Forks and Corks

Ever since I got my big girl job last spring, I decided to be a member of a local food donation charity.  Now, I know they get a lot of flack because supposedly the CEO makes 9 kajillion dollars, but all I know for certain is they provide my students with fresh food on the weekends.

And without said food?  Some of my precious darlings would go hungry.  And this?  This is reason enough alone for me to support them.

So, when I saw the annual food and wine gala was coming up with some of Kansas City’s best restaurant and drink purveyors, I mean, it was a no-brainer.  Stuff myself silly with my ma on scallops and macarons AND support my kiddos?!

Done and done.

{polka dot sweetheart dress: Target} {gold heels: Aldo} {golden waist belt: gift} {wooden bracelets and necklace: gifts from gran} {golden clutch: Michael Kors} {rose gold watch: Michael Kors}  

See these pieces restyled here:

With a lil’ help from my friends

So, right before I was checked in for the bubonic plague, I did what every “good” teacher does and made myself go to work.

As I sat on my teacher’s stool whispering and whimpering through descriptions of Vasco de Gama and Amerigo Vespucci, I broke down in tears.  Between the frustration of being sick, to the rampant, albeit ineffective guzzling of Chloraseptic, I was just so done and so over being ill, ya know?

Just then, one of my sweethearts raised his hand, and politely asked to use the restroom.  Utterly shocked he had the gall to request to pee in the middle of my embarrassingly honest moment, I obliged.

Moments later, he walked back in with my assistant principal, who told me to dry my eyes, kicked me out, and forced me to take a sick day.

Sure, I can move away from my folks, have my big girl job, and pay zillions in doctor bills.  Really, I can assert my independence and adulthood any way I want.

But there will always be someone there, wanting to take care of me.  Even if it’s my 12-year-old darling of a student who’s wanting saving my sanity.

And my vocal chords.

{floral tank dress: Kohl’s} {golden heels: Aldo} {purple fishnets: Gap Outlet} {rosegold watch: Micheal Kors}  {28 bangles: F21}

See these pieces restyled here:

    

Lessons learned from the hospital

I may or may not have spent the weekend holed up in the nearest hospital bed, watching endless HGTV, and enjoying zero hours of sleep.  So, after my extensive, 30-hour hospital experience (who knew strep could be so brutal?!), I’d like to share with you a few lessons:

• If the super cute nurse doesn’t ever start laughing at your 7am, steroid induced jokes, stop making said jokes
• When the radiologist asks if you’re pregnant, and you decline, she will ask you 73.5 more times and threaten to make you sign a waiver
• Low-sodium beef broth is from the depths of Hades
• Unfortunately, the aforementioned steroids will NOT make you beef up like Ahnold
• Mas never, ever, stop being mas.  Thanks, ma!

No worries folks, all is well in the Chic Teach household, and I’m pretty sure my roommate will come with 75 feet of me now.  Win-win!

What were YOU up to this weekend?!  Please tell me it involved more than egg souffles and HGTV 🙂

{coral t-shirt: Gap} {golden wedges: Target} {purple pants: TJ Maxx} {rosegold watch: Micheal Kors} {parrot scarf: gift from gran} {28 bracelets: F21}

See these pieces restyled here:

    

Oh, what a day…

My.  Oh my.

Saturday was a day I shan’t soon forget.

Remember my impulsively purchased trip to Madison?

Well, after a grossly early wake-up call, I jet-setted to the airport with my ma.  We made our flight at departure time, and were greeted by approximately 150 sets of dagger eyes.  As the radio announcer captain was making his announcements, I realized that our flight was headed to a different airport.

As in, I’d booked our tickets to the wrong city.

Channeling my inner Macaulay Culkin, we rolled with it, and made our cross-state trip to our appropriate destination.  During our impromptu mini-roadtrip, I realized our concert tickets were somewhere between my ma’s house and my house.

Did I mention this all happened by 8:00 am?

I did what only I could do, and ate the world’s largest everything bagel to soothe my worried, stressed out mind. And only a few hours later, I was basking in the sunshine of a very relaxed, friendly, and beautiful city, with the best friend a girl could have.

My ma.

{Jewel neckline dress: hand-me-down} {blue wedges: Target} {skinny golden belt: thrifted} {rosegold watch: Micheal Kors} {bracelets: F21}

Like eating glass

Holy moly, you guys.  The girl in these photos?  She’s so 4 days ago.

That smile?  The rainbow of joy?  Oh my, they’ve been nearly impossible to muster up!

Because since these shots were taken, I sort of feel like I’ve been through hell and back.  Not to be dramatic, but to be dramatic, I’ve seriously been writhing on my deathbed since Monday evening.

It HURT to SMILE, you guys!  Preposterous!  But today is a new day, folks.

Let’s rewind.  I wore this little springy gem on Easter evening to the aforementioned companion’s abode.  When I got out of my car, he said, “I have a feeling this outfit is going to end up on your blog”, and then proceeded to make me a delicious curry.  Yeah, he gets me.

So, how long until I bust out the ridiculous accents, facial expressions, and impersonations?

{sheer elephant tank: Francesca’s} {high-waisted denim shorts: F21} {gramma loafers: thrifted} {mint green tights: American Apparel} {golden cardigan: Target} {rosegold watch: Micheal Kors} {bangles: F21}

See these pieces restyled here:

       

Welcome to my life

I would imagine this ensemble is something I’d wear while traipsing around Paris, stuffing my face with vanilla macarons, gorging on fresh baguette, and twirling a polka dotted umbrella.  I’d feed the pigeons at my feet, while singing a sweet love song in my heart, and burning holes in my grandma shoes, exploring the City of Love.

But instead, I wore this little number while feasting on fresh cornbread and collards, singing sweet songs to my baby cousin, and wining $17.50 playing roulette with my pal at the world’s smokiest casino.

Welcome to my life, folks!

{striped top: thrifted} {high-waisted sailor shorts: F21} {grandma flats: Target} {golden tights: NY&C} {rose gold watch: Micheal Kors} 

See these pieces restyled here:

  

Pajama chic

I wore this comfy outfit while dining with a male companion last weekend.

Little did he know, as I was feasting on my delicious bacon hamburger, I felt like I was wearing pajamas with high heels.  Really, it was a win-win for everybody involved.

You know what else was a win-win?  He took me on an early dinner date to my favorite neighborhood, didn’t remark on my awkward sense of humor, and I was in bed by 10pm.

And if he starts saying we should watch HGTV instead of Sports Center?  I might begin picking out names for our future children.

{striped satin open-back top: TJ Maxx} {high-waisted denim: F21} {blue woven wedges: Target} {heart necklace: gift from ma, from Urban Outfitters}

See these pieces restyled here:

  

Homespun favorite

It’s a little known fact, that in college, I minored in FACS.

No, not FACTS as in Jeopardy, rather Family and Consumer Sciences, or Home Ec.

I signed up for this minor strictly because I heard double majoring was hard work, involved kindergarteners (heaven, help me), and included my programs most frightening professor.

Perfecting cake baking abilities, deep-frying chicken, and sewing handmade goods sounded infinitely more enticing than wiping snotty noses, teaching ABCs, and ungluing little fingers from one other.

But what they didn’t tell me was that in between all the finger-licking foods and poorly-hemmed garments, I would also have to take a personal finance class.  As in budgets, financial blog posts, and gulp, Excel.

Oh, dear god!

But somehow, someway, I skirted by with all As that semester, zero memory of what the heck Excel is, and this awfully constructed skirt.

And to this day, if you put me in front of an Excel spreadsheet, I’ll burst into tears, rocking back and forth.  But put me in front of a sewing machine?  My sloppily moving hands and frustrated speaking under the breath come second-nature.

Along with poorly-constructed garments.

 

{strawberry print tank dress: home sewn} {golden yellow wedges: Target} {golden skinny belt: thrifted} {rose gold watch: Michael Kors}