Red Sweater Day

Anthropologie Alice In Autumn Sweatercoat

Anthropologie Curvy Shift Dress

Kell and Katie Flats

Kate Spade Earrings

Today was school picture day for CJ.  She's wearing that ruffly Marchesa dress from the Neiman Marcus/Target collaboration last Christmas.  When it got down to $15 I bought it and put it away for this year.  She was very excited to wear fuchsia.  Her shoes are kiddie-sized Seychelles!  #sofancy

Take a Bow, Leave a Bow

Nanette Lepore Dress
Nickels Peep Toe Bow Pumps
LC Lauren Connor Bow Earrings
Vintage 1950s Bow Necklace via Etsy

In retrospect, perhaps I was a little overdressed for work?  Eh, whatever.  I wore a black cardigan over it almost all day which seemed to take it down a notch.  Also, until we're in ballgown/tulle/sequins territory, there's really no such thing as "overdressed for work".

Spike the Punch

At department social events (like today's), I feel like everyone keeps an extra eye on me.  Maybe because I show up wearing shirts like this.  

Kate Spade Spike the Punch Tee
Joes Jeans
Converse One Star Slides
J Crew Bubble Stud Earrings

You know how Liz Lemon does whatever Oprah tells her to?

Well, I do whatever Kate Spade tells me to.  So next time you see me, consider your punch SPIKED.

Neapolitan

J Crew Neapolitan Ruffle Front Dress
J Crew Ruffle Cardigan
Naturalizer Wedges
Target Merona Belt
Pearl drop earrings via Etsy

I kind of wish this dress had a slit or a kick-pleat or something in the back.  Because it looks super cute on and I got a ton of compliments on it, but I was stuck taking half-strides or sort of semi-straight-leg-running to get where I needed to go, and when you teach a quarter-mile away from your office plus two flights of stairs up, that is a lot of weird walking.

Also, I said it the last time I wore this and I'll say it again, but more of my clothes need to be named after delicious food.

Tooth Fairy

Weird angle because I wanted to show off my cute side bun.  

Target Merona Top
Anthropologie Floreat Lost Time Skirt
J Crew Bow Flats
J Crew Bubble Earrings


Time to haul out my wings--CJ lost her first tooth!  The one right next to it is also loose so I'll need them again soon.

Check out that gap!

Blue Tuesday

Theory cashmere cardigan

Yoana Baraschi dress

Naturalizer wedges

J Crew Bubble Stud Earrings

Necklace via Etsy

Today was...a challenge.  I was worried about security issues after yesterday and also nervous about how long it would take to get into my office at all.  That ended up being no big deal, as the enhanced security conditions eased when they concluded there were no additional suspects at large.  However, then my computer caused bigtime serious drama (it is old but cannot be replaced for at least another year, but could not download and install a program I needed before I could continue on with a project, so that's two hours of my life I'll never get back).  I was at work until 9 and still did not finish the major project I worked on all afternoon, which means I need to go in early tomorrow.  So I'd give today a solid D-.  The only things preventing an F were a lack of serious bodily injury (THANK YOU) and my wonderful debaters.  Well, and the fact that I am about to hit the hay.  

After all, tomorrow is another day.  

Remixed!

Anthropologie Akebia Dress
J Crew Jackie Cardigan
Bandolino Wedges
Francesca's Necklace
J Crew Bubble Studs

I wore this dress back in June but was a little more boring classic.  Today I played up the light pink!

I've been ignoring my signature color.

Earning My Stripes

J Crew Factory Charley Sweater 

J Crew Denim Pencil Skirt

David Tate Flats

Roberto Chiarella Necklace

Earrings from Icing 

Being on the Yard on 9/11 is always emotional.  Everyone shares their stories--and I am sure everyone everywhere does that but these are so deeply tied to the desire to serve or the stress of serving in the military while it was occurring that it is emotionally exhausting to process it all.  But I still love hearing those stories, and telling my own story of where I was and what I was doing when the news broke.  

Nevertheless, couple all of that with a faculty meeting and then a late debate meeting and I am bushed.  And I look it in this pic.  

An Evening of Debate With the Miller Center and Friends

Kate Spade Dress

J Crew Jackie Cardigan

Nickels Pumps

Kate Spade Earrings

Necklace--old, a gift from Tom!

Game face c/o the US Navy  :)  

Last night we joined teams from Georgetown and James Madison University to debate against the University of Mary Washington, the University of Pittsburgh, and George Washington University on the question of presidential war powers and whether they should be further constrained by Congress.  The event was introduced by Senator Tim Kaine and was moderated by Governor Baliles.  All of the teams did great, and since there was no judging or voting, everyone was a winner!

Can you see the donkey and elephant behind us?

And here I'm borrowing the donkey's ears while holding the poster.

ETA: Here's the youtube feed of the debate!  

If you just want to watch my students in action, they start at about 46:30 and go a little past 60.

New Photographer

Tom is working late tonight so I let his photography assistant take my picture.  I think she does nice work, no?

J Crew Perfect Tee

Anthropologie Licorice Lanes Skirt

Naturalizer Wedges 

J Crew Bubble Necklace

J Crew Bubble Earrings

OK--so she is still learning, and the first one is the only one that actually featured my head.  But honestly, the point is my outfit, right?  So I think she was going in the right direction.  

Looking good from the neck down.

I rewarded her with spaghetti and meatballs and a popsicle.  Hey, no one works for free.

Sunday Funday

Anthropologie Saturday/Sunday Across the Bow Hoodie

J Crew Perfect Boatneck Tee

GAP Polka Dot Skimmer Jeans

Converse All Star Slip-ons

LC Lauren Connor Bow Earrings

Kate Spade Love Notes Bow Ring

CJ's school potluck today.  I made crockpot mac n cheese.  So did three other moms.  (I just want to say that I was the first parent on the sign-up sheet, and WHAT IS THE POINT OF A SIGN-UP SHEET IF PEOPLE WILL SIGN UP FOR DUPLICATES?! HAS THE WHOLE WORLD GONE MAD?)

I digress.  So now I have about 4 pounds of mac n cheese just chilling in my fridge, waiting to make me fat.  We all know cheese is my kryptonite.  

A reluctant mini-me shot.

Annnnnnd, we're done here.

Everybody's Working for the Weekend

Tom caught me mid-hair-flip.

Anthropologie Oak Apple Dress
J Crew Merino Ruffle Cardigan (look! Another Not-A-Jackie Cardigan.)
Bandolino Mules
Target Necklace (the green version was still in my store on clearance for about $7)
J Crew Bubble Stud Earrings

How is it that, even though I only taught one day this week (instead of my usual 2), I'm still SO ready for it to be over?  I think I am all wrapped up in preparations for our public debate and so everything else is falling a little behind and then I have to scramble to catch up.  Class prep was basically an afterthought yesterday--fortunately it was a discussion on Jury Trials for my upper level course and Federalism for my lil' buddies, so I had it on lockdown, but still a little stressful.  I am slowly getting my (school year) groove back though!

Gray Skies Are Gonna Clear Up--Cause School Is Starting!

CJ's school, that is.  Mine started like...forever ago.

Navy does this thing where, to compensate for all the Mondays that are off days for federal holidays, they declare that a Tuesday becomes a Monday for scheduling purposes (you attend/teach as though it's a Monday).  This is horrifically confusing (especially for someone who only has a loose grasp of day/date/time anyway) and happened yesterday.  I'm on a T/TH schedule so when I go back in to teach my students they won't have seen me for a week.  I wonder if they'll remember me at all?

J Crew Factory "Silk" Collar Top--quickie review, I loved this.  Comfy fabric, flattering fit.

J Crew Minnie Pants

David Tate Flats

Earrings, Necklace and Hair Clip all via Etsy

She was in a great mood but isn't much for standing still long enough for a picture.  Sweet kicks, though!

This is how she REALLY felt.  But only because she had to stop running up and down the hallways in excitement so I could actually take the picture.  She was a happy kid when I picked her up, too!  Nothing makes a mom happy like hearing her kid say how much fun was had at school.  

Sugar Mama

Target Merona Chambray Shirt
J Crew No 2 Pencil Skirt
Bandolino Mules
J Crew Necklace
LC Lauren Connor Earrings
Custom Grill via Etsy*

*Just kidding.  I don't have a grill.  Who do I look like, Katy Perry?

Oh man, I wish, even with that grill in, she is smokin'.

Anyway, just a weird trick of the flash on my super shiny teeth.  Debate Stars!  They're just like us!

Today I made brownies and brought them in for my debaters, 'cause I'm their Sugar Mama.  Wait till I start handing them stacks of $20s (per diem money, not as weird as I made it sound).  

I'm not like a regular debate coach.  I'm a cool debate coach.

Quickie Debate Post

Blog friends, I know I don't post about debate stuff much, but I wanted to give some quick publicity to an event we're doing with a few other colleges, mostly in the DC area:

http://public.cedadebate.org/

Navy will be participating in a public debate on Presidential War Powers, alongside The University of Mary Washington, James Madison University, The University of Pittsburgh, George Washington University, and Georgetown University.  This is super cool because it directly intersects with this year's competitive debate topic but is done in a way that politicians and average citizens can access.  It's on September 10, in the Jack Morton Auditorium at George Washington University in downtown DC, at 6 pm.  If you're local (or localish), please come, as it's open to the public!  If not, never fear, I'll attempt to take some pics and blog about the experience afterwards.