not playing by the rules

Given the right temperatures, sometimes a beanie becomes "work appropriate". During these last few weeks of ice, snow, & general frigidness I have been struggling to keep warm. Two of my secrets? Stylish beanies & smart wool socks. In order to keep my toes from feeling utterly uncomfortable, I wear legging style tights (stopping at the calves) with heavy socks & boots. 

I totally got some side eye at work for wearing my beanie all day, but a girl's gotta do what it takes to stay warm & stylish! Playing by my own rules!

{ What I Wore to teach: striped dress ℅ Boutique Onze // Old Navy utility jacket // black riding boots ℅ Off Broadway shoes (shop all of their awesome riding boots here!) // Daisy Gem necklace // beanie gifted by a sweet blog reader }

All Photos | Kate Davis Photography

Could you get away with wearing a beanie at work?

humanity

It is crazy that I am now 1 year post graduate school. And that in the past year I have become a "teacher". I put that word into quotes because some days I still feel like I am playing pretend. However, teaching really does feel like my calling, & after a week of straight rest (thank you Nashville ice storm), I am ready to get back into the trenches & not only teach Science to my squirrelly batch of 7th graders, but to also teach them about love, compassion, & joy. 

Over this past year this quote has really hit home for me:

“I have come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element. It is my personal approach that creates the climate. It is my daily mood that makes the weather. I possess tremendous power to make life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration, I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis is escalated or de-escalated, and a person is humanized or de-humanized. If we treat people as they are, we make them worse. If we treat people as they ought to be, we help them become what they are capable of becoming.” - Haim G. Ginott

{ What I Wore to teach: J.Crew Factory wrap skirt + Clare cardigan (both now on super sale!) // H&M leopard shell // Vince Camuto booties ℅ Nordstrom Rack // gold tassel necklace (similar) // Kendra Scott arrowhead necklace }

All Photos | Kate Davis Photography

Shop The Look:

How great is that wrap! I love that it is a fun twist to the pencil skirt!

apple for the teacher

{ What I Wore to teach: J.Crew Factory button-down, apple sweater, plaid pencil skirt (shop similar pieces at the bottom of this post) // Steve Madden boots (now on sale for $100!) // Michael Kors handbag (exact bag now on sale!) }

All Photos | Kate Davis Photography

After a week off from work thanks to one epic ice storm that hit Nashville, I am ready to get back in front of my class! We have quite the stretch of work to make it to Science Fair (T-minus 20 days!) & Spring Break (Just 26 more days). Bring it on!

Shop The Look

My favorite accessories (boots + bag) & some sweater/pencil skirt combos I would love to rock soon!

Saturday Shopping: Spring finds under $60

It has to be some sort of conspiracy that all this Winter Ice Storm mess is perfectly timed for stores to not only be putting out their Spring goods, but also putting them on deep discounts! Below is everything I'm dreaming of adding to my closet - all under $60!

{1} "These Are The Days" tee $39.50 // {2} Back Pleat Drapey Tee $48.50 [looking to splurge? J.Crew has a fabulous option too - for $102!] // {3} Racerback Cami $29.50 // {4} Flutter-Sleeve Top $48.50 // {5} Drapey Pant $59.50 [have more to spend? Check out this stunning pair of draped pants from J.Crew for $110] // {6} Hello Tee $45.50 // {7} Scallop Sweater $48.50 // {8} Gold Double Strap Sandals $40.50 // {9} Pull-On Shorts $24.50  // {10} Varsity Stripe Tee $24.50 

every time

My collection of striped tops is getting a little out of control (newest favorite: this perfection from J.Crew Factory). However, this one is totally justified because it is my only vertical stripe number. Now if I could only make my husband understand the need for a stripe section in our closet!

{ What I Wore to teach: J.Crew Factory cardigan // J.Crew pencil skirt (J.Crew Factory has an awesome selection of pencil skirts right now!) // ShoeMint ankle strap heels (almost exact style) // Forever 21 blouse (from a few years ago, loving this similar style from J.Crew - now on sale! }

All Photos | Kate Davis Photography

at last

{ What I Wore to date night: DvF wrap dress // Clare V leopard clutch // ShoeMint ankle strap heels // Gorjana gold bar necklace // Lip Stick - The Lip Bar, "Crimson Wonderland" ℅ Glossy Box }

All Photos | Kate Davis Photography

This year for Christmas, I treated myself to two items that had been topping my wish list for YEARS! I have been finding that I don't need to shop as much anymore - a combination of living in less space, & finally learning my style.

After a sparse Fall of spending, I found that my shopping fund was very full & instead of stocking up on lots of lower price items at Old Navy or J.Crew Factory (two of my go to stores, but also a huge area of weakness for me) - I used all of my end of year surplus on this classic Diane von Furstenburg wrap dress & gorgeous Clare V. leopard clutch. I know that both will be go to pieces in my wardrobe for many years, instead of fast fashion that will only last me for a year or two. 

How would you spend $500 on your closet?

I used to post my purchases each month in my budget series, however, my spending lately has been so light that I stopped doing these post. Are you still interested in seeing where my shopping budget goes each month? Let me know in the comments.

Bloggers Who Budget: Leopard for Less

{ What I Wore: ASOS leopard coat (similar option for under $70 - shop more styles at the bottom of the post) // J.Crew Factory tissue tee turtleneck // Pour La Victoire purse ℅ Nordstrom Rack // Old Navy rockstar skinny jeans // BCBG heels via TJ Maxx // Kendra Scott Rayne necklace + cuff // Ray Ban aviator sunglasses // MK watch // Lip Stick - The Lip Bar "Crimson Wonderland" ℅ Glossy Box }

All Photos | Kate Davis Photo 

The weekend errand run is more fun with a leopard coat & a red lip. Check out how the #BloggersWhoBudget wore leopard for less this month, & be sure to link up with your own leopard look below!

Sharing My Sole | The Style Letters | Let It Be Beautiful | Here&Now | Pearls & Twirls | Stylin in St. Louis | Living in Color Style | The Pumpkin Spot

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Bloggers Who Budget Link-Up Details: The Bloggers Who Budget ladies would like you to join in on the fun every 3rd Monday of the month, starting 8 AM EST! The BWB link-up is all about sharing how you shop on a budget. Each month will have a theme, which will be announced ahead of time. We want YOU to join in the fun of styling something around our monthly themes & can’t wait to see it! March's theme is the color of the year, Marsala. And then April will be Spring for Less, featuring your Spring wardrobe staples under $75!

Want to join the BWB link-up? The third Monday of each month at 8 AM EST, you can head to any one of our blogs to link-up your post. We kindly ask that you please follow all of our blogs (via Bloglovin’, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest or Instagram!). Also, please provide a link to this in your post or add the button below to your blog. If you tweet, please use the hashtag #BloggersWhoBudget

weekend stripe

What I Wore to weekend: J.Crew Factory tee // cross body bag ℅ Gigi New York // Citizens of Humanity boyfriend jeans (ancient from college - have my eye on this pair that won't break the bank) // Anthropologie sunglasses // Cole Haan tennis shoes (way old, loving these fresh ones from J.Crew Factory) }

All Photos | Kate Davis Photo

This tee y'all - it is a new favorite that I have worn for weekend frolicking in Nashville, after work meetings, & way more than I would like to admit to my teaching job! I love that it is a really thick knit - totally reminding me of much more expensive St. James tees!

Scoop it up for only $44! 

I am also interested in trying the new striped tees from Everlane (can you have enough striped tees!?!? Is that even a thing!?!?) - Have you given them a try yet?

This is the look of my weekend these days - thankfully Nashville has been so mild & we have been getting out to enjoy it!

Two weekends ago, we rocked out a pub tour via bikes (the ride share B-cycles are awesome & so are Yazoo, Jackalope, & Tennessee Brew Works breweries!), & then this past weekend we totally stalked The Grilled Cheeserie food truck (#YUM)!

What has your weekend looked like lately?