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.

Oh, hai...

Top: Self made
Skirt: Thrifted
Pumps: Zara
Earrings: Target

Oh hai.... Yes, I've been MIA. Things have been super busy with work and getting ready to come back to the States, which is actually where I am right now. It wasn't my intention to disappear for so long, it just kind of happened. Also, I'm at my in-laws right now, and they have dial up, so let's just say there won't be much posting until I'm back in VA towards the end of the month.


Anyway, this outfit. It's bright, huh? I kind of love it, though, especially because I felt like I was finally able to pull off that "color blocking" thing that was super trendy over the summer. Is that still a thing? Does anyone still do it? I was pretty proud of my bright top and neon thrifted skirt (I found it for $1!) and super bright shoes.


Bright colors for a bright day. Also, I'm pretty sure that was the last sunny day we had in the mountains until the day we left for the States. We have to take advantage of the sun when it comes out up there.

Sew Fun

Top: Self made
Belt: thrifted
Skirt: Gap
Booties: Aldo
Earrings: gift from my sister-in-law

You guys. I made this shirt. Sure, I got some help on the hems and the finishing, but I brought in a little sketch and a ton of this slippery fabric to my sewing instructor and she taught me how to draft the pattern and we made this shirt. A.May.Zing.


I might be obsessed with the way it frames my tattoo perfectly and the shade of turquoise that makes me look extra tan. B's a fan of it when it's tucked in, otherwise he says it's too baggy, but, hello, that's kind of the point. It's supposed to be baggy and loose.


You guys, I feel like I'm living the dream. I wanted to learn to sew when I was a kid, but my parents don't know how and my grandmothers live really far away, so I never learned. My home ec class in 7th grade was kind of a disaster because I broke so many needles and basically messed up every project I did. It was sad and disappointing.


Now, though? Now I can manage simple straight seams and even some curves, and yeah, sometimes I have to rip the seams out, but you guys, I'm sewing! I'm inordinately proud of myself, for real. And it's been really fun to be able to transform a pile of fabric into something functional for my everyday life.

Rains and Lady Gaga

Turtleneck: Ann Taylor
Skirt: J Crew
Fishnets: Simply Vera via Kohl's
Booties: Aldo
Belt: Ann Taylor
Earrings: Kohl's
Brooch (on headband): gift from B's grandmother
Headband: gift from my mom

Y'all, this is not what people imagine me wearing when I tell them I live in Costa Rica. I mean, seriously. Cashmere? Turtleneck? Corduroy? Tights? Yes, please. Because it's freezing in the mountains as a general rule. So, I'm dressing for warmth.


The rains here have been the stuff of legend. It's rained pretty much straight for the last ten days, and it's been making the news because it's gotten so bad. Not sure how much coverage it's getting in the States, but it's crazy.


When I wore this to work, my students told me I looked like Lady Gaga, which made me question if they'd ever seen Lady Gaga's outfits because I look like a human and my heels aren't abnormally high. I thought maybe it was because of the big, shiny brooch on my headband (pinning something pretty on a simple elastic headband changes EVERYTHING!).


But no, they clarified that I only looked like Lady Gaga from the knee down. Scratch that, from knee to ankle. You know, Miss, because of those weird tights with the holes in them. Ah, of course. I get it now....

BBCA 3 - Scarf it

Tee: Target
Skirt: Gap
Cardigan: Ann Taylor
Belt: came with a blazer
Tights: Target
Boots: Noble Town Vintage
Earrings: Turkey
Scarf: the chopped off hem of a thrifted and refashioned skirt

So, let me tell you the story of this outfit. I was looking for something to wear to church and I was going crazy because the mold! Oh my gosh! Why do things get moldy as soon as they enter this region! Mold, mold, mold. If you've never lived in the cloud rainforest in a house with no heating of any kind, let me tell you: stuff gets moldy pretty much instantly.


Every week or two, I go through the closet and pull out all the stuff that smells moldy or actually has mold growing on it, because, yes, that's possible. Sunday, thanks to the amount of rain we've had lately, I filled our hamper with stuff that smelled suspect. It made me want to cry (I think I wailed to B about "Oh my gosh, the MOLD!") and it also distracted me from the outfit that I actually wanted to wear.


Somehow, in the last few minutes before church, this came together. And guess what? It worked! I loved it. It felt fresh and fun. I know I turned some heads as I was walking home past the soccer field because of the tights. Of course, the floral head scarf was a close second when it came to attention getting.

BBCA 2 - Skirting the issue

Skirt: self made
Top: Sonoma via Kohl's
Belt: Target
Booties: Aldo
Earrings: gift from my sister-in-law

Another BBCA post. This one came together pretty easily once I picked this skirt out.


I love this skirt. It's poorly made since it was my first sewing project (the hem is wonky, it's made from a thrifted curtain, and the pockets are barely functional), but it's still fun.


For some reason, this green top seemed to work with the colors in the print. I like the explosion of brights, and the silhouette of the whole look. Besides, it was work appropriate and super comfortable. Super comfortable, for real. This is one of those looks that I will probably repeat.

Reversed lace

Top: Turkey
Cami: Petite Sophisticate
Jeans: Elle via Kohl's
Shoes: Zara
Earrings: gift from my sister-in-law

Hello, my name is Frances Joy and I am addicted to Pinterest.... I check it every morning before getting dressed and/or doing my hair. I wish I were joking, and I don't know how to quit - or if I even want to. This outfit? I pinned a similar outfit awhile back and I finally put it together.


I started with some dark wash jeans that are supposed to be skinny, but fit more like a straight leg. Then I grabbed my black, lacy top and put it on backwards. I like the white cami underneath because it gives me some contrast and makes the lace stand out. B wasn't as big a fan of this combo, though.


I considered putting a jacket or a cardigan on with this, but I didn't want to lose my new scoop back or cover up the lace on the front. Besides, I really wanted to wear this with that one blazer that's in storage in the States. When I'm back home in December I plan to wear nothing but the stuff that's in storage right now....


I also decided I needed a pop of color in the shoes, so the impossibly high green pumps it was. Overall, I loved this outfit. I felt very much like myself even though I was in jeans. I also loved the backwards shirt. Sometimes I get a little bored with my wardrobe and this kind of stuff makes me feel like I have new clothes.


It's the little things....

Boho

Tunic: Banana Republic
Jeans: Costa Blanca (thrifted)
Cami: Target
Wedges: Toms
Earrings: Turkey
Scarf: gift from my mom

In case you couldn't tell, I built this look around my new-to-me jeans. I mean, I've seen similar pairs online for way more than I ever want to spend on jeans, and I scored these for $4 at a thrift store.


I generally think this silhouette is (a) a bit too reminiscent of mid-nineties Frances Joy and (b) a little too much for my height, but I wanted to try the trend and these jeans make my butt look good. That's important.


I decided I wanted to wear these jeans with a flowy top and some heels. I chose this tunic because I haven't worn it in a while and it went well with my Tom's. The Tom's are important because I had to walk to work and they are ridiculously comfortable.


More comfortable than my jeans. Sigh. Stupid jeans. You do NOT beat skirts in my world of comfort.


Headscarves, however, are always a win.

P.S. This scarf is all kinds of tacky. It's got pictures of Venetian landmarks on it. I can't figure out of my mom actually bought it while we were there (doubtful) or if someone gave it to her. Either way, I love it.

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?

Friend Friday: Refashioning

Tee: Hanes
Skirt: Target
Shoes: Steve Madden
Belt: Target
Earrings: Turkey

Today's visual Friend Friday is about refashioning, which is something I have only recently started doing. Well, I guess that's not entirely true because I've cut the necks out of a bunch of crew neck shirts for years.


Lately, though, I've been dabbling in hemming and I've got big plans to dye some stuff (I even have dye and rubber gloves on hand). Oh, and I took in this men's shirt so that it didn't fit me like a giant bag.


See? I got my instructions here and although I haven't quite gotten the technique, I think I can try it again.


As it is, I can still wear the shirt and not just as pajamas. Besides, any no sew trick is good in my book.


Oh, and speaking of DIY... I cut my hair. Just me, a pair of scissors and the bathroom mirror. It was scary as all get out, but I'm pleasantly surprised. Besides, it was so long, I was going CRAZY.

Classics

Shirt: Target
Jeans: 7 for all Mankind (thrifted)
Booties: Aldo
Earrings: Turkey

This is an outfit I've been dreaming of wearing for the longest. Is it earth shatteringly creative? Nope. Is it new and exciting? Also no. Is it classic? Yes.


For some reason, it's the classics that give me a hard time. Good jeans are hard to find for me - somewhere between my waist and my booty, and my thighs, it all makes me crazy and I give up. But these worked out. Are they my most comfortable jeans? No; they're a little too low rise for that. But they do work.


And then we've got the white button-up. Y'all know these are not made for women larger than a B cup, right? But B and I wandered into Target while we were in the States and I found this shirt on the clearance rack. The second button buttoned, so it was a go. It's still a bit loose elsewhere, especially tied this way, but I think that's fixable.


So, while this might be as classic as they come, it wasn't the most effortless look. Am I the only one who has the hardest time ever finding jeans and button ups? Someone let me know I'm not alone....