What I Wore: It All Adds Up

What I Wore: Shirt (Popbasic), Camisole (Similar Here), Pants (White House Black Market), Shoes (Old Navy), Necklace (Similar Here)

Over time we've talked quite a lot about finding your style, and the importance of basics. It pares down your wardrobe even while helping you to have items you remix for more diversity. They are items where you can purchase a higher quality knowing you'll use it again and again. But one thing we've never mentioned before though, is that even these do eventually wear out. That is the point at which of my wardrobe is at. I can't complain; things have lasted years, but I finally went out and bought new black pants. Funny, I was expecting it to be a bit disappointing. You are after all, buying something you already have (to replace what is worn through but still). Expectation and reality were not the same though in this case; it was a great shopping experience!  Pants can be trick when it comes to fit, so I went in stores to shop (a rarity for me), but since I knew exactly what I had come for, I could get what I wanted with relative ease, and, even after trying things on, was in and out and happier with the purchase than I might normally be! And not a moment too soon too, since black pants are a staple in my work wardrobe. 

Another basic items is this polka dot shirt. There's just enough pop to add interest, but the color and cut make it so versatile. It's a Popbasic piece (of course. All my favorite pieces seem to be these days), from their very first collection- but, they are bringing this shirt back for purchase, along with another one like it except for inverse colors! 

Basic and basic for a not-so-basic look. I love how math works when it comes to style, don't you? 

Month in Review: August 2014

Last of Summer Outfits

Floral Skirt | Rose Skirt | Leather Skirt

Seems I unintentionally fell into a sort of August uniform of a T-shirt with a full skirt, flats and necklace! 

Last of Summer Mail
Our mailbox was kept plenty busy- not only did it get another Popbasic box to review, but we also daydreamed about stationary we'd use if on our way this school year to Hogwarts.. If, however, you're in the mood to send rather than get some mail, why not try a circle letter?

Last of Summer Plans

While school here didn't start until today, as a teacher, August is a season of preparation that has made summer feel a long time gone-if it ever did arrive. This has been a working summer and the part of the month that has not been spent preparing for my first year in a teaching position has been spent finishing my summer classes. The hard work paid off though with six graduate credits under my belt- half way to my gifted endorsement! Even though I didn't get to travel anywhere this summer, I did daydream about it on the blog, sharing a dream of Rome in Three Coins in the Fountain. 

I also shared some other August plans with this month's "Why Don't You..." suggestions- including celebrating your 29th birthday! I'll be celebrating mine here this weekend, probably something small, maybe a bit of shopping (these tips will come in helpful if that's the case!) or reading (maybe the book featured on August's Dogeared Page). Whatever your plans are this Labor Day weekend, stay happy; stay safe!


Last of Summer Finds
In the wake of Ferguson, how all people can join in ending race discrimination

Classic films changed to Not Be Sexist

Saw this and thought it was Mail-Ception!

Secrets to Happiness

Adorable way to wear stripes <3

You know how to whistle, don't you, Steve? 

Could not even stop laughing: Creepy Renaissance babies!

How to talk to about harassment 

Why she stopped reading your blog (Be honest-this is you too)

I wanna go!  Here's where silent film fans makes some noise!

Giving jobs by giving clothes

What do you all think of Modcloth and the No Photoshop pledge?

Robots. In Art Museums. After Dark. I am not even making this up!

What I Wore: Tweed in Autumn

What I Wore: Jeans (Gap), Jacket (Similar Here), Sweater (Similar Here), Scarf (Similar Here), Necklace (Similar Here), Shoes (Old Navy)

I grew up in a town of about 5,000 and many might feel that is small town, but the West  some days seems like a mighty big place, and when driving through it you'll find these far-flung, isolated tiny towns: just a store- or two-and a post office and a school if they're lucky. Iris Dement wrote a song about towns like this, "Our Town." In the refrain she croons "the sun's setting down on our town," and I wonder if anyone who lives in these small-and-dwindling places feels that. The little town of Bearcreek always strikes me like that, yet it was once a booming town, one of the biggest in Montana. Then it experienced one of the worst mining disasters in America; it left them a devastated population, both emotionally and in numbers. Today, it's biggest boasts are a bar with pig races and these ruins of a mine (you can read more about the disaster in the book Goodbye Wifes and Daughters). Every time we pass it, I get a sense of melencholy for the lonely buildings I knew even before I knew their sad history. Still, there is a beauty in the abandoned sometimes. 

The somber feeling of the place seemed to fit the mood of the weekend, in which the weather had turned grey and rainy. While I'm sure it will warm up, it awoke a feeling of autumn in my heart (or is it the fact that school starts tomorrow that's doing that?!).  My tweed jacket always seems perfect for such a fall mood. I rather liked the scarf too- seemed a bit Diane Keaton, a bit seventies-and-menswearish. Or maybe it is just that I'm getting older; scarves seems like something Adults with a capital A would wear somehow? Or maybe  that's  just me. Would you wear a printed scarf like this? 

Film Flick: Three Coins in the Fountain

As the theatre lights fade out, we are treated to the crooning tones of Frank Sinatra as the cameras pan across the almost mythical sites of the Eternal City. Filmed in Cinescope, Three Coins in a Fountain is a bit like taking  a holiday to Rome without the airfare. The film won best song and best cinematography, which is hardly any surprise. Three Coins was  filmed early in the "Hollywood on the Tiber" era when many a movie was shot on location in Rome- and, indeed, in Paris and other European landmarks- due to cheaper production costs following the war.

For all the praise the film received about the breathtaking sights captured on camera, people sometimes look down their nose at it's romantic story lines. The film comes from the same director as How to Marry a Millionaire, and has the same premise of three glamorous women in glamorous clothes living in a glamorous town as we follow their relationship escapades. Perhaps, for me,  it was that the expectations were set low, or perhaps the time between that movie and this one allowed director Jean Negulesco to see the wisdom behind not making the same mistakes twice, but the storyline was pleasantly surprising. These three secretaries in Rome all seem in such different places- one, a mature woman, has been in Rome the past fifteen years working for a famous novelist; while one is about to return to the states where romantic prospects are more plentiful; and one is fresh off the plane and wide eyed at the sophistication this metropolis holds. As the film opens, they stop by the famous Trevi Fountain  where two of the ladies follow the tradition of throwing a coin over their shoulders in a wish that they will return to Rome (for those wondering about the movie's title, the audience will later find out about that third coin). What really set them apart for me was the surprisingly sweet love stories which eschewed campiness for slightly darker and more complex story lines. I genuinely wasn't sure if all three girls would get a happy ending- or if it was as the song implied that "...just one wish will be granted; one heart will wear a valentine."

If you have ever been to Rome, this will make you want to return and wander by those famous sites you once knew- to linger on the Spanish Steps or while away the hours in the Piazza Navona- and if you'd never been, you're sure to be daydreaming about the gelato, the palazzo, and maybe even about a latin lover of your own. But whether love comes true for you or not, just like the film's protagonists, you will not regret your time spent in this romanticized Rome with its picnics in family estates, nights at the opera, and time spent arguing over (surprisingly modern) art. So go on, and throw Three Coins in Fountain to ensure you will always return to Rome. 

Popbasic Wanderlust Collection Review

Popbasic has been  far and away my favorite subscription service since I started blogging. If you're unfamiliar with them, they create "micro-collections" of women's clothing and accessories each month that are then available for purchase- with free world-wide shipping! Each collection features three items, and is available only for a limited time. Once they're gone, they're  gone, so snap yours up if you want it- and if this month's box isn't your cup of tea, remember it isn't a membership where you have to sign up for multiple boxes; you buy month to month, so you won't be locked in. Micro collections are always between fifty and one hundred dollars- pretty good for three items!

You can bet I was pleased as punch to find out I'd won Popbasic's latest micro-collection, whimsically named "Wanderlust." Word to the wise- if you don't follow Popbasic on their social media outlets (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter), you should. There's different and unique content on all three. Not only does Popbasic often do contests and giveaways, but you can see sneak-peeks about up coming items, and voice your opinion about what products they should make! Plus, co-founder Maddy Veenstra is quick to respond to any questions on the customer service end of things- or set you up with a penpal. Popbasic organizes a penpal exchange for its community. How cute is that?


August's Wanderlust Collection comes with a necklace, shirt, cardigan, and dreams of travel. The "Drifter Necklace" is  actually quite heavy, a fact that is both a delight and not. Obviously, a pound hanging around your neck is, well, a pound of weight hanging off your neck. But, it does indicate quality, and this gun metal necklace is certainly that, with its larger, interlocking links. It also has an adjustable chain, so that it can extend further than the promo photos showed, a fact I quite liked. You can store your necklace in the silk bag it comes in too. Like the necklace, the "Traveler Tee" also is obviously made from quality material. If you run your fingers over it, you can feel the slight ridges of the stripes! Popbasic actually has sold striped shirts before and it was so popular they brought it back to be available for purchase outside of a collection.  Even now, you can go and buy a long sleeve "Le Breton" shirt in navy or red, so it was a bit of a surprise another striped shirt was coming out so soon. However, with the narrower stripes, black color, and the short sleeves (which have a lovely accent detail that really takes it to the next level for me), it is different enough to warrant both the Le Bretons and the Traveler Tee taking up residence in your wardrobe. I'm already thinking up a million different ways to wear this classic shirt; in fact, it may be my favorite part of the collection! That's not to say the "Impulse Cardigan" isn't a great piece too- it is. The color is a soft gray bordering on violent in person, and is the type of material that is very soft. As fall comes on, I'm sure I'll be even more glad of it, but it isn't so heavy that I couldn't wear it in evenings even now. Both clothing items are machine washable- Popbasic items haven't always been in the past, even or cotton items, so the low maintenance care will be nice. A small "lifestyle" surprise is usually included in each box. A lovely Earl Grey lip balm rounded things off nicely in my box.

One of the things Popbasic has been trying to do is move away from having two jewelry pieces per collection. While there are still three pieces in each collection, the items might be a bit more varied including: a clothing piece, a jewelry item, and a third item that might be another piece of clothing, a bag or other accessory. Personally, I quite liked getting two pieces of jewelry to make things seem worth the price of the box, but this collection really strikes that new balance well. Nothing seems "just thrown in." All three pieces go well together- better than I thought they would, in fact, since none of the promo material showed them worn together. All were well crafted and seemed of nice quality. Might be one of the many reasons this collection is selling out super fast- their extra smalls and extra larges are already gone! The other sizes are still in stock though, so hop on over to place your order. And remember, if you're a first time customer of Popbasic, use my link to save an extra fifteen dollars off your purchase!

So do tell, these stripes catching you eye?

What I Wore: Makes Me Happy

What I Wore: Shirt (Similar Here), Skirt (Hell Bunny), Shoes (Modcloth), Necklace (Similar Here)

Wear what makes you happy- or at least, that's what I'm doing; there is something just so undeniably happy about the roses of this skirt, and the kisses on the toes of these shoes! I wear it to feel happy and cheered, and when someone asked me what I was dressed up for, there was really no answer to give them but my smile.

Meanwhile, I'm elbow deep in curriculum books, getting an idea of what is available and what we want to go for the year. So tell me, what was is one lesson or project you did at school that really sticks out to you as something you loved, and why?

Dog-Eared Page: The House at Pooh Corner

Illustration by Ernest H. Shepard

Suddenly Christopher Robin began to tell Pooh about some of the things: People called Kings and Queens, and something called Factors, and a place called Europe, and an island in the middle of the sea where no ships came, and how you make a Suction Pump (if you want to), and when Knights were Knighted, and what comes from Brazil. And Pooh, his back against one of the sixty-something trees, and his paws folded in front of him, said "Oh!" and "I didn't know," and thought how wonderful it would be to have a Real Brain which could tell you things. And by-and-by Christopher Robin came to an end of the things, and was silent, and he sat there looking out over the world, and wishing it wouldn't stop. 

-The House at Pooh Corner by A.A. Milne

What I Wore: Relaxing in Gingham

What I Wore: Shirt (Mango), Jeans (Gap), Shoes (Old Navy), Shirt (Popbasic; Similar Here), Necklace (Popbasic; Similar Here)

Wore this out on a date night the day before starting the new job! For the first day, it was all the fun but necessary stuff about health insurance and dress policies, but it was exciting to get to meet co-workers and really start feeling like this is a real thing that's going to happen! Came away feeling both simultaneously better about where I was in terms of planning for the new year, and more apprehensive than ever about being ready for students. Funny how that works, right? 

And since I can get nerved up about things- good or bad- having a night out the day before was a great distraction. We headed up to our favorite restaurant in Red Lodge. If you haven't heard me wax poetic about Red Lodge, well, it is adorable, nestled between a narrow valley with little Victorian homes in various states of painted splendor and dishabille. A river runs through it-  a happy, rushing, bubbling thing, not the lazy rivers of the midwest. There are trees everywhere, and wild turkeys clutter the streets. It literally looked like a toy town when you come over the ridge, like you could pluck up the buildings with your fingers. 

Being in a mountain town, this laid back look really works. I've been wearing it or variations quite a bit this summer. Relaxed, able to do most anything in it, but still put together. Of course, for work this year, I'll be donning more professional clothing, so...gather ye rosebuds- or shorts and laid back outfits- while ye may. 

Letter Writing: The Circle Letter

Photo credit: Lenore Edman

A fun twist on sending traditional letters is the circle letter. The circle letter is a way to write to a large group of family, friends and acquaintances without spending twenty-four / seven at your desk, pen in hand.
You write one letter- a letter intended for many different readers, so it is not a place to share your deepest and darkest secrets, but rather a place to catch people up on your life in a way that stalking Facebook just won't bring. This letter will be sent to one person, along with a second item. On a separate piece of paper, include a list of people, with their mailing addresses, that indicates who this letter is to be sent to after your first recipient has read it. That first recipient will add their own letter to yours, perhaps answering some questions or thoughts your letter had in addition to sharing about their own lives. They will then mail both letters and the addresses on to the next person on the list. That person can read both letters and add their own to the pile and send it on etc. This pattern continues until the list is done and all the letters are sent back to you. You can then read everyone else's letters,  take your original letter out of the bunch, and pen a new letter to add back into the pile and pass all the letters on to that first recipient again to continue the chain.

This was a common way for families far apart to get each others' news. Today we might think that group emails or social media fill that niche in too well to bother going back to circle letters. But, I think circle letters can allow for more chatty correspondence- the space can allow a story to develop, allow you to share a recipe, to answer a question. A circle is also for a more limited and defined audience than a social media outlet ever could be- you are, after all, only writing to the people on your list. At the same time, this is more interactive- while still being reflective- than a group email would be.

Would you try this correspondence game out?

LETTER WRITING SERIES: THANK YOU NOTES | PERSONAL CORRESPONDENCE | LOVE LETTERS | SYMPATHY LETTERS | CONGRATULATORY LETTERS | POSTCARDS | LETTERS OF APPRECIATION | CORRESPONDENCE CHESS | GET WELL CARDS | LETTERS TO SICK CHILDREN | INVITATIONS | HOLIDAY LETTERS | LETTERS TO SANTA| LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR | CIRCLE LETTERS | LETTERS TO POLITICIANS | WRITING TO ADVICE COLUMNS | THE LETTER WRITING GAME | PENPAL LETTERS | LETTER OF COMPLAINT | COVER LETTERS | LETTERS TO PRISONERS | OPEN LETTERS | LETTERS TO FUTURE YOURSELF | LETTERS OF APOLOGY | "OPEN WHEN" LETTERS | FAN MAIL | GOOD BYE LETTER |

What I Wore: Not a Glass Slipper on my Foot

What I Wore: Skirt (ASOS; Similar Here), Shirt (Banana Republic), Necklace (Popbasic; Similar Here), Shoes (Old Navy), Purse (Similar Here)

I believe in waiting for that perfect wardrobe piece to come to you- accept no substitutions. One of the downsides though, is that I often- well, no other word for it- dither about whether to buy pieces, even when I love them. One such case is this skirt. I dithered and then it sold out- an unexpected shopping heartbreak happened, my friends. But the internet is a beautiful place where people sometimes resell items after a while and all the searching paid off when several months later I was able to snap it right up!

Then, something funny happened. It turned out this skirt was much harder to remix than I ever could have imagined. It's only showed up once my blog in fact. When it made rounds among Flock Together bloggers, creativity though sprang up.  Eventually, several other combinations were puzzled out for me too, though it has never made a reappearance on NFD. This is one such remix-  Adventurous, I know. A white top, not a black one! But I like the simplicity of it, and the combination of a basic white T with a fancy skirt made it casual enough for  lunch with friends. So, while it may not have been the glass slipper moment I'd first thought it was, the skirt and I have a love story all our own- or something like that, right? 

Ever had to search for clothing you fell in love with? Or had a "perfect" item that was more of a struggle than you thought? 

Q+A: Shopping Tips

Now, I've shared with you what clothes are on my shopping list and showed plenty of new purchases, so you might have cottoned on to the fact that, if there's one thing personal style bloggers now how to do- it's shop. Shopping wisely, shopping thriftily, shopping ethically- these are all common themes in both magazines and blogs today, so it seemed only nature to pick a few bloggers' brains todiscover some tricks for better shopping. Here's their secrets to that!



Rebecca of This I Wear shares her tip:
My best shopping tip is to make a list and stick to it! In fact, I keep mine in my phone using the app TeuxDeux (my favorite To-Do app) so that it's with me whenever I'm out. Having a list keeps focused me on items that will actually make getting dressed easier, help me move my style towards my ideal, and make the right purchasing decisions when I'm in the "heat" of the shopping moment. It also helps me prioritize investments in my wardrobe, so that I can slowly and thoughtfully add new items rather than buying everything at once. From a budgeting perspective, slow also means I can really invest in a few quality pieces. I usually add new items to my list when I'm actually in my closet and find myself repeatedly saying, "if only I had _____". Once I've heard myself say the same thing a few times, it goes right onto the list!

Marlen from Messages on a Napkin said:

The number one tip I wish I knew when I started developing my style back in college is to tackle down your basics. Sure, that intricate dress looks absolutely amazing, but it won't do you much good if you have absolutely nothing to wear it with! And there's nothing worse then seeing an expensive item hang all lonely-like in your closet for months and months. When I shop I make sure that 90% of what I buy will go with at least three things in my closet. Or that I don't have five duplicates of it already (hello stripe addiction). If I can't imagine what it will match with within my closet, I put it back on the rack. Because if I can't conjure up an outfit in my mind at that moment, it probably means it's just an impulse buy and I want it just to want it. If you want a guide on what basics every girl should already have in your closet, I'd definitely check out Kristian's tutorials! They're brilliant :)

Thanks Marlen. For anyone interested here are: 20 Basics Everyone Woman Should Own, How to Wear a Skirt and 10 Ways to Beat the Wardrobe Blues. 

Katherine from Of Corgis and Cocktails writes: 

grew up about 1 mile away from a pretty large mall in Cincinnati, Ohio. Trying to get near the highway during Christmas required either a lot of patience, or driving a few miles out of the way to get on at a different entrance. Which is my tip number one - avoid malls and their highway exits at Christmas. Shopping online keeps you away from the crazed hassle of a mall during the holidays. Speaking of online shopping, I watch for Anthropologie sales like it's my job. I read Effortless Anthropologie to see her sale guesses and bookmark items and watch until they go on sale. I rarely buy anything there for full price. I get a lot of my dresses there. I'm also a big fan of trying to find local shops when I travel. I get most of my jewelry, accessories, random knick knacks, and some clothing on trips at places like this. Little boutiques are my favorite gems. They can have really different pieces and they will be thing you will find no where else. Some of my favorite include:
- Enchanted Boutique in Celebration, Florida 
-Trohv in Baltimore, Maryland

-Kismet, Cincinnati, Ohio

Remix: Silk Shirt

 Polka Dot Shorts | Cigarette Pants | Rose Skirt

Cream Sweater | Terrier Sweater

This silk shirt from Popbasic was from their Sunday Collection, which I reviewed way back in February. Items from this company tend to be in heavy rotation, so thought I'd share how this shirt really was a Shirt for All Seasons. Winter, spring and summer- I'll be excited to style it up for fall too. But everything in its own time. These past few months have ready gone by too fast! 

Stationery Wishlist: Hogwarts Bound

1. Harry Potter Chapter Pages | 2. Wax Kit | 3. Hogwarts Library Postcard | 4. Ink Set | 5. Harry Potter Quotation Pencils | 6. Ministry of Magic Memorandum | 7. Owl Post Envelope 

With the school year about to gear up, I'm sure we're all wishing we could get on that train to Hogwarts (who cares if, at nearly 29, my letter from Hogwarts is eighteen years delayed?!). Perhaps these goodies will cast a magical spell over your days, even if far you're far from Platform Nine and Three-Quarters. 

1. Harry Potter Chapter Pages - Harry Potter was beautifully illustrated in the American editions of the books by Mary GrandPré. These postcards capture those first pages of each chapter. Pictured above are those from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, but you can find the chapters from each book at this store! 

2. Wax Kit- Before sending your letter off with an owl, don't forget to seal it- with wax from this wax set that is.

3. Hogwarts Library Postcard- One advantage to the lack of technology at Hogwarts are the library check out cards are still in use. Get back some of that nostalgia with this postcard! 

4. Ink Set -Well, there's no quill but you'll still feel a bit more like you are working on your Transfiguration or Charms homework when using this inkwell and accompanying accessories.

5. Harry Potter Quotation Pencils - I've featured pencils with words before, but these babies aren't just pithy two or three word sentences. They quote entire passages. The store has books with quotes from all seven books. Can you guess what book these pencils get their quotes from? 

6. Ministry of Magic Memorandum - In workplaces you're bound to get memos. These nifty airplane ones from the Ministry of Magic sure seem more dynamic than a simple email could ever be (though an email is not likely to hit you in the head the way a paper plane might!) 

7. Owl Post Envelope - Send off your next correspondence in an envelope like this. Even if it can't really be delivered by owls, you're recipient will still be bewitched by the charming gesture! 

What I Wore: For Good Living

What I Wore: Shirt (Popbasic), Skirt (thrifted; Similar Here), Shoes (Old Navy), Necklace (Similar Here)

Pattern mixing can be tricky business- at least for me, it is. And though florals and stripes seem to be every bloggers bread and butter, it felt a bit intimidating, a bit much,  you know. But what the heck, I thought, go for it! What are your tips for pattern mixing? 

So this is what I wore on an unexpectedly cool day when we went to the Farmer's Market in Billings, though, obviously, the photos don't show a market. Too crowded for photos! We do have farmer's markets closer to home, but they are generally less than twenty stalls and this one sprawls out over five (shortish) blocks. The local businesses were also having their "crazy days" sales with wares out on the sidewalk to look at too. We didn't buy anything, but it is fun to wander the stalls, looking at the fresh flowers and more exotic sounding vegetables. They've little red wagons that are free to borrow, so people pile their toddlers in, and pull it round the market, which is very charming. There's a man who makes balloon animals, several street musicians and people with dogs all around too. Quintessential good living and all that. We were thinking we might take our own two dogs with next time, though it could all be a bit overwhelming. Might "warm them up" to the idea by practicing on the smaller farmers' markets first! 

In August, Why Don't You...

Have a garage sale

Participate in a water fight

Go through your to-mend basket and either mend or throw out every item

Visit a National Park

Start your morning with a croissant

Make a giant scrabble game to play outside

Change the oil in your car

Purchase a floppy hat to keep those rays at bay

Host a barbecue

Celebrate your REAL (and only!) 29th birthday