Team Spirit

The football team (and like 600 students) are going to Ireland tonight to play Notre Dame this weekend, so I wanted to show a little school spirit.  My yellow jacket is WAY too heavy for 80 degree weather and I wasn't feeling most of my blue-and-gold go-to outfits, so I chose to interpret "team spirit" a little differently.

J Crew Anchors Aweigh Blouse

J Crew Factory pencil skirt

Aerosoles shoes

J Crew Twisted Hammock Necklace

Anchors!  Not really our mascot but sort of an avatar?  Good enough.  My students were impressed.  

Here's Your Sweet Lavender

"sixteen sprigs a penny, which you'll find my ladies will smell as sweet as any."--Lavender Seller Cry, London, circa 1900

J Crew Jackie cardigan
Ann Taylor Factory dress
Aerosoles shoes
Vintage swan brooch

Closeup on the swan brooch.

It's Always a Good Time

Is the title of the song I'm dancing along to in this picture.  I have a meeting this morning and so will put on the seersucker blazer that matches this skirt for this, but I feel a little like I'm playing dress up in my mom's closet when I'm wearing it (she's a lawyer) so I'm rocking a twinset for the rest of the day.  "WOAH-OH-OH-OHH-OH-OH".

J Crew Jackie Twinset
J Crew Seersucker Skirt
J Crew Bubble Necklace
Anne Klein Shoes

Just 34 More Years

I went to a retirement party today, for one of my wonderful female colleagues.  One of the older guys (read: has worked in the department for 44 years) pointed out that you used to be able to retire after 20 years of service to the government, but no more:

R: You've got almost 10 in!
Me: Yep, this is eight.
R: Well, 20 years ago I would tell you that you were almost halfway to retirement...but they changed that policy so now it's at age 65 regardless.  So how old are you?
Me: I'll be 31 in November.
R: Oh.  Well...just 34 more years!

Errr...hooray?

Anthropologie Deletta First Flight Tee
Citizens of Humanity Ingrid Low Waist Flare
Merona Sandals
J Crew Cobblestone Pearl Bracelet
Pearl Studs (probably from Kohls...)
Rosette Hair Clip by DFinn via Etsy

This Is What Saturday 0700 Looks Like

I was sitting around on Friday night at around 10 (2200), doing nothing, dorking around on Facebook when the following conversation happened between me and one of my debaters:

N: Is your office unlocked?
Me: No, why...do you want to hide something in it?
N: No, I was going to do some work tomorrow and wanted a place to hide so they don't make me do something stupid.
Me: Oh, ok, no problem, I can come in and unlock it for you.  When is good?  (Please don't say before 0800...)
N: Ok...0800...
Me: ?
N: It's just that we have this mandatory funeral at 1100.
Me: ok
N: So if we want to do work we should do it early, like at 7
Me: ?
N: 7 am...0700
Me: ughghghghghghghghghhh fine but I think this counts as hazing.

Lesson of the night?  Get off Facebook, or pretend to be an old person who doesn't know how Facebook chat works.  Just kidding--I never turn down a request to do debate work.

So I woke up at 5:30 am so that I could look like a human for this work session, leave the house at 6:20, and still make the drive there for the "0700 muster".

J Crew Port of Call Sweatshirt  (If you have any thoughts of getting this you should.  It is super comfortable and I think it looks casual-polished, as opposed to casual-sloppy.)
Mossimo Tee shirt  (This was $5 at Target.  I threw it on so as to not look like a Smurf in head-to-toe blue.  It peeks out a little at the top and covers up any risk of muffin top around the waist--the sweatshirt is a little short.  Also, it is mustard so now I am in school colors.)
Citizens of Humanity Ingrid Low Waist Flare

I am wearing my Converse Chuck slip-ons, but DESPITE MY BEST INSTRUCTIONS my debater did not capture them in the photo.  Good thing he was gone by the time I looked at it or he would have gotten an NCIS-style head slap.

And now...it is naptime.

One Scoop!

J Crew Neapolitan Dress
Aerosoles Shoes

I love that this dress is named after an ice cream flavor (style?  It seems like a triad of flavors together as opposed to a "flavor" but I didn't know what else to call it).  More of my clothes should be named after food.

Office Day

As in, I went to work at noon and did nothing but debate work in my office for 4 hours.  So I went a little more casual than I usually do.

J Crew Jackie Cardigan in Vibrant Flame
J Crew Perfect Tee
J Crew Minnie Pants
Kelly and Katie Slides
DIY Necklace
(Face courtesy of my husband telling me he was going to watch Newsroom later.  Please, if I want gross misunderstandings and simplifications of women, I'll talk to Todd Akin.  ZING.)

This necklace is a DIY knockoff of the J Crew Seahorse Necklace:

It cost approximately $150 when it first came out and it made it down to the mid $50 range on sale, I believe.

Here's the one I made last week:

I bought 2 seahorse connectors (for $3) and 200 8 mm tomato-red beads (for $8) on etsy.  I already had the lobster clasp and bead thread.

There are some differences--my seahorse is silver and lacking the rhinestones the J Crew one sports.  But I am actually happier with silver as most of my jewelry is silver, and if I feel the need for some bling I can always bust out some rhinestones and krazy glue and bedazzle away.  The other difference is the price--$11 is infinitely more palatable.

"Damn the Torpedoes!"

Tonight was the first debate meeting with our returning debaters.  I was happy all day just thinking about it and it did not disappoint.  Also, first day of class and that was more fun than I thought it would be.

J Crew Jackie Cardigan
Banana Republic Blouse
J Crew No 2 Pencil Skirt in Caribbean Tweed--Mango
Aerosoles Shoes
J Crew Earrings

What's going on in this picture?  I'm not 100% sure, but I think I might be making a cat sound and doing a claw thing with my hand in response to my husband yelling "THE CAMERA LOVES YOU".  And obviously it does, this picture is evidence.

Anchors Aweigh!

It's my first day back!

J Crew Maritime Anchors Dress
Tory Burch Reva Flats
J Crew Crystal Necklace

I was gratified by how much everyone at work loved this dress...and of course told most of them that it was basically the equivalent of wearing pajamas to work.  Comfiest. Material. Ever. (If you feel like you've seen this outfit before, you have, sans necklace, here.  Note how I look decidedly less pissed off in this one and draw your own conclusions.)  Not a bad first day back, though I was shocked to find that they had waxed my office floor while I was on leave and thus all my earthly workplace possessions were piled on my desk when I walked in.  Surprise!  That made for a fun hour or so while I put everything back where it belonged before getting to my actual work--finalizing the syllabus for the class I'm teaching tomorrow.  There's no minute like LAST minute, amirite?

(ETA that it is 9 pm and I am still lounging around in this dress.  Usually I change out of my work clothes POSTHASTE so you know this is one comfortable dress.)

Evening Out

Tonight Tom and I met one of our college debate coaches at Cava Mezze, which is a Greek-style Tapas restaurant. Paul is a vegetarian so we mostly ordered meatless dishes to share and everything was so good that I really did not miss having meat at all.  (Well, we did have a moussaka so I'm not sure I can say I didn't miss the meat since I had some...but if we had ordered another vegetarian dish instead, I wouldn't have minded at all.)

J Crew Bouquet Cardigan in Putty
J Crew Mirabel Dress
Kelsi Dagger Slides
Coin Pearl Earrings by Lumina Jewels Too via Etsy
Hair Rosette Clip by DFinn via Etsy

Afternoon at the Ag Fair

J Crew Boatneck Stripe Sequin Tee
J Crew Capris (The tag says "Favorite Fit"...maybe the predecessor to the Cafe Capris?)
Merona Espadrilles
FEED USA Bag

I don't like crowds, loud noises, heat, or heights...so fairs are basically my worst nightmare.  Fortunately CJ had a great time and I really enjoyed watching her play and riding some of the (non-high) rides with her.  Before Tom arrived we also managed to take (the first) pony ride (yes there was a second), get her face painted, (not) throw darts at balloons (but win a prize anyway), ride the merry-go-round and a helicopter ride (look out Naval Aviators), and eat fried Oreos, cotton candy, and lemonade.  The only bummer is that they did not have fried pickles, which are my favorite fair food ever.

Better face paint pic.

Merry Go Round.

Helicopter ride--"This helicopter is almost out of gas, Mom!"  

First pony ride.

Second pony ride.

Ferris wheel--yes, I was totally freaking out the whole time.

There's always money in the banana stand.  Also, I did like a triple take when I saw that picture.

Outside!

"These kids just want to go outside!  Do you know, at our first practice, they asked me what the sun was?"--Tracy Jordan, 30 Rock

I definitely just wanted to go outside after the week I've had.  Unfortunately, even though I coated myself in bug spray, I still got 5 mosquito bites from being in the front yard for 15 minutes.  Maybe it's because I'm using the DEET free stuff?  Time to upgrade to the heavy duty pesticides?

J Crew Bouquet Cardigan in Putty
J Crew Perfect Tee*
Anthropologie Licorice Lanes Skirt
Katie and Kelly Slides
J Crew Factory Earrings

*I had to wear my ugly man-sized camp-issued polo again today (though for the last time EVER), and could not bear to be photographed in it, so i once again switched into this shirt when I got home.

She Wears Seashell Pink

...though not by the seashore.  I wish.  It is storming (with hail!!!!) and so I am fairly nervous about the power going out again like it did last month.  Keep your fingers crossed for me!

About the blurry foot--it was blurry foot, blurry face, death-stare, or sneeze.  I went with blurry foot, so you're welcome.

J Crew Jackie Cardigan
Bella Bateau Neck Shirt
J Crew Pleated Lawn Skirt
Bandolino Slides
Light Pink Pearl Necklace, Little Mae Designs via Etsy
Pink Rosette Hair Clip, DFinn via Etsy

OK...fine...here is sneeze face for your amusement.

Sorbet

J Crew Factory Ruffled Celosia Cardigan in Coral
J Crew Beach Dress in Sour Lemon
Seychelles Slides
Coral Pearl Necklace by Little Mae Designs
Coral Coin Pearl Earrings by Lumina Jewels Too

Very Refreshing!

Anthropologie Viola Lemon Parfait Dress

J Crew Jackie Cardigan

Bandolino Slides

Cheater!

J Crew Jackie Cardigan
J Crew Perfect Tee*
J Crew Factory Pencil Skirt
Betsey Johnson Rhinestone Bow Earrings
J Crew Crystal Necklace
Kelly and Katie Slides

Why cheater?  Because, while I know this is supposed to be a record of the actual clothing that I actually wear, I had to wear a hideous man-sized polo shirt to work today (it's the camp counselor shirt, mandatory on first and last days of camp).  I wore it tucked into this skirt and with the cardi over top of it, necklace, earrings, shoes, the whole rest of the outfit is accurate, but I just couldn't quite bring myself to wear it in the pictures.  So I replaced it with a tee shirt and now all is right with the world.

Also, today's mantra?

And here's another good one:

Morning Light

Which is why the lighting is pretty good here.

J Crew Jackie Cardigan
J Crew Perfect Tee
J Crew Factory Pencil Skirt
J Crew Bubble Necklace
Kelsi Dagger Slides

Anchors Are Kinda My Thing, and a Mantra

J Crew Jackie Cardigan in Modern Red
J Crew Dizzy Anchors Dress
Bandolino Sandals
Necklace via Etsy

I don't know what it is (maybe I'm missing all my midshipmen), but I've really been loving nautical this summer, particularly the anchor motif that J Crew has been rolling with.  So this dress was definitely my happy place today--and boy, did I need one.

Rebecca had a great post on Monday about mantras, and so I am shamelessly stealing hers:

I am clinging to this with two hands until next Friday.