Welcome to Americana

B and I had our first date day in six weeks this past weekend. Six. Weeks. Yeah.... Let's not let that happen again, mmkay? I mean, it's not even like we have kids to keep us from having couple time. There is just no excuse for that kind of foolishness.
Except for, you know, work....


We went to Alajuela to hit up some Americanas. We stumbled into one that's probably my new favorite - the prices and the selections were AMAZING. B was sold because, Michigan boy that he is, he stumbled across a Pistons' jersey.
We don't talk much about the Pistons because I spent nearly nine years in the Chicago area and that's a sore spot for him. (We can agree on the Celtics though, and that's important.)


He also found this ridiculous Speed Racer jacket. I mean, really....


I was lucky enough to find this pink polyester jumpsuit which I would have gotten if it hadn't (a) been meant for someone six inches taller and (b) had a huge stain on the back of one leg. Even though it was a whopping $.80, I couldn't take the chance when it needed so much work.


We also went to the mall for crepes (mine was Nutella filled because I have an addiction that needs to be fed, okay?) and a movie.


B's crepe was fruit and whipped cream filled and came with ice cream. He thinks he made the better choice, but I beg to differ....

Back

Top: Nectar via Marcas
Skirt: Gap
Booties: Aldo
Belt: came with a blazer
Earrings: gift from sister-in-law

So, my mom was here last week, which is why I pretty much didn't touch the computer. And I'll be honest, I'm kind of having a hard time bringing myself back to the blog. But! I've got all these pictures sitting around! And I have to do something with them, right? So, here I go....


So, my mom's suitcase didn't arrive with her, which meant that we ended up going to the mall to find clothes for her. We ended up stumbling into this store called Marcas (that translates to "Brands") which basically sells seconds from stores like Express, Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, Hurley.... So, US stores. Y'all! So. Stinkin'. Cheap!


My mom got this top, and I immediately borrowed it because I loved the pattern and the color. It's an XL, which, you know, isn't my size, but I figured I could make it work. And I think it did. The lesson? Sizes mean nothing.

Old West vibe

All remixed except booties
Skirt: Ann Taylor
Blouse: Target
Scarf: vintage - thrifted
Jacket: Banana Republic
Pin: ?
Earrings: gift
Booties: Aldo Outlet

I'm still participating in BBCA sponsored by Melissa at A Working Mom's Closet, and I think I'm working my way up to a pink shirt.


I built this outfit around these booties. It took me a long time to get warmed up to this trend, but this fall I was determined to get a pair of lace up ones. I've been hunting and hunting. Everything was too tall or the wrong color or too expensive. Mostly, they've been too expensive. And when we walked into the Aldo Outlet on Saturday and I saw these booties right in front of the door, I was so afraid that they'd be too expensive. But they were on a wall that said 50% off. Y'all, they went from $130 to $90 to $45. FORTY-FIVE DOLLARS! B. thought it was a really good price, so I got them.


I think my first foray into booties is pretty conservative. I'm not totally sure that I love them in this look, but I'm determined to make these work. I'm imagining them with some tights in the near future. Also, I'm sure you're all wondering how these shoes will work out for me in the Costa Rican rainforest come January, and I'm just going to say that they'll be just fine for church and any business-type meetings. They've got a low, sturdy heel. And I just plain love them so I'll wear them anyway. That's my story and I'm stickin' to it.


I feel like I've got a bit of an Old West vibe going on with the subdued palette and the scarf tied around my neck like a cowboy and the old fashioned feeling of the booties. I played it up - and stayed warm - with my good old denim jacket. I totally kept it on all day at my volunteer site because it was so cold.


And just look at that pretty print on the scarf! And the two shades of pink in the print! I love this scarf so much, and I always struggle to find ways to add it to outfits but I feel like this particular way of tying it up works pretty well. The print is on display and it works well with the size of this scarf. Mission: Accomplished.

Easy as 1-2-3

I'm going to go ahead and apologize in advance for being photo heavy today. I didn't feel like doing anything extra over the weekend, so I left the blogging for today....

Saturday:

Belt, bracelet, and flip flops remixed
Dress: some random shop in Istanbul's New District for a whopping 10 Turkish Lira
Belt: Target
Flip flops: Rainbow
Bracelet: gift from my uncle
Earrings: Spice Bazaar in Istanbul

I wore this on Saturday for a grocery run. I got this dress on our last night in Istanbul and paid 10 Lira for it, which is about $7 US. The store was all kinds of random and appeared to be selling factory seconds, which I'm totally okay with buying.


I decided to edge it out a little by doing some pattern mixing. Stripes and zebra? Sounds good to me....


Also, look at these lovely turquoise earrings. B. gave them to me as a gift while we were in Turkey because I told him I wanted some turquoise earrings in my life; he's a good man.

Sunday:

Sandals and tank remixed
Dress: Hecho a Mano, gift from my aunt
Tank: Target
Sandals: Chinese Laundry
Earrings: Turkey

This was me on Sunday, trying to wear one of my most summery dresses before it's officially fall and something clicks in my brain and makes me feel ridiculous about wearing "summery" things. I know, I should just wear it, but my brain says no. I'm weird that way....


B. wanted me to point out that it's completely different from the back. Anyway, I like this dress a lot, even though it's super loud. I got it from Hecho a Mano, a store that my aunt absolutely loves and that I love in theory. It sells all kinds of breezy, beachy, bohemian lovelies - the kinds of things I'd wear all the time...if I lived in a tropical paradise, which I don't. At least, not until January.


Their dresses are made in Puerto Rico, so I can feel good about helping the local economy when I shop there. And besides, look at the little beads on the ties of this dress. It's details like that that make me fall for a piece.

Monday:

All remixed except top and earrings
Jacket: Apt. 9 for Kohl's
Top: Another random store in Istanbul
Jeans: Elle for Kohl's
Flower flats: Target
Earrings: gift from a friend's trip to India
Bangles: Banana Republic

I went in to my part time job this morning to finish some mandatory testing before I actually start doing my job and then I had a meeting for ADE (my future employer in Costa Rica) so I wanted something that would work for both occassions.


Also, to be quite honest, I've been waiting a looooong time to wear an outfit like this. It's finally cool enough to dig out some jeans and a jacket. I felt like this was a great transitional look that was professional and still laid-back.


Also, look at the back of this top! From the front, it's a basic black tee with lacy sleeves, but from the back?! Look at that lace! I'm kind of in love with it, so in love that I may have purchased this shirt even though it's two sizes too big. It's a little loose, but I figure I can work with the flowiness (that IS a word, right?) just so I can have a lacy shirt. Oh, and it, too, was 10 Lira ($7).

Bright textures

All remixed except earrings
Dress: Ann Taylor
Shoes: Nine West
Earrings: gift from my mom

This is not what I originally planned to wear. I'd put on a skirt and a plaid top and then I heard the weather report and they said it was supposed to get up to the eighties, even though it looked like it was going to be cold and rainy, so I changed. I've got to take advantage of the heat while it's still around and wear some seriously summery pieces while it's still summer.


Today's outfit is super simple, but there's actually quite a bit of texture going on. The dress has ruffles and a circle pattern woven into it. My shoes have a little snakeskin going on. The earrings are lacy. Lots and lots of texture. Also, this is a bright look.


It felt pretty much perfect for a day of translations and errands. Also, I must confess that I bought a skirt and a dress when I went out for errands. In my defense, the dress was $4.96 and I can see it working for a lot of different occasions and for many seasons. The skirt is a piece that I've been searching for for a while and finally found. That said, I've got a lot of clothes to get rid of. Mostly pants. I really hate wearing pants, and there are way too many pairs of pants in my wardrobe doing nothing but taking up space.

Urban Cowgirl and a View Inside our Shop

Vintage striped/floral dress: ? thrifted and listed on my etsy
Denim jacket: Banana Republic
Brown woven belt: Target (remixed)
Brown cowboy boots: Nine West
Quartzy earrings: Kohl's (remixed)

These boots are so old and worn. I love them, even though I did not wear them to work even once this winter - mostly because I teach in the hood and I didn't want to spend the entire day fielding questions from students about whether I have a horse. It's silly, I know, but it does get annoying.
They have gotten plenty of wear outside of work, from the fall straight through to the spring. I'm worried that they're on their last legs, though. The toes are scuffed and worn, the inside of the heel is breaking, and the actually heels are showing some major wear. *sigh*

They've served me well, these boots, even though everyone in my family hates them - parents, sister, husband - I still love 'em.


I really loved the juxtaposition of hard and soft in this outfit, and I feel like this denim jacket gets that combo right all on its own. The Peter Pan collar and the detailing at the yoke are adorably soft, while the denim and the pockets are a bit more rugged. I think it tied all my pieces together well when I wore it as a blazer as Sal of Already Pretty talked about the other day.

Also, this weekend, B. and I put a bit more time into our etsy shop, organizing our items and working on storage that doesn't involve simply folding things up and putting them on our futon. Our house is way too stinkin' big for us, so we've got two empty rooms in the back, the smaller of which has turned into our shop. We set up a clothes rack (Philly closets aren't deep enough to hold hangers, and that is not a lie), dragged Roxanne (whose name should always be pronounced as said by the Unconscious Argentine in Moulin Rouge) - our mannequin - in, and set up our shoes, accessories, and packing supplies. All of this while we were still high from our third sale (whoo-hoo!).
We're far from having everything put away the way we'd like it, but it's a start, and I think it looks pretty stinkin' adorable.



And another shot:


Alright, I'm going to work on some inventory so I can fill up that rack.

It's what y'all been waiting for

So, the reason for all the delays is this: B. and I are launching an Etsy shop. We've enjoyed scouring the stores for some fabulous vintage pieces and have managed to get ten items listed. Can we just discuss how time consuming listing is? Anyway, there should be more items listed in the days and weeks to come, so check it out and spread the word!

A few of my favorite items:


Glam Silver Clutch


Big Cats Animal Print Scarf


Tomato Red Secretary Blouse with the Anchors Away Navy Skirt

and


Tomato Red Linen Dress