Tag Archives: Nine West

Summer #ootd

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Rachel Zoe top, BCBGMaxAzria shorts and sandals
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Rachel Zoe dress, BCBGeneration sandals and clutch
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BCBGMaxAzria romper and belt, BCBGeneration booties and clutch
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BCBGMaxAzria romper and belt, BCBGeneration sandals, Michelle DaRin bracelet
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BCBGMaxAzria crop top and skirt, Nine West sandals, Coach clutch
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BCBGMaxAzria romper, BCBGeneration booties, Coach clutch
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Rachel Zoe top, BCBGMaxAzria shorts and shoes, Fossil bracelets, Coach clutch
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Rachel Zoe top, Banana Republic shorts, BCBGeneara

#fashionintherealworld

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Banana Republic cardigan, Free People top, BCBGMaxAzria leggings, BCBGeneration sandals
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Banana Republic cardigan, BCBGMaxAzria top, Trina Turk pants, BCBGeneration sandals

If you search Instagram for the hashtag #fashionintherealworld, you will find all of my posts.  I invented it and #fashioninrealtime, and #fashioninreallife.  I just checked them; I think there are only two or three posts on them from random fashionistas.  The rest is all me.

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Coach hat and jacket, Bailey 44 top, BCBGMaxAzria leggings, Karl Lagerfeld Paris boots
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Free People cardigan and top, Calvin Klein jeans, Karl Lagerfeld Paris boots
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Free People cardigan, BCBGMaxAzria top, Banana Republic skirt, Ralph Lauren boots

Here are my outfits of the day from the last two weeks.  The landscape of my background keeps changing as I shift student work around the room.  All of my clay projects are complete.  The last batch went into the kiln today.  The 5th graders are currently working on a three-dimensional wood sculpture, my Studio in Art students are learning watercolor techniques and the rest of the 8th graders are immersed in the various SLO test projects:  Statue of Liberty paintings, “under the sea” landscapes with fish (mixed-media lesson), Japanese fan project (also mixed-media) and abstract paintings with realistic horses thrown in.  So four additional different lessons for the six classes.

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Banana Republic suit and leather shell, BCBGeneration sandals
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Free People cardigan, BCBGeneration dress, Nine West booties

There is a lot going on, which will culminate in the School Fair set for May 12, 2017.  I will have my hands full preparing for that exhibition and hopefully even with the upcoming state math tests looming, we will get everything accomplished.

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Jcrew cardigan, BCBGMaxAzria dress, Nine West boots

But first – Spring Break!!!  I will be working on the business of making art as soon as tomorrow.  Can’t wait.  Watching students make art is clearly a fun job, but nothing beats the guilty pleasure of creating my own artwork – even though it is super messy and therefore cannot be done in designer clothes.  So…I will be sacrificing fashion for my art.  I did buy a new dress for Easter though.  It is Halston Heritage. <3 OMG, I love it!

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Michelle DaRin Jewelry ring, Banana Republic top and Free People top, BCBGMaxAzria pants, Guess sandals

 

Going Gif

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JCrew cardigan, Bailey 44 top, Inc pants, BCBGeneration sandals

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BCBGMaxAzria cardigan, top and leggings, Ugg boots

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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.

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Free People cardigan and top, BCBGMaxAzria pants, Nine West booties

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Honora necklace, Banana Republic cardigan and dress, Karl Lagerfeld Paris boots

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Banana Republic cardigan, Trina Turk top, BCBGMaxAzria pants, Nine West booties

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Bailey 44 top, 7 for All Mankind jeans, Nine West booties

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Free People cardigan and dress, Hue tights, Nine West booties

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Chan Luu necklace, JCrew cardigan and T-shirt, Banana Republic pants, Nine West booties

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Baublebar choker, Banana Republic suit jacket and pants, BCBGMaxAzria tank and T-shirt, Coach booties

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Bailey 44 top, BCBGMaxAzria leggings, Karl Lagerfeld boots

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Lord & Taylor cashmere cardigan, Banana Republic and Bailey 44 tops, BCBGMaxAzria leggings, Karl Lagerfeld boots

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Happiness Factor

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Chan Luu choker, Free People cardigan, BCBGMaxAzria dress, Hue tights, Coach booties
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Free 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.

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BCBGMaxAzria top, Banana Republic skirt, BCBGeneration booties
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Chan Luu choker, BerkleyCashmere cardigan, Rachel Roy top, Banana Republic pants, Nine West booties
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Banana 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

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Banana Republic top and skirt, Ralph Lauren boots
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BCBGMaxAzria 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.

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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. 🙂

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Banana Republic top, Free People top, BCBGMaxAzria skirt, Hue tights, Nine West booties

Tashionista on Fashion

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Banana Republic cardigan, Trina Turk dress, BCBGMaxAzria belt, Karl Lagerfeld Paris boots
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BerkleyCashmere cardigan, Free People dress, BCBGMaxAzria leggings, Nine West booties
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Free People Cardigan, BCBGMaxAzria top and leggings, Karl Lagerfeld Paris boots

Here are the #ootd Instagram pics that I hadn’t posted (have I?).  Oh well, I can’t remember.  I haven’t done a fashion blog post in a while.  It seems that I may be running out of new combinations and so, we are talking a lot of re-runs.

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Free People Cardigan, Bailey 44 top, BCBGMaxAzria leggings, EnzoAnglioni boots
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Banana Republic sweater, Trina Turk skirt, Hue tights, Nine West booties

I just received all the March issues of all my fashion magazine subscriptions.  They are so thick with the Spring collections!  Makes me desire new stuff.  I am loving what Marc Jacobs is doing.  Just saw the fashion show on-line.  It was cute mini dresses with oversized jackets and mid-calf boots (and funny bowler hats).  Loved the proportions.  I feel the urge to on-line shop….  Someone should really try to stop me.

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Free People cardigan and top, BCBGMaxAzria pants, BCBGeneration sandals
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Free People cardigan, BCBGMaxAzria dress, Karl Lagerfeld boots
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JCrew cardigan, Free People top with BCBGMaxAzria tank underneath, BCBGMaxAzria pants, Nine West booties
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Banana Republic sweater and skirt, Hue tights, Nine West booties
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Free People dress with Victoria’s Secret tube top underneath, Karl Lagerfeld Paris boots
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Free People cardigan, BCBGMaxAzria dress, belt and leggings, Karl Lagerfeld Paris boots
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Michelle DaRin jewelry bracelets, BCBGMaxAzria dress and leggings, Ralph Lauren boots
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Banana Republic cardigan, Bailey 44 top, BCBGMaxAzria pants, Nine West booties
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Free People cardigan and dress, Karl Lagerfeld Paris boots
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Michelle DaRin jewelry choker, Banana Republic cardigan, Trina Turk dress, Nine West booties

The Perfect Cardigan

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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!!!!!

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Banana Republic cardigan, Free People top, BCBGMaxAzria leggings, Nine West booties
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BCBGMaxAzria cardigan and top, Trina Turk leather skirt, Hue tights, Nine West booties
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Honora necklace, Banana Republic cashmere cardigan, Bailey 44 top BCBGMaxAzria pants, BCBGeneration booties
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Banana Republic cashmere cardigan, Free People top, BCBGMaxAzria leggings, Ralph Lauren boots
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JCrew cardigan, BCBGMaxAzria top, Banana Republic velvet pants, Nine West booties
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Banana Republic cardigan, BCBGMaxAzria top, Trina Turk pants, Nine West booties
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Michelle DaRin Jewelry bracelets, JCrew cardigan, Banana Republic T-shirt and skirt, Hue tights, Nine West booties
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Free People cardigan and top, Bailey 44 skirt, Nine West booties

Playing Catch Up

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BCBGMaxAzria romper and belt, Ralph Lauren boots
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Banana Republic top and skirt, Hue tights, Nine West booties
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Lord & 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.

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Michelle DaRin jewelry, BCBGMaxAzria dress, Hue tights, NIne West booties
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BCBGMaxAzria dress, Steve Madden boots
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BCBGMaxAzria top and leggings, BCBGeneration sandals
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Michelle DaRin jewelryFree People tunic top, INC pants, Nine West sandals
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Michelle DaRin jewelry,Free People dress, BCBGeneration sandals
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Michelle DaRin jewelry, Banana Republic dress, Nine West boots
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BCBGMaxAzria top and leggings, Nine West booties
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Free People cardigan, Warner Bros. Harry Potter/Gryffindor T-shirt, Banana Republic skirt, Nine West booties
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BCBGMaxAzria top and belt, Banana Republic leather shell, Trina Turk skirt, Hue tights, Coach booties
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Trina Turk dress, Hue tights, Nine West booties
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Bailey 44 top, Calvin Klein jeans, BCBGeneration sandals
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BCBGMaxAzria tops, Banana Republic pants, BCBGeneration booties
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BCBGMaxAzria cardigan, tops, and pants, BCBGeneration booties
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JCrew blazer, Bailey 44 top, 7 For All Mankind Jeans, Nine West booties
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JCrew cardigan, Rachel Roy top, Champion leggings, Nine West booties
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Free People top, BCBGMaxAzria pants, BCBGeneration booties
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Michelle DaRin jewelry, Banana Republic cardigan, BCBGMaxAzria top and pants, Nine West booties
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BCBGMaxAzria dress and leggings, Nine West booties
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Vintage necklace, BCBGMaxAzria dress, Nine West boots
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Michelle DaRin jewelry, Trina Turk dress, Nine West booties
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Banana Republic suit, Calvin Klein belt, JCrew tissue T-shirt, BCBGeneration sandals
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Free People tunic top, BCBGMaxAzria top and leggings, Nine West booties

 

Dressing the Part

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BCBGMaxAzria dress, Guess sandals
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BCBGMaxAzria dress, BCBGeneration sandals

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!

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Trina Turk dress, BCBGeneration sandals
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Michelle 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.

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Vintage necklace, Bailey 44 top and skirt, BCBGeneration sandals
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BCBGMaxAzria 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.

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BCBGMaxAzria dress, Coach booties, Honora necklace

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!

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Bailey 44 top, BCBGMaxAzria skirt, Nine West sandals
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Banana Republic top and skirt, Michelle DaRin jewelry, BCBGeneration booties

 

Classroom Tashionista

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JCrew blazer, BCBG Max Azria top and pants, BCBG Generation sandals
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Lucky Brand top, BCBG Max Azria pants, BCBG Generation sandals

Here are my most recent #ootd pictures.  I am grateful for Katy Conden, my fellow art teacher, work colleague and all around bestie who has been taking such good pictures with my Samsung Galaxy 6.  She makes it so fun to vogue it up every morning.

I am getting my hair done more frequently these days.  Amanda LaDue at Miracles in Fayetteville, NY is a true miracle worker.  She has single-handedly transformed my look.  The other day one of my work colleagues told me that I look younger now than I did ten years ago when we first started working at the middle school together!  That is so sweet!

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Banana Republic cardigan vest, Bailey 44 top, INC pants, Nine West sandals

It is such a thrill to get such positive responses on Facebook and on Instagram as well, where a lot of other fashion bloggers are giving me kudos, most notably the local fashion sylist, Jackie Terribile (@thesmalltownstylist)  She is a friend of my little sister.  Jackie blogs about the Syracuse fashion scene and does some guest hosting on a local morning show.

I am a lot older than the typical fashion blogger so, yes, it is all so flattering and wonderful.  I am empowered by Madonna’s statement about her Met Gala outfit and the idea that age should not even be relevant when it comes to fashion, beauty and all that.

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Coach headband, Lord & Taylor cardigan, BCBG Max Azria top, Banana Republic skirt, Nine West boots

The above picture was taken by Roberta Mou, the Home & Careers teacher (when Katy was absent one day).  Note the kitchen background.  I am never normally in a kitchen, lol.  I never cook except to make cupcakes once and a while for the art talks we have at school.

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BCBG Max Azria dress, Ralph Lauren boots, Fossil bracelets

I wore this white dress on a day I was demonstrating an India Ink lesson!  I wore two smocks.  In my defense, I love this dress and I can’t just stare at it in my closet and not wear it once and a while.  I am going to an event at the end of the month that has a dress code – resort casual – and this dress is perfect except for the color.  It is literally never appropriate to wear white to anything wedding-related unless you are the bride.

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Honora necklace, BCBG Max Azria T-shirt, knit top and leggings, Ralph Lauren boots
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Vintage necklace, JCrew cardigan, Bailey 44 top, Calvin Klein jeans, Nine West sandals

Nine West asked to repost the above picture on their website and on their Instagram account.  Those sandals are my most recent purchase.  They are so comfortable.  They come in two other colors – emerald green is one of them.  They have a zipper in back and a gladiator style lace-up in front.  I love the support this style offers!

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Free People cardigan, Trina Turk top and pants, Nine West sandals
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Vintage necklace, BCBG Max Azria dress, Nine West booties

The beaded cross necklace – my mother got it from the Indian Village at the New York State Fair in the 1940s.  I am in love with it!  I built many of my outfits in the past two weeks around this blue, gray, beige and gold color scheme.

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BCBG Max Azria T-shirt, Lucky Brand top, 7 For All Mankind jeans, Nine West booties

Now that the school fair is over, it is pretty much smooth sailing until the end of the school year.  Hopefully, the backgrounds in my #ootd pictures will improve, meaning I will start cleaning the room and putting away unnecessary supplies.  (Sure I will.)  And then before we know it, it will be summer vacation!

Yeah, I guess I am not a typical fifty-something, lol.  No cooking or cleaning, but a big yes to a stress-free aesthetic in four-inch heels.

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Free People cardigan, BCBG Max Azria dress and belt, Calvin Kliein jeans, BCBG Generation sandals
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Michelle DaRin jewelry bracelet, BCBG Max Azria top and pants, BCBG Generation booties

Neutrality is a Cool Cat

I guess I feel most comfortable wearing neutral colors – black, white, gray, beige, navy blue….

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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!).

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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.

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The Limited silk scarf, Banana Republic dress, Steve Madden boots
KEY, 30X30, 2000 (300x300)
Karen 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.

WING, 30X30, 2000 (298x300)
Karen Tashkovski, Wing, 30″ x 30″, 2000, oil, latex & collage, $825
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BCBG 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).

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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.