There is no air-conditioning in school. We take my #ootd pics early in the morning and by the end of the day I am sometimes somewhat of a hot and sticky mess. I am grateful to have two fans mounted on the walls in my classroom and I have been drinking tons of iced coffee, water and a Gatorade every day.
vintage necklace, BCBGMaxAzria sweater, top and skirt, BCBGeneration booties
No complaints though, as Syracuse, New York weather feels like Florida right now and we are on the verge of summer vacation!
Cinq a Sept dress, BCBGeneration sandalsRachel Zoe dress, Calvin Klein booties
Here are my most recent outfits. My Rachel Zoe dress needs the dry-cleaner stat, as Friday was a particularly muggy day. It is currently a silk version of what my hair looked like later that day – that frazzled ’80s rock star effect that we all discarded with the invention of flat irons. Seriously cringe worthy, lol. I wore boots that day because I was sure it was going to rain mid-day, but that rain did not appear until I was driving home from work. It lasted all of fifteen minutes leaving us with perfect outdoor festivals weather for the weekend – Ozstravaganza in Chittenango and Taste of Syracuse downtown.
Marc Jacobs sunglasses, BCBGMaxAzria sweater, pants and sandals, Bailey 44 top
BCBGMaxAzria cardigan, top and leggings, Ugg boots
Here are my most recent outfits of the day. We take a bunch of photos every day in order to get one decent one out of the bunch. Google photos has been animating the lot to produce these hilarious gifs. You can see how far away Katy is when she takes the pic. We do that to insure I can get my body to fit into the square dimension of Instagram. Should I begin to add these silly things to my Instagram account every so often – just because they are sooo stupid funny or are they just stupid? I have lost perspective.
Free People cardigan and top, BCBGMaxAzria pants, Nine West booties
Honora necklace, Banana Republic cardigan and dress, Karl Lagerfeld Paris boots
Banana Republic cardigan, Trina Turk top, BCBGMaxAzria pants, Nine West booties
Bailey 44 top, 7 for All Mankind jeans, Nine West booties
Free People cardigan and dress, Hue tights, Nine West booties
Chan Luu necklace, JCrew cardigan and T-shirt, Banana Republic pants, Nine West booties
Baublebar choker, Banana Republic suit jacket and pants, BCBGMaxAzria tank and T-shirt, Coach booties
Bailey 44 top, BCBGMaxAzria leggings, Karl Lagerfeld boots
Lord & Taylor cashmere cardigan, Banana Republic and Bailey 44 tops, BCBGMaxAzria leggings, Karl Lagerfeld boots
Chan Luu choker, Free People cardigan, BCBGMaxAzria dress, Hue tights, Coach bootiesFree People top, Bailey 44 skirt, Karl Lagerfeld Paris boots
Here are my latest outfits of the day. My colleague Katy and I have so much fun at work. It is a joy to be there! We are working on a project together – a presentation for our peers that will take place during the Superintendent’s Conference Day on Friday. Each time we finish another sample of the activity we share them with each other and get really happy and giddy.
BCBGMaxAzria top, Banana Republic skirt, BCBGeneration bootiesChan Luu choker, BerkleyCashmere cardigan, Rachel Roy top, Banana Republic pants, Nine West bootiesBanana Republic cardigan and top, BCBGMaxAzria leggings, Ugg boots
That happiness is reflected in these pictures, I think. I am very relaxed in front of the camera because I am inside-out happy. My life is just really fun. I am grateful for my job, my colleagues and students, family and friends, and for art, fashion, music, good times…and Jif natural crunchy peanut butter…. <3
Banana Republic top and skirt, Ralph Lauren bootsBCBGMaxAzria dress, Karl Lagerfeld boots
BCBGMaxAzria selected a couple of pictures of me to share with their Facebook audience. They were plucked from my Instagram account via the hashtag (#) BCBGmoment. So exciting! And satisfies my childhood fantasy of being a fashion model, lol.
Baublebar choker, Free People top, Trina Turk skirt, Nine West boots
I started taking piano lessons! I can play rudimentary versions of five songs! Next up singing lessons, and maybe, eventually, I will be fearless enough to do an open mic night somewhere. Nothing’s impossible when you have the happiness factor on your side. 🙂
Banana Republic top, Free People top, BCBGMaxAzria skirt, Hue tights, Nine West booties
Free People cardigan, Trina Turk dress, Hue tights, Nine West booties
I am all about the cardigan at work. Kind of a Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood thing, lol. I dress in layers and the sweater comes off pretty quickly. We have been running the kiln, so, it has been toasty in the classroom. I’m always donning multiple smocks in order to not sustain paint, Mod-Podge, plaster, clay, oil pastel or the-like messes on my clothing. It is a messy job, but I am doing my best to keep it fashionable. I love clothes. Love fashion!!!!!
Banana Republic cardigan, Free People top, BCBGMaxAzria leggings, Nine West bootiesBCBGMaxAzria cardigan and top, Trina Turk leather skirt, Hue tights, Nine West bootiesHonora necklace, Banana Republic cashmere cardigan, Bailey 44 top BCBGMaxAzria pants, BCBGeneration bootiesBanana Republic cashmere cardigan, Free People top, BCBGMaxAzria leggings, Ralph Lauren bootsJCrew cardigan, BCBGMaxAzria top, Banana Republic velvet pants, Nine West bootiesBanana Republic cardigan, BCBGMaxAzria top, Trina Turk pants, Nine West bootiesMichelle DaRin Jewelry bracelets, JCrew cardigan, Banana Republic T-shirt and skirt, Hue tights, Nine West bootiesFree People cardigan and top, Bailey 44 skirt, Nine West booties
BCBGMaxAzria romper and belt, Ralph Lauren bootsBanana Republic top and skirt, Hue tights, Nine West bootiesLord & Taylor cashmere cardigan, BCBGMaxAzria top and leggings, Nine West booties
We had a snow day today, so… I’m playing catch up on blogging. Here are my most recent outfits of the day. I got paint on my new Free People tunic top and on something else – spent the day doing laundry and tidying/organizing my closet. A lot of re-runs this post. I went heavy on the leggings in order to go hiking right after school before it got too dark. Along with this snowmegeddon thing, the time change screwed with my perfect world. But then again, I only have to work one day this week – tomorrow. That is, if this snow actually lets up. Crazy! What am I gonna wear? Lol, decisions, decisions.
Michelle DaRin jewelry, BCBGMaxAzria dress, Hue tights, NIne West bootiesBCBGMaxAzria dress, Steve Madden bootsBCBGMaxAzria top and leggings, BCBGeneration sandalsMichelle DaRin jewelryFree People tunic top, INC pants, Nine West sandalsMichelle DaRin jewelry,Free People dress, BCBGeneration sandalsMichelle DaRin jewelry, Banana Republic dress, Nine West bootsBCBGMaxAzria top and leggings, Nine West bootiesFree People cardigan, Warner Bros. Harry Potter/Gryffindor T-shirt, Banana Republic skirt, Nine West bootiesBCBGMaxAzria top and belt, Banana Republic leather shell, Trina Turk skirt, Hue tights, Coach bootiesTrina Turk dress, Hue tights, Nine West bootiesBailey 44 top, Calvin Klein jeans, BCBGeneration sandalsBCBGMaxAzria tops, Banana Republic pants, BCBGeneration bootiesBCBGMaxAzria cardigan, tops, and pants, BCBGeneration bootiesJCrew blazer, Bailey 44 top, 7 For All Mankind Jeans, Nine West bootiesJCrew cardigan, Rachel Roy top, Champion leggings, Nine West bootiesFree People top, BCBGMaxAzria pants, BCBGeneration bootiesMichelle DaRin jewelry, Banana Republic cardigan, BCBGMaxAzria top and pants, Nine West bootiesBCBGMaxAzria dress and leggings, Nine West bootiesVintage necklace, BCBGMaxAzria dress, Nine West bootsMichelle DaRin jewelry, Trina Turk dress, Nine West bootiesBanana Republic suit, Calvin Klein belt, JCrew tissue T-shirt, BCBGeneration sandalsFree People tunic top, BCBGMaxAzria top and leggings, Nine West booties
I am back to work and school! It is fun getting dressed up, not so fun going into a building with no air conditioning, but I adjusted to it within days. And today – it actually felt cold in here!
Trina Turk dress, BCBGeneration sandalsMichelle DaRin jewelry, Trina Turk top and skirt, BCBGeneration sandals
I spent the summer in exercise clothes, bikinis and shorts. I hiked seven miles a day and did pilates twice a week or so. Working on fitting teaching into my exercise schedule, lol.
Vintage necklace, Bailey 44 top and skirt, BCBGeneration sandalsBCBGMaxAzria top, Trina Turk skirt, BCBGeneration sandals
As for artwork, I took down my art show at the Sullivan Library in Chittenango, New York, and I plan to exhibit the Talisman paintings in October at the Half Moon Bakery and Bistro in Jamesville, New York. Eight paintings are still on display in the Lawrence Pavilion at Summit Medical Group in New Jersey. They will be there until January, I think, unless the show gets extended.
Penny Santy is showing her paintings in the Chittenango Middle School library! She will give a presentation about them on November 15, 2016. I am planning to do some projects based on her work. Four classes will be doing oil pastels or paintings of cows and bulls as part of my SLO tests.
In addition, I’m planning lessons on George Rodrigue, Jasper Johns, Keith Haring, Wolf Kahn, Japanese wood block prints and Greek mythology. So fun!
Bailey 44 top, BCBGMaxAzria skirt, Nine West sandalsBanana Republic top and skirt, Michelle DaRin jewelry, BCBGeneration booties
Bailey 44 top and skirt, Michelle DaRin jewelry bracelets, BCBGeneration sandalsBCBG Max Azria dress, Michelle DaRin jewelry, Minnetonka bootsBanana Republic T-shirt and skirt, Michelle DaRin jewelry, Calvin Klein sandals
Here I am, officially home from the last day of school. I will be heading over to the Sullivan Library in Chittenango, New York in a bit to install my annual summer art show. It will hang through August 2016!
BCBG Max Azria dress, BCBGeneration sandalsBailey 44 dress, Nine West bootsChan Luu bracelet, BCBG Max Azria T-shirt and dress, Nine West booties
I have many plans for my summer – travel, parties and lots of art shows. I thought last summer was my best ever, so I am really looking forward to all the fun and surprises in store for me in the next two months. I don’t know why I am certain it will be even better, lol, but I get the feeling that my life is getting better and better every minute…because it is!
Banana Republic T-shirt and skirt, BCBGeneration sandalsTrina Turk dress, Guess sandalsBCBG Max Azria dress, belt and pants, Calvin Klein wedgies
Here are my final outfits of the day (#ootd) from the past couple of weeks. No more outfit pics for a while since I will be living in Champion sports gear and Trina Turk bikinis, although I just received my new Trina Turk top and am dying to wear it. Lord & Taylor had a CRAZY sale on-line – 30% off almost everything plus an additional 15% off on top!
Honora necklace, Banana Republic jacket and pants, BCBG Max Azria T-shirt, BCBGeneration sandalsBCBG Max Azria dress, BCBGeneration sandalsMichelle DaRin jewelry, BCBG Max Azria T-shirt and top, Trina Turk skirt, BCBGeneration sandals
I love fashion!
Honora necklace, BCBG Max Azria top and pants, BCBGeneration sandalsTrina Turk dress, BCBGeneration sandalsBailey 44 top, Banana Republic skirt, BCBGeneration sandals
Happy, happy summer!
Michelle DaRin jewelry, Bailey 44 top, Trina Turk pants, Nine West sandalsBCBG Max Azria dress and belt, BCBGeneration sandalsTrina Turk dress, Guess sandalsBCBG Max Azria dress and pants, Calvin Klein wedgies
I guess I feel most comfortable wearing neutral colors – black, white, gray, beige, navy blue….
Banana Republic turtleneck sweater, BCBG Max Azria leggings, Ralph Lauren boots
People keep making comments to me about my wardrobe – that it seems unlimited, that my closet must be colossal, et cetera.
Lord & Taylor cashmere cardigan, Banana Republic leather top, Trina Turk leather skirt BCBG Generation booties
It is an illusion, I think, because I have repeated a lot of separates, although I try to mix things up enough in order to create new looks. And I have to admit, this is a lot easier when you stick with neutrals.
Coach headband, BlackBrown1826 cashmere sweater, Bailey 44 top (underneath), BCBG Max Azria pants, Nine West booties
One of my friends wants me to be her stylist and while I love fashion, I cannot see myself as someone else’s personal shopper. Fashion reflects one’s personality, of course, but as well as I know her, I can’t be limited by a budget. If I desire something, I don’t stop until I get it. I know that other people, my friend included, do not generally live by that creed.
Bailey 44 top, BCBG Max Azria skirt, Nine West boots
Case in point – I just bought two evening dresses – a gown and a cocktail dress – for upcoming events (a BCBG Max Azria and a Jill Jill Stuart!).
They were in the $300 price point range. So…I will be driving to work on fumes for three more days. I have also lost three pounds, lol, no food in the house. No biggie. Everything always ends up working out for the best.
The Limited silk scarf, Banana Republic dress, Steve Madden bootsKaren Tashkovski, Key, 30″ x 30″, 2000, oil, latex & collage, $825
Hey – if I sell every “cat” painting I brought to the Summit Medical Group art exhibit (in the Lawrence Pavilion Lower Lobby Gallery) in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey, I will make $11,800 less a 10% donation to that local animal care charity.
Karen Tashkovski, Wing, 30″ x 30″, 2000, oil, latex & collage, $825BCBG Max Azria cardigan and T-shirt, Banana Republic pants, Nine West booties
That’s enough to buy at least a few more clothes. That show starts April 25, 2016. It is open to the public – my favorite type of art show – a captive audience, people who may not seek out art venues but are at the offices for other reasons. It’s my bread and butter (ha ha – figuratively. You know I don’t eat bread or dairy).
The opening reception is scheduled for Thursday, May 5th, 2016 from 5:00-8:00 pm. Summit Medical Group is located at 1 Diamond Hill Road, Lawrence Pavilion, Berkeley Heights, New Jersey 07922. Call (908) 277-8806 for more information.
I am officially starting my Christmas vacation! Wore this holiday look today. My new BCBG Max Azria pants with my favorite top and a sweater I never wear, lol. But my absolute favorite part of the above look is that I could wear sandals to work today! It is sixty degrees in Syracuse. Yes. On December 23rd! Last year at this time we had a bunch of snow. A week later we had these cray-cray sub zero temps!
Banana Republic cardigan and pants, Bailey 44 top, BCBGGeneration sandals
I am LOVING this warm weather. Green Christmas, here I come.
Banana Republic cardigan, Banana Republic dress, Nine West bootiesBanana Republic cardigan, Trina Turk dress, Nine West booties
After Christmas, I am going to put on my thinking cap and start making future art plans. I expect to concentrate on this art career of mine. I should have bigged myself up a few weeks ago – I could have sold some art and merchandise from my redbubble.com site. You can still buy it, just not in time for Christmas. Oh well.
Ann Taylor cashmere sweater, Bailey 44 skirt, Nine West boots
BCBGMaxAzria top, pants and belt, BCBGGeneration sandals
I’ve been in a whirlwind of social activity, including art stuff – like I went to Plowshares, an art show at Nottingham High School in Syracuse, NY over the weekend. I went there to shop for Christmas gifts because I am a firm believer in buying local.
BCBGMaxAzria dress, Nine West boots
The vendor in particular – Michelle DaRin. Michelle is a jewelry designer and I absolutely love her work! She often does art shows and fairs but you can also find her work here. For Christmas, she is offering different specials every day.
Lord & Taylor cashmere cardigan, Rachel Roy top, Champion yoga pants, Nine West booties
I also stumbled upon a great boot sale at ninewest.com. On Black Friday, they had 50% off boots then an additional 20% off that, so, I bought lots. Not that I needed them, of course, but now that I am fashion blogging, I just desire new things. Curbing spending will be a New Year’s resolution…or not. I say it in my head then go – nah!
JCrew sweater, Banana Republic skirt, Nine West booties
Most of my waking hours are spent on bcbg.com. They have 60% off stuff! Just bought a top, and pants that I haven’t worn yet. As you can see, my new belt has been in heavy rotation these past two weeks!
JCrew cardigan, Trina Turk dress, BCBGMaxAzria belt, Nine West boots
I see Amanda LaDue at Miracles in Fayetteville, NY every three weeks. She added more highlights to my hair to the point that my blonde sister asked me if I was single-white-femaling her, lol. We are definitely twinning right now!
Trina Turk dress, Steve Madden boots
I took my sister’s yoga class for the first time ever. She is an instructor at O Yoga. It was really pretty amazing! I am a pilates girl but I think Sophie is about to convert me to yogini – nah!, well…maybe….
Lord & Taylor cardigan, Bailey 44 top, Trina Turk pants, Nine West booties
Trina Turk was doing 30% off stuff. What you need to do is get on the emailing list so that you can receive invitations for all the special sales.
BCBGMaxAzria dress and belt, Ralph Lauren boots
I am not sure what is up next – there are loads of craft fairs going on. A new art gallery in Armory Square and several art exhibitions that I have been invited to attend through my connections on Facebook.
Banana Republic cardigan and pants, Bailey 44 top, BCBGGeneration booties
As for my own work, I will wait for whatever comes my way in the new year. I am planning to revise my Shopify.com store and you can still purchase merchandise with my artwork on it – phone cases, T-shirts and mugs – through http://www.redbubble.com.
Free People cardigan, Lucky Brand top, BCBGMaxAzria leggings, Nine West boots
I guess that is another New Year’s resolution – to be more the vendor than the customer – nah! well, you know…yes!
BCBGMaxAzria sweater and belt, Trina Turk skirt, BCBGGeneration booties
