Quitter in red

Skirt: Gap
Tee: J Crew
Shoes: Crocs
Earrings: Turkey
Belt: gift from my mom
Sunnies: purchased in PR

Y'all, I have a confession to make: I quit the 30x30. I wore fourteen outfits, posted nine, photographed ten, and then decided I was over. it. Why did I quit after completing two 30x30 challenges successfully? Well, for one, I felt like I had learned all I could from the challenge. For two, remember the time I had to get rid of or store about 80% of my wardrobe? Yeah, that was a lesson in consumerism greater than the challenge.


And I was already feeling pretty deprived in every other aspect of my life (we're poor, we don't have access to a car right now, there's no public transportation, and there's not a whole lot of choice when it comes to diet). Adding the challenge felt like the opposite of fun. My life is pretty bare bones right now, so I'd at least like full access to the 20% of my closet that's still in my possession.


Anyway, my aunt M got me this red skirt at Gap when I was back in Puerto Rico visiting family. It was $3.97, so I went for it, even though it's a size larger than I usually wear. I'm not sure if I love the way it fits because it's a little lower in the hips than I'd like, but I think I can make it work. I think it might also be good for a mini alteration with my remedial sewing skills - I should be able to take in a waist, right?

Uninspired aka Outfit #9

Tee: Target
Jeans: LOFT - gifted
Sandals: Chinese Laundry
Earrings: Target

I wish I could pretend that this outfit was a little exciting, but I can't lie to myself or to y'all. This is as boring as they come.


I am proud, however, that I wore my boyfriend jeans again, because let's be honest, I have no idea how to wear them. But aren't those flowers behind me pretty? I'm not bilingual in flower, but there are amapolas and hoy, mañana y siempre in my grandmother's yard and I love them.


...And if that looks like Kiku, it's because that's her dad, Brandy. I would've gotten a shot with her mom, Kiki, but she's shy in front of the camera.

And now, to distract you from my boring outfit, I spent yesterday on the beach with my baby cousin (who's almost 21) and his friends.

See the rainbow?

Update aka Why I haven't posted outfits #8 and #9

I've been in PR since Tuesday at midnight, sitting on my grandmother's couch and listening to her being pretty much hilarious, much like my titis and cousins. My family is crazy funny, y'all. If you're ever in Puerto Rico, stop by and visit. It's guaranteed to be crazy loud and entertaining. I've been wearing my 30x30 items, but have not taken a single outfit picture. Usually I'm better about that, but not this time.
Also, I've committed the cardinal sin of 30x30: I bought a dress. Also, I got a few gifts from my aunts. (Skirts for under $4 at Gap? We can't pass that up!) So there is my confession y'all. I don't feel bad about it, although maybe I should....
Anyway, I'm not counting any outfits that I haven't photographed, so I'll get two more outfits out of the whole thing. I'm planning to do a special feature while I'm here, but we'll see how things go as far as timing. Of course, once I tell the Internet, I have to do what I promised.

Fabulous Traveler aka Outfit #7

Blazer: New York & Co.
Tank: Target
Jeggings: J Crew
Shoes: Target
Scarf: Turkey
Earrings: Turkey
Ring: Swapped
Sunnies: from a pharmacy in Costa Rica

Today I'm traveling to Puerto Rico after having a meeting with the Minister of Public Education for our province. I needed to look professional while still being comfortable enough to go from the chilly highlands to the dry heat of the city to the wall of humidity that is the area just outside of the airport in San Juan. I think I've done it.



Anyway, it's the first day of Fabulous in February, and I'll be doing this every Monday for the rest of the month. Basically, I'm being positive about what and who I am, which, if you've ever read my about me, you'll see that that's one of the reasons I started the blog. So here are my three things for this week:


1. I'm a traveler. I like hanging out in a place for an extended period of time and getting to know the local culture. Travel is probably the best education I could've ever had.


2. I have a quirky little gap-toothed smile. Believe it or not, I once had braces. Kids: wear your retainers or fall in love with your gap. I've done the latter.


3. I'm a proud shorty. I'm 5' 2 and 3/4", which I round up to 5'3" so I don't sound like a little kid. In case you're wondering, B is 6'3". I always tell him that I'm the perfect height and he's freakishly tall.

What makes y'all fabulous?

Weekend special aka Outfits #5 and #6

Dress: Target
Earrings: Target
Sandals: Chinese Laundry

This is me on my way to the beach stopping to check out some crocodiles. Yeah, those little lumpy things by the river bank on your right? Crocodiles. Isn't that insane?


We took our returning students to this beach to celebrate their success last year and the end of summer vacation down here. Summer is code for "dry season", by the way, because we don't actually have seasons beyond rainy and dry.


It was nice to hang out with the students in an informal setting and even nicer to soak up some sun and delicious heat. Have I mentioned I like hot weather? Because I do. I love it. I also love crazy beach hair.


Tee: J Crew
Skirt: Ann Taylor
Scarf: Target
Shoes: Crocs
Earrings: gift with purchase from Noble Town Vintage
Bracelet: gift from uncle

Style Nation, meet my crocs. Crocs, meet Style Nation. Judge if you will, because I know I did (do).


I got these shoes for free because they were BOGO at the outlet and my sister wanted a pair. I figured rubber shoes were good for the rain forest, so I went for it. They aren't the best, but they make me feel like I have tiny feet. They're a size four, y'all; for the record, I generally take a six.


I told B that I felt like I should be on vacation in Nantucket in this outfit. I've never been to Nantucket, but if I did, this is what I would wear. Someone should take me, but, you know, not till July when it's finally thawed out enough.

Go Red aka Outfit #4

Red tee: Ann Taylor
Cardigan: J Crew
Skirt: Target
Tights: ?
Boots: Nine West
Earrings: Target

Today is Go Red for Women Day, which is why I'm wearing the scariest color in the world for me. Join me all month as I join Andie and other bloggers as we try to raise awareness regarding the fight for heart disease in women. Me, I'm doing this for my abuela whom I love to pieces and had three heart attacks, but is still alive and kickin'. Because, really, I wouldn't wear this much red in one month otherwise.


As soon as I signed on for this challenge, I knew I wanted to wear the only red shirt that I own with leopard print. I have a lot of leopard to choose from, but I decided that this skirt would be the best for the first Friday of the month. For real, though? I love this look.


I broke another rule this week by wearing red with green. Sure, this cardi is more chartreuse than pine, but it's still a stretch for me. I have to say that I like the way it turned out, especially with the leopard skirt and the warmest tights in the history of tights.


Also, check out the way I'm freaking out over the goat behind me. For the record, this goat lives behind the restaurant, and we live about twenty steps from the restaurant which means he's technically our neighbor.


Oh, and thanks so much for all your kind words during yesterday's craziness (and your excitement when you found out I DID get my ticket). Don't hate me too much y'all, but I'll be on the beach with our returning students tomorrow and in Puerto Rico come Monday.

If it makes you feel any better, I'll post the single most ridiculous picture of me that B's ever taken:

Brave face aka Outfit #3

Cardigan: Ann Taylor
Tee: Target
Tank: Target (can't even see it in these pics)
Scarf: H&M
Jeggings: J Crew
Sandals: Chinese Laundry
Earrings: Turkey
Bracelet: gift from uncle

Yesterday, I had a ticket to fly to Puerto Rico to visit my family, and today I don't. There may have been some tears shed because I miss my abuela and my titis (that's Puerto Rican for "aunties") and was really looking forward to seeing them, but I don't want to talk about it. So this is my brave face and here are my pictures, the end.









Tomorrow will be better, yes?

Edited to add: All is well today. We had a long conversation with the airline and I will be able to see the family. Praise the Lord!

Breaking rules aka Outfit #2

Tee: Target (men's undershirt)
Jeans: LOFT - gift from my sister
Cardigan: Ann Taylor
Shoes: Steve Madden
Earrings: Target
Belt: Banana Republic
Necklace: gift from my mom

Let's discuss all the personal style rules that I've created for myself that I have managed to break in a single outfit, shall we?


1. Cropped/cuffed pants are not your friend.


2. NEVER tuck your shirts into jeans.


3. Don't wear more than one baggy piece.


4. Avoid pants as often as possible.


5. Baggy clothes should be worn with casual shoes.


6. If you wear your hair down, don't add any accessories around your neck.

How's that for breaking the rules? This 30x30 challenge might get crazy, y'all....

P.S. Have y'all SEEN this list?! (Of course you have.) Let's just say that all my procrastination hours could easily go into this and I'd barely make a dent in it.

Earthy aka Outfit #1

Cardigan: Apt. 9 via Kohl's
Dress: Target
Boots: Nine West
Belt: Target
Earrings: Target?
Tights: ?
Bangles: gift from my mom

I woke up for the first day of the 30x30 to a grey, cloudy rain forest kind of day. Y'all, did you know it's called rain forest because it rains all. the. time? Or is at least cloudy and misty? If you don't know, now you know. I decided nothing says "grey day" like head to toe brown, and just so you know: I love this outfit. Love it!


I've been getting a lot of questions about the move, so I figured I should answer them. First of all, B and I came here to work with a friend of ours from grad school who started an organization to help redevelop the town where he grew up. This town was pretty much devastated in an earthquake about two years ago and it's been a slow process of recovery, like, the main road hasn't even been fixed.


We're doing a little bit of everything here, but we'll be focusing on teaching and (hopefully) creating partnerships with middle and high school students back in the States (if you're interested, shoot me an email). School doesn't start till the 10th or the 17th (apparently, there may or may not be some changes to the national school schedule) so in the meantime, we've been working on writing up internship descriptions and managing a restaurant to help raise funds for the school.


We hope to be out of the restaurant business soon, though, and that's why I'm doing a happy dance in the picture above.
We brought our dog, Kiku, and she had a rough first week but has since adjusted to country living. She loves running around, rolling in dirt, and smelling the flowers. She still doesn't love her new food, but I blame the fact that she got a taste of chicken and dry dog food just doesn't measure up anymore.


As far as weather, up here in the mountains, it can drop to 45 F, and get up to the high 70s F. It's usually sunny in the mornings and we can actually watch the weather systems moving through the mountains, which is amazing.  Y'all should come visit.  Bring chocolate and I'll let you raid my closet.  

Winter 30x30 items

So I'm a little late posting these pics, but that's how I roll these days. And I'm just going to go ahead and apologize for the craptacular quality of photos. There's one picture in particular that I'm almost embarrassed to post, and I promise to take a better picture of my dresses later. I didn't do it last night because my camera was dying. So lame.

So anyway, here are my 30x30 items.


From top to bottom: Ann Taylor, Kohl's, Target, Old Navy
My past formula of two pencil and two full has served me well.  Also, I'm branching out by including two patterned skirts. 

 
Top to bottom: LOFT, J Crew, New York & Co.
 Those are the boyfriend jeans that my sister gave me that I can't quite figure out how to style - I WILL figure them out!  I threw in a pair of skinnies and my trusty black pants to round things out. 


Left to right: Target, vintage, Ann Taylor, Ross
This picture is absolutely awful, and for that, I apologize profusely.  Anyway, there's an old summer dress, a vintage leopard number, a shirt dress, and a sweater dress. 


New York & Co.
 This is the closest thing I've got to a real blazer down here in Costa Rica, and I'm going to make it work.  



Left to right: Apt. 9 via Kohl's, J Crew, Ann Taylor
One patterned, one bright, and a neutral.


Clockwise from top left: Target, Ann Taylor, Target, Banana Republic, Apt. 9 via Kohl's, Target, Target, Ann Taylor, J Crew
That's three tanks, two casual short sleeved tees, a boho tunic, a studded shoulder number, a long sleeved striped top, and my red shirt for Go Red for Women month. 


Clockwise from top left: Nine West, Steve Madden, Crocs, Naturalizer, Chinese Laundry, Target
My beloved cowboy boots, a pair of wedges, the Crocs (B told me I have to show them to the "fashion world" - that's what he calls Style Nation),  two pairs of flats and a pair of sandals.

Let's see how this works out.  I have to say I have NO IDEA what to expect of the weather here.  Some days it's bright and sunny - like a nice spring day, some days I really feel like I live in the rain forest, some days we go down to the city and it's hot.  Throw in a possible trip to Puerto Rico, and well, you get the idea of my climatic woes.

Also, I let B pick out a few of these pieces and he chose some hard to style items.  So, here we go.  I can see I'm going to have to get creative....