March 10-March 22

It's been a while.  I've been focusing on me lately.  My health had to come first these past few weeks.  Once I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism, I started doing some research.  I didn't like the thought of being on a pill the rest of my life.  Through reading quite a few articles, a couple of books, and hearing some testimonies from others, I've come to believe that my thyroid problems, my lichen planus (both autoimmune issues), and my IBS all stem from the same problem.  I had always thought that, but never could really explain why.  It all has to do with my diet.  So I'm now eating AIP (the autoimmune protocol of the paleo diet).  I can't tell you how much better I'm beginning to feel.  On top of that, I've lost seven pounds in two weeks!

Since this isn't a diet blog, on to the outfits.  Sorry if some of them are repeats.  I'm learning to be okay with repeating outfits.

Top: Kohl's
Capris: Old Navy
Gray Ballet Flats: TOMS
Necklace: Kohl's

Blue Leopard Print Dress: Dillard's (gift from husband)
Necklace: J.Crew Outlet
Gray Ballet Flats: TOMS
Gray Shrug (pictured below): The Limited

Pink Striped Top: The Loft
Plaid Top: Old Navy
Black Blazer: JcPenney
Black Pants: unknown (gifted from a friend)
Gray Loafers: Aerosoles
Bracelet: Target

Black Tunic/Dress: Francesca's
Hot Pink Pants: Walmart
Necklace: Kohl's
Leopard Flats: Target

Red Top: JcPenney (Buffalo brand)
Skirt: Marshall's
Necklace: Francesca's
Bracelet: Altar'd State
Gray Ballet Flats: TOMS

Flower Top: Banana Republic (gift from husband)
Black Skinnies: Marshall's
Gray Shrug: The Limited
Gray Ballet Flats: TOMS
Oklahoma Necklace: Etsy (gift from husband)

Dress: JcPenney
Blazer: JcPenney
Necklace: Francesca's
Black Tights: Walmart
Black Kitten Heels: Union Bay

Sparkle Elbow Top: Dainty Hooligan
Skinny Jeans: Se7en from Lane Bryant
Long Necklace: Ann Taylor
Oklahoma Necklace: Etsy (gift from husband)
Brown Boots: Target

Blue Dress: Target
White Tank: Target
Necklace: Francesca's
Bracelet: Altar'd State
Gray Tights: Walmart
Red Peep Toe Wedges: Payless

Red Dress/Tunic: I can't remember--some place in the mall-sorry!
Skinny Jeans: Old Navy
Gray Shrug: Charlotte Russe (gift from hubby)
Necklace: Kohls
New Tan Suede Ballet Flats!: Toms (gift from hubby)

Aren't my new Toms cute?  Isn't the part of my sock showing NOT cute?

Gray lace sweatshirt: Forever 21
Skinny Jeans: Old Navy
Pink Ballet Flats: Vince Camuto (Dillard's)

Oklahoma Necklace: Etsy
Pink Necklace: Francesca's (gift from hubby)

The back of my sweatshirt

Monday, March 3 - Saturday, March 8

I've been coming home just completely wiped out and exhausted after work.  I know it will take a while for my thyroid medication to start being effective…I just wish it worked like a magic pill, ya'know?

Just one more week before my husband gets to come home for a while!  He's been gone for over six months.  It's been terrible and hard.  I'll get him for at least three weeks.  :)


MONDAY

Snow Day!
Gray Sweater: Forever21
Black Leggings: Kohl's
Scarf: Forever21
Boots: Target

TUESDAY

White and Blue Top: Altar'd State
Red Cords: Kohl's
White Lace Boot Socks: Etsy
Black Boots: Lane Bryant

Black Cardigan: Charlotte Russe

WEDNESDAY

Black Star Sweater: Target
White Button-Down: Kohl's
Black Skirt: Kohl's
Black Tights: Sam's Club
Black Boots: Kohl's

THURSDAY 

Green Sweater: Kohl's
Animal Print Skirt: Forever 21
Brown Tights: Walmart
Brown Shoes: JcPenney
Green Necklace: Forever 21

 FRIDAY

Gold Bow-Back Top: Dillard's
Gray Maxi Skirt: H&M
Greige Loafers: Aerosoles
Necklace: J.Crew Outlet

SATURDAY

Dress: Kohl's
White Cardigan: Kohl's
Purple Tights: Walmart
Purple Necklace: Francesca's
Gray Flats: TOMS

Monday, February 24

I've been tired lately.  Not the "one extra hour please" tired of the end of winter or the "stayed up too late watching youtube videos of cats" or grading tired.  I'm talking deep to the bone, I could sleep for twelve days straight, why am I so lazy tired.  And Friday I figured out why.

The doctor called with the results of my test results Friday afternoon.  Since they can't read my chart correctly and keep calling my emergency number instead of my number, the nurse left a message with my husband instead of me.  Come to find out, I have a thyroid problem.  Good to know.  Hopefully within a few months I'll start to feel better.  Watch out world.  If I'm this productive when I feel exhausted, what can I get done when I'm feeling great?  :)

My little shadow followed me around again this morning.  You can kind of see him in the picture.

Sweater: Marshall's
Lace Skirt: JcPenney
Black Boots: Lane Bryant
Necklace: Forever 21

I'll try and post Tuesday and Wednesday.  After that, you won't hear from me until the weekend.  I have an English teacher conference to attend Thursday through Sunday.  Yay for being nerdy!

The Weekend of February 23

My husband came into town!  He's been in Dallas working for nearly six months.  We have three more weeks to go until he comes home.  It's been a long, hard time for us.

Here are my outfits from Friday and Sunday.  Sorry, no picture of Saturday's outfit.  I thought I'd gotten a picture, but I guess I didn't.

Cardigan: Anthropologie
Skirt (actually a dress): Marshall's
Tights: Walmart
Boots: Ariat from eBay
Oklahoma Necklace: etsy
Monogram bracelet: Altar'd State

Pink Sweater: Forever21
Maxi Dress (worn as skirt): gifted to me from my mom, but I think she got it at Kohl's
Pink Ballet Flats: Vince Camuto (Dillard's)
Oklahoma Necklace: etsy

I've gotten into a pattern lately of throwing on a dress and then putting on a cardigan or sweater over it.  Oh well, it's easy and I like the way it looks.  Why fix something if it isn't broken, am I right?

Thursday, February 20

I've been really nervous all week because my doctor wanted to do an abdominal ultrasound and run some blood tests on me.  Ick.  I'm waiting for the blood test results (should find out in a few days), but if it's what the doc thinks it is, I may be feeling so much better than I ever have pretty soon.  :)  Once I know for sure, I'll share with everyone.  And no, I'm not pregnant.


I chose this outfit because it is easy to change in and out of, and if you have ever had to go in for an ultrasound, that's important!  Also, other than getting your annual, is there anything more awkward than that ultrasound??  I mean, seriously.

Also, my students are still getting a kick out of my finger condom.  These kids crack me up.

This outfit was also partially inspired by this book series I'm reading thanks to a student who told me I "just had to read" the first book.  Come to find out, she never even finished that first book in the series! The series is Delirium and is about a futuristic American society where love is outlawed and considered a disease; the government actually removes the part of your brain that allows you to feel love, arranges your marriage for you, etc.

It's a good book, along the lines of The Hunger Games or Divergent.  It has a strong female main character who grows into her own throughout the series.

Here's two short selections:

My heart is drumming in my chest so hard it aches, but it's the good kind of ache, like the feeling you get on the first real day of autumn, when the air is crisp and the leaves are all flaring at the edges and the wind smells just vaguely of smoke - like the end and the beginning of something all at once.” 
― Lauren Oliver, Delirium

After being asked her favorite color the main character responds gray.  Then adds:

“Not gray, exactly. Right before the sun rises there’s a moment when the whole sky goes this pale nothing color not really gray but sort of, or sort of white, and I’ve always really liked it because it reminds me of waiting for something good to happen.” -Lauren Oliver, Delirium

So there you have my color scheme: the red of the flaring leaves of autumn, the gray of the morning sky, and the "sort of white" you see as the sun rises.  

Tunic: Hot Topic
Yoga Pants (worn as leggings): Marshall's
Scarf: Kohl's
Boots: gift from my momma (Kohl's too I'm guessing)

Monday February 17 - Wednesday February 19

Monday we had ice, so school was canceled (yet again).  I stayed in my sweats, so no picture from that day.  You're welcome.

Monday evening, I sliced my finger pretty badly.  It was the tip of my finger that I nearly sliced off, so I showed the cut to the school nurse Tuesday and asked her how in the world I was supposed to bandage it.  This is what she gave me:

Looks like a condom, I know.  I call it my finger condom.

The kids can't stop giggling about it, even a few days later.

Tuesday:
Peach Top: Dillard's
White Cardigan: Charlotte Russe
Gray Skirt: Kohl's
Tights: Walmart
Shoes: Aerosoles
Necklace: EBay

Wednesday (repeat outfit)
Dress (as skirt): Target
Sweater: Target
Tights: Walmart
Boots: Payless

Sunday, February 16

I'm a little late in posting this.  We were predicted to get a bunch of ice via freezing rain this morning, but I don't think it's as bad as the forecast claimed.  Too late though, because school was cancelled for today.  The only bad thing is, we'll lose our two days off around Parent/Teacher Conferences.  This will make for one grumpy teacher those days!

                                   

                                              

I got the necklace from Ebay.  The green bracelet is from Target.  The chevron one I got in a set of three from a boutique in OK.

Green sweater: Kohl's
Blue Dress (worn as skirt): Kohl's
Blue tights: Walmart
Brown Ankle Boots (super old): Target