Outfit Remix: Using What I Have To Dress For School

**Classroom Decor Extravaganza 2013 is being interrupted for a quick teacher clothes post!**

It takes me 15 minutes to get ready in the morning. What I mean by that is: from the time I roll out of bed until the time I get into my car, 15 minutes elapses. I'm pretty proud of that, but what it means is that I don't have a ton of time to get creative with my teacher clothes. 

The other issue is ... purchasing clothes. I *do not* need to spend a bajillion dollars on more clothes, I definitely have enough {that doesn't mean I won't *want* to}. So - I decided that before school starts, I'm going to work on picking one article of clothing, and building different "looks" around it. That way I'll have idea of what to wear before that 15 minute crunch time. 

First up - my white eyelet top. I found this picture in a magazine and thought I could pretty reliably re-create it with things I had in my closet. 

                

This is what I came up with -- 

Skirt and shoes {Target}, Top and belt {Gap}

Next, I tried on these colored skinny jeans. They were ttiiigggghhhttttt but they went on, with only a few squats {hallelujah}. 

Pants and shoes {American Eagle}, Top and belt {Gap}, Cardigan {Who knows}

 For the last outfit, I kind of liked the idea of adding a collar to the shirt. I don't have a white button-down, so I grabbed one of Mr. BBZ's old ones. The result is kind of bulky, but I don't hate it!

Shoes {Sperry}, Pants {J.Crew}, Top {Gap}, Cardigan {Tommy Hilfiger}

Next up: black cotton dress {which is sort of like cheating, because it goes with everything}. Oh well! 

Camp Sunshine: A cause near and dear to my heart!

Hey-o! As my Instagram friends know, I've been at camp ... which has made it really difficult to "plug in" to the online world (boo!). I am enjoying the beautiful outdoors, but I had to stop by and drop y'all a quick note to plug my favorite, favorite, favorite charity - a children's camp called Camp Sunshine. 

It's a camp and community that supports children with cancer and their families, and while it began as a week of camp for children with cancer, it's grown to become so much more. Camp Sunshine is truly a support system for children with cancer - it's a place, one a week a year, that they can feel "normal," rather than feeling like an outsider with the big, bad cancer monster looming over their shoulders. It's a group of people who understand what you may be going through. For families, Camp Sunshine functions may be the only time they see their child smile.  They might even be the only times they themselves relax enough to enjoy a moment or two without the, "What if ..." questions looming over their heads. 

My brother, Christopher, is a cancer survivor. He was diagnosed with leukemia when he was ten and I was twelve. We spent many, many nights in the hospital room where he was a patient on and off. For years he wore a baseball cap to school  - when he was well enough to attend. His friends from middle school still remember him as the kid in the baseball cap. For a middle schooler, who just wants to be like everyone else, being "the kid the baseball cap" was agonizing. At Camp Sunshine he could be one of the crowd - everyone was in a cap (or not!), everyone had to go to the health hut and get their medicine, everyone had a scar on their chest from the chemotherapy port. At Camp Sunshine he was just a kid, getting to run, play, swim and tie-dye with the support of doctors and nurses who could keep him safe. It was the biggest blessing we could have imagined at the time. 

Now a healthy 25-year-old engineer (I'm bragging!), Christopher uses most of his vacation time from work to volunteer at Camp Sunshine functions (I'm still bragging!), and he's committed to raising $5,000 to support children at camp and the many functions Camp Sunshine offers through the year as a support for these kids and their families.

I would be so thankful if you'd consider donating any small amount to the cause that is near and dear to our hearts. The link is here, if you're interested in learning more (and reading Christopher's story) or donating.

And ... because he's awesome - a special Camp Sunshine clothes post to go along with our teacher clothes posts!! :) 

He says: 

Some style points to note:
- Bracelets: one for every year I've been to camp!
- Watch: have to make sure we're always on time for all of the amazing activities!
- Nametag: Everyone has to wear a nametag so that the nurses know who's who when giving meds.
- Camelbak: Hydration is key. Not to mention its perfect for lugging camper's stuff and schedules
- Sunscreen: it's always sunny at Camp Sunshine! But unfortunately bald heads and UV rays don't mix...
- Running shoes: They're neon! What's not to like?! And they make me run faster.

Force and Motion + Teacher Clothes: Black and White Striped Dress

Now that MAP is over, we're back to full-force science time! We're working on forces and motion, and today we spent some time studying Newton's second law  ... {that's the one that says extra force means extra motion}. What better way to study small vs. big forces than use Pop pom Poppers?! 

This was the simplest thing to set up - I used red Dixie cups (other kinds weren't sturdy enough), cut the ends off balloons, and put the balloons over the top of the cup. Then I cut out the bottoms. We pulled back just a bit for a "small" force and more for a "big" force. Then 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 ... LAUNCH!  

We (of course) measured and record our Pom pom "pops" ... and it was a great time to work in some non-standard vs. standard measurement. 

Tomorrow we're headed out on a SKATING field trip to learn about friction ... #mybootywillbesore #hashtags4life 

While I'm updating ... teacher clothes! I'm determined that after two off weeks, I'm going to get up in time to actually feel GREAT about my teacher clothes this week. I kicked off Ms. BBZ 2.0 with this new Target maxi {#loveamaxi} and a sock bun {whoop whoop!}. I have a serious black and white obsession. 

Since it's SUPER rare for me to show my face, I decided to keep it classy for ya and leave off the arrows and sources. The dress is from Target and the cardi is from LOFT. The necklace is a Chan Luu necklace that Mr. BBZ bought me for Christmas ... #lovehim. 

We have to talk about that sock bun though ... I'm seriously channeling a little Library Dragon, don't you think? 

Not gonna lie ... I love children's literature. Okay, that's probably enough geekery for tonight. Don't forget about the sweet sale over at my store {and many others} on TpT and our last day of the MEGA giveaway! 

Thanks Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah Designs for the graphic! 

Currently AND Five for Friday!

Ohhhhh y'all. I'm tired. It's FRIDAY! We finished up our MAP testing this week, and my kiddos worked so so so so so hard. I'm immensely proud, but my little heart can't take the stress! Testing, boo.

Anyway, every week I see people with their linky parties going on, so I decided to hit all of them in one fell swoop. First, it's MAY! So ... linking up with Farley for a "Currently ..." 

AND  with Doodle Bugs for Five for Friday! If you follow me on Instagram {my new obsession} you might have seen many of these ... 

Currently reading Zen Shorts by John J. Muth (close reading!), Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume (read aloud!), The Missing Piece by Shel Silverstein (another close reading text!) and Grumbles from the Forest: Fairy-Tale Voices with a Twist by Jane Yolen (AWESOME for our poetry writing!) {all wonderful, beautiful fabulous books, and you KNOW I love a beautiful book} ...

These two - Mr. BBZ and our pup Cecelia - are my favorite.

We set off rockets this week as part of our forces and motion unit. The kids LOVED it {duh, so did I!}.

A happy Friday outfit that matches my classroom! Aerosole shoes ... #comfy. ;)

Got a haircut yesterday ... it was time. I don't include too many pictures of my face around here, so I figured this one was a great one to start with. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!@#)($&&$#!!! {I'm tired} #crackingmyselfup

And a BONUS .... another teacher clothes outfit! My favorite rodeo princess boots and Spring-y scarf, with a jersey pencil skirt that is, quite possibly, the closest thing I'll ever get to a real pencil skirt in an elementary classroom.

That's it for me - I'm off to bed. ;)  Don't forget to enter the MEGA giveaway of AWESOME TpT supplies!! 

Teacher Clothes: Target Skirt {and INSTAGRAM!}

P(re)S(cript) - Don't forget about our MEGA giveaway - it's SO easy to sign up! 

First things second ... HOW did I not hop on the Instagram train sooner? I've had an account for a while, but rarely added anything.  I joined back up for #teachertalktuesday and realized it's basically ... the best. Pretty pictures from my friends and other teachers? Yes please! I'm @ashleybbz, or click on that little camera over in the "Keep in Touch" section. 

Third - Instagram definitely fuels my teacher clothes addiction. I wish I could be half as stylish as the cute teachers over there! I posted this pic on #teachertalktuesday .... 

This is what it looks like in full. More evidence of my TOMS addiction!! That skirt is cute and I love it, but the waist is oddly tight. Or maybe that's a sign I need to run more .... {probably} #sadface. 

Teacher Clothes: Amy from Eclectic Educating

Today I have an adorable teacher outfit from Amy over at Eclectic Educating.

I LOVE her black and white striped top, and with skinny black pants and flats, you can't go wrong. She says:

Let me just say that those skinny leg dress pants were the best purchase I ever made! They are so comfortable, but still look dressy!

I TOTALLY agree. Fitted black pants make anything look a little nicer. I might have to go dig my pair out of the back of my closet and bring them back for spring. Thanks for sharing, Amy!

Teacher Clothes: Spring Clothes

I WILL post about teaching soon {lots of fun stuff going on in the classroom right now}, but I just cannot wait to post these fun spring outfits .... 

Everyone at work was wearing their cuuuttttteeee little spring clothes. Little cardigans and scarves, and colored pants that make me want to run home and pack away my winter clothes. {I should have probably done that already.} 

To make matters worse,  today was kind of a "meh" clothes day for me. I woke up late and wanted something I didn't have to iron, so I went with a version of this outfit. The only difference is ... now it's 80 degrees outside, and I was H-O-T all day. The kind of hot that makes my face feel greasy and my hair poof out.  I felt like I needed a shower all day. You know? Whatever, enough about me.  

Check out these PRECIOUS co-workers! 

Anna looked so spring-y and fun today, and reminded me I have a white pair of pants I need to pull out and hem. :) Her pants are J. Crew, top is TARGET {oh yes it is!}, and that necklace {can you see that cute peachy-pink color?} is from Forever 21 {done and done}!  

I totally forgot to ask Amy where she got everything, but that cardigan ... oooohhh my gosh. It's hard to tell from the picture, but it's a deep navy blue. The dots! And those shoes! Can you see they're a woven shoe? So fun. 

Melanie's outfit is what got us talking in the first place {she always looks cute}. This woman has the best collection of scarves, she's never had a bad hair day and she has NO problem pulling out the color. Those pants {Target}! The shoes! The scarf! The hair! Sign me up for all of it. 

Tomorrow: teaching and a cute clothes pic of my own. I'm trying something new with the pictures, wish me luck! 

Teacher Clothes: Shoe Round Up

I stood so long today I had to bring a chair out to recess. My legs were sooo tired and I have sort of, maybe, possibly signed up for a triathlon {WHAT, who am I?}. My point is: shoes are important, especially to teachers.

With that being said ... a quick round up of my favorite shoes, and a tip from Sam on how in the WORLD she manages to wear heels to school more than one day per year.

A few details - 

1. {Fry boots} I love boots. They look cute with dresses, with jeans and with dressier pants. They have just enough heel that they're not flats. Full disclosure, my boots aren't Fry. They're Steve Madden and cost about 1/3 the price. But I wear them so often, I wouldn't be opposed to spending the money on these the next time around {maybe}. See me wear these here and here. 

2. {Minnetonka moccasins} These are SO comfortable, they feel like slippers - but look better! They're also the only shoes I have that I can wear without socks and they don't get stinky. See me wear these here, here and here. 

3. {Nine West Wedges} I bought these for a summer job that was going to need a slightly more professional look. I can wear them all day AND run errands after work. Priceless. See me wear these here. 

4. {Crochet TOMS} I sometimes feel a little iffy when I'm wearing my regular TOMS to school - like I'm skirting the dress code. These are slightly dressier, and the navy color goes with everything from jeans to dresses. See me wear these here. 

5. {Seychelles Wedge Sandals} I don't personally own this pair, but I was looking for a dressier nude wedge to complete the line-up. The Seychelles brand is so cute, and their shoes are SUPER comfortable. 

With all that said, my favorite spring pick ... the crochet TOMS, of course. They're new! They're flats! They're dressier than my old TOMS! They go with everything! 

My friend Sam's pick? Her wedge heels.

She has a good point - wedges are more comfortable than heels, and having a platform in the front AND back makes them infinitely more wearable.  

And there you have it! Shoes for spring - bring on the next two months. When summer starts, I'll live in sandals. :) 

Geologist Clothes: Kathryn

I have a friend who's a hot-shot geologist {HOW COOL IS THAT?!}. She was kind enough to send me pictures of her adorable outfit for work the other day. {Okay, it was a couple of months ago; I'm behind.}

I thought it'd be cool to re-create her look in a teacher outfit, just for the fun of it.


First, the geologist look ...

No, just kidding. That's her "in the field" {again, SO COOL!}. Can you imagine if I'd re-created her field outfit, and told the kids we were going rock climbing? My kids would love it. I do wish she lived closer so we could work her job into my classroom somehow. Maybe the next career day?! We do have Skype ...

Here's her description: 

So here is a picture of me, (poorly) attempting to blend into the business world filled of oil tycoons. You’ll notice my high end jeans(Old Navy) and my 2 yr old TOMS that are falling apart.

She makes me laugh, and I'm jealous that jeans are everyday attire! :) Here's my version:

I found that top at Marshall's on a trip with my mom. It's great because it has three-quarter sleeves, but is light and airy so I don't get too hot on the playground. :) Those GAP cropped black pants are my go-to in the spring. The crochet TOMS are a new purchase, and go with EVERYTHING. I like them because they're a little dressier than normal TOMS, so I don't feel like I'm narrowly skating the line between following the dress code and not.  I'll be posting a little later tonight with more teacher shoe options, but suffice to say ... they are THE BEST.

There you have it! Geologist to teacher in three easy pieces. :)

Teacher Clothes: Guest Post From Sam the Sassy Teacher

Remember my post from yesterday - where I revealed my teacher clothes inspiration, Sam? I think I used the words, "defies logic," because she always looks soOoOOoO CUTE.

Welllll ... she's agreed to send me updates now and then, with her own sassy teacher tips. I heaved a HUGE sigh of relief and did a little happy dance, because she is WAY more fashionable than little 'ole me. I can't wait to share!

Off we go ...

I continued with the purple hue today. I took a the top and made it into my version of a peplum - created with a loose fitting, boxy top and a wide belt. I paired my "peplum" with a classic black pencil skirt - a must in my work day closet.

{Thanks Sam! Can't wait for your next tip! - Ms. BBZ}

Teacher Clothes: A Visit to North Carolina

It's Spring Break!! {happy dance}

I mentioned yesterday that Mr. BBZ just finished a triathlon, so we went up to North Carolina for a bit to visit some friends around our old stomping grounds. This morning I visited my old school ... I can't believe how old my babies are! {sniff}

It was so strange, walking around the school where I used to spend every day. So many things are exactly the same - including the adorably dressed co-workers that inspired me to start this "teacher clothes" feature. So, without further ado ... some adorably dressed co-workers from the school formerly known as my workplace:

First - Stacy, who is a mom of three, y'all. WHAT. She is adorable {so are her kids!}.  What a stylish momma!

Then there's Jenn, wearing an Anthropologie dress that I love. She's wearing heels! At school! She is braver than I ... {but those shoes are the perfect color to make her legs look super long ... <jealous>!} 

Finally, Sam, who somehow always manages to look cute and put together, no matter what time we get to school. Seriously, it defies logic. She was the first person I called when I decided to do these features, because I wanted her to send me pictures of her outfits. {HINT, HINT, Sam ... if you're reading this!!} 

Another girl in heels! It must have been because it was the first day after their Spring Break, right? I'm not the only one who can't wear heels all day, right? {Maybe it's just me...} Either way, these puppies are ADORABLE and I love them!

Seriously, we're going to need some updates from them ASAP, right? WE WANT MORE! :) 

Teacher Clothes: Toms + NEON!

So, I guess neon is back in style? 80's throwback, y'all.

It's getting {slightly} warm here, so I pulled out my skirts and Toms - I couldn't wait! This neon belt had been hiding in the back of my closet since last fall, so I pulled it out and added a little pep. :)

I snapped this picture before I left this morning, so please excuse the puppy on the unmade bed, stool and jacket out ... {#oneweek'tillSpringBreakI'llcleanthen #longesthashtagever}

Those TOMS are my second favorite work heels {first favorites here}. I can wear them ALL day, and that's saying something. This weekend I bought some navy crochet TOMS, but I can't figure out exactly how to wear them, so they haven't been broken in yet. {Soon, my precious...}