The Wardrobe Experiment: Day 23

Happy Monday! Working as a teacher makes me very aware of each day of the week. Each day typically comes with its own vibe. Mondays mean we are jumping into another week, and hey, that's one day closer to Friday :) 

Why I kept it:

I really love this top. Animal prints are a favorite, and navy is a classic color. 

Why I stopped wearing it:

Maybe I loved it so much that I wore it one too many times and needed a break? I bought this a little over 2 years ago, but I don't remember wearing it in a while...6 months at least.

How I styled it:

Gold pave earrings (my usual earring of choice), and tassel necklace from Mint Sugar Boutique, and top tucked in (maybe wishing I hadn't?).

How I felt:

I needed some help this morning! My hair was in a bun, but I didn't like it. I tried on three outfits, blamed the bun, brushed out my hair, and hoped for the best. I settled on this outfit but wasn't crazy about how it came together. My husband voted for my white jeans, and I think he was right. I wished I had listened to him before even making it to the end of our street!

The verdict:

Keeping, but I want to wear this top differently next time.

The Wardrobe Experiment: Day 22

Sunday fun day! We went to church this morning, spent some time together this afternoon, then I created lesson plans while Zach played another nine holes of golf. I'm so happy that he's taking some time to enjoy fourth year. Hobbies like golf are a luxury that won't exist during residency.

Throwback to Miss Arkansas 2007, which explains my stage hair and makeup, when I first wore this dress. We both look so young!

Why I kept it:
I like black and white, and I like polka dots. I've had this dress for 6 years, there is nothing wrong with it, so I kept it. And it hung in my closet, unworn for years, waiting for "someday."
Why I stopped wearing it:
This dress is somewhere between casual and dressy. It's just dressy enough that people will ask "Why are you dressed up today?" I hate that.
How I styled it:
Minimally. Bracelet and earrings. But I'm wondering how it would look worn as a skirt with a shirt over the top…maybe next time!
How I felt:
Happy and comfortable!
The verdict:
It can hang in my closet a while longer.

The Wardrobe Experiment: Day 21

We've had a great Saturday! I've been pretending that I don't have lesson plans to create, and I really think I needed that today. We started off by meeting Emily from The Sweetest Thing blog and her husband, John, for brunch at a local place known for its great breakfast. My husband and John are both fourth year medical students, so we can all relate to the wild ride of medical school and now residency applications/matching. Emily and I are actually from the same small town and were a grade apart in school. We haven't seen each other in person in years, and I loved catching up with her today! 

Why I kept it:

This simple black top feels like your favorite old t-shirt. I got it a couple of years ago on clearance at The Limited, and I didn't see any harm in keeping such a classic piece, but it just hung in my closet after wearing it one or two times.

Why I stopped wearing it:

This is a very formfitting top, and I don't always feel like having my form fitted! I hope some of you can relate! 

How I styled it:

I went for this top to highlight a colorful necklace I just received in the mail. I got dressed, opened the package, and found the necklace broken in half. I wasn't very happy, but I didn't have time to change. I substituted my favorite statement necklace, bracelet, belt, top tucked in, done. 

How I felt:

Comfortable and happy to be getting use out of an unworn top (that is the point of the wardrobe experiment, after all!). 

Later this afternoon we went to a get together for the med students and their families at a local doctor's house. We hung out around the pool in the heat, so I'm glad I changed into shorts.

Why I kept it:

I kept this shirt because I like the color and because it's so darn comfortable. But the shorts are the real unworn item here. They haven't left my drawer in two years, but I kept them for their fun print.

 Why I stopped wearing it:

Shorts just aren't my thing.

How I styled it:

I wore a light pink top with these shorts when I first bought them, so wearing them with a mint green top felt new. I added a trusty bubble necklace and headed off to the pool!

How I felt:

Happy to get some wear out of another unused item. And comfortable...I always need to feel comfortable...ya'll know this.

The Wardrobe Experiment: Day 20

We made it to Friday!! Do you hear the angels singing?! There weren't any big hiccups this week, and I call that a win. I hope my students are enjoying getting to know me as much as I'm enjoying getting to know them. 

Zach had the idea to play nine holes when I got home today, so we spent a couple of hours at a nearby golf course. I like riding in the cart, and I helped him keep up with his stats/score on a fun app.

Why I kept it:

This is another top I hadn't worn before because I was "saving it" for school. I've had it about a month, and I got it on clearance at JCP. 

Why I stopped wearing it:

n/a (I promise I don't have a closet full of clothes I've never worn! I just found a couple of great clearance sales this summer and have been waiting for a better occasion than buying groceries to wear them.)

How I styled it:

Earrings (that you cant' see), my favorite bracelet (the only one I own that I will actually keep on all day), and tucked in (not how I thought I'd wear this top).

How I felt:

Great! A few students even commented that they liked my outfit (and different students wanted to know how it feels to have students that look older than me--I told them I was flattered and that they would all be receiving A's).

The verdict:

Keeping! I think this top was worth $10 (maybe $8? It was a great deal for a 100% silk top).

The Wardrobe Experiment: Day 19

I made it through another day and Friday is in sight! My students are blowing me away, and I'm excited to see all that they will accomplish this year. Such an awesome group of diverse learners!

Why I kept it:

This coral tunic is from Impressions in Fayetteville, and this is the first time I've worn it. I got it at their summer clearance sale, and I think it will transition well into fall. I can't say no to this color. The pants...can I just say how excited I am about these pants?! The Limited's exact stretch skinny pants are my pants soulmate. I have them in black and they are perfection. I've been watching since Christmas for a khaki pair, and my wish was granted last week when I got these for half off. I hate not having a store in NWA, it's one of the main things I miss about Little Rock, but I knew I'd love the pants so much that I didn't mind paying shipping (something I avoid if at all possible).

Why I stopped wearing it:

n/a

How I styled it:

Fun necklace and earrings  

How I felt:

Very good! Especially after I curled my hair, which I want to start doing more now that it's longer, if I can just find a way to make it last more than an hour...

The verdict:

Keeping of course! I will probably keep these pants until the literally fall apart. 

The Wardrobe Experiment: Day 18

Today was exhausting and rewarding in my classroom. We did a fun team building/communication activity that the students really enjoyed. Teaching is the most tiring activity I've ever done in my life. There is the constant mental struggle of coming up with exciting activities, keeping the classroom running in an orderly fashion, and showing that you care about each student...doing all of that means you hardly ever get to sit down. When I say I'm exhausted, I truly mean I might fall over and not wake up until noon tomorrow (if that was an option).

Why I kept it:

I got this top for my birthday in March, and wore it a few times this spring. I absolutely love this color and polka dots are just fun.

Why I stopped wearing it:

A summer preference for sleeveless tops is my best guess.

How I styled it:

I'm not sure there was any styling today. I did have on a necklace when the day started, but I took it off at school and then left it in my desk. 

How I felt:

I like the clothes, but something extra was missing.

The verdict:

The top stays but I need a better way to style it.

The Wardrobe Experiment: Day 17

And day two is in the books! I'm feeling it today. I'm just exhausted and want to go to bed. I actually had a completely different outfit on today and noticed some mystery stains while getting into my car, probably from making my lunch this morning. I ran in and quickly changed into this. Then I forgot to put my lunch in the fridge, and it wasn't any good come noon. So that was fun. 

Why I kept it:

I got this shirt last month and had been saving it for school. It's soft like an old t-shirt and the print is fun. 

Why I stopped wearing it:

n/a

How I styled it:

Long necklace and black cuff bracelet. 

How I felt: 

Comfortable and happy :)

The verdict:

Keeping. 

The Wardrobe Experiment: Day 16/First day of school!

We survived the first day of school! Yippee! Today was very atypical (late start due to schedules being passed out, assembly 5th/6th periods), but I think it went as well as a first day can go. I have mostly juniors and seniors, with a few sophomores of course, and I love it. I must admit, though, that I already miss the daily hugs I received when I was at a middle school last semester! 

Why I kept it:

Both this top and capris are from NY&Co  (and the necklace come to think of it), and I bought them over spring break. I love the color and the top is loose while still being figure flattering. 

Why I stopped wearing it:

I hadn't worn the top this summer because cooler/more casual options were what I gravitated toward, but when I put it on, I wished I had been wearing it more! I still like everything about this top. 

How I styled it:

Teacher styling equals hoping I remember earrings, and anything beyond that is a bonus. So, I scored a bonus point with a necklace today! Plus, can you imagine how annoying it would be if your teacher jangled all over the room with her dozen bangles? :)

How I felt:

This was perfect for school! A student walking by told his friend "she's gorgeous." Ha! Not sure about that one, but at least he used a kind adjective!

The verdict:

Definitely staying in the closet. 

The Wardrobe Experiment: Day 15

We went to three parties today, with the last one being a gender reveal for my sister in law. I was on team boy, but it's a girl! 

Why I kept it:

I like the color of this top, and the draped neckline (not seen with the scarf) is fun.

Why I stopped wearing it:

This shirt is a year or two old, and the neckline is just wide enough to be a little annoying.  

How I styled it:

Scarf, brown bracelet and earrings. 

How I felt:

Just okay. 

The verdict:

I may be done with this one. I also saw a tiny hole on the sleeve today that I could probably fix, but I'm not sure I even want to mess with it. 

Classroom Tour

Here is a look around my classroom. It is 99% finished, but I am still waiting to get some things back from being laminated, picking up a border for the bulletin board this weekend, and the back wall will soon display student work.

View of the room from the font (entry door would be to the left):

View of the room from the back:

Stoplight formative assessment/exit slip idea found via Pinterest:

Taped off whiteboard idea found via Pinterest; Bulldog Bravos inspired by a "Bravo Board" found via Pinterest:

Closeup of the Bravo Board--my students will be working in teams this year, and I will put tally marks by their team colors when I see excellent work. The winning team will get a weekly or biweekly reward and bragging rights.

Be...YOU! Bulletin board board found via Pinterest (still needs a border):

School annotation chart and a magnetic noise meter, made to use in conjunction with "The First 20 Days: Establishing Productive Group Work in the Classroom" by Nancy Frey and Douglas Fisher.

I sewed the curtains from Hobby Lobby fabric and hung the curtain rod in 3M hooks stuck to the wall. My father in law cut out the Arkansas shape and I painted the chevron/monogram. I'm so excited to have two windows lookout out to our butterfly garden! 

Closer up view of the large sign I made and student work station. The quote on the sign will be a daily reminder to me and my students! "Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle." I was introduced to this quote during orientation week at the Clinton School of Public service in August 2011. I never forgot it. There is so much truth in those eleven words.

Here is my work area. It was very important to me that both my diplomas hang in my room. We say that we want every student to be college bound, but I look around and don't see teachers proudly displaying their own diplomas. If we worked in almost any other profession, you better believe those diplomas would hang in our office! This article breaks it down: "Lawyers, doctors, accountants, and other professionals hang their licenses and credentials on their walls to inform their clients they are fully trained. Teachers should not be informing their public of anything less."

I also have my name displayed very largely on top my my bookshelf. I only respond to my proper name, not "Hey," "Hey teacher," etc., so I try to make it easy for them to remember my name.

There are pictures of family on my bookshelf and several mementos from special memories. Having those helps when I'm having a bad day (as do the Andes mints hidden in the decorative box by my lamp).

There is also a mini fridge (stocked with iced coffee, V8 fruit fusions, and water) and microwave, made-over Goodwill lamp, and my teaching license. 

So there it is! I really feels like mine now :)