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I am currently reading a book, titled 'Women in Clothes', filled with short stories, interviews, and blurbs exploring the relationship between women and their clothing. This book aims to fill a perceived gap left by fashion magazines:

"A problem I've always had with fashion magazines is that women are encouraged to copy other women ... The most compelling women are the ones who are distinctive, who are most like themselves and least like other women ... It's almost as if fashion magazines don't understand what a woman wants. I think she wants to be unique among other women, a creature unlike any other."

-- Sheila Heti in 'Women in Clothes'

Instead of instructing women on what to wear, how to wear it, and when to wear it, this book recognizes that style is very personal. Style is not about following the supposed all-knowing commands of the fashion elite, but the unique ways in which one makes a particular combination of clothing their own. Style is more about how one feels and acts than is it about what one wears. As a result, style is very difficult to transfer or copy because its essence is drawn from within.

One of my favourite concepts from the book is that the most stylish women are not always the most well-dressed. Rather, a woman is stylish because she has an acute awareness of the clothing she has on. It might be kooky and strange - wearing a sweater inside out to show the seams, or tying the sleeves of a jacket diagonally across the torso instead of around the waist - but that type of individuality demonstrates a keen consciousness about the clothing's presence on the body. Upon telling my dear friend about this book, he came back with the idea fashion is not bound by anything other than the rules we set for ourselves. Style is an identity. It may be a mixture of cultural influences and personal preference, but its inherent appeal is ultimately idiosyncratic. And that, I think, is exactly what this book is trying to say.

As I spoke more with my friend, he asked a question I couldn't believe I had not answered on this blog yet: What is fashion?

I have never formally articulated this, but fashion is not simply about the glitz and glamour, the runway shows and photoshoots, the gorgeous models and expensive clothes... These are certainly things encompassed within the realm of the industry, but getting to the deeper meaning of fashion requires thinking more intangibly.

To me, fashion is two things: self-expression and fantasy.

Self-expression: Fashion is more than just the clothing we put on our bodies. It is a way of communicating who we are to the world. In aggregate, fashion can instigate movements and embody cultural zeitgeist. As individuals, fashion is a mechanism to express our inner selves. No matter how little someone claims to care about fashion, everyone sends a message with what they choose to wear. Someone who puts minimal thought into an outfit sends just as bountiful a message as someone who invests significant effort. And as much as the industry makes it seem like there is right and wrong in dressing, truly good fashion comes from having the confidence to shatter the rules.

Fantasy: An interesting thing about fashion is, in addition to being a form of self-expression, it's also a way for us to become someone we're not. Fashion gives us the opportunity to explore other identities - to almost play pretend. I might walk with a heavier step and more attitude in an all-black outfit with edgy ankle boots, and glide with poise and grace in an elegant knee-length dress with ballet flats. Fashion provides me with the tools to briefly inhabit different personas and change the way I present myself. As I've mentioned before, fashion is a form of art to me. The industry is rich with creativity because it's a platform to live out our wildest dreams and fantasies - a world where we can wear things which might be impractical or "unwearable", but which are oh so very beautiful and stunning.

With regards to whether there is a distinction between 'style' and 'fashion', it depends on who you ask."Fashion fades, style is eternal," Yves Saint Laurent once said. But I think if you really get to the heart of things, both are heavily rooted in confidence and self-expression. Fashion feeds into style, and style feeds into fashion. With no beginning nor end, the swirling duo whip up a glimmering cloud of beauty, fantasy and individuality.

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I am currently reading a book, titled 'Women in Clothes', filled with short stories, interviews, and blurbs exploring the relationship between women and their clothing. This book aims to fill a perceived gap left by fashion magazines: "A problem I've always had with fashion magazines is that women are encouraged to copy other women ...

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beaches, lakes, mountains, hills, flatlands, marshes, creeks, hot, cold

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Available jobs:

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Holidays and Special Events

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strong, well-paid

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preserve, appreciation, spending more time there

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Exercise: EVERY day

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Balance for family life

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To rollover or not to rollover vacation days... that is the question. If and how you can roll-over vacation days from one year to the next is defined in your HR benefits guide. Many companies allow employees to roll over vacation days so you do not lose them come December 31 st. Since roll-over policy comes with limitations and strict enforcement, why bother?

Before you think about rolling over vacation days at work, review this list of the top reasons NOT to. You may decide that taking every vacation day in one calendar year is the easiest and therefore the best policy.

1. 38% of Companies Have a Use It or Lose It Policy

Unfortunately more than one-third of employers do not allow vacation rollover according to this recent SHRM "unused vacation days can be detrimental" survey. Are working for an employer that has a strict use-it-or-lose-it policy when it comes to vacation days? The last thing you want is to lose a day off that you earned (time=money).

Want to learn more about how to avoid forfeiting vacation days, especially when your company sets up its employees to be vacation losers? Read this recent VacationCounts post to be a winner!

2. Steer Clear of Roll-Over Limitations

Even if your company allows you to roll over vacation days into the new year, there are defined limits. You are probably limited as to the number of days and when you have to use them by. Instead of running the risk of trying to roll over too many vacation days or failing to use them before they expire, avoid rolling over in the first place.

What is your vacation rollover HR policy at work? To learn more about roll-over policy and limits, refer to our HubPages article on this subject. Read the vacation day roll-over advice, take the quick survey, and view the results.

3. Prevent Vacation Deprivation

It is a well-known fact that Americans are vacation deprived. Numerous surveys have shown statistically what we all know. Workers in the U.S. not only have among the fewest number of vacation days per year, they also fail to take all of them. These are the primary causes of the much talked about "vacation deprivation."

The annual Vacation Deprivation Survey by Expedia is a well-documented reminder of these facts. It says that "Americans are using only 10 of 14 days they are given" and leaving "a whopping 577,212,000 vacation days" on the table. Wow that is an unbelievable amount of forever lost earned and deserved time off from work!

Stop telling yourself that you can always roll-over those last few days since you are "way too busy" to take time off right now. Take your earned vacation days every year. Turn the tide on this vacation deprivation plague before it is too late!

4. Avoid Complex Tracking and Usage Rules

OK, you've tentatively decided to rollover a leftover vacation day or two. Now what? You'll need to follow HR procedure to make absolutely sure you do not lose the paid time off (PTO) that you worked so hard to earn. Do you need to fill out a paper form, get rollover approved by your manager in advance, enter it into the HR portal, or jump though other hoops to keep your vacation days?

The smart conclusion is to make it your own policy to never roll over your personal vacation. What happens if you roll over successfully but fail to take the days before they "expire" in the following year? It is unlikely that you'll be reminded to take those rollover days. Therefore the best policy is to use it before you misinterpret the rules and lose some by mistake.

5. For Work-Life-Vacation Balance

The final reason to never rollover vacation days is to maintain a healthy work-life balance. While you have little say as to how many vacation days are granted to you at work, you have (mostly) full control over their usage. Whatever amount of PTO you earn, spread those days throughout the same calendar year.

Make it your goal to balance out the time you spend between work, life, and on vacation. Review your vacation benefit every quarter and plan in advance how to maximize every one of your earned days off.

Those of you that have read the VacationCounts philosophy know that you do not have to travel just because it is called a vacation day. Take the day off for rewarding family time, valuable personal enrichment, or even be a tourist in your home town.

Regardless, make it a habit to take back your vacation every calendar year. By avoiding the rollover issue entirely, you'll benefit from the ultimate work-life-vacation balance.

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5 Reasons Not to Rollover Your Vacation Days - VacationCounts

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To rollover or not to rollover vacation days... that is the question. If and how you can roll-over vacation days from one year to the next is defined in your HR benefits guide. Many companies allow employees to roll over vacation days so you do not lose them come December 31st.

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Shade and weekly watering are all the peace lily needs to survive and produce blooms. It topped NASA's list for removing all three of most common VOCs - formaldehyde, benzene and trichloroethylene. It can also combat toluene and xylene.

HGTV Gardens says peace lilies are renowned for their easy care. "The peace lily is hardy, forgiving, and will even let you know when it is thirsty - look for the telltale droop."

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15 houseplants for improving indoor air quality

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Shade and weekly watering are all the peace lily needs to survive and produce blooms. It topped NASA's list for removing all three of most common VOCs - formaldehyde, benzene and trichloroethylene. It can also combat toluene and xylene. HGTV Gardens says peace lilies are renowned for their easy care.

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Honestly, I don't think we give teenagers enough credit.

They really have some cool ideas about the world. They recognize what's messed up, what's good, and what needs to be changed. They really do.

I've spent the better part of the last 25 years around teenagers every day. Many, many people think I'm crazy. They constantly ask me how I do it, why I do it and end by saying something like, "You're a saint. I wouldn't have the patience."

And they're right - about the patience part. Teaching 12 and 13-year-olds does require patience. And flexibility, consistency, a sense of humor, and enough humbleness to accept that I don't know everything. Nothing has brought this home more strongly than the advent of using technology in our classrooms.

I'm a digital immigrant. I grew up with a typewriter and a phone that plugs into the wall. It was a big deal to get a typewriter with a correcting tape for my 18th birthday, and my first cell phone was as big a box as my son's last pair of Nikes. I never imagined teaching English and relying on a keyboard and a screen to let imaginations soar.

But I'm open-minded, curious, and willing to be vulnerable in my classroom. I want my students to know that I value what they're thinking and how they communicate.

This year, like most, we started off by reading Lois Lowry's 1994 dystopian novel, The Giver. It's always a crowd pleaser - I love the idea that it makes kids think about their communities, their families, and the danger of both sameness and ostracizing the 'other'.

Before they read a single page, however, I have them create their own version of Utopia. With just a few simple guidelines and some directed work time, 105 8th graders solved problems of our government, created clean environments, manufactured jobs and equality in economics, developed responsibilities, educational systems and diversity in their societies using Google Slideshow.

Their vision of the future, creativity of their communities and the honesty in their presentations made me cry.

These innocent teenagers are full of ideas. They're brimming with innovation, passion and problem-solving.

If you'd like to see more of their Utopias, click over to The Educator's Room, where my post 'Creating Utopia: How Kids See The World' is featured this week.

Or better yet, ask the kids in your life how they see Utopia - and make sure you sit back and listen when they stun you with their imaginations.

Follow Me:

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Something Cool From My Classroom: Students Creating Utopias - mamawolfe

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Honestly, I don't think we give teenagers enough credit. They really have some cool ideas about the world. They recognize what's messed up, what's good, and what needs to be changed. They really do. I've spent the better part of the last 25 years around teenagers every day.

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MUST HAVE PIZZA