MLK Weekend Getaway

<--- Here are my skis. Don't they look sad standing in the corner of my house? They are begging me to use them. They are right near a window and they look out and long to be on that fresh, soft powder that has fallen over the past few days. It has only been a week since their last use but they see new snow outside and want in on the action. Well skis, the wait is over. This weekend is one of my favorite weekends of the year. My girlfriends and I spend the weekend skiing, hot tubbing, looking at men and drinking beer.

The northeast got blasted this week with snow and I am hoping that the conditions are amazing. My lesson plans are finished for the week. I'll let you know the highlights when I get back on Monday night.

What are your plans for the holiday weekend??

Fashion Friend Friday

This week is my first being part of ModlyChic's fashion friend Friday. She emails out questions and we all answer them on Fridays. I figured its a great way to break up the daily outfits. Cheers to my first week. Here is a list of all the participants.

1. How do you determine what you will wear that day?
When I wake up on school days, I lay in my bed for a few mintues to think about what to wear for the day. I decide by mentally going through my clothes and deciding what I feel like wearing. I usually have a good grasp of what is in my closet. My mood totally effects my outfit choice because some days when I just want to be comfy and forget about fashion, I tend to gravitate towards a tunic and leggings and uggs. Eek! 

2. Do you plan outfits out in advance for a whole week, month,
weekend?
When I am feeling particularly stylish, I will go to my closet and try on new combinations. A few years ago, I began taking pictures of my outfits and cataloging them on my computer. When I started to tell people this, they thought I was foolish. My family got a good laugh out of this. But it is because of this, that I started a blog. 


I will say that when I go out on the weekend, I plan outfits in advance in my head. I try to think of different combinations. Sometimes if it is an occasion where there will be lots of picture taking, such as a sorority alum event or a concert, I will plan my outfits waaay in advance. While I would like to plan my outfits way in advance, but my mood also has a lot to do with what to wear. 


For example, I am going to the New Kids on the Block/Backstreet Boys Concert in June and I already have an outfit planned. Yes I know, this is a little over-prepared but I like it. You are talking to the girls who practices packing before I actually pack a suitcase, just to make sure I am using the space most efficiently! 

3. Do you have any specific way of tracking outfits and items already
worn so you don't repeat?
Blogging actually has helped with this dillema. Usually when I see the outfit I wore, I can usually tell you what I did, what lesson I taught or who I saw on that day. By blogging my outfits I am able to track changes in my style and also make sure not to repeat outfits too often or with the same group of people. Snaps to bloggging. 

4. How do you discover new combinations of items in your closet?
(Trial try-ons?  Hanging items together?)
I have to admit to having trial try-ons. I usually blast my music and go wild. My closet is currently spread out through 3 different rooms, so its usually an event when I want to have trials. I also make sure that I have my hair and make up on so I get a read sense of what the outfit will look like. It's a great way to try different styles and to experiment. I was never a girly-girl growing up, so I think of this as catching up on all that lost time that I never played dress up! 

5. To streamline the process for 2011 what is one new thing you can do
to cut down your dressing time?

I need to make sure everything in my closet is visible and easily accessable. This will definately cut down on the time I spend searching through things. I also need to start tracking what I let people borrow so I know where my clothes end up. 

Otra Vez

Today I am blessed with another snow day! Eek! I know my father is livid that we have two (maybe even three) days off because it means more days tacked on to the end of the year. While I love summer, I also love winter. I am living in the moment and enjoying my day off. Right now, June is sooo far away that I can't even think about it. I figure I am lucky enough to get the summer off, I shouldn't complain about going a few extra days in the heat.

Yesterday I spent in my house reading and catching up on my celebrity gossip. However, after one day being couped up, I'm breaking free! I plan to go to snow shoeing and play in the snow.

My brother, who recently moved to DC, called yesterday to say that he missed the snow. I think I would miss the snow too. So Bry, these pics are for you. I hope its helps with your longing for snow.

If you look at picture on the far left, you can see a tiny bit of my car trying to peek through. 

Snow Day!!

Today is the first snow day of the year. Yesterday at noon time, school was canceled for today. We tried to keep it a secret from the students until the end of the day. But us, the teachers, were giddy and could barely keep it together. Today is a day why I love teacher especially in the north east. Since my parents are both teachers, we are all home today. My dad is planning on making a big breakfast. I plan on curling up on the couch with my Nook and my new book, The Kitchen House that I just bought. I bought it per recommendation of my friend over at eat.live.run. I hope it's a good one.

What are you reading these days?

Have a happy snow day!

Monograms, Pearls and Curls

I felt very collegiate/house wife today. I am in love with my monogrammed sweater. It was a birthday present this year and since then, I just want everything monogrammed. One of my colleagues mentioned that when I get married, I will need to buy new stuff. I tried telling her that I wasn't getting married anytime soon but when I do, that's what I expect from her. :o) Until that day when I marry Mr.Slightly-Overweight-Ex-Athlete (no joke, this is my ideal man), I will embrace my MLK monogram. 

I know what you are wondering, "Maureen, did you really wear an apron to school today?!" Nooo, of course I didn't. That would just be silly. When I arrived home today, I realized that I didn't take a picture this morning. On Thursdays, I cook dinner while the rest of the my family works after-school program. (yes, everyone in my family are teachers). Since I was already in cooking mode and wearing a cute apron, I took the picture with my apron. 

What do you think of my cooking style? 

Santini decided to make her blog debut 

As I am yelling at the cat not to knock down my camera

Skirt: LLBean

Tights: Target

Long Sleeve: LOFT 

Cardigan: JCrew 

Back to Life, Back to Reality

Today was my first day back from vacation. It wasn't as bad as I thought. Last night I had wicked bad case of the Sunday Scaries. (You know, that feeling in the pit of your stomach on the Sunday before work on Monday). As I woke up this morning, I remembered that my classroom can be boiling hot, so I dressed in layers. I was channeling my inner cow girl today. These boots are actually a size too big but I bought them because they were a banging deal.

Dress: F21

Cardigan: LOFT 

Belt: Borrowed from Mom (thanks)

Tights: Target

Boots: F21 

Happy New Year!!!

Happy New Year everyone!! I hope you all had a safe and happy new year's eve.  I spent my night in a casual manner. I'm not a big NYE person to begin with. It's too hyped up. I figure I can get dressed up in a sparkly dress and have a good time any night of the year. Instead, we invited some family friends over and had game night. It was a great way to ring in the new year. Can you believe it is 2011? 

I'd like to dedicate this blog post to my best friend Aly Sue. For years, she has always worn duck boots to bars and for years, I have always poked fun at her fashion choice. However, on January 1, 2011, I purchased my first pair of duck boots that I plan on wearing to a bar tonight. I like to give credit where credit is due, so Aly Sue, you were far ahead of your time. Such a trend setter!!

Sweater: LOFT 

Jeans: Express 

Booties: Sporto