Christmas Outfit Inspiration

The holiday season is upon us, and that means lots of time spent gathered together with family and friends. Do you know what you're wearing?

I love watching cheesy Hallmark Christmas movies. Yes, I know that the plot is always the same, but there's just something about the over-the-top holiday goodness with which they fill them. I love the decorations that are one step away from being gaudy (and secretly wish I could transform my own home into a Hallmark Christmas wonderland), and I especially love the festive fashion. These movies always leave me wondering who is having these type of gatherings and where my invitation is.

That said, our holidays aren't filled with a never-ending line-up of parties, and the ones we do attend are low-key. Still, I take every opportunity I can to dress up, and this year there are lots of holiday-ready looks out there. I've rounded up some of my favorites for you.

*This post contains affiliate links. By clicking on one of the links below, I may earn a small commission from your purchase at no additional cost to you. Thanks for supporting me!

Sheer Sleeve Blouse | Cableknit Cardigan | Cropped Cableknit Turtleneck

White Lace Blouse | Red Taffeta Skirt | Satin Slip Skirt

Red Wide-Leg Pants | Flower Slingbacks

You can't go wrong with cozy knits, especially when you pair them with fancy bottoms. Cable-knit is always a winner in my opinion, and the cropped style of both the cardigan and turtleneck above work nicely with high-waisted trends. The two blouses are easily dressed down with jeans but also blend seamlessly into a fancier outfit. I think all of the pieces above mix-and-match nicely, and most of them are currently in my Amazon cart.

Plaid Maxi Dress | Red Ruched Ruffle Dress | Bow Dress

Velvet Dress | Tie-Back Plaid Dress | Feather Trimmed Shirt + Skirt

Dresses are always a good option. They're effortless and look like you tried much harder than you actually did. I especially love the red bow dress, the green velvet, and the tie-back plaid dresses, but the two-piece feather-trimmed outfit is so much fun.

Lace-Sleeve Knit Top | "Ugly" Christmas Cardigan | Buffalo Plaid Vest

Plaid Pants | Fair Isle Sweater | Plaid Puff Sleeve Blouse

White Christmas Graphic T-shirt | Bow Heels | Embellished Slingbacks

Maybe you don't need a whole new outfit this holiday season. Here are some odds and ends that will help your look feel fresh. I absolutely adore the "ugly" Christmas cardigan, and the White Christmas graphic tee is currently in my Amazon cart. I can confirm that the Fair Isle sweater is incredibly soft and not scratchy, and I own the lace-sleeve top in another color.

Updating My Closet: 9 Work-Ready Pieces for Cooler Weather

I know it's been autumn for awhile, but where I live, the seasons don't follow a set schedule. I get so jealous when I see people putting their summer clothes into storage and hanging up their cold weather wardrobe. We can't do that here. Summer's like that guest that just won't leave. You never know when it'll pop back up with a sweat-inducing day.

Still, I like to dress seasonally appropriate, even if I can't don chunky sweaters and cozy knits. For me, it's all about darker, warmer colors and adding in lightweight textures that mimic the knits of the season without suffocating me with unneeded warmth.

Over the last two years, I've been transitioning my closet back into a workwear-friendly zone that is teacher appropriate and classroom approved. In this day and age, teachers dress a lot more casually than they did when I was a student, and it's something I have a hard time wrapping my head around. I certainly don't picture myself wearing skirt suits or heels, but I do try to strike that balance of business and casual to create a look that feels like me but also helps model to my students what appropriate dressing looks like.

I try to add one or two new pieces to my closet each month. My goal is to replace needed items (like my black skirt), fill in any gaps (white button down), and update anything that feels dated (plaid skirt). These are the most recent things I've ordered from Amazon to help spruce up my cold-weather wardrobe.

*This post contains affiliate links. By clicking and shopping one of my links, I may earn a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting me!

Black Pleated Skirt | Oversized White Button Down | Knotted Headbands

Sweatshirt Dress | Brown Plaid Skirt | Green Eyelet Top

Long-Sleeve Undershirts | Corduroy Pinafore Dress | Orange Wide-Leg Pants

25 Gift Ideas for Working Moms

 
The most wonderful time of the year is finally here! Have you started your holiday shopping yet? If you've been hanging around the blog for awhile, then you'll know that an early shopper I am not. However, I am feeling pretty good about getting this year's Working Mom's Gift Guide up and running before December.

This annual post has become one of my favorites. As a working mom, I know what it's like to never feel like you have enough time, as well as that feeling of never getting quite what you want (probably because you were so busy doing for others that you forgot to ask for yourself, but we're getting off topic).

These days I'm all about comfort and convenience. I want to make the most of the time I have and feel good doing whatever it is I'm doing. This year's gift list is a reflection of that with 25 ideas designed to make moms life easier and/or more comfortable.

As always, these gifts are meant to inspire your holiday shopping list, and I tried to find items that would appeal to women of all ages and interests. I hope this helps you find the perfect present for the mom in your life.

Straightener Brush - This is actually on my own wish list this year. This straightener brush is also available as a comb and has great reviews. It's supposed to be especially efficient for curly and wavy hair.

Heatless Curling Set - Unless you've been living under a rock, you'll know that these are all the rage right now for creating effortless, heatless curls while you sleep. I'm all for simplifying my morning routine so that I can set my alarm later.

Decorative Hair Clips - How cute are these? I might actually wear my hair up more often if I had something as pretty as this to hold it up.

Makeup Bag - A new makeup bag is never a bad gift idea, especially when it's as cute as this one. It comes in several other colors and patterns.

Loungewear - When I'm not working, I love to be comfortable around the house. This loungewear set is stylish and comes in a bunch of colors.

Cozy Pajamas - You can never go wrong with pajamas. Pajamas are honestly one of the last things I think to buy for myself, so I end up wearing the same old, worn-out sets long after they need replacing.

Satin Eye Mask - The older I've gotten, the harder it is for me to sleep if not in total darkness. Enter the satin sleep mask. Not only does it help me sleep better at night, it's stylish.

Slipper Booties - Y'all know I love me some slipper booties, and these are too cute. They kind of look like Uggs but without the Uggs price tag. They've got hard bottoms so you can wear them outside if needed.

Flare Leggings - Who'd've thunk these style leggings would come back in style so quick? Get mom a new pair so she can not only relive the good old days but also be current and trendy.

Classic Black Slip Skirt - Help simplify mom's outfit planning with a classic black slip skirt. This will never go out of style.

Socks - I personally think socks are always a good gift idea, and I love these ones from Natural Life.

Chic Crossbody - If your mom is anything like me, she will carry the same purse until it falls apart. So why not buy her a new, on trend crossbody to replace the bag she's likely been toting for far too long.

Leather Backpack - Sometimes a purse just won't cut it, but mom deserves more than a student-style backpack. This leather one is chic and stylish but also big enough to hold all her essentials.

Weekender Bag - I finally bought myself one of these, and it is perfect, so now I'm recommending it to everyone. This is the perfect size bag for a weekend or short-ish overnight trip. I especially love the built-in shoe storage on the bottom of the bag.

Travel Packing Cubes - Make packing easier with these handy cubes. I have a set (not these), and I love that they help me keep my suitcase organized and neat.

Kodak Instant Print Camera - In the age of the cell phone, people rarely print pictures anymore. But I still like having printed photographic memories, and this new take on the polaroid camera is so much fun.

Desk Organizer - Keep mom's desk nice and organized (unlike mine) with this pretty set. Comes in several color options.

Blue Light Blocking Glasses - Work these days usually means spending too many hours looking at a screen. Help protect mom's eyes with these blue light blocking glasses, available as readers or with no corrections.

Wireless Charger - This wireless charger will help ensure mom's phone stays alive throughout the work day without taking up precious desk space.

Stick-On Screen Cleaners - If your mom is anything like me, she can't stand a dirty phone screen. These reusable screen cleaners stick to your phone's case so they're always within reach. These also work on laptop and tablet screens.

Mini Fridge - Put the 'mini' in mini-fridge with this extra-space-friendly, super cute, six-canned-drink cooler. This micro fridge takes up minimal space and has a super cool vintage look. It also has options for regular outlet plugs as well as a DC charger.

Crockpot Electric Lunchbox - This mini crockpot will take mom's desk dining to the next level.

Minute Egg Maker - Make breakfast faster and simpler with this one-minute egg maker. Simply crack your egg into the dish, cover, and microwave for one minute, and voila! A healthy breakfast that didn't make you late for work. Plus, how fun is this chicken design?

Inspirational Quote Calendar - Whether it gets hung in her office or at home, this calendar will keep mom inspired all year long with Natural Life's most-loved 'chirps' of 2024.

Guided Daily Journal - Every year I have grand intentions of journaling, and every year I fail to carry it out. I'm not saying a guided journal would solve that problem, but I'm also not saying it wouldn't. At the very least, it would give me something to write about every day.

*This post contains affiliate links. If you choose to shop, Mommy the Journalist may earn a small percentage at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support this holiday season. Merry Christmas!

Real Outfit Roundup: 10 Fall Outfits for Teachers

I did not intend for another week and a half to pass before I had a post ready for you, but that's life. Anyway, I've got eleven outfits from the past month to share with you. These include a couple of homecoming week outfits, one of which definitely doesn't really fit the fall vibe, but 

I've been trying to do better at keeping my Shop My Instagram page updated since I've not been so great at regular posting, so most of these have already been posted there. You can keep up with that by clicking the "Shop My Instagram" link at the top of this page or by following my Like to Know It Shop directly. I've also got a widget in my sidebar that shows the six most recent outfits I've shared.

Anyway, on to the fashion. For size reference, I'm 5'2" and weigh about 140 lbs. I usually wear size 6 or s/m in clothing and size 7 in shoes.

Shirt / Skirt / Sneakers

This was the first day of Homecoming week, and teachers were strongly encouraged to participate in the dress-up days. Day one was hat day, which obviously I'm not wearing in this picture. I don't wear hats unless I'm at the beach or on a boat, but I do have one of those newsboy-style hats from way back when they were trendy, so I decided to style an outfit that wouldn't feel out of place while wearing it...although I did not wear the hat all day long.

I love this skirt. It's a layered mesh slip skirt, so very late 90s-early 2000s vibes. It's super stretchy so very comfy. I don't remember how I landed on my spooky book shirt, but this is a fun, seasonally-appropriate graphic tee. It's really soft and not super fitted. Because everything about the outfit felt casual, I went with my favorite Adidas sneakers.

Shirt / Skirt (similar) / Shoes

The theme for this day was color wars. Teachers were supposed to wear a blue shirt, so I styled my outfit around this bright blue blouse. My skirt is several years old, but my blouse is still available. It comes in lots of colors.

Shirt / Joggers / Boots (similar)

Yep, you guessed it. Another dress-up day. The theme was camouflage. My shirt is just a basic, long-sleeve t-shirt that I picked up at Walmart for $5. My pants are still available and under $20. My boots are old, but I linked to a really similar pair by the same brand.

Dress / Boots (similar)

I love this dress so much. The color is "coral" but in person it's like a coffee brown, but it's so pretty. This color, unfortunately, is almost sold out, but it also comes in green and burgundy. It's not lined, which makes it perfect for our never-feels-like-fall fall.

My boots are from 2022 so no longer available, but they are my favorite tall black boots. They're faux suede and the perfect height. Despite having a heel, they're comfortable for all day wear, even as a teacher. I linked to a similar pair by the same brand.

Sweater / Camisole / Skirt / Shoes

I really enjoyed this outfit, even though I was definitely overdressed for the weather. Yay for air conditioning.

This sweater is such a classic, from the houndstooth print to the pearl buttons. It can definitely be worn on its own, fully buttoned up, but because it was warm this day, I wanted to be able to lose it if I got too hot, so I added a pop of red underneath with a basic camisole.

My skirt is a few years old but still available. It's got undershorts built in, which helps keep it school appropriate.

I showed these Mary Janes in my last post with the note that I didn't know if I'd be able to keep wearing them. Well, I'm happy to report that I was able to stretch them out by wearing them around the house with socks. Now they aren't too tight and no longer rub blisters on my heels.

Shirt (similar) / Overalls / Boots (similar)

I was feeling inspired by the Addams family for this outfit, but I absolutely love the way it turned out. These overalls have been such a great addition to my teacher wardrobe. They're a nice sturdy material, which was a nice surprise from the flimsy linen I was expecting.

My blouse is really old. I think it came in a StitchFix box, but there is a really cute, similar blouse I've been eyeing on Amazon with a more modern statement sleeve that I linked to. I do love a statement sleeve, and these trumpet/bell sleeves are always a winner in my book.

I finished the look with a pair of combat boots.

Shirt / Pants (similar) / Belt / Shoes (similar)

I really enjoyed this outfit at the time that I wore it. The neutral colors with pops of red felt very seasonally-appropriate without smothering me with too-thick fabrics. Unfortunately, the only part of this outfit that is still available with no restrictions is the belt.

My blouse is only available in limited sizes, but it does come in two other options and if you browse the website, there are some similar style shirts in different patterns. My pants aren't even available to link to, which is really sad because they are a great pair of pants.

My flats are several years old but surprisingly still on trend because they're true ballet flats, little bow on the toe and all. They're no longer available, but I linked to an even more on-trend style in the same color.

Sweater (similar) / Pants / Shoes

I like the idea of this outfit, but in person, the proportions didn't really work. I'm wondering if it's because my shoes were flat. Certainly, adding a bit of height to the bottom would have helped, but I think the sweater was too boxy for the cropped, wide-leg style of the pants.

Anyway, my sweater is sadly no longer available, but I linked to something that's kind of similar. My pants are still available in most sizes, as are my Mary Janes.

Shirt / Skirt / Belt / Boots

My mom inspired me to put this outfit together. You've seen all these pieces before, just not together. Everything is still available. I do recommend sizing up in the skirt as it has very little give in the denim. I sized up to an 8 to keep the buttons from pulling and gaping, which is really unattractive.

Sweater / Skirt / Boots (similar)

Hello, academia. This outfit made me feel like a teacher.

This skirt, while not labeled bodycon, might as well be. I sized up to a medium but probably could have gone with the large and had no issues. I did find it odd that the zipper closure was on the right side instead of the left, which makes it awkward to maneuver closed. It's doable, just not convenient. The skirt is lined, and the liner is attached in a way that you don't have to worry about it riding up and causing lumps or peeking out the bottom.

My polo sweater is from last year, but it's still available...I think. At the very least, the one I linked to is by the same brand and looks remarkably similar.

Shirt / Pants (similar) / Boots

My students are always so funny when I wear things they consider "theirs." Let me share with you a conversation from the day I wore this.

Student: (incredulous) You're wearing cargo pants?!

Me: (looking at my neighbor teacher who's my age; she smirks) Y'all didn't invent these.

Other Teacher: Nope. We did.

Anyway, I picked up these cargo parachute pants from Walmart. They're no longer available on the website, but I'm pretty sure I saw them still in my local store. At any rate, I linked to a pair that looks pretty similar.

My t-shirt is one of my favorite graphic tees, and my boots are my go-to this time of year for practically every outfit.

Photo Dump: Life Lately (or Why I Haven't Been Posting)

I feel like I should begin this post with an apology for the lack of posts recently, but that would be like apologizing for my life, and despite being incredibly busy, it's been good lately. So instead of jumping head first back into regular posting, I thought it would be a good idea to get you caught up on what's been happening outside of the blog.

If you follow me on Instagram or Facebook, then you'll already know that after a nearly twenty year break, I have re-entered the world of show pigs with my daughter. She expressed an interest in trying it out, so my dad made it happen. We've had Oink (mostly white) and Moo (mostly black) for a little over a month now, and it has been an adventure. They are Hampshire pigs, both barrows (male), and full of personality.

Shortly after getting Oink and Moo, we went on Fall Break. The first part of the week we took a quick trip to Port St. Joe. It was lovely as always.

 

 

We ended the week with a trip to the Georgia National Fair. This trip served a dual purpose. It allowed Alexis to see her first-ever hog show and us to get an idea of what's changed in the show world, plus we got to have fun at the actual fair. We ate lots of fair food and rode most of the rides. Alexis even tried some rides she's previously been afraid of.

 

 

 

 

We can't forget Halloween and trick-or-treating. We actually celebrated a couple of weekends early because of a school trip. This was our second year attending this event at our local state park, and it was just as fun.

 

 

This past week, Alexis traveled to Jekyll Island for her annual gifted class trip. Unfortunately, I was unable to go due to a pre-planned event at my own school (that I planned). Fortunately, my dad was able to take off work and go, for which I'm grateful. This year, the kids dissected sharks and got to go seining.

 

  

In other life news, I'm almost finished with part one of my gifted certification course. I've got one assignment left for this section, which is what I'll be working on this week. There are two more sections to go, unfortunately. This has been a tedious undertaking, and I cannot wait for it to be finished.

At school we finished up our first grammar unit with a fun food-themed project, practiced descriptive writing by making haunted houses, and dipped our toes into the world of research with a monster Halloween project. Up next, a research paper. Wish me luck teaching MLA format.

I got a sinus infection, which is a big reason why I haven't felt up to posting recently. It's also part of the reason why I haven't been reading much new lately, which led to me getting off-schedule with my book club. I'm about two months behind at the moment, but I think I can probably get caught up and back on track this month.

I do have some posts in the works, including a two-for-one reading roundup, an overdue outfit post, a product review, and at least one holiday gift guide.

And I think that's got you all caught up! Enjoy the rest of your weekend and have a wonderful first week of November.