Picnic time!

J Crew sweater/shirt/skirt
Aerosoles shoes

CJ's school picnic was this afternoon.  Being surrounded by 30+ preschoolers always cracks me up.

My hair stayed curly for approximately 18 seconds.  This look was definitely not made for 80% humidity.

Etsy Favorites--the Spooky Edition!

Okay, maybe I'm jumping the gun a little bit, but October is coming up--and October means Halloween.  If you're going to buy Halloween stuff online instead of running through Target, slightly dazed, 15 minutes before trick-or-treaters show up (not like anyone here typing this has ever done that before...), you better get a move on.

Anyone can do an Amazon search and find standard-issue Halloween stuff, and lots of it is cute, too, but Etsy has some really great and unique finds for this holiday (along with some seriously creepy stuff, so maybe do this search after your kids are in bed so you don't subject them to a Dora doll painted to look like a zombie, which is the image currently haunting my nightmares).

Note: some people like gory/terrifying Halloween, some people like sexy Halloween (I used to be one, in college), and some people like adorable Halloween.  I'm sure you can guess which side I'm on here.

Candy Corn Plush:
Could this little guy be any cuter?

Ghost Trick or Treat Bag:
There's nothing better than a well-accessorized ghost.  Love the bow, sweetie!

Halloween Retro Apron:

You could go two directions with this...actual 1950s housewife costume OR zombie 1950s housewife costume (are they really that different?  I guess one has slightly better makeup).  I think we all know how I feel about ruffles.  And polka dots.  And flowers.  And brainzzzzzz!

Zebra Mini Top Hat:
I almost bought this until I saw it was under 2 inches tall, so probably more appropriate for a small child.  Baby-Kate-Middleton costume?

Witch Boot Door Hanging:
I bought one of those stick-on hooks for the front door to hang a wreath two years ago at Christmas, and now I feel like it's silently judging me when nothing is hanging from it.  This would fit the bill pretty nicely.  SHUT UP, HOOK!

Pumpkin's Delight Bracelet:
I like that this bracelet has holiday-appropriate colors without screaming "OMFG IT'S HALLOWEEN!  GET OUT YOUR TACKY LIGHT-UP PLASTIC JEWELRY!"

Rosette Headband:
Just too cute!  Not sure orange would look good in my (frankly fairly orange) hair but for CJ, no question.

This is what exhaustion looks like

This picture was taken in my office at 8:55 Tuesday night...my day started at 5:45 am when the alarm went off, I started teaching at 8:30 am, and then had the debate team meeting which started at 7:00 pm.  2 hours of counterplan theory later...and I still had a 40 minute drive home.  Tuesdays and Thursdays are exhausting-sauce.

J Crew Jackie twinset
White House Black Market skirt (is it just me or does the name of that store sound kind of wrong?)
Aerosoles shoes

Also, WELCOME BACK TIGHTS WEATHER!  Hooray!

*Thanks to Molly (of Miss Molly and the cookies/juice/yelling story fame) for this shot.

Yellow Rose of...Maryland?

J Crew dress/sweater
Aerosoles shoes

Today has been rough.  Traffic getting on the Yard was terrible, I had to stop for gas on the way in which interrupted my usual commuting/car-dancing session, I almost got locked out of Mahan (where the other coffee bar is) because of either a history conference or a "Worst Tweed Suit in America" competition, and they were out of tables at the O-Club at lunch so we had to eat at the bar which always makes me feel awkward.

This conversation with CJ actually happened yesterday but it's too funny not to post:

CJ: Some nights you stay and play with Miss Molly.  (One of my debaters...she's talking about my meeting.)
Me: That's right--what do you think we do?
CJ: You eat cookies and drink juice boxes and yell at each other.

That's actually not super-far from the truth.

Professor Plum

Anthropologie dress
J Crew Cardigan
Seychelles Shoes
Vintage Swan Brooch

Playing hooky

J Crew Skirt, tee, and sweater
Ann Taylor Loft flats

So because of floodmageddon, Tom's workplace was closed.  Mine, while technically open, was terrifying yesterday and got another 2 inches of rain last night, so I opted to stay home.  We went to the Lebanese Taverna Cafe and then to the movies in Downtown Silver Spring, where we saw The Debt, which was pretty good.  Also fun: eye-rolling at the previews.

My hair looks awesome in this picture because of this product:


THANK YOU HAIR DONUT!  You put your hair in a ponytail and then slip this over the ponytail, then flip your hair ends out over the top and secure with another ponytail holder.  The lady midshipmen (it's not midshipwomen!) on the debate team tipped me off to these and they're great.  I go from sad-mini-bun to "ooooh, ballerina hair!".  Which is nice on days when it's rainy because, as you saw in my previous photo, my hair generally looks sad when it rains.  Either it's down and frizzy or back in a ponytail and I look like I'm in 3rd grade.  But not with a hair donut!  HOORAY!

Rainy Day

J Crew Jackie Cardigan
J Crew Perfect Tee
J Crew Double Serge Bow Skirt
Steve Madden Flats
Vintage Brooch

Serious flooding in Anne Arundel County = home early today.  Fortunately I didn't drown.  Unfortunately, I did have to put my hair in a ponytail.

Note to USNA: You can shut off the air conditioning in Nimitz.  You can shut down half of the bathrooms due to "plumbing problems".  You can let leaks flood the underground tunnels so I have to walk to class outside.  But SHUTTING DOWN THE COFFEE MESS IN THE LIBRARY?  This aggression will not stand, man.  (Obviously it actually will stand, but at least I got to vent about it.  Thanks blog!)

CJ's first day of preschool!

Tommy Hilfiger Cardigan
Banana Republic Blouse
J Crew Denim Pencil Skirt
Life Strides Shoes

(On CJ: Crewcuts top and Gymboree leggings.)

I am a little...frazzled...in this picture.  We took about 26 and this was the best of them.  I do love that it looks like there's an owl nesting in my hair, though.

CJ jumped a class in preschool--we thought she would be in Primary 1 and they placed her in Primary 2.  We got to watch a little of her morning assembly, and kiddo has some serious yoga moves.  (Sidebar: can I go back to preschool?  AM yoga, daily nap, arts and crafts?  HEAVEN.)

September is here!

Fall is coming!  Fall is coming!

Fall is my favorite season.  Winter?  Too cold.  Spring?  Too pollen-y.  Summer?  OMGWTFBBQ it's so hot and humid and nasty outside.

Plus debate starts back up again in the fall.  The beginning of the debate season is definitely my favorite.  It's before everyone gets all burned out and bummed about the direction the topic has taken.  The novices and freshmen are bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.  (Our freshmen are even better because the debate team gets them off the Yard, so they're like overexcited golden retriever puppies.)  The returning debaters are full of plans and anticipation for the year.  (I'd say you'd get a different story if you talk to me again in October, but by the end of October I may not be capable of speech.  Just pass me a frozen margarita and a pillow.)  Two of our novices looked at each other on Thursday and said "We want to win the national championship."  That attitude is basically what fall feels like to me.

Fall. (of 2006)

I'm also excited because Tom's sister Amy got us involved in the One Month March, which is a month-long fitness challenge to benefit pediatric cancer research.  My goal is pretty modest--to walk 30 miles throughout the month of September, which is about a mile a day--but everyone I know knows how much I hate to exercise, so a mile a day is bigtime for me.  

And, in September I'm also challenging myself to "Shop My Closet".  (I was going to call it No Shop September, like No Shave November, but that started sounding like denial which gives me hives.)  I started out thinking I'd do a 30-for-30 Challenge, but I'm not sure I'm organized enough and I'm also concerned that it would feel like even more denial which, well, back to the hives.  So instead I'm doing this, which seems easier and a better fit for the crazy swings in dress code that make up my life.  

Sooooo...that's what I'm up to this September.  I know, super-exciting stuff, huh?  

August Favorites (A little late...)--The Humidity Edition

The Princess and The Frog

This has become CJ's new favorite movie (replacing Ponyo and Finding Nemo).  Good thing it's hilarious and has great music too.  My favorite character is Charlotte.  I'm pretty sure she grows up to be Blanche from the Golden Girls.

"I swear I'm sweatin' like a sinner in church!" 

"Well, back into the fray!  Wish me luck!"

"PRINCE NAVEEN!  YOUR SHY AND RETIRIN' BRIDE IS GETTIN' ANTSY!"

Anyway, back to the favorites.



OPI Hong Kong collection Lucky Lucky Lavender
The perfect shade of purple for my fingernails.  (I've already switched to OPI NLR52 Siberian Nights for my toes, I may have a touch of Fall Fever.)

Vitamin Water Zero--no calories and doesn't taste like weird-fake-sugar (I'm looking at you, Gatorade G2.)  I like the orange one best though Tom's tried (and liked) other flavors.


Murad Environmental Shield Vitamin C Infusion Home Facial Kit, Pure Vitamin C Powder and Treatment Gel, Cellular Replenishing Serum, 1 kit
I came home from the beach all broken out--too much sun/sand/sunscreen/liquor/etc.  One application of this and it started to dramatically clear up.  I was back to normal in 3 days.



Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion .34 fl oz (10 ml)
Because in 85% humidity, even powder eyeshadow melts right off my face without this magic potion that glues it on.


Boots Mediterranean Body Scrub, Almond, Pistachio & Olive 13.5 fl oz (400 ml)
This stuff is great.  Super exfoliating, doesn't make me smell like a Little Debbie but nice and almondy, and I don't need to moisturize afterwards.  (Extra super bonus--I got a kit with the scrub, body wash, and lotion on 75% off clearance at Target 3 weeks ago.)  There is A LOT in the jar.  I've used it all over my body at least 4 times now and it's not even half empty.


Milani Easyliner Retractable Pencil for Eyes, Espresso 02 1 ea
Instead of wearing mascara under my eyes (because again, in this kind of humidity, everything smears, even the most waterproof formula ever), I line them with this.  I also sketch it lightly onto my eyebrows when they need a little boost.

What are your favorites for August?  Anything I should try?