also mindful about our dogs and chose things they won't totally destroy immediately. I can't wait to see what she does next!

I forgot to take outfit pictures, but I'm wearing the same outfit to work today (don't sue me for wearing the same thing 2 days in a row), so I took some cell phone pics for you in my classroom before school started.

I couldn't get my whole body in the picture at one time, sorry. I wore a teal sweater, black tank with sparkles, skinny jeans, and grey (or gray? I never know which is the right spelling) boots.

The final reveal is tomorrow and I just know it is going to be awesome. I can't wait!

Fashion Notes

I'm not a fashionista. I get into ruts and wear the same three outfits over and over until I find something new to live in. I can sometimes be a risk-taker, but as a high school teacher, I feel limited because I want to maintain authority over students who aren't that much younger than me. When I was a freshman in high school, my best friend and I were the first at our school to wear capri pants. And they were PLAID capri pants. That was a risk, but we were in high school, not teaching it, and I liked to be weird. Thank goodness the whole capri pants trend stuck around for a while.

I didn't realize it at the time, but we totally looked like golfers.

Lately, I've become obsessed with dresses, tights, and boots. I have decided that I only want to wear dresses to work as I now hate pants. I'll wear jeans, of course. They are comfortable and versatile and easy, but no more black pants or pin striped pants or whatever. I always feel happier and cuter in dresses anyway, so why not take the leap and go all the way?

Fall by amym83 featuring a floral print dress

L/S Wrap Dress
$655 - lagarconne.com
Wrap dress »

Rebecca Taylor Day To Date silk dress
$295 - net-a-porter.com
V neck dress »

Petites Floral Cluster Dress
39 GBP - missselfridge.com
Floral print dress »

Cute 1940's coat
$530 - karenmillen.com
Coats »

7 for all mankind Mid-rise jeans-style leggings
$150 - net-a-porter.com
Seven For All Mankind leggings »

Costume National Riding Boot
$915 - barneys.com
Cap boots »

LEATHER ROUND TOE RIDING BOOT
450 GBP - uk.burberry.com
Flats shoes »

Oversized Classic Leather Muse in Multiple Colors
$1,550 - ysl.com
Oversized bag »

Teal 80 denier tights
5 GBP - dorothyperkins.com
Dorothy Perkins »

40 Denier Opaque Tights
4 GBP - monsoon.co.uk
Opaque stockings »

Created at Polyvore, not my clothes.

I have an obsessions with riding boots. I had one brown pair that took me 2 years to find and purchase and last winter I wore them every other day. Yesterday, I bought a black pair, something I tried to find in Australia, but couldn't. Now I have two pairs of riding boots so I'll probably be wearing them everyday this fall/winter/spring until I can wear flip flops again.

I am also expanding my dress collection. I want to have enough for two weeks (I'll wear jeans on Fridays) so I can mix and match with tights and accessories and create many different outfits. I bought a pair of teal tights like the ones in the collage above, but I'm a bit nervous to wear them to work. Do you think I could pull it off?