I'm Bringing Blazer Back

I have an intense obsession with cardigans, which has recently translated into a new intense obsession: blazers. Initially {I will admit}, I had a hard time figuring out how to wear blazers; however, my love for layering quickly kicked into overdrive about six months ago, and I have been wearing them ever since. The menswear-inspired piece is so versatile, and more importantly {for this girl who is always cold}, it offers an extra layer of warmth without being overly heavy, bulky and unflattering. During the winter {in a rather poorly insulated classroom}, I have been known to go an entire day without so much as undoing a single button on my jacket. Fortunately, blazers offer a safe alternative to the cumbersome wool coat as they manage to scream style without drowning the victim in a material mess of Titanic proportions. UN-fortunately, blazers hit significantly higher on the price-point ladder than cardigans. This is because {most} cardigans cannot hold a candle to a blazer's dedication to small details: buttons, linings, pockets, and materials {oh my!}. These small details are what make my heart pitter-patter, so my new-found infatuation with blazers is not shocking, by any means. I live by one shopping mantra: Avoid paying full price. I've managed to snag all these babies at a fraction of the cost thanks to some small end-of-season sales and a large amount of patience. Score.

Menswear-Inspired // J. Crew Factory blazer {similar color here}, J. Crew striped chambray, 7 For All Mankind skinny jeans {similar color here}, Zara loafers {similar color here} + pearls & Michael Kors Jet Set watch

Polka Dots // J. Crew Factory blazer {similar color here}, Kensie polka dot blouse {similar style here}, Citizens of Humanity Avedon velvet skinny jeans, J. Crew Cece flats & Michael Kors Jet Set watch

Color-Blocking // Gap blazer {similar color here} + oxford button-down, WeSCO white skinny jeans {similar style here + here}, J. Crew Cece flats & Michael Kors Jet Set watch

Collarless + Colorless + Cutouts // Zara blazer {similar color here}, Ellen Tracy cobalt dress + skinny belt {similar color here}, Anne Klein captoe pumps & Michael Kors Jet Set watch

Stripes // Kensie striped blazer {similar style here + here}, Gap oxford button-down, Joe's black skinny jeans, BCBG bow flats {similar style here + here} & Kate Spade watch

Starred in Stripes

It goes without saying that I am a huge fan of red, white and blue. Yes, I love paying homage to my home country, but I am also convinced that I would love this color combo regardless of my national affiliation. Give me this palette in a stripe combination, and I am sold quicker than a college kid at Taco Bell for fourth meal. I found this striped tank at Revolve Clothing a couple summer's ago, and I've been obsessed with it ever since. The button details on the back and front paired with the chambray closure and the small red chest logo make my heart swoon. I recently picked up these scalloped shorts on final sale from J. Crew with the primary purpose of pairing them with this racerback, and I am pleased to say that I felt even more patriotic than expected - almost as patriotic as the greasy pizza my husband and I consumed at our favorite grub spot up the street.

Starred in Stripes // Tory Burch aviator sunglasses

Racerback // old from Revolve Clothing {similar style here + here + here}

Hole Punched // Madewell skimmer flats

Pocket Details // J. Crew scalloped shorts + Michael Kors Hamilton tote & Jet Set watch

Mellow Mushroom // Louisville, KY

BaK ToO SkOoL

This year is the first year in my six years of teaching that I have the same room from the year before; it is also the first year that I will not have any new class preps. I wish I could say that these two facts alone eased the anxiety of a new class, but as a senior English teacher, I feel such an intense pressure to increase my students' reading and writing abilities before they embark on that small journey called life {wherever it takes them: college, military, employment or a place I call WTF-land} that even the familiarity of my room and my lesson plans could not make that pressure go away. I find that nearly all of my thoughts go towards competing with the likes of a social media world that has captured {nearly} all of their hearts while working within the confines of a classroom with very limited technology; however, the beauty of a new school year exists in the hope of a new beginning. The frustrations of last year are shed and, in their place, optimism emerges. Back to school means my greatest dreams for these kids are not yet dashed by their over-interests in less lucrative ambitions, acceptance of apathy or premature beginnings of other sorts. They come on the first day with their new composition notebooks and un-sharpened pencils, and they all sit and write so delicately on the first page in response to my first question. Next week, a backpack will be lost. In a month, someone will have cut my class. In six months, the senior-itis will be suffocating every ounce of work ethic from their very beings. The first day, however, is an escape from all of the will-happens; it is the hope that all the negatives will, this year, fall into the didn't-happen category. And, maybe, just maybe, they will. Maybe they will learn where to place a comma when beginning a sentence with a subordinate clause. Maybe they will find a deep appreciation for Beowulf's alliterative verse. Maybe they will master the eloquence of a perfectly formulated thesis statement. Maybe {and, of course, hopefully} they will become better people. But, maybe, they won't.

The first day of school does leave a small twinge in my heart for a few summer specialties. One, I love sleeping in. A 7:30 AM start to school means I am {hopefully} waking up at 6:00 AM to get to my classroom with time to spare for mailbox-checking and photo-copying {I didn't even know people functioned this early until I started teaching}. Two, I love to start the day with a long run. I don't feel like a normal human being until I've met my daily sweat quota, and getting any type of workout before the school day begins is just an overzealous, unrealistic idea. Three, I am insanely jealous of people who get to "go out" for lunch. I often wish for a small semblance of lunch as a teacher, but by the time the bell rings, I'm lucky to have made it to the refrigerator to grab my sack of food, which generally contains leftovers from the night before {if I'm lucky}.

The first day of school, however, also brings an aura of positive energy. Friendships are reunited. Teams are brought back together. The hallways smell of coffee, new shoes and laughter {if one can get past the stench leaking from the boys' bathroom}. The new school year means new life and, more importantly, new clothes. Of course, I never miss an opportunity to buy a new outfit. This year, in the spirit of saving, I was coveting the striped Merona dress from Target. Nevermind that I already have an almost identical version from Madewell, the Merona dress is knee-length {a must for teaching} and heavier material, which makes it great for every season. More importantly, it has pockets {yes, multiply the cuteness of a dress by 10 when factoring in these gems}, and it cost me a mere $22 with my Carthweel app. Paired with a bow belt and some pretty pumps, this dress helped me usher in the class of 2014 with all smiles. Here, my friends, is to the maybes.

Back to School // Merona dress {local Target but similar here + here + here}, Rachel Roy pumps {1/2 size up}, Target bow belt, Zara pearls, Michael Kors Jet Set watch & Coach large Saffiano tote

Madewell {Take One} // J. Crew cardigan + Cece suede flats, Deux Lux handbag {from TJ Maxx, but similar here} & eBay jewelry

Madewell {Take Two} // J. Crew colorblock cardigan, MIA Limited Edition Elana captoe flats & Michael Kors Jet Set watch

Bad to the {herring}Bone

Louisville in August usually means humidity, heat and more humidity. Shockingly, the temperatures have been in the 60s and 70s for the last week. This has a plethora of advantages in my life. Most importantly, I was not stuck doing my daily runs on a treadmill. As a teacher, I have been soaking up my last moments of freedom until kids return to my classroom, and my "morning" run - most might call this an afternoon run since I generally sleep until about 9:30, get on my computer for an hour and stroll out the door around 11:00 - is an integral part of that freedom. Summers in the south {if one wants to classify Louisville, KY as south} don't allow for much outdoor activity between the hours of 9:00 AM and 10:00 PM {at least not for this Colorado girl who is used to a dry mountainous heat that puts the stickiness of the east coast to shame}. August involves me rummaging through my shorts, tank tops and near-nothing dresses to find {yet another} combination. Meanwhile, my purse houses a surplus of layers to combat even the most intense air conditioning. This last week, however, I have actually been able to layer {before leaving the house} and be comfortable outside; thus, eating outside became a staple, and my husband sought to avidly play golf every evening. Our worlds collided on Friday night when he got to play 18 with his buddies, and I drove with one of his buddy's girlfriends to the clubhouse to meet them for dinner. It was one of those divine summer moments that are epitomized by delicious nachos, an epic sunset and {duh!} herringbone prints.

J. Crew Factory herringbone tank + Else mint skinny jeans + Tory Burch aviator sunglasses

Michael Kors Hamilton tote

Francesca's statement necklace {similar colors here}

INC International Concepts wedges {similar style here}

The view of the 18th hole from the back deck of the clubhouse

I Believe in Miracles.

My sister- and brother-in-law are {for lack of a better term} baby-making champions. Just a few years ago, they told us they were pregnant with their first little one, and now, almost three years later, they are the mother and father to three beautiful girls. Maebyn Noelle celebrated her 1st Birthday on August 11th, 2013. On August 12th, my sister-in-law walked into the hospital to give birth {yet again} to identical twins. While I have come to appreciate any birth as miraculous, it is the birth of these two little twins that has made me relish the power of prayer and the possibility of miracles.

About five months into MaKenzie's second pregnancy, she and Ross found out that the twins were suffering from TTTS, twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome. Because the girls were identical and sharing the same placenta, one of the twins was stealing nutrients from her sister. The risks were high for both babies, and the prognosis was far from ideal. The percentage of twins who both survived the disease was very small, and those who did usually arrived very prematurely.

So, they prayed.

They prayed for peace. They prayed for safety. They prayed for Truette Lynn and Larkyn Ellen to make it to 33 weeks without any complications. And, while they prayed, a miracle happened. The babies' amniotic fluid levels evened out. The TTTS became non-threatening, and at 37 weeks, these two beauties were introduced into a world that at one point seemed so far away {almost too far}. Truette was a mere 45 grams from not having to go to the NICU, but both girls were healthy, strong and alive.

Ross and MaKenzine's faith in the face of improbable odds touched my heart in such a way that I only hope I exude the same conviction in even the most mundane tasks of my daily walk of life. As a newlywed, I find such inspiration in witnessing couples go through pregnancy and parenting successfully, and I would be remiss to ever forget their strength in these moments. I would also be remiss to ever forget God's goodness. I look forward to a life of more miracles as the Aunt to such an amazing group of little girls.

Read more about TTTS here. Read more about Ross & MaKenzie's story here & here.

Maebyn's 1st Birthday Threads

Yum & Fun

Larkyn Ellen & Truette Lyn: Born August 12, 2013

Uncle Jordan & Aunt Steph

Leaving the Hospital {woohoo!}

Cobalt Crush

If you walked into my closet-of-old, you would have been confronted with four colors: black, white, gray and denim. Every shirt-in-awhile, you would have stumbled upon something yellow or red, but its presence would have felt entirely out of place. As a recent college graduate, my budget was limited, and I couldn't bare to spend my hard-earned teacher dollars {which didn't come easy} on something that {I thought} could only be worn once. I'm also nearly positive that I rotated five outfits through every five workdays for my first year as a working professional {classy}. My new-found appreciation for color-blocking, pattern-playing and monochrome-matching has led to a deep appreciation for anything not of the black-and-white family.

My husband and I enjoy playing random psyche games like "Would you rather...?" and "If you could only...?" to establish unrealistic parameters for our lives. Questions include: Would you rather be forced to eat your own toenails or have your eyebrows shaved off? If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what song would it be? Obviously {or hopefully}, we would never be forced to make these decisions, but the answers are so comically amusing - and most times, require such intense thought - that we get lost for hours in a sea of inquiry. I can recall one question, however, that required only a split second of decision: If you could only wear one color for the rest of your life, what color would it be?

Blue. Boom. Done.

From cerulean to navy, I haven't met a blue I didn't like {which very much bodes in my favor as a Kentucky resident}, and I'm currently crushing hard on cobalt. There is a certain radiance and richness to it that screams neon without the eye-piercing dazzle {although I also love me a good neon every now and again}. This bright blue is my new black.

Cobalt Bottoms // Gap 1969 always skinny jeans + butterfly blouse {similar style here and color here}, J. Crew Cece flats {similar color here} & Michael Kors Jet Set watch

Cobalt Top // Target Xhilaration tank, Joe's black skinny jeans, Madewell skimmer flats {print also available here}, Coach handbag {same color here}, Tory Burch aviator sunglasses, Michael Kors Jet Set watch & Cara NY jewelry

Cobalt Details // J. Crew yellow lace dress {similar here} + Cece flats {similar color here}, Coach Madison Lindsay crossbody {similar color here} + sunglasses {similar style here}, Michael Kors Bradshaw watch & cobalt flower earrings

Dog Days of Summer

I. Love. My. Dogs. And, I feel completely justified in saying it with such emphasis because I do not have kids {yet}. That motherly, nurturing gene that exists in women is fulfilled in me by a 17-pound male Puggle who continually poops in our basement and a 75-pound female Boxer-Pit Bull who takes up three-quarters of our king size bed. I spoil them so rotten that my husband may {or may not} have said once or twice in our nearly one year of marriage, "I wish you loved me as much as the dogs." What he can't possibly understand is that I do not love them more, just different.

First of all, my girl Roxy is just that, my girl {although she would probably choose my husband if given the choice because I am convinced that she has a crush on him}. She has traveled with me through three states, four houses and five jobs. In a time in my life when I packed up everything I had ever known and moved 1,500 miles away from Colorado to Portland, Oregon, she was sitting in the passenger seat next to me. Then, again, when I packed up everything from Portland to move 3,000 miles to Louisville, Kentucky, she was in the back seat. She was a very stable part of a very unstable time in my life. Frank, on the other hand, is my little prince. He prances around the house, following in every single one of my footsteps, and it is not possible for him to sit anywhere without human contact. He does not have the potential to hurt even a fly {although he tries}, and I recently discovered that he viciously attacks all of our mail when the poor delivery man slides it into our door mail slot. His personality is unparalleled, which is what made it so devastating when we came home from church on Sunday and he started yelping every time we went to pick him up. All we kept saying was, "Something is really wrong with him," and yet neither of us wanted to fork over the hundreds of dollars to go to an emergency clinic on a Sunday afternoon.

Time out. Before you go and call us bad pet owners, here's the down low on Roxy's life up to this point. She is approximately five. I rescued her at three-months-old. Two years ago, she got hit by a Land Rover going 40 MPH on a Friday night while visiting my future in-laws. We were forced to rush her to an emergency clinic where she stayed for a week while they performed surgery to reconstruct her pelvis {yes!}. I couldn't afford it, but I had nice parents and a decent credit card. Six months ago, she blew out her knee including a full tear of the ACL. My husband and I were faced with, yet again, a hurt {but relatively healthy} dog and a hefty bill. We just found out last week that she broke off a piece of the knee implant, which will inevitably mean another surgery {thank you, Roxy}. Time in.

So, as any 21st-century pet-owner would do, I Googled. I scoured for every possible reason that my little dog would not want to be picked up. I went from constipation to bulging disk and back to constipation. I resorted to feeding him wet food mixed with canned pumpkin since he refused to drink water and wouldn't go to the bathroom. I snuggled him all night {as any good mom would do} and got him to the vet first thing in the morning {after crappy sleep and a 6:30 AM run that had me in tears for fear that I'd be taking my dog to his death bed in a few hours}. My hope was restored when I grabbed his leash for the outing and he started running around me in circles like the Frank-of-old; the second miracle happened when he finally pooped on our way into the vet after going dormant for over 24 hours. Hallelujah. All was right with the world. His back is still bothering him, but the vet said it's nothing that a few doggie pain killers and muscle relaxers {mixed lovingly with canned pumpkin} can't fix. Compared to Roxy, it was a surprisingly cheap day. I don't know how much I would have spent to make his pain go away, but I can tell you one thing: the number in my head was probably {much} higher than the number in my husband's head. Thankfully, that battle was saved for another day.

Roxy in Her Prime {pre-surgeries}

My Traveling Co-Pilot

Roxy Post-Pelvis Surgery

My Little Prince

Frank's Water Bowl

Best Friends

She a Gold Digger

Once upon a time {in a land far, far away}, I hated gold jewelry. It distinctly reminded me of something that my grandmother {or any grandmother} would wear, and I couldn't help but stare at it in disgust. When I hit my mid-twenties, I started singing a {much different} tune. Now, if it's gold, I'm probably wearing it {or at least wishing that I was wearing it}. Something about gold pieces just screams sexy-chic, and they have the ability to make any outfit go from drab to fab. Gold. Bam. Insta-droolworthiness. I have five staple gold goodies that I rotate {rather religiously} through my wardrobe:

1. Gemvara Twine Wedding Band :: I am absolutely in love with my vintage, 100-year-old solitaire diamond engagement ring. When I started shopping for my wedding band, I knew that I wanted something simple that would take nothing away from the diamond's sheer wow-ness. Since the setting was platinum, I also knew that I wanted something gold. Yes, some people naysayed my optimism in mixing metals, but I could not be happier with the selection. The simplicity of the gold twine band next to the power of my stunning solitaire {truly} never gets old.

Gold + Navy + Nude // Francesca's striped dress {similar here}, J. Crew schoolboy blazer, Jessica Simpson Calie pumps, Target belt, Solitaire + Gemvara twine wedding band, Inga Creations earrings, Michael Kors Hamilton tote & Jet Set watch

Michael Kors Jet Set watch + Gemvara twine wedding band

2. Michael Kors Jet Set Watch :: This watch is the staple piece of my jewelry collection. You are hard-pressed to find me wearing anything else. My favorite part about it is, once again, its sheer simplicity. There are no numbers. There are no diamonds. It is just a perfect shade and finish of gold that compliments every possible outfit combination.

Monochrome Blue + Gold // BDG colorblock Chambray {similar here and here}, J. Crew Tippi sweater + Cece flats, Gap velvet skinny jeans & Michael Kors Jet Set watch

3. Inga Creations Tusk Necklace :: Aspen-designer Emily Gustafson loves gold just as much as I do, which means that I keep her jewelry line on heavy repeat. My newest favorite piece is an antler strung on a gold chain wrapped perfectly in gold wire {totally Colorado, right?}. Enter code "PUPSANDPUMPS" at checkout, and she'll treat you to 20% off your order {woohoo!}.

My recent haul from Inga Creations

Dressed Up.

{or} Dressed Down.

4. MIA Limited Edition Elana Flats :: I am semi-embarrassed to admit that I had to trade in my Tory Burch Reva flats a few months ago. The elastic backs were digging into my heels so badly that, by the end of the day, I was sporting them as clogs. Plus, I over-pronate ridiculously far {running lingo for "my ankles roll in"}, and anything with an elastic back just doesn't bode in my favor. I started a mad hunt for a pair of black flats with gold detail, and I found these gems. Love them. Plus, super comfortable {in 1/2 size up}.

Gap corduroy skinny jeans, J. Crew Factory herringbone tank, Zara pearl necklace, MIA Limited Edition Elana Flats, Michael Kors Hamilton tote & Jet Set watch

5. Madewell Skimmer Flats {similar here} :: Finally, my Dorothy shoes. While clicking these suckers together won't get me home after a long night out, the gold glitter stays perfectly in tact, and they are sure to garner plenty of compliments {trust}.

Jason Aldean Concert // Blank NYC coated denim + Tory Burch Amanda logo clutch + Madewell skimmer flats {similar here}

I'm a Sucker {for Chambray}.

I still remember my fourth grade yearbook picture. My hair was curled in tight tendrils {a product of the foam rollers my mom had used to cover my head the night before}. My tongue stuck out from a gaping hole on the side of my mouth where I had recently lost a tooth. More importantly, I was wearing a denim button-down tee with a bolo tie {yes, you read that correctly} strategically placed beneath my shirt collar. Little did I know that 20-some-odd years later my elementary look would be making a comeback. I spent hours scavenging for a replica of the photo {if not only to just prove my previous claim}, but when you've moved as many times as I have in the last ten years, these small things are no longer easily accessible {or, more likely, they no longer physically exist}. Fortunately for you, I was able to locate some oh-so-stylish, replica snapshots of the look.

Savage Bolo Tie

Susan Caplan Exclusive for ASOS Vintage 70s Bolo Bull Tie

I would probably swap the bolo for something a little {or a lot} more feminine {i.e. pearls}, but there is something about the denim shirt that makes my heart swoon {maybe because it pairs so perfectly with colored and printed bottoms}. I wear chambray {on average} 2-3 times a week, and I have absolutely no shame in admitting this stat. I have proudly organized an entire section of my closet in devotion to my growing chambray habit, and I have heard on more than one occasion from my husband, "I'm embarrassed to say this, but sometimes, I wish I could wear your clothes." Nothing to be embarrassed about, honey. The number of chambray button-downs and popovers grows exponentially in our household, so as of late, I had been jonesing for something a little different {enter the chambray dress}. While in London, I found exactly what I had in mind at a trendy chain called Uniqlo. It was love at first sight {and second and third}, and I could hardly wait to bring it home to explore all the possibilities. I recently decided to take it for a spin on a mid-week lunch date. I had six seniors on my basketball team last season, and all of them {minus one} are leaving for college in the next couple weeks. I treated them to a hearty {and not-so-healthy} throng of chicken wings and nachos. Apparently, during a "bathroom" break, they ran out to my car and covered my windows in obscure signage {including "Honk. It's my Birthday!" on the back windshield}. I spent my entire ride home feeling pleased with my chambray threads while waving thanks to those who honked so spiritedly.

Uniqlo chambray dress {similar here and here}, navy tights {love these}, Target belt, Zara pearl necklace, J. Crew Cece ballet flats, Michael Kors Hamilton tote & Jet Set watch

Lunch Date with My Girls

I got punked.

Chambray Love Affair // [top right] Gap polka dot chambray {similar here} + [bottom left] BDG colorblock chambray {similar here and here} + [bottom right] J. Crew chambray popover

My niece Maebyn rocking baby chambray // Gap long sleeve {0-12 months}

Chambray + Printed Denim // Gap chambray shirt, Gap 1969 camo skinny jeans {sold out but similar colors here} + bracelet {loving this}, J. Crew Janey neon flats, Coach boyfriend watch & Rebecca Minkoff navy mini mac

Chambray + Colored Denim // J. Crew chambray popover, 7 for All Mankind yellow skinny jeans {similar here}, Marc by Marc Jacobs ankle boots {similar here}, Tory Burch Amanda logo clutch crossbody & Michael Kors Jet Set watch