Infinite Whimsy

Thank You!

2011-11-02T17:36:00.000-05:00

Dear Readers,

Thank you so much for being a part of Infinite Whimsy! The past two years brought me countless unexpected joys. I began this blog during the most challenging year of my life in an attempt to keep my bearings at a time when my world had been turned on its head. I can say with certainty that it helped immensely, especially during my first year as a teacher (at age 21!), to have such a dynamic community in which I could participate. Some of you I've met in real life, and others I haven't, but all of you have enriched my life.

When I graduated from Ole Miss in May, then got hitched and moved back up North, that trying chapter of my life ended. Now, I'm being challenged in totally different ways. I'm teaching in a new school system with a curriculum that I'm still learning, and making a home out of our new apartment. All these new facets of my life are exciting and I would like to devote more time to them. I love this blog and my readers, and am glad to have a record of this important time in my life.

Again, thank you so much for being a part of it! If you'd like to stay in touch, email me!

-Maria

Congratulations To...

2011-10-28T18:22:00.002-05:00

Mindi!!

Winner of the Silver Lining Decor Giveaway :)

image from handmadereviews.net

Check your email, Mindi!!

An Evening Out

2011-10-17T17:57:00.000-05:00

On Sunday, Michael took James and me to Fleming's for a delicious dinner. James won pick of the night with turtle pie that completely rocked my world. I don't even like turtle pie, normally, but this one was like a molten chocolate cake with walnuts in it and a homemade caramel drizzle on top. Sinful and delicious!

I wore something a little different than my normal outfits:

Jacket: Gap

Blouse: Forever 21

Necklace: Anthro

Jeans: Forever 21

Shoes: J Crew

Bag: Balenciaga

I felt a little out of my comfort zone in this blazer that I picked up in my senior year of college. I felt kind of bookish, a bit more masculine, and actually- a lot trendier than usual. I definitely felt stylish at dinner and will probably try to use this blazer more often! Jackets are my weakness. I love them on others but struggle with how to wear them.

Do you have an item like that? One that stumps you every time? I hope to get better at blazers one day!

Guess what! I just bought tickets to see Band of Horses at the 9:30 club in December. I feel lucky to see them in a nice, small venue.

Today's song is named for Pawnee's #1 basketball player on retainer at Entertainment 720. Oh, it's also really pretty.

Channeling Emma: Giveaway Time!

2011-10-12T07:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Tuesday! For today's installment of Channeling Emma, I'm happy to announce a giveaway from one of my favorite etsy shops: Silver Lining Decor. I've always loved her vintage-inspired pieces, especially her sweater clips, just like Emma Pillsbury wears in Glee.

image from handmadereviews.net

Silver Lining Decor is offering one lucky Infinite Whimsy reader this gorgeous vintage gold plated turquoise painted sweater guard! I picked it from the store for you and love it so much!

Here's how to enter:

1. Visit the Silver Lining Decor Shop. Choose your favorite item and tell me what it is in the comments. Mine is this bow necklace!

2. Leave your name and email address in the comments so that I can contact you if you win!

3. For an additional entry, you can blog, tweet, or otherwise mention the contest and link to it in the comments :)

That's it! Thanks for entering and huge thanks to Silver Lining Decor for the giveaway!

Anthropologie Opens in Penn Quarter

2011-10-10T15:29:00.000-05:00

Last Thursday, I had the privilege of attending the store opening party at the new Anthropologie store in Penn Quarter. I took the Metro in, and it was such a quick walk from the Metro Center stop. The area is full of great restaurants and shopping already, so it's a wonderful place to put an Anthro store.

I met up with Sara and Rebecca there, which was great as usual. There were lots of guests there, but it was in no way overcrowded. There was an employee coming by every few minutes with a cocktail or hors d'oeuvre tray, which was very nice. Even though there were so many guests picking up and trying on clothing, the store looked great. I've never seen such a well-organized sale room!

Here are a few scenes from the evening:

I really loved this industrial sculpture in the midst of the most feminine and airy room of clothing.

I also really loved this "window" with its yellow interior that peeked through to another section of the store.

This clothing display rocked my world. I bet it would be hard to maintain beyond opening night, but it's so intriguing! I wonder if the store will keep doing this beyond the opening. I vote YES!

This is my fitting room roundup. The line was l-o-n-g and I think I was in it for 30 minutes. The good thing was that employees kept coming by with drinks for people who were waiting. The bad was that I was less inhibited while shopping. Note to self: never shop at Anthro tipsy.

I'm not used to taking mirror shots with the DSLR, but here's my outfit of the night! And boy, am I excited about it!

Thank you to Anthropologie for inviting me to the event! I'll have some fitting room pictures up soon, since I managed to snap a few that evening.

What do you think of the new store? Don't you LOVE that commingled clothing display? Or would it frustrate you too much to have everything mixed up like that? (My mom's answer would be that she's too Type A for that business. Right, ma?)

Review: Anjolee Pendant

2011-10-03T16:54:00.000-05:00

Hello readers! I have a special post for you today. A while back, I was contacted by Anjolee.com to see if I wanted to review a necklace on my blog. They feature diamond jewelry, like diamond necklaces, and specifically diamond pendants. I chose a diamond pendant to review for you. They sent the item very quickly via UPS and it arrived in perfect condition.

This is the Diamond Circle Pendant in white gold, with a CZ stone to review.

I had seen friends and bloggers like Veronika wearing earrings or engagement rings in the round pave style and always found its simplicity elegant and feminine. I don't own many "grown up" pieces of jewelry and this one is so much nicer than the rest of what I own.

I wore the necklace here:

and I often reach for it when I'm going out to nice dinners with James or just want to class up an outfit. It's so simple, but I always receive compliments on it when I wear it. My husband loves it, too, because it's less girly and more classic than what I tend to wear.

I would definitely recommend buying diamond jewelry from this site if you're in the market. They offer a return policy for 30 days, which is crucial for me with online shopping, especially for something as important as diamonds. They also usually have orders ready in about three days, which is crazy fast for jewelry production. You can customize your order based on gold color, carat weight, length, and diamond quality, so it actually does take them time to process your customizations- they just do it really fast!

The only thing I didn't like about this necklace wasn't really Anjolee's fault. I found the chain to be more delicate and easily tangled than all my other jewelry (since this necklace is obviously of higher quality). I took it off and put it on my nightstand once, but then had to untangle it for about 30 minutes when I wanted to wear it again. I think this is probably my fault, since I should have put it away properly.

Overall, if you're in the market for a new necklace or other diamond jewelry, it seems like Anjolee has great prices and wonderful customer service. Buying a diamond is a huge purchase and this company has a small company feel with its customer service, so you know you're taken care of.

*This was not a paid post and features my honest experience with Anjolee.com. The opinions are solely my own and may vary from others. Product was provided by Anjolee for the review free of charge.

Anthropologie Fall Picks

2011-09-29T13:04:00.001-05:00

Hello, readers! It's a wonderful Thursday and I have the day off school for Rosh Hashanah. Shana Tova to all who celebrate the new year today :)

I decided to finally let my guard down and browse the collection online at Anthropologie today. Oh my, I was so overwhelmed with cute and whimsical new pieces! Fall is always the season I do the most shopping in, and it looks like this season will be no exception.

Tarpan Buttondown , $88, by Odille in red motif

This cute blouse comes in several prints- horses, a twee menagerie, and mice. My favorite is the mouse blouse, since it's got a cute monochromatic pink-on-pink theme and is more subdued.

Looking Forward Top, $78, by Deletta

A simple, beautifully draped tee. It reminds me of my Anna Sui dress from 2008. It looks so comfortable, too! I'm just afraid it would be too sheer, and I worry that the rayon in it would make for an uncomfortable day of teaching.

Slung Sash Tee, $88, by Bailey 44 in moss

A sexy tee from Anthropologie? I love it! I like all the colors, but am most drawn to this deep green for fall and winter. The reviews seem promising, but I might have to hold out 'til sale to avoid paying $88 for a t-shirt.

Adelie Blouse, $158, by Charlotte Taylor

Oh. My. Goodness. This is definitely my #1 pick for fall, as long as it doesn't look clownish on. It's the perfect sky blue color, with an adorable peter pan collar and cinched waist. It looks super flattering, and I am not afraid to wear a penguin blouse. Penguins mate for life!

Salix Petal Blouse, $98, by Odille

I love the bold primary colors and feminine shape of this blouse. I think it would look great with pants or a skirt, and I have lots of complimentary cardigans to go with it.

Unconditional Osier Dress, $168, by Weston Wear in blue

This cute little dress has already caused quite the buzz in our community. It comes in a soft taupe, too, but I think I prefer the blue. It would be perfect for a holiday work party, Thanksgiving dinner, or just with tights, boots, and a cardigan.

Alabaster Tassels Sweater, $148, by Far Away From Close

I don't believe I've heard of this brand at Anthro before, but I do love this darling little sweater. It looks sweet and subdued on the model, whose makeup is seriously perfect for the colder seasons. I love her earrings, too.

Neckercheif Sweater, $78, by Knitted and Knotted

What's not to love about a periwinkle pointelle sweater with a necktie? It's feminine and decidedly retro, with a nice slim fit. I'm trying to think of outfits to make with this one and many already come to mind. The price is not bad, either, for Anthro.

AG Stevie Cords, $168, by Adriano Goldschmeid in purple

I love my AG Stevie Ankle jeans in dark gray, and years ago I tried the cords on, too. They felt like PJs and I always wished I had just bought them. In high school, I wore burgundy cords at least once per week, and these feel like a modern version of those.

Pleated Ponte Skirt, $88, by Maeve

I'm a sucker for a good A-line skirt in a pretty color. Since this one is ponte, it would be perfect for the winter months, but in a happy color to keep things fresh. The pleats are gorgeous and I hope it doesn't make me look like a tent.

Go Lightly Wedges, $148, by Seychelles

I am definitely a lover of wedges, and these look awesome. They are a mix of geeky librarian and chic fashonista, which I love. The color is my only qualm. It looks like it could get scuffed up easily.

Belted Booties, now $138.50 with the promotion, by Schuler & Sons

I adore a good bootie! These are simple in color and shape with interesting details like the belt and open top. I think these are a little more classy and "older" than my style usually favors, but I think that would make them a good addition to my closet.

Striped Steps Socks, Horizontal, $18, by Tinoretta

If there's one item I'm definitely getting from this list, it's these socks! My husband loves Paul Smith socks, and when we saw these he thought they were a women's version of his own. He bought Paul Smith socks for his groomsmen and they wore them for our wedding. James is all the way on the left with the white shoes and rainbow socks :)

Photo by Gabe Aceves

So, what do you think? What are you loving for fall this year? I can't wait to hear your picks!

Channeling Emma: Black and White

2011-09-28T18:35:00.000-05:00

I'm so glad you were enthusiastic about my weekly Emma Pillsbury feature- Channeling Emma. Last night, the standout outfit was her black and white number here, as identified by WWEPW:

Can you believe that sweater isn't Anthropologie? Apparently it's Moschino Cheap & Chic. It reminds me so much of the Precious Materials Cardigan. It's hard to match something so specific and adorable, so I went with the black and white palette, picked out a blouse with a huge bow on the shoulder (Emma would approve) and busted out my Emma shoes. (She's wearing them above.)

If you can't really see my blouse, it looks like this:

It's Anthropologie's Find-The-Limelight blouse from 2008, when I worked at Anthro.

Cardigan: Target (similar here)

Blouse: Anthropologie (2008, often on ebay)

Skirt: The Limited (similar here)

Belt: Anthropologie (similar, two-tone belt here)

Shoes: Urban Outfitters

Hair on bow: c/o my cat

Did you watch Glee last night? I admit I was crying when Quinn was trying to see her baby. I also actually really liked the new episode of New Girl- looks like I'll be giving it a try after all. Thoughts? Did you like it better or worse than the pilot?

By the way, one of my students said something cute and hilarious today. She asked me where I get all my shoes, and I told her where I shop. She said, "Well I was just asking since you look like people did back when they would like... do the jitterbug." Hahaha, I'm just impressed that a kid born in 1999 knows what that is!

Maybe it's also because I play songs like this while my kids work...

True Love Waits

2011-09-27T15:54:00.000-05:00

Remember when I said I'd been having lots of luck on ebay? My streak hasn't ended! This blouse is one I picked up countless times at the store before ultimately putting back. One reason I did this is because James didn't like it (but I did! I can be so silly, not listening to myself sometimes). The other was purely budgetary. It's so pretty, but was pricey even on sale at Anthropologie. eBay, you are my BFF.

Cardigan: J Crew Jackie (Other colors here)

Blouse: Anthro Snowscape Tank by Corey Lynn Calter

Skirt: Anthro Scalloped Dots Skirt

Shoes: Urban Outfitters

It's good to hear some stories about how holding out can be a GOOD thing! Often, in our community, we hear sob stories of how holding out for sale caused people to miss out on items altogether. We're often (myself included) lamenting our "poor" choices, wishing we had pounced when we had the chance. I would LOVE to hear more stories about how you scored awesome deals on an item by waiting it out.

This song is the product of two beautiful musicians combining. This whole album is dreamy and gorgeous. If you like female singers like Feist and Florence + The Machine, you would probably love this.

Autumn Evening

2011-09-26T17:04:00.000-05:00

Well, Halloween came early at the Infinite Whimsy house this year. James and I were at Petco with my parents when we spotted the most amazing cat torture device slash costume. (I'm kidding about the torture, especially for Annabelle. She isn't easily bothered.) So... voila:

Oh, yeah. Our furry babe is a shark. Or being eaten by one? Look how happy she is!

Seriously- this is why the internet is full of cats.

Atticus played, too, but he isn't as funny in it.

After the cat shenanigans, we went out to try a new thai restaurant. We liked it but didn't love it, so we'll probably be sticking to our local joint from now on. I decided to dress for the season, rather than the actual weather. Luckily, this fuzzy sweatshirt is deceptively cool since it's mostly sheer. I don't usually share many casual outfits, so I made sure to snap pictures of this one.

Top: Anthropologie Brushed Lace Pullover (in the lounge section here)

Necklace: Forever 21 (similar here)

Jeans: Target (similar here)

Boots: Target (this season's version here)

Bag: Very vintage. I played dress up with it when I was a kid!

Are you ready for fall? I love the clothing in this season! I never quite feel right dressing for the summertime, but in the fall, it's like I'm totally in my element. I can't wait to break out the scarves and jackets!

I'm in the midst of having a big boo-hoo for myself because we didn't score tickets to see Jeff Magnum tonight in Baltimore. To make up for this loss, we're playing a bunch of Neutral Milk Hotel tonight and pretending it's live! (Nerds. Yes.)

Who's That Girl?

2011-09-24T18:43:00.000-05:00

Another TV-inspired outfit today! When I saw promos for Fox's New Girl with Zooey Deschanel featured in Anthropologie's Lido Light Skirt, I took to the internet to hunt a cheap one down for myself. I got so lucky that I found one for an extremely reasonable price on the EA Trade Market. When I put it on today, my husband called it the "cutest thing ever". Score! I decided to stay in the color family with my cardigan, and go for cool metallic accents. These shoes arrived in my mailbox on the same day as the skirt, for $12.99 via ebay. I already have them in the bronze, which I love, so adding the silver to my closet for under $20 just made sense.

Cardigan: Nordstrom BP (buy here)

Tank: Target

Skirt: Anthro Lido Light Skirt by Girls From Savoy

Necklace: Forever 21 I think? (similar here)

Shoes: Seychelles Get Outta Town Flats (select sizes under $40 here, similar here)

The skirt is a teensy bit large in the waist but I love it anyway.

I've been having insane amounts of luck on eBay recently- it's been crazy! Is it just me? I get such pleasure from finding a great deal, and this week has been full of them.

And speaking of Zooey Deschanel's New Girl, did you guys watch the premiere? I had mixed feelings. Yes, she's adorable, but sometimes the show was too corny or over the top. (Adorable- her sexy pillow dance. Annoying- the scene where smoke starts coming off her curling iron as "Coach" cuts to scenes of him yelling at a girl on a workout bike.) Thoughts?

Song of the day:

I love Foster The People and their songs make my students happy while they work on Algebra problems. Win-win :)

Channeling Emma

2011-09-21T22:07:00.000-05:00

I have a feeling that if this season's Glee keeps featuring Emma and her outfits like they did last night, I'll have a new feature on this blog- Emma Wednesdays. Last night, she sported this cute top that reminded me of Anthropologie's Dots Within Blouse:

Image via WWEPW

So, naturally, I ran to my closet to make today's OOTD with the Forever 21 knockoff red shirt I just bought as a copycat for the Anthro blouse! I added Emma shoes to bring it all together. I feel like our wardrobes are similar enough that every day following the show I could whip up an inspired-by-Emma outfit. She's just so cute!

Blouse: Forever 21 (buy here, similar anthro blouse here)

Belt: Anthro

Skirt: The Limited

Shoes: J Crew

Bag: Anthro

It's an hour and a half past my bedtime. Eep! But I do want to leave you with a song I blasted in my classroom at 6:50 AM today before my kids came, nerdily singing along to every single word. I love Neko Case.

Party Girl

2011-09-20T18:31:00.001-05:00

When I wore this outfit to school, all day long students were asking me, "Are you going to a party?". The answer? No. This is how I dress for you, chickadees! How could you learn math without a flowy-cardiganed teacher?

I was also told by several teachers that I looked very "trendy". It was absolutely meant as a compliment to me, so I'm happy to hear it. However, it's pretty funny considering the age of this cardigan, the simplicity of the dress, and the lacy earrings that say "grandma" to me. One gal's trendy is another's granny, I suppose. You can quote me on that. I put on this outfit because I was tired and the dress + flowy cardigan felt like pajamas to me. Pajamas can be the occasion for a party, so I think my students and I were on the same wavelength.

Cardigan: Anthropologie Quiet Moments Cardigan by Line (2008)

Dress: Calvin Klein, via Ross (worn here, similar here)

Shoes: Bakers (buy here)

Earrings: Anthropologie

Bag: Old, worn down Balenciaga. It's so soft (but dirty) and I still love it

You never get to see my makeup since I'm so smiley all the time. Here's what it looks like!

Our song today comes from Beach House, a band I was lucky enough to see at Pitchfork in Chicago last year. My brother is head over heels for them, and even has my mom singing along to "Walk In The Park." Well done, bro.

Don't you just love days when you think you look schlumpy (interpret that word as you wish) and then get complimented on looking great? Maybe I should start selecting clothing for comfort more often!

Stripes and Bows

2011-09-19T10:00:00.002-05:00

The formerly bad news: I was getting a migraine every time it rained, and it was raining every day in DC. The current good news: I went to the doctor, got a Z Pack, and had the wax whooshed out of my ears with a syringe. (TMI?) I can hear, and it's glorious. I'm currently appreciating the sounds of cars rushing outside our apartment's balcony and the ticking of a watch- two sounds I hadn't noticed in weeks. The current bad news: it's STILL going to rain for at least four days this week. I think we've had enough for a while.

This is a riff on an outfit that was in the Anthropologie catalog, and worn beautifully by Carol here. (I don't know why I used the phrase "to riff on", since it annoys me when the chefs on TV competitions use it to describe inventive dishes.) I am so glad I bought this tee back in the spring, since I've worn it at least once per week since then. For example, swinging on rings at the park:

It turns out I am a bit too tall for those rings.

It's even better on days like today, when I can wear my favorite comfy tee to work:

Top: Anthropologie Printed Boy Tee (some colors now $20 here)

Skirt: The Limited High Waist Border Skirt (buy here)

Shoes: Anthropologie Bowed Lacerta Mary Janes (buy here)

Necklace: Forever 21

Belt: Anthropologie (2008)

Bag: Anthropologie Twisted Toffee Satchel (2008)

Is the weather just crazy in DC, or is it everywhere? My sinuses are sensitive to the pressure changes and I'm not too keen on getting headaches during the school day.

Today's song is from Dawn Landes. I love her, and her live show was simple and impressive.

Light and Airy

2011-09-17T21:27:00.001-05:00

As a testament to how far behind I've gotten on blogging: this outfit photo was taken on Wednesday, and the outfit is from Fashion Night Out, from quite a while back! I loved it too much to let it go undocumented, though.

Dress: Vintage (old ebay score for my college's croquet match)

Belt: Anthropologie

Shoes: Pink Studio

Necklace: c/o Anjolee, review coming soon!

So in love with this "adult" and ladylike solitaire necklace. It's a new style for me and James loves it!

I felt apprehensive when I initially stepped out in this dress because of the old "no white after labor day" rule. As soon as I was out and about, I felt better, since the dress is very comfortable and unique. I know the "midi length" skirt is supposed to be a trend this fall, so I figured this below-the-knee cut would work for a Fashion Night. I'm not normally one to get excited about trends, but any trend that favors a more modest cut is always fine by me since it means I can look more modern and more classroom-appropriate at the same time!

What's your opinion on trends? Too expensive to keep up with, or a fun way to keep up with the times? I tend to avoid them unless they fold in easily with my style. If I do pick up a trendier item, I make sure it's on the inexpensive side, like a Forever 21 pair of colored denim pants or H&M mod skirt. (I have my eye on both items now!)

Let's have some music on the blog again! I love sharing it with you :) I'm in the process of making some mix CDs for old friends and this song is on them. I think it goes with the mood of my outfit, if there is such a thing.

Deep Breath...

2011-09-16T11:38:00.000-05:00

... okay. So. I've received calls, emails and comments from readers, family members, friends and even acquaintances about the big bombshell that dropped in our community with Kim and her Personal Shopping services. It's well known that we were friends and, naturally, people are looking to me to comment. At first, I didn't want to say anything at all, but now I feel like I can't post anything until I say something. So, here it is.

I, like many of you, read through the comments on Effortless Anthropologie, GOMI, and then Jezebel for hours. Reactions from the commenters ranged from shock to fearfulness to anger- many people, including myself, were shaken, emotional, hurt, and conflicted. Roxy stated that's it's so hard for her to say anything because Kim was a "bloggy friend." I feel my stomach churning as I type this, because Kim was my friend. My real-life friend. We've spent time together, formed a genuine friendship, emailed or texted on bad days, laughed over glasses of sangria, and crawled on our hands and knees at her birthday party picking up the pearls from my bracelet that a drunk man slapped off my hand. I've played with her sweet dog Simon, chatted with Mr. Fiance, and seen her awesome closet. So, you must understand, that while many of you are shocked that someone you thought you knew over the internet wasn't who you thought they were, this is my dear friend Kim that I'm reading about. It's really, really difficult to even say anything at all, so bear with me.

As I spent hours reading through the comments, I felt physically ill. I know that this community can be a pleasure and a delight, but in the comments, it was clear that that image was far from everyone's minds. As numbers of people and payments owed kept adding up, I was shocked, bewildered, and yes, hurt.

When I started Infinite Whimsy in October of 2009, I was a lonely teacher who had just moved to Mississippi straight out of college. I needed an escape from my draining job, and a source of energy and joy. My blog allowed me to meet (or "meet" online) some of the kindest people who have supported me and encouraged me from the very beginning. This community, my blog, and many others have grown more than I ever expected. It's a testament to the good in our community that it's grown so large. I've been lucky enough to meet many of those people face-to-face, and others have become email pen pals. Many comments that I've been reading have expressed the desire to "quit" the blogs, at least temporarily. I, too, had the same feeling at first. It seems so hard to bounce back from something like this. However, I kept thinking of how I started, and why I was here in the first place- because of all of the wonderful people in this community, and all that we bring to it. I hope that we can continue to thrive and grow, holding on to all the good we've found over the years together. This situation has been awful, but isn't insurmountable. (It's hard work convincing myself of this, too.)

I'm leaving comments open on this post, but please be sensitive to how complicated and emotional this situation has been, as I've been very close with Kim in the past. I just wanted to, as Tara said, break the silence.

Sup

2011-09-10T17:46:00.001-05:00

Well, hi there! Since I've blogged last, much has been happening, like the first week of school, a hurricane, an Anthropologie fashion show, Fashion's Night Out, a haircut, and weeks of no internet in my house. Thank goodness our terrible Comcast debacle is over. We now have Verizon installed and have a stable, fast internet connection! I started getting used to having no internet, I must admit. It was pretty much for a solid month, so I guess I was going to have to get used to it if I didn't want to feel the sting of being cut off from the world. (We didn't have TV either, and still don't.) I got a lot more work done for school, which is great. It's good to be back online, of course, but I hope I keep some of my new habits that I adopted.

I had an awesome Saturday shopping day! I finally went to a discount store that's rumored to have some Anthropologie pieces, and I scored! I got the Languid Days Skirt for a measly three dollars. Yes, three dollars! Of course, I felt triumphant and put it on right away.

Tee, Skirt, Belt, Necklace: Anthropologie

Shoes: Pink Studio

Yes, I finally got my hands on this belt, thanks to a nice reader!

I'll be back soon with recap posts for many undocumented outfits and nights out with other lovely ladies! DC is so much fun, there's always something to do here. Tonight, it's cosmic bowling!

What are your favorite weekend activities? And have you scored any awesome discount deals lately? I feel like I have good shopping karma ;)

DC FABB Event

2011-08-25T16:02:00.000-05:00

Thank goodness Sara from High Fashion 4 Less tweeted me yesterday to tell me about the DC Fashion and Beauty Bloggers Event in Adams Morgan, hosted at Violet Boutique. I had a fabulous time there! I love any excuse to get me out of the house, since otherwise I would let my anxiety get the best of me and just stay home and plan. Instead, I brought my best friend with me to an awesome shindig with drinks and conversation aplenty.

Of course, I got to meet the lovely Sara, but I also had the pleasure of talking to Tania from What Would A Nerd Wear and Amy from BiblioMOMia for much of the evening. I only got a couple of pictures, but here they are:

Tania, Amy, and Me

I'm wearing:

Top- Forever 21

Belt- Anthro

Skirt- H&M

Bag- old old Balenciaga

If you are in the DC area and are interested in these events, I highly recommend you go! They're not blogger-exclusive, if you just want to come hang out with bloggers you like, it's the place to be.

Thanks for hosting the event, DCFABB- I had a blast :)

Burst Of Color

2011-08-22T20:08:00.001-05:00

Today was the first day back at school for teachers, but not students yet. I felt like I needed to bring a bright and sunny outfit to work with me- as much for myself as everyone else's mood. I love my new school, but it's a little confusing picking up with a brand-new curriculum. I'm movin' on up to Algebra 1 this year! I loved Pre-Algebra, but this should be really fun. I'm teaching a high school course to middle-schoolers.

Sweater: Gap

Blouse: Anthro Cornucopia Blouse

Skirt: Anthro Great Escape Skirt

Shoes: Pink Studio (Same as Anthro Bee Flower Wedges)

Necklace: Forever 21

Fingernail polish: Essie Splash of Grenadine

Have any of you started new jobs recently? It's definitely a little scary, but I'm so excited about this new beginning!

Love, love this Decemberists song. The King Is Dead is an amazing album, and they released a video for this song today, inspired by the book Infinite Jest. Insane.

Misikko Hana Flat Iron Review & Video!

2011-08-19T15:33:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago, I was contacted by Missiko, a website that sells lots of hair products. I love that they carry Moroccan Oil, a staple in my hair routine. They also have the famous T3 Hair Dryer (scroll down), which is supposedly the best. I'm in the market for a new dryer, and even though that one is really expensive, people gush over how good it is. They carry Chi Flat Irons, which is what I used to use before they sent me the amazing Hana Professional 1.5" iron to review.

I decided to make my first video for you guys to see the iron in action! It's really more impressive than before/after shots would be because you can see how quickly and easily it works. However, since it's my first video, I'm a bit awkward and it's not too well-lit. It starts and ends abruptly because I said, "I love my new curling iron!". Flat iron, Maria. Flat iron. I also say, "I promise this isn't hurting my hair," which... honestly, I don't know. You probably shouldn't heat-style your hair every day, and I don't. Even though I was just talking into my computer, I was nervous! If you're not interested in watching me straighten my hair for 3 minutes (lol), I suggest you scroll down to see my straight hair in my OOTD :)

Misikko packs a ton of cute extras in with your order:

And I love the bag the flat iron comes in!

By the way, here's my OOTD, which I wore to move a few more items into my new classroom. (Side note- they had me teaching math in a science classroom at first, complete with sinks and gas spigots. I'm pretty happy that they moved me into a former music room instead, since the acoustics will be awesome for my lame-o math songs I make the kids sing!)

Necklace: Anthropologie Shepherd Moon Necklace

Dress: Anthropologie Sail Shapes Dress

Belt: Anthropologie Looping Lanes Belt

Shoes: Cynthia Vincent for Target

Thank you so much, Misikko, for hooking me up with the best flat iron I've ever used. It's definitely expensive, but I'd always rather pay more for a quality product once than pay $50 every few months for lesser products that need to be replaced more often and don't work well. Do you agree?

County Fair

2011-08-15T22:18:00.001-05:00

Tonight we made the awesome decision to go to the county fair. I originally planned on wearing this outfit, but swapped the wedges for flats when we remembered that we wanted to visit goats in the barns after popcorning and ferris-wheeling ourselves out.

Dress: Forever 21

Amazing spectacular DIY Bracelets: Gift from Rosa

Wedges: Anthropologie Puppet Player Wedges (FarylRobin)

James really wanted some clouds in this shot- good choice, sir.

I have been wearing these bracelets nonstop since the lovely Rosa gave them to me on Friday. Thank you so much, Rosa! They make me feel glitzy, trendy, and cute :)

So, the fair:

We loved watching the swings, and considered riding them, but the Orbiter won out.

Here we are in anticipation of (perhaps) sudden death. What does the orbiter do? It does this:

We're in the blue cart! Yes, you're seeing the bottom, which means we're sideways - eep!

The boys enjoyed some fried Oreos and funnel cake to make sure we got our $10 entry fee's worth.

Great night at the fair, or greatest night at the fair? Well, we did spot Lil' Sebastian! (Ok, not the real Lil' Sebastian, Parks and Recreation fans, but it's a close match).

I'm getting ready for the school year to start but making sure I squeeze my fun in first :) What end-of-summer activities have you been up to?

Happy Hour

2011-08-12T16:58:00.000-05:00

Guess whaaaaat!! I have internetz again in my house! It took a long stinkin' time, and drama after drama, but we got it. Maybe a couple days ago I would have had the will to recount all that happened relating the challenge of attaining an internet hookup, but just trust me- it took too long.

I'm so psyched because I'm on my way out the door to meet the awesome Rosa from Rosa Loves... for drinks at one of my favorite DC area places- Jaleo. I'm wearing this:

Dress: Zac Posen for Target

Shoes: Nine West

Clutch: Aldo (buy here) (similar here)

Polish: China Glaze "For Audrey"

Why do I love this dress? For its flirty hemline, youthful dot pattern, or cute cut-outs in the back? Well, yes, but I also love it for the reason my husband does- the appearance of mayjah boobage. Yep, I said it.

What's your Friday night like? Happy hour? At home with your friends and family? I need to explore the awesome weekend activities that the DC area has to offer before my school year officially starts!

Slowly but Surely

2011-08-04T15:07:00.000-05:00

Box by box, inch by inch, we're unloading our belongings and moving in to our new apartment. The building is quite large and sometimes it feels like we're lost in a maze trying to get around in there. In the process of getting lost, we found the roof of the parking garage, which might be my new spot for OOTD pictures!

Today, we went to the Human Resources office of our new school district to turn in the last of our paperwork and get fingerprinted. I wanted to be comfortable but look professional since we are brand-spanking-new teachers here. No sense in creating a bad first impression!

I love this top, but even more, I love that I found it recently on ebay for less than $20. It's got a great neckline, beautiful summery colors, and it flows away from me in the heat, which I appreciate. To make it more professional, I added the cardigan. These sagey-colored pumps were also a steal for around $20 in the clearance section of Urban Outfitters, making this outfit quite the thrifty find.

Cardigan: Anthropologie Herb Field Cardigan

Top: Anthropologie Refracted Tieback (similar here)

Pants: J Crew Minnie (buy them here)

Shoes: Urban Outfitters (in black here)

Bag: Anthropologie (2009)

Love the back of this cardi!

We've been moving nonstop for days now, so this weekend will be a nice time to get a bit of rest. I'm pining to go to the Lady Gaga/Madonna/Britney Dance Party at the 9:30 club, but I have two problems: I have no date (my husband doesn't dance at things like that), and it's sold out! It wasn't sold out last night when I started hunting for someone to go with me, so either someone with an extra ticket who wants to boogie will find me and take me along, or it's just not in the cards.

Speaking of dancing, this song gets me moving! I love Spencer Krug and his bands (Wolf Parade and Sunset Rubdown). When that man writes a song, he WRITES a SONG. They start out one way, meander all over the place, and come back together at the end. This one is beautiful and has a great beat.

Back on the East Coast

2011-08-01T19:52:00.000-05:00

Hello!! James and I are slowly settling in, and unfortunately won't have our own internet until the 10th. I'm blogging from my parents' house, since we only live 20 minutes away now. The good news is that we had the option of choosing Comcast or Verizon, so we finally got to say sayonara to Comcast and its lame service. Our new apartment is way nicer than our old place down south, so we're giddy every time we unpack another box. Double sinks in the bathroom, a gas range, and stainless steel appliances are making us feel instantly at home.

Thank you so much for your kind words about our wedding photos! I'll have my own post with pictures soon, but in case you missed them (and they're different, so go see both!):

Our wedding is featured on Green Wedding Shoes here.

Our photographer, Gabe Aceves, posted about our wedding here.

Gabe did such a fantastic job capturing our day for us. The photos look exactly as I remembered it, and we'll treasure them forever.

We managed to get a quick shot of my outfit today, which is a good sign that things are beginning to settle down for us.

Tee: Velvet

Skirt: Anthropologie Ballet Notions Skirt

Flats: Gap (Buy them here)

Necklace: Forever 21 (Buy it here)

And I know it's not Thursday, but I do have to share the following:

Awesome: being reunited with my hair dryer and flat iron!

Awkward: Bruised and rug-burned from being tripped by my cat.

I hope I'll be back soon, but with no internet at home, I have to share this with you now! James and I are going to see Gillian Welch tomorrow night!! She's by far my favorite music artist and it's James' first time seeing her after many missed attempts. Her new album is great, but I have to share a live performance of their absolutely killer song, "Revelator".

In the meantime, we'll be unpacking and sorting out the paperwork for our new jobs. Any tips on making moving in easier?

Impromptu Guest Post: Green Wedding Shoes!

2011-07-29T10:10:00.000-05:00

Maria is driving across the country at the moment, but I'm here to bring good news. The awesome wedding blog Green Wedding Shoes has featured Maria's big day!

Check it out here!

-Luke