Loft Favorites

Hey there, fashionistas!  Long time, no see!  My district had a snow day today, so I had the most glorious day at home!  I may have done a little lot of online shopping from my couch, so it'd probably be in my bank account's best interest to find a new hobby for any future days off.

I am absolutely loving Loft's new arrivals for spring!  I was in need of a new pair of jeans, and I loved the wash of this pair.  

This paisley skirt is an online exclusive, although there is a dress in this same print in stores that is also very cute!  I think this skirt is adorable with the classic gray sweater on the model, and would be darling with a chambray button-down, too!  I ordered a regular in the skirt since I'd like it to fit a little shorter, although it does come in tall and petite also.

 

Isn't this pair of skinny chinos so fun?!  They also come in a "teal glow" and "soft seafoam" color.  I think the "red raspberry" color would pair perfectly with navy stripes for a nautical spring look.

I also added this pair of blossom Riviera shorts to my shopping bag for a Spring Break trip to Orlando.  The 6" inseam and classic style are flattering on almost everyone!  I'll probably pair them with a chambray top or denim jacket like the photo.

I worked at Loft on Sunday, and this floral sleeveless top immediately caught my eye.  By the end of my shift, we'd almost sold out and were completely out of my size.  All sizes are still available online, but if you're loving it for spring, I wouldn't wait too long!  I think it would be darling tucked into a pair of high-waisted flare jeans for spring or a pair of navy shorts for summer.

This stripe shift dress is also a great transitional piece!  It can be worn now with black tights and boots, or later on with a pair of flats or sandals.  I love finding cute dresses in "talls" online, since the regular length is typically too short on me.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  If you've purchased any of today's featured items, leave me a comment and tell me how you styled them!  Anything else catching your eye for spring that I missed? 

October Favorites

I think October has to be my new favorite month to dress for.  The weather is still warm enough to not have to bundle up, but cool enough to start wearing some of my favorite fall staples like my boots, tunics and vests without looking completely ridiculous.  I wanted to share some of my favorite October looks with you for some style inspiration, as well as links to some of the items that are still available in stores.  Happy shopping!

 

 

 

Jenna's Fall Favorites:

DSW Suede Booties

Loft Polka Dot Tunic

Tassel Lariat Necklace

Loft Plaid Shirtdress

Target Plaid Cardigan

JCrew Factory Popover Tunic

Herrinbone Vest (similar)

Hunter Boots

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  Leave a comment and let me know which look is your favorite!  I hope to see you back here soon, but in the meantime, find me on Instagram (@thefashionistateacher)  Have a fabulous weekend, friends!

Current Obsessions

We had Parent-Teacher conferences last week in my district, so teachers had Friday off as a comp day.  The 3-day weekend was utterly fantastic, and I feel so accomplished and refreshed, ready to take on next week.  I'd vote for a 3-day weekend EVERY week...wouldn't we all be so much happier and productive? :)

The weekend was full of fun fall activities like pumpkin patching (that's a verb, right?) and Husker football watching (We finally won for once!), but perhaps the BEST thing about this weekend was that the cooler temps allowed me to wear some of my new fall clothes!  I also picked up one or two quite a few new items for fall while I was out and about on Friday and Saturday.

I picked up my sister from college in Lincoln on Friday morning, and we made a stop at the Gretna outlets on our way back to Omaha.  I loved the length of this chambray tunic (perfect with leggings), and we both really liked this red plaid flannel shirt for Husker games to wear underneath our black or herringbone quilted vests (we happen to have a lot of matching clothes).  

This is how I styled the tunic on Saturday:

 I purchased the scarf in this pic here (this color is currently sold out, but may restock), and the watch is Michael Kors.

After a Husker win on Saturday (finally!) my mom, sis and I were in a really good mood, so we decided to head out to Village Pointe for a little more shopping.  I was loving the chilly weather, since it was a great day to wear my new plaid scarf from JCrew Factory (sooooo soft!), Loft moto jacket, and DSW booties.

Find this cute Target doormat here.

I had REALLY good luck at Loft on Saturday!  This Lou & Grey tunic is super comfortable and can be easily dressed up for work with a pair of black or printed leggings and boots.  I couldn't find this color online, but find the striped version here.  

I had to snatch the polka dot blouse right away, since I was kicking myself for not buying the similar version last year. I love the Kate Spade-esque look to it, and can't wait to pair it with my hot pink cardigan or red skinny pants for school!  This color is unavailable online, but find the plush cream color here.

Whew!  I need to hand over my credit card for awhile.  I had WAY too much luck this weekend!  But it's all sooooo cute, right? ;)  Hmmm...I do actually have a way you could help me out.  Head on over to my new Instagram page @fashionistateacherscloset to check out some great deals on new and gently used items from my closet.

Have a great week, fashionistas!  Thanks for stopping by!

 

Grandparents' Day

Hey there, fashionistas!  Are you as ready for the weekend as I am?!  I just love this time of year!  Football, lattes, leaves starting to fall, pumpkin everything...    

We celebrated Grandparents' Day at my school this week.  A little later than the actual holiday, but it was fun to still honor the kiddos' grandparents and/or special guests.  It's always tough for me to come up with something special to do because we only have limited time in the classroom (20 minutes) and I want to impress the grandparents!  I always start by having the students stand up, say their name and introduce their guest(s).  I give them a heads up ahead of time, but still always have one or two that realize they don't know they're grandma or grandpa's real name once they stand up to introduce them.  "Um, this is Nana and Papa...(whisper) Wait, what's your real name?"  Haha :)  This leaves us with about 15 minutes for an activity, cookies and juice. 

 This year, I left a Venn Diagram at everyone's seat to complete with their guest as everyone trickled in.  They came up with the best ideas, and it lead to a great discussion, generation to generation!  Find a free copy of this in my TPT store here.

Next, I had the students and guests complete an apply glyph activity together with the remaining time.  This is an activity that could easily be used outside of Grandparents Day, too!  I thought it might be fun to complete with our 1st grade buddies in the future.  I created my own apply glyph directions (find a copy here), but used the apple template from this product.  I was super thrilled with how they turned out!  

 

And of course, I had to look extra cute for the grandparents! :) 

Thanks for stopping by today!  I hope you'll connect with me over on Instagram and Facebook, too!

The Blogger Who Wore Joggers

Okay, guys.  I'm seriously stepping out of my comfort zone with this outfit today.  Let's rephrase that and say "running leap" out of my comfort zone.  I've always thought joggers were ridiculously cute (on other people), but just could never pull them off myself!  Just look at these stylish ladies on Pinterest!

 Up until today, I've never actually worn a pair of my own.  I've tried plenty on, but they haven't ever fit me quite right because of my long legs.  Then, I went into Loft a couple of weeks ago (where I've taken a little break from working this fall), and the fabulous ladies encouraged me to try on this pair of charcoal joggers.  Since they're made of a tweed fabric, I knew they'd be a little dressier for work.  I paired them with a simple, look fitting V-neck tee and my burnt orange Loft cardigan from last fall.  The joggers were super comfy, but didn't appear too casual for work since I tried to incorporate some dressier pieces into my outfit.

Here are my top 4 (amateur) tips for pulling off this look for work:

1. A slouchy tee or a chambray button-down look great with joggers!  Just remember accessorizing is key for work!  You don't want to look like your headed to the gym!  

2. A summery wedge or fall bootie with a heel will really dress up your look, and are both really cute with joggers!

3. For a more structured look on top, try a blazer or leather jacket to give your outfit a high-low effect.  

3. If you're still not quite sure how to style your joggers, go for a mono-chromatic look.  Black joggers paired with a black heel, black jacket or long cardigan and a dark gray tee is a really classy look.

Ready to try this trend?  You can find Loft's entire selection of joggers here.  I'd love to see how you style yours!  Just tag @thefashionistateacher on Instagram.  Happy "jogger-ing!"

 

I'm Baaaaaack!

Hey guys!  It's me, your long-lost blogger friend!  I swear I think about posting on this little blog at least weekly, but then life just gets in the way!  Now that the beginning of the school year craziness is starting to wind down, I'm hoping to be back to posting more on the regular.  You are all such awesome supporters and I so appreciate your sweet comments!  Thanks for sticking with me  :-)

I figured I better give you a little update on my life lately since it's been so darn long, so here goes:

Logan and I had a GREAT summer and traveled a ton!  We spent a week with his family in Estes Park in June, celebrated the 4th with my family in Okoboji, visited his brother in Dallas at the end of July, and flew to California for Labor Day weekend to visit friends.  Next up, we're headed to Minneapolis for Logan to run the Twin Cities marathon, and then I'm ready to chill at home for quite awhile!  All this traveling has been super fun, but I'm perfectly fine with being a homebody for the next few months!

We also finished our basement this last winter/spring, so we've been really trying to enjoy it this summer!  I'm hoping to post some more photos for you here soon!  We installed a projector instead of a T.V. and so far it's been great for football games this fall (and it's perfect for Bachelorette / Dancing with the Stars viewing parties, too!)  

I'm trying really hard to stay on a shopping budget with all of the basement and traveling expenses from this summer, but I feel like I'm really analyzing my purchases more than I did before, and getting more use out of my existing wardrobe.  I'm not working at Loft this fall, and that has actually helped me spend a little less, but I miss the interactions with my fun co-workers and clients, and the discount too :)

My school year is off to a great start!  I have a sweet group of 19 kiddos, which seems like a really small group compared to 26 from last year!  My team is brand-new to each other, but things seem to be going really well!  I've kept my owl theme, but moved classrooms, so I'm hoping to have some photos to show you in the next month or so.

The puppies are cute as ever, and Henry celebrated his first birthday last week.  He is our little rescue Yorkie we adopted back in November from the same rescue our sweet Rosie girl was from, who passed away last May.

While I've been neglecting the blog, I've been posting plenty of outfit and daily life photos over on Instagram.  Follow along if you aren't already: @thefashionistateacher.  Hoping to be back again next week!  I miss you guys!

Lily for Target

Well, hello darlings!  I am sooooo looking forward to Sunday because that is the day 'Lily for Target' finally launches!  I just love the bright prints and hues Lily Pulitzer is known for, and this collection is no exception, plus the affordable Target prices are a HUGE plus!  Today I'm sharing some of my top picks from the Lily 'Look Book,' currently online.  Happy shopping, fashionistas!

 

   Now, head on over to my Instagram page (@thefashionistateacher) to find out how to win a $270 Target gift card!  Wouldn't that make your Lily shopping spree even more enjoyable?!  Hurry, the giveaway ends on Sunday!

If you haven't already, check out my guest post for debwatley.com here about the Top 3 historical fiction books my 4th graders love!

Have a GREAT week!