Making the grade

Well the first week of school was last week and I would give it a solid B. I enjoy my team and my students this year are pretty good (so far) but I have some other grades that I would like to give out....

5 Things You Didn't Know

Thank you for your suggestions and encouragement from my last post, I sometimes think that I should not post when I'm "in my feelings" but that is my life sometimes. My mindset is still not where I need it to be but I'm getting stronger everyday.

This last photo on the bottom right is how you know that I'm feeling a lil better. #DuckfaceProblem
Decided to do a post about  a few things that you may not know about me.

Go Juanette, It's Your Birthday!

It's my birthday today yall! I am a fit and feeling fabulous 41! I was thanking God this morning for another birthday and was overcome with how grateful I feel! I haven't always been in a good place emotionally with all of the things that I have been through but I am oh so grateful for all of those things because I am so much stronger for the experience.

I like to use my birthday as my own personal New Year so I make a list of goals that I revisit throughtout the year. I was looking at my journal from last year and I am reminded of how far I've come.  I also looked at some old blog posts and laughed at some of my outfit pics. Why didn't yall tell me that I (sometimes) looked like a sister-wife?!? #YallWrong

But I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you all for reading my little bit of blog and leaving your comments, yall are my 'friends in my head' too!

Jacket: H&M

Turtleneck: Banana Republic

Scarf: Random store in the mall

Now let the rachetness begin! Just kidding...but not really....ok, ok...yall know me so well......Rachet it is!

Imitation of Life

(I couldn't decide what to wear to church so I took pics to decide. Which do you prefer?)

People get on the internet and start thinking that they winning.

What they fail to realize is that the internet is NOT REAL LIFE.

In The Fashionista's Closet: Shift into Neutral

I basically wore this same outfit here, I just switched up the pants and changed the background for a project I'm working on.

  

Jacket: Ralph Lauren (thrifted from Reiko)

Top: Zara
Necklaces: Forever 21

Pants: Banana Republic

Shoes: Jessica Simpson

Bag: shopping party

In The Fashionista's Closet: Bitter Pill

This week has been a week of irritations and disappointments and yall know that I don't like to burden you (well not too much) so I won't bother with the details.

Jacket: Thrifted

Belt: Thrifted

Skirt: Banana Republic

I read a book a couple of years ago titled "Controlling the Tongue" and there was a chapter on "Dignifying the Trial" and that has been my struggle this week. It basically says that whenever you are having a hard time, the struggle is in how you carry it. It is about accepting whatever is happening in your life without complaint. "Dignifying the trial means to accept any trial graciously...and letting it last as long as necessary to accomplish God's purpose in it." Well I can tell you right now that I haven't been dignifying a doggone thing except my indignation over my circumstances. I may have even uttered the phrase "Why me?!"

Shirt: Vintage (gifted by Reiko)

shoes: XOXO via Ross

I know that I have to begin again and face whatever happens with understanding that whatever is happening  is not a punishment, that I am being prepared, and that trials do end. I need to rejoice that I am still here to accept these challenges and that I need to face them with dignity and grace. The issue is not that we have problems but how we handle the problems and I haven't been a great example as of late.

 bag: Chloe

I did want to show you a little nugget of satisfaction from my week, I have been looking for a vintage train case and my friend, P found this vintage Samsonite one and bought it for me! 

 

  I plan to carry it as a handbag so if you see a chick around town looking like she's about to go on vacation but she's not at the airport, stop and say hi, it's me! 

In The Fashionista's Closet: Calgon, Take Me Away

I want to plot my escape, complete with tasty adult bevarages and warm sand in between my toes. I want to be able to forget my real life woes, if only for a little while. I need a little getaway until real life comes calling again.

es·cape  [ih-skeyp]

1. to slip or get away, as from confinement or restraint; gain or regain liberty

2. avoidance of reality

I want/need/desire all of that...

Skirt: Zara

Boots: Juicy Couture

My mini-escapes consist of mindless television (Fashion Police, Watch What Happens Live), thumbing through fashion books/magazines/blogs and having conversations with a few of my favorite people.

Earrings: Can't remember

Shirt: Banana Republic

Sweater: Thrifted

And I somehow manage to have me a hearty, belly laugh at some point during my day, it's never planned but always appreciated, it makes me feel better instantly. (The kids have told me that I laugh funny and they laugh right along with me.)

So until I get to my place in the sun, I want you to tell me what is your escape?

In The Fashionista's Closet: All Wrapped Up

Now that the time has changed I have a small window of time to take my pics after work before it gets dark and I'm missing the mark lately. The photos in my hallway are too dark in my opinion so I came out to the landing area this evening.

Coat: Banana Republic

Bag: Kooba

I subbed an art class today and one of the kinder kids used WAAAAYYYYY too much glue and got glue on my skirt and sweater. Had.to.resist.the.urge.to.strangle.him. But thankfully (for his sake) it came out.

Sweater: Zara

Skirt: Banana Republic

Boots: Juicy Couture

Earrings: Thrifted

Belt: Thrifted

Now on to the hair. This is from a twistout on its last legs. I applied Palmer's Hair Milk as a moisturizer and combed it out with a wide tooth comb then used Eco Styler gel for the edges and rolled it. I used hair combs and bobby pins. I call this my Shug Avery look from The Color Purple (greatest movie ever btw!)

I actually saw this YouTube tutorial last week but because I like to research and practice a style before I wear it out, I wasn't going to try it today. UNTIL Reiko said that I like to research EVERYTHING (which is partly true) so I threw caution to the wind and tried it.

It turned out okay for the first time, I really felt like I looked like my mom, she used to wear here hair like this "back in the day!"

Oh and please head over to the Trendy Socialite and watch her video inspired by lil ole me!

In The Fashionista's Closet: Orangette

I went to workout yesterday morning and there was a (kinda) cute guy in there so I had to get all Jillian Michaels with my workout and act as though I wasn't about to pass out and worked out longer than usual. He was grunting and panting so hard  I thought it would be bad manners not to stay. 

I began orientation at my second job, I'll be working in the men's department. I knew right away what my mom's response would be once she heard that I would be working in that department. "Ooooooohhh, that's good. Maybe you'll find a husband there." Who even knew that they sold husbands in the men's department? And all this time I've been looking elsewhere for husbands. So easy!

I am loving LOVING fall, I was so over my summer wardrobe. I am glad that I'm able to pull out some different things now.

Ruffled trench: Marshalls

Skirt: Banana Republic

Tights: Walmart

Boots: Clothes Swap

I pray pray PRAY that I will have exciting news to share this week! I'm off to take pics of some thrift finds to share with you....

In The Fashionista's Closet

About the 'fit:

Again with this jacket there is a small pattern on it that you probably cannot see, I love mixing the same colors but a large and small pattern together. I didn't buy these pieces together but I think it works, n'est pas?

Turquoise/white jacket - Rafaella either via Ross or Marshalls
Turquoise/white button down - Nautica
White pencil skirt - Banana Republic *I have had this skirt for years, I'm sure it was on sale when I got it but it has been a staple piece for my summer wardrobe*
Yellow Manolo Blahnik pump - Neiman Marcus Last Call

I adore bright colors and yellow, as well as green is a fave. I saw these pumps at Last Call a couple of years ago, on sale, in my size and my heart fluttered. 'Nuff said.....

Trend Alert:Bib necklaces

Statement necklaces are still reigning into Fall and bib necklaces take the simplest outfit to the next level.

Steal:

asos $45.98; Bebe $29


Anthropologie Livia $48; Urban Outfitters $48


Urban Outfitters $48; Forever 21 $11.80

Splurge:


Tory Burch $395; Banana Republic $150


Ranjana Khan $1,200; Lee Angel $195

Or you can go another route and rock the look with a faux necklace embellishment.


Bebe embellished bib necklace top $79; J. Crew tissue tee $125

Tie One On

Tie neck blouses bring sweet and ladylike to the forefront and can be layered underneath blazers or simply paired with a pencil skirt to add that touch of elegance without being matronly.


Thakoon Falling Confetti blouse $990

Talbots tie neck blouse $79

Dolce & Gabbana leopard print stretch satin tie neck blouse $1,195















Fred Flare Sunset tie blouse $52

Dillard's Walter puckered satin blouse $56.40 (on sale!)

Banana Republic silk striped blouse $70


Anthropologie Laurasia Leaf blouse $98