Class with Ty: 2016

Monday, November 21, 2016

Quick Escape

As a teacher, you know your year is busy when you feel like it's May and it's only November. My ever-growing "to do" list greets me every morning and puts me to bed at night. I check things off only to replace them with something else. Some days I just want to set fire to the thing.
But before I reach for the matches, I remind myself that I live in the Middle East. Flying to Europe or Dubai, or in this case, Doha, Qatar, is just a quick flight away. While I didn't do much during my two-day trip but relax, sometimes a quick escape is just what I need to keep my sanity (Lord knows teaching sixth through tenth graders certainly doesn't help!).

Today's lesson: Sometimes you can't do it ALL. Unplug for a couple of days, recharge, and come back stronger than ever.

View from breakfast. (This won't mean much to most, but living in a country with very little greenery, you come to appreciate this!)

The morning light is AMAZING! And my hair is doing whatever it wants, as usual.

Morning cappuccino.

Enjoying the Villaggio Mall. Yes that's a man-made river, complete with gondola rides.

The ceiling of the Villaggio Mall makes you feel like you're walking outside.

The Torch Hotel.

Lounging poolside. Doing absolutely nothing. SO necessary.

At the airport in Doha, Qatar. Of course I had to stop and talk to this guy.

Friday, November 11, 2016

Into the Gray...

I've lived in my current apartment in Kuwait for a little over two years. Thankfully, my employer pays for my rent and the apartment came fully furnished, down to the kitchen utensils (and some pretty hideous paintings of cats on the wall). I've made small purchases here and there to make it feel more like "home" and less like a pit stop, since I'm unsure just how long I'll be here. The biggest change, and best decision by far, has been to change the wall color in my living room space. While at first I loved the white walls, they were too difficult to keep clean and I needed some color in my life. I went with a charcoal gray called "Matrix." I'm finishing one room at a time (and yes, the painters will be back to touch up their mess-ups). Who knows, maybe I'll be here long enough to show you every single one.

Today's lesson: Make your house your HOME, no matter the length of your stay.

Living room, before.

Prepping to paint!

Basket: On clearance from Pottery Barn, Laterns: Ikea, Blanket: West Elm.

Wooden Accessories and rug, West Elm (from several seasons ago).

Tabletop. Clean and neat. This tray helps me keep everything organized.

My new wall color! Basket weave lamp, Ikea.

Living room, after.

Knickknacks on my bookshelf.

Lamp, West Elm (similar here).

Storage, Ikea (I clearly didn't measure the space and should've purchased a larger piece!)

Mirror, Ikea. Sculpture, West Elm.

Morning light.

I love the way the light creeps in every morning. Perfection.

Saturday, September 17, 2016

Accessories Overload

Hi, my name is Ty and I may have a slight problem. I may or may not be an accessories junkie. I can never seem to have enough statement (and dainty) necklaces, rings, earrings, and bracelets. Let's not forget my growing collection of hats, scarves, and brooches. I love them all…vintage and modern styles. I like to mix and match textures and prints and I don't follow any fashion rules (I don't even know what those are!). My accessories icon would have to be Iris Apfel, her collection is ahh-mazing! She wears what she wants, from high-end pieces to flea market finds. Some of my favorite pieces came from the monthly antique market just outside of Atlanta, GA, and I LOVE a good sale.

When I travel, I try to purchase at least one item to add to my collection. From silk scarves in Milan to chunky necklaces and bracelets in Paris, to vintage pieces from New York. I don't buy on impulse; a piece has to truly be a standout for me to bring it home with me. Enjoy a few pieces from my collection below! What are your can't-live-without accessories?

Today's lesson: Forget the rules! Wear what you like.

J. Crew statement earrings and cuff, David Yurman ring, Rebecca Minkoff bag

Club Monaco fingerless gloves (past season), Bracelets: (silver-Banana Republic, gold-Stella & Dot)

Layered statement necklaces (silver-gifted from a friend, stones-custom)

Packing for a trip

Scarves: oversized-H&M, square-vintage, Frames: Maryll (from France)

Silk scarf from a holiday in Bellagio, Italy

Scarves turned into turbans for those bad hair days, Frames: Super

Scarf: Zara

Brooch: vintage, gifted from a friend

Long statement necklace (worn doubled): vintage

Brooches: all vintage (antique market finds), as seen in this post

Layered statement necklaces: jewels-Anthropologie, fabric-purchased at a street fair in Kuwait

Bracelet: vintage, antique market, Rings: Club Monaco (past season), Bag: Zac, Zac Posen

Hat: BCBG (also seen here)

Scarf: vintage, Frames: Super, Ring: Lucas Jack, London

Thursday, September 15, 2016

Grounded

Let me start this post by saying last week was probably one of the most stressful weeks I've experienced in a LONG time. I mean, it took just about everything in me not to break down everyday. Every. Single. Day. Why, you ask? Read on to find out…

…So remember that trip to Sardinia, Italy that I was over-the-moon excited to take (and to share with you all)? Yeah, I'm supposed to be on that trip right now. But due to circumstances beyond my control, I'm grounded here in Kuwait. Literally unable to fly, unable to leave the country. My childhood friend who I was supposed to meet in Sardinia is on our girls' vacay right now, enjoying the sights, sounds, food, and wine of the island, (and sending beautiful pics my way. Thanks Ingrid!), while I'm typing up this post at my dining room table, looking out the window at the sandlot across the street from my apartment building.

But, I'm no longer depressed or upset. It just wasn't meant to be. I tried EVERYTHING to go on this trip. I mean EV-ERY-THING, but for some reason, I'm not there. And I'm at peace with that. But I don't want to leave you all hanging. I know you were looking forward to travel pics, (rather, in my mind you all were looking forward to travel pics, because I'm this amazing, budding travel, fashion, style blogger, right?), so enjoy these from my holidays in Paris this past year. Warning, there are quite a few pics, and I didn't even post them all.

I love Paris in the winter. I get to dress for the cooler weather in my favorite coats, boots, and hats. And NO Parisian outfit would be complete without the ever-present scarf. Living in Kuwait, we have two seasons, summer and about three weeks of winter. So taking an annual trip to cooler weather is just what I need to get my fall/winter fashion fix. I managed to get by with just two coats, my favorite navy, leather moto jacket, and a longer wool number with an oversized collar. Paired with chunky scarves, they were perfect for the cool days and nights.

Naturally, Paris is one of my favorite cities, being a French teacher and all. I could probably visit just about every year for the holidays (although this year I'll be in Amman, Jordan).

Today's lesson: Trust that what is meant to be will be, and what isn't, well, it just isn't. Don't try to force it.

Paris, December 2015
Highlights: -Showing the city that I love to my good friend.
-Taking my friend to the spa and to dinner for her 26th birthday.
-Meeting up with my French friends (who I met while living in Atlanta) at Kong for cocktails.
-Strolling the city, apparently looking like a local because I was asked more than once for directions (and being able to give those directions, in French, of course).
-French pastries!!!
-Being upgraded to a larger hotel room because the elevator wasn't working (my original room was on the fifth floor and the new room was on the first). WINNING!

Lowlights: -Visiting the city nearly 10 days after the horrific terrorist attacks.
-Gaining a couple of pounds (from all those pastries) despite all of the walking we were doing around the city.