Busy Life And TTC -- What Works for Me!

Thank you Clearblue® for sponsoring this post. The new Clearblue® Connected Ovulation Test System is now available at major retailers across the U.S. such as Walmart, Target, Amazon and Meijer. Visit a store near you to try it!.

I am still waiting for the “How to be an adult” manual to be published, but until then I guess we are continuing to just figure this whole thing out by ourselves (with a little help from Google)! Tyler & I have now been in our house for a whole month, & surprisingly the most common follow up question to “I just bought a house” is “So, when are you having kids”…. But seriously, even when you are trying to conceive, how do people expect you to answer that question? Yes, my husband & I are actively having sex, would you like to know more? But seriously, if you have a good answer come back please let me know!

Our family is blessed with a bundle of grandkids already – 5 year old twin nieces from my sister, & a 2 year old niece + twin boys on the way from Tyler’s sister – so the pressure to have kids has been generally light for us. However, we are ready to start our family, & it seems that my biological clock suddenly kicked in when I turned 30 because I went from pretty indifferent about the matter, to 100% gung-ho over this past Summer.

We “pulled the goalie” in June, & being the competitive human that I am, I immediately went out and bought all the pregnancy tests, sure that we would have a positive result in no time. By September, I started to realize that maybe I didn’t totally understand how my body worked after all, & needed to find some tools to help in our attempts to conceive.

When searching for an ovulation tracking system, I wanted something that would be quick + mess free to use, trackable from month to month, & being the millennial that I am, available from my phone. I connected with the Clearblue® Connected Ovulation Test System because it pairs the accuracy of a Clearblue® Ovulation Test with the convenience of an app – maximizing the chances of getting pregnant in a way like never before.

I have now been using the Clearblue® Connected Ovulation Test System for three months, & while we are still on our trying to conceive (TTC) journey, I now understand so much more about my body and its rhythms! This Clearblue® product is the first and only system to accurately track two unique hormones (LH & E3G) & connects with my phone so that I know when to test, and when my peak fertility has been detected. I now feel so much more knowledgeable about my monthly cycles than ever before and feel a little silly for not knowing how my body worked, like how using my personal hormone data, I have only a few fertile days a month & need to take advantage of that tiny window of opportunity! Thankfully, the Clearblue® Connected Ovulation Test System typically identifies 4 or more fertile days each cycle¹ and reminds Tyler and I to take advantage by displaying a smiley face on the test stick. This process can feel frustrating & overwhelming, so the smiley face definitely helps! I like to take screenshots from when the app detects my hormone surges to send Tyler so he can join in on the fun & excitement of this chapter of our lives. (1) In a study of 87 women, 4 or more fertile days were identified in 80% of cycles using actual cycle length (2012)”

Looking to get started with your own baby making journey? I highly recommend the Clearblue® Connected Ovulation Test System now available at major retailers across the U.S. such as Walmart, Target, Amazon and Meijer. Visit a store near you to try it! Are you already using it? I would love to connect with others on this chapter of their lives too!

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Back to ME time with JaM Cellars

Thank you JaM Cellars for sponsoring this post. Looking for Butter Chardonnay or JaM Cabernet near you? Check out our Store Locator! Just pop in your zip code.

Today marks the start of week 4 as a 6th grade Engineering teacher. After being in a 7th grade Science classroom for the last 3 years, I am LOVING my new position so much! I always say that it is harder than it sounds to switch back from Summer mode to teacher mode, but I have some tricks that make the transition smoother. I like to think of it as Back-To-School time, but also Back-to-Wine Time!

When I come home from school, I have 2 hours before my husband also arrives, & this is my ME time! My me time is fueled by JaM Cellars Cabernet & Butter Chardonnay, & during my ME time I refuse to do anything but relax. After pouring myself a healthy glass of wine, I like to find a sunny spot with the pugs + my favorite book. I just started reading the Harry Potter books (I know I'm literally 20 years behind...) & they are so good for afterwook unwinding... I am totally transported to a new world with magic + wizards! Summer break might be over, but we still have 3 weeks left before it is technically Fall & I plan to squeeze out every last drop!

Never heard of JaM Cellars wines? JaM Cellars makes three easy-to-love, everyday California wines: Butter Chardonnay, JaM Cabernet & Toast Sparkling. Second-generation Napa Valley vintners John and Michele are the “J” + “M” in JaM Cellars. They made these wines in a style they love to enjoy anytime—whether that’s a special occasion, everyday celebration, or just a day of the week with a “y” in it (such a great reason to celebrate if you ask me)! My initials are JM too - so I tell myself that this wine was made for ME! And the best news? Under $20 and in a store right near you.

I like to always have a white & a red wine on hand - you never know when you need to feel a little fancy at dinner or just cheers to rocking a Tuesday! The Butter Chardonnay is rich, bold & luscious. Made in the tradition of quality Californian winemaking, the grapes JaM Cellars selects are juicy, ripe & bursting with flavor. JaM Cellars cold ferments this easy-to-love Chardonnay to a lush creaminess and ages it in their unique blend of oak. Butter brims with stone fruit and baked-lemon notes and has a lovely, long, vanilla finish. Simply put, it melts in your mouth! While the JaM Cabernet is berry-licious & luscious! My favorite way to unwind after work, this Cab is my JaM! Pop over to the JaM Cellars Store Locator to buy Butter Chardonnay & JaM Cab near you. 

Rock your Back-to-wine…err…school time by checking out 4 more tips for making the most of this new season - full post here! JaM Cellars Cabernet & Butter Chardonnay is the perfect pairing for your late summer and early fall activities!

All Photos | Walnut Street Photography

If you love a daily splash of wine-spiration & witticisms, check out JaM Cellars on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter! Or sign up for The Scoop to get the latest delivered straight to your inbox.

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Life Update: Slow Blogging

Hello strangers! It does actually feel a little strange to be back in this space after a 3+ month break, but also super exciting! Many of you followed our Summer road trip last year as we relocated from Nashville to Denver & man the process of moving was so super fun, but the reality of moving away from the city we had LOVED for 7 years didn't sink in until we had been here for a couple of weeks, and it was a feeling I just couldn't shake. Below is something that I wrote back in September, but wasn't brave enough to share - it is a small snippet of what I was feeling when I realized we had landed in a foreign town, with no friends, and that the dream job I thought I had landed wasn't quite the dream I thought it to be…

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As my 5 year blog anniversary approaches this Fall, I have been putting much thought into what I want out of this space.

When I initially started Here&Now, it was out of a desire to spend more time in pursuit of creative endeavors. In 2011, I was attending graduate school at Vanderbilt University, working towards a PhD in Biomedical Research. Grad school was not a great fit for me - I had a less than supportive mentor who did his best to remind me that research science is a male dominated field; I worked in a toxic environment where co-workers regularly yelled at each other, and I went to the bathroom to cry at least once a week; and I ultimately didn't even know what I would use my PhD for, it more felt like the next required step in the education/career path I had started in college.

Fast forward to today: I am in my 3rd year of a teaching career that I LOVE, my husband and I celebrated two years of marriage this year, I am living in a new city that I can't wait to explore corner to corner, & life is pretty dang good.

I started Here&Now because I hated grad school & wanted to find my own personal style, but now I am in a career that fulfills me and challenges me in ways that I couldn't have ever imagined, and do truly feel like I have grown into my own body/mind/spirit/style over the last 5 years.

In a time when many bloggers are quitting their day jobs to become full-time online, I am headed in the opposite direction. I am not 100% going to quit blogging here, but I am going to take a step back to focus on my teaching job, relationships, and exploring Denver.

My priorities have shifted, but I cannot imagine a time where I do not seek creative fulfillment through blogging. I am increasingly craving a "less is more" lifestyle, especially as my husband and I dream of buying a house and starting a family (he says the pugs don't count as actual children) one day very soon.

I am going to call this new chapter of my life "slow blogging". I will blog when inspiration strikes, & I will continue to post outfits, murals, Denver explorations, & the pugs on Instagram & more everyday life stuff on Snapchat.

When I think about leaving the blog world for good, it is the connections with people I have met online that make it beyond my ability to commit at this point. I want to be better about connecting & hopefully with less posting, I will have more time to visit other blogs and social media accounts.

Please do not be a stranger! Let me know what you think in the comments. Is blogging on its way out? Is the future of blogland going to be taken over by the mega-blogger? What is your favorite way to connect online?

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So while my thoughts about being a "blogger" continue to be conflicted, I am back and ready to share some great experiences here in Denver, brands that matter to me, and my personal style journey as I get shockingly close to 30! Please let me know what you want to see on this site, and know that I am going to continue to be ME… as I work to figure out what exactly that means.

My Hero

Not all heroes wear capes, in fact some use lipstick & pearls as their secret weapons. My grandmother (AKA Memaw) is my everyday hero! For much of my childhood, my Memaw & Pops lived next door, in a house my father built for them. The love my grandparents showed me helped shape me into the woman I am today, but it was the stories my Memaw shared about her own childhood & experiences as a young woman in the 1940s that I could never get enough of. 

My grandmother was a strong-willed, sassy, tells it like it is woman, with a fierce gaze & the best belly laugh! I think many would say that she passed these traits down to me & I couldn't be happier to carry this piece of her. My grandmother was a teacher for 35 years, & after she passed away last Fall, it was with great joy that I sorted through stacks of class portraits, her (now 50 year old) grade books, correspondence from former students throughout the years, & newspaper clippings she had saved from her many pupils. She was passionate about her students, getting involved in their lives, & for many of them, forever remaining their favorite teacher. 

As I am now following in her footsteps as a teacher, I often find myself channeling how I imagine Memaw must have been in her classroom - gathering peace in stressful situations, looking at my students as whole humans rather than the mistakes they have made in the moment. One of the last letters Memaw sent me (she was a master letter writer!) included the line "may you be happy all the days of your life" & I plan on finding the joy in every moment to continue the legacy of my Memaw. That is why she is my hero.

I love this photo of my Memaw - her signature hair style, dazzling eyes - perfectly capturing  her fierce spirit.

In 1999, celebrated photographer Annie Leibovitz published her first book Women, a collection of portraits, highlighting her ability to capture the essence of each person with a single snap. Now, Annie Leibovitz is taking a new show on the road - using pictures to explore the changes in the roles of women today. In partnership with UBS, Annie Leibovitz launched a global exhibition for Women: New Portraits! It kicked-off in London in January 2016, & will be in ten cities over the next year.

The exhibition is free (& currently in San Francisco), but 2 lucky ducks are going to win a trip for to NYC to visit the exhibition in November 2016. A winner will be selected at random each month. To enter, Instagram your everyday female hero & her stories using #ShareYourHero + tagging @UBS (see the other entries here under #ShareYourHero). Let’s celebrate the everyday heroes in our lives that are capable of extraordinary things – your mother, your sister, your friend, your girlfriend, your teacher, your doctor, your grandmother, your mentor, etc. 

Who’s your everyday hero? If you instagram her, link your Instagram profile below – I’d love to see it!

Visit www.ubs.com/annieleibovitz to learn more.

reinvigorate

Balance. A simple word, a lifetime of struggle to find it.

This Summer I had 6 weeks off & the hardest decision I had to make all day was somewhere along the lines of, "do I want to read on the couch with the pugs" or "do I want to read by the pool with a frozen drink?"

But now school is starting back (yesterday was the first day!), & I am nervous about once again trying to find balance between teaching Science to 120 7th graders, being a good wife, a supportive friend, a present daughter, an active blogger, while still maintaining some sort of "me" time.

I have definitely felt a "reinvigoration" of my blog over this Summer & I want to keep that going, but in order to also keep my sanity intact, I want to outline what is going to be happening on this space over the next couple of months. My blogging mission statement of sorts.

I want Here&Now to be a space for people who wear clothes of all ages, body types & budgets to come for real life, day-to-day, style ideas. The clothing that I feature is what I really wear, I do repeat pieces, in fact, I freaking love re-mixing what I already have in my closet into new outfits. You don't have to always buy something new to feel fabulous! But if you are looking to put some oomph into your closet, I highlight affordable, high quality pieces that are versatile & appropriate for many different stages of your life.

My lifestyle means that I wear outfits for my teaching job & my adventures in Nashville. I love partnering with both local Nashville brands & national businesses that vibe with my vision.

My goal is to post 3 times during each week - Monday, Wednesday Friday - & on either Saturday or Sunday with link roundups & the occasional shopping inspiration posts. These will mostly be outfit photos, with the occasional lifestyle/beauty/travel updates thrown in as well.

So here is to year 2 of teaching, year 2 of marriage & year 3.5 of blogging! 

If you didn't get a change to read all of the posts this Summer, below are some of my favorites that have been posted in the last couple of months.

Be sure to follow along on social media too (I post much more on Instagram & Snapchat than I do here!):: Instagram // Bloglovin' // Facebook // Twitter // Pinterest // Snapchat username: jesshereandnow

row 1: floral skirt teacher style // lace shorts // all black for Summer

row 2: baring my back // Summer scarf ideas // Kendra Scott Fall Collection

row 3: floral peplums for work // the tiniest crop of all crop tops // how to wear a sleeveless blazer

growth mindset

My first year as a teacher (7th grade Science) is now packed up nicely in boxes, waiting on my return in August. People warned me about how much the first year of teaching would change my life, & in my true stubborn nature, I actually believed that the experience would somehow be different for me.

Alas, I am not the special snowflake that I would have liked to believe, & my first year of teaching was a long, dark tunnel of terribleness. One that I am happily signing up for again next year. Does that make it like child birth? Completely painful while you are going through it, but a wonderful accomplishment once you are finished!?

As silly as it sounds, I think I have found my "calling" in teaching. Yes, 7th graders are a particularly challenging bunch of humans. Yes, over these past 9 months I have never worked harder, slept less, or cared more about other people at the expense of my own well-being, but I think it is the start of something good. Great even. 

When I sign up to do something, I have to do it with ALL of my being. There is no half-assing it in my book. This bull-headed perfectionist personality that I have is in many ways a good thing, but it also means that when things are not getting done to my standards, there is a fair amount of self-guilt inflicted as well. Which brings me to the state of this blog over the past year…

Over the last year I quit grad school, got married, moved (3… or was it 4 times… I lost count!), & started a new career. Somehow, I naïvely thought I would be able to keep up with my hobbies along the way. Well folks, I couldn't even successfully keep up with the dishes piling up in my sink, & this blog definitely took a back seat to life. 

October to February was the hardest stretch of this new life chapter. It got dark early. I was sleep deprived. I had a husband that I wanted to hang out with. Mid-term grades were due. It was cold. I got sick. Basically there were a million excuses I was really to deploy for why I wasn't posting on the blog. In 2013, from October to December I posted 100+ times compared to 55 in the same time period for 2014. I was half here, I was half into it, but I was fully pretending that my life wan't in shambles behind the scenes. I felt guilty for not posting. And I was also afraid that if I took some time off, that what I had built for the past few years would turn back to dust. 

Some people put a lot of emphasis on growing their blogs. Getting bigger, amassing more free stuff, reaching more people. And while yes, I would like to ultimately reach more people, I am happy with the size my blog is now. Here&Now has not grown in the last 12 months, but is hasn't gotten smaller either. I am grateful for those of you who are still here, still reading, still commenting, still encouraging me in this corner of the internet. 

I am now on Summer break, looking forward to 6 weeks of catching up on sleep, my reading list & responding to emails. We have some travel booked, but really I am just allowing myself to not feel guilty about relaxing. 

Since I haven't had much time to shop for Summer clothes, my style these next few months is going to be very pared down. I have been finding inspiration from these posts:

The minimalist's guide to setting & achieving goals
30 Day Minimalism Challenge
Being Content With My Closet
How To Take Your Basics From Day To Night

My Summer outfits are going to feature a lot of: natural leather, Panama hats, denim, white, minimal accessories. My top favorite pins right now are: 1 // 2 // 3

What would you like to see on Here&Now this Summer? I do have quite a bit of time on my hands :)

Failure, New Beginnings, & the Unknown

*this post is more on the personal side, so if you just come here for the outfits, please come back tomorrow for another style post :)

I had someone say one of the most insulting things to me the other day: "Every time I see you, I regret for you that you dropped out of grad school". 

Woah - hold up stranger!

It is true, my WHOLE life I saw myself growing up to become a "scientist". It was my dream to go to Vanderbilt & get my PhD in biomedical research & then one day use that degree to either teach college, or lead a pharmaceutical research team. I jumped at the chance to move to Nashville in 2009, & my life totally revolved around grad school for the next 3 years.

Somewhere along the way, I lost the passion. I had a lackluster mentor who didn't believe in me, & that doubt began to sneak under my skin as well. He regularly asked me how I expected to ever make it in the world of science as a woman. The last 6 months of grad school, despite working together in the same research lab, my mentor acted like I didn't exist. He would chose to talk to me through emails first sent to our lab manager, & then forwarded on to me. And in the end, instead of "toughing it out", "putting my nose to the grind stone", "proving him wrong", I decided to pivot (anyone else watching Silicon Valley - hilarious, but I digress!). I had always wanted to teach, & why not intersect with students earlier than college!? I started to research how to use the skills I had been practicing in grad school to teach Middle to High School students in Science. 

I decided to pull the shoot, & started to quietly work behind the scenes to withdraw from grad school with my Masters. My program doesn't usually award Masters degrees, with students going from a bachelor's to a doctorate directly. But with almost 4 years of research experience, the department eventually awarded me a M.S. - even though I had to keep it secret from my mentor while I was writing my thesis (he seriously excelled in being dramatic throughout the entire process). 

On one of my last days at Vanderbilt, I had already signed up for a talk about using a PhD to teach in secondary schools. I didn't want to go, I was basically in free fall, & I didn't want to be around people who were getting their PhDs & going on to great things. I'm pretty sure they were offering free snacks, or I would have never gone. 

At the talk, there was a vibrant, passionate woman speaking about the local charter school she had just founded. I was entranced. After the talk I went up to her & told her that I wanted to come & work in her school, to get more first hand knowledge of the amazing things she had been talking about: serving a newly immigrated population of students, growing students 2 years for every 1 instructional year, working hard, seeing big results. 

The next day I went in for an "interview" & began working for her the following week. I found a way to use my Masters to get a teaching certificate in 1 year, while teaching (will be getting that in the mail this May!) & everything quickly fell in to place.

I quickly ran away from the toxic environment at Vanderbilt, & head first into a new career.

To note: around this same time Tyler & I were getting married, & also moving. Holy stress.

I have never been more satisfied in a career path as I am now. 

Is it the most difficult thing I have ever done? YES

Are there days when I get up at 5 am, work until 6 pm, & then come home to only work until 12? YES

Do I regret giving up my dream of the PhD? YES

Truth is, I am still angry that I will never be a Dr. Jessica. I am still frustrated at the roadblocks that I have faced. I am jealous that my husband will eventually finish the program that we started together.

But on the other side of the coin, I am proud to be a teacher. I am proud of myself for taking action in the face of difficult situations. I am proud to support my husband with all of his amazing feats.

In the end, it is bittersweet. Do we ever know how it will all turn out? Looking back, isn't the journey more fun than we thought?

So to the rude stranger, please do not waste your pity & regrets on me. I am thriving in the here & the now.

because I'm happy

Alternative titles: my mother was right, getting older sucks, my pants are too tight

So, I have talked about it on here before, but I absolutely hate working out. I dislike sweating, I think it is a waste of time, & gyms completely intimidate me! But just like my mother warned me, the second half of my 20s means that what I eat quickly shows up on my body (to be honest, my diet is not super healthy, but that is a story of beer, burgers, & chips for another day). Le metabolism isn't quite what it used to be.

And the 5-10 pounds of "happy weight" that I have put on since the wedding isn't going anywhere on its own!

I really want to enter the next chapter of my life (hello 30s) with healthier habits, so by darn I am GOING to become a morning person who loves to work out. While these lofty goals might take a while to manifest, I am starting with some baby steps.

1. I now have a job that requires me to be up around 5:30 (I hate the physical act of getting out of bed, but once I'm up I really do enjoy it)

2. My former excuse for not working out was "I have nothing to wear" - so my sweet sweet husband bought me these pants (not so subtle hint babe) & I have been collecting cute tanks to sport as well.

3. I found a un-gym to join. I am not getting paid to say this, but I love Koko Fit Club. It is unlike anything I've ever done before, & I'm actually becoming someone who looks forward to working out. The workouts are only 30 minutes long & are all on 1 machine. The routines are personalized for you, & are different every time! My favorite thing (because I am a stubborn perfectionist) is that you get points for the quality of your workout (kinda like Wii fit), these are not only for your personal satisfaction, but can be used to get sweet Koko gear too!  (Koko if you need a new spokesperson, hit me up!)

{ What I wore to work out: Style Lately tank // Hanes sports bras (love 'em) // Nike capris & sneakers (see below for similar options) }

all photos | Alyssa Torrech Photography

What motivations have you used to change your lifestyle? 

Anyone else using the "I've got no cute workout clothes" excuse like me?

sliver

{ What I Wore for weekend errands: J.Crew chambray top // shorts ℅ Levi's (currently running a 30% off sale promo) // Michael Kors "jet set" cross body purse // Birkenstock "Arizona" sandals // sunglasses ℅ Ozeal }

all photos | Alyssa Torrech Photography

What you see here is just a tiny sliver of what I wear… in a good week, I share 3 outfit photos, and I assure you I get dressed everyday. Somedays I go to work in one outfit, then come home and change for the evening activities. On the weekends I sometimes change a lot, depending on my mood, the weather, spilling things on myself (they don't call me Messica Jessica for nothing), etc. That is just to say, what I share here are the outfits that I like the most, the ones that I hope you will like to. I have bad outfit days, and times when I feel downright frumpy/sloppy/uncute.

I think my Birks are the epitome of this whole situation. I have had these shoes since college, the last time they made an appearance on the "cool" radar cycle. And I have never stopped wearing them since. They did however not make it on the blog much in the last 3 years because they were too crunchy, off the beaten path, uncool. And for that I apologize. I want to do a better job about documenting my outfits. The ones I wear just to the grocery store. What I throw on for a last minute get together. Just everyday me!

Are there outfits that you don't share? What are you looking for in a personal style blog?

And where do you stand on the whole Birks situation??

Don't forget to enter to win the GORGEOUS HalfUnited necklace on the blog!

on change

{ What I Wore on a date: (old) H&M tank (similar) // Storets {vegan} leather skirt // Steve Madden heels ℅ Macy's // clutch ℅ Gigi New York }

all photos | Alyssa Torrech Photography

It is funny to look back at the version of myself that moved to Nashville 5 years ago. I was ending a 4 year relationship, moving away from all my college friends, embarking on a crazy journey towards a Ph.D., living in the "big city" after calling small town Arkansas home my whole life, & oh so young! 

5 years has brought change - new friends, new experiences, a degree, different last name, a career change, many moves, the loss of friends (growing older sadly sometimes means growing apart), & 2 adorable pug children.

I hear change when my alarm now goes off at 5am. I see change when I look in my closet & the pencils skirts have replaced the comfy blue jeans at the front of my wardrobe. I feel change when I come home from work after a 12 hour day of teaching & have never felt more fulfilled. I smell change when my husband cooks dinner, as we both adjust to the new life that is ours (he's shaping up to be pretty skilled in the kitchen!). I taste change when my Friday nights are more like ice cream and a movie on the couch rather than beer and honky tonks downtown.

Change is good. Change is hard. Change is refreshing. Change is the only thing we can grow to count on in this life.

I am so thankful to be surrounded by friends and family that embrace, support, love, and comfort during the many changes and stages in my life.

And just so you know, 26 going on 27 year old Jessica can totally still rock this skirt like 22 year old Jessica once did! Age is just a number right!? (less than 2 months till my 27th birthday and it's making me all sentimental!)

*Except this time, I'm headed out to dinner with my husband instead of dancing on bars with the ladies. Yup, things have changed.

How are things changing in your life? Any profound reflections on how the past 5 years have looked?

P.S. Change up your Summer wardrobe with the J.Crew gift card giveaway going on now. Enter to win here!

Back to School

Time for a life update! As many of you know, I transitioned out of a Ph.D. track graduate program in January. I cashed in my 4 years of graduate studies for a Masters in Biomedical Research to pursue my dream of teaching at the Middle School - High School level. 

I am now in an intensive teacher training program where over the course of this Summer, I will be teaching Summer school and working towards my teaching certificate. What this looks like on a daily basis is this: I teach 3rd grade Math for 5 hours, & then go to teacher school for 7 hours, to learn the skills that are going to make me an effective teacher starting on day 1 this Fall. I look forward to teaching 7th grade Science during the next school year and working towards closing the achievement gap in Nashville. Seeing the lightbulbs shine over my scholars'  heads when they realize that the content IS within their grasp is magical, and what keeps me going during this grueling schedule.

{ What I Wore to teach: dress ℅ Of Mercer // J.Crew Factory top // ShoeMint pumps // Michael Kors watch }
all photos | Zipporah Photography

This is not easy. I am changing my entire life to make this new career choice a reality. I work long, hard days. Often dealing with crying children, implementing new skills in the moment, taking aggressive feedback, & creating ALL of the materials that I need for my classroom this Summer.

After 12 hours of teaching/learning, I come home to practice my skills, & write lesson plans based on what I learned each day. Tyler & I have had to take up new roles in our relationship. Transitioning from working together in grad school and sharing similar hours, to me now coming home hours later than him, tired to the bone. He has been such a huge support for me (I get emotional just typing this because I am so thankful) - he is on pug duty morning and night, he cooks & then forces me to eat when I am too busy to even glance up from my computer, he lets me vent about teacher stuff that I'm sure he doesn't much care about, and is just generally my biggest cheerleader.

I am dedicated to making this blog space happen, but I might be more absent from commenting on your blogs, hanging out on social media, & possibly even posting everyday like I currently do. I thank you for your support & continued blog visits as I figure out this new life of mine. I am excited about sharing more of my "teacher style" and bringing you along on the journey as I figure that out!

First up on my "teacher style" journey: taking my graduate student wardrobe to a teacher worthy closet, without breaking the bank. In all my infinite free time (teacher jokes), I enjoy finding new boutiques that offer stylish but professional options. One that I think is doing a superb job of this, is Of Mercer. I am in love with their beautiful basics - sheath dresses, high quality accessories & blazers - and totally enamored with the special details they craft into every garment. This dress is my first acquisition from them, but I'm sure it won't be my last!

It's back to school for me… in more ways than one.

I just adore the leather paneled top, and fit & flare silhouette. Because I don't feel as professional baring my shoulders to my 3rd graders, I layered a button down under the dress. I love this polka dot number that makes the whole look appropriate yet fun. In the Fall, I am excited to play with layering this dress, including bringing some blazers & sweaters to the mix!

Has the function of your wardrobe shifted recently?

What pieces would make your closet more functional for your life from work to play?

If you are looking to build a foundation of professional attire, be sure to check out these picks from Of Mercer:

mixology

If you imbibed too much champagne last night & are currently nursing a raging hangover, this post might be better saved for you to read at a later date… seeing more drinky drinks might be a trigger point for your reversal machinery.

New Year's Eve is my favorite holiday - the sequins, the drinks, the fun hats & noise makers, sparklers & the fact that I have usually spent it surrounded by my nearest & dearest friends. 

But last night's affair was for sweatpants, pug snuggles, a marathon of Red Box movies, midnight smooches, & cocktail mixing… 2014 is slated to be a pretty crazy year for us (weddings, graduations, job changes, & lots of travel to name a few reasons), so I was more than happy to spend the last day of 2013 with my beloved, low key, no cover charges, no waiting for taxis, at home where a head to toe sweatsuit + a fur blanket are considered appropriate attire. 

But before you think that we are boring, let me show you our midnight mixology fun! My Sissy is a flea market GURU & found this book of cocktails called "Here's How", a cheeky relic of drink recipes (& drawings!) from 1941… this gem has lived on my bar cart for the past year, & I don't know we waited to long to break it out!

So out came the book, the ingredients, the supplies & glass wear.

And here is what we created. *Disclaimer: I think that drinks should be fun, so sometimes we don't play by the "rules" & make drinks that just taste good to us. For example, a "Manhattan" is typically made with Rye or Canadian Whisky, but in our house, Bullet Bourbon does the trick. 

Who says that a champagne cocktail has to be served in a flute. Them bubbles taste delicious to me out of a mason jar! Go ahead, get wild!

What yummy cocktails have you been enjoying recently?

We are having so much fun acting like we are straight outta Mad Men with our highbrow cocktails & are always ready to learn a new one!