a dress and long cardigan

Today is finally officially my first day in the classroom *as* the student teacher, even though I've been visiting and helping once a week since September. I'll be sure to share the highlights of my journey here- I absolutely adore preschoolers because every day is an adventure with them!

I wore this outfit when I was in the classroom last week. It just felt like a dress day, but I stayed nice and warm pairing with this long draped cardigan! And of course leggings were a must in this Chicago winter. I topped it all off with my new favorite boots, which were a Black Friday buy. It ended up being quite perfect- so comfortable and warm and still very nice looking at the same time!

Have you ever tried this combination before?

Dress: Tanga
Cardigan: Pacsun
Leggings: Wet Seal (exact below)
Boots: Kohl's (exact below)

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dress and long cardigan by greathappiness featuring wet seal pants

animal print and curves

I may be working to get more fit as I posted about yesterday, but I know and love my body for what it is. I have curves, and I'm proud of them! Take this animal print top that I wore last week to my second student teaching contract meeting. I made sure to get a picture so you could see how it looks on me. Tell me this isn't a top that was designed for a girl with curves- it fits them perfectly! This top is from Sofia Vergara's line at Kmart, which I am really digging, because I think all of the clothes are designed this way to look good on women who have some curves. Plus the prices are Kmart affordable! And yes, this was two days in a row that I wore this bootcut dress pants. I've had them so long I can't remember where I got them from, but I think this is a great staple for your wardrobe, and the ones below are really similar!

Top: Kmart
Pants: old, very similar below
Necklace: Windsor, exact below

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blue animal print by greathappiness featuring a multi strand beaded necklace

This post is linked up to Style Sessions at Style Elixir (link in sidebar)

cobalt and polka dots and tunics, these are a few of my favorite things

Oh hey, the blog has a new design! I'm still working on it, but I was having issues with comments in chrome showing up in white font. Could you do me a favor and let me know if this happens for you?

You know those pieces that you see on the rack and you know you have to have them and there is no possible way you can leave them there in the store without you? This top was one of those pieces for me. First of all it is polka dots, hello! And adorable black and white ones! I think the name of this blog can let you in on my love for them. And then it's a beautiful cobalt blue! If you were to get a look at my wardrobe, organized by color, you could easily see that blue is the dominate color in my tops. And last but not least, it is a chiffon tunic, which I discussed my love for in my last post. So, this top was perfect to wear for a day in my preschool classroom.

What is your most recent purchase that you had to have?

Top: Carson's
Pants: old
Bracelet: Kohl's
Ring: Forever 21 (exact below)

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blue, black, and polka dots by greathappiness featuring Paris Hilton

twofers

I wore this to my first student teaching contract meeting last week. I'm really excited to start my student teaching and be in the classroom every day! When I found this top at Carson's I loved it so much that I got it in two different colors. I call it a twofer, because it's actually one top that's connected, which makes it that much more awesome. Because it always sits perfectly, it's more comfortable, and it's cooler when you're moving around a lot. Win? I think so. And it looks professional, so it was perfect for this situation as the bright colors show off my personality as well.

I also did a close up shot of the jewelry, because I know you can't see it in the outfit picture. So I stayed in my preschool classroom after the meeting and it's so funny because every time I'm there, these boys are just as interested in my jewelry as the girls. This visit, one of the boys looked down at my hand and said "That's a really nice ring, did you get it new?" Gotta love it!

Top: Carson's
Pants: LOFT (exact below)
Necklace: Apple of My Eye Jewelry
Bracelet: Icing
Ring: Charlotte Russe

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teal layered and black by greathappiness featuring oversized jewelry

matching

Outfits that are too "matchy" can go oh so wrong a lot of times, and I try to avoid too much matching. But I think this outfit totally works. The colors match up perfectly but it's not too much and actually ends up looking really nice together. What do you think?

Do you wear a lot of matching outfits?

Top: American Eagle

Pants: Kohl's (exact below)

Scarf: Charlotte Russe (exact below)

Shoes: TOMS (exact below)

Bracelet: JewelMint (exact below)

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emerald and burgundy by greathappiness featuring a longsleeve tee

white and leopard

I pinned a similar version of this outfit a long time ago and I finally got the chance to wear it! I love everything about this outfit. Like a lot. You may remember when I talked about how I had searched for the perfect leopard scarf for so long, and I was so excited when I finally found this one, and for only $5. I also think that a white sweater of some kind is a great fall/winter wardrobe staple. 

What are some of your favorite pinned outfits? I'd love to see them!

Top: Old Navy (exact below)

Pants: Kohl's (exact below)

Scarf: Charlotte Russe (exact below)

Ring: Forever 21

Shoes: Crocs

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burgundy, white, and leopard by greathappiness featuring band rings

dress and pants

I wore this outfit to teach a lesson in my first grade classroom I'll be student teaching in. Yes, I'm wearing a dress and pants. Skinny pants, of course. I'm sure this is controversial, although I don't see it as much different than wearing a dress and leggings. Sometimes I'd just rather have pants instead, though, and they kept me warmer! Love this dress too, so cute and comfy and I got some nice compliments on it! Can't wait to wear "teacher outfits" every day starting in a couple months ;)

And here's a secret, this ring is from Claire's, and every time I wear it I get compliments! Sometimes, if you pick out "cheap" jewelry carefully, you can find some real gems for next to nothing!

Would you wear a dress with pants?

Dress: Tanga (exact below)

Pants: Loft (exact below)

Cardigan: Forever 21

Shoes: Crocs

Necklace: Charming Charlie

Ring: Claire's

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dress and pants by greathappiness featuring a feather ring