The Style Me Girls are Back Together Again!

It's a new year and I am so excited to be back to blogging with the Style Me Bloggers!  We have been having so much fun together so decided to continue our Friday Linky Parties!  We have lots planned in 2015...please join us and link up too!!

Today's Topic: 

From My Closet: Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue

I'll admit it...This one was tricky!  I have so much old stuff!!  And lots of new stuff.  I didn't think I had anything borrowed and I had something blue...that could also be the NEW!!  Hahaha...maybe I should do a purge.  But then I had to think about why I was picking it!!  And did  I want all the items to be clothing or shoes too?  Yikes!!  And how to showcase it!  (Now that I'm writing this all out, I'm feeling like I might be over thinking things!!)
And to be honest, when I first started writing this, I neglected to see the" from your closet", part of it...so I started writing about completely different things!  But I saved that post and may have it go live during Wedding Season...HAHAHAHA!! 

Here's what I came up with!

Something Old

These Strawberry Shortcake boots are my Something Old...VERY old!! These are the first thing I ever remember putting on my feet!  I was born in February 1980, eight weeks premature.  As a result, I live with cerebral palsy, that is only visible in my gait.  I used these in 1983/84 to learn to walk and get my bearings as a child.  For just about forever, they were on the top shelf in my closet.  Now that I am in a home of my own, they are displayed on the top of a bookshelf in my guestroom...right next to the riding helmet I had when I was younger and did horseback riding for PT, with my horse Shane!  :)

Something New

These Kut from the Kloth pink cords are the newest and as yet unworn item in my closet. I bought them on sale right before Christmas. Ironically, I didn't receive even one item of clothing for Christmas! Clearly the people in my life think I already own too much!  I think these will look cute with my plum wellies this winter and have plans to wear them on Valetine's Week!

Something Borrowed

I borrowed this sweater from my sister last March after I slept over her house the night of St. Patrick's Day. I was heading straight to work from there and had forgotten to pack a top, so I borrowed this...and never returned it! I wore it just that once in all this time, too!  I had forgotten about it until I took down my sweater bin a few weeks ago! I'm am seeing my sister on Saturday night and fully intend to return it to her!

Something (in a shade of) Blue

These blue Old Navy pixie pants I love.  (These could also be a new!)  I scored them on sale and even though I haven't worn them yet, I can't wait to!!  They are super bright and really cute!!  I already have a bunch of tops to pair with them!!  Look for these and my cords in a future What I Wore post!!

So fun!  Go check out what the Style Me Bloggers have hiding in their closets!!  And link up!!

Shoes to Shiraz | Two Teens and their Mama | A Lovely Little Wardrobe | R Squared 

Confessions of a Frumpy Mommy | Family Love Inspiration Education  

The Mishaps and Mayhem of Solitary Life | The Blondissima | Positively Learning | Quilty Joy Joy

 Daily Style Finds | Sheila's Potpourri | Puppies and Pretties | She thought She Could 
 Foxy's Domestic Side | Once Upon a Time & Happily Ever After | Sprinkled Just Right

An InLinkz Link-up

Friday...thank you! thank you! thank you!

Well Friday is finally here!  YAY!!  The first week back is always a bit rough!  Here are some favorites that helped me make it through!

VINO!!!

Just Kidding...sorta!!  LOL

Fave moment of the week!

When I was a classroom teacher, for Christmas each year I made my students a CD with Christmas songs on it as a gift. When a former student brought up the fact that his family had started listening to the Class Christmas CD again, it got me missing that fact that I didn't have a class to give them to. I I've been the Librarian and Tech teacher for 3 years now! So I thought that this year I'd make the students who gave me a gift, a CD  as a thank you (I made one for an new students and the younger students, because any older children, I had had them or their siblings and knew that they already had some version of my Christmas CD at home!).  Well Wednesday in After Care, a mom shared with me that over the break her daughter told her a number of time that she missed me!  And that she'd put on the CD I made for her on to help her get through it and miss me a little less! They're still listening to it, even now.  That right there folks, made my whole week!!

Big Milestone for the blog!!

The blog hit 25,000 all time views yesterday!!  Woo Hoo!!  I realize that some blogs get more the 25,000 hits in an hour, but for my little blog that could...it ain't have bad!!  And it got me pretty excited!!  So there's that!!!

Favorite Shows

It was Makeover Week this week on The Biggest Loser!!  So fun. it my most favorite episode every season and this week did not disappoint!!  Always unbelievable transformations!! And to top it all off Gavin DeGraw was on it!   I might've cried.  And then Parenthoood!!  The first of the final episode ever!  If you're not watching Parenthood, you should!  It is seriously THE BEST  So basically I was crying all night! #theuglycrycameout

Watch now at nbc.com

A confession...

My Christmas decorations are still up!  I usually take them down on January 6th, Little Christmas.  But it's Friday and they're still up.  I am trying to figure out a way to get my tree, fully and completely decorated, into my guestroom, where I can leave it up, and just pull it back out 11 months from now.  I'm just so tired and I don't want to do it.  I think the house is cozy with everything up. But slowly surely I am putting things away and hope to get to it all this weekend!!  Wish me luck!!  I think I'll keep this one up all year though...   

Linking up with the Style Me Bloggers today too!  Go check out a few things from my closet here...something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue!!  And don't forget...you can link up with us too!!

Have a great weekend!  Here's to sleeping in!


Linking up today with:

Erika, Andrea, and Narci for Friday Favorites 

September Farm and The Farmer's Wife for Oh Hey, Friday!

Lauren at Style Elixir and her co-hosts

April and the girls for Five on Friday

Jennie for Friday Favorites

Caitlin and the girls for High five for Friday

What I Wore...while on Christmas Break!!

I am back at work now but the two weeks I had off for Christmas break were simply glorious!! I love time off because I can put away the “work” pants and get to spend most of my time in jeans!! I feel like a lot of people are not comfortable in jeans, but I kinda love them. I also spent of few days in leggings (of course!) and in my pj's too, because I ended up sick!! #insertsadfacehere

Here's a peek at some of the looks I pulled off during my break!!

The first two you saw in Friday's Pinspired post!

 I wore this for a lunch with my sister on the Monday after Christmas and for wine night with my friends that same night.  I had intended to change but never did!   I liked it so much!!

This outfit I actually wore twice last week!!  (It's all about who you see!  LOL)  This picture shows me in black leggings and gray riding boots.  But I also wore it with my gray leggings and cognac riding boots!

For Christmas Eve (because apparently, this is in not particular order AT ALL!)  I re-wore this sweater I purchased for the Winter Challenge.  To dress it up I wore my pointe pants and wedge booties!!. My cardigan was just warm and cozy for a gross day weather-wise!!!!

I was really excited to wear thisCheers sweater  (on sale!) on New Year's Eve! I thought it appropriate and added a lil sparkle with my bow necklace!! Jazzed up but a little bit still casual!

Not my best pic...but hey, I love this sweater!!

On Friday, I went to lunch with an old friend. It was chilly but not too bad, and nice and sunny so I opted for this tweed puffer vest over the sweater and chambray shirt. This sweater I got at Target back in September and have worn it a few times but it never ended up on the blog, due to the challenges!! The sweaters at Target this past Fall were really cute and I was able to score a few on sale. I ended up really liking this look! And was really warm in the fleece lined puffer!

Last but not least I thought I would show what i wore to a wedding on Sunday night...the last night before vacation officially ended!

I received this dress in my first ever Stitch Fix and it was the only thing I kept in that shipment...everyone needs a little black dress.  Got lots of compliments on this!  Wish I had more than just a selfie to share!!  I had intended on doing Stitch Fix review blogs last year but never got to it!  One of these days I'll put a post together of all the posts that never made it live!  

Hope everyone else is surviving this first week back!  LOL  Can't wait to see all the great looks linked up!!

Have FUN and Look FABULOUS!!

Linking up today with:

Alison at Get Your Pretty On

Lindsey at The Pleated Poppy

 Because Shanna Said So

Sarah at Tucker up

Madeline at Cappuccino and Fashion

Show and Tell Tuesdays with Momfessionals

Linking up with Andrea at Momfessionals today for a new feature she's hosting...Show and Tell Tuesdays.

Today's topic...your resolutions/goals for 2015!

Well I didn't make any resolutions this year because I can never keep them!

Could I stand to lose 5 or 10 pounds?!? Sure.
Should I get more organized? Maybe.
Get my driver's license?!? Probably!!
Should i exercise and go to PT more often? Yup.
Would it be great to find me a man this year? Of course!

The list goes on and on.  But I'm ok with the ME I am these days, so if these things don't happen, it's not the end of the world.

It's not to say there aren't things I want to accomplish this year! So instead of resolutions, I'm gonna go with goals...to help make 2015 a great one!!

First, I need to STOP spending SO MUCH MONEY on clothes  and buying on a whim.  I'm really good at buying things only on sale, but toward the end of 2014, I may have gotten a bit crazy spending! This year I'm shopping my closet!  My sister mentioned to me that I probably have enough clothes in my closet for a year, without wearing the same thing twice.  I think she's right!  (Actually it could really be two!!) I am not sure I'll be able to go the WHOLE year without buying ANY new article of clothing, but if I can spend less, I'll feel accomplished!!

I'm looking to cut spending in other ways as well.  I have cancelled or cutback on the following: Magazine Subscriptions, the newspaper (because I just don't read it!), Stitch Fix and R + F auto-deliveries!  I am also going to eat out less, and when I do, only get one glass of wine with dinner, not two!

Instead of putting money into my closet, I want to spend it on the house instead.  I have been in the house over a year now and things need updating.  I am still using some hand-me-downs and I want to update.  Paint a room or two (the builder's paint is starting to look pretty terrible), get a chandelier for above my kitchen table (which I was gifted money toward in 2013!) and maybe purchase a smart TV for my bedroom, and a ceiling fan for in there too!


I want to read more in 2015.  I used to read all the time. During the school year, it's hard!  But when I was on breaks I would usually read at least three books during each.  And during the summers, at least a dozen.  This year, I think I made it through three complete books, if that!!  I've set a personal goal of 16.  I know it 's a random number but it's a little more than one a month, and leaves room for more in summer.  Since I love lists, I'm using this as a guide.  Just as a guide, not the whole list, because I know 50 is not a goal I can reach!  Books are also something I don't have to spend money on this year!  There are plenty of books on my shelves I have yet to read, and I LOVE the Library!!
I have three books on tap already, including this one:

Have you read it?  Let me know what you thought!

I have goals for the blog, too!  I need to be better at planning posts! I'm not gonna lie, there have been many a nights I've spend up til midnight or more, getting a post ready for the following day!!  Or doing a link-up post that day!!  HA!!  Earlier in the year, I did this post and mentioned my blog book. Now I have to take this a step further, into a planner.  I have big things coming up this year with the Style Me Bloggers that I can't wait to share and am participating in more link ups, like this one!   I haven't found the perfect planner yet, because I'm still looking for a really good, affordable one!  Any suggestions are welcome!!

Continuing to link-up with the Style Me Bloggers this year...JOIN US!!

This year I am also focusing more on my faith!!  I will admit (and this is hard for me, being a Catholic School teacher and all) that for a long while, I lost a little bit of my faith. Don't get me wrong I talk to Him every single day, but I want to become more focused this year!  My bestie gave me the Jesus Calling daily devotional book for Christmas, so I'm hoping that, coupled with reading passages from the bible (the same bible our middle schoolers study from, but hey, I know God won't mind), and getting back to church, I'm starting off on the right path!

I am looking toward 2015 with hope!  As long as I come away from 2015 strong and having grown through experiences and I've had FUN in the process...it's all good!  

Have the best year ever!

Katie

New Year's Festivities

Happy New Year All!!

The new year is so exciting.  It's clean slate...a new beginning!  2015...wow!!

New Year's Eve is always fun for me!  Usually it's a low key affair, but always fun.  It's pretty much tradition that my bestie and I spend it together.  We have known one another 32 years and have probably spent 20 of those years together on New Years Eve.  One of my first New Year's memories is of us and her mom going to her her Aunt Barbara's!  That's were I played roulette and the horses!!  And I was only seven.  We did countless sleepovers when we were younger, sometimes it was a big party, other times just us.  One year, we even went on a boat cruise.  For the past few years, it's been just the two of us and we've swapped off going to each other's houses to celebrate. 

This year was mine turn to host.  We ended up going to a little event that my town put on for the first time, Midnight on Main Street. It's great to go to things in town because it walking distance from my house! The celebration was on Main Street, but not at midnight.  It was from 8 to 9.  Which was actually good...perfect for all the families that attended.  And I wouldn't say it was much of a ball drop, but rather a ball lift!! But there were FIREWORKS!! And we got PARTY CROWNS!!  For being the first year of the event, it was good, but there is much room for improvement!!  

After that, rather than stay in town (which was getting crazy crowded), we came home, ate snacks, drank wine and hung out.  We also got crafty and put together our Rememberlutions Jars.  SO FUN!!  This year, anytime something great and worth remembering happens, you write it down and put it in the jar.  It doesn't have to be everyday. 

Our completed jars

We watched New Year's Rockin' Eve and waited for the ball to drop!!  And just like that 2015 was here!

Mel celebrating the New Year with Elton!

This is when we also thought maybe next year we'll celebrate New Year's Eve at a concert at the Barclays or MSG!  HAHAHAHA. We stayed up a while after midnight and headed to bed around two.

New's Year's Day was a lazy one.  Mimosas til midday, the Tournament of Roses Parade, the Winter Classic and The Citrus Bowl (where we spotted Tab Slaughter!!).  Finally, we got ourselves ready and head to dinner with Mel's family.  It was the first time I went to dinner with her family for their New Year's Day tradition.  It was a yummy German meal at a place that was new to me!  I had Sauerbraten for the first time and it was super yummy!  After dinner, we went back to Mel's and lounged after such a late night the night before.

Friday, I came home and immediately headed to lunch with an old teacher friend I hadn't seen in FOREVER!! Had such a great time talking and catching up!  I definitely have to make it a point to see more of her in 2015.

After lunch I ran into town for a bit.  Always the procrastinator, I needed to get a card for a wedding I went to on Sunday!  By the time I got home it was dark.  I worked on a few blog posts, then settled in for a cozy night in my pj's with wine and Donnie Wahlberg!

#katiedaily2015

Saturday was a super low-key day.  I had all intentions of doing schoolwork and getting ready for the upcoming week, but that didn't happen. The weather outside was terrible.  Great excuse to lounge on the couch!    I worked on my blog posts for this week instead.  One of my goals this year to get better at planning my posts!  Maybe one of them should be being more on top of my lesson plans!  :)

Sunday, I went to a wedding for a sweet teacher-friends daughter.  It rained for the big day but that's just good luck!  It was a fun reception...but the dreaded first-day-back-after-two-weeks-off was looming over us!!

Monday means back to reality!!  

After being off two weeks, I realize that I could get used to not working thing.  But I missed the kids! And the routine is good for me!!

I hope you all had a fabulous New Year's Weekend and wish you all the best in 2015!

Before I go I just wanted to share with you a little flipgram I made with my insta photos.  In 2014 I started posting a daily photo, and I did a good job for awhile, but then I got lax after a few months.  I didn't post EVERY DAY but 332 posts out of 365 days is not too bad!
I had planned on a #KatieDaily2014 post toward the end of the year that just never happened so I put this together instead!!  Not all the photos are my specific #katiedaily2014 posts but they're all fun photos I posted in 2014!  Enjoy! 

I am posting again this year and plan on incorporating the pics into a weekly or monthly blog post so I am more accountable!  To keep up with me in 2015, follow me on intagram!


Linking up today for:
Weekending with B Loved Boston and Champagne & Suburbs
Manic Monday with On the Daily Express and More Pieces of Me
Monday Madness with Ashley at A Cute Angle

FRI-BOO!!

It's like the LAST DAY of VACATION!!!  Boooooo...I love my job (most days!) but I could really be ok with not working!  I love me some days of sleeping in, lunch dates and wine nights with friends and staying up late!!  But it's my damn mortgage...and maybe a little bit of that shopping habit of mine, that keeps me, keeping on!!  But this being Friday, let's celebrate some faves from the week!

ONE

Lunch with my sister at one of my favorite places on Monday was so yummy!!
She was kid-free for a few hours and we ate and chatted! So busy eating and chatting in fact that I forgot to take a blog pic!! HA!! I'm fortunate enough to be able to see my family all the time, but it's very rare that Meg and I can do lunch, just the two of us, so it was great!!

TWO

Monday night I had a few of my favorite teacher friends over for snacks and wine.  That's another thing that doesn't happen very often, so when we can do it, it's a treat!!  And they too, enjoyed being baby-free for the night!  We always have lots of laughs...and too much wine!  I'm so glad I work with people who are more friends than just colleagues!

THREE

My favorite pic of the week!!!

Tuesday night I had these knuckleheads over for a sleepover while my sister and brother-in-law went away for the night!! My three nephews and little cousin are all the best of friends!  

#bestauntcousinever

#ImighthavecriedatDolphinTale2

FOUR

This being a list of favorites, I have to also include my New Year's post!  Yesterday I looked back on my top ten favorite posts from the blog this year!!  

I'll be back this weekend to share all my New Year's Eve & Day festivities and fun!!

Thanks for following along with me this year!!

FIVE

I'll be honest, after such a busy week, and going nonstop since Monday, I'm loving me a Friday night IN.  Tonight I have no plans!! Actually, I do have plans...I have a date with Donnie Walhberg and the boys of Blue Bloods!  LOL  I am going to enjoy the night in my pjs, on my couch, with my favorite bottle of wine, watching a new episode my favorite show!  It's going to be absolutely fabulous!!  

And I'll be asleep by 11...and am totally ok with it!!

Hope you had a great week too!

Oh...and before I go...I linked up for Pin-spired today too!!  Check out what I've been wearing here!!

Have a great weekend!  Can't wait to spend Saturday morning with a cup of coffee reading everyone's blogs!
Katie

Linking up today with:

Erika, Andrea, and Narci for Friday Favorites 

September Farm and The Farmer's Wife for Oh Hey, Friday!

Lauren at Style Elixir and her co-hosts

April and the girls for Five on Friday

Jennie for Friday Favorites

January Pin-spired- Otherwise known as "Sheaffer Told Me To"!

January 2nd!!  Crazytown!  Hope everyone had a great New Year!

I am starting the new year off on the right foot and linking up with Sheaffer and Melissa again for Pin-Spired!  Shay's off today because she's off scooping up sweet baby Ashby!!  It's been so fun following the family in China.

Love this link up!  Better late than never!!

Today I'm actually sharing 2 outfits that Sheaffer featured on Pinterest Told Me To and I ended up pinning!  Hope that's allowed (and not too stalkerish!)  HA! I actually could have posted lots of outfits but I'll stop at two...just because I have worn them recently!

She's featured this and other Calson Tunics a number of times because they are awesome with leggings!   When I saw this one on sale and with 10% back at ebates it was a no-brainer...it was mine! It's  a little different than the other Calson Tunics I have bause it's not as loose, but I like it a lot...I might have worn it twice just this week! (It's all about who you see, people!!)

PTMT post

For my interpretation, I switched it up a bit with black leggings and gray riding boots! 

I was able to recreate another of Sheaffer's looks and am including it because it features my BELOVED Blanket Scarf!!  Or as my family so affectionately refers to it...the BLARF!! WAAAAHHHHHH

I may really wear it every other day!!

This was Sheaffer's look at PTMT:

Sheaffer's Pin

This cardigan is super light and fun!  And it was another thing I was able to get on sale...less than $20 bucks. YAY!!

Here's the look I put together...Super Similar!

I guess when Sheaffer tells me to...I do!!  LOL 

#canwebevirtualbesties

Look forward to seeing what everyone linked up today!!  

Have FUN and look FABULOUS!!

Katie