Fashion Friday: A Little Sparkle!

This time of year I start to get in the mood for sparkly things.  I wouldn't say I'm a super glitzy, glammy girl, but I do like a little sparkle and shine every now and then.  I think it's a fun way to dress up an outfit and add a little extra girliness.  I don't really have any formal or dressy Christmas parties to attend, but I do like to add a little extra pizzazz to my winter attire.  I thought I'd inspire you with a few of my current faves for adding a little sparkle and glam to your everyday wardrobe.  

These are a few of my favorite glitzy tops.  Obviously I gravitate toward things in the gray family!  

The dark gray cardigan on the left is from Gap (2 years ago maybe?) and is totally my go-to dressy cardigan.  It works with dark jeans, black pants, and skirts which makes it a total winner in my book!  

The middle cardi was a total Banana Republic steal last spring.  I believe the original price was nearing $100 and I paid $7 on super sale.  I didn't get to wear it much, but I'm very excited to bust it out this holiday season!

The top on the right is a super soft, cozy sweatshirt from AE that I picked up last year.  I immediately fell in love with it and almost literally ran to the store to get it.  It wasn't even out on the floor yet, but the wonderful folks at AE know me, dug one out of the back, and let me buy it early!  Even though it's a sweatshirt, it can be dressed up or just worn with jeans for a little extra sparkle.  It got a ton of wear last winter and will get a lot this season as well! 

Accessories are another great way to add some glitz and glam to an otherwise basic outfit.  The bracelets are from a local boutique and a local resale shop and the earrings are from Forever 21.  I'm not one to spend a lot of money on accessories, so like to get goodies from inexpensive stores.  Target has some adorable accessories right now that are perfect for spicing up your outfits!

Now here are a few items currently in stores that you can add to your wardrobe!  

(Warning:  I've been on a shopping kick lately!)

Aerie Shimmer Popover

This one is perfect if you're wanting a little glitz without anything over the top.  I picked this one up in "Vintage Vanilla."  (Side note...  I'm working at Aerie again this holiday season so I picked up a few tops there with my employee discount!)

Aerie Giftastic Raglan T

I bought this one in "Deep Sea" (navy) and love the sparkle detail on the bands.  It's another one that can be styled a lot of different ways, but it still very comfy for winter.  I'm tempted to get another color!

Loft Sequin Detail Striped Cotton Tee

This one is on it's way to me (since the nearest Loft stores are over 2 1/2 hours away) and I'm crossing my fingers it fits and I like it.  The one online review isn't good, but I'm hopeful!  I love stripes and I love sequins, so when I saw this one in a preview ad I anxiously awaited its arrival online.  

J.Crew Factory Square Sequin Tank

factory.jcrew.com

It's a little much, but styled and layered the right way, I think these sequined tanks are totally adorable!  I don't have one (yet), but keep eyeing them!

I mean, look at this pic and tell me that's not super cute!

pinterest.com

Or this?

pinterest.com

I hope you're inspired to add a little sparkle and shine to your wardrobe!  

I'd love to hear how you glam up your look during the holiday season!

Happy Friday!!!

Fashion Friday: Pink Please!

Do you ever go through phases with colors?  I feel like everyone does that when they're a little kid, but I feel like I totally do that as an adult too.  

I was never one of those little girls that completely loved or completely hated the color pink.  I mean I was never opposed to pink, but I was never really crazy about it.  Sometime in college I became a big pink fan and it's stuck with me ever since.

Okay, so now the pink that I'm drawn to is bold and bright.  I think pink is a color that you can get away with year round and right now it's a color I've been drawn to in a sea of dark fall and winter colors.

Gap got the best of me again and I picked up two more sweaters from their new arrivals.  I had a coupon (of course), so that did help with the situation.

This first one is just a basic pink crewneck.  I have a 3 size range in Gap sweaters and I went with my largest in this one to give it a roomier fit if I want to layer and more length.  (They also didn't have the next size down in this color, so I was glad it worked.)

gap.com

The next sweater is a total throwback to a J.Crew top from last winter.  I actually tried the J.Crew shirt in store, but was between sizes and didn't love it enough to pay $45 for a knit tee.  The whole neon and stripe thing stuck with me, though, so I was super happy when I saw Gap come out with this sweater.  It was online, then disappeared, and now seems to be back (but the way Gap is promoting it I don't know if it will be around for long).  The bottom is a very dark navy, not black like I'd originally thought.  I sized up in this one as well to have a bit more length so I can wear it with my skinnies.  The best part is that it's a sweater and it was a chunk cheaper than the J.Crew shirt.

gap.com

J Crew t shirt (see more striped boatneck shirts)

How freaking cute are those?!?  The pink on both sweaters is neon...  We're talking quite bright, but I think that's why I love them so much.  I'm excited to have a few bright and fun sweaters for those gloomy winter days.  I think there's something so cheerful about a pop of bright color in the middle of winter.

My final pink purchase is my Clarisonic Mia 2!  I finally got it!  I'll have a separate post on that purchase and how I totally lucked out.

sephora.com

What color(s) have you been craving lately?  

Are you into brights or darker colors right now?

Happy Election Day!

I just wanted to say good morning and 

HAPPY ELECTION DAY!

If you didn't do advance voting, be sure to get out and vote today!  We're blessed to live in a country where we have the opportunity to elect our leaders and can be a part of that process.  I've had a ton on fun teaching my students about the candidates and the whole election process.  

And here's a little 80's music video fun for you...

Arcadia - "Election Day"

(Arcadia was a "spin off" of Duran Duran with lead singer Simon LeBon.)

Sunday Social

A Complete Waste of Makeup hosts Sunday Social each week.  I don't always get around to doing a post (and some weeks I'm not all that into the questions), but it is a really fun way to link up and discover new blogs.  

This week's questions were pretty general and were "catch up" questions.  

What is currently on your wish list?

I've got a pretty good list going of pricier items that I'd like to get in the next few months.  The one I'm hoping to get soon is a Clarisonic Mia 2 (in pink, of course).  

sephora.com

Coach sent me a coupon this week for $100 off $300 or more.  Now, technically I am still banned from making anymore purse purchases until next year, but coupons like this just don't come along very often.  I look to be getting a small raise and probably do some part time retail work during the holiday season, so I'm thinking that may be the only way I can justify a purse.  I've been eyeing this one from their Poppy collection for a while.  

coach.com

My final wish list item is an iPad Mini!  I actually went into Best Buy tonight to check them out in person.  I love it!  The size is exactly what I want and I love my iPod Touch, so I know the iPad would be a wonderful addition for me.  Other than blogging, I don't really do much online at home that requires a full laptop.  I'm asking for gift cards for Christmas and hope to maybe get one in the next few months!

Share a new iPhone, Droid, or iPad app you recently discovered that we all need.

I'm really not into discovering cool apps.  I have an Android phone and an iPod Touch and I carry both around and use apps on both.  I wouldn't categorize either app as "cool" or even new, but I've been using the apps for Target and Walgreens a lot lately for their weekly ads and rewards program.  I've also been using my ESPN Fantasy Football app a lot on weekends to check up on my (not-so-stellar) team!

Share your social media links for us to follow you on.

Blog:  thirdgraderockstar.blogspot.com

Pinterest:  pinterest.com/conolley

I don't tweet and I don't have a Facebook page for my blog.  I do use Instagram, but I'm contemplating on whether or not I want to make that one private and if I want that one connected to my blog.  

What is a new fall TV show you have added to your DVR?

"Go On" with Matthew Perry is probably the only new show that I've started watching this year.  I really don't watch much network TV other than a few shows on NBC.  I'm a huge fan of "Friends" and Perry is really great in this show.  I'm really hoping it lasts longer than just this first season!

What is a TV show / movie / song that you can listen to or watch over and over and never get tired of?

TV Show(s):  Friends, Full House, Arrested Development

Movie:  Back to the Future

Song:  Pretty much anything from Huey Lewis & the News or Duran Duran

Obviously I like to kick it old school.  

***

Well, that's it for this week's questions!  I hope you had fun reading and will come back soon to read some of my other posts I'll have coming up!  Happy Sunday and I hope you feel well-rested from your extra hour of sleep!

Randomness and Vanilla Ice

Hey everyone!  I didn't really have much of a post planned, but for some reason I just felt like posting some randomness tonight.  I have a horrible allergy cold right now and plan on going to bed right after this in hopes of feeling better at work tomorrow.  

 I think one of my least favorite things about being a teacher is that it's really not all that easy to just call in sick.  It's more work to be gone than to be there!  I'm going to our state's assessment conference the first 3 days next week, so I'm plugging through so as not to miss another day of school.  My class this year has had some trouble with subs and I already have to miss a lot of days for meetings, so I'm trying not to be gone much on top of what's required of me.

Here's some total randomness for you...  This weather!  

I hope all of my bloggy friends out east are safe!  I've seen some really crazy pics on Facebook and Instragram from friends out in NY and surrounding areas.  Thankfully, to my knowledge all of my friends out there are safe and didn't experience any major losses!  Thank God for His protection and I'm continuing to pray for those who have suffered losses through these storms.

I have to say that for once Kansas isn't experiencing wild weather.  In fact, our weather has been CRAZY BEAUTIFUL!  It's November and we're experiencing temps in the upper 70's and low 80's!  My wardrobe is seriously confused right now!  Last weekend I was scrounging around to come up with a wedding outfit for the frigid cold and now I'm back to wearing flip flops!

I leave you now with a funny from one of my students.  

(I can't recall if I've mentioned that this year my class consists of 13 boys and 5 girls.  It's quite an adventure!  My boys are hilarious, sweet, emotional, and talkers!  I usually end my days utterly exhausted, but still loving those kids!)

Anyway, last week the kids were working and suddenly I begin hearing a group of students singing "Ice Ice Baby."  Yes, that's right, "Ice Ice Baby."  One was rapping and another was doing the baseline.  Who knew that 8 and 9 year olds knew that song?!?  After a moment I finally called out, "Hey, Vanilla Ice, sit down and save your rapping for recess!"  I never thought that as a teacher those words would ever come out of my mouth.  

Seriously though, it's like that everyday in my classroom...  Laughter and tears are pretty much a daily thing for us, but I love those kids to death!

Hopefully I'll have some time to get some more "real" blog posts up over the weekend!  Have a good one!

October Budget!

It's time to link up with Franziska for Budgeting Bloggers!  

After spending a lot in September, I took it sort of easy (for me) this month.  I feel like this month's spending was a lot more thoughtful and calculated than a few of my previous monthly purchases.

Gap Eversoft Sweater (striped) - $9

gap.com

Yes, a $9 new arrival sweater from Gap.  I purchased this online during a 35 or 40% off promo, plus used some rewards and a free shipping code.  I stacked three discounts and got this sweater for just over $9!  It's a little big and considered swapping it out for a smaller size in store, but this color was online only and I ended up liking the length of the longer one with the stripes better anyway.  It looks really cute with skinny jeans and I love the tan and bright pink combo!  I got a lot of compliments on it the first day I wore it!

Gap Eversoft Sweater (solid)- $30

gap.com

This one was probably my impulse buy of the month.  I wandered into Gap during another sweater sale and tried on a ton!  I loved my striped sweater so much I gave the solid ones a try and ended up really liking it.   The orange-y red color is a fun color for fall and winter.  I went with a size smaller than the striped, so that it's loose, but not quite as over-sized.  Gap hit a home run with these Eversoft sweaters this season.  They're definitely my favorite Gap sweaters from the past few years!

Limited Perfect Tee - $15

I referred to this shirt in my post about buyer's remorse.  (Read it here.)  Long story short, I bought a larger size because it was all they had and then returned it the next day.  I was at the mall again a week later and saw they had more in stock.  I'd been looking for a nice black and white striped shirt for layering and this one was the best I found.  I'd actually received a $15 off coupon on e-mail that same morning, so this shirt ended up being $4 less than what I'd paid the first time.  It was obviously meant to be the second time around!

Gap Leopard Scarf - $19

I've been obsessed with the leopard scarf and stripes mix after a few super cute Pinterest findings.  After searching quite a few stores and online, I happened upon one from Gap.com.  Of course because it was Gap and they seem to be running sales and promos non-stop I saved 30% and got free shopping.  I'm glad I grabbed it when I did because it's no longer available online and I never saw it in store.  (Too bad because now my mom wants one for Christmas!)

= $73

Not bad at all considering everything I purchased, but I bit more than I'd intended.  I had 3 birthdays and a wedding to buy gifts for this month, so I tried to take it a little easier when it came to purchases for myself.

(I left out my Ulta purchases this month because I did budget those from my bonus check that will be coming next month.  I knew from the start that I was going to buy my Naked 2 palette whenever they ran their sale on everything, no matter if I'd received my holiday bonus or not yet.)

I must say, Gap's been bringing their A game this season and I'm not sure that's been a good thing for my budget!  The keep coming out with great items, running awesome promos, and I keep falling victim to it!  I haven't been super impressed with many other stores this fall, though, so I guess that kind of evens things out.

My budget for the next few months will be a little different...  I get my bonus check in November and have allotted a portion of that for a few splurges for myself.  I already bought my Naked 2 palette and the other item I plan on buying is a Clarisonic Mia 2.  I've got my eye on a few new arrivals from Gap and have a coupon starting next week, so we'll see if I end up with any of those.  Other than that, I plan on saving my money for Christmas gifts and for a weekend of shopping in KC with friends and family.

Link up with us for Budgeting Bloggers HERE!!!

What were your purchases for October?
Did you stay within your budget?

Fashion Friday: {P}inspired Looks

I haven't done a Fashion Friday post in a while, so I thought I'd whip one up for today.  I love fall weather and fall clothes.  I could live in cute sweaters if the weather allowed.

I thought I'd share some of my favorite Pinterest outfits for the cooler months.  My outfits board is nearing 1,000 pins!  I can definitely say that Pinterest and blogging has made me a bit more adventurous in my outfits.  I'd say my style is trendy-classic.  I like buying basics that will go from season to season and year to year, but I like to add in trendy touches with color and accessories.

So, here you have a few of my favorite {P}inspirations... If you want to pin these onto your own boards, please click the picture to go to Pinterest. None of the these were mine originally and I want the pins to be linked back to the original sources if possible!

Source: leopardandlavender.com via Conolley on Pinterest

Source: seafoam-dreams.tumblr.com via Conolley on Pinterest

Source: outfitposts.blogspot.ca via Conolley on Pinterest

Source: gap.com via Conolley on Pinterest

Source: 1.bp.blogspot.com via Conolley on Pinterest

#1 - I have pretty much all of the makings of this identical outfit... The sweater, the purse, the black skinnies. I think black and pink is a color combo that works year-round and will always work with the trends.

#2 - This photo made me totally run out and look for a leopard scarf.  Guess what I'm wearing today?!?  Now, if only I could find that just right striped top.

#3 - A maxi dress is a great option for wearing a dress during cooler weather months.  I wear my denim jacket about once a week, so the dress / jacket combo is one I rock pretty often.

#4 - This pic was from a Gap ad back in the winter when they started carrying cute, colorful stuff again.  I'm beyond excited that Gap has been consistently coming out with cute clothes again this year.  (My bank account may disagree, though!  LOL)  I bought that pink blazer with my birthday coupon, but I haven't worn it again since it's cooled off, so this photo totally inspired me to bust that one out again.

#5 - I think my favorite thing about this pic is that it's pretty much color blocking at its very simplest.  Bright sweater + bright scarf = Cute outfit.  I have tons of sweaters and snagged some nice basic solid colored scarves like that last winter at the grocery store (of all places)!  I love how the two colors pop!

How does Pinterest inspire you?  Do you find yourself creating Pinterest-inspired looks?