Crystal Cardigan IRL (Casual, Easygoing Style)!

Crystal Cardigan and Stripes! by dinagideon featuring J Crew

Above is the outfit that I wore the day before we went to NYC. This was the same day that I had about a billion things to do, but because I knew I was going to Mint Condition to drop off some of my clothes for resale, I couldn't just show up in yoga pants (LOL). :) I figured this outfit was a nice mix of casual plus a bit of style and a bit of comfort.

If you would like to see any of these pieces closer, click on the polyvore, and then click on the individual items. The sandals are definitely still for sale, but the rest of the items are probably only on a popback basis only.


Sizes:
Cardigan: Size Small. I really don't know how J. Crew could justify trying to sell this (nylon) cardigan for over 100 dollars. Really? It is very pretty and I love the name (Crystal Cardigan) but come on now! That is a lot of money for something that could snag if you are not careful (think of your nylons and you will get an image of how delicate this cardigan is). I saw it at the Clearance center, and *almost* got it for 40, which is far more reasonable, but the two they had already were showing signs of small snags. I waited until the cardigan went on sale on-line and got it whenever they last had an extra20 off. It came in perfect condition, and I must say, it does a nice job of dressing up a fairly casual outfit.
Top: Size Small. This is from last spring and I had to get it altered as the straps are very long and if I were to wear it as it was originally, there would be a lot of decolletage on display (and since I have very little to show off, it would just look kind of sad). :)
Pants: Size 29. These are just crazy. Bought on sale from Anthropologie, the Pilcro Low Rise Slim Straight runs REALLY big. I read that you should size down at least one size, if not two. They weren't kidding. I think I should have sized down to a size 28 because by the end of the day I was hitching up the waistband. Other than it being a bit big, these are crazy comfortable and very nice looking jeans.
Shoes: Size 9.5. These are from Rachel Roy and are called the Sian. They are very edgy for me. I thought well I will give them a try and it turns out that I do like them a lot. This is an example of stepping out of your comfort zone and finding it suits you. (Can't say that for every time I have tried it, but it worked here.) I sized down, but because it has ankle holders, and I must have one ankle that is bigger than the other (weird, right?), I had to place TWO shoe pad thingies into the ankle portion to keep one of my ankles secured. (My right ankle is the skinny one.) After I did that, the shoes were perfect.

By the way, I took this photo of myself. I have found the perfect way of placing my smaller camera (the Olympus, not the huge Nikon) in a bowl (full of toys) and putting the timer on...and voila, perfect self-potraits! No more badly focused mirror shots for this lady!

Sorry for the wait on this outfit (and the many more to come), but I have "themed" posts upcoming--NYC outfits, Mommy Style Monday #6 (going out with the gals edition), and a Summer Dress Extravaganza--so I haven't really had a ton to work with. :)

Have a great day!

A Little Goldenrod for a Golden Day...Plus a Santarific Picture!!!

No polyvores today, just too freaking lazy to care. :) But I do have three photos of the outfit I am wearing today (woo-woo), and one photo of an outfit I think I wore back in September, and the best thing by far, a photo of the kids with Santa from last night.

So why did I entitle this post a "Golden Day?" I happen to be subbing today, for a 1/2 day, but the way this teacher's schedule worked out, I am only really "teaching" two classes, 45 minutes each. I will happily take a 1/2 day's pay for 1.5 hours of real work. This teacher I am subbing for is one of my very favorite people here at my former school, so I must say, I think she worked it out this way just to keep me happy!!! So thank YOU!


Cardigan: Willi Smith, Goldenrod Print, Size Medium, Fall 2009 (TJ Maxx brand). I wore it here last.
Top: J. Crew Outlet, Goldenrod, Size Small, Fall 2009.
Chinos: J. Crew, Grey, Size 10, Fall 2008.
Tennis Shoes: Adidas, worn by me for this blog ONLY when I walk home from school. BTW, yesterday, I said I was going to walk to that meeting? I got a ride...oh, well!
Necklace: Some company somewhere made this snowflake necklace. I wore it today because I hate snow and prefer to keep my snowflakes as decoration, not the real thing. :)


This is a Mr. Dina specialty...take some ridiculous pic of me adjusting while I am being photographed. Sigh. Doesn't he know that it wastes memory??? ;)



Coat: J. Crew, Double-Cloth Camino Coat, Dusty Blossom, Size 8, Fall 2009. Last seen on me here. I finally get to wear it for REAL. It is actually cold enough for this coat. Not that cold, of course, or else I would drag out my stadium-cloth. It is probably 45 outside and sunny...so just perfect. I also like that this fabric is pretty durable, so I know it will be fine under my backpack on my walk this afternoon.


This is from September. It was probably 75 and sunny that day. Oh, what a few months do to your wardrobe. I am highlighting this one because I like that it is yellow (like today's outfit), too.
Dress: Boden, Knitted Floral Dress (something like that), Yellow/Pewter, UK Size 12, Spring 2009. I was attracted to this print because it is so fresh and delightful. I received a lot of compliments on the dress and its print. Definitely not for the faint of heart, admittedly, but still a pleasure to wear and be seen in. The fabric is a knitted cotton, with a modal slip, so it is nice for summer and spring outings.
Shoes: Aerosoles, Grey Patent, Size 10, ????.
Necklace: J. Crew, Pearl Cluster Necklace, Spring 2009.

Watch for both outfits: My trusty Fossil.

And as promised, here is the pic of the kids with Santa. CW wasn't having it...the lollipop placated her for about two minutes, then the tears came quickly and strongly. BTW, Rex was great and loved it. His request? "Big Bakugon, PLEASE!"



Hope everyone's day is GOLDEN, too!

A Little Pink to Brighten Your Day (Featuring Sequin Tiered Ruffle Tissue Tank and the Jayne Dress)!!!

UPDATE: Happy Birthday to my girls HeidiG. (whose twin's birthday is today--heehee) and 3-Penny Princess (who celebrated a birthday last week). I hope you all got lots of J. Crew. ;)

Day Two of Two...and yes, I am publishing a post with today's outfit and polyvore AND an outfit from about a month ago. Yay! I will catch up, I will!

Untitled by dinagideon featuring J Crew

Today's outfit is this polyvore above. You have seen me wear all these pieces before...but I like this combo for today because it is:
1) NASTY outside...it has been raining (or monsooning) outside for hours. Thank goodness we were just over the front-line, else we would have had ice or snow. Ick.
2) A day where I am substituting AND I need to walk to a meeting after school (about 1.5 miles) AND I get to take the kids to see Santa (and I want to be festive).
3) It should clear up (sunshine and clouds later today), but if it doesn't, that trench coat (great fabric, Banana Republic) and umbrella should be handy on my walk.


Cardigan: J. Crew, Merino Crewneck Cardigan, Dusty Rose, Size Medium, Spring 2009. I wore it here last.
Top: J. Crew, Sequin Tiered Ruffle Tissue Tank, Slate, Size Extra-Small, Holiday 2009. I wore it here last.
Pants: J. Crew, Everyday Chinos, Quartz, Size 10 Regular, Spring 2009. I wore them here last.
Tennis Shoes: Adidas from a million years ago. :)
Necklace: Tiffany's, Apple Necklace, Given to me by Mr. Dina many years ago...seemed appropriate for teaching. ;)
Watch: My trusty Fossil.

No polyvore for Outfit #2. I could have made one, but eh, too tired!


Dress: J. Crew, Super 120s Jayne Dress, Tea Rose, Size 8, Spring 2009. This was an insanely popular dress when it came out. I didn't think it would work for me, but then I decided to give a whirl...and I really liked its shape on me. I bought this one off of ebay, as I did with the navy, but I decided to get the aqua color when it was on sale at jcrew.com. I am now realizing I don't really want or need three of these dresses, so if any of you want to buy the navy from me, let me know. ;) (I look fine in navy, but the tea rose and aqua make my skin tone sing...)
Belt: J. Crew, Superskinny Satin Belt, Aqua color, Size small, Holiday 2009. I really love this belt, as I love all of J. Crew's skinny belts. This is just the right punch of an opposite color to define the waist of this dress.
Shoes: Cole-Haan, Air Ada Low Pumps, Nude, Size 10. Nude heels or pumps? What can I say...love the look with a dress or skirt. :)

Do you all have any ideas on what cardigan or jacket might look nice with this dress or the aqua one? I worry about the neckline plus jacket/cardigan looking too fussy...any thoughts? Thank you!

Have a nice day...if we get the photo of the kids with Santa uploaded tonight, I will definitely share it tomorrow. Hohoho!

Golden Roses Cardigan and the Wool Pleated-Silk Chimera Jacket...Two Lovely Additions to My Wardrobe...

Guys, a semi-miracle has happened today...I am actually posting pictures and a polyvore of the outfit I wore TODAY! (I still have a backlog of photos from other outfits, but if I can post a set of two outfits a day for the next month or so, I should get caught up. YAY!)

Golden Roses on a Cardigan??? by dinagideon featuring J Crew

This is the polyvore of today's outfit. It includes a very lovely J. Crew Outlet piece, the Golden Roses Cardigan. I love this print, and am glad that the outlet is offering pieces like this up to the consumer. I bought it this weekend from the Lancaster outlet, in Pennsylvania. The saleslady said this was a particularly good seller. She was probably right, as there were only a few left. I also purchased a few necklaces and the Hayworth Giraffe cami. You know what I spent most of my (my husband's) money on? Crewcuts outlet stuff...OMG, this store was like the motherload. I bought the most darling jacket for CW that just so happens to match one of my coats...cannot wait to wear them together (yes, I am a big ole nerd like that). It is her Christmas gift, so you all will have to wait to see it. Rex got some goodies, but they are also Christmas gifts...

The rest of the polyvore is self-explanatory. Only beef I have? The tissue turtleneck has a falling-apart hem...ergh. I only have worn it once. I paid 9 bucks, so I am not going to complain much, but if I had paid full-price, I would be spitting mad.


Cardigan: J. Crew Outlet, size medium, winter 2009.
Turtleneck: J. Crew, size medium, winter 2008.
Cords: J. Crew, size 31 short, winter 2008.
Necklace: J. Crew, Magnolia-leaf, spring 2009.
Shoes: Aerosoles, Grey Patent Flats, size 10, ??? (got on clearance).

My pants, if you look closely, have water all over the bottom of the right leg...I accidentally turned on the spigot outside of the house and water came gushing out. Mr. Dina thought it was so funny...ha ha. :P


CDP--Where do my watermarks go??? Oh, well. Here is a close-up of the cardigan. This is a Mr. Dina special shot...take a photo when I am walking towards the camera. Blegh.


I took this at the coffee shop I was at with CW this morning. My computer can take photos. I took this shot for Mr. Dina to show him how cute CW looked. Mr. Dina agreed she looks PRECIOUS. I also met 3-Penny Princess for coffee...it was a lot of fun to see her and catch up...she is SO busy!!! I am glad she found a moment to just hang out...those moments are good for the soul. :)

Lady-Like Meets Office Party! by dinagideon featuring J Crew

The second outfit is from about a week ago...I went to an office party for Mr. Dina's work...it was all fancy-schmancy, so I knew I had to bring it. The Wool Pleated-Silk Chimera Jacket was the perfect addition to the dress I wore...


Jacket: J. Crew, Wool Pleated-Silk Chimera Jacket, Dusty Blossom, Size 4, Fall 2009.
Dress: J. Crew, Cecelia Silk Dress, Deep Atlantic (or something like that), Size 10, Winter 2008.
Necklace: J. Crew, Crystal and Pearl Pastiche Necklace, Pink Frost, Winter 2009.
Bracelet: J. Crew, Gold and Crystal Cluster Bracelet (I think), Fall 2009.
Shoes: Coach, Gold, Size 10, way back when...a long time ago.


The Chimera Jacket is made well, and the color and fabric is divine. One caveat...I bought two...one was at 150 minus a discount, and then one week later, I bought the second one for 99 dollars. I am SO glad I ordered two. The first one was a wreck. The pleating was all wrong on one side and barely tacked down. The second one (this one) was perfect. When I went to return the original Chimera, the ladies at the store were very concerned and put it in the defect pile right away (it so happened that one of the SAs was wearing the grey version, and hers was perfect, so she knew that my jacket was in BAD shape). There is a two-clasp closure to the front of this jacket, but on this night, I only used one of them (I think the bottom one).

I cannot wait to try this jacket with a tee and some jeans...the whole feminine with casual grunge look that is quite popular now. Obviously when I wore it for this evening out, I was going for more of a mid-80s Moonlighting look (although Mr. Dina says I would have had to been in soft focus...haha...so funny, Mr. Dina).

Check this jacket out on gigiofca, LizPoms, OneFashionistaDiva, and jillian, inc.


The Cecelia dress is such a beautiful creation. I know it is meant as an upscale bridesmaid look, but it works so well in the DC area as a party look...we tend to have more conservative, fancy events when we have parties.

I bought the ten, and it was lovely...just enough wiggle room to allow me to eat, drink, and be merry.

And you all be merry, too. :) Have a great Tuesday.

Forgot About This Outfit (Overdyed Cropped Matchsticks for Anyone?)...

Hi!!! I finally have commented back on the last FOUR posts. Oops. I forgot that I had taken that long. I guess travel does that to you, makes you a bit stupid and forgetful.

Speaking of travel, I am STILL recovering. There were multiple times on the trip (Thanksgiving visit to Mr. Dina's family) where I felt every imaginable feeling possible. Let's see there was EXTREME DESPAIR on the flight down (I cried nearly as much as Rex did--we were not the friends of anyone on that flight), there was FRUSTRATING ANGER when attempting to discipline him while many eyes watched me with either disbelief ("what? a mom who yells at her child? no, wrong!") or rudeness ("why is that woman letting her kid yell and scream and cry so much?"), and the ultimate, there was INCREDIBLE EXHAUSTION after attempting to put CW down for just one minute but she screamed and hollered like I was cutting off her toes because I wasn't holding her for every minute of every day. Sigh.

I made it through the trip intact...but by the end I had kind of thrown my hands up in the air and just let Mr. Dina start making the decisions. And if you know me, you know I don't give up control very often. :) (That said...once I had given up control, I felt better. Like A LOT better. It was nice not having to assert myself...I think I may try that more often. Too bad I waited till the last day to try it!!!)

No polyvore for today's blast from the past. This is simply a look I like for summer (yeah, haha, great timing there, dinagideon).

The outfit consists of:

Top: Navy Blue with graphic floral image shirt from Nordstrom's juniors' section, probably 2004? It FINALLY fits again! :) Yay!

Pants: Overdyed cropped matchstick denim in misty lavender from this summer, 2009, J. Crew. These are a 30. They are very comfy. LOVE THEM. Also loved the price (something like $30).

Flip-Flops: Metallic Atlantic Wedge Flops from last spring, 2009, J. Crew. Size 10.

Necklace: Scattered glass necklace from this summer, 2009, J. Crew. One of my favorite necklaces, I wear it a lot! (No longer for sale over at jcrew.com, either. Not surprised it sold out...)

Watch: My old standby, white leather Fossil watch.

Have a lovely day. I hope to update my Mid-Century Mom site soon. Wish me luck! :)

Boden Hotchpotch Dress Love!

I have some sort of cold or virus. Yuck. It is so bad that Mr. Dina was willing to take Rex to preschool and take care of CW this morning.

I am feeling *slightly* better...less aches, etc., but you can bet your bottom dollar that as soon as Rex goes down for his afternoon nap, I will be in my lovely bed taking another nap, too. My cold may make me all flushed looking and my hair is a fright, but at least I don't have any under-eye bags from not getting enough sleep. :)

This is an outfit I wore subbing two or three weeks ago. Boden does Hotchpotch prints every season, and it basically means that they take two discordant prints in a similar fabric and mesh them together in one seamless outfit. I have seen them take more than two print to make a hotchpotch item, but I tend to only buy the ones in two prints...the visual overload of three or more is a bit jarring.

Another thing about their hotchpotch items is that the prints are either in complementary colors (like yellow with purple or orange with blue) or they are in similar color schemes (which is what this hotchpotch dress is in--navy, green, and ivory).

Untitled by dinagideon featuring Cole Haan shoes

Items in this set:
Bodenusa.com dress, $138
Cole Haan shoes, $150

As you can see from the polyvore, the main print is a navy, green, and ivory ivy print which is enhanced (in my opinion) with a bib and shoulder and elbow fabric of navy and white small floral print.

The shoes are my beloved navy patent Cole-Haans. I love you, Cole-Haan patent pumps, and once momma starts to feel better will definitely show you off again...promise. :)

Here is the dress on me. I bought a 12 regular (which is an 8 regular here). I usually buy regulars in the dresses from Boden because I prefer the top half stay shorter and the length is usually fine. However, that said, I could have gone with a 10 long, but such is life. And now I believe all sizes are getting close to being sold out or are on a very long backorder. If your size is available, I say go for it. Here is the link to this dress on-line (I don't think the polyvore link is working).

Also, all but one of my items are still available for sale over at Cash from my Closet (the citron felted wool skirt has a potential buyer). :)

Have a great day, all!

If You Ever Substitute in a Library, Pull Out the Library Print Doll Dress!!!

I would be the worst J. Crew blogger if I had the chance to substitute in a School library and not wear the Library Print Doll Dress. This amazing dress has so many fans...created in Fall 2007 and featured all over the September 2007 Paris Catalog (you know, my FAVE)...this dress is a J. Crew Collection piece, 100% silk (the very special, heavy-weight silk that flows well) with an intricate print showing various scenes from a library.

For those of you new to my site, I have some pictures from the September 2007 Paris catalog up, and the library doll dress on Vanessa is one of the pages I uploaded. Remember, if you want to see them all, click on one of my labels that says either "Vanessa the model," or "Paris catalog" and you should be able to see all my posts on that catalog.

Library Print Doll Dress In Real Life by dinagideon featuring J Crew

Here is the polyvore for this outfit.


And here it is on me, without the cardigan. I would have loved to have worn it without the cardigan, but I was in a middle school and not a party, so I did the right thing and covered up. BTW, is CW's backside PRECIOUS? Love it!!! :)


And here I am, all conservative and ready for my stint in the library. BTW, only a handful of people "got" the dress. I am very disappointed in today's youth. :) Kidding...

Have a lovely Thursday...

P.S. HeidiG., is this one of those polyvores that you want me to put myself into? For you, anything...maybe when I get a moment, I will.

My Skinny Jeans Love My Crested Tee and My Annette Blouse...

This was an outfit I wore on Friday a few weeks ago. I wore the first outfit subbing, and the second outfit I wore to go hang out a restaurant with a good friend of mine (just me and her...BLISS). :)


The skinny jeans are really old (you can tell because they have the outdated wear on the thighs), but I don't care...these jeans are so comfortable. And since I was walking home from work that day (yep, I am back to the whole walking to and from school...I just don't do it as often)...I wanted to stay pretty casual. Plus it was a Friday, and the school is all "jeans on Friday, everyone." The jeans were purchased at Kohl's back in 2006, and are Levi's. The tee is the tissue beaded crest tee (only the weathered stone is still available) from this fall from J. Crew. The tunic is the featherweight cashmere tunic from J. Crew last spring (2009) in the celery color. The shoes are a very fun, and very old, pair of Keds I bought probably in 2004?

By the way, at one point I had taken off the tunic, and was needed desperately to help someone, so I quipped, "Well, I do have on my Superman shirt, so I know I can help you for sure." I actually made someone smile because it is true, the darn crest looks very "Superman-esque." (Not so much under the tunic, but full-on, no top layer covering the beading it definitely does...

Rex is always trying to either pose with me when I take photos or grab me to grab him "some orange juice, please." That day he was all about the juice. :)

Annette Blouse and Skinny Jeans! by dinagideon featuring J Crew

I did make a polyvore for the second outfit. This is the outfit I wore out with my friend.


And here it is, on me. I love this blouse, but I bought it really big (bought it when I was a few months post-partum), and now it fits me very blousey. I don't mind it being a bit big, but I definitely have to be careful of proportion with this top...so that is why I pulled it out with the skinny jeans.

The Annette blouse is in that beautiful honey glaze color that so many of you love. It is a really gorgeous hue. I wonder if any of the new items this winter will come in this shade???

You all have a nice night! Next up? Library Doll Dress (after all, I did substitute in a library last week)!!! ;)

A Long Forgotten Summer Outfit...Featuring Boden...

I kept meaning to post this outfit, but I believe I wanted to post it about the same time as jerkface mean commenter came along, and I think my brain just said "no" to posting this outfit. Crazy thing? This is just a simple outfit--tank by Boden, denim shorts by Calvin Klein, and sandals by J. Crew. It would be VERY hard to make fun of this outfit because making fun of this outfit is like making fun of 99% of people in America during the summer, because all of us wear some variation of this outfit when it is hot outside. :)

Simple Summer Outfit by dinagideon featuring J Crew shoes

Here is the polyvore so you can see the pieces individually. The tank is sold out, I believe, but if you like it sometimes these items will pop up on Ebay.

And here it is, on me. Yep, pretty basic, but a great, casual look for summer.

*********************************************************
NOVA residents: GENEROUS GEORGE'S is CLOSING. You read that right, one of the most revered family restaurants in the area is shutting its original location on the edge of Old Town Alexandria for good (Sunday, September 20, 2009 is its last day). The news came down yesterday, and since we wanted to celebrate baby CW's birthday with pizza, pasta, and good times, we went there for dinner. Well, our favorite waiter, Pedro, said "good thing you all came tonight." And we were like, "why?" Then he and the manager lady told us the news. Ugh. Poor Generous George's...it is a tough time for so many people, but it hurts way more and more deeply when it is a place that has fed the people of an area for well over thirty years. So the pink building on Duke Street will be no more...

That said, there are two good (well, okay) news regarding GG's...
1) There is a franchise location in Herndon you can visit. It is an hour away for us, but if we get a hankering, at least we know there is a place we can go...
and
2) If they can sell the building on Duke Street, they will try and find a smaller location somewhere close by to open the restaurant again. I really hope this can happen. If it does, I can guarantee that we will be there for baby CW's second birthday. The manager lady said that they will keep everyone updated on the progress of a potential new location on their website.

Okay, all, have a great weekend. We are having baby's birthday party tomorrow, so I know I will have a good time...

For Two Days of Summer School, I Wore the Pants...

Wooh! Let's hear it for two posts in one day. (I may not post tomorrow, I have to go to Richmond, so I may be making up for my absence early...)

So I know that when you think of summer, you don't think of pants. But I mixed it up anyhow because that is me, Miss Crazy! I have two outfits in this post and they have the whole "pants" thing in common.

If you have questions on these items, ask in the comments, and I will get to answer you...pinky swear.

Wallpaper Cardi! by dinagideon featuring J Crew

Here is the polyvore of outfit #1.


And here is outfit #1 on me! I know this looks like it belongs in the fall, but honestly, as long as I took the cardi off for the walk (this is a nice, brand-spanking new one that HeidiG. personally inspected for me and it has no holes and the pattern lines up...score), this outfit isn't that oppressive for July heat. The Saturday pants are especially lightweight...very nice for the heat. The pants are a size 10 and fit very nicely. An 8 would have been too tight in the hips.

Green and Yellow! by dinagideon featuring Old Navy

Here is the polyvore of outfit #2.


And here it is on me...I think I look young in this outfit. I really, really like it! :) I wore the red and blue version of this cardigan way back when, and loved it so much that I got it in another shade.

This outfit was also summer-friendly, as long as I didn't wear the cardigan on my walk to school.
By the way, the top is not J. Crew, it is actually Ann Taylor Loft from a long time ago. The denim is Old Navy and is a bit big, but I don't mind...they still work for me (although hopefully not for much longer...come on, last ten pounds...).

You all have a great rest of this Thursday!

A Couple of Outfits from July!

I will never, ever make it to the present time in blog posting if I don't just bite the bullet and start posting all these long ago outfits. So, in order to spare me some time so I can actually catch up to real time, I will post most of the July and early August outfits in pairs or triplets.

Today I have for you three outfits from mid-July. None have polyvores which makes this post especially easy...and easy is what I need because baby CW is being clingy, needy, etc. and I am finding it hard to type and hold her at the same time. (Stay at home mom doesn't mean less work it just means a different kind of work...) :)


Here is one I wore to the gym on a Saturday morning (for a while there I had a Pilates Allegro class on Saturday mornings)...

Info: Cardi: J. Crew, Summer 2009, size small; Tank: Athleta, Fall 2008, size medium; Shorts: Wal-Mart, size large (has to be, that inseam is way too short otherwise); Shoes: Born from forever ago, size 10.


Mr. Dina affectionately called me a "hippy-chick" in this outfit. Haha. He is right, though, I do look a bit crunchy-granola. And the skirt...man, it is long...

Info: Top: J. Crew, Fall 2008, size medium; Skirt: Target (Merona), Spring 2008, size 10 (this may be why it is so long now); Flip-Flops: J. Crew, Summer 2007, size 10.


I actually really like this outfit, worn to summer school. I just wish the skirt was shorter. I think as I get smaller, the skirts still technically fit, but since they ride lower, they look longer, which on me reads as dowdy.

Info: Tee: J. Crew, Spring 2008 (maybe), size medium. Skirt: Macy's Style & Co., Fall 2008, size 10. Shoes: Earth, Spring 2009, size 9 (their shoes run a bit wide and long).

There is more to come. If you have any questions, please comment. As usual, I will comment back...I always *eventually* do. (For example, I have commented back if you have left a comment on the last two posts...)

Orange You Glad This Only Lasted Three Days?

I usually put forethought and planning into my outfits. Seriously. I love planning, arranging, playing with colors, having a mix of serious and whimsy, etc.

Then the first week of summer school happened. I obviously was going for a pattern...two whole days of Boden, and then three days of this...

ORANGE. If you hate ORANGE, I have warned you...


Wednesday, July 8, 2009:
Top: Ann Taylor Loft (Spring 2007)--Medium Orange (like a ripe to almost too ripe pumpkin).
Pants: J. Crew Outlet (from Ebay, so no idea on when)--Light Aqua Blue with Orange Whale Critters.
Shoes: Aerosoles (Summer 2009)--Sherbet Orange (looks like a yummy dreamsicle).


Thursday, July 9, 2009:
Top: A Turkish Blouse my dad bought for me in Fall of 2007...from Turkey (he was on a study tour). BRIGHT ORANGE!
Pants: J. Crew (Spring 2009). These are the very comfy colored chambray cocktail capris. They do NOT photograph well...none of them do. It is weird. You all know what they look like so I didn't feel you all would be sad if you didn't see them...


And because it was Friday, July 10, 2009:
Top: J. Crew (Spring 2009). This is the graphic floral top I wore in green all the way back when...and yes, I bought it in a very neon orange.
Pants: J. Crew (Summer 2008). The overdyed denim capri pants. They are bright neon orange as well.
Shoes: Navy Born (way the heck back when...forever ago...I don't even think I had kids).

So my hair on Friday was all poofy. I am showing you all because you all are used to me either in a ponytail or barrettes. I think the poof happened because I slept on it funny. I still liked it, though!

Okay, everyone. I hereby promise to not wear the same color three days in a row again. This was just CRAZY! (Although it did make it easy from a posting perspective!)

Oh, and let's all pray for a 20% or 25% mickey card soon...certain items over at jcrew.com are just CALLING my name!

Summer School=Two Boden Outfits, Of Course!

In the vein of attempting to always try and make a good impression (which I admit doesn't always work--I have seen some of my outfits--and wooh--they are certainly "unique")...I approached my first two days of summer school with a couple of thoughts.

#1--I am teaching kindergarten, therefore I must be colorful and expressive (kids love both).

#2--Because I am teaching kindergarten, I must be comfortable, and above all, must wear something that can be cleaned very easily.

#3--I also walk to school, therefore I must be able to wear it for a mile's distance in the heat and sun without completely boiling and baking!

So here you go...the beginning of my series on my workwear, summer style...

Summer School Day #1 by dinagideon featuring J Crew

Here is the polyvore of Day #1.


So, yes, I did wear a Boden sundress (in white) on the first day. But I honestly could not resist. I had a suspicion that 5-year olds would love the big graphic flowers. :) They did. Mr. Dina really liked it, too, although he only saw it when he took the pic (I am a big fan of getting into yoga pants or shorts when I get home from work).

There was a lot of buzz over at the Boden site about how ill-fitting this garment was and how many people just thought it was the wrong style dress for them and everything. But I decided to try it anyhow ('cause that's me...Miss Risky...smile), and it paid off. I bought it in a UK size 12 (US size 8), which nicely fit my shape, because Boden gets my "pear" shape. God bless you, Johnnie Boden. Unlike J. Crew (whose Gladiola shift was just plain wrong on me), I have with this delightful British company a "shift" dress9 which is narrow enough on top to not make me feel like I am swimming in a pool, but wide enough in the hips to allow me to sit down like a normal person.

I have no clue if it still is for sale over at their site, but if it is I bet it is on super-sale. ;) Just a thought...

Summer School Day #2 by dinagideon featuring FOSSIL watches

Here is the polyvore for Day #2.


As you can see, I took it nice and easy on the second day...nice and bright...just like the green crayons the kids use in the classroom. This is about as simple as an outfit I will ever wear (as you all should know by now). Even though there is nary a print or piece of flair on this dress, I still loved it. Man, this is a great, simple dress. AppGal, if there are any left on the Boden website, it should be yours...I know you would love it! BTW, I bought this in UK size 10 (US size 6) and it is perfect. Therefore, AppGal, go with a UK 8. Seriously. :)

One issue I had was with the sandals...if you can believe it...the thong strap part completely came out of the footbed. HUH? These are a nice pair of Born and all...I wonder if a shoe repair place could fix it? Mr. Dina actually had to come (with babies in tow) to pick me up and drive me part-way because I needed another pair of shoes (look at the polyvore to see what I actually wore).

BTW, Summerilla, I will do the Jakarta dress post tomorrow, just for you. ;)

Catch-up Post #2...or a Trip to Five Guys and Target!

Rex has been showing signs of being jealous of how much time I have to devote to CW (still nursing, after all), so I know I have to find sometime to being with him alone. That is when Mr. Dina and I come up with having a "date" with our kids. ;) I know some of you all out there have done this...

July 3rd, 2009--Date with Rex. Tired, so I beg Mr. Dina to come on date with me and Rex and to bring his date CW. We "double-date" at Five Guys. Mmm...Five Guys...(btw, I grew up ONE block from the original Five Guys in Arlington, it opened its doors one year after we moved there)!

Mr. Dina then drops me and my date (Rex) at Target where Rex and I have fun. Or, in my mommy world, Rex walks me to whatever he wants to do and as long as he isn't ravaging the place, I let him go. Rex has a blast...we even find him some awesome Bumblebee (as in the Transformer) shoes.

Later on Mr. Dina and CW come find us (they had a date to Babies R Us) and all is good in the world. P.S. I am still tired, so I am glad Mr. Dina and CW came with us!

"Date" Night at Target and Five Guys!!! by dinagideon featuring J Crew

Here is the polyvore of the outfit I wore out with Rex. If you have any questions about the clothes themselves, go ahead and ask in the comments...I promise I will get to answering them!


Here is the outfit on. I felt young. Not young enough to look like Rex's sister, but maybe a young mom or aunt (no one has to know how old I really am)...


Another view, but what the heck is up with my right leg? Where did it go? I would have only used this pic by itself but I was so put off by my missing foot that I couldn't let it go. I think this compulsion I have is weird and I need to get over it, but still...it looks bizarre!

Don't forget, by the way, socks giveaway ends in less than six hours!

Three Outfits for One Day--All Are Red, White, and Blue!!!

I am feeling a wee bit tired today (Rex has been very trying already and it is barely 5 pm), so I won't being going on and on like I normally do. However, it is my FAVORITE holiday, so I knew I needed to post, if only to say "Happy Independence Day!!!" Yay, America. ;)

Also, I want for you all, right now, to go and check out the awesome blog known as Deco Aurora...it is the ultimate blog for people who love summer and summertime things...I am in love with the posts...Mslay (the blog author) always transports me with her beautiful pictures and lovely ideas. If you enjoy what you see, become a follower. Trust me, she won't let you down...

I will post three outfits because I have a spare moment and want to show that I still want to take an active role in my own blog (heck, I even commented back on the last two posts...imagine!).

Plus, the three outfits SLIGHTLY tie into Independence Day in that they all either have red, white, or blue. (And don't fret, I am definitely wearing something patriotic today and yes, we have taken photos...)

Navy Blue and Pink--Lovely Combo! by dinagideon on Polyvore.com

Here is the Polyvore for outfit #1, the outfit I wore to take Mr. Dina out for Father's Day.


Here I am with Mr. Dina, just about to leave for Father's Day. I am wearing the incredible Ruffled-hemmed jersey dress. I have a confession...as awesome as this dress is, I really hate ties on dresses...I feel they are superfluous (heehee), so I took it and tied it twice, so the bow would tie in front...ahh, much better. And aren't these shoes too die for? I wouldn't have even noticed them had it not been for 3-Penny Princess waxing poetically about them at this post.


Here is the dress a bit more buttoned up with the soiree sateen blazer. I think if I was still working, I would definitely teach in this get-up...so comfy and yet so polished!

Ruffles for a Graduation Party!!! by dinagideon on Polyvore.com

Here is the Polyvore for outfit #2, an outfit I wore to a former student's graduation party (I taught him my first year teaching, and he is easily my favorite student ever).


Here is the dress that I waxed poetically about in this post, but in navy. Ahh, navy...you are such a fine neutral. I am also wearing the very pretty Seychelles necklace that I won on ebay for half its original price. The shoes are the Carina metallic leather sandals and they got me through Costco, so I can definitely say they are possibly the comfiest shoes that J. Crew has made that I have owned. (And, yes, you read that right, I shopped at Costco in this outfit. Yes, people were looking at me...I just smiled and moved on...)


Here is the outfit from the side. I love that bow at the front...very feminine.

There is no polyvore for outfit #3, but I have included a pic so I can clip to polyvore right from this post!!!


I wore this to go out to a dinner with a friend on June 29, 2009. We walked from my house to a restaurant about a mile away, so we needed to look dressy but be sensible. This was my take on "dressy but comfy." The dress is from Anthropologie by the company Maeve. I have noticed that this company makes their dresses kind of large. This is a six and is one of the few by them that fits closely. The other dress I have in a six is HUGE. Weird...

The shoes are by Born and are the sandals I wore all over NYC. The necklace is Erickson Beamon for Target and the clutch is the makeup giveaway bag from Clinique but styled by Trina Turk.


Here is the dress for Polyvore. It is A BRIGHT dress. You could definitely see me coming that night...

Happy Independence Day, you all...I promise, Coccodrillo Pencil Skirt is coming soon...but I also know a lot of you take the weekend off from computing, and I figure you all would rather miss this post than the review of that skirt.