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.

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.

Thankful, thankful, thankful

I really meant to do an outfit post this week. In fact, I meant to do several, but between work and NaNoWriMo, things have been crazy, mostly in a good way.
But since this is my first non-Thanksgiving-y Thanksgiving (I'm at work right now, if that gives you any indication of how non-Thanksgiving-y I am feeling), I thought I'd say a little something about how thankful I am for a million things. Well, at least five. I won't make y'all read a million things.

First off, I'm grateful for my husband who is amazing and wonderful and hot. I am seriously in love with that man. So, yay for three years together, yay that our second anniversary is coming up, and yay that we're stuck together forevaaaaaaa!



I am thankful for the cuteness of my kittens and my sweet Kiku. Their cuddles and purrs make me unbelievably happy.



I am thankful for the times I've been able to share with family this year, particularly the time my parents took us all on a cruise. Sun, food, family, the Caribbean.... It just doesn't get any better. Also, I'm thankful I'll be seeing them again in less than three weeks!



I am thankful for old friends, particularly those that are in Costa Rica, and who are inviting us to share Thanksgiving with them. Also, the friends whose emails, calls, skype sessions, and facebook messages have gotten me through. Love, love, love y'all.


Finally, I am thankful that I am feeling so much better and that I have amazing readers who have been beyond supportive through what's been a really trying time for me. Included in that, I'm thankful for the wonder of modern medicine and for my faith, which have allowed me to see - almost for the first time - the incredible beauty of the place where I now live.





Happy Thanksgiving to everyone in the States and all my fellow expats!

FFB: Sexuality and harassment

Jeans: J Crew
Tee: Target
Scarf: Target
Belt: thrifted
Jacket: Land's End Canvas (gift from my mom)
Shoes: Steve Madden (ditto)
Bag: thrifted
Earrings: Turkey

So, first off, a million thanks for all the amazing comments on the last post. I've been humbled and overwhelmed with gratitude with the responses I've gotten from people I know in real life and people I've only ever met online. To be honest, I thought this would finally be the post when I got negative comments, but they never came. Everyone has been amazing, and for that, I thank you. I truly have amazing readers and friends.


Second, it's time for another FFB post. I totally forgot to post last month, though I've still the idea for a post kicking around in my head, so I didn't want to forget this time around. This month's topic is sexuality, you know, just to keep things light around here because that's how I roll.


I've been thinking a lot about modesty and harassment these days, partly because I read this article, partly because I work with teenagers, and partly because of the culture in which I live. To be really honest, I can't use the word "modest" to describe my own style. Not that I don't think I dress modestly, because I do and people tell me this a lot. That's fine. What's not fine is the association I have when it comes to that word. When I was about sixteen or so, this guy at our church basically told me that the way I dressed was "causing boys to stumble" which, as a feisty and articulate teenager, pretty much pissed me off, and I let him know that. I mean, my parents were still buying my clothes (and vetoing a lot of my sartorial choices) and they didn't have a problem with it. Besides, were the guys then not at all responsible for the way they reacted? Oh, and by the way, what was I supposed to do when I was wearing men's jeans and girl's tee shirts and STILL getting inappropriate comments from the boys at school? Because as far as I could tell, causing someone to stumble was not an exclusively female trait.


And I know, I should probably not be holding on to instances like this one (because, yes, there were instances. Plural.) and letting them color the way I view the word "modesty", because it's a perfectly innocuous word. It's fine. It's even good in some ways. It's just that in my brain, it's so inextricably linked to these types of experiences and power differentials that I just can't. And to say that it's this kind of thing that will suddenly throw up walls of protection around every woman in the world is just wrong. Because that doesn't work, and I know this. I live in a culture where men are expected to show their manliness by making comments about the women in their presence, especially the women they don't know. I can't walk to work without getting a look (you know the kind), a comment, a whistle, or a honk. I just give my best side eye and carry on. But you know what? It's infuriating and dehumanizing sometimes, and I hate it. And I'm covered up!


I'm almost thirty. I've found ways to fight it, both publicly and privately, but when I think of my students? It just breaks my heart because we keep telling them that if they'd just cover up a little bit more, they'd avoid it. But it doesn't work like that. I cover up because I'm more comfortable that way, because I get cold easily, because it's more practical for my job, but not because it's going to magically keep people from making all kinds of unsolicited comments and / or assumptions about me and my body. I've lived through too much to think it works that way.