Archives for September 2016

Autumn Hues.

“Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.” – Albert Camus

I love mustard yellow. I really like the way it looks on my skin tone and hair, and it stands out during this time of year, reminding me of the leaves changing colour. This dress caught my attention not just because of its colour, but the texture and details. I like when a dress requires minimal jewelry because it can then speak for itself. I paired this dress with shoes that I bought a few seasons ago at The Bay for only $17. Even though it’s hidden in the basement, I highly recommend checking out the shoe department at The Bay in Windsor. They have a really good selection, and often there are amazing sales with extra discounts.

Dress: Design Lab. Shoes: Pegabo (old, similar). Eyeglasses: Chanel. Sunglasses: Karen Walker. Bag: Louis Vuitton. Watch. Chanel J12. Bracelet: Louis Vuitton. Lips: MAC Brick-o-la.

Fashion

Smooth as Silk.

“Money doesn’t buy elegance. You can take an inexpensive sheath, add a pretty scarf, gray shoes, and a wonderful bag, and it will always be elegant.” – Carolina Herrera

For me, one of the best things about this time of year are scarves. I love scarves, whether their purpose is to keep you warm, or as an added accessory. When I was in Italy this past summer, I saw so many women wearing scarves, even when it was hot outside. Scarves add a touch of excitement to any outfit. The scarf I’m wearing here is one of my favourites, especially because I bought it in Paris on our honeymoon three years ago. I remember it being one of the most fun shopping experiences, where the sales associate folded and draped various styles on me.

For my outfit, I folded the scarf into the basic bias fold, then draped it around my neck. From there, I tied one knot using one of the draped sides, and then simply fed the other piece through the knot. I also like the look of just folding the scarf diagonally into a triangle and then tying it around my neck.

Dress: Aritzia (old, similar here). Scarf: Hermes. Clutch: Parker via Saks Fall 2015 promotion (currently lusting over this and this). Sunglasses: Karen Walker. Shoes: H&M (old, similar here). Bracelet: Kate Spade (old). Watch: Chanel J12. Lips: Colourpop Lyin’ King.

Fashion

September Florals.

“There are always flowers for those who want to see them.” – Henri Matisse

Long sleeve dresses are usually difficult to find, but lately Forever 21 has so many! This was one of my more recent purchases costing a whopping $12.00. I can see this dress easily transitioning to cooler weather with grey or black opaque tights, boots, and even a nice floppy hat. To keep it a little more modest so I can wear it to work, I may wear a black camisole/tank underneath.

I know the shoes are difficult to see, but they’re part of Le Chateau’s Reflex line, which I highly recommend to anyone who is on their feet all day. I also like how Le Chateau’s shoes consistently fit my wider feet.

Though I’m enjoying trying out my new fall clothes, I really don’t want the warmer weather to end!

Dress: Forever 21 (similar). Shoes: Le Chateau. Necklace: Stella and Dot. Bracelet: Baublebar (old). Earrings: H&M (old). Watch: Chanel J12. Bag: Louis Vuitton “Petit Noe”(old style). Lips: MAC Rebel.

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Fashion

Sun King.

“First feelings are always the most natural.” – Louis XIV

When I saw this dress on the Black Milk website, I knew I had to buy it. Versailles means so much to me both as a history student and teacher, and it was also one for the first places I visited in Europe back in 2010. Though the pattern is awesome, the style feels a bit too youthful for me, being that it’s very short and sleeveless. To add some maturity, I paired the dress with a classic black blazer. I think you can pretty much add a black blazer to any dress to make it more formal, so it’s a great wardrobe staple to own.

Dress: Black Milk. Blazer: Aritzia (I also like this one). Shoes: Max Studio via DSW. Bracelet: Stella and Dot. Watch: Chanel J12. Earrings: Baublebar (old). Bag: Louis Vuitton “Pochette”. Lips: Chanel Rouge Allure Enigmatique

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Philosophy

On Teaching.

“Every truth has four corners: as a teacher I give you one corner, and it is for you to find the other three.” – Confucius

Education is an important and influential aspect of each person’s life, but it is the teachers who have the ability to make a difference in the lives of students. As a teacher, I strive to incorporate active learning in the classroom and create a positive environment where my students are inspired to reach their goals and are encouraged to be life long learners.

As I enter my ninth year teaching, it’s important that I look back at my experiences and the valuable lessons that I have learned. Firstly, I discovered throughout the past eight years, that if the teacher respects the students, the students are more likely to respect the teacher. In addition, through my experience with adolescents, partnerships are of utmost importance. I have found that when working with teenagers, partnerships provide them with empowerment, which allows them to be confident in themselves. As a teacher, I have also learned to be sensitive to others’ differences. Whether it was cultural, religious, or political differences, I do my best to develop strategies to make sure that every student is actively involved. I believe in implementing a critical pedagogy, where the diversity amongst students allows them think about their own experiences to help them learn, and also reflect on different perspectives. The experiences I had are also important to me because they have increased my passion for education. Without the passion for teaching, the students would not benefit from what is being taught. I believe that if a teacher loves what they do, and is as enthusiastic as I am, the students will enjoy the class more. Finally, my experiences have reinforced my belief in active and participatory learning. The positive responses I received from my students have shown me how engagement and participation truly enhances the learning experience. At the beginning of each school year, I commit to bringing this into my classroom, where I will have students actively explore the stories that create and influence our lives.

Overall, I truly believe that it is the responsibility of teachers to support, challenge, and inspire students. As a teacher, I will uphold this belief by continuing to grow professionally and by creating a culture of thinking in my classroom, where there is a spirit of inquisitiveness and critical thinking, as well as a respect for creativity.

What do you think makes a good teacher? Share your thoughts below!