Tag

I was tagged by Liz over at lizzypunch to share more about myself. I have to answer eight questions, come up with eight of my own, and tag eight people, so here I go.

1. What the last movie you've watched? I just watched Snow Falling on Cedars with B. at the house, but the last time we went to the theater, we watched Eclipse, and it was just as cheesy terrible/awesome as I'd expected.

2. If you could only have one sweet for the rest of your life, what would it be? This is a hard one, because I love sweets, but I think I'm going to go with Ghirardelli chocolate, primarily their 72% cacao bar.

3. Do you have a green thumb? No, but I love plants! Thankfully, B. has a green thumb.

4. Motto running through your head? Whatever you do for the least of these...

5. Calorie-burner of choice? Dancing - it doesn't even feel like exercise.

6. Pencils or pens? Mechanical pencils because they're the best of both worlds.

7. If you could only wear one nail color, what would it be? Red. I've currently got Sally Hansen Hard as Nails in Cardinal on my toes. I only ever do my toes, never my fingernails. Why? I find chips in my nail polish way too distracting.

8. Would you rather waltz with a walrus or samba with a sloth? Why? I'd rather samba with a sloth because I have a soft spot for both Brazilian music and tropical animals. Besides, I've seen sloths in person, and they're so laid back. I'm all about some laid back wild animals; walruses are just too intense.

And now for my own questions:

1. Why did you start blogging?

2. What's your favorite kind of ice cream?

3. Favorite book? Why?

4. What do you like most about your day job?

5. What's the most amazing place you've ever visited?

6. Heels or flats?

7. What do you always carry with you?

8. What's one beauty product you can't live without?

And I'm tagging:

260 Days, No Repeats

A Working Mom's Closet


Deals for the Short and Curvy

Destrehan's Daughter

Moda Fora de Moda


Modesty is Pretty

No Guilt Fashion

Chic on the Cheap

Family time aka Outfits #27 and 28

Tee: Gap
Skirt: Gap
Sandals: Target
Belt: came with a blazer
Earrings: Kohl's
Bracelet: gift from uncle
Sunnies: Target

So Friday, I took my family out to Bobby's Burger Palace, did some driving around the city, and then we went to Fairmount Park to walk around before dinner at Tierra Colombiana.


My sister and her husband wanted to eat good food while they were here in Philly, and I think we made it happen.


Also, B. took some AMAZING pictures, so I hope you'll indulge me, since I'm going to share a lot of them.


That's me with my mom and my sister - my mom is dressed in Ann Taylor with Chaps sandals. When I asked my sister where she got everything, she answered, "From mom." So, there you go: three fashionable ladies and Rocky.


Blouson top: Target
Skirt: Target
Belt: Target
Flip flops: Rainbow
Bangles: gift from my mom
Earrings: gift from my sister-in-law
Purse: gift from my mom

Today, we took them to Reading Terminal Market and Independence Hall, which is where we got these pictures.


It was good to have my family here, even though we missed my dad who was away on business.


I got to cuddle with my niece, too.

Gah! She's so cute!

Our house, in the middle of our street, aka Outfit #26

All remixed
Tee: Target
Skirt: Target
Belt: Target (I'm sensing a theme, here...)
Sandals: Chinese Laundry
Cuff: American Eagle
Earrings: Guatemala - gift
Necklace: gift from Gibraltar

My sister, brother-in-law, niece, and mom are coming up to our place tonight and they'll be here till Saturday, so I was busy getting ready and running errands today.


We had those plants (jade and some kind of bamboo) in our backyard, which gets a lot more sun. But it was kind of making B. sad that no one else could see our lovely plants, so we moved them out front and then I made him take my picture. With the plants.


This is one of the upsides of living in the hood: you can do pretty much anything outside and no one really cares. You want to dance? Go for it. You want to sit in a kiddie pool on your porch? Okay. You want to pose awkwardly on your stoop? That Puerto Rican girl and her white husband are weird, but, eh, whatever.


When I got dressed today, I was almost certain that I'd worn this outfit before but, by some miracle, I hadn't. How did I not put this together before today?!
I'm going to go ahead and admit that these last four outfits might prove a bit difficult. I struggled to put this basic combination together today, so we'll see how it goes. Any suggestions? Here's a look at my 30x30 in case you're actually interested in helping me out.

And now, some Kiku cuteness:

Looking young and the Naughty Step aka Outfit # 25

All remixed except scarf
Tank: Target
Dress: Volcom
Leggings: H&M
Sandals: Target
Earrings: Kohl's
Bangle: H&M
Scarf: Vintage - thrifted

Oooh, y'all! FIVE outfits left before I can dip back into my closet. I'm pretty excited about that.
I feel like today's outfit looks really young, but I'm only going to Bible study, tonight, so it's okay to look like I'm sixteen (I flatter myself).


It may not be my most professional look, but I will say that this has been super comfortable for this hot day.


Anyway, on to the Naughty Step. Iris of 260 Days, No Repeats tagged me yesterday, and I had to think long and hard about this, because the first person that popped into my mind is a political figure, and I try to avoid getting too political on this blog.


But I'm doing it anyway, y'all.


image found here.
I'm putting SB 1070 and laws like it on the Naughty Step. Why?, you ask. Because I was first called an "immigrant" like it was a bad thing when I was eight (four years after moving to the US), and "illegal immigrant" when I was twelve. Mind you, I'm Puerto Rican, which means I'm a born US citizen, but why should people be bothered by such silly details when I'm clearly brown and a Spanish speaker?


Also, I lived for years in Prince William County, VA, home of a similar law (that then had to be REPEALED because of its effect on the economy and the local police). There's a documentary about this law and how it affected the community before and after being passed which I highly recommend. You can find it here.


Anyway, racial profiling is a real thing, and it's one that I, and many others, have lived with our whole lives, and to try to legalize it is just unpardonable. I understand the reasons behind the anti-immigrant sentiment, I really do, but there's so much more to the situation than the fear mongering that seems to be most popular among the law's supporters.



And then today's news about parts of it being blocked? I won't lie, I cried.

I'm supposed to tag someone, so if you're interested, consider yourself tagged...

And as long as I'm on a political bent, I'll share one of my favorite songs on the topic. It's a little old, but the lyrics are just so spot on when it comes to describing immigration (and migration, in my own case).

Thinking aka Outfit #24

All remixed
Skirt: Target
Tee: Old Navy
Belt: gift from mom
Flip flops: Rainbow
Earrings: gift from Noble Town Vintage

I would never, ever, in a million years have put this outfit together if I hadn't been doing this 30 for 30 challenge. I think I like it, though.



I did a whole lot of nothing today, which wasn't bad since I wasn't feeling too great for most of the day. Thankfully, I'm feeling much better now.


I've always known I liked this skirt, but I never got too creative with how to wear it. I guess I've always felt limited by the crazy print, but I like it with this light blue tee. It's not exactly a color combo I would've gone for before, like I said, but it's definitely grown on me.


This skirt might be a keeper after all!


Also, Iris from 260 Days, No Repeats tagged me to put someone or something on the Naughty Step. So I'm thinking about that, and I hope to have an answer either later tonight or tomorrow. I always over think these kinds of things. I'm always trying to think of ways to say things diplomatically, even when I'm annoyed or angry about something, so that's what I'll be thinking about - ha!

In the meantime, I'm wearing my shirt backwards.

Photo Dump aka Outfits # 19 -23

I have about a million outfits to post, y'all. I think this qualifies as a photo dump....

First up, Friday:

All remixed
Dress: New York & Co. via Ross
Sandals: Chinese Laundry
Hoops: gift

This was what I wore for our drive down to VA. I needed something that would keep me cool as we drove 3 1/2 hours without AC, so I kept it simple.


Which was just as well, because we ended up having car issues and it took us way over four hours to get down to my parents' house. Boo.

Saturday:

All remixed except bangle
Tee: Target
Skirt: Gap
Belt: Target
Sandals: Chinese Laundry
Earrings: Target
Necklace: gift
Bangle: gift from my uncle sixteen years ago

Y'all - I love this outfit. My mom made fun of my DIY job on the tee, but I didn't care because it's just so comfy.


I felt like the accessories really made this work. The necklace is so much fun, and that bangle is one of the first pieces I ever got from my uncle, and it is, quite possibly, the coolest. I've had it for sixteen years and I still think it's just gorgeous.

Sunday morning:

All remixed
Dress: J Crew
Bolero: Ann Taylor
Belt: Banana Republic
Wedges: Soixante Neuf thrifted
Earrings: gift
Bangles: Banana Republic

This was not my original plan for Sunday morning, but I think it worked out pretty well. My original plan was to wear my striped shirt with this dress, but the shirt was just too big to work that way, so I threw this bolero on. Not terribly creative, but it works.


I also love the leopard print belt peeking out under there.


I have to say it was pretty great for blasting AC and steamy outdoors. Plus, I just love brown and blue together.

Sunday afternoon:

All remixed:
Skirt: Target
Tank: Target
Belt: Target
Scarf: J Crew
Sandals: Chinese Laundry
Niece: Absolute cuteness decked out in head-to-toe Gymboree.

Y'all, I don't know where I'd be without Target. I mean, really. This outfit was so comfy for our trip back to Philly - this time with AC and no car problems. (Yay!)


That's the kind of cuteness that was going on on the drive home.

And, the last outfit for this post - Monday:


All remixed:
Dress: Target
Wedges: Nine West
Belt: Banana Republic
Earrings: Target
Bangle: gift

If you feel like you're experiencing deja vu, it's because this looks a whole lot like outfit #9. I'm going to go ahead and say it's a different outfit because of the belt.


I had a job interview for a part time position today, so I dressed up a bit. Perhaps this isn't quite as conservative as I could have gone for an interview, but A, it's a part time position, B, a friend of mine works there and told me it's really casual, and C, my interviewer was wearing jeans and moccasins. I figure this was dressed up enough.

And now for a totally random picture:

Two fer aka Outfits #17 and #18

Shirt: J Crew
Skirt: New York & Co.
Belt: Banana Republic
Wedges: Nine West
Earrings: Banana Republic

I had a meeting this morning about possibly volunteering with one of the organizations in our neighborhood. It was almost a job interview, y'all. I'm familiar with the organization, since it's the one that started my school, so I knew they were all about the dress code. I dug up my most professional 30 x 30 duds and went to my meeting.


I'll have you know she JUMPED that high. Anyway, this shirt. I want to love it, but I just like it. I do, however, love the combination of leopard and stripes.


Anyway, I'm not totally digging this, but it did the trick for my meeting this morning.

I changed for our community Bible study, though.

Tee: Target
Tank: Target
Cropped pants: New York & Co.
Sunnies: Target
Bangle: H&M
Earrings: Kohl's
Sandals: Chinese Laundry

I can't say this is a particularly inspired look, but I do like its simplicity.


This is the building where our church is held. I'd never noticed how amazing it is.


Oh, North Philly... There's a real abundance of old, empty factory buildings. There's some pretty amazing architecture - not so much grand as functional. I wish I knew more about architectural styles - particularly more modern ones - so I could accurately describe them.


They're also knocking down the building right next to our church to build a health center. How amazing is the way there's just that front wall standing? And that beam! It's really cool. All the kids were tempted to climb the fence to play on the piles of brick - so was I.