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.

Obsession

Top: J Crew
Skirt: Self made
Shoes: Tom's (gift from my mom)
Earrings: Turkey

Y'all, I might be obsessed with this skirt. I'd wear it every day if I thought B wouldn't sit me down to have a serious conversation about how I need to separate myself from this skirt long enough to wash it.


I got the idea for this outfit from this image I pinned over at my favorite website ever. My take is considerably more casual since there was a possibility I'd be walking home from work (again).


And, yes, I did walk home in these shoes. Most. Comfortable. Heels. Ever. It's been proven by this girl who walked up the mountain in them; that's pretty much scientific. The look on my face in the above photo isn't about the shoes, though. That's me singing about how this skirt fits me so well and is so cute.

Snug

Tee: Ann Taylor
Jeans: J Crew
Wedges: Nine West
Bangles: gift from my uncle and aunt
Earrings: Turkey
Sunnies: Puerto Rico

This is the kind of outfit I could only wear while coming off the high of Dress Your Best Week. I think I'll be celebrating my body in a slightly less intentional way this week because I'm feeling so confident and in love with the body I have. And it's weird to think that and type that because I'm not the kind of woman who likes to draw attention to herself (even though I share a lot of stuff with the Internet).


But yeah, I put this on expecting it NOT to work, but it did, and even though I was a little afraid of all the body-hugging pieces, I went with it. And then to top it off, I let my hair do the 1960s-meets-1980s thing it was doing all by itself. Because if I'm going for it, I'm going all out. Go big or go home, baby. That's how we roll in our house.


And these shoes? I love them. They're so old, y'all. I've had them for five or six years - maybe even longer. They remind me of some shoes that my mom wore in her engagement pictures with jeans a lot like these. Honestly, I kind of felt like I was channeling my mom circa 1981 in this outfit.


I wore this to go out on a date day with B. We went to the farmer's market down in the nearest city (15 plantains for $2? Yes, please), then off to the mall for a cheap lunch and some bookstore browsing. Then we wandered through the streets of Alajuela where we did a little thrifting (we scored some amazing pieces) and enjoyed ice cream cones. I love our date days.


Oh, and Happy Fourth, to all of you in the States (and my fellow expats). I'll be celebrating on the beach.

Back on Track aka Outfit #8

Tank: Target
Jacket: New York & Co.
Skirt: Target
Shoes: Steve Madden
Earrings: gift from sister in law

Today, my (maternal) aunts took me to meet up with my (paternal) uncle and grandmother to visit my grandfather who's in a nursing home. Then we went out to eat with my uncle and grandmother because my family loves to eat.


How cute is my grandmother?! Too cute, that's how cute.


I got these shots of the town of Gurabo, where my grandfather is, and thought they were too amazing not to share. Check out the steps back leading up to the houses on the hill. I'd be so fit if I lived there....


I feel like the brightness of this outfit fits in so well with the surroundings. Life in general is just brighter in the tropics. The houses are bright, the flowers are bright, the sun is bright.... Color is less scary for me here.


This was our view from the restaurant today, and it's totally not photoshopped. How gorgeous is my island? I mean, for real.


My aunt almost stole these shoes from me. I might not be able to leave with them in my suitcase because she liked them so much.

And now, a random picture:

Mama hen and babies! Gah! So cute!

Saturday doubles

In an attempt to get caught up-ish before the 30x30, I'm going to go ahead and double up on Costa Rica outfits today and tomorrow. Prepare for photo overload, y'all.


All remixed
Cardigan: Apt. 9 via Kohl's
Blouse: Banana Republic
Skirt: Ann Taylor
Shoes: Steve Madden
Belt: Thrifted

I wore this for church on 23 January. I also wore it to cook, wait tables, and do dishes in the restaurant that we're managing to raise funds for the school.


Yes, I wore THESE SHOES to work all day at a restaurant; it was considerably harder on my body than teaching in them. Live and learn...


I really like the big, tough belt buckle with all the frilly, delicate pieces of this outfit. Yeah, I'm wearing ruffles, leopard, a skirt, wedge heels, AND a ginormous belt buckle. And what?


I dig it.

The Monday following that super busy day at the restaurant was NOT a good day for me. And then B saved the day and took me out for dinner at a nearby French restaurant.

All remixed except cardigan
Cardigan: Ann Taylor
Tank: Ann Taylor
Jeggings: J Crew
Shoes: Naturalizer
Earrings: swapped
Crazy face: c/o the freezing cold wind

For the record, French food fixes everything. Also, I have no idea why there's a relatively upscale French restaurant in the rural Costa Rican mountainside, either, but thank God there is.


And how about that sunset?! Between the dramatic sky, the red lipstick, and my sequins (oh, and hours of crying), I'd worked up quite an appetite.


Bonus: I got dessert.

You've Got this Week - Camel, Military, and Leopard

Shoes, tee, and belt remixed
Jacket: Vintage from the back of my mom's closet
Tee: Gap
Skirt: Ann Taylor
Belt: vintage Etienne Aigner - thrifted
Bracelet: H&M
Earrings: a street vendor in Istanbul
Shoes: Candie's via Kohl's

It's day two of You've Got This Week sponsored by Iris over at 260 Days, No Repeats. I was channeling a bit of the military vibe, though I will say it's quite distilled in this look. I always distill my military looks; it's a by-product of my Army brat upbringing. My hair is totally regulation, though. Anyway, military inspired. I like to think I've got some jewel tone and animal print bonuses going on, too. Oh, and that's a camel skirt. I'm, like, a stinkin' trend train, y'all.


I was reading Lorena's Every Day Wear, and she's tracking where all her clothes and food come from this week. While I kind of forgot to keep track of where all my food came from (though I will say that we did have some delicious locally grown veggies from our CSA for dinner), I did take note of where my clothes were made. I couldn't find any info on my belt or bracelet, but everything else is up there for y'all to see. Do I feel a little guilty? Yes. Is it screaming "sweatshop" to me? Maybe.


To be quite honest, I try not to think too much about where my clothes come from because A) It makes me feel bad and B) I struggle with finding pieces that are ethically made at a price that fits into our budget. Because we honestly have a budget and there are about $70 in it for clothing every month. For both of us. Try to figure out how many ethically made items of clothing that is for two people.... Yeah.


So, it's not that I'm unaware, it's just that I'm trying to find a balance among all the pieces that go into my decisions about where we're spending our money. Right now, our priority is to spend money in our own neighborhood, and at small businesses as often as possible, because our neighborhood needs the money. Anyway, I'm thinking about it....



P.S. Enter the giveaway to win some earrings similar to these!

Playing with Proportions

All remixed except tee and vest
Tee: Target
Vest: Ann Taylor
Skirt: Gap
Shoes: gift from parents
Earrings: gift
Necklace: gift from my mom

This is me stepping out of my comfort zone in a way. I'm playing a little with my proportions, not tucking in my shirt, and wearing a vest that I have never worn before. I haven't worn vests since about 1995 when I wore them all. The. Time. I guess I'm a bit traumatized from looking at the pictures of myself with the bangs and the glasses, and the fluffy hair that I didn't quite know how to manage yet.


But I've been seeing vests like this one on the blogs and on the streets and I was inspired to pull this one out of the very back of my closet. My mom got me this vest, um, a year ago, and it's just been hanging in my closet since then. I think that the reason I haven't worn this is that the neckline and the sleeves are a little awkward. I'm still not totally sure that I love it, but I was diggin' the outfit as a whole today. Maybe I was just so stinkin' comfortable, but I felt good.


Also, can I just say that I'm really glad it's Friday? I plan to spend the weekend cleaning and catching up on the blogs - I've got a lot of reading to do...



And for today's trip pictures:


A mosaic inside Hagia Sophia.


Columns in the Basilica Cistern in Istanbul.

Old Tricks

All remixed except shirt
Shirt: Old Navy
Skirt: New York & Co.
Belt: Banana Republic
Shoes: Steve Madden via DSW
Earrings: Kohl's

Well, we're back, and though I'm not totally off vacation mode, today was a busy, busy day for me. I reached for some tried and true pieces: brown pencil skirt, leopard print belt, and bright blue wedges. I jazzed it up a bit with a shirt I hardly ever wear, though, so I feel successful.


I even got to take pictures with Kiku again. I'd missed that.


These shoes and this belt just make my day. I can't even tell y'all how much I love these two pieces. And since the shoes have a bit of a peep toe, I'm trying to get as much wear out of them as possible before it's too cold to wear open toed shoes.


And finally, I'd like to show off a bit of my Turkish tan. I promise I wore sunscreen - SPF 30 to be exact - but that Aegean sun was just too much for me. It was gorgeous, y'all. There will be a vacation highlights post in the future, but I'll refrain from photo dumping. I will say that we've managed to edit our photos and have gone from 900 to about 540; I feel like this is progress.

For now:

In front of the fountain on the Hippodrome in Sultanahmet.

Behind me is Hagia Sofia, which was first a Byzantine church and then an Ottoman mosque and is just stunning.

Copy Cat

All remixed
Bolero: Ann Taylor
Tank: Target
Skirt: New York & Co.
Wedges: Candies via Kohl's
Belt: thrifted
Necklace: gift
Earrings: gift from sister-in-law

I love this outfit, y'all. Love it. It's a lot like this outfit from the 30 for 30 which I was a big fan of, but it's still pretty different.


The silhouette is almost exactly the same as the first iteration, and I echoed the leopard print from the belt with my leopard print wedges.


A long wooden necklace and a belt with a massive buckle gave me the edge I wanted.


And I love this belt. This buckle kicks. I have a serious weakness for massive belt buckles, but this is the only one I own at this point in my life. The belt is a little messed up, but it does the trick. Also, it's a man's belt, so it's a little big, but it mostly works.


And now a sad story:
I had some fabulous orange sunnies that I got at Target for $3.24. I loved them. And then I went to see Step Up 3D (don't judge) and got some 3D glasses. After the movie, we were supposed to recycle our glasses, but I'd already put them in my purse. So I opened my purse, pulled out a pair of glasses, and dropped them in. Dear orange sunnies, it's not that I don't love you, it's just that you felt so familiar and right in my hands. I still miss you....


These are my replacements. We're getting acquainted.



PS We leave for Turkey tomorrow morning, but rest assured, there are some scheduled posts, including my packing post and a post that I'm crazy, crazy excited about!