Not superstitious at all, aka Outfit #3

All remixed:
White shirt: Target
Leggings: H&M
Scarf: J Crew
Earrings: Banana Republic
Red bracelets: gift
Bare feet: my red flip flops aren't part of my 30x30 and any other shoes would throw off the purpose of wearing the same thing every time Germany plays.

This is me not being superstitious for today's game. That said, I'm glad I'm in good company; I'm looking at you, Joachim Löw.


I have nothing interesting for y'all; this is the third time you've seen this look.

Oh wait! Look at my hair!


So to pull this off, you need four main things:
1. Hair past your shoulders
2. A comb
3. A mediocre grasp of French braiding
4. Bobby pins

I'm still working on number three, but I manage to pull this off, anyway. You can start with clean or dirty hair (great for hiding just how dirty it is) and it's pretty easy, even for me. I always get compliments on it - people ask me who did my hair and then act all surprised when I tell them I did it myself. So here's the break down:

1. Using the comb, part your hair in the front. I usually part it to the side, but it works just fine when you start with a center part.

2. After I part my hair, I comb back the crown of my hair because otherwise I end up with extra weird braids and not enough volume on top. You really only need a section about two inches deep in the front. If you want to make it more "foolproof", clip the rest of your hair back, leaving the front sections free.



3. Now it's time to break out those mediocre French braiding skillz. Since I part my hair to the right, I start with that braid. This part has taken me a while to master, but basically, I braid my hair, pulling in hair only along the hair line. Does that make sense? Don't add hair on both sides of the braid, just on the side that follows your hairline. You can kind of pull the braid around that way so it's easier to manage in the back. Once you've got the braid about to your ear, finish it with a regular braid.

4. Repeat this on the other side. I feel like this side always looks a little busted, but it's alright. It's supposed to look a little messy; that's what I tell myself, anyway.



5. If you clipped the rest of your hair back, let it loose now. Because I have this crazy notion that the top of my head is flat, I take a section from the crown and kind of twist it and pin it in place for some volume up top. Or you could try a Bumpit; there's no shame in that.

6. Pin the rest of your hair up with your bobbies. Then take the braids from the front and kind of wrap them over and up to the mass on top of your head so they kind of blend in.



Ta da!

I don't know how well this would work with straight hair, but I'd imagine it'd work pretty well. Also, could I just take a minute to say that most of the hair tutorials I've ever seen assume you're starting with straight or slightly wavy hair? Where are people doing tutorials for curly girls? If you know, please share.

Alright, kids, I'm going back to my game. ¡Vamos Alemania! Deutschland!

30 for 30 Challenge: the items and outfit #2

So, if y'all read Kendi Everyday (and I'm sure many of you do), you know she's doing another 30 for 30 challenge. Basically, you pick out 30 items of clothing (including shoes) and wear them for 30 days. Over and over and over again. But you can read more about it here and here and you can check out everyone else who's participating in this madness here.

So first up, the thirty items (Click on pics to enlarge):

Four pairs of pants:

Clearly, I use the term "pants" loosely, since there's a pair of leggings in the mix. But I did throw in two pairs of jeans and a pair of cropped pants.

Four skirts:

Two full, two pencil. That should cover it, right?

This is where I went crazy:

Yes, folks, that's a whopping seven dresses. We'll see if I regret it later, but as I'm melting in this heat wave, I'm thinking dresses are the way to go.

Ten shirts:

Not pictured are a gray V-neck and a black tank (both from Target) that are in the wash. Also, I decided undershirts didn't count as my thirty items, since they're more like underwear. Am I right or am I a big cheater?

And five pairs of shoes:

Two pairs of wedges that are easy to dress up and down and three flat pairs of sandals should suffice.

Also, belts, jewelry, and scarves are free. So I'll be mixing those in with reckless abandon. Or not. Depends on the heat.

For my second 30 for 30 outfit (see #1 here):

Men's undershirt: Target (remixed)
Chambray skirt (with POCKETS!): Target
Woven belt: Target (remixed)
Yellow gladiators: Chinese Laundry (remixed)
Gold chandelier earrings: gift from sister in law (remixed)

I have to say I love this outfit's simplicity and breeziness. Also, it's my subtle tribute to Uruguay, the world's last chance for a Latin American World Cup this year. (Don't worry, there are mere days separating us from the end of the Cup and fútbol related outfits.)


The pockets on this skirt are FABULOUS. Also, I would like you to know that I may have purchased this over the long weekend, my last purchase before these thirty days of remixing.



I'm frankly terrified of this challenge because it will coincide with a trip to VA to visit my parents and my sister, brother-in-law, and niece who will be visiting from LA. Oh, and my parents will have just returned from a trip to North Africa and will be bringing back beautiful things. *sigh* Also, it's hot, and the last thing I want to do in the heat is layer, so we'll see how it goes.
I do feel, however, that this is good practice for the big move this winter, when I'll be saying goodbye to at least half of my current wardrobe. I really need to get on that less-is-more train. So, I'm excited. Because maybe this will help me figure out what stays and what goes, no matter how cute you are, printed full skirt from Target and olive jersey mini dress.

Styling a big shirt and cheering for Brazil

Vintage green and white striped top: thrifted
White tank: Target (remixed)
Ubiquitous straight leg jeans: Banana Republic (remixed)
Yellow gladiators: Chinese Laundry (remixed)
Blue and silver earrings: New York & Co. (remixed)


After two days of lazing and feeling lost, the games are back on; I'm only a little melodramatic. Hehehe. Anyway, I'm cheering for Brazil today, and I dressed for the occasion.


I found this shirt on a thrifting adventure at least a month ago, and I was drawn to the bright green stripes and the drapey shape, but let's be honest: it's enormous. Sometimes sizing up gives me that kind of 80s vibe I kind of like, and sometimes it makes me look like I'm just swimming in my clothes. Every time I pull this shirt out I feel like the proportions are just a bit off, and decide that I look like a kid dressing up in Mom's clothes and end up changing. Today, though, I'm kind of feeling it. I feel like I have to rearrange it just so on my shoulders and hips, but it's not too hard to do when your big plans for the day involve watching two games and cooking.


I feel like a big part of making this neckline work for me is making sure that the tank top should be peeking out underneath. Is that weird? I can't stand it when my bra straps show, but tanks are fair game. It's a little Flashdance (a movie I've never seen, but for some reason is what I think of when I think of 80s style) but I like the kind of layering and draping that makes me look like a dancer.


Even Kiku likes how I styled this top today. Mostly I can't resist pictures with her. The cuteness!


In the end, I'm pretty satisfied with my Brazil-inspired look, and we'll see if I'm also satisfied with Brazil's performance.

World Cup inspiration: Brasil!

Yellow dress: New York & Co.
Green plastic flip flops: Target
Blue and silver earrings: New York & Co. (remixed)
Brazilian flag: too much fun with Picnik

This is a big game, y'all. Not because either Brazil or Portugal need to win to make it to the Round of 16, but because these are two really good teams. I might not have fingernails by the end of it.

Anyway, the outfit is super simple: just three pieces, but since it's still over 90 degrees here, that's what I'm going for.


I don't generally wear plastic flip flops, but I found these in my closet while I was looking for my other green flip flops, and I figured, "Hey, I need to do my toes and these are pretty much disposable," so I put these on instead.


This outfit feels way more flag inspired than my last tribute to Brazil, and I kind of like that, but it is crazy bright. My mom hates this dress. She says it looks like una batita - a nightgown or a muumuu. I still love it, though, especially for crazy hot days like today.


These earrings have gotten a lot of use this past week, especially considering I've had them since this fall and I didn't pull them out until last Sunday. No joke. But they've grown on me, and I like them for summer, all bright and lightweight.


So B. and I are going to Atlanta tonight and returning Tuesday, and I don't think I'll be able to post much while we're down there visiting friends and hanging out with other Mission Year folks, but I promise to return with outfit photos and a packing post.

I confess: I am a terrible over-packer, mostly because I think I'm going to want options and what if I need two evening outfits and what if something goes terribly wrong and I need to change three times in one day? And then I get to wherever I'm going and I wear the same three things for two weeks. But I can always manage to pack for four to five days with nothing but a carry-on. (Just because you can fit it all in a carry-on doesn't mean you didn't over pack.)

In the meantime: here's a sneak peek at what's going with me:

World Cup inspiration: Paraguay (and still celebrating that US victory yesterday!)

Let me start by giving shout outs to E. of academichic and Fer of Moda Fora de Moda for their World Cup inspired outfits yesterday. Good to know I'm not alone in the football obsession.

Today's inspiration:

Image source


Denim dress: Ann Taylor (remixed to death)
White woven belt: gift from my mom
Red bracelets: gifts (remixed)
Red seahorse flip flops: Gap (remixed)
Silver hoops: gift from my mom (remixed)

Today's outfit is both in support of Paraguay, the current Group F leader, and in celebration of the US team's AMAZING win yesterday. That was one of those moments that reminds me why I love football: because beauty like that happens in injury time and changes everything. I will confess that I may have teared up. Especially when Univisión showed a commercial showing all these Latinos celebrating their home team and then saying that the US team is everyone's team. Tears. I'm a baby like that.


Today's outfit had to be simple, red, white, and blue; and cool because it's about 95 degrees Fahrenheit and we don't have AC. My easy denim dress was a natural choice. I kept everything else simple: white belt, ubiquitous beaded bracelets, and red flip flops. And Kiku. Because she has to be wherever I am.



I have to say I love this look. This dress might just be the best purchase I've made in a while, and I love the easy combination of pieces. It's just right for a super steamy day.

On a different note...

This is how I watch simultaneous games, y'all: Univision.com on the computer and Univisión on tv; I don't understand football in English, isn't that weird?

I'm going to go ahead and say it: I think this Cup is going to the Americas, South America to be specific. I'm pretty pumped to see Latin America so well represented and that the US has held its own (and has a pretty easy set of matches ahead).

World Cup inspiration: Deutschland!

Today is a big football day for me: US vs. Algeria, England vs. Slovenia, Germany vs. Ghana, and Serbia vs. Australia.

I'm supporting Germany today, inspired by the super classy German uniforms:

(image courtesy of World Cup Buzz.)

as well as the German flag:



White men's undershirt: Target (the DIY neckline and hem are all me)
Black ankle zip leggings: H&M
White cami: Target (remixed)
Yellow flowered infinity scarf: J Crew (remixed)
Red seahorse flip flops: Gap (remixed)
Ball earrings: Banana Republic (remixed)
Red beaded bracelets: gifts (remixed)

This outfit is so not what I usually wear, but I have a big day of laundry, football and beginning sewing projects ahead of me, so I figured the leggings were okay since I'm not actually planning to leave the house.


I love cutting the necklines out of men's undershirts and wearing them myself. Usually I wear them for working out or sleeping, but I thought it'd be perfect for my tribute to Germany, so I wore this one today (I even did my little DIY number on it this morning).

I especially love how it turned out in the back.


I like to think that the scarf dresses it up considerably - my tribute to the gold stripe in the flag.


Also, can I just say that I love these earrings? I chose them because they've got a reddish tint to echo the red in the German flag.

So why am I dressing up for Germany on a day when the US is playing? Because this is where I went to high school:

Image courtesy of Cometogermany.com

That's Heidelberg, Germany, a gorgeous city in the Rhine-Neckar region, and it's where I feel like I grew up. I moved there when I was nearly 14 and moved back to the States when I was 17, which is pretty much the ideal time to be a kid from the US living in Europe: you're old enough to really enjoy it, both the day to day and the historic significance. I had my junior prom in the castle on the hill, learned to appreciate public transportation, learned a third language, discovered H&M and Ikea before they came to the States, and traveled throughout Europe. Good times, kids.
And because I have such good memories of my time in Germany, I have this crazy affinity for their national soccer team. So come on, Deutschland! Let's get it done this afternoon!

World Cup inspiration: ¡México!

Could I start out by directing y'all to the Summer Black-Out Round-up? Look how pretty we all are?! Tons of inspiration and great use of colors and non-black neutrals!


Brown embroidered dress: Target (remixed?)
Green and silver chandelier earrings: gift from friend in Guatemala (remixed)
Red beaded bracelets: gifts (remixed)
Black flip flops: Rainbow (remixed)

Today's outfit is my subtle tribute to:


México. This is one of my top three teams and I am sitting here watching a tense game between México and Uruguay. I don't know why I'm tense, but I am. Both teams have been playing exceptionally well....


Anyway, I like to call this dress my Mexican grandmother dress because it's the kind of shape that my Puerto Rican grandmother wears, but in more earthy tones. Because it's really hard to wear red and green together without looking like a Christmas tree, I decided to make this dress the backdrop of my México look.


I was going to put on a different pair of green earrings, but these are much more Latin American. The stones are such a pretty green, and I absolutely love them because I got them from a friend when I was down in Guatemala. Good memories are tied up in these pretty earrings. Also, I put on some red lipstick because it reminds me of all the lovely actresses from the Mexican Cine de Oro.


The red bracelets finished off the look with an extra touch of red.

So I was dressing for two purposes today: 1, for México and 2, for comfort because I'm getting my wisdom teeth removed today. If you don't see a German inspired outfit tomorrow, that's why. Today, however, I'll be cheering on México.



Also, on a sadder note, why is France falling apart?! I loved y'all once....