September Purchases

September was a light month, shopping wise. I was just too darn busy with school and I didn't see too many sales around.

Here is what I bought:

Land's End Canvas Jersey Ruffle Neck dress: purchased using a gift card
Land's End Canvas Striped Boy Tee: $10
Talbots Refined Sateen Ruched Skirt: $29.24
Land's End Canvas Classic Straw Hat: purchased using a gift card
Land's End Canvas Classic Sunglasses: purchased using a gift card
Old Navy Ruffle Trim Gauze Shirt: $15
Land's End Canvas Sneakers (not shown): $4 (gotta love those Classified sales)
J Crew Wrap Silk Dress (not shown - found on EBay): used Paypal credits from selling unwanted clothes

Grand Total: $58.24

Not too shabby. This month's surplus goes to my car, aka Allie. My car guy tells me she is getting old. :-(

For October, I'm going to be on the look out for new black everyday shoes. And since tights weather is coming soon, I'm going to need some new tights.

Poor Allie

Sweater: J Crew
Top: J Crew Factory
Skirt: J Crew
Shoes: Naturalizer

I wore this outfit for picture day. Picture day clothes are important as the image appears in our yearbook. I want to live up to my rep as a stylish teach. :P This year, I didn't get the chance to really put any thought into my picture outfit.

I was busy picking out my clothes the night before when RDog broke my car. He took my car (aka Allie) out to top its tires with air and he broke it. It just wouldn't start.

I have a car with a push button start (hold the button, push the brake and it starts). I've been sensing for awhile that something was a matter with the button but no one believed me, not RDog, nor my car guy. Until last night when it went kaput.

Outfit ideas were quickly abandoned as I had to get a tow truck and watch my poor girl get towed away. It's funny how we get attached to things like cars; I almost cried!

When I returned home, clothes were the furthest thing from my mind; all I wanted was wine!

So after that night, I think my picture day clothes turned out pretty well. Allie is all better now after much $$$$$$$ was spent on her.

I Just Don't Like You

Dress: Talbots
Sweater: J Crew
Necklace: Joe Fresh
Shoes: Naturalizer
Belt: Forever 21

I don't think I like this dress. I really want to love it because it is plaid; plaid is always a winner in my books. But I don't like the fit. It is too shapeless. It requires the big guns (aka my huge elastic belt) to rein in the massive amounts of excess material. Bye, bye, plaid dress.

Frozen

Dress: Martin and Osa
Sweater: J Crew
Belt: Danier Leather
Shoes: Naturalizer

Not only was it freezing outside (the snap from summer weather to fall just happened) but my face was also frozen (darn dentist found a cavity).

The color combination for this outfit was inspired by the lovely AppGal over at Musing on the Mountain. I'm often afraid to mix red and green in fears of looking like a Christmas present. But the non-Christmas tones of these colors make it seem less festive (at least I hope so). I don't want to be one of those teachers to wear holiday outfits like this.

Giveaway Winner

Finally I got off my butt and drew the name of my giveaway winner.

The winner is . . .

Kristin of Lovely Apidae.

Kristin, I'll be in touch with details of your prize!

Everyone else, please ignore my yucky nails. I'm a biter!

Shoe Conversations

Dress: Banana Republic (thrifted)
Necklace: J Crew
Belt: J Crew
Shoes: Naturalizer

One of my students made a comment about these shoes. I taught her in grade 9 and have her again in grade 11. She always used to check out my shoes it grade 9 and made comments about me wearing a different pair everyday. Well, today she expressed disappointment about my shoe choices. You see, I have been wearing the same pair everyday.

So I had to explain to her that Ms. KDot's feet were two years older now and very, very tired. These shoes are the only thing that feels good lately (besides ballet flats and flip flops). I'm going to work them until it's tights time.

Wishful Thinking

Shirt: J Crew
Skirt: J crew
Shoes: Naturalizer
Belt: Nygard

Perhaps I'm ahead of the trends for once. J Crew's latest catalog sported models wearing dark Rayban-ish shades. Has J Crew been been reading my blog? :P

What I Wore Yesterday

Sweater: J Crew
Cami: Old Navy
Skirt: J Crew
Shoes: Naturalizer

This is what I look like after working for 12 straight hours. It was the best picture we took. Seriously, the best one. It didn't help that it was 8:30 pm and RDog has forgotten how to use a flash. This is my, "OMG, just take a picture look."

A Moment of Reflection

Dress: Talbots

Sweater: J Crew
Belt: Danier Leather
Shoes: Naturalizer

Things are going to get a little heavy in here.

Last night while driving home, I was tired (these long days are wearing me down), worried (my car needs some $$$ work) and frustrated (traffic was moving so slow). Then the source of the traffic jam was revealed.

Last Saturday a local teacher was killed in a motor bike accident on the road I take every time I leave my house. It was a bright sunny day. A truck pulled out of my neighborhood gas station and hit him and he was gone. His death has struck a chord in our small city. He was a great teacher and was so young (only 27).

Yesterday was his funeral. As I drove home today feeling angry in the traffic, I neared the spot where the accident happened (and where the traffic was at a standstill). There were 100s of bikes gathered in tribute and flowers lined the side of the road.

I was overcome with appreciation of all that I have. No matter what problems I face, I am still here. I still have my husband to go home to. I still have my parents and my brother. Those are the most important things.

My "G" Key is Broken; It's Drivin me Crazy

Sweater: J Crew
Cami: J Crew
Skirt: J Crew
Necklace: J Crew
Shoes: Talbots

Last year when I wore this skirt here, I could only think of pairing it with black. After another year of blogging and reading so many fabulous blogs, I look at this skirt and see so many color pairing options. Next time, it will be matched with blue!

My necklace giveaway is ending soon; check it out!

Red Leaves - Say What!?

Sweater: Talbots
Skirt: J Crew
Necklace: Joe Fresh
Shoes: Naturalizer

Where did those red leaves come from? I'd better try to squeeze the most out of those summer skirts before tights weather sets in.

Don't forget my giveaway peeps.

Country Fairs and Covered Bridges

Today RDog and I ventured deep into the heart of the country to go to a country fair. The fair wasn't too exciting. It was just a little too country for these city folks (there were a lot of cows). But on the way home, we spied this awesome covered bridge.

Picture overload ahead.

Standing on the edge.

Almost being knocked off the edge of the bridge by the wind

The classic motto of "Walk your horse and save a fine".

What I wore:

Skirt: Old Navy found here
Tank: Martin and Osa
Hat: H&M
Shoes: Land's End

I hope everyone is having a great weekend and don't forget to enter my giveaway!

I Forgot to Give This Post a Title

Top: J Crew (thrifted)
Skirt: J Crew
Necklace: Etsy
Shoes: Naturalizer - sadly they didn't make it through the day. I had to switch to flats at lunchtime.

This working five days a week thing really bites. I am exhausted. On a brighter note, don't forget to enter my giveaway.

Thank You For Being A Friend

As a thank you to all my readers, I'm having a giveaway. This is my thank you to those who stuck around with me this summer while I had my "I'm not going to wear anything but a bathing suit" summer.

The necklace is from JoeFresh (a Canadian line found in grocery stores here).

The giveaway is open to anyone. You don't have to be a follower (although it's awesome if you are).

All you have to do is leave a comment and have some way for me to contact you if you win. If you have a blog, I'll just leave a comment if you are the winner. If you don't have a blog, leave your email address.

The giveaway is open until next Wednesday, September 21 at 5pm AST.

Giveaway is now closed peeps.

Travelling Around the Blogging World

Dress: Ann Taylor (thrifted on BOGO day - this dress was CHEAP)
Necklace: Joe Fresh - Do you like it? If so, stay tuned because I bought two!
Shoes: Naturalizer as old as the hills. This was the first pair of shoes I have managed to wear all day since classes started
Shades: Land's End Canvas

I've been wanted a pair of white RayBans for some time now but RDog tells me they don't exist (he discovered this during his birthday present shopping). I found these RayBan wannabes on Land's End Canvas (found here) and snatched them up using my gift card from the Living Social deal that went around the blogging world a few weeks ago. These glasses felt like they were almost free!

Another thing that has been traveling around blogging world is the sock bun. I tried it out today and love it. If you don't know what a sock bun is and you are looking for a new hair style, check out YouTube. There are a ton of tutorials out there.

You always dress like you are in the 1920s

Dress: Target purchased from the lovely Dina
Pearls: RDog
Shoes: Naturalizer

This dress won me a few compliments today. One from a random stranger at the grocery store; the other from a student.

The student said, "You always dress like you are in the 1920s."

I think that is a compliment. Good thing I teach her history so I can show her the difference between the 20s and the 60s.

KDot and a Pile of Dirt

Dress: Martin and Osa
Belt: Danier Leather
Shoes: Naturalizer
Bracelet: Joe Fresh
Pile of Dirt: Left over from last week's gardening
Head grabbing pose: product of Monday (the first day of my first full work week of the school year)

Curvy Hem

Dress: Thrifted
Belt: J Crew
Shoes: Old Navy
Pearls: RDog

When I first spotted this dress at Frenchys (our Maritime version of a used clothing store), it was love. What made it better was that all the September issues declared polka dots one of fall's big trends. I've been wearing and loving polka dots for years; it's so nice to be ahead of the curve.

Speaking of curve, the hemline of this dress has one. It is not a straight hem. Maybe that's why it was abandoned and found it's way to a used clothing store. But I love it curves and all.

What I Wore Last NIght

Top: Old Navy
Pants: Caissis (I haven't been able to wear them for a year and a half - yah for working out!)
Shoes: Naturalizer
Necklace: J Crew

I hope everyone has a great long weekend!

I'm off to do some tubing. Basically, you get in a tube and float down a slow, shallow river while consuming lots of beverages. It's a must to do at least once a summer. Is this a Maritime thing or have other people done it?

August Budget

Now that I'm 30 (gulp), I"m trying to be more mature and budget my money (instead of getting a pay cheque and promptly spending it).

I saw an idea on J's EveryDay Fashion and have decided to steal it. Every month, she has a post about her purchases to keep her clothing budget in check. I have decided to do the same.

First of all, I think it will help keep me accountable with my shopping habit. If I know the exact amount I have spent the previous month, perhaps I will rethink rash purchases. I often delude myself into thinking I have spent less that I actually have.

It will also be a way for RDog to keep an eye on my spending. We have, for the most part, separate finances. Sometimes he gets annoyed the amount of packages that arrive on our door step. He always assumes I've been going crazy with the ordering! This way, he will know how much (or how little hopefully) I have been shopping.

I'm not setting a strict budget because with me, it would lead straight to failure. I'd like my monthly clothes spending to be around $200 or less a month.

So here goes. Here is what I bought in August:

1. Naturalizer shoes - $39.54 (I used my $15 off birthday coupon)
2. J Crew Factory belt - $10.01
3. J Crew Cherry Blossom France Blouse (found on EBay)- $17.44
4. Talbots Jeans - $21.99
5. Old Navy Skirt (I'm trying out the maxi skirt trend) - $20
6. Land's End Canvas belt - $13.22
7. Talbots dress - $32.04

Grand Total - $154.11

Not too shabby.

Keeping track of my purchases made me rethink my iffy purchases. There were a few more items on this list but I returned them because I wasn't totally in love.

My needs for the next few months include a black pair of everyday school shoes and Spanx tights.

Does anyone know of a place a Canadian gal can order Spanx online? I have come to realize that I don't like shopping in stores any more (6 out of 7 of my items were bought online).