Weekly Wisdom

Happy Sunday, friends! The year that was April is finally coming to a close, and the countdown is officially on for summer.

Last week was nuts. Our schedule was totally jacked up, and everyone's brains were fried - students and teachers. So this weekend has been all about rest and relaxation...and laundry. Man, I've been avoiding doing laundry for awhile, so it's a bit overwhelming at the moment...and I might be avoiding it still by writing this post.

Anyway, it's been pretty quiet here, so I don't have much to report. I've got the last few weeks of the school year mostly planned. I'm just putting the finishing touches on the final project I'm assigning. I'm excited about our last reading unit. We'll be looking at some of the myths surrounding Maui and watching Moana. Then, if it gets approved, we'll read the short story Jumanji and watch the original 90s movie version.

Have you signed up for my newsletter yet? I've decided to make this a monthly thing instead of weekly, since I'm terrible at keeping that schedule. But, as always, I'll still send out notices for bigger posts, like my annual Mother's Day Gift Guide, which is live now.

I think that's going to do it for me for today. Enjoy the rest of your weekend and have a wonderful first week of May!

2023 Mother's Day Gift Guide

20 Affordable Gift Ideas for Moms

It's time for my favorite post of the year! Mother's Day is quickly approaching, and now is the time to start thinking about the perfect gift for the mom-figure in your life.

This year, I have rounded up 20 gift ideas that span the gamut of possibilities. As always, all are gifts that I'd like to receive myself (or already have and use), and all, with the exception of two items, cost less than $100.

1. Kindle Paperwhite - For the mom who likes to read, this is a great gift (if she doesn't already have one). So many moms I know have the Kindle app on their phone already. This just takes it a step further! What I like about my paperwhite is that it is strictly for reading. There are no other apps or notifications to pop up and distract me. There's not really any glare and it's waterproof, so great for bubble baths, the beach, or poolside.

2. Cat Eyeglasses Holder - I feel like I always include something similar on these lists, but they are just so dang cute and practical.

3. Repurposed Book Tulips - I really enjoy repurposed book crafts, and it just so happens that tulips are one of my favorite flowers. You can get these in one of three colors.

4. Daily Journal with Prompts - I actually may buy this for myself, y'all. I have the best of intentions when it comes to journaling. I have so many just waiting to be filled with my thoughts and plans, but whenever I sit down to start writing, my mind is either so jumbled that the words make no sense or completely blank. Maybe a prompted journal is just what I need to get me back in the habit? What's great about this one is that it's not dated, so you get to fill that part in, but it does have enough prompts for one full year.

5. Pretty Picture Frame - I really like this vintage-looking one. It comes in four color options. The green is my favorite.

6. Pebble Family Portrait - I love things like this that represent our family but also blend seamlessly into our décor.

7. Stained Glass Window Hanging - I want one of these for the window that's over my kitchen sink...or maybe a set to hang in my office windows. Anyway, these are so pretty! There are seven to choose from, but the one that looks like a tulip is my favorite.

8. Makeup Brush Organizer - I'm not going to lie. I am always on the search for a better way to organize my beauty supplies. This one is so unique and a counter-space saver. Plus it comes with the pearls (which you can also get in hot pink)! It also claims to be dust-proof, which if it works would be amazing.

9. Mini Dresser - I'm including this on my list for strictly selfish reasons: I want one. There are three that I wouldn't say no to - this mini dresser, this teal cabinet, or this mauve one. They're all roughly the same size, but the inner shelving is set up a bit differently. All would be good makeup storage, I think.

10. Spa Kit in a Bag - I was browsing Etsy and stumbled onto this neat little gift idea. It comes with handmade bath salts, a candle, and bar of soap. The bag is customizable and reusable, and you can upgrade to add a face mist and lip balm. So cute, right?

11. Weekender Bag - It just so happens that I need a new weekender bag as my current bag's strap broke in such a way that I cannot repair it. I've actually been looking at this set for awhile. I like that it comes with a matching makeup bag and small shoulder bag. It's also the right size for a carry-on and has a feature that lets you put it over the handle of a rolling suitcase, which is convenient. The Ag20-pink flower is my favorite pattern.

12. New Purse - I'm a believer in the phrase, "A woman can never have too many bags or shoes," and Mother's Day is a perfect time to add to her bag collection. I am in love with this bucket bag, and it is not something I would buy for myself. There are 28 versions to choose from, but the three-printed pattern with the abstract flowers is my favorite.

13. Cute PJs - You really can't go wrong with any type of pajamas/loungewear. I really like this classic set. It comes in 20 different options, both solid and patterned.

14. Wireless Earbuds - Personally, I find Apple's AirPods highly uncomfortable. Maybe your mom's like me in that regard or she doesn't even have an iPhone. These earbuds should work with everything, and they've been blowing up on TikTok recently. These are perfect for music or audiobooks.

15. Desk Yoga Card Deck - This is another one of those gifts I just might buy for myself. I need this in my life! This deck has 52 different practices, from chair and standing to breath work.

16. Astrology Blanket - Blankets are always a good idea, and - surprisingly - this is the highest-priced item on my list this year. However, I fell in love as soon as I saw it and had to include it.

17. Crochet Animal DIY Kit - I keep seeing these advertised everywhere and am so intrigued. Crochet is not something I've ever done, and honestly I've always been a bit intimidated by it, but this kit comes with everything you need and is geared toward beginners.

18. Instant Camera - How many pictures do you have trapped on your phone? For moms, the answer is probably thousands. So many of our pictures never see the light of day. But this cute little instant camera is an inexpensive solution. Plus, it's just fun!

19. Retro Point & Shoot Camera Phone Converter - This is pretty cool. It's an attachment for your phone that not only makes it look more like an old-school point-and-shoot camera, but it also gives you a shutter button so that it's more like an actual camera, and you can use the attachment to attach your phone to a tripod.

20. Coffee Mug - I feel like a coffee cup or mug is the gift everyone turns to when in doubt, so I present to you these folksy designs from Natural Life. There are 16 designs to choose from, although two are just different colors of the same design (they're the 'vans' but look like campers to me). The camera is my favorite.

Weekly Wisdom

Happy Sunday, friends. We have finally made it to the last week of April and are in the home stretch for summer!

I was looking through my Facebook memories this morning, and on this day two years ago, I posted a status lamenting how long April felt. If I only I knew then what I know now... The two weeks between Spring Break and testing have been simultaneously the longest and shortest weeks of the school year so far.

This weekend has been mostly about relaxing. Alexis has been with grandparents, and I was recovering from a stomach bug that's been sweeping through the school. I missed one day of work but made sure I was there on Friday so my students got to have their library visit to do blackout poetry.

We technically wrapped up our poetry unit before National Poetry Month, but it wasn't that long ago for this to not be relevant. Plus, blackout poetry is honestly fun. Here's mine:

If you've never heard of blackout poetry before, it was a concept created by Austin Kleon to help overcome a case of writer's block. He originally used newspaper clippings, but you can use just about anything. Case in point, we used 'weeded books,' or books that have been pulled from our library's shelves due to damage or age. My poem is from an old Nancy Drew mystery. We had just enough time for students to get started - pick a page from a random book and choose the words to make your poem. Then a couple days this week, after testing, they'll get to finish their creation. They can go simple like mine above or get super creative and artistic. I'm not an artist so the traditional black-out method was my choice. Honestly, even though I didn't feel 100 percent, this activity was the highlight of my week.

 

We finally got to celebrate Alexis's birthday with some of her school friends last weekend. This year, since there are officially no more art places that offer kids' birthday parties on site, Alexis wanted to go to the trampoline park. We invited all of her classmates plus some old friends and cousins. All together we had about ten kids, which I think is the biggest party we've had yet. That second, blurry picture is a good representation of how most of the day went, lol.

I think that's got us all caught up. I hope everyone has a wonderful week. As Mr. Dahl said, find your twinkle!

Real Outfit Roundup: Spring Has Sprung

Spring has sprung, y'all. After a really warm Spring Break (first one I can remember in a long time) and our usual Easter cold snap, Spring is finally here to stay! How do I know? Our pecan trees are finally green again.

Anyway, there is no tired like teacher-in-the-spring tired. Testing is next week, so we've been spending every moment on review to make sure our kids are as prepared as they can be for a test we've never seen. For my classes, it's meant fast-paced days where we cover as many topics as we can...and a lot of moving around the classroom for me.

Our dress code is already pretty relaxed, but it's been even more so the last several days. I've worn jeans more than usual and - surprise, surprise - not snapped any photos of those outfits to share. But I do have five classroom-ready outfits to share with you, plus what I wore for Alexis's birthday party, and as a bonus, I'm going to end the post with links to the swimsuits and cover-ups I used for Spring Break.

Sizing info: I'm 5'2" and weigh about 135-140 pounds. I wear size 6 or s/m in most clothing and size 7 in shoes.

Shirt / Jacket / Skirt / Shoes

This was our first day back to school and work after Spring Break. I wanted to fully embrace the season so chose this gorgeous floral maxi skirt. It's the same people that made my blue gingham skirt, but the material is completely different. Whereas the blue gingham is a stiffer, thicker material, this one is more smooth in texture. It's tiered, although you won't see that unless you're looking very closely. The background of the floral pattern is black, but the peaches/oranges, greens, and whites/tans are definitely the focus here. This is the khaki color, and I'm wearing a medium.

I decided to stick with my go-to graphic t-shirt outfit formula. I mean, if it ain't broke... Anyway, I fell in love with this shirt as soon as I saw it. I know you can't fully read it because of my jacket, but it says perfectly imperfect in two different fonts. The material is nice and thick. It's soft and stretchy and fitted, which makes it perfect for tucking. The sleeves are cuffed, which I always think is a nice detail.

Because it was still pretty chilly following our Easter cold snap, I needed an extra layer, and I decided sandals would leave my feet too exposed. I'm not unhappy with the way the sneakers looked, but I can't wait to wear sandals with this skirt instead.

Shirt / Jeans (similar) / Sandals

Have you tried the swiss dot pattern yet? Man, I love it so much, especially in blouses. This raised pattern elevates a solid-colored top so much. Of course, the v-neck and flutter sleeves on this one don't hurt either. This shirt is so flowy without feeling like a tent. I'm wearing the medium here, but I'm confident the small would fit. The medium is a few inches longer than I'd like, but it doesn't really work as a tunic because it's too narrow to fit comfortably over my hips.

Anyway, I was really going for just a clean, neutral outfit that didn't feel boring. The shirt is a bit dark for spring, so I went with white jeans and these neutral platform espadrille sandals. I left the shirt untucked for no real particular reason. I honestly didn't even try it tucked in any way.

My sandals are a recent purchase. I've been looking at this style a lot recently but was hesitant to order a pair. Wider bands like that are tricky for me and often end up being uncomfortable, so color me impressed when I tried these on in the store.

Shirt / Skirt / Shoes

Oh, man, this was such a bad hair day for me, which is why my head is cropped out of this picture. Thankfully, my outfit made up for it.

Slip skirts have kinda become my thing, y'all. This one is such a pretty pattern, and I do like it, but we need to talk about it before you click 'add to cart.' First, it's verrrrrry thin and unlined, which wouldn't be a problem if the material were a little nicer (it had those annoying wrinkles from sitting after like five minutes, so there's that). There's no give at all, even in the waist, and the side slit is higher than I was anticipating. I know it's high on the model, but usually my height makes up for that! This time around, my height did not help, and the slit was almost too high (I had to be careful sitting, for sure). It's got a side zipper and no elastic in the waist, which is what I prefer in this type of skirt. I honestly feel like I could have sized up to a large and still been fine, so keep that in mind.

I paired this with a Stevie Nicks graphic tee that says, "Don't be a lady. Be legendary," and some strappy black sandals with a low heel. This style of shoe was popular when I was in college, and it's a trend I'm glad has come back around. Not only are they cute, but they're also usually comfortable. This pair is from Target, and I actually went down half a size.

Shirt / Shorts (similar) / Shoes

This is what I wore for Alexis's birthday party. My t-shirt says 'Be the Sunshine' and has a bit of leopard print mixed into the rays. I got this in a medium like I do most of my t-shirts, and it fits like a large in my opinion. In fact, I felt like I was swimming in extra material, so I used my twist-tee knot to tie it up in the front. I paired it with my green utility shorts and leopard print sneakers I wrote about in my last favorite things post.

Dress / Sandals

Does this dress look familiar? I got this specifically to wear to school, but the last time I wore it one of my students told me they could see through it, and I've been paranoid to wear it ever since. Then I remembered that I've got several things I could layer underneath it to fix that problem. So I layered a blank camisole and a pair of black bicycle shorts to create a sort-of shadow effect. Voila! Problem solved.

Shirt (Wantable) / Jacket / Jeans (similar) / Sandals

I wore this for an ELA teacher work day this past week. I've been reaching for my white jeans so often here lately, I feel like I need to get a second pair. Anyway, my blouse came in a Wantable box last year, but I'm just now getting around to wearing it. It's got a fun tropical pattern that makes me think of an island vacation. It's sleeveless and quite thin with a tied hem. I can't decide if it's a bit oversized or if I needed the next size down. I added my bleached denim jacket over the top since I knew we'd be in a cold room and kept my shoes neutral with my new sandals.

Now on to our bonus content! Below are the links to the swimsuits and coverups I wore on Spring Break.

 

Swimsuit / Coverup

This is the one swimsuit from last year that I never got around to wearing. It's a lot of fun, though, in that it's fully reversible, so you've got four different ways to wear it. And this coverup is my absolute favorite, especially with this swimsuit. It's the perfect compliment. We're not going to talk about my flip flops. They're a cheap pair I got just for the beach and have since thrown away. They were soooo uncomfortable.

 

Swimsuit / Coverup

This is my newest swimsuit. I love this color green. It instantly reminded me of a swimsuit I had in college that I wore until the elastic literally wore out. In fact, it was the swimsuit I took with me to Costa Rica for my study abroad, so lots of good memories associated with it. This swimsuit is like the grown-up version of that one. It's from AdoreMe, which can always be counted on for high-quality swimwear. The top ties in the back and around the neck. The bottoms have the cutest little tortoise-shell o-rings at the hips. My cover-up is just a simple one. It's probably my most versatile cover-up since it goes with literally any swimsuit.

8 Things I'm Loving Right Now

In life, there are a lot of things you don't truly understand until you experience them for yourself. Take Spring for teachers, for example. Specifically, the time between Spring Break and Summer vacation. It's like someone has magically sped up the clock, and you're racing the countdown to get everything done. In short, it's hectic, and everything feels very rushed, so that teacher tired takes on a whole new meaning.

That's where I find myself these days - experiencing a new level of teacher tired that leaves me feeling a bit disconnected from reality when I get home. It feels a little bit like crashing after drinking an energy drink.

But there is still joy to be found, and I'm finding it with these eight things!

Leopard Print Sneakers - It feels a bit counter-intuitive to be talking about leopard-print anything in Spring, but these sneakers have been one of my go-to pairs of shoes for the past several weeks. They, surprisingly, go with almost everything, and add an unexpected pop of personality to most outfits. They look like Converse but cost a whole lot less.

Slip Skirts - This is one of those 90s trends that I was too young to take advantage of, but I am grabbing onto it with both hands this time around. In fact, I'm pretty sure slip skirts have become part of my personality.

Croc Tote - I've been using this tote as a carry-all for the past several months. I love that it's sleek enough to pass as an oversized purse but sturdy enough to be able to throw in a few things from school or even a laptop.

It's a 10! Miracle Leave-In Spray - I've used this product off-and-on for a few years, but ever since I cut my hair off, it's been a favorite.

Sprinkle Insulated Cup - This came in my Spring FabFitFun box. It is such a fun print and is the perfect size. It's meant, I think, for cold drinks, but it keeps my coffee warm for several hours. The only thing I wish it had that it doesn't is a way of closing the hole you drink from.

Katie Kime Melamine Plates - These were also in my FabFitFun box. I love the fun mums print and the color. I'm also a big fan of the raised edges, which makes these almost bowl-like.

Kate Spade Sunglasses - I have a bit of an obsession with sunglasses but rarely, if ever, buy designer, so when these aviators came in my FabFitFun box, I squealed with excitement. The only thing that would make them better is if they had my prescription.

Mayfair Witches series - For once, my husband and I aren't behind on a series! We really enjoyed season one and can't wait for season two to come out. For those not in the know, this series is based on Anne Rice's The Lives of the Mayfair Witches book series. I have not read the book series, as I'm not a big fan of her writing style, so I can't speak as to how closely the show follows the storyline.

Weekly Wisdom + Spring Break Recap

This week's motivation felt appropriate since it was raining when I sat down to write this post yesterday. We've had a lot of rain lately - the river is so high right now! - but thankfully most of our spring break was dry and warm.

My mom, Alexis, and I spent three days down at the beach. It's the first overnight girls' trip we've done that wasn't camping. We had so much fun, and it was a much-needed time away from the real world.

 

We spent most of our time on the beach, but we also did some exploring in the surrounding area. We stayed in Mexico Beach at a newly-rebuilt hotel; the original was destroyed in Hurricane Michael. The area has built back up nicely in the years since the storm, but it's still not a big tourist trap, which is nice for those of us who don't like crowds. We got Alexis a boogie board to play in the waves with, and she had the best time with it. The water was still cold, but it was warm enough that we didn't freeze (and truth be told, any later in the year and the water in the Gulf feels like a bathtub).

 

Port St. Joe is just a short drive away, and that's where we did most of our eating. They've got a cute little downtown district full of local places to eat and shop. I think my favorite place we ate was Joe Mama's Wood Fired Grill and Pizza. Their bruschetta was amazing! Our last day there we climbed the lighthouse, which was relocated from Cape San Blas in 2014 after it was shut down by Eglin AFB. It was a steep climb but worth it when we got to go out on the gallery (balcony).

 

One day we drove a bit extra to explore Appalachicola, which I'd never before visited. We ate at a place called The Owl Tap Room, which was a fun experience, saw the big fishing boats on the river, and explored their historic downtown district. Appalachicola is a fishing town most known for its oysters. The downtown area was filled with honeysuckle and smelled heavenly.

I didn't post all of the pictures I took to my actual feed, but I did share most of them in my stories, which I've now added as a highlight, if you'd like to check them all out.

Friday was Alexis's 8th birthday. Since it was Spring Break and Easter weekend all rolled into one, we decided to wait until next weekend to have her party, but we did celebrate her special day by taking her to a local fun park where we played putt-putt, rode go-karts, played in the arcade, and, Alexis's favorite part, bumper boats.

Saturday was our rest day, which worked out perfectly considering the all-day rain we had. And today we're splitting time between Chris's family and mine for Easter.

Tomorrow it's back to work and school. It's hard to believe the school year is this close to being over! We've got Milestones testing in two weeks, so my classes will be reviewing and preparing for that. And that's about as far as I've planned ahead at this point. Speaking of...I need to get my lesson plans finalized so I can upload them.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Easter Sunday and a good week!

What I Read March 2023

It feels like I didn't read much of anything in March if I'm being honest. I started five new series, though, so I guess that's saying something. Not all of them will be continued, however, for various reasons. I also ventured out of my comfort zone into a genre that I typically avoid and read what might be the best cliffhanger I've ever experienced. My book club pick for the month knocked it out of the park, and I'm really enjoying the series Alexis and I are reading together at bedtime. Let's dive into the review!

Knightfall (Tangled Crowns series #1)

Author: Ann Denton

This book kept showing up in my recommendations list, so I finally caved and read it. Essentially, a princess runs away from her kingdom because the magic she possesses will ultimately kill her and her bonded guards. But when she overhears a threat to kill her sister, she returns to the castle only to find her mother, the queen, on her deathbed, the men who were selected to be her guards furious, and war on the horizon. Honestly, it wasn't the worst story I've ever read, but I felt like everything was very rushed, and I had a hard time really liking many of the characters.

Of Glass and Lavender (The Ascension Rising series #1)

Author: K.R. Rainbolt 

Apparently I was on a bit of a vampire kick in March seeing as how this is the first of two vampire-themed series. I don't know that I've read something that was vampire-centric since the Twilight series first debuted (before they became movies). There for awhile it was all vampires, all the time, and it just felt so overdone with nothing new and exciting, and I was just over it. But the cover of this book caught my attention, and the blurb sounded different than other things I've read. It's an interesting premise, but I didn't really relate well to the characters. They felt very closed off to me, and for that reason I haven't made up my mind whether to continue with this series.

Wild Knight (Midnight Empire: The Tower #1)

Author: Annabel Chase

This was a quirky read. I enjoyed the MFC, and I found the plot line to be engaging. Not only is this vampire-centric, but it's also post-apocalyptic, which is another trope I tend to avoid because they're always dark and angsty and not something I'm usually into. This one was dark, literally, because the sun has been blotted out by volcanic ash from the eruption of the world's super-volcanoes. Vampires are now the rulers of everything with witches keeping oxygen and plant-life going. So definitely a different take on the end-of-the-world journey.

Finding You (The Holt Family series #1)

Author: T.M. Cromer

As much as it pains me to say this, I did not enjoy this book nearly as much as the Thorne books. It was magical but not in the same way. The main character, Samantha, has psychic visions, and her siblings have similar abilities, but none of them perform magic. In this book, Samantha loses her soul mate in an accident, but she doesn't believe he is really dead. Fearing she might take her own life, her family has her admitted into a mental health facility, where Samantha meets a doctor who reawakens her ability to love.

This book was honestly just so sad. I don't know if the rest of the books in this series will be like that, but I certainly hope not.

Beautiful Ruins

Author: Jess Walters

Now for this month's One Woman Book Club pick. It took me literally all month to read this, but not because it was difficult to get through. Quite the opposite actually. I forced myself to savor this one and read it at a slower pace. This was a masterfully-written dual timeline book. While the present timeline was written in chronological order, the past timeline was not, at least not entirely. And yet, I never felt lost or confused with the storyline. It made perfect sense.

In the 1960s, an actress who believes she is dying shows up at a run-down hotel on an isolated Italian island. While there, she learns that the set doctor lied about her condition to get her away from the star of the movie, Richard Burton, whose child she is carrying. Instead of terminating the pregnancy as expected, Dee keeps the baby, marrying an author she met at the hotel and passing the baby off as his. This story follows all the things that happen after that, while revisiting the past to explain the why of it all.

The Accidental Apprentice (Wilderlore series #1)

Author: Amanda Foody

This is the series Alexis and I are currently reading aloud at bedtime, but it's a really fun story. Barclay lives in Dullshire, a town that not only has no magic but also fears it and the beasts that grant it. When he's out on a mushroom-finding mission for his master, Barclay accidentally bonds with a high-level Beast that turns him into what's known as a Lore Keeper. This transformation gets him kicked out of his hometown and set on a path to what will become his new life. Barclay travels to Sycomore, a Lore town, where he competes in a trial for wannabe Lore apprentices and finds himself facing off against a dangerous Lore Keeper set on gaining ultimate power.

 

Locked Up Liars (Saint View Prison series #1)

Author: Elle Thorpe

This is not a genre I typically read, but I read an excerpt on Facebook before I even knew the title and got hooked. Then I read the blurb and it sounded different than any other prison book I've tried. Essentially, one of the main characters is arrested for killing his ex, a murder he did not commit and that his ex's sister is now trying to solve. In the process, she takes a teaching position at the prison and enlists the help of a hotshot attorney and reluctant prison guard. This book was incredibly well-written and the plot line is complex and engaging, and the ending! Man, I have never read a cliffhanger like this one that had me literally on the edge of my seat. I can't wait to see where the rest of this series goes.

Spring Outfits for Teachers

Spring Break is finally here, and before I essentially check out for the next week, I've got an outfit roundup to share with you. We've had the typical back-and-forth spring weather the south is known for this past month, so I've been getting good use out of my layers.

Sizing info: I'm 5'2" and weigh about 140 lbs. I typically wear size small or 6-8 in clothes and size 7 in shoes.

Shirt / Skirt / Shoes

This blue gingham skirt is one of my favorites. It's got an elastic waist and a slimmer silhouette. The material is pretty thick, too, so wrinkles aren't a big concern with prolonged sitting nor is it see-through. It's tiered but in a subtle way. The only thing it's missing is pockets. I love it paired with this 'sweet like honey' graphic t-shirt that I found unexpectedly at Rural King. It was still too cool for sandals, so I went with my faux leather white tennis shoes.

Shirt / Jacket / Skirt / Shoes

I've worn a very similar version of this outfit before, but it was a summer version. This time around, I needed a jacket for a bit of warmth, and I capped it all off with my navy flats.

Shirt (old) / Pants / Shoes

I've had this blouse for about a decade now, and I still love it just as much now as I did then. Statement sleeves, embroidered flowers, classic navy stripes - what's not to love? And it pairs perfectly with these Democracy pants. They are such a good color for spring. I got them in a Wantable box. I absolutely love this style of pants. They've got a wide elastic waistband that lays flat and doesn't fold or wrinkle throughout the day, which is something I struggle with with pretty much all pants. These are the Absolution ankle skimmer pants in Baton Rouge Pink. They're a little on the pricy side compared to what I typically buy, but trust me - they are so worth it.

Sweater (similar) / Pants / Shoes (similar)

Our weather swung back to winter for a few days, so I pulled out a cozy sweater, but I wasn't ready to say goodbye to Spring so I kept the colors neutral with tan and white. My sweater is no longer available, but I've linked to a similar one.

Here's a better look at my sneakers. I like the high-top look, but I also feel like they're not quite my style. These, however, felt more like me with the zippered sides and clean black look. They almost look like a wedge sneaker, but they don't give me any extra height. Frustratingly, I can't find these on the website, and I've had them less than a month.

Shirt / Jacket (similar) / Skirt (unavailable) / Sandals

It was finally warm enough to wear sandals! Okay, so not really, but these were the best shoes for this outfit. This skirt, y'all. I'm in love. It's a slip skirt, but it's got a mesh over-layer. There's no side slit, but it's got lots of stretch so it's easy to move in. I kept the rest of my outfit simple since the skirt is clearly the star. For some reason, I can't find this skirt on Target's website. It's the Wild Fable brand and still available in my local store.

My wedge sandals are new. The heel is just under four inches, and there's a small platform under the toes, making them fairly comfortable to wear all day. The braided strap is pretty snug, though, so if you're between shoe sizes, you might want to go up a half size.

Dress / Jacket (similar) / Shoes / Bag

This slip dress actually got its own post recently, but I really did wear it in real life, so it gets shared again. It has adjustable straps and a slit that reaches up to about knee height. The bodice is pretty fittedd but the back is smocked so it's not uncomfortable.

Shirt / Skirt / Bag

I like this outfit, but I also don't like this outfit. I think it works but may be too much. I don't know. I'm on the fence, and I cannot for the life of me remember what shoes I wore!

Dress / Vest (similar) / Sandals (similar) / Bag

If this outfit seems familiar, it's because it's one of my most often repeated. I love this dress so much. This is what I wore to a festival one weekend. It was warm enough I could have worn the dress on its own, but I wanted my shoulders covered to avoid sunburn so I added the vest. Usually I leave it undone, but I felt like I wanted a bit more definition at my waist so I buttoned the bottom two buttons. Since we'd be doing a lot of walking, I went with flat sandals, so I used my Twist-Tee Knot to keep the hem from dragging the ground.

Shirt (similar) / Skirt (similar) / Shoes

This outfit was a pain to get to work the way I wanted it to. On the one hand, I love all the colors together. On the other, this blouse refused to tuck nicely, so I had to improvise with an old-school trick. I gathered all the loose material in the middle of the back, tied a ponytail holder around it, then tucked it under and rolled the hem the rest of the way around so it had a more fitted look. Then all I had to worry about was making sure my skirt didn't sit too low on my hips and the puff sleeves stayed at my elbows. I finished the look with my new tan crocheted wedges, which are the perfect neutral shoe.

Dress / Shoes / Bag

I originally got this dress to wear on St. Patrick's Day, but then we had a teacher work day so no students, and it stayed in my closet. I brought it out this past week knowing that if I didn't get it in before Spring Break, I might not get a chance to wear it again for months. Plus, we had another almost cold day. I'm not 100 percent happy with the white sneakers, but it was not warm enough for sandals this day. In fact...

...when I got home, I changed into a sweatshirt and joggers. This is what I look like 70 percent of the time.

Shirt / Skirt (similar) / Shoes

This rainbow skirt has been in my closet for years. It's the one item I've never been able to donate. This go 'round, I paired it with my Super Mario Bros. graphic tee (after some of my students voted for it in an Instagram poll) and my new braided white wedge sandals. The blues weren't quite right, but it was still a fun outfit.