my march favorites.

Here's what I've been loving this month...

1. American Shakespeare Center - Did you know that the world's only re-creation of Shakespeare's indoor theatre, the Blackfriars' Playhouse, is in Staunton, Virginia? I went with friends to see a production of the parody The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) in college, but hadn't been since. My co-teacher's parents got tickets for our whole English team for Christmas, and we had a wonderful day driving up to see The Merchant of Venice and eat dinner at the Mill Street Grill.

2. The Seven Realms series by Cinda Williams Chima - Several of my male students had recommended this fantasy series to me, so I was surprised when I finally got around to checking out The Demon King from the library, with its super-masculine cover art, and finding out that one of the main characters is a feisty princess! The other MC is a streetlord who's basically a combination of Aladdin and Han Solo. These are definitely time-consuming books to read (each one weighs in at over 500 pages), but I really enjoyed getting lost in the unique fantasy world Chima has built, which includes a matrilineal society that feels medieval, an indigenous culture based on eastern Native American societies, and a magical college.

3. Old Navy Clover Necklace - I picked this dainty necklace up around St. Patrick's Day, but it's also perfect as a 4-H necklace for me :)

4. REN Evercalm Rescue Mask from Sephora - When I got back from my business trip to Indiana last month, my skin was a mess from staying in a hotel and air travel - I had acne on my cheeks, which is really unusual for me. I had a little sample bottle of this mask from Sephora, which is a little thicker than a normal day moisturizer. I used it morning (under makeup) and night (after washing my face) for about a week and it made a huge difference. The full-size version is a pricey product but I feel like it'll be worth it if used sparingly for skin emergencies!

5. Indoor Rock Climbing - The Bible study I've joined tries to have a fun activity in the community each month, and this month we visited a rock climbing gym in Roanoke. I hadn't done any climbing since I worked as a 4-H camp counselor in college and was surprised by how easy it was to pick back up. I didn't realize how much my upper body strength had improved since I've become a yoga junkie! It doesn't hurt the fun factor that the River Rock gym shares a building with Wasena Tap Room!

Style: On Pointe Athleisure

One thing about me that I'm not sure I've ever actually talked about on this blog is that I was a dancer throughout my childhood. By high school, I had multiple classes at my local dance studio every night, and when I wasn't in class I was also one of the office assistants there and taught several classes. Dance was my first hobby and my first job, and I love things that remind me of the ladylike and magical culture of ballet. Blush pink was one of the most popular colors in virtually every aspect of design in 2016, and this past fall, I started to notice that swans had become the latest "critter" to gain popularity in home decor and fashion. Now, Target had unveiled a whole ballet-inspired collection from Mossimo. Here's a winter and spring gym-to-street wardrobe for the inner Sugar Plum Fairy in each of us.

1. Athleta crossback sweatshirt  2. Target ruched leggings  3. J. Crew Factory collector tee  4. Essie Gel Couture nail polish in "Lace Me Up"  5. Target wrap bodysuit 6. Target tulle midi skirt 7. Kate Spade swan stud earrings (set is actually 1 black and 1 white swan) 8. MAC Lipglass in "Signs of Spring"  9. Kate Spade Ridge Street Lance yoga bag

(Ballerina inspiration photo by Taylor and Porter via Wedding Sparrow)

What do you think of the ballet-inspired athleisure trend?

this week's clicks.

get your week off to a colorful start...
WATCH.

• One of my friends who works in Silicon Valley shared this link on Facebook - apparently, his company is OBSESSED with this phenomenon right now, and from a sociological standpoint, it's quite interesting. As someone on the cusp of being either a Gen X-er or a Millenial (born in 1985 to Boomer parents), I have to say I don't hate these songs!

SWOON.

• A Palm Springs wedding with the best tropical vibes.
• Rita Chan's interior designs are so simple and calming.
• An elegant fall vineyard shoot from Ruffled.
• Perfect fall vibes in this Style Me Pretty farm wedding.

SMILE.

• Desktops: Sarah Hearts, Smashing, Mel Armstrong.
• Wish list alert: Fitbit's new line. Rose gold, please.
• One high school's colorful tradition has gone viral.
• In case you need another reason to support Hillary...

FLASHBACK.

• 2015: Windowpane print wardrobe picks, my fall TV roundup, 5 fave things about fall.
• 2014: a rainy game day outfit, blurbed the fall shows I was looking forward to, completed the Geek Girl tag, and participated in a Sunday Social all about fall.
• 2013: lilac and rose wardrobe picks for fall, inspiration for a neutral pastel wedding, a roundup of ballerina bun hairstyles, and my personal manifesto.  
• 2012: my bridal portraits and our wedding's prelude.

this week's clicks: Spring Breakin'

get your week off to a colorful start...
LISTEN.

• My favorite part of Spotify is definitely the "Discover Weekly" playlist that generates a list of songs based on what I'm listening to and liking. Aren't algorithms cool? This week, one of my favorites from the list was Firekid's "Lay By Me" - how sweet are these lyrics?

SWOON.

Studio DIY via Love, Maegan

• Maegan's got the DIY for chic palm frond balloons.
• At S+I, a beautiful veil and funfetti wedding cake.
• SMP features a pretty pink Korean-American e-shoot.
• A fun, colorful Austin soirée from Wedding Chicks.

SMILE.

• A cheeky little pin for Spring Break outfits.
• Loving the inspiration for Jen's style challenge.
• Her Universe's Marvel activewear line is here!
• Spring Break style ideas on my Pinterest.

FLASHBACK.

• Last year I pretty much predicted the Colors of the Year for 2016.
• Two years ago, Sunday Social was about ideals and accomplishments. I featured my fave green and black and white picks, and rounded up my April favorites.
• Three years ago I rounded up rainy day fashions, white bridesmaid dress inspiration, explained how we save money on groceries, completed my second Liebster survey, and shared my love story with Mr. Q for the Love and Marriage series.
• Four years ago I collected inspiration for an April Fool's wedding.

who to follow on instagram.

Instagram has been my favorite form of social media for several years running and I don't see that changing any time soon. Here are the feeds I'm loving right now...

aburstofbeautiful | mistyonpointe

aburstofbeautiful - Blogger Alicia shares shots of her lovely home which is decorated in cozy modern farmhouse style, including her perfect kitchen, sweet vignettes, and the occasional puppy or kitty photobomb.

mistyonpointe - I studied ballet for eleven years, and have loved seeing ABT's first African-American principal dancer become a celebrity - I've also seen a few of my own students inspired by her story. She is grace, beauty, and strength personified.

octoberjuneblog | mscraftberrybush

octoberjuneblog - blogs about branding, and her Instagram feed features consistently simple, pretty peeks at her everyday life and casual-chic fashion; I love that she includes her geeky side as well - she's an unabashed Harry Potter and X-Files fan.

mscraftberrybush - Blogger Lucy is a talented artist and decorator, and her feed features pretty vignettes from around her home, watercolors and other works in progress, and fun shots of her family's dog, Brody!

kaisafit | palmtreesandtaxis

kaisafit - Kaisa Keranen has an M.S. in Exercise Science and her feed is always happy and upbeat - even when she has a broken leg. I've gotten some good ideas from her workout videos. Her pictures are a great source of gym style inspiration, too!

palmtreesandtaxis - East coast college student and fashion blogger Claire's Instagram feed has such a fun aesthetic - ocean waves, neon signs, and palm trees even in the dead of winter, alongside fashion and travel photos.

Previously recommended: 

abeachcottage, agirlastyle, anacvitanovic, annariflebond, apartment_34,  blaireadiebee, brahmino, brightbazaar, carmenmariez, cozystylishchic, eastandblog, elsiecake, frassyaudrey, fresh_exchange, glitterguide, heatherbullard, housesevenblog, humansofny, hungryeditor, jane_lilly, justinchung, justinslens , kattanita, kirstenalana, kissmyspatula, labellemel31, lifeonvirginiastreet, livvylandblog, lizlovegrowswild, mattcrump, missmustardseed, monikahibbs, moodygirlinstyle, nellahelsinki, ohjoystudio, oliviaraejames, quiteheatherly, rachelroams, roomsforrent,shannonkirsten,  sugarandcloth, snippetandink, stylishpetite, takinyerphoto, taylorsterling, thelandmarkproject, thepinkdiary, thisisglamorous, thislittlestreet, tifforelie, tinyatlasquarterly, trentonmichael,  waitingonmartha, witanddelight_

Are you on Instagram?  I'd love to follow you!

Leave your username in a comment to this post -

(you can follow me here). 

this week's clicks: we can be the only ones that know.

get your week off to a colorful start...
LISTEN.

• Singer-songwriter Inzi has the sweetest voice that is providing the perfect soundtrack to watch snowflakes fall outside my window this morning - I think fans of Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson will like her music.

SWOON.

Julie Paisley Photography via Style Me Pretty

• Prettiness abounds in this organic modern SMP wedding.
• Printable watercolor shower invites from Lia Griffith.
• Wedding Chicks features romantic El Chorro nuptuals.
• This bride chose her Nana to be one of her bridesmaids!

SMILE.

• Desktops: Cardstore, Flipsnack, Mospens, Giants+Pilgrims.
• Made me laugh: the 25 most depressing nail polish names.
• Joie's adorably geeky workout outfit ideas and playlists.
• Kalyn's tips for fighting the winter blues.

FLASHBACK.

• Last year I reviewed my second Stitch Fix, and shared my February faves.
• Two years ago, I had Olympic fever and rounded up Sochi and Team USA inspired wardrobe picks.
• Three years ago I shared Cinderella-inspired wedding ideas, rounded up Oscar Party tips, and shared my February blog loves.
• Four years ago I shared pink Sunday Simplicity and snapshots from my weekend.
• Five years ago I shared inspo for our wedding in textures, recapped V-Day as an engaged couple, practiced flower arranging, and shared contemporary instrumental music for weddings.

2016 moodboard.

Images, L-R: 1, 2, 3 | 4, 5, 6

This month, the theme for The Circle link-up at In Its Time was to create a moodboard for 2016. As I created my moodboard, I thought about how I want to 2016 to feel and what I want each day to look like. Here are some areas of my life I want to prioritize this year.

calm mornings

I've always been something of a night owl, but lately I've really been looking into how my sleep affects my overall health. My mornings are typically very rushed, and it doesn't help me start the day in a very nice mood. I'd like to be able to wake up earlier and spend some quiet time eating a "real" breakfast and actually enjoying my coffee, reading, doing a devotional, practicing yoga, writing in my journal, or setting goals for the day before I have to greet 30 teenagers!

nurturing my passions

• Teaching - I love, love, love my job. I definitely want to be involved with teaching and/or working with young people for the rest of my life. However, I've gotten a little complacent lately - I've gone from being the new teacher who was constantly reading professional development books, taking classes, and attending conferences to being the veteran who recycles lesson plans and goes home to watch Netflix. To try to rekindle that flame, I've applied to several programs for this spring and summer that should help get me back on track. I really want to be a teacher who is always innovating and trying new things.
• Writing - If someone had told me ten years ago that I wouldn't have published anything significant by the age of thirty, I probably would have gotten very depressed. My writing is another thing I think I've gotten complacent about - I use the busy-ness of my teaching job and personal writing, like blogging and Tumblr, to avoid writing for a purpose. Just like with exercise, if I don't make time to write creatively, it's not going to happen. What am I hiding from?

welcoming change

Change is scary to me, but my One Word for 2016 is horizon and when I look at the image of the girl facing the horizon, I see that she's facing the ocean and its ever-changing waves - one of my favorite places to be and one that I find incredibly calming. Change is a constant in life - in relationships, at work, and with our personal interests. I had to reevaluate some friendships in 2015, and gained a stronger sense of self (a little more about that here). Buying a house and being able to turn it into a place to welcome friends and family any time we want will be a big change. Moving to a new school for a semester will be a big change. I need to face the horizon rather than trying to run from it.

health and wellness

• I'm not exaggerating when I say that yoga has changed my life - I'm calmer, more patient, and more centered, and as a nice side effect my body is leaner. I want to keep practicing yoga regularly (at home in addition to the class I attend) and challenge myself to try more difficult poses.
• I've been working to improve my health and diet for almost four years now, since receiving my PCOS diagnosis, but nothing has been as helpful to me so far as the app that came with my Jawbone UP2 band (read more of my thoughts about the UP2 here) - the combination of tracking sleep, workouts, and food and positive reinforcement really seems to be working. I've tried various boot camps, diets, and cleanses, but none of them have really "stuck." Hopefully I'm on to something now!
• One of the things I'm most looking forward to when we do move out of our current townhouse is being able to have a garden and grow our own vegetables. I grew up in a rural area and sometimes I just need a little dirt therapy.

community

The time has come for me to break through my social anxiety and find a place to pray and worship (I wrote a little more about this here). Ever since reading Rachel Held Evans' book Searching for Sunday last year (my review is here), I've been yearning for the kind of transformative experience she writes about. I don't want to be yet another millennial who left the church and never returned - unlike some people I know who thrive on solitary spiritual paths, I am just no good at staying in the Word on my own. I have been making excuses for far too long, and this needs to be the year I find a church home, even if that means going alone. I miss the sense of belonging and understanding that I had in college with my fellowship, small group, and close-knit church. As I've said before, I know that there's no "perfect" church, but there must be one out there (hopefully not too far away) that I can help make wonderful.

#5FandomFriday - January 15th - 5 Ways I Am Going To Take Chances In 2016 

5 Fandom Friday is a weekly prompt challenge hosted by The Nerdy Girlie and Super Space Chick. This week's #5FandomFriday topic is 5 Ways I Am Going to Take Chances in 2015, and I've enjoyed reading the other girls' responses to this prompt so far. I was finally able to come up with my own list after lots of thought! I decided to focus on ways to take chances in different areas of my life.

work 

2016 is going to be a year of big changes at work! 8th grade English will be going from being a semester course to a year-long course (with the same 84 minute class periods) in order to better prepare our students for our very difficult state standardized test and their high school courses. I'm excited about having twice as much time with students - more than I've ever had before - because I'll be able to give them time for independent reading and we won't have to move on to new skills until they're ready. On the other hand, I'm very nervous about the change because it means I'll most likely be spending one semester on our other middle school campus, where I don't know very many people and which has a reputation for being very straight-laced. I've suggested an idea for a pilot program that would blend a high-level English class with one of our elective courses and several of the other English teachers really like it - we'll see what the rest of the faculty thinks when we meet this week.

wellness

I've been starting to really invest in my own health over the past few years, although I will be the first one to admit I'm bad at remembering to take care of me. I'm going to face my social anxiety by going to the gym more often for cardio, and I'm also considering signing up for a Couch to 5K program our local Parks and Rec department is offering - I have never liked running, so I would like to actually learn how to run properly.

faith

I would love to find a church community to participate in, but I've used my anxiety as an excuse to spend Sunday mornings at home. I think I am going to just put myself out there and see which of my friends, family members and co-workers will invite me to their churches. I know that I got unbelievably lucky when I lived in Charlottesville and found the perfect church for me via Google. I also know that I might not necessarily find a church that meets all my "perfect church" expectations (simple facility, won't make me work in the nursery, doesn't think women belong in the kitchen, doesn't see depression as a lack of faith, diverse and inclusive), but that I might have to work to "be the change" within that community.

family

Where are you, dream house?

Mr. Q and I will hopefully be buying a house in 2016! The idea of moving out of our townhouse gives me very mixed emotions - on the one hand, I'm totally psyched to get out of this temporary arrangement. On the other hand, I really do love our cozy townhouse; it's perfect for us right now and I've gotten very spoiled living so close to work. Moving on to the next phase of grown-up life is scary.

hobbies

I'd like to be able to stop referring to writing as a hobby and begin to truly pursue it as a career. I'm not very good at sticking to a writing schedule or being self-disciplined, and sometimes I worry that blog writing is actually taking me away from creative writing - you may see me taking a break from the blog for a while this year as I try to get more serious about my passion. My writing is kind of all over the place, but almost all of my stories have a fantasy element. I used to write poetry regularly and would like to get back into that as well. I don't know the first thing about submitting writing to magazines and such, so it's time to learn! My goal is to finish my portfolio and apply to the MFA program at Hollins College - even if I don't become a successful professional author, I think an MFA in creative writing will help me to be a better teacher of writing and a better mentor to new teachers.

January Fab Favorites

Rather than make New Year's Resolutions, for the past few years I've adopted the practice of choosing one word for the New Year. For 2016, my word is going to be horizon - I feel like it kept presenting myself to me, so I accepted it! I'm not sure what's on the horizon for me - the future is a blank slate for me to fill with my hopes and dreams for the future. Will I buy a house, write a novel, get a pet, travel the world, or make a new friend this year? I'm making positive changes in my life and habits and hoping that positivity will come back to me. Here are a few favorites making those changes a little easier to adopt.

1. Creative women building each other up - I've kicked off the year with two memoirs by funny women in creative fields (who are not too much older than me), Everyone's Weird on the Internet (Almost) by Felicia Day (read my review from yesterday here) and Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling. Both share a common theme: boss ladies shouldn't be competing with one another, we should be building each other up - Felicia addresses #Gamergate and Mindy tackles topics from "Who Wore it Best?" magazine columns to Instagram friendships. Two of my favorite essays in Mindy's book are "(Minor) Fame Has Changed Me" and "Things to Bring to My Dinner Party." My favorite passage in Mindy's book comes from the essay "Some Thoughts on Weddings" (she kind of hates them due to the sense that the bride is leaving her behind):

With my friends, the sad truth is that our best "best friend" days are behind us. In college, we used to be able to meet each other in the common area of our off-campus housing, excited about our evening ahead, which consisted of someone making an enormous tureen of pasta and drinking wine from a box while we took turns regaling each other with details of our terrible love lives. Playful arguments would become fits of uncontrollable laughter, and like magic, that experience would get crystallized into a private joke, and the private joke would get boiled down to a simple phrase, which would become a souvenir of the entire experience. For years to come, the phrase alone could uncork hours of renewed laughter. And as everyone knows, the best kind of laughter is laughter born of a shared memory.

2. A routine that helps me glow - When I finally got my long-awaited Clarisonic Mia2, it came with a bottle of Fresh Soy Face Cleanser which I've been using religiously. Not only has my cystic acne improved, but I think my face looks glowy and my skin looks plumper in the mornings when I wake up. In addition to the obvious soy proteins, this cleanser is full of healthy ingredients like cucumber extract and borage seed oil.

3. Fashionable accountability - I've wanted a fitness tracker for a while now, and Mr. Q got me the Jawbone Up2 for Christmas. I liked the Up2 a little better than some other trackers because it includes a smart alarm feature than I can set to wake me up during the lightest part of my sleep cycle! So far, I'm using the Up2 to track my sleep, daily step count and workout lengths, and food (the Up app has a barcode reader feature or the option to type in what I've eaten and search through a database). I also have an idle alert set so that the wristband vibrates when I am still for a set length of time - currently, I've got it set for 45 minutes. I like that the app gives suggestions to help me reach my goals - for example, on Saturday night, we went out to eat, and when I opened the app to log my meal there was a suggestion from Smart Coach to take a 17 minute walk in order to maintain my average step count for the week - a short stroll was easily accomplished by doing some window shopping after dinner, but probably wouldn't have happened without the gentle nudge. I've lost two pounds since Christmas and I think the Up2 has definitely helped!

4. A cozy glow for cold winter nights - Mr. Q's aunt got us the Bath and Body Works Winter 3-wick candle for Christmas and it's my new favorite smell! The main notes are pine, mandarin orange, and "winter woods," and it's perfect for creating a cozy atmosphere in the evenings when we get home from work.

5. An inspiring calendar - If I have to look at something for 12 months, it had better be cute! I chose the Illustrated Bible Verses calendar from Workman Publishing, which I found at Barnes & Noble. If you still need a calendar to get your 2016 organized, Style Me Pretty has a roundup, and Lauren's featuring the best planners for boss babes at Style Elixir.

Linking Up:

Friday's Fab Favorites at Style Elixir

My Wellness Wish List

Last week I shared the geeky side of my Christmas wish list, but a lot of the items on my list this year are actually quite practical. Getting healthier is a constant journey for me, and while I was making my Christmas list I thought about items that could improve different aspects of my everyday routine to help me become happier and healthier in 2016! Though these items are useful, they're also luxuries I wouldn't ordinarily buy for myself.

1. Lifefactory glass water bottle - I'm trying to use fewer plastic containers whenever possible, and water just tastes better from a glass container (I tried a stainless steel bottle and wasn't a fan). The silicone cover makes this bottle practical for toting to the classroom, gym, and yoga studio without worrying about breakage! I love the teal color, but they come in a whole rainbow of shades a variety of sizes.

2. Phillips wake-up light - Every single piece of wisdom about happiness and health seems to include  a push to get more, better-quality sleep. I am a night owl, procrastinate going to bed, and therefore am not a happy camper most mornings. This wake-up light is supposedly a total game-changer because it provides a gentle, sunrise-like glow instead of a hash alarm - I think it would be awesome for these winter days when I have to get up before the actual sunrise.

3. Withings fitness tracker watch - Deciding which fitness tracker to invest in is so confusing! While I'm also drooling over the new Jawbone, my friend Sarah has the unique Withings Activite watch and adores it - I like that the watch's inset face provides a very clear visual on how close the wearer is to reaching the daily goal, and that it's a nice enough looking watch to wear to work.

4. Kitchen scale - Since I was diagnosed with PCOS a few years ago, I've been on a low glycemic index diet. A kitchen scale would help me make sure I'm following recipes and help with portion control.

5. Yoga socks - I don't think I need to explain why these would be awesome to have, but isn't the tribal print cute? I'm a firm believer that having attractive exercise gear makes me more likely to work out.

Have you tried any of these items? Do you have any 

wellness items on your Christmas list this year?

clicks of note: then we were new

get your week off to a colorful start...

• There's no doubt in my mind that this will be my favorite week of this summer. After consulting my packing list, I'm headed to my childhood summer camp this morning for my annual volunteering gig, but I'll be leaving tomorrow afternoon for a little day trip with my mama - to see SIR PAUL FREAKIN' MCCARTNEY. There's a 99% chance I will weep uncontrollably throughout the concert. On Friday after camp, we have a rehearsal dinner for Breeze's sister's wedding, which is on Saturday (I'm serving as the day-of coordinator). Whew!

LISTEN.

New by Paul McCartney - Lyric Video from Ricky Yin on Vimeo.

• Of course this week's song has to be Paul. I think "New" is such a sweet song. I'll be linking up with Musical Mondays at My So-Called Chaos.

SWOON.

Melanie Duerkopp via Style Me Pretty

• How adorable are these portrait rubber stamps?
• Real life needs more Kate Spade inspired parties.
• A genius last minute shower from Kojo Designs.
• This preppy Seaside wedding looks like such fun!

SMILE.

• Love this summer iPhone wallpaper roundup.
• Molly's giving away a budget-friendly wallet.
• Love LC's and Target's new outlooks on fitness.
• I needed this essay on softening your gaze.

FLASHBACK.

• Last year I listed some weird faves for Sunday Social and whipped up some cute and easy washi tape home decor for Independence Day.
• Two years ago, I shared patriotic fashion ideas for Independence Day and rounded up red, white, and blue pieces for entertaining along with side dish recipes, channeled my inner choreographer with a wish list of songs for SYTYCD, recapped my first Color Run, and showed off my early summer in Instagrams.
• Three years ago, I rounded up inspiration for summer in the country, featured poolside essentials, and reflected on why I love my flower girl.  
• Four years ago, I showed off my dyed wedding shoes and Etsy garters as well as my veil and jewelry, and a preview of our menu, inspired by our favorite Southern comfort food.