6 Skirts I Love to Teach in

Last fall, I shared nine graphic t-shirts that are a staple of my teacher wardrobe. In that post, I talked about my favorite way to wear graphic tees: with a printed skirt. In fact, I probably wear a skirt 90 percent of the time for teaching. They're easy to move in, appropriate and professional, and an easy way to share my personality.

This skirt revelation isn't exactly new, especially for those of you who've been following the blog for awhile, but you've probably noticed a change in the overall style of skirts I'm wearing. I used to wear a lot of above-the-knee skirts (and dresses), but these days I find myself leaning toward midi and/or maxi styles most. The biggest reason for this change is that I work with middle-school-age kids, but I'm also trying to dress age appropriate. While above-the-knee lengths aren't inappropriate per se, they are a bit limiting, especially in terms of range of movement (bending over is pretty much out).

I'm also trying to teach my kids appropriate style choices in an indirect way. And it's working, too. How do I know? A new shop opened downtown recently, and one of my students asked me if I shop there. When I said yes, she got excited and said she would be shopping there, too.

Anyway, I digress.  Back on track! Skirts are a huge part of my wardrobe, both professionally and casually. The six skirts I'm sharing with you today are by no means the limit of my closet. In fact, they're just a very small fraction of it. These are the ones I find myself reaching for most often lately, and they're all still available.

For sizing reference, I'm 5'2" and weigh about 135 lbs. I typically wear size 6 or s/m in clothing.

Top Row

Purple Floral (M) - I love this skirt so much! I wear it all the time. It is lined so not see-through. The material is good quality. The waistband is elastic and the skirt is tiered. On me it's a maxi length, but I can wear flat shoes without it dragging the ground.

Red Floral (M) - I got this skirt to replace/upgrade an old favorite that's not school appropriate (you can see it here). I wanted the same color combination but in a longer length. The skirt is slightly shorter in the front, but I don't think it's as noticeable in real life as it is on the model. It's lined with an elastic waist.

White Floral (M) - This skirt is not a midi length. It is almost exactly knee-length on me. This skirt has an elastic waist but is not lined. However, it's not see-through. It has a cute ruffle detail at the hem. I love this one so much that I bought it in black, too.

Bottom Row

Dark Green Floral (L) - This skirt is a little bit fancier than the others in this post, but it's been a recent favorite so it had to make the list. What sets this skirt apart the most is the fact that it doesn't have an elastic waist. Instead, the waist is flat and has a zipper closure in the back. This skirt is an A-line silhouette so a bit slimmer fitting and is a smooth polyester material. Because of the zipper and lack of stretch, I sized up.

Bright Green Floral (M) - I've had this skirt for awhile, and it transitioned seamlessly into teaching. I love the bright floral pattern. It's hard to tell here, but the base of the skirt is black, so although it's bright, you can wear darker colors with it if you want. It's lined and has an elastic waist and tiered skirt. It's maxi length on me but doesn't drag the ground if I wear flats.

Dark Blue Floral (L) - Last but certainly not least is this new favorite that I've already worn multiple times. This skirt is a navy blue base with several colors worked into the floral pattern, making it one that can be mixed and matched in several different ways. It's got a floral waist and a cute little ruffle detail on the hem. It also has pockets, which is something the other skirts on this list sadly lack. Because I've never ordered this brand before, I did size up which means I've got a little more room in the hips, which I appreciate.

What I Read March 2024

If you read my latest post, then you'll already know how busy March was for my family. There were competitions and practices and homework and sickness and everything in between! So while the month started off strong in the reading department, it kind of fizzled as my attention became and then stayed divided. That said, I have two really good books to share with you this month, a nice fantasy book, a book that had so much potential, and the start of a series I'm currently reading. Let's dive in!

The Woman in the Library

Author: Sulari Gentill

We're starting with my one-woman-book-club pick, and can I just say WOW!  This murder mystery book kept me guessing until the very end! I did suspect the right killer pretty early on in the book but wasn't sure until the end.

Okay, so, this book is about a famous author who is writing her latest book, a murder mystery set in a library. She is sharing chapters of with a super fan who lives in the city she's based the book on and is giving her suggestions and insight on the places she's including. Then he starts sharing pictures of actual crime scenes, so the feds get involved. They convince the author to keep communicating and sharing chapters with her fan, who they believe is a serial killer.

If you like murder mysteries, read this book! If you like true crime docs, read this book!

The Lipstick Bureau

Author: Michelle Gable

I've read a lot of books set during World War II. It is, after all, when the greatest generation earned their title, and rightfully so. But this book was entirely different from others I've read in this time period. For one thing, it's told from the perspective of people who worked behind the scenes as part of the newly-formed OSS, which was the precursor to the CIA, and it focuses on the black propaganda created by the so-called Morale Operations unit that was stationed in Rome.

Niki is a newlywedded American citizen who escaped from her home country of Czechoslovakia just before it was taken over by the Nazis, leaving her parents and brother behind. She's recruited by the OSS because of her language skills but doesn't make it through spy training. She's assigned to Morale Operations where she is tasked with writing black propaganda targeted to Nazi troops. Her team, deemed the Lipstick Bureau, is sent to Rome after it's been liberated from Nazi control. While there, they create an underground Nazi magazine filled with false reports based on half-truths that they distribute behind enemy lines by any means possible. Their job is thankless and their success almost impossible to measure, but their work was an integral part of the Allies' success.

Little Fire

Author: Hollee Mands

Evangeline doesn't remember her past. Declan is haunted by his, especially the little girl whose death he believes is his fault. During an attack on Evangeline's village, the two end up in the demonic realm together. Through their journey to get back home, Declan and Evangeline grow closer, and Declan realizes that she is his mate. It's an impossible situation: Declan is an archmage blessed with immortality, and Evangeline is a commoner, or so they all think. Eventually Evangeline gets her memories back and discovers that she is most definitely not human. She is the last surviving member of the Seelie fae with a rare but coveted power, a power that the Unseelie king will do anything to control.

This was a pretty decent romantasy. There were some parts where I got a bit confused because of unclear details, but overall it was fairly easy to follow. There were some unanswered questions at the end of the book, which I assume will be resolved in the next one. This book is billed as being part of a duet but able to read as a standalone.

Mates

Author: Mary Ann Weir

Posy is the runt of her pack, kept locked away and abused by her father until a group of alphas comes to investigate and rescues her. This is going to sound bad, but I don't remember very much of this book. Posy has a lot of trauma, and it makes many appearances, which is understandable considering what she's lived through. Other than finding her mates and the insta-love (that's kinda cringey to be honest), I don't really know what the point of the book, or series, is. In case you haven't figured it out, I won't be continuing.

 

Lost and Forgotten (Silver Falls University book 1-2)

Author: M. Sinclair

Effie doesn't remember anything from before she was 13. That's when she was bitten by a wolf and taken in by the White Claw Pack. She spent her teens being abused and bullied by everyone in her pack, then mysteriously gets a full scholarship to the prestigious Silver Falls University. Once there, she realizes that the way she grew up wasn't normal and that there's a lot more to herself than she previously thought.

I really like M. Sinclair, especially her character development. I'm currently in book 3 of this series, and I honestly feel like not much has happened. I was hoping for a little more action, like in her other series. Don't get me wrong: this is good and I'm not putting it down. I just wish the pacing was a little faster. Right now, I feel like I'm getting a lot of inner thoughts and not much movement in the actual plot.