Furball

I was introduced to the most strange and wonderful mashup of hangout conventions.
A Cafe. With cats wandering around. In a rented apartment. Running as a real business. In a gated community highrise, unmarked and on the 7th floor.

I still have no idea how my colleagues at the office found out about this place, but it was seriously fun. We went during a weekend a little while back and I'm really considering taking my kitty to check it out sometime during the break. If she'll stay in a purse to travel on the bus. Don't know if she'll let that fly, though.

So, was a black sweater a good choice for visiting a room full of hairballs? Probably not, but I sure enjoyed myself. Miles and Eddie were wildly curious about where I'd been when they smelled me later.

 

Nearing the End of Semester 1

Well, folks, I think all of the Western World's holiday breaks have already come and gone. And China has only had a 3-day celebration of the new calendar year (which I worked Saturday and Sunday prior to it to "make up the days")... so I am really looking forward to rubbing in my sloth when the Soochow University semester ends next week. 18 week semesters (!) deserve a nice long break, so I'm especially grateful that the whole country builds in a nice long hiatus to celebrate Chinese New Year. 

Rob is heading to the States solo next week and I'll be hanging with my critters and kiddo bump (who is still smallish) here in China. I'm a little sad not to have the opportunity to travel to use some of this extended break time, but I'm not going to say a peep because it's several weeks of quiet, training and adjusting with critters, and the chance to do some shopping without having to work around any sort of schedule. I like that.

Neutral Fail

Pants: Zara...Turtleneck: J Crew Outlet...Blazer: Gap...Jacket: BB Dakota via Piperlime...Shoes: BCBGeneration via Ross...Bag: Longchamp knockoff

I'm not really sold on this one, but, I wore it out of the house for a day, so it's on the blog. Accountability, transparency. Sometimes I wear turtlenecks that don't have enough contrast with the paired blazer. That's the way it goes down every once in a while. They can't all be winners.

But that's the point of a daily style-geared blog. Wearability. Real-girl. Lifestyle. I'm never going to be high fashion and I'm not going to not post something just because it's a semi-dud. Because even though my readership relatively small, you guys are active and I'm not going to bull-crap any of you into thinking I'm on the ball all the time. That's the point of this for me, to have a reason to get to know all of you. So, if I post a stinker, I post a stinker, and we can have a good chuckle about it.

Hahaha, hey, did you guys see that one post where Kate matched her turtleneck to her hair and her blazer to her roots?

Flash Dance

Skirt: Gap, thrifted...Turtleneck: J Crew Factory...Belt: Target...Scarf: Gap...Boots: Biviel via Buffalo Exchange...Tights: Target...Bag: Longchamp knockoff

I have a love/hate relationship with this skirt. I thrifted it for just a few dollars, it's a lovely, well made, light grey, pleated beauty. The waistband is actually my waist size. But, the accordion pleats are tricky for sitting all day. It's about an inch too short to wear without tights (shows off my knobby knees but it's perfectly colored for springtime, which is infuriating). And it's got volume.

Guys, it's a darn good thing these photos get taken in the alley of sorts between our apartment buildings, blinds stay closed and cars can't see. I had a Marilyn Moment. Needless to say, I kept a hand delicately near my rump for the rest of my wandering around outside. Please tell me I'm not the only one to nearly flash my friends and neighbors.

On Loop

Skirt: Target...Turtleneck: Gap...Jacket: BB Dakota via Piperlime...Belt: Gap...Tights: Gap...Shoes: Naturalizer...Scarf: Target...Bag: Longchamp knockoff

If you were ever wondering about the true nature of my physique, take a little look at that photo just above. Yup, flat-chest magoo. I guess a sports bra during business hours will do that.

I've been taking work home with me and not touching it. Which really just means two things: I'm overambitious. And I'm a slacker. No excuses this weekend, though- it'a a list of dumb data entry, and that can be so easily accomplished while my attention is tuned into Will and Grace DVD's on loop.

Speaking of- what are your favorite shows that you cycle on DVD? I know I've given you guys my list of top 10 Movies, but here's our Show List:
That 70's Show (a solid 7% of our daily conversation is quotable moments from this show)
Will and Grace
How I Met Your Mother
L Word
The Office
Arrested Development. So witty, so cohesive. Can't wait for the new Netflix season.

Share! Fill me in! Get me hooked on something new!

Holiday Look Link Up

Skirt: Target...Turtleneck: J Crew Factory...Blazer: J Crew via Buffalo Exchange...Belt: Target...Shoes: Steve Madden...Bag: Longchamp knockoff

Festive, bright, but not blatant? Huzzah! This blazer may be more versatile than I was expecting it to be.

We had an awesome night with neighbors last evening! We were supposed to do a potluck outside in the courtyard, but the temps are dropping (overnight low of 33!! last night) and we didn't want to freeze our buns, so we aaaalmost cancelled. And that would have been a bummer, so 10 of us and 3 dogs packed into our place, gathered a bunch of tasty food, sipped wine, chatted, and enjoyed each others' company for the evening. What an awesome jumpstart on the holiday weekend! (P.S.- I'm glad the Mayans were wrong.)

So, what have you been wearing or plotting for Holiday Festive Wear? Link it up and meet some new friends! The link's going aaaaaall the way through next week- hook up your day of Christmas look, Saturday party looks, whatever you want.

Here's the rules for the Holiday Look Link Up:
Follow The Perpetual Student's Wife (via Google Friend Connect or BlogLovin')
Link the URL to a specific recent-ish post showing off your favorite holiday themed or holiday party look.
Link back to The Perpetual Student's Wife so your new friends can navigate easily.
Ummm.... that's it! Can't wait to see what you all are rockin' for Holiday Festivities.

Humbug?

Pants: Gap Really Skinny...Sweater: J Crew Outlet...Blazer: Gap...Boots: thrifted...Bag: Longchamp knockoff...Earrings: Banana Republic

I know I've said it, but I'm just not a Holiday Season kind of gal. Thanksgiving came, I enjoyed it thoroughly, and then it went. And my home is still un-decorated, no tree, a minimum of holiday treat-eating, zero holiday treat baking. Anne has had some incredibly adorable holiday decor posts lately, it makes me feel a little bit guilty for being such a Scrooge. Go check her blog out, you'll be so glad you did (her Pin to Present posts are killer!) So, another neutral outfit for me today. And I think I'll force myself next week to post nothing but Kate-style Holiday Looks. Which probably means the holiday-ish aspect of the outfits will be subtle as crap, but at least I'll feel more festive.

(PS, how do you guys feel about the possibility of a Friday Holiday Look link up? I'll host if you're game!)

Happy Friday, you all! Eat something peperminty and send jingle bell vibes my way. I need to get in the spirit!

Now I Know

Skirt: Banana Republic...Sweater: J Crew Factory...Coat: via Piperlime...Tights: Gap...Shoes: Biviel via DSW...Earrings: Old Navy...Shades: Coach via TJ Maxx...Bag: Longchamp knock-off

I was rushing yesterday morning, so I got really crappy photos of this look, but holy poop, the fit of the whole thing was awesome. I usually avoid this skirt because it isn't a tapered pencil, it just drops straight down from my hips, and my personal opinion is that it looks less than stellar at my knobby knees. Duh, Kate. Tights. Solve that ridiculous problem with tone-on-tone tights. And back into the consistant rotation this skirt will go. Anyway, the long, slim, lean pairing contrasted with a fuzzy turtleneck and my favorite makeseverythinglookfashionableandelegant winter coat and I felt ready and confident for my second Board Meeting.

Speaking of- we hosted the meeting at an Elementary school that does a really amazing arts-based after school program every Wednesday evening. We saw one of our staff members doing Djembe drumming and another awesome art teacher doing blind contour drawing with the kids (watch the video and give this a whirl- it's a difficult skill to cultivate). Fun fact: teaching kids to hear and replicate rhythm and drumming patterns reinforces pattern recognition. What else is auditory pattern intensive? Reading. Yup- focus on patterns and rhythm with your kids. It will help with their comprehension and reading skills. No joke. How cool is that?!

Tense

Skirt: thrifted and refashioned...Sweater: J Crew Outlet...Jacket: Banana Republic...Shoes: Naturalizer...Belt: Gap...Bag: D&B via Buffalo Exchange

HA! I just realized that my shoulders are pretty much up to my ears in these photos... this look was photo'd just before my Guy left town to interview. And I was nervous. And while I'm grinning in the photos, my body language absolutely tells the story of what I was feeling all of last week.

PS, he feels like he did well, had good interaction with the Dean, had a shared vision of how to teach an integrated curriculum, was asked lots of specifics about his thoughts and opinions on certain things. We won't count on anything, but at least we know he represented himself well. And we'll hear between now and the middle of January. So, not much to do but wait until his flight lands at midnight and go to pick him up tonight. And let him work on writing his dissertation.

I'm linking up, you know, since it's Wednesday. Pleated Poppy's What I Wore Wednesday, Rolled up Pretty's Whatever Wherever Wednesday. Join the fun!