Hello Old Friends!

To my dear readers I have missed you! And missed blogging!

These last two months have been CRAZY! So much has happened! Where do I begin?

Things that have happened since the last blog post...

1. Ben got a new job! And we moved!!
So Ben was  offered a position working with his former project manager who moved companies and he accepted the position and we moved two weeks later! To Tennessee!!! So we are now happily living in a house on a hill in Chattanooga :) Its lovely and my precious Annie is so happy because we have 1.2 acres to roam around in! Ben is happy because he got the mountains and I still got my city-life :) a girl simply HAS to have her Target and Starbucks! Its been a great experience so far I just cant wait till May when I am done with school and back here full time!

2. Speaking of school... I AM ALMOST DONE! WOOHOO!!
In January I will be starting my last semester at Clemson. Its bittersweet but I am excited. I transitioned to my new classroom a few weeks before the end of the semester and I am quite excited I will be teaching 4 sections of Honors Chemistry and one section of Astronomy! I know students teaching will be a lot of work and very stressful but I have wonderful students and what looks to be another great mentor teacher! However, it was sad to leave my biology students and first mentor teacher! She was AWESOME!!! I'm going to miss them when I go back in January!

Also, I officially have kept my 4.0!!! Woohoo!!! And I filed my first part of graduation paperwork at the end of the semester! I am officially graduating on May 11th at 2:30 pm :) Yes I know the exact time already! I have been looking forward to this day for a long time!

3. OOTD So I have been trying to take some photos of my outfits lately so I have a few to share with you. I want to document what I wear to school more so that I can share them to prove you can be a teacher AND be stylish! No frumpy clothes!!! So without further adieu...... ( I apologize for the crappy BB photos, I found my camera today so I will start taking better photos!)

 This is a typical outfit I wear to school. I have the Minnie pants in every color but the Khaki. I dont do khaki- it looks terrible on me! Also this cardigan is amazing- soft, comfortable, t-shirt like and long! I have an issue with cardigans being too short and riding up! Major NO! in the classroom.

(J. Crew Minnie Pants, J. Crew Mixed Tape Cardi, J. Crew Scarf, Black flats from Belk)
(Typical teaching outfit for me)

This is what I am wearing today!

(Vineyard Vines Cords- found in consignment store!, Gap striped top, Target Scarf,
Michael Kors watch, and Sperry Patent Loafers- because its raining AGAIN!)

Well I am off to finish my Christmas shopping! I hope everyone has a fabulous day!

OOTD and randomness

This week was the first week of my teaching practicum (basically prepping for my full time student teaching internship in the Spring) and it was amazing! I loved every bit of it and needless to say it reinforces my feelings that I am doing the right thing being in the MAT program at Clemson! However, being as it is a graduate program I have been swamped with school work. While everyone has been enjoying their holiday weekend I have been doing school work. Ben went to TN with his mom and dad today and Annie and I are hanging out doing school stuff. I literally worked from 9 am-4:30 this afternoon on various assignments. Tomorrow will probably be the same. Yuck! However, I am taking a break tonight to watch some episodes of SATC and blog :)

Have you noticed all the great sales going on lately? I certainly have! I have been working on my fall wardrobe and on my teacher wardrobe, seeing as in a few months I will have to dress professionally five days of the week! Yikes! Ann Taylor Loft is doing a promotion right now where sale items are an extra 40% off! How great is that! I bought cute suit jacket and two pairs of dress pants for under $100.00! Hopefully everything will fit right :) Luckily its not final sale so it can be returnable. Last week I stocked up on perfect fit T's from J. Crew and another Minnie pant in charcoal from their final sale. I love those pants! I wish they came in more colors though. I also bought the sweater in my OOTD. Its the perfect fit mixed tape cardigan. I really like the longer length of it and the softness of the fabric.

Yesterday was spent at the library working on assignments but I felt like looking cute, this is what I wore.... (sorry for the rumplyness, this is what happens after hours doing work)

J. Crew Cardigan, Gap Jeans (similar style, mine are old),
Michael Kors watch, Sam Edelman wedges

On another note, I realized yesterday that Ben and I have had Annie for almost a year! She came home with us the weekend of Thanksgiving! I can't imagine not having her :) This is what my lovely, lazy dog has been doing today while I have been working....

Sorry for the BB photo, I can't figure out where I put my
camera charger!

Hope you all have a fabulous labor day holiday!

OOTD and other fun stuff :)

Happy Friday! I hope everyone has a fabulous day and weekend!

I wore this outfit for my first day of class this week :)

J. Crew Matchstick Crops, J. Crew top and shoes via consignment store,
Jean Jacket from Belk, Michael Kors watch
(sorry for the bathroom shot, I took this at school with my BB)

Close up of pattern on shirt, and it has the most amazing bow
on the back, however, I am not coordinated enough to get a good picture lol

Also check out this new bedding I got from Target (to replace what Annie destroyed! Grrr) but its super cute! And I've been eyeing it forever and finally just bit the bullet and got it, and I love it!

The comforter reverses to that adorable yellow medallion print! Its a 2 for 1 deal!

Happiness is often found in a shopping bag!

I am a fashion junkie. I read blogs, sites, magazines, you name it I've probably got it. However, contrary to popular belief I am not a shopping junkie. Well, not anymore lol. As I have gotten older I have developed my own sense of style, figured out what works for my body (and what doesn't) and about buying clothes I really love.

In my opinion, there is nothing worse than buying something and getting home and deciding you really don't love a particular item. It is so easy to get wrapped up in the moment when your in the store, or you see a particular trend and then realize it really doesn't work for you. Or that you paid a lot of money for something that really doesn't work for you. Which is why if I don't love it or it doesn't really work for me I don't buy or else I'll find myself bringing it back the next day. FYI, this is also why I am a receipt hoarder and make sure I am well informed of a stores return policy. And why I don't buy much from Forever 21 because you cant return items you can only get store credit, plus the quality isn't that great.

Speaking of quality, if its not going to last don't buy it! Yes, it may cost a little more up front but its worth it when its an item you'll wear for a long time. Stick with affordable quality on basics and splurge on items you'll keep for years. I love Target because often times they have really cute stuff for a reasonable cost, this is where some of my "trendy" but not timeless pieces come from. However, beware Target can be a money pit if your not careful! For my classic pieces I have been loving J. Crew lately (this is not always the case though, its varies from season to season). They can be a little pricey but if you wear that dress for years, the cost per wear becomes pennies. Quality is better! You can also hit up consignment and thrift stores for good deals. I have found tons of great stuff from J. Crew, Lilly, Vineyard Vines, Dooney and Bourke, etc. all for great prices and often times brand new! The effort to search through the racks is so worth it! Just this week I found a great pair of loafers from J. Crew and brand new with tags Vineyard Vine pants at one of my favorite stores! Major score! You can also find great deals online, just make sure the site and seller are reputable. Bargain shopping is a great way to find great clothes for a good price. You can look fabulous on a budget with a little effort. If you need inspiration for what items are worth having in your closet, look no further than Matchbook Magazine's checklist of 50 classic pieces.

via Matchbook Magazine's Tumblr

Additionally, here are some of my favorite sites for bargain hunting:

Bonanza A little like EBay, but more user-friendly.

Bags @ Bonanza  Awesome bags! Will do a review/post later this week on my recent purchase from here :)

J. Crew Aficionado  (look for the weekly post of readers selling their J Crew stuff, its usually on Monday. They also share coupon codes and sales info)

Atlanta Consignment if you are ever in the Atlanta area, these stores are great upscale boutiques. Some can be pricey but often times you'll find great deals. I frequent a lot of these stores when I am on the hunt for new clothes.

want it, need it, gotta have it!!!

Recently, I stumbled across the Fall 2011 lookbook for J Crew and I fell in love with a particular dress. Its to die for. Its the perfect mix of classy/retro/cheerful and I have to have it :) Looking into possibly pre-ordering it I want it that bad.

Love LOVE LOVE this dress!!!

I also love this look as well, I think I can easily replicate it with things I already own :)

Want to see the rest of the lookbook? Go here: J Crew Fall
I am loving the summer weather, but I am beginning to crave Fall so I can wear a lot if these fabulous outfits!

Meet Minnie...And Michael! My first OOTD post!

Hello my dear followers,

I finally got a mirror and had the time to take my first OOTD pictures! Yay :) I hope you enjoy (forgive me for looking a little rumpled I took the pictures after work)

J. Crew "Minnie" pants, J Crew "Katie" top and basic black cap toe flats, not shown- simple cardi

Michael Kors Mini Tortoise Watch

I found these J. Crew "Minnie" pants this weekend after reading countless reviews and endless searches for the perfect cropped black pant (see the classy Audrey Hepburn for inspiration!) And I absolutely LOVE these pants! Comfortable, flattering and super chic!

My watch was a purchase made during Belk's charity day sale! Its the only time during the year that Michael Kors is not an exclusion from sales/coupon and add in Mom's employee discount= I can actually afford a designer watch that I have been coveting forever! It super cute and for once not a watch that is too big for my wrist!

Life has been super busy lately, I've been working a lot and Ben has been working nights :( Boo for that! If it weren't for Annie I would be super lonely at night! Lucky, she is great company (as I write this she is sprawled out across the couch!) For a little dog she takes up lots of space on the couch, in the bed, etc......

Oh the life of a spoiled dog!

Hello!!! Isn't she so pretty? (Yes, I am biased) 

I hope you all have had a fabulous Tuesday! I am counting down till Friday when Ben and I head to Greenville to his parents for Easter! I am so excited to see the family!