Thursday and Friday: The Chicken or the Egg

One frustrating thing for me as a teacher is that I have Auditory Processing Disorder.  APD can cause problems because if there is any background noise, I essentially can't hear it.  I mean, I hear it, but it's like being in a loud restaurant where you can't hear over the crowd, or, really more accurately, being at a rock concert.  Only this can happen to me if I'm in a classroom with talking children.  It means if there is any sort of conversation going on amongst my students, even if they are not being excessively loud, I cannot hear a question asked by a student even if that student is directly in front of me.  I'm pretty good at lip reading anymore, but I'm still very often unable to figure out what the student is saying.

My students probably think I'm mean and "old school" because I don't like a lot of talking in my classroom.  Really, it's due to this darn problem of mine.  I've always questioned whether or not to tell my students about it, but I worry they will somehow use it against me.  I don't really know how they would or that they really would do it in an evil way, but students, like all children (or people in general) will find loopholes in anything.

This is something that has made me think about my own personality.  I always thought I was an introvert, but knowing now about my APD, I have been wondering if I am really an extrovert who thinks I'm an introvert because being around people means straining to process what I'm hearing, which is in turn very exhausting, which is why I need time alone to recharge (a trait most consider the hallmark of being an introvert).  So it's really which came first (like the chicken or the egg): Am I naturally an introvert, or am I an extrovert forced to connect myself with introversion because it is so exhausting having to process conversations in groups?

This, people, is what I ponder.

Thursday

Dress (turned skirt): JcPenney
Sweater: F21
Necklace: Premier Jewelry
Wedges: Anne Klein

 Friday

Peplum Top: Ann Taylor
Striped Top: Old Navy
Jeans: Kohl's
Necklace: Dustee's
Belt: Target
Matching Wedges: Payless
Sperrys: Dillard's

I call Friday's pictures "Expectations Vs. Reality"  The pic on the left is what I really wanted to wear to school.  The height of the wedges though, just would not have been good for my tired teacher feet at the end of the week.  Sperry's won out instead, even though I didn't like them with my outfit as well.  I can say my feet enjoyed them very much, though!

Tuesday and Wednesday: Patience, Grasshopper

This group of students is a delight, but also a lesson to me in patience.  They are teaching me the meaning of knowing your students.  They don't get things as fast as other groups I've had.  I have the immediate urge to get frustrated, but that does no one any good.  I just need to remember that this group of students is not the same as the last and that they may need extra time to understand things.  That's what being a teacher is all about: knowing your students.  They are the ultimate teacher for me right now.

Tuesday

Dress (as skirt): JcPenney
Sweater: Ann Taylor
Necklace: Premier Jewelry
Wedges: Anne Klein

 Wednesday

Top: H&M
Cardigan: Sears
Pants: Cato Fashions
Necklace: F21
Flats: Vince Camuto (Dillard's)

Easter and A Day Off Monday

Thank goodness for a long weekend.  I don't think I could have gotten all these essays graded otherwise!

I am sad to say that I took the black and white striped skirt out of my spring capsule.  It felt a little short for work and I was constantly tugging on it, even with tights on.  I am hoping that, during the summer months, I will feel more comfortable in it.  I really do find it cute!

Sunday

Dress: JcPenney--not part of my capsule wardrobe--saved just for Easter
Cardigan: Gap
Necklace: Target
Shoes: Payless (these need to be tossed at this point)

 Monday

Top: Banana Republic
Skirt: Dillard's
Necklace: eBay (sadly broke and had to be tossed)
Shoes: Hush Puppies

It's Friday, I'm in Love

We got Friday off for a four-day Easter weekend break.  It is awesome.  Why didn't I decide to become independently wealthy so I could stay home more often?  Honestly, being home is probably so good because of the warm(ish) weather and sunshine.

We took a long walk with the dogs today, so no pics for Saturday.  Sweatpants and a tee do not an outfit make…or at least not an outfit anyone wants to see.

Thursday

Top: H&M
Pants: Cato Fashion
Necklace: Premier Jewelry
Shoes: Anne Klein

 Friday (a rainy morning)

Top: Gap
Cardigan: Gap
Pants: Kohl's
Necklace: Premier Jewelry
Boots: Hunter

Here's my week in review:  I spent the week playing phone tag with HOA reps about whether or not there were weight limits on dogs at our new house.  There were different answers we were getting and didn't want to go through on buying our new house if we weren't allowed to have our dogs.

I also spent the week playing phone and email tag with the HR reps for my new job.  I hate that AZ is so far away; it makes it more difficult to try and coordinate everything.  The good news is that both the house and the job are going to go through.  I should have an official offer on Monday!

Tuesday

Top: Ann Taylor
Cardigan: Sears
Skirt: Loft
Necklace: Premier Jewelry
Shoes: Hush Puppies

Wednesday

Top: Express
Skirt: Cato Fashions
Necklace: Premier Jewelry
Belt: Ann Taylor
Shoes: Target

Paperwork Monsters

I have been drowning in paperwork lately.  On the positive side, it has reminded me about why I'm an English teacher: I teach kids to read a text and really understand it.  Hopefully, when they are drowning in HOA contracts and Escrow paperwork, they too will be able to read and understand the finer points.

I dressed casually for church Sunday.  One, I wanted to be comfortable.  Two, I hadn't done laundry and when you are out of trousers and skirts…you are left with jeans!  The top and the cardigan don't really match, but they didn't not match either.

Sunday

Top: Kohl's
Cardigan: Banana Republic
Jeans: Mudd (Kohl's)
Necklace: J.Crew Outlet
Shoes: Sperry (Dillard's)

 Monday at work was a crazy day.  I wore the pink dress as a skirt, but the black sweater I wore kept rolling up a  little, so I thought it looked weird.  Oh well.

Monday

Sweater: Loft
Dress: JcPenney
Tights
Necklace: Dustee's
Shoes: Hush Puppies

Friday and Saturday

We were supposed to have a showing today on our house.  The people never called, but they also never showed up…so we woke up early and drove our dogs around for an hour for absolutely no reason.  GRRR.

Friday
Sweater: Cato Fashion
Skirt: Walmart
Flats: Hush Puppies
Necklace: Target

Saturday
Top: Loft
Cardigan: Maurice's
Jeans: Mudd (Kohl's)
Sperry's: Dillard's

One Foot In, One Foot Out

I feel like I'm in-between two lives right now.  I'm finishing out the school year here in MO, getting my students prepared for the end-of-course exams, helping my seniors prepare for graduation…and then I'm also mentally preparing myself for the huge life change that is moving halfway across the country.  I'm already thinking about the things I need to do when I move to Arizona.

It's weird to have one foot in and one foot out.  I'm helping my department plan and prep for next year, knowing I won't be there to see the changes.  At the same time, I'm wondering what it will be like at my new school, what the curriculum looks like, and what planning with a new group is like.

I'm cleaning my current house for prospective buyers while simultaneously thinking about where things will go in my new place.  I feel like I'm in the Twilight Zone!

I was so exhausted on Monday and Tuesday (darn the two hour time change!) that I forgot to take pictures.  Monday I wore my mint bow top with the lattice pants.  Tuesday I wore the blue floral dress with the pink sweater over top.

Lace Tank: Altar'd State
Navy Midi Skirt: Cato Fashion
Blazer: Target
Nude Flats: Vince Camuto (Dillard's)
Necklace: Premier Jewelry

Sweater: Ann Taylor
Skirt: Marshall's
Necklace: EBay
Rain boots: Hunter

House Hunting Trip

Last weekend was crazy.  I had two interviews Thursday afternoon via phone.  This was also the second day of parent/teacher conferences.  I had permission to leave the conferences for an hour or so in order to hide in my car for said interviews.  Also, it was raining.  So you can imagine how well the phone interview reception was!

I had one really good phone interview and one really bad phone interview.  I wanted to be really upset about the bad interview, but I wasn't.  I reflected on it before heading back inside for P/T conferences, and I realized I had done NOTHING wrong.  In fact, many of the questions they asked were the same as the one before, and that interview could not have gone better.  The first interview I had was for a school similar to the one where I currently teach: it's a demographic of economically disadvantaged students and the school does a LOT to help those kids succeed.  This first interview was with the department head.  She was friendly and conversational and I felt really good about it.  The second interview started out with bad phone reception (which I apologized for, explaining I was in my car in the rain because I was in between meetings with parents).  The interview would ask a question and then interrupt me in the middle of my answer to say she could hear me better at that particular second.  Or once she asked me a question about my use of technology, and as I was in the middle of a sentence interrupted to ask, "Wait, how big is your school?  Do you even have diversity?"  Ummm…really?!  I felt like this person thought so highly of her school that she didn't even respect me enough to realize I was also interviewing her, that I was also trying to decide if the school would be a good fit for ME.

Obviously, this made my decision really easy.  Second school: cross it off my list.

After the end of parent/teacher conferences at 8pm Thursday evening, hubby and I drove nearly three hours to St. Louis to catch a few hours of sleep.  Our flight was to leave at 5:30 am Friday morning.  And we all know that you have to get to the airport a few hours early to make it through security.  After about three hours of shut-eye, we got to the airport around 3:30 in the morning!

Once we got to Phoenix (our new home!) we drove to the high school where I had given my first phone interview.  The interviewer (dept. head) had invited me to come visit her classroom and see how I felt about the school!  It went really well and I was offered a job on the spot.  I feel so blessed to have found a wonderful school family so quickly in the process!

After checking out the school, hubby and I headed to the hotel for a quick change before starting the house hunting.  Here's my outfit from AFTER that quick-change:

Top: H&M
Undershirt: The Limited
Jeans: Mudd (Kohl's)
Sandals: Toms
Necklace: Gift from hubby

Ignore the blurry shots and the ugly toes.  Day one of house hunting was a bust and hubby and I felt a little discouraged.  Day two went much, much better.  We found TWO houses we really liked and we put offers out on both.  One came back immediately with an acceptance of all our terms! Here's a picture of my outfit that day AND a quick pic of the house:

Bow Top: Dillard's
Lattice Pants: Cato Fashion
Necklace: Gift from hubby
Sandals: Toms

Since we had an offer on the house, Sunday was spent by the pool as we waited for paperwork to be finalized so that we could sign off on things before heading back to MO.

Maxi Dress used as coverup: Kohl's

To recap:  In one weekend, I got a job and a house!  Not too shabby.

Week of Parent/Teacher Conferences

I have fallen behind on this blog.  Life has taken precedent at the moment!  Two weeks ago, the school had a short week because of parent/teacher conferences.  On top of that, I was planning a trip to Phoenix to interview for some teaching positions and also to look for a house.  More updates about that in a later post!

Here are the outfits I remembered to capture on my phone (featured in backwards order):

Thursday 3/19 (P/T Conference Day 2)

Dress: Calvin Klein (JcPenney)
Blazer: Target
Wedges: Anne Klein

 Wednesday 3/18

Sweater: Cato Fashions
Dark Skinnies: Kohl's
Flats: Target
Necklace: Premier Jewelry

 Tuesday 3/17 (P/T Conferences Day 1 AND St. Patty's Day)

Top: Express
Pants: Cato Fashion
Blazer: Target
Wedges: Anne Klein

 Monday 3/16

Top: Dillard's
Cardigan: Gap
Skirt: Walmart
Necklace: Premier Jewelry
Flats: Hush Puppies

Saturday

I won't be posting an outfit for Sunday.  I'm feeling ill (just a cold) and won't be going out of the house in anything but my sweats.

Top: Gap
Skirt: Marshall's
Necklace: Premier Jewelry
Nude Flats: Vince Camuto (Dillard's)

I got a surprising number of compliments on this outfit.  It must have been the bright, cheery pink color of the skirt.  I originally had this skirt in my summer wardrobe and moved it over into my spring wardrobe because I needed more bottoms. I'm so glad I did so!

That Bag of Grading

The past two weeks have been a blur of painting, packing, and staging the house.  The realtor came on Friday to take pictures for the website and I signed the papers, so it's now official that we are going to be moving.  GAH!

All day yesterday, my throat felt a little sore and then BAM! last night I felt the full-blown cold coming on.  I took medicine and tried to sleep in as best I could--colds tend to keep me up and feeling miserable.  Because of this, I've been eyeing my bag of grading that I brought home.  It needs to get done, but taking a nap sounds so much better!

Here are the outfits from earlier in the week:

Wednesday

Dress: JcPenney
Cardigan: J.Crew
Necklace: Premier Jewelry
Navy Wedges: Anne Klein

 Thursday

Seersucker Dress: JcPenney
Cardigan: Gap
Necklace: Dustee's
Flats: Hushpuppies

 Friday

Sweater: Ann Taylor
Skirt (actually a dress): Target
Necklace: Premier Jewelry
Flats: Hushpuppies

On another note, I have mentioned going to a capsule wardrobe.  I have been really good about not buying any clothing since going to this, but my spring wardrobe has just been…lacking.  I've been frustrated because some of my pieces just don't seem to "go" and others weren't fitting well and I just felt blechh about it.  The point of a capsule wardrobe isn't to make you feel this way at all.  I decided the problem was that I was trying to hold on to some items that I just really didn't like.  I didn't want to spend a bunch of money on new clothes and I am not sure what I will really feel good about wearing once I am in Arizona, so I stopped by Cato Fashions this afternoon to see if I could replace a few items.  Here's what I found and what I replaced:

I replaced the cream sweater on the left with this super-soft (and on clearance!) animal print sweater.
It's neutral enough that it should go with everything in my spring closet.  AND when it warms up
I plan to just roll the sleeves.

I replaced the super-cute pink skirt on the left with a more neutral navy midi skirt on the right.
While I really liked the pink skirt, 1) it was a little short for work and 2) it didn't really pair with
anything I owned except for the cream sweater above that I replaced.

I replaced the denim capris on the left with these navy patterned ankle pants on the right.
There wasn't really anything wrong with the capris but 1) They were too casual for work and
2) they didn't work well with chilly weather

Last, I replaced the black capris on the left with the black and white patterned ankle pants
on the right.  I had similar reasons for replacing the black capris: 1) they were a little
tight and thus I wasn't wanting to wear them and 2) being short, they only
work when the weather is pretty warm.

Well, there you have it.  My replacements for my 40 hanger spring closet.  I spent less than $65 on all four pieces and I feel super excited to wear everything in my closet now!   I almost didn't buy the black and white pants because they look so similar to the navy and white ones, but they are just different enough to make it worth it to me.  I feel I have so many more options for mixing and matching now that I have more neutral and versatile pieces...It just goes to show that you can't just put together a capsule wardrobe with random items you like, but you really have to think about things like versatility, color compatibility, and fit.

Start of the Week

Each night I tell myself that I'm going to go to bed early and get some more sleep.  It never happens.  Why does it never happen?  These are questions that I am haunted by.  Also, I ended that sentence with a preposition, which also haunts me.  But I'm too tired to care.

Top: Kohl's
Cardigan: J.Crew
Skirt: Walmart
Tights
Flats: Toms
Necklace: J.Crew

Top: JcPenney
Jeans: Mudd-Kohl's
Cardigan: JcPenney
Flats: Hushpuppy
Necklace: Premier Jewelry

Owning It

We have been preparing for our upcoming move by de-cluttering.  It's amazing how much you accumulate over time.  It was quite embarrassing to see how much junk we've held on to in the almost-three years we've lived in our home.

We've gotten rid of so much stuff--most of it donated to Goodwill or friends--and I'm now feeling okay about where we are at with our stuff.  Yes, we could get rid of more, but we aren't out-and-out hoarding anything either.

Here are my photos from the past few days:

Black Top: JcPenney
Gray Cardigan: Maurices
Jeans: Mudd-Kohl's
Flats: Hush Puppies
Pendant Necklace: gift from hubby

Cream Sweater: Loft
Skirt: Target
Gray Tights
Gray Boots: Payless
Necklace: Francesca's

On Being an Emotional Wreck

Guys.  I go from being freaktastically excited about moving somewhere warm and beautiful (mountains, desert, sunshine) to being so incredibly sad to be leaving a place I love (friends, in-laws, my work family).  I go from that butterflies-in-the-stomach excited to tears-streaming-down-the-face/about-to-need-a-paper-bag-to-breathe-into upset.  Sometimes I feel both emotions simultaneously!

I hope that my school finds a replacement who loves those kiddos as much as I do.  My students deserve that.

I am enjoying my Spring Capsule Wardrobe so far.  I've only needed to replace one shirt (didn't like the way it fit on me).  I worry I may have planned poorly and I don't think I have enough bottoms, though.

Pink Sweater: Forever21
Dress (worn as skirt): JcPenney
Navy Tights: Walmart
Navy Shoes: Anne Klein
Necklace: Dustee's

Sorry about the bad lighting in the second picture.  I was in a hurry to get out the door.  I just could not get myself to wake up and get moving this morning.

Getting Real

House inspections.  Realtor meetings.  Applying for jobs out of state.  This whole moving thing is getting real, ya'll.  The gossip mill has begun at work and people are finding out without my telling them--now it is only a matter of time until the students know.  I know they won't be emotional about it as I am though :)

Here's outfits from Wednesday and Thursday (yesterday and today):

Mint Bow Top: Dillard's
Blue Pencil Skirt: The Loft
Flower Tank: Target
Gray Tights
Gray Boots: Payless
Necklace: Present from hubby 

Black Striped Shirt: The Loft
Black and White Skirt: Dillard's (saw an exact match at Target this weekend)
Gold Tights: Walmart
Tall Black Boots: Lane Bryant
Colorful Statement Necklace: Premier Jewelry

Big News

Sorry for the week+ hiatus.  My husband and I got some pretty big news and it sent me into a flurry of late nights and extra work:  we will be moving to Arizona by May.  Moving is always a big deal, and when that move is compressed into less than two months, it is a little frightening!

Thankfully I went to a modified 40 Hanger Closet.  There is much, much less to take with us.  I've taken the idea of simplifying to the rest of the house and we have now brought bags and bags of stuff to Goodwill.  My future plans of having a garage sale have been thwarted once again.

Needless to say, last week I didn't take many pictures.  I was, honestly, an emotional mess.

Here's the photos from the past few days, though:

Monday, February 23 (The pic on the right makes me look like I have a unibrow)

 Tuesday, February 24

From here on out I will be wearing my SPRING WARDROBE!  Also, spring should hurry up because of this.  Just saying.  

Monday, March 2 (I had to give a presentation to the staff)

Tuesday, March 3

I broke my rule about not buying anything.  This sweater is new.  In my defense, I had to get rid of a shirt that was too tight and needed a replacement.  This one was on clearance at Ann Taylor and was just so cute.  

Migraines

Since about October, I have been having these horrific migraines.  Yesterday another one hit.  I took the medicine the doctor had prescribed for me and then I was out.  Six hours straight of sleeping since I wasn't able to even move after taking the medicine.  Today my head still hurt (more like a soreness than the ice-pick pain from yesterday).

Unfortunately this meant no grading or prepping for the week.  It's a vicious cycle of stress causing headaches which cause me to be unable to do anything which in turn causes more stress…well, you get the idea.

I was able to get dressed yesterday but promptly took medicine after getting ready.  Today I was able to be up and around and felt semi-normal.  Yippee!

Gray Top: H&M
Skirt: Forever21
Black Tights
Black Boots: Lane Bryant
Necklace: Target

I took this while hubby and I were driving.  I kinda felt like Ginnifer Goodwin.

I was hoping to sort of recreate her cute hair.  My pic above doesn't really do it justice.

Finding Beauty

I've been working really hard this week to find the beauty in things no matter what's going on.  Putting on those rosy glasses isn't that easy for me, come to find out.  I have been trying, though.  Any time I feel like venting my frustrations or feel the urge to throw my hands up in a gesture of anger, I have been forcing myself to find the good (in either the situation or the person).  It seems to be working a little.  I'm feeling a little less burnt out.  I am finding I do have a little more to give at my job.  I just needed to change my perspective.

Friday the staff and students were asked to wear purple in honor of the student who passed away this week.  This student had Cystic Fibrosis, and purple is the awareness color.  Due to my going to a capsule wardrobe, the only purple I currently have in my closet is through accessories.

Top: Kohl's
Skirt: Walmart
Necklace: Francesca's
Tights: Walmart
Kitten Heels: Union Bay

Lace Top: H&M
Blue Tank (not well seen): Old Navy found at Goodwill
Flyaway Cardigan: Charlotte Russe
Jeans: Mudd from Kohl's
Boots: Kohl's
Necklace: Premier Jewelry

I woke up with a migraine today and, on top of that, it had snowed last night, so I wasn't able to go to my writing group today.  I really enjoy meeting with those ladies; we have been meeting for over five years now.  We eat and we talk and we write and we share our writing.  It's awesome.  Fortunately, I was able to take some migraine medicine early enough and it seems to be working.  Fingers crossed this thing totally goes away.  The dizziness and head-cloudiness (I think I just made that word up) I get with  these headaches is terrible.