Old outfit, new puppy

Tee: Target
Skirt: Ann Taylor
Belt: Thrifted
Booties: Aldo
Sunnies: Puerto Rico
Earrings: Turkey

Remember how I said I was going to blog more often? I'm a big liar apparently. I've been in near non-stop meetings as we prepared for the beginning of the school year (we finish in December and start in February here). Yesterday we headed to the US embassy to renew my passport, and then, because we're all about timing here, we decided to stop by the shelter and adopt a new puppy. Yesterday.

 

And today we started school. Like I said: timing. We're so good at it. She's the most adorable little mutt, and I have to say I'm pretty smitten with her, though Camila (that's her name) did keep us up last night with her whining. Y'all, I'm so happy to have a new puppy, although she's been pretty whiney.

 

Has anyone had any experience with whiney puppies? She does it even when she's wagging her tail, when I'm holding her, when she's playing, and when she's eating. I know she's totally traumatized after being taken away from the only home she's ever known, but it makes me feel like a bad pet owner. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

And of course, you will get a picture of the new baby instead of just me.

 

Meet Camila. So sweet and sleepy.

Friend Friday: Holidays

Dress: Kohl's
Tights: Simply Vera
Socks: Target
Belt: Thrifted
Boots: Nine West
Scarf: Target
Earrings Turkey

Friend Friday! I feel like I haven't participated in one of these in a looong time! But, as long as I'm taking advantage of the library's free wi-fi, I figure I can squeeze this into my schedule. So, this time around, we're doing one of those old school questionnaires that I never could resist.



No holiday party is complete without: a little bling.
My favorite Christmas song/album: Bomba en Navidad by Richie Ray & Bobby Cruz. Clearly, I come from a different Christmas tradition. As far as songs that are more recognizable in the US, I like "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen/We Three Kings" by The Barenaked Ladies
My favorite seasonal recipe: Pernil. It's the best thing that can happen to a pig.
The perfect New Year's Eve outfit includes: some hot shoes.
At the parties, I'll be drinking: water, as usual.
Eggnog, good or bad? I've never had it. I do love coquito, though.
Did you ever take pictures on Santa's lap at the mall? Yep.
Gingerbread Latte or Peppermint Mocha: Neither.


Worst gift I ever got: has never arrived.
Best gift I ever received: a wedding. (B & I got married in Puerto Rico on 27 December 2009)
My family has this weird tradition: We love watching Banco Popular videos at this time of year and remembering Puerto Rico.
My best bargain find for a gift this year: I'm making all my gifts this year, so probably the 69 cent beeswax at the natural grocer.
If I could only buy all my gifts from one place, I'd shop at: Potomac Mills.
Rudolph the Red-nose Reindeer or Frosty the Snowman: Rudolph. I hate snow.
My favorite holiday memory: going back to PR for Christmas and seeing all the decorations. That or waking up on January 6th to see that the Three Kings had been by leaving gifts.
My favorite Christmas movie: A Christmas Story.


The best part about holiday decorations is: the fun lights.
Rip off the wrapping paper or neatly pull off the tape: I neatly pull off the tape and refold the paper.
Miracle on 34th Street or It's a Wonderful Life: I've never watched "It's a Wonderful Life"....
It doesn't feel like the holiday season until: I'm with my family.
All I want for Christmas is: lots of good family time.

Not quite awesome

Tee: Target
Dress (worn as skirt): some random store in Turkey
Boots: Steve Madden
Belt: Target
Scarf: Target
Socks: gift from sister-in-law
Earrings: Turkey

I want to like this outfit more than I do. I'm not totally sure what I don't like, I just know it's not my favorite. But my students loved it. They told me - and I quote - "You look AWESOME!" I think it's the boots.


I'm not totally sold, though. What do y'all think?

Lazy

Turtleneck: Express
Skirt: Gap
Shoes: Steve Madden
Belt: thrifted
Earrings: Target

Sometimes I just don't feel like getting dressed. On those days, I tend to reach for black because it's easy and I love it. Then I add a little brown so it looks like I tried.


Done and done. Easiest thing ever, am I right?


What do you do when you don't want to think about getting dressed? Any other go to combos out there?

Safari

Tee: Banana Republic
Skirt: Ann Taylor
Belt: Banana Republic
Shoes: Crocs
Earrings: Kohl's

I almost like this outfit. I think I like the idea of it better than the execution. I needed something that would be appropriate for work - and the walk to and from - on a relatively warm day and this fit the bill.


I've had this tee shirt for, roughly, forever; by forever I mean since 2006. It's a little too long and quite sheer, but it stays in my closet because it (a) layers nicely and (b) has a zebra on it. The zebra is important.


I kinda like the zebra tee with the elephant earrings and leopard belt. See? It's like a theme! I'm going to tell myself it's subtle, okay? I like my delusions.

The case of the mysterious sliding belt

Dress: Kohl's
Belt: Target
Booties: Aldo
Cami: Petite Sophisticate
Earrings: Sarchí, Costa Rica

So, I've had this dress for a long time. Like, six or seven years kind of long time. I like to call it my travel dress because it dresses up and down easily and it's jersey. Jersey! That's a "roll it up and throw it in your backpack" kind of fabric if ever there was one.


It's been with me to Vietnam, to Turkey, to Guatemala. It's also what I wore when we flew down here to Costa Rica. It was appropriate for the early January cold of DC and the warmth of Costa Rica. All I did was swap a pair of boots for a pair of flip flops when we landed. Easy peasy.


But I haven't worn it again since we've been here until this past Sunday when I pulled it out and put it on. The nice thing about a wrap dress is that it fits through 10-15 pound weight fluctuations, and I'd say I'm at the lower end of my normal fluctuations at this point. The bad thing about being at this point is that I need a little more definition in my outfits because I'm losing my curves.


Well, I know how to add definition! Just belt it! So I add this very adjustable belt at the waist. The problem? Between the slippery fabric, the bunching of the self-belt, and the slipperiness of the belt itself, it was sliding down as the day went on and that is just annoying.

Everybody, Everywear: Lace

Top: some random store in Turkey
Skirt: Ann Taylor
Belt: Ann Taylor
Booties: Aldo
Earrings: Target
Crazy face: laughing at B and Kiku

I'm finally participating in Everybody, Everywear, and I'm beyond proud of myself. It's been a busy few weeks as we get our summer interns settled in, teach, and start some new projects, so to find time to build an outfit around lace, and post in time for EBEW is a feat in and of itself.


I love this top. It's about three sizes too big for me, but it works, especially when I tuck it in. It has the added benefit of reminding me of our vacation in Istanbul where we hung out, relaxed, and ate delicious foods.


The lacy back is a little risqué, perhaps, but I wore a sweater most of the time that I was at work, so it was totally appropriate. Although I always have a hard time with this kind of look. Too sexy? Just enough? I don't know....


All I know is that I like the simplicity of brown and black and that this top makes me think of good times, so I'm going with it.

Awkward pictures day

Top: Zara
Skirt: Ann Taylor
Belt: Banana Republic
Booties: Aldo
Earrings: Target

Today was apparently awkward pictures day around here. I blame the pouring rain. True story: if I don't get pictures at seven in the morning, by the time I finish the school day, sit through a meeting, and eat, it will be raining - not just raining, pouring.


Also, it'll be so cold that I'll just stand around awkwardly and shiver. (I can just hear Tyra telling me that I need to pose through my cold - no one should know how cold I am! A model's job is to suffer for beauty! - Good thing I'm a teacher, then.)


BUT! I"m wearing a star shirt. And, if you didn't know, star shirts are second only to yellow shoes in the happiness factor. I got this shirt for my birthday at Zara, which in Costa Rica should be called the $60 store because EVERYTHING is $60. I was (a) depressed and (b) feeling guilty for how expensive the two items I wanted for my birthday were. B consoled me, though (it didn't take much) and I got this top and one other thing that will be revealed in due time.


Thanks for the birthday wishes, too, y'all. I won't lie - the past few months have been tough for me, both personally and professionally, and I am counting the days till I can have a vacation and see my family again. On the plus side, my birthday was good: time with my sweet husband, a movie date (complete with popcorn, because it's the little things), pizza, and a little shopping. It was a little taste of relaxation, and it was so nice.

And, because I promised more awkwardness:

That's me saying "It's so cold!"

Random numbers

Blazer: Apt. 9 via Kohl's
Tee: Ann Taylor
Skirt: Target
Booties: Aldo
Earrings: Target

So let me tell you about how this outfit came together. It went a little something like this:
Me: Hey, B, why don't you pick out my outfit for tomorrow?


B: Okay, choose the fourth item from the end....
Me: Which end? (Can you tell I'm really uninspired these days?)
B kindly pointed out the far end of the closet.


I pulled out the black blazer.
Me: Okay, I can't wear this by itself.
B: Wear it with the eleventh item from the end, not counting the one I just picked.
And the leopard print skirt was the eleventh item.


B: You should wear that with a white shirt.

And a new way of picking out my clothes is born.

Leopard and B

Cardigan: Target (gift from my mom)
Top: New York & Co.
Belt: thrifted
Skirt: Ann Taylor
Boots: Nine West
Tights: Simply Vera via Kohl's
Earrings: Sarchí, Costa Rica

When Ashley over at A Fashion Fixation tweeted that Monday felt like a leopard print kinda day, I took note. And then I got lazy and gave B the job of styling me, based on leopard print, of course.


He vacillated a bit on the skirt, afraid that it was too "safe", but I told him monochromatic isn't totally safe, so it was cool. Then he decided I need a pop of color (he's learning, y'all!) so he added the green cardigan that my mom left behind for me. He also picked out the belt and boots. He thought about adding a scarf, but he decided it'd be too much.


I say this because this is a man who, when we first met, did NOT understand why I cared at all about my clothes. He didn't have the context for it and initially thought it was a purely shallow activity. We've had a lot of conversations about the cultural aspects of dress and style, and I think his perspective has changed considerably.


Not that he's putting a lot of thought into his own outfits as far as I can see, or that he's suddenly on the pattern mixing bandwagon, but he's definitely thinking more critically about it.

Mixing it up

Cardigan: Target
Tank: Ann Taylor (gift from Mom)
Belt: thrifted
Skirt: Gap
Boots: Nine West
Earrings: Kohl's

I love this outfit. There's nothing really special about it, but I love it. It was comfortable for walking to and from work and professional and presentable for actually working. So, win-win.


I guess when I really think about it, there are two things that I really like about this look.
1. The mixed neutrals. I love the black with accents in various shades of brown. It feels so rebellious to mix up that many shades of brown with the black base.


2. I love the juxtaposition of the ladylike tank, skirt, and cardigan with the rugged belt and boots. There's something about the combination of "Office appropriate" with "Just another day on the range" that appeals to me. Maybe it's the fact that I live next door to a lot of cows (and the attendant cowboy types) that's making that aesthetic my new favorite thing ever.


And y'all, I love these boots. Love them to pieces. That may deserve a "literally" soon, as you can see from the scuffed toes. What you can't see are the torn up heels (stinkin' gravel on the side of the road!) and the deteriorating lining on these boots, especially in the heels. I just can't let go, though. They're just too comfortable and, at least in my world, stylish.


Oh! I've got good news - we've (mostly) fixed our Internet issues at our place. We can't actually get internet at our house, because the petition for phone service has been languishing at the government office for the past ten years, so we've talked to our neighbors. They got Internet at their place, which we pay for. We're close enough to them that we can get decent service at our place from theirs, but they had the modem in the back of the house, so we finally moved it to the upstairs front room (closest to our place) this weekend. Success! As long as the rains aren't too bad, we've got signal.


I"m beyond thrilled.