WIWW, Pinterest Inspriation- Stripes and Boots!

Hey Y'all... Sorry this is so late! 

My brother had his wisdom teeth removed today, and I had a lot of school work to catch up on, so I haven't had time to sit down and get this done till now.

Nevertheless, here is my last week of Pinterest inspiration:

The inspiration photo:

via

and my take!

Striped sweater: Loft outlet a long time ago, $15

Pants: LOFT outlet, $20 (not 100% sure)

Boots: Frye via Last Call, $99

I bought these boots last year when my mom still worked for Neiman Marcus and used her discount. I had been lusting after Frye boots forever and when I saw these, I knew I would get lots of wear out of them and the price was amazing (for Frye Boots). So far, a week hasn't gone by that I haven't worn them. Not only that, but they are very well made and will last me forever! 

Scarf: Forever 21, $5

Later that night, I needed a little more warmth and more comfort, so here's how I changed it up a bit.

Inspiration:

via

and my take:

Jacket: Gift from my Nana

Same striped sweater as above 

Jeans: Goodwill, $5

flats: Thrifted $2

Next is my favorite all week!

Inspiration: 

via

I like pairing feminine with edgy, so when I saw the idea of pairing a feminine polka dot dress with a more edgy moto jacket, I knew I had to try and replicate it!

and my take:

Sorry about the blurriness!

Jacket: Kohl's, $15

Dress: Macy's years ago, $20

Boots: Also Macy's (after season clearance for $20)

{Lipstick Maybelline Very Cherry}

Neeeeeeext:

via

and my take:

This was surprisingly comfy!

Top: Old Navy, $14ish

Scarf: Gift

Jeans: Goodwill, $5

Boots: Frye

Raybans: Also from Last Call, $40 (my mom's discount seriously rocked)

and because I loved my striped sweater so much, I washed it and wore it again for this look yesterday:

via

and lastly, my take

Sweater: Loft outlet, $15 (I wish I could've taken the flower off for this pic, but it doesn't come off )

Cardigan: Goodwill, $2

Pants: Loft, $20

Bubble Necklace: Stolen from my mom!

Boots: Same as before

I have to admit, I'm kinda sad this is over! It really helped me come up with new outfits using stuff I already had. I might just have to continue doing this from time to time. 

A Golden Find

This past weekend, my family hit up our local TJmaxx for some Christmas shopping. Of course, I had to check out the shoe section. I mean how could I not?

That's when I stumbled upon pure gold. 

I may or may not have mentioned here before that I have a minor major obsession with all things Kate Spade. 

They were nude (ie. would match almost everything)

They were flat.

They had my favorite color on the crystals.

They were my size!!! 

I panicked thinking about how much these puppies were.

So when I saw the price tag on these, I almost fell over. 

Originally, they cost about $200, but then they were regular price at TJmaxx at $99. ( I even found the same ones here for more!) Then, they were marked down more than three more times at $39. 

I threw those guys in my cart as fast as I could and ran up to the checkout. No way was I going to leave them at the store.

Then, I had an idea.  I asked the manager if there was anything else he could do on the price because the suede part had some dirt stains and had minor ware. I figured it never hurts to ask!

 (I realize how crazy that is seeing that they were already marked down crazy anyway) 

He said no problem and slapped the $36 tag on them. 

SOLD!

Moments of the Week: Goodbyes and the Self Fulfilling Prophecy

Ah, the week is over. I am actually pretty darn excited about it because I only have two classes next week before Thanksgiving! I cannot wait to stop trying to hide my Christmas music. Finally! Finally, I can be out in the open with it :)

Here's what my week was like. 

As I'm sure you know, my 20th birthday was last sunday. 

It was a great, low key day. It was perfect.

We began the day with cleaning out our garage to prepare for Christmas decorations! (I already have my tree up in my room :) ) Anyway, this is what my brothers did to get rid of the trash. Our car wasn't big enough, so they just sat it on the back. Luckily it was only about 500ft to the garbage, but still, I couldn't resist getting a picture of our Griswold-ness. 

Then later that evening, we went to The Melting Pot for fondue! 

 Fondue is my jam. For reals. 

Well, actually I just like the cheese and the chocolate. Who needs meat anyway?

This past week was full of sad goodbyes. I officially finished my observation hours at the elementary school and I was so sad.

I developed connections with all the kids and it was hard saying goodbye. They all gave me big hugs and told me that they don't want me to leave. (which made it so much worse!) Luckily, my teacher invited me to visit anytime, so I might just have to take her up on that offer!

This was also my last week of work for this year! 

My job only goes from August-November then January-May so by the time I get back, most of 'my' kids will have graduated to the next class. 

It was especially hard saying goodbye to this dude!

(face blocked for privacy reasons)

 I most certainly don't play favorites, but this guy had been in my class ever since I started. He always gives me the biggest hugs and calls me "miss amber" instead of the usual "teacher." I'm gonna miss him! Good thing he's just moving down the hall.

I'm also finishing up my last semester at school until I move on to university. 

I've been sorta struggling with my algebra course. I've been making an average of 60 on all of our previous tests, so in order to pass the course, I had to make a higher grade on the upcoming test.  

I was panicking and thinking worst case scenario about everything. I didn't feel prepared for the test and I pretty much decided that I would have to drop the course before I failed.

All this to say, I was talking with another professor later and I found myself saying to her  "I'm terrible at math." She immediately cut me off and told me the best advice I arguably ever received. 

She asked, (I paraphrase) "How long have you been saying that you're bad at math?"

 I replied, "I think as long as I remember." 

She then said "You know, you're subjecting yourself to this thing called Self Fulfilling Prophecy and you're basically setting yourself up for failure. You truly are what you think you are. You see, you keep telling yourself  "I'm terrible at math" but what if you truly aren't? What if you just had a bad day and ever since then you've told yourself that you can't succeed at math. In fact, most people who claim they're bad at math actually aren't, it just takes them longer than 'normal' to understand and grasp the material. 

So from now on,  I don't want you to tell yourself that you're bad at math anymore. From now on you ARE good at math. You ARE smart and you WILL succeed."

I made the highest grade I've ever made on that test, and now am passing the course (with an 80!!). 

Then, I read this question on my quiz yesterday and cried just a bit. 

This one will take me waaaaaaaay longer than 'usual'.

The answer is 17 by the way. 

Have a great weekend, y'all! 

WIWW Pinterest Inspiration Week Three!

Ugh, I refuse to admit November is over. No way, nuh uh. 

Anyway, here's what I wore this week, inspired by pinterest of course!

Here's the inspiration picture:

via

and my outfit:

Top: Goodwill

leggings: old

boots:Frye via Last call

Scarf: Paris souvenir

earrings: Canton flea market

neeeext:

via

and my take!

Cardigan: Target

Dress: Goodwill

Boots: Frye

For my birthday dinner, I was inspired by the left outfit below:

Because only on your birthday can you pull off a tulle sparkly skirt. 

Black Cardigan, Skirt, Shoes: Goodwill

 Looking at this now, I should've taken the earrings off, it's a bit too much.

Necklace: Everyday icing

earrings: very old

and just a few others that didn't come from pinterest:

Dress: Marc Jacobs via Goodwill

Belt: Goodwill

shoes: target

Top and pants: LOFT

Flats: Sam Edelman via Last call

earrings: target ($2!)

Scarf: Everyday Icing

That's what I've been wearing this week!

The Color Run!

I just realized that this post wad in the draft folder just waiting  to be published. 

Even though it was almost a month ago, here it is.

My family completed our very first 5K!

I was kinda skeptical about it because I hate running. Hate it.

I also am not in shape or athletic by any means. Both my oldest brother and sister-in-law are very fit and both workout often. (Holly's even a personal trainer!) and well, Addy (younger bro) is just Addy. No explanation there. 

I was nervous and was looking for any reason to get out of it. 

Nevertheless, we did it anyway and I'm so glad I did!

The Color Me Rad run was actually a blast!

Although it sounds torturous, (you know, running 5k whilst getting blasted with dye (both wet and dry cornstarch)), it was awesome. 

And even though I walked/ran/walked/ran, I was still just happy I did it. 

By the way, my q-tips were blue for a week, every time I blew my nose, it was purple and the shower seems to be permanently green. 

All in good fun!

Completing a 5k was never on my bucket list, but I can now add it just to cross it off. ;)

come on, you know you do that too!

19

19.

2013.

My last teenage year. 

My birthday last year was low key, as we were just moving into our new place.

 I had the best tasting cake ever.

The Christmas season was amazing.

We walked around downtown Grapevine (the christmas capital of Texas)

and even went to the old theatre to watch my favorite movie of all time.

For Christmas and New Years, we drove up north again to be with my Grandparents. This time it was just our family, not the whole gang.

I began another semester at school, which meant I had only one left after that before I graduated!

In the spring, I got to meet some of my favorite bloggers. I was star-struck!

I babysat a lot and worked at a preschool to hopefully gain some experience.

In March, my grandparents came out to Texas!

We went to the arboretum.

 For Mother's Day, my bros, sister-in-law and I took my mom out to the Fort Worth stockyards for some BBQ.

 For the summer, I headed south to Florida! I got a job nannying my cousins for the summer. 

We went to Busch Gardens countless times, traveled around Florida to Rainbow River, Daytona, and Sarasota, even Orlando!

We dressed up like cows for cow appreciation day and even drove to every darn 7/11 for free slurpees.

We went to the beach often, which was simply amazing. We even saw our first shark!

Our next road trip was back to the mountains. 

We toured a Jimmy Carters hometown and even stopped at the Little White House

 When we finally made it back to my second home, my grandparents house, we did the usual: ATV rides, fishing and jumping into the lake.

 Back to reality, I began my final semester of school, soon to have an associates degree. 

I met up with my old friends again.

 Not too long ago, we did our first 5K.

 and here we are to today. 

I am 20.