Remix: Polka dot coat

So, the other day, I was in car rider line (I'm a teacher, I was opening doors, doing my bit), and the school's literacy facilitator said she liked my coat and I was like "Thanks! I bought it when I dropped my son off at daycare for the first time because I had major anxiety!" It was a car rider line overshare. These things happen. The literacy facilitator nodded awkwardly and then we said zero other things to each other. 

It's true, though, this is the coat I bought when I was flipping the flippity floppity (that's my new non-swear word I'm trying to use) out. I dropped Thomas off at daycare for two hours. I went to Target. I saw a polka-dotted coat. I did not NEED this coat and yet I DID! So I bought it. And it made me feel better for like 30 seconds. This coat is the equivalent of brownie-filled cookies. 

But, really, it's better than brownie-filled cookies because while it only offered fleeting emotional comfort, it has offered physical comfort for more than a year! This coat is warm! It's cute! It has polka dots!

This is the second year it's been my go-to winter coat. It matches everything. According to me. 

I was at dinner once talking about stripes and polka dots and how I love them, and my friend was like "But you don't wear them together, do you?!" and when I said I did, she was totally horrified. Horrified, I say!

Truth be told, I think I look a little crazier when I match polka-dots with polka-dots. I don't think I look bad, I just always ask "Do these polka dots match these other polka dots?"...

And the answer is always "YES!" So I say: Yay to polka dots. Yay to statement coats. Yay to anxiety purchases, awkward overshares and matching circles and stripes!

Rainy day slouch

I wanted to wear something oversized and slouchy, and, boy, did this outfit fit the bill! It had been raining for days (weeks!) so the boots were necessary, but it was also unseasonably warm so the short sleeves worked fine.

Thomas's outfit is 100 percent thrifted. He's looking fab as always. We wore these outfits on one of the last days of winter break (Oh how I miss winter break) doing typical Mommy and Tommy things -- reading books, buying groceries, going to pet stores to look at the birds.

Sidenote: Robert is not on board with the "Mommy and Tommy time" adorable rhyme. In that: He does not want Thomas to be called Tommy. His solution: We'll just call me "Momas." This is obviously a ridiculous idea.

Christmas polka dots

I've been straight up busy/sick (and also the mom of a sick kid, which is worse, but he's healthy now), and then all of a sudden WHAM, it's Christmas time and people are coming to my house and it is NOT clean (and that's a dog hair tumbleweed that just traveled over the hardwood floors, let's all ignore it together), and I'm all like "Thanks for visiting! Sorry I have no food in the house for you! I realize I should probably have some grown-up food for these visiting grown-ups!"

Luckily, my sister, who was visiting, has met me before and knows that I'm not the best housekeeper in the world (but I'm better than I was!), and while I may not have cream for her coffee, I do have an adorable baby boy and brownie-filled cookies!

So, yes. Merry early Christmas! I received a polka-dot purse (not pictured, but it's Betsey Johnson and amazing) and a polka-dot scarf.

I'm pretty easy to shop for! And I got to see my sister, and she tolerated my mess, and look at that adorable baby boy in his winter coat! It was good times for all!

Cat Square Christmas Parade

I used to cover the Cat Square Christmas Parade every year when I was a small-town reporter. It was absolutely one of my favorite things to cover. That is one crazy, country parade!

So, of course, it had to be Thomas's first parade, and, man, did he love it! Pictured above: What I wore. I don't have a front picture, but the back was cuter anyway. It was 70 degrees in December here in North Carolina!

Thomas was super into the parade. The marching band was his favorite part. ("It was his mama's favorite part! That's why it was his favorite part!" my friend told me. I do love some aggressive percussion.) Pictured above: Thomas asks himself "Does Santa rock? Or am I being mislead by this onesie?"

This parade is a for-real event. It lasts hours. There is tailgating. And something called "Cat Square Kool-Aide." (Beware of the Kool-Aide!)

And to conclude: Here is a picture of a woman riding a cow dressed up like Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. Because of Christmas. And Cat Square. An excellent combination!

Seeing Santa

 Thomas went to his first concert! And then he saw Santa afterwards. Both events did NOT go smoothly. I kind of saw the disaster coming, but my parents really wanted him to go, and I often "see disasters coming" and in reality everything ends up just fine. With Thomas, I try to take a "We'll try it" approach to public events... which has resulted in some awful brunches, but also some really amazing times.

Anyway, the concert was held in a very cool museum with an adorable kids section, which was great (and a creepy folk art section I did not enjoy because folk art is not at all my thing). Pictured above: adorable kids section of the museum. The concert was sit down, and I thought it was going to be casual, but then all these older ladies arrived in Chanel suits, and I was like "Whoa Nelly." Also: It was bluegrass (yay!) mixed with a string quartet (uh-oh). Thomas, in his flannel and his one-year-oldness, might have been able to hang through some bluegrass, but a classical music concert? Not so much. So he didn't stay long, but we did get to see Santa!

Santa totally scared Thomas, and there was not going to be a one-on-one moment with the Jolly Old Elf, but Thomas was cool with staring at him from my lap. Merry Christmas!

This is what I wore to hang with Santa. That sweater vest situation is my new favorite thing. So graphic! So comfortable! So warm! And the thrifted pants and second-hand clogs are my old favorite things (Love them. Wear them all the time.)

Happy holidays!

Remix - Denim jacket

Oh the jean jacket. So clean. So classic. So American. So easily remixed. 

I know the jacket was thrifted. I know I found it years ago for about $5 or so. I don't remember what I thought when I found it, but it was probably something like "Everyone needs a jean jacket. I don't have a jean jacket. I am lacking something everyone needs! I will buy this now."

Ever since, whenever I needed a jean jacket, I had one. Going to a Super Bowl party? Throw on your jean jacket! Shopping for a maternity bathing suit? Might as well do that in a jean jacket! Going to a matinee play? Put on that jean jacket, it might get chilly! Hanging out with giant a sculpture by Nikki de Saint Phalle? That sculpture would look really good with a jean jacket! And so on.

Feeling foxy

Thomas and I are loving fall in our sweaters (his is thrifted, mine not so much, but I couldn't resist the fox). Beautiful colors! Crisp, cool air! Clogs with polka-dot socks! What's not to love? Fall is the best.

Belmont in black and white

I had some serious black-and-white action going on during a recent visit to the little town of Belmont.

I wore this to a last-minute dinner in the town's cute little downtown. Just like I said in my last post: Boots are great for the mornings these days. Not so much the evenings. And so: In this photo, I am feeling a little toasty. Just a wee bit toasty.

Pumpkin Patch

Pumpkin patch time! It's fall. I have a kiddo. It's time to hit the farm and pick out  a pumpkin.

Thomas thought this one looked good. Actually, he felt pretty positively about all of them. He went up to each one and said "ball." Inaccurate, but understandable.

We met up with friends. Hey, little cutie! 

We went to the pumpkin patch (which was actually on a full-blown farm owned by a fellow teacher at my school), and I wore boots because it was a wee bit chilly. That's how it's been in the mornings: chilly. Then, the afternoon comes...

And it's like 80 degrees! What is that! I am so ready to commit to fall! Let's just have some consistent chilly weather, okay? Anyway, this picture is from later in the day (hence the Thomas outfit change into his ADORABLE bow-tie onesie). I wore sandals because boots are not conducive to 80-degree weather. When it's 80 degrees, you give your toes some freedom and go look at fountains.

Happy fall, y'all!

That '70s outfit

This is my '70s outfit. My Love shirt and brown clogs (oh those brown clogs are getting so much play these days) and high-waisted flare jeans. I used to be all about '50s style -- flared dresses and adorable heels, but I've now jumped ahead a few decades. The '70s were just so laid back, man. (In my mind. I wasn't actually there. But it seems like at least the clothes were pretty chill.) Related sidenote: I am really into John Denver right now. He was so aggressively uncool with his granny glasses, overuse of the phrase "far out" and constant cheerfulness. Way to be cool with your un-coolness! Coming soon: John Denver, style icon. (Did John Denver ever wear clogs? Discuss.)

In black and white (and color)

I used to love windy, rainy Saturdays. They were once my favorite kind of day. But, man, windy, rainy Saturdays make it a lot harder for me to keep my baby boy happy. This kid wants to be outside! And we've had a slew of rainy Saturdays, and I'm over it! Mommy and Tommy want to go play! (When we named Thomas, we said he would only ever be Thomas, never Tommy or Tom, but I break the rule when I talk about us having "Mommy and Tommy time" because rhyming is the best.)

These black and white pants are like pajama bottoms. And that striped shirt is nice and roomy and comfy too. (Also I might be over-wearing the brown clogs. They're just really nice in wet weather!) Thomas is looking a-mah-zing. His little moccasins and jeans are thrifted. I bought his shirt on Target online because it was the cutest, and I couldn't not.

Star Wars! My husband is the one who's supposed to be the geek, but I'm the one who loves Star Wars (the early movies, obviously). How cute is he? These pictures were taken during a nice, brief break in the rain. We decided to make use of it in the park. It was really, really lovely. Thomas just walked around and picked up leaves and threw them down. We saw a hawk flying in the sky. He pointed at all the dogs who walked by. 

I don't know. Sometimes I feel like I need more of a social life or I feel pangs of jealousy when talking with twenty-something co-workers who are footloose and fancy free, but mostly I just love my life the way it is. I love spending time with Thomas. He's so fun! He's so full of smiles. Like, he's really just a joyful person, and we have such a good time together.

 I think he went through another growth spurt, and his toddling has turned into expert walking. It kills me how old he is! When you're just an adult living your life, time is kind of chill and slow. When you have a fragile, beautiful, growing kiddo, you suddenly become hyper-aware of how temporal everything is, don't you? It makes you kind of a crazy person, but it also makes you a really grateful person. Children, man. They're the best. Time is fleeting. Enjoy their youth.

Dreary day

It just rained and rained and rained in North Carolina for what seemed like weeks. This picture was taken this past weekend when we braved Hurricane Joaquin to go visit my parents and my brother and his family (Thomas's cousins!). The drive really wasn't that bad. South Carolina was much harder hit, but it sure was dreary. You want to know what my kidlet likes? The outside. You want to know what I'm not that into? Being outside when it's raining. It makes for some conflict. Anyway, here we are in a brief respite from the rain. My boots and dress are thrifted. My hair is cut-off (very exciting), and my baby is adorable. Pictured behind me: An actual everyday pond and not the results of crazy rainfall.

Second-hand Sarah

There is a teacher at my school who has just really stunning style. "I think she shops at the stores I search for on eBay," I told my co-teacher. 

One such store? Anthropologie. It is such a rich lady's store. I've gone in and tried on clothes (with baby in tow even) at the actual bricks and mortar store, but I've never bought anything. I'm just too cheap. I just can't. Maybe for a really special occasion? But maybe not. I totally admire friends who buy pricey, but quality clothing sparingly and have that mythic "capsule wardrobe." Me? I spent too many years broke and thrifting like crazy. I am now addicted to second-hand and have unrealistic expectations about how much things should cost.

Maybe some day that will change, but maybe not. Pictured above: My new-to-me Anthropologie shirt bought through eBay. It is so so pretty. It is wearable art. It is my new boyfriend. I just can't with it. Love it. And I bought it for probably 1/3 of the original retail price. Treasure hunting at its best!

Stripes and stripes

 

If I claim polka dots always match polka dots, then should I also expect stripes to always go with stripes?

Sure. Why not. Stripes always go with stripes. Here's photo evidence. (Or not. Whatevs. This outfit is so comfy, I'm loving it no matter what. Soooooooo coooooomfortable.)

Animal Farm

You know that moment when you learn the book "Animal Farm" isn't just about animals, but is actually about the Russian Revolution? Yeah. I love that moment. You don't forget that moment. 

I did a book group last year with the highest of my high fifth-grade students, and, man, they dug in. They were so engaged in it, and they made really amazing connections. My big regret is I didn't have enough time at the end, so we sort of sped through it before summer vacation arrived. But: I'm totally going to teach it again! Literacy is the best, and I am the nerdy teacher who wears book shirts. (Proud of it, too!)

This pig? He is not to be trifled with. (Shirt bought on eBay, but originally from Out of Print.)

I combined my bookish tee with sneakers and a flippy skirt. I wore this to take Thomas to the Charlotte Nature Museum. In this outfit, we hung out with butterflies, pointed at an alligator, played with animal puppets and attempted (and failed) to listen to a read aloud. (Seriously. Thomas just stood up and walked out of the room all like "Nope. There are toys out there. I am going to the toys. I don't need to listen to this lady read about owls. Sorry not sorry.")

How cute is this happy nugget? Love those smiles! (Sidenote: I have decided not to get his hair cut yet. I just can't. Can't do it. Won't do it. Realize all the other boys in his class have had their hair cut. Don't care. Okay, do care, but not enough. Am fine with having a hippy child. We'll cut it some day. Not right not. Not gonna do it. Not gonna do it.)

Mom style

I feel like I am such a mom in this photo. I look happy, but tired. There are nugget clothes on the floor and a little nugget playing in the bath in the corner of the photo. Motherhood, man, it's the best.

I also feel like this is an awesome, accidental outfit. It's something I just threw together for mom-ing, but it's fabulous! Pattern mixing: A thing I love. Mom-ing: A thing I love even more!

New favorite

I wear a lot of dresses to work, and that's because I love dresses, but lately I've been gravitating to a very non-dress silhouette. I am loving the oversized shirt and cute, fitted pant. With clogs (duh). Loving it. 

Cute pattern alert! Pictured below: Me pointing at Thomas pointing at me as his daddy takes my picture. 

I feel like this look is so easy. So chill. So relaxed. So comfortable! (And, yet, somehow, also appropriately professional.) It's my new favorite for sure.

Calling it

 It's not officially fall, but whatever, I'm calling it: Fall is here!

Case in point: We went to a fair, hung out by its Halloween-esque haunted house, and the weather was NOT insanely hot! In fact, it was quite breezy and lovely. Hey there, fall! You're looking good!

Also looking good: These Dansko clogs. In my opinion. And maybe no one else's. I had a fellow teacher complain about her feet, and I suggested she try out this brand, and she was like "Those chunky nurse's shoes? No way!" And I was all like "They are amazing, and I love them." I guess we'll agree to disagree. This is America after all. 

My blue striped dress is so American. My foot-long, fair hot dog is so American. My wearing my hair in pigtails despite being in my 30s? So. American. 

We had a good time at the fair. The animals were the high point for sure. The prices were not! We didn't go on any rides, but maybe next time. I think Thomas would enjoy it a little more when he's a little older. This time around, he was happy to just stare at everything and point. He is all about staring and pointing these days. 

Here's a closing-of-the-post bonus picture. Please forgive this selfie's lighting and focus on Thomas's adorable "Soft Kitty" onesie. I have 100 percent sung him that song from "Big Bang Theory." It's so soothing!