No lyrics this time. Just... awkward.

Tunic/top/thing: Forever 21 Plus
Pants: Target
Shoes: Keds
Necklace: Forever 21
Belt: Coldwater Creek (Outlet)
Bracelet: World Market

Sorry I haven't been around in a while, but thank you so much for sticking around! I've been really busy with both of my jobs and roller derby, taxes, job hunting. This weekend I also got into a car accident- I didn't get hurt, but there's all kinds of running back and forth and playing phone tag with trying to get the damage assessed and repairs done, if any.

So this is a shirt I like a lot because it is soft and comfortable, but I don't really know how to wear it. It actually has elastic around the waist but I added the belt to create a little extra detail. But I've worn this shirt several times and I end up fiddling with it constantly throughout the day.

I love these Keds, they are covered in silver glitter, but even after I've worn them and worn them they still tend to chew up my feet.

Didn't you see my heart leap, like a pup in the constant barley?

Cardigan: Alloy
Tank and jeans: Just My Size
Flats: American Eagle via Ross
Necklace: Old Navy
Silver cuff bracelet: Gift from Mom

I'm not afraid of the scary sweater anymore! You can still get your own scary sweater, they're on clearance for $19.99.

I remember way back when I was in high school and Alloy carried mostly skater clothes for men. My first purchase from the catalog was a pair of wide legged Kikwear jeans that my mother hated to death.

Hmm... do you think I could still get away with that style? I don't think kids nowadays could wear something like that to school, but I wore them all the time, with my "Smashing Pumpkins" and "Garbage" t-shirts. Aaah, nostalgia!

Oh, the hand over the face is to protect you from the monster zit I've been cultivating. I also have nail polish on for once, but you can't really see it so it doesn't matter.

So what if the necklace is an owl and not a kingfisher! I just love this song.

♫: Joanna Newsom - Kingfisher

It was so easy, and the words so sweet

Sweater: Not sure, probably Ross - old
Sleeveless shell: Target
Skirt: Lane Bryant
Tights: Walmart
Shoes: American Eagle via Ross
Necklace: Gift


You might have noticed that, aside from black and grey, I have a lot of blue. Blue is my safety color. I fall back on navy especially, when I'm not feeling so great.

Sorry I haven't been posting a lot of outfits. I don't know if I mentioned it before but I've gained a lot of weight recently and so now a lot of my clothes don't fit.

♫:Regina Spektor - Eet

On the great bayou where they saw it fall

Button down shirt: Avenue
Layering tank: Old Navy
Bootcut trousers: Dots
Hi-top sneakers: Airwalk via Payless
Watch: Target
Water bottle: Threadless for Target

I just came off of spring break (a whole lot of doing nothing), but this two job thing is really starting to wear me down.

I'm sure one day I'll look back on all of this and laugh.

♫:Sufjan Stevens - Lord God Bird

we've got holes in our heart

Tee: Paris Blues via Ross
Cardigan: Avenue
Trousers: Dots
Shoes: Keds via Ross
Watch: Target
Necklace: Probably Claire's, old

I wouldn't have posted this outfit, except part of the point of this blog is for me to post pictures for my own benefit and not necessarily to please others. For years I was a serial camera-dodger, so for me to set up a camera and regularly take photos of myself is pretty ground breaking.

All of this stuff is stuff you've seen before. I don't participate in the 30 for 30 because I don't think I own 30 articles of clothing. I know bloggers always talk about being poor, but I am so beyond poor it's not even funny. Like no-gas-in-the-car poor. Usually I can deal with it but it's really getting me down this week.

♫: Lost in the Trees - All Alone in an Empty House

Snow snow, go away

Yet another snow day! The roads don't seem to bad today, so hopefully schools will be open tomorrow.

I was talking with the librarian at the school where I work (doing an after-school program) and she was telling me about all the budget cuts and teacher layoffs our district has planned. I was really hoping to get a full time teaching position next year, but I'm not feeling confident that it is going to happen.

A few weeks ago I made a "collection" on Polyvore of what I might wear if I were a teacher. I know that a lot of teachers dress really casually, but I think that looking more polished shows how important the job is to you. At the same time I'd want to incorporate my personal style with colorful and patterned tights, fun shoes, weird brooches, and jewelry derived from fossils and animal bones. Okay, so I know it's a touch of goth, but I really have been a little obsessed with animal bones ever since I took a Mammalogy course in college. You can learn so much about an animal from their skeleton!

7th grade life science by musicishername featuring boyfriend cardigans

Houndstooth Boyfriend Cardigan, $27
eShakti Surplice Front Fleece Shirtdress, $50
Dancing Like a Star Tights, $30
Red Studded Boots, $40
BDG Utility Tote, $40
Pamela Love Crow Skull bronze necklace, $575

This set was inspired by someone I saw on a street style blog, but after I made it I realized Hillary actually rocks the shirt dress and houndstooth sweater combo all the time!

The other three sets in my collection follow the jump:

You are a little mystery to me

Cardigan & tank: Old Navy
Skirt: Target
Tights: We Love Colors
Oxfords: Urban Outfitters

I believe this will be the swan song for these WLC tights. When I put them on, I discovered they had developed two holes on the right knee. I don't know where the holes came from - maybe from my snaggly fingernails, maybe from getting caught on something. I put some clear polish on the developing runs, trusted this skirt to be long enough to cover the holes, and wore them the rest of the day with no other problems. There was also a hole in the toe and a hole near the crotch, but the one near the crotch has been there (I punched my thumb through accidentally months ago) and has done a really good job of not running.

I'm debating on whether or not to invest in a new pair. On the one hand, they are pretty comfortable, super opaque, and I have worn them a lot. On the other hand, they still have that issue of bagging around the ankles and they're more expensive than my flat broke self can afford.

For now though, I think we'll just have to say adieu, adieu, parting is such sweet sorrow. Whether there's a 'morrow for me and WLC, we'll just have to see.

♫: Amanda Palmer - The Ship Song

Girls that glitter love the dark

Cardigan thing: Ross
Embellished shirt: Old Navy
Skirt: Target (Merona)
Tights: We Love Colors
Shoes: Target (Merona)
Necklace: Forever 21
Watch/Bracelet: Walmart

According to Ashley Falcon, "A head-to-toe black ensemble screams, Don't look at me!"

Or it could mean you just really like to wear black.

I got those black suede wedges that everybody has! The Mika wedges. I grabbed them when they were on clearance back in December, wore them around the house for a few times, and then tucked them away.

It didn't make sense to me to have shoes that I never wore, so I tried wearing these to work today.

I got a few compliments - you can see from my other posts that my attire is usually pretty casual - but man, my feet hurt. Nobody said they were uncomfortable. Maybe I just need to break them in.

I ordered this necklace from Forever 21 - I don't know why, I think because it was so cheap - and they sent me a spider necklace instead! It's the exact same design, with the big rhinestone as the body, but it's just a spider instead of a fly. I'm not going to complain, I vastly prefer the spider.

♫: Hannah Fury - Girls that Glitter Love the Dark

Oh come child, In a crossbones style

Camp shirt & jeans: Just My Size
Flats: Steve Madden, secondhand
Necklace: Eclectic Outlet
Drugstore hair clip

These are the shoes I was wearing back here that you couldn't see.

This outfit was inspired by this one over at Gretchen's Closet.

Inspired? But it's so simple! And that's the point.

I feel really intimidated by other people's fashion blogs sometimes, because I don't have a lot of clothes and I don't have a lot of money to buy new things. And because I'm larger than "average," it's really hard for me to find things even when I'm thrifting. Sometimes I get frustrated with my limits, sometimes I worry about rejection. Then I see someone else looking really chic in something basic and I think, "I can do that. What was I getting all upset for?"

I could have added a bracelet and a ring though, I guess. I'm still not used to this whole accessorizing thing.



I have purchased a few inexpensive trinkets on Etsy recently and this was one of them. I was really tickled to find this necklace on Etsy because I actually own one of the limited edition copies of the Italian Cat Tarot from 1990. It was one of the first things I ever got on eBay and I just love it. The chain was originally really long, but because it's a ball chain necklace, it was very easy for me to cut and make shorter.

♫: Cat Power - Cross Bones Style

stop before someone ends up getting hurt

Sweatshirt: Fashion Bug (old)
Skirt: Dickies (secondhand)
Boots: Vintage via Ebay
Leggings: Forever 21 +
Scarf: Torrid, I think.


This outfit is based on the same inspiration as this one. Crazy how two outfits can come from the same photo, isn't it?

I made sure to tuck this scarf in because the pattern is skulls and crossbones. This was from Friday when we watched Peter Pan, though (the live action version), so if anyone had asked, I would have said it was my pirate scarf. The kindergartners don't seem to mind my occasional odd accessory choice (spider necklace, dinosaur necklace, green sparkle spider web socks) so I'm sure they would have been okay with it.

I'm doing all right, and I appreciate the support some of you have given. I didn't grow up with my dad, so we're not super duper close, but it's still really hard now that I'm handling his expenses, being reminded every day that he's gone.

We're not? We weren't, heh. I keep forgetting to use past tense. I understand that's common.

I've gained weight since the last time I wore this skirt, can you tell? You can click the "dickies pencil skirt" tag to compare the photos. I don't think I'll wear it again until I drop a few pounds. It fit okay but to me it doesn't look like it fits okay.

♫: Charlotte Gainsbourg - Little Monsters

But everybody thinks I'm weird

Cardigan: Avenue
Tank: Target
Skirt: Target
Tights: Walmart
Shoes: Urban Outfitters
Scarf: Claire's
Bracelet: World Market


Another visit from the skirt that I never would have bought if not for the influence of fat fashionistas in the blog-o-sphere! And roller derby, which made me feel better about my body in general. So thanks, blog-o-sphere! And thanks, roller derby!

See, my legs are fat. The bulk of leg fat is in my thighs and starts at my knees. So anything I had to wear had to be knee length or longer, because I didn't like my fat knees. But my knees are going to be fat whether you see them or not. So why not wear a skirt that's a little shorter?

This outfit was inspired by a look I saw on Clothed Much when Elaine did her end of the year round-up. Of course I don't have a sweatshirt (I really don't) or lacy tights so I had to change it up a little bit, but the idea is to be inspired, not to copy.

I didn't tuck my scarf in like she did, either, because it has buttons on the fringe and I wanted to show that off. At the end of the day I think I should have, though, because my kindergarten kids kept coming up to me and grabbing and pulling my scarf.

My kiddos are super cute but this whole personal space issue is part of the reason why I prefer to work with older children.



I was a little noisy today, because of the jingly bracelet and the buttons clicking on the scarf. I love that the pattern is cute and a little sinister at the same time - the little stitched-together animals almost look like voodoo dolls. Eek!

Maybe that's the style niche I'm going for. Cute but creepy. I even picked a cute but creepy song to go with this post today.

This guy is my favorite:



♫: Kate Nash - Skeleton Song

I wanna be her... so do you

Jacket: Old Navy plus ($20 I think)
Tunic/shirt: Just My Size
Cropped jeans: Avenue
Boots: Vintage Grime via Ebay ($50)
Belt: Coldwater Creek
Necklace: Asos

Here it is, the jean jacket I've been wearing almost every day in Texas in lieu of an actual winter coat!

This outfit features two items that I can't figure out how to wear, yet in a fit of temporary insanity I decided to wear them both at the same time. I bought the boots because of their color - and I never wore them out in public before, because of their color. These pants are shorter than I thought they'd be and don't taper at the ankle like I'd hoped. But when I was coming back from Ohio, I saw a lady at the airport who was wearing cuffed jeans and lace-up boots and I thought, Eureka!

Check it out, I even have detail shots:




necklace: Asos
pins: Needlings on Etsy, free with my owl brooch, and a pin from a promo pack I got when ACRD was promoting Whip It.


Do you think I should keep putting the prices on things? I didn't price a lot of this stuff because I've worn it before and I think I mentioned the price previously. I think it's interesting when other bloggers do it but... um... I'm kind of lazy. :)

♫: Peaches - Boys Wanna Be Her

You come through for me

Cardigan thingie: Ross (free w/ gift card)
Shirt: Old Navy ($9)
Jeans: Just My Size ($19)
Shoes: Airwalk via Payless ($16)
Watch: Geneva, Gift
Necklace: Claire's (two years ago)

I've spent a lot of money on clothes in the past two or three months and I felt pretty guilty about it, but I think I've finally gotten to a point where I can go into my closet, grab some things, throw them on, and actually like how I look.

I used to spend hours trying on outfit after outfit and eventually putting on something I wasn't satisfied with, wishing I could just stay home. But most of the time these days, I like how I look.

I try to plan outfits in advance, but this one wasn't planned. It just came together.

There's some crocheted lace stuff on the back of this cardigan thing, but I couldn't get a good picture of it. Maybe next time!

Also, next time I complain about being cold, tell me to shut my trap. My "outerwear" has consisted of a jean jacket for the past couple of months and today I didn't wear a jacket at all.

♫: PJ Harvey - You Come Through

Talk about pop musik

Sweater: Coldwater Creek Outlet ($19 or so)
Shirt: Target (five years ago)
Jeans: Dots ($9)
Flats: American Eagle via Ross (two years ago)
Necklace: Hot Topic ($10)
Socks: IDEK


Despite containing similar pieces (sweater layered over a shirt, skinny jeans, flats), this outfit is much more "me" than the last one I posted. Still no black, aside from the socks, but the colors are darker and I think the stitching on the jeans makes it a little more edgy and interesting. Plus nothing says "me" more than my t-rex necklace.

Also, thank you blog-o-sphere for letting me know it was okay for fat chicks to wear skinny jeans. I was afraid of wearing these for the longest time, then I finally spotted myself in a full-length mirror in them and realized I look pretty cute!

I have been wearing the crap out of these shoes, and I know they look kind of odd since they are weird and fabric-y, but they are so comfortable! It doesn't make sense because they have no support whatsoever, yet they're more comfortable than a lot of my other flats. I guess because they are just like going around barefoot.


♫: M - Pop Musik

When our love was new

Cardigan: Alloy ($39 - and it's on sale now)
Tank: Old Navy ($3)
Trousers: Gloria Vanderbilt via Ross (free w/ gift card)
Flats: American Eagle via Ross ($14 maybe)
Scarf: No clue
Crazy expression: all mine!

This is the sweater I was going to wear with the silver stripe skirt the other day and then I chickened out. The big print on this sweater is what made me buy it in the first place. But when I have it in my hands, it kind of freaks me out. I'm really not sure how to wear it. So I made a lame attempt at pattern mixing because I was so cold, but I think it is pretty obvious from my pained grimace that I was not feeling too sassy in this outfit.

♫: Nat King Cole - Stardust

Cause at night the sun in retreat, Made the skyline look like crooked teeth

Sweater: Merona by Target ($14 maybe? IDK)
Skirt: Pure Energy by Target, secondhand ($10?) - It has pockets and I have a pen in the pocket, can you tell? Heh.
Tights: Walmart ($6)
Shoes: Modcloth ($70)
Bracelet/Watch: Walmart ($5)
Owl Brooch: Needlings ($10)
Horseshoe necklace: gift from my momma :)

Today I went to a seminar put on by my alternative certification program on how to get hired as a teacher. I currently teach in elementary and middle schools, but not as a teacher of record. I have a curriculum that I follow and I have to know how to manage the classroom, but I don't get paid a lot or get a lot of respect from parents or other "real" teachers. I'm hoping to have my own classroom by next year!

On the way home I stopped at Wendy's to get lunch (and try their new fries, which taste a bit like fries you get from Penn Station but not as good) and one of the guys working there commented on my hair, then asked me about my ethnicity.

Guys, I hate this. I never know what to say, because I don't want to be rude, but at the same time I feel like it is a very personal question that nobody has any business asking. What difference does it make? I don't go around asking people what their ethnicity is!

Anyway, this was a bit of a daring outfit for me with mixing brown and grey and black. I had a totally different sweater picked out to go with the skirt, but it has a big houndstooth pattern and I'm scared to wear it.

What worked: I was very comfortable and yet still more professionally dressed than a number of the other people at the seminar. This skirt is shorter than I would normally wear but I was ok with it.

What didn't: I think the sweater is a little boring and I have trouble thinking of necklaces to go with this kind of neckline. I need more collarbone-length statement necklaces. Also I tried my Luvees under the skirt, and while I didn't have any painful chub rub issues, they did keep riding up as my thighs rubbed together and I had to adjust them a few times.

♫: Death Cab for Cutie - Crooked Teeth

I believe in everyone.

Button down shirt: Avenue ($10)
Layering tank: Old Navy ($3)
Dress: Old Navy ($4)
Belt: From another dress
Shoes: American Eagle via Ross ($12? $16?)


I got this dress on clearance a while ago in a brick and mortar Old Navy store. I used to avoid shopping there because I assumed nothing would fit, but lately whenever I go in I can usually find some things I can wear, such as this dress (in XL, not even XXL!) and sweaters and things. And even though I've probably gained ten pounds since I bought it, it still fits. And it has pockets!

The layering tee is also off the shelf at Old Navy, it's an XXL. They were doing a great sale this weekend and I bought several things - for me!

What worked: I was comfortable for the most part, and I really like how this ended up working. This is probably the most layering I've ever done - I was wearing purple bike shorts also that you can't see to protect from chub rub and to keep me from flashing everybody as I sat on the gym floor. Despite all the layers I didn't have to adjust it much.

What didn't: The dress kept riding up as I walked. It wasn't awful, but it bothered me. The belt got on my nerves a little bit, also - you can see that it is a bit skewed in this picture. I kept fiddling with it all day. Also I was SO FRICKIN' COLD. I was going to wear my grey roper boots with this but didn't want to fiddle with them this morning, but the boots at least would have kept my ankles from freezing.

♫: Joanna Newsom - '81

too little too late

Sweater and tank: Merona by Target ($?? they were on clearance)
Trousers: Gloria Vanderbilt via Ross (Free with gift card)
Shoes: Sketchers (gift)
Necklace: Claire's (also on clearance)


This is an outfit from last week, not super fancy but very comfortable.

I was on a field trip with the Girl Scouts on Saturday when I found out my father passed away. He'd been battling cancer for a while, though, so it wasn't a big surprise. I will probably do a longer post about it later.

♫: Ramona Falls - Russia

I hated you, I loved you too

Cardigan: Avenue ($20)
Shirt: Old Navy ($5)
Skirt: Target ($5)
Tights: We Love Colors ($15)
Shoes: Urban Outfitters ($50)
Necklace: Ich Bin on Etsy ($7)
Bracelet: Target ($1)

I promise I've been wearing other things besides this sweater and these shoes, I just haven't been posting because I've been feeling particularly awful about myself and debating on whether or not this blog is even a good idea. On the days I don't plan an outfit I think is post-worthy, I usually fall back on the old uniform of ill-fitting khakis and a t-shirt, though, and the whole point of this is to try to get me to put more effort into my look.

When I was putting this together, I was literally thinking to myself, "What would a nerd wear?" This kind of easy skirt and tee outfit reminds me very much of Tania, though I don't think she would go for these colors (and the only reason I bought the skirt in the first place was because of a post eons ago about building a wardrobe at academichic). The shirt is kind of a weird length and the skirt has a weird top, so belting it just didn't look right. In the end I just let it go and threw the sweater on over it, not feeling so great about it overall.

Plus these tights, my "good" tights, started bagging, and the chub rub was awful. I know a lot of bloggers who sing the praises of We Love Colors, but I haven't been having a good experience with their products

When I got to work, though, one of my co-workers said she loved my style! She said I'm kind of "girly-punk," and one of my other co-workers added, "sort of boho." I didn't know I really was showing any kind of style!

I guess I should keep the blog after all.

♫: Kate Bush - Wuthering Heights

To be so sweet was her only mistake

Cardigan: Avenue
Shirt: Old Navy
Trousers: Dots
Oxfords: Urban Outfitters
T-rex Necklace: Hot Topic
Bracelet/Watch: Walmart

I was excited to find this necklace at Hot Topic. I have been lusting after this Tatty Devine necklace for years, and when I saw the small plastic version, it was a fair enough approximation to satisfy me.

I'm not normally a bright colors person, but I've been really into yellow lately. Before I bought this shirt, I'd already bought two yellow belts from Coldwater Creek that I have yet to wear.

So this is me, branching out a little, with my starry oxfords and dino accessories. I am funky at heart, and doing my best to look a little funkier in person.

Today's song: Hooverphonic - Jackie Cane