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The story of those times

I absolutely love looking at old photos. Some of my favorite books are collections of old Life and Time magazine photos. Seeing how folks lived not so long ago is fascinating. Everything seems a little different yet still the same. However, I've found some new photos that bring the past super close. These photos are from 1939-1943, and they are in color.

My favorite photo is #66. I won't ruin it by explaining the photo, but I will say that I find the photo subject inspirational and always have. I also love #20, #68, and #69; I can't believe all the kids are in button up shirts. I'd love to see my students dress like this. It would be a welcome change from all the boxers I see despite asking them to pull their pants up.

TwoThree questions:
1. Which photos are your favorites?
2. What will the enduring images of our time be? Will future photo viewers find our images quaint due to the lack of 3D or the funny clothes?

Being adult-like

Via one fabulous blog, Yes and Yes!, I have discovered another fabulous blog: Adulting. Each post is a little tidbit on how to grow up and be an adult, already. This is a great blog for me. In many senses I am an adult, but it is still a concept with which I am struggling. Since being married (well, perhaps a little before then), I've really had to woman-up and think about the adult thing to do. Because, honestly, some days it is just not fun to be an adult.

I was quite gratified to see that I do excel in one adult-like component: seting my clothes out the night before. I've actually done this off-and-on for quite awhile, but I will still take adult credit for this. Previously, I've attributed this habit to laziness, so I am actually glad to see it is a sign of being an adult. For my part, it takes a lot more effort to put together an outfit at 6.45 am than it does to do the same thing at 9.45 pm.

I have also taken to making my lunch the night ahead of time. I am working on shedding some pounds I gained during the stress of school. Making my lunch early helps me count those calories and not make morning impulse decisions. Tonight's offering? I put together a little salad kit: a tupperware of mixed greens, a little container with a tablespoon of dressing, another little container with a few croutons, some cranberries, and some chunks of bacon(!), and a cup of green grapes. This is surprisingly satisfying in the middle of the day. Other recent favorites include tuna salad or rice cakes with peanut butter and apples.

Here's to growing up and growing responsible!

Teacher Clothes

One of the more difficult parts of my job is actually dressing myself each morning. This is so challenging that I have taken to laying out my clothes the night ahead of time (a trick I mastered in college, because it is rough picking out clothes before 8 am organic chemistry). In addition to the mental calculus of whether or not I look good, there's a whole additional set of questions. Does this show too much, both on top and bottom? Can I bend over, squat, or kneel down in this outfit so I can answer student questions? Is my outfit flammable? (Essential to know, especially on lab days. Hence the scarf/no scarf in the outfit below.) I've sought inspiration in other places. One of my favorite blogs, which is sadly not being updated anymore, is academic chic. On the bright side, they have a great set of archives.

A few things I have learned:

- tank tops are your friend. They can take a top from "hmm, not sure if it is too short when I write at the top of the board" to "this might ride up, but my tank top tucks in and covers the skin!"

- I need to find some better shoes, especially for when I am wearing skirts. Being on your feet all day definitely doesn't mix with heels, and it's not so forgiving even on small wedges or platforms.

- Even with fancy clothes, I still sometimes get mistaken for a teenager. But the fancy clothes help.

- I can wear skirts, but they are often not compatible with my frigid arctic classroom.

Next on my purchase list is definitely adding to my collection of belts. I only own two belts, and they are both black and fairly utilitarian. I am hoping to make some belts with the new sewing machine I received for Christmas, but I've got to practice on something simpler first. A few varieties will really help add a colorful pop to my wardrobe and hopefully expand my options. For now, I am hoping to try a ribbon belt that I've seen on some blogs so that I can wear a sweater dress to school.

What challenges have you encountered when dressing for work? Are there any great resources I am missing for being stylish yet appropriate?