For The Love Of Tights...

Thank god for the Jewish holidays...gives me a reason to get dressed up...not to mention celebrate my religion and go over to my mom's for great food with and tons of leftovers for the next week.  Since fall is finally here, I was thrilled for a reason to throw on tights, boots, scarves sweaters and jackets!

 Skirt-Old Navy/Sweater-JCrew Outlet/Shoes-Gap/Jewelry-Target, Old Navy

I want to start by stating I love tights...the hold everything in and smooth out all the lumps...just another reason I like the cooler temps and wearing skirts.  This chiffon-like skirt was a summer staple...styled it with a variety of tank tops or t-shirts.  Since it is a favorite, I had to find a way to extend its life into the cooler months.  This sweater is a recent JCrew Outlet purchase...so soft and I love the zipper detailing of the wrists and shoulders...by just adding tight and booties, this skirt totally work for fall!! Since it was a pretty chilly day, I dug out my old pleather jack and leopard scarf to finish the look!

Noise With Dirt On It...

My boys... They are my greatest accomplishment... my heart... my reason for living and being tired all time...

School supply shopping.  They were both so excited to pick out their own supplies... Jack's favorite color is black, so black folders and notebooks it was...

First day of school...Alex is in full day kindergarten and Jack is now in third grade.  Both my boys in the same school, for a full day...so joyous to have only 1 school drop off and have them both occupied all day... too bad I don't  have time to enjoys the quiet solitude...

I still like to dress them alike for special occasions...until they are old enough to protest.  To my boys dressing up means something besides pull on track pants and t-shirts.  Cammo cargo pants and orange polo shirts for the win.  They look like traffic cones...handsome traffic cones!!

Alex will be six next week and I just cannot believe my baby is going to be that old!  He is learning to read at school and he was so excited and proud the other night that he could read his bed time story to me!  (there were only 3 words on a page...baby steps) He read it to everyone that comes over...I pretty sure he even read it to the cable guy last week!  I am glad he is having such a great experience in kindergarten, but I do miss our afternoons together...having lunch at the salad bar at Mariano's and trips to Target...

Jack has become such a big boy. He will be nine in March and has grown up so much in the last year. He has always been skinny, and now his face and body have filled out. I had to buy him a new wardrobe... none of his clothes fit anymore.  I think he is going to be taller than me as a teenager! The older he gets, he even more he looks like me...what a lucky kid...ha!

The Anatomy Of This Mom...

For those who celebrate, happy New Year.  With today being Rosh Hashana, the start of the new year according to the Jewish calendar, I felt it would be a perfect time to come back to blogging.  Things around my coordinates have been crazy lately... I am in school 3 days per week, work at the hospital 3 days per week...that only leaves me one day to get my bearings, study, spend time with the boys...take a deep breath...There really needs to be 9 days in a week...please.

I am kind of going through a bit of an identity crisis at the moment and I plan to use the new year to get back to being me...not what I think everyone sees me as, thinks I am, or wants me to be... I am stuck somewhere between taking a patients vitals...studying the bones of the skull...helping the boys with their homework and relaxing on the couch with my husband to catch up...I need to just start being ME again...

So, besides showing my style and talking about fashion, I plan to use my corner of the web to vent...sort out what I am doing and where I am going...physically and mentally...

For the Rosh Hashana services today, I could just not figure out what to wear.  I am getting so good at dressing up my jeans, that I think I forget that I used to love wearing dresses and skirts...

Skirt-Target/Sweater-Old Navy/Shoes-Kenneth Cole/Jewelry-Old Navy, Target, Groopdealz

So this outfit...pretty much a copy of what I used to wear to work back in the day when I actually had an office job to go to.  Wearing this today made me feel good, remembering a part of myself that I thought I had lost...somewhere between a patients room and the anatomy lab...

Are You My Mummy?

Last summer was the summer of shorts...multiple colors and patterns.  I had not problem showing off my white and blotchy chicken legs, and thigh muscles since I spent the summer in CNA class...bending over beds, practicing my skills in rooms that had crappy air conditioning.  Plus, it was still a novelty not to be working in an office and being able to dress casual.   For some reason this summer I am feeling less like wearing shorts...more in the mood for skirts and dresses.  I think it is a combination of feeling old...like I need to dress the part as an older student and beginning level patient care tech.  Plus I am starting to miss dressing up...

So, with my mother's day money, I purchased this skirt from Nordstrom's...

The first outfit was worn to Alex's end of the year picnic at school. 

 Skirt-Calson via Nordstrom's/Top-H&M/Shoes-Gap/Jewelry-Groopdealz, Black Sheep, Target

I knew I would be running around a playground with wood chips and grass, so I wore my fun and comfy Gap leopard sneakers with the skirt.  The skirt is a linen/cotton blend, so it is perfectly light and airy for the heat of the summer.  I think this lace top is on it's last legs...I keep catching it on jewelry and such so now it has a few holes and tears.  But, since it was only $7 and I have styled it a ton of times over the last year, I have definitely gotten my moneys worth...


This outfit was worn for classes and a meeting at the hospital and soccer practice...

 Sweater-Old Navy/Necklace-Target/Sandals-Target

I thought I would try to dress up the skirt for an in-service and staff meeting at work.  Since I only wear scrubs to work, on my day off from the floor, I wanted to dress up a bit for my day at the hospital.  I picked up the loud chunky necklace on sale at Target recently...love it it mixes with the grey and polkadots... Of course, I had to wear my favorite Target sandals...I might have even picked up the black pair with gold grommets, on sale and with a 25% off Cartweel coupon...They are just so fun and comfy...a great alternative to the the Birkenstocks I have to force myself not to buy...must not purchase...step away from the credit card!!

I also recently purchased a maxi skirt at the Gap.  I always feel a bit frumpy wearing a maxi since I am pretty short.  But, I really want to make it work this summer...any suggestions on how to style it up?? 

FYI...the title of today's post...because I am feeling old since I working with people how are so young I could be their mother.  Plus, I am currently watching Doctor Who season 1...no matter how many times I watch the episodes, I always giggle at the Christopher Eccelston and "are you my mummy"...

Lutz's Lusting...

Currently coveting by rlutz featuring flat shoes

This summer I picture myself doing camp carpool and walking around campus studying Anatomy wearing cotton skirts and flat sandals. For some reason shorts just don't seem that appealing to me right now. Any length will do...long...mid calf or above the knee.  I know it is not really "in" right now, but I love the hi-low hemline.  Keeps me covered in the back, easy to sit and bend in while running around with the boys.  But short in the front to keep cool and show some leg...Birkenstocks are back and I thing I am going to jump on the trend again...I am still planning to wear the Target pair from the previous post, but I am also going to treat myself to a pair of good old Birks...the pair with the patent white straps are calling my name...

Now that the weather is finally warming up, I cannot wait to start shopping for some great summer skirts and sandals...

My Pretties...

I would like you to introduce you to my newest obsession...

Oh....my...these sandals are all sorts of fabulous!!


I had been on the hunt for a pair of casual slides to live in this summer.  I considered the black Birkenstocks that I had lived in 5 years ago when I was pregnant.  But, I wanted something a bit less crunchy...a bit more glam.  These are perfection thanks to Target!!

Two casual ways I have styled them up for days of carpool, errands and soccer games...

Jeans-Gap/Top-Old Navy/Shoes-Target/Jewelry-Nordstrom's Rack, Black Sheep, Target

Jeans-Gap/Top-Old Navy/Shoes-Target/Jewelry-Hot Mama, Black Sheep, Old Navy

I guess I am also a little but obsessed with these jeans...

Outfits like these bring back memories...1994...freshman at Ithaca College...I had a pair of purple Birkenstocks and ripped Gap jeans that I wore practically every day...I also had maroonish, purplish long hair back in those days...wow...Times and circumstances change, but the clothes and the person remain the same. 

Campus Colors...

I spent the day Monday registering for summer school, "exploring" the College Of Du Page campus and the usual boy's carpool...

 Jeans, Shoes-Gap/Top-H&M/Jewelry-Black Sheep, Old Navy, Target

Same Gap jeans and sneakers again.  This lace top has been a hard working piece of my wardrobe for the last year or so and was only $7!!  I have styled the green lace over different colored tanks, over a long sleeve t-shirt and even under a blazer.

I currently have a BNA certification (basic nursing assistant) and work as a patient care tech at a local hospital.  On Monday, I made took my first steps to get my ASN then RN...registering for classes for Summer and Fall at College of Dupage.  I did not realize the campus was so huge...I spent 3 hours "exploring" the campus.  I use the term exploring loosely, since I essentially got lost looking for a specific computer lab and ended up walking in circles between departments.  Then, I forgot where I parked...turns out I was searching the parking lot on the wrong side of the building..so I went back in, grabbed a campus map and found my car by tracing the street where I entered the campus and followed it all the way to where I first entered.  When I finally found my car, I checked my Fit Bit...I walked 7,000 steps around the campus... well, at least I got my exercise in for the day...

 

My "mom"-iform...

For my job, patient care tech, my uniform is dark grey scrubs...ugly and boring, but comfy. I recently posted in general about what I have been wearing lately when I am not at work.
My uniform for when I am not in uniform...

Worn to lunch and the jewelry show with my mom

Top-Banana Republic/Jeans-Gap/Shoes-Calvin Klein via DSW/Jewelry-LOFT, Nordstroms Rack, Black Sheep

Nothing like some yellow tweed to dress up jeans and sneakers. a cool bonus on this shirt...the back is silk...  These slip ons are fabulous...I am not sure I am ever going to wear any other shoes again...just kidding, my other shoes would get jealous...they are so comfy and the subtle snake pattern is so fun. 

Worn for a long day of department meetings, nursing school registrations and carpool...

Jeans-Gap/Sweatshirt-Target/Shoes-DSW/Jewelry-Black Sheep, Jcrew

These jeans...again...I know, but I love them!! This fun Target sweatshirt has mesh detailing that makes it a bit more than basic.  It was a chilly 45 degree spring day, so I added this new scarf.  I am really into good luck symbols, so this hamsa hand print scarf is all sorts of perfect!

Almost as cozy as scrubs...but a bit more chic...

I Have A Pulse...

You didn't think I could stay quiet forever.... I am back...

I almost forgot how much I enjoyed having somewhere to share my daily stylings...sale shopping...stories of crazy little boys... I need somewhere to dump all the words and pictures bouncing around in my brain...

Here's to hoping someone out there wants to listen...

 

So, when I am not in scrubs, this is just a sample of what I don on a daily basis... I have these Gap always skinny jeans in a dark wash and a destroyed denim...skinny fit and the ankle length is perfect with ankle boots or slip ons.... Speaking of those slip ons...I own both the leopard and the black...so comfy yet chic...reminds me of the shoes the "cool skater" kids wore in my high school in the 90's...
I probably wear some variation of a denim shirt too many times a week...light, printed or dark...I don't discriminate...layered under or over a sweatshirt...
I insisted on a moratorium for my puffy winter coat last month, but since mother nature wouldn't agree, I always throw on this great cammo jacket to keep warm...
The blue bucket bag from Old Navy is fabulous...soft, great quality faux leather and big enough to carry all my crap, but still holds it shape if I just throw in my wallet and phone...
To top off my casual look lately, I really love the Urban Decay Naked Lip gloss...tons of neutral shades and not to too sticky...

Looking forward to taking up my space on the internet again...I have so much to share...

I Was Sherlocked...

I always wanted a fur vest...but I always felt that I would look like a woolly mammoth styling one, so I never pulled the trigger.  Last spring, I purchased a knit sweater vest with a fur collar...love!  But I seem to have a hard time figuring out how to wear it.  Recently, I styled it as a top layer with a button up...

 

Jeans-NYDJ/Shirt-JCrew/Vest-Gap/Booties-Target/Jewelry-Black Sheep, Bass, Top Shop

Fur and flannel...a great combination.

  Vest-Gap/Shirt-Old Navy/Jeans-NYDJ/Booties-Target/Jewelry-Akira, LOFT, Charming Charlie, Black Sheep

So, when in doubt, style it with a denim shirt.  Adding polkadots and some shine is always a good idea.  Plus, no need to wear a scarf to keep warm, the fur collar does that...especially since the temperature was 1 degree...so freakin cold!

Besides layering over a button up, I am not sure how else to fashion this vest...hmm...any suggestions...

My week in a nutshell...

Too Much Time On My Hands...

I am back...no long explanations.  My corner of the internet is alive...welcome back...

I think I remember how to do this blogging thing...maybe...

I have been working a crapload lately.  It might only be three days per week, but 12 hours makes for a long day...my feet ache just thinking about it.  One my way to work one day, I calculated that I spend about 10 hours per day at work on my feet...either walking around the floor or standing in a patient room.  I want to get a Fitbit so I can tally my steps and find out my calories burn.

So, today was my first of four days off in a row...including a full weekend away from the hospital.  Since I started, I have not had a full weekend off or even four days in a row.  So much time on my hands, but so much to do. 

I was so excited to wear something besides besides my sloppy grey scrubs...

Sweater/Shirt-Old Navy/Jeans-NYDJ/Necklace-Target/Jewlery-Old Navy, Charming Charlie, Black Sheep

I had have been wanting some sort of sweater with a cute animal or something on it...I tried on so many...Jcrew, Nordstrom's, Old Navy, Target...but no print looked good stretched over my boobs.  But, then I saw this one on Old Navy's website and thought the bigger print, higher up on the chest, must just work.  I decided to go up a size so it wouldn't be tight on my chest and I could layer it over a shirt...love it!! The print isn't too cutest young and the colors are neutral.  I think next time, I am going to layer it over a black and red flannel...

One of the many things I had to do today was get a pair of new  glasses.  The air in the hospital is really dry, so my contacts have been bothering me.  By the end of the day, my vision gets all fuzzy and I just want to scratch my eyes out.  So, I am sucking it up and wearing my glasses, even though they always make me feel like a nerdy teenager or an old lady.  I don't need help to feel old, I have been feeling pretty long it the tooth lately...ha!  

I narrowed it down to two pairs...what do you think..???

 Tortoise..standard oval shape...more traditional

 Purple and gray gradient color...more of a cat eye shape...definitely a different look...

I am leaning towards the tortoise ones...more traditional...neutral.  The purple ones are fun...but I am wondering it they have too much of an artsy old lady vibe...

Hmmmmm...