Outfit Inspiration: Dress & Poncho

Happy Sunday! Here's to another week of obsessing over what to wear! We've all had those moments...we try on clothes, change a million times, and then end up with the initial outfit we had on! It can become frustrating. Days like that I try to think of outfit inspirations I've drawn from other people. Whether it be from a magazine, show, or my favorite fashion blogger. 

The other day I had one of these moments of inspiration. I happened to stumbled upon this picture of my mother as a young girl. It instantly reminded me of the popular 70's trend we are seeing a lot of recently. I love my mother's knit poncho with fringe and how it falls over her dress. I am all about layering, and this is a new, creative way to do so!  From the moment I saw this picture, I knew that I would be recreating this outfit.

(My beautiful Mother, center.)

With the weather finally starting to cool down in Boston, I pulled out my favorite black knit poncho and leather boots this weekend! This poncho was gifted to me so I am not quite sure where it is from. However, I did find similar black ponchos...

1.  INC International Concepts Textured-V-Hem Fringed Poncho Sweater

2.  Alfani Cowl-Neck Fringe Poncho Sweater 

3.  Lace Poncho

As a rule of thumb, I always invest in leather boots. That is my 'must splurge' item! A girl needs a pair of boots that are going to last her for more than one winter. Us New Englanders need high quality boots that will keep us warm during those cold, snowy days. 

The boots that I am wearing are from G.H. Bass & Co.! As of right now, they do not carry the exact boot that I am wearing, but they do have similar styles. Furthermore, they are currently having an online sale of 40% off sitewide with promo code Fall40! Not to mention free shipping of purchases over $50! I personally just purchased these leather Quincy Quilted Riding Boots for under $63!! Money well spent!

I absolutely love my Side Slit Striped Mini Sheath Dress from Express! The side slit is a popular trend that we are seeing in a lot of this season. I loved this casual dress so much that I bought it in Black as well! It also comes in Heather Gray and Purple and Black Stripes (in-store only). It is comfortable and can be styled in various ways. Even though this dress is labeled as a 'mini dress' I would not say so. It falls right above my knee and I will definitely be wearing this dress while nannying. I will be posting different ways to style this dress at a later date, so stay tuned!

 My Jet Set Logo Tote is by Michael Kors. It is spacious and perfect for nannying! I can fit all my daily necessities, as well as the kids', inside this roomy purse.

I had so much fun recreating my mother's look! I hope you enjoyed! 

Until next time.

xo, Cute Teachings

Bloglovin'

I am so excited to announce that I am now on the website Bloglovin'!! Bloglovin' is a great website that includes, but is not limited to, many great fashion blogs. If you love blogging or following blogs, sign up to have a news feed including all your favorite blogs!

Have fun!

xo Cute Teachings

Hello, Fall!

Today officially marks the first day of my favorite season...fall! This is a season that is packed with fun activities, amazing flavors, and perfect weather!  However, as my fellow New Englanders can attest, the seasons and weather are always changing.  Before you know it, that pumpkin latte you've been savoring is replaced with a gingerbread one.  So let's bask in all that is fall, before we're piled in snow!

I wanted to take a moment and discuss my favorite fall accessory.  There is nothing I love more than a beautiful scarf! I basically live in them from September to April. The more patterns, the better! A nice scarf adds layers to an outfit and can pull your whole look together.  This year I am keeping my eyes peeled for a tan scarf, an olive green scarf, and a maroon scarf.  For lighter scarves I frequently shop at DSW, Express, Aldo, and Marshalls/TJ Maxx.  These places tend to have a large variety of colors and styles for an affordable price.

Aside from lighter scarves, I am in love with blanket scarves!  Last year, during Boston's harsh winter, my blanket scarf was my savoir.  Even though it wont be cold enough to wear a blanket scarf around your neck, I always love styling one as a shawl.  It's quick to throw on while car pooling the kids, and it can make a simple outfit pop!  Plus, who wouldn't love being able to pull off wearing a blanket all day? This look will leave you feeling comfy and cozy!

The Navy Plaid Blanket Scarf I am wearing is from The Paper Store. I tend to find all my blanket scarves there! They are usually under, or around, $30! Feel free to share your favorite fall fashion accessory with me! I would love to hear from you! 

Let's all raise our pumpkin flavored beverages and cheers to fall! 

xo Cute Teachings

  

Nigerian Necklaces

Now that the temperature in Boston is finally starting to drop, I want to mention my favorite accessories: my Nigerian necklaces. It can get a little hot wearing them during the summer, so I am excited for the cool air to come our way!  

I am very fortunate that my boyfriend comes from such an incredible family.  They have always been warm and welcoming towards me. His mother and father live in Nigeria and upon multiple different occasions they have gifted me these necklaces. They are absolutely gorgeous and I am in love with each and every one for different reasons!  They add a little special something to my outfits that make them different from everyone else's.

While I am working at Express I get many compliments on my necklaces. Customers frequently ask where I bought them.  And while I love having this 'strange' and 'different' flare to my outfits, I have researched where someone could purchase similar necklaces to mine.  I find all these necklaces beautiful and intriguing.

Multicolored African Necklace

Blue and White Agate Beaded Necklace Handcrafted in Ghana, 'Emefa'

African Green Agate Handcrafted Necklace with Ceramic, 'Life is Great'

Recycled bead necklace, 'Peach Allure'

Coconut shell and bull horn beaded necklace, 'Zebra'

While researching these pieces of jewelry I stumbled upon NOVICA.  It is a shopping website that is in association with National Geographic. They sell unique handmade products crafted by artisans from all around the world, through Fair Trade! I love this website and what it has to offered.  Hopefully you enjoy it as well!

I hope you all had a fabulous start to your week. Thanks for stopping by Cute Teachings!

Sunday at Express

Happy Sunday, everyone! I hope that you all had a fun weekend, and were able to relax today! It is important to take a breather from your busy life and enjoy some of your hobbies and interests. With this in mind, I made sure to have time to go on walks/runs with my German Shepherd and boyfriend this weekend. I had so much fun getting some fresh (almost fall) air and quality time. Hopefully you all were able to do what you enjoy, as well! Working two jobs makes my rest time so important and valuable but it is often scarce. Thankfully I love both my jobs and enjoy what I do. 

Today, I had a six hour shift at Express. It began at 9 AM and, with three cups of Nespresso, I was ready to go! I made sure to wear sandals in the earlier half of my shift because I would be doing mark downs. I spent the first three hours of my shift marking down clearance items that were on the floor and in the stock room. It was relaxing to have some "down time" to get work done, and converse with my fellow co-workers. That is one of the reasons why I enjoy working at Express, everyone is so nice! 

Later on in my shift, once I switched to selling, I changed into my lace-up leather boots. This made my outfit a little more dressy and pulled it together. I absolutely loved the extreme hi-lo tee that I wore today! It is unique and I always get compliments on it. In my opinion, the best part about this tee is that it flows behind you as you walk. It definitely leaves people staring. I decided to offset my basic black tee with crazy patterned leggings! They made my outfit fun on this misty day. It was the right amount of pop that I was looking to add.

My Black One Eleven Long Sleeve Extreme Hi-Lo Tee is from Express. My black and white patterned leggings were sold at H&M. Although they do not sell these exact pair anymore, they do have other Black & White Patterned Leggings. My sandals are made by Nine West but were purchased at Marshalls. My leather lace up boots were also purchased at Marshalls but are made by Boemos. My black tote was sold at Aldo, but is no longer available. I am a huge fan of their Handbags & Purses. I can always find something I like there! Finally, my necklace was passed down to me from my grandmother.

I hope that you all have a great start to the week tomorrow! Thanks for stopping by Cute Teachings!

Casual Saturday

This week has been a rough one with my grandfather passing. He was 92 years old when kidney failure and cancer took his life. He and I were extremely close. When I was a young girl, he would attend every sporting event and be the loudest fan, cheering on the sidelines. He was always amazing to me and my family. Being the oldest grandchild, I was very lucky to have him for twenty-six years. I will always remember him and the amazing times we had together. RIP Papa.

I have been busy and distracted this week with everything going on. Therefore, I wanted to dress casual for Express today. This morning was a little chilly in Boston so I decided to wear lite jogger pants and a denim, long-sleeve shirt. At Express, they love a layered outfit, dressed up with jewelry!

My tee, denim shirt, and jogger pants are all from Express. The wash of my shirt is not sold any more. However, Express sells a Light Wash Denim Boyfriend Shirt that is similar. My Garment Dyed Fitted V-Neck Tee is on sale for $9.99, at the moment. My casual jogger pant are no longer sold in stores. Express does have a dressier version of my pant. They are the Pleated Jersey Jogger Pant and they are absolutely amazing! I love the material! They are very versatile and can be worn for work, casual days, or nights out. 

I hope you all had a better week than I did, and continue to having a nice weekend! Thanks for stopping by Cute Teachings!

Hello, September!

There is no one out there more excited for fall than me! It is my all-time favorite season. Between the foliage, apple picking, pumpkin spice flavoring, back-to-school, and fashion...what's not to love? 

I know that this season every one is loving on maroon, however, I cannot get enough of olive green! Maybe I am a little bias; my favorite color is green. This month I am craving some new green pieces for my closet! Here are just a couple items that I am crushing on...

Top left: Vest from Nordstrom. Top Right: Scarf from Express. Bottom Left: Moccasins from Minnetonka/Amazon. Bottom Right: Satchel from Coach. 

Top Left: Watch from Fossil. Top Right: Sweater from Express. Bottom Left: Dress from Express. Bottom Right: Booties from DSW.

Hopefully some of these pieces will make their way into my closet. However, I do have a beautiful olive green skirt from Express that I have been receiving many compliments on.

I absolutely love this outfit! Originally I was going to wear my faded-wash denim shirt, but the weather was just too beautiful that day. This olive green skirt is perfect for both nannying and working retail. It is long enough to be appropriate, but wraps at the side and moves with you. The wrap makes the skirt have a little something extra, and the material makes it casual enough to work with children. For my day at Express, I wore a crop top, however, for nannying I would wear a tight basic tee, tucked in. 

This skirt is also perfect for the transition from summer to fall! It looks great with a crop top and flats for a casual sunny day; or wedges for a fun night out. It will also look nice with booties and a light sweater for those breezy fall days. I loved this versatile skirt so much that I bought it in plum as well! 

My necklace is from Nigeria. My sunglasses are from Marshalls. My crop top is from Express. My skirt is from Express. It is not sold in olive green anymore but can be found in plum and black. My Lucky Brand shoes are from Marshalls. My tote is from Tory Burch. I have the smaller tote. The larger one is the only one available at this time. My headband is from So Good Jewelry. My watch is from Fossil. My denim shirt is from Express.

I hope you are as excited for fall as I am! As always, thanks for stopping by Cute Teachings!