This is what 68 looks like (on me)

My 68th birthday was yesterday and although I do not share my age on Facebook, I am proud to share it here. And, in addition to that, I even took some photos wearing a swimsuit.

I NEVER do that. 

but here goes!

oh, first let's start out with a photo of my granddaughter & great granddaughter

and here is me

What your clothing says about you

Things are a changin!

but...

one of the things that has not changed, is my love for fashion and design. 

We moved into a furnished house in Costa Rica. I brought very few of my personal belongings and the space did not feel quite like "me". After living with what we had for a while I decided to buy a couple of Costa Rican Rockers and also some pottery from Nicaragua. Next I added some other odds and ends like lamps, a few pictures and some kitchen items. Although it still isn't quite "me" it's coming along. We are planning to make a trip to Guatemala soon and I am eager to bring back some of their beautiful textiles for our home. 

My next project...

my clothes

Since we were not bringing a lot of clothing, I downsized my wardrobe and then selected the clothing I thought would be most appropriate for our new life and a very different climate (mostly based on what I had read from other expats).

Since we have been here almost 5 months I have learned quite a bit about how I want to dress and it turns out that I brought many of the wrong items.

It is next to impossible to have packages shipped into Costa Rica so I thought I would have to live with what I had brought, until, an expat friend told me that she makes trips back to Houston a couple of times a month and would be happy to bring back some clothing items for me.

So I set out to find myself some new clothing.

YES!!!!

(thank you Deborah!!!)

BTW - up until now I have NEVER ordered clothing online (unless it was something I had already seen and tried on in the store) 

So this was completely new to me.

I took to Amazon, reading the reviews and checking each piece very carefully as I knew that it would be very hard to return any of the items that I did not like or that did not fit properly. 

I was pleasantly surprised when I discovered a site that specializes in 100% natural linen (the perfect fiber for the hot Costa Rican weather)

I want to feel comfortable and confident in my clothing

My new favorite place to shop online is Vivid Linen!!

Vivid's linen apparel is cool, stylish and comfortable. The boutique meets the demand from both men and women on linen wear.

link  Online Store

I found so many pretty things on their site that I went a little overboard (I bought tops only) and I was super happy when my friend delivered them to me.

I might also note that the packaging is 1st class. They are individually wrapped in plastic and then slipped into a very nice linen bag (picture below does not do it justice).

The clothing quality is amazing!!

I plan to take some photos of me modeling the clothing (I also bought linen slacks from another retailer) and will share them here at some point in the near future. Stand by

link this is the yellow top pictured in the photo

It might be late in the year for some of you in the U.S but consider for warmer weather.

The styles are also very comfortable for those of us who like a looser fit.

They have a physical store in Hong Kong but thank goodness you can shop them online! 

Have a great weekend everyone!!!

What's my size? The wacky world of women's clothing sizes

A question crossed my mind over the weekend as I was doing some online shopping for clothing. When it came to size selection, I had NO idea what size I should order. I am a person who usually has to try everything on to make sure it fits.

I'll let you know when I receive my orders. I might even post them here on the blog since I have not done a fashion shoot since I moved to Costa Rica. Stay tuned...

The women's clothing size issue has caused problems for me most of my life.

Men’s clothes on the other hand, seem to be labelled with pretty reasonable sizes. Shirts are labelled with chest sizes or collar sizes; trousers tend to come with measurements for the waistband and leg length. 

Unlike men's clothing, women’s clothes are a minefield. No matter what the item, whether it’s a blouse, skirt, pair of jeans, or a dress, it comes with a single size on the label: an apparently arbitrary number that refers to none of the item’s measurements. And as an additional complication, that size isn’t standardized across different brands, so someone who wears a UK size 12 in one shop might be a 10 in another, or an 8, or a 14, and the only way she’ll find out is by trying things on.

Have you ever wondered why?

“True sizing standards didn’t develop until the 1940’s,” says Lynn Boorady, fashion and textile technology chair and associate professor at Buffalo State University. “Before then sizes for young ladies and children were all based on age — so a size 16 would be for a 16-year-old — and for women it was about bust measurement.”

As American girth increased, so did egos. And thus began the practice of vanity sizing. Hence, there really is no standard sizing and the stores and manufacturers are free to choose whatever sizing they choose.

So, if you’re a woman, what all of this means is that you’re doomed to continue trying things on, or obsessively checking sizing charts online, until you find the size that’s right for you – most of the time, the number on the tag won’t tell you what you need to know. And as long as women’s clothing is mass-produced the way it is right now, that’s not going to change.  source

Pantone New Colors for 2016

WHAT IS THE PANTONE COLOR OF THE YEAR?

A symbolic color selection; a color snapshot of what we see taking place in our culture that serves as an expression of a mood and an attitude.

 ROSE QUARTZ & SERENITY COLOR PAIRINGS 

For the first time Pantone introduces two shades, Rose Quartz and Serenity as the PANTONE Color of the Year 2016. Rose Quartz is a persuasive yet gentle tone that conveys compassion and a sense of composure. Serenity is weightless and airy, like the expanse of the blue sky above us, bringing feelings of respite and relaxation even in turbulent times. source

The 210 new colors range from the blackest of black to the most brilliant white.

With color trends constantly shifting and redefining themselves, our collection of 210 new shades gives you a greater range of creative expression and ensures that your color palettes are fresh, modern and relevant.

see them all here

FALL 2016: A Unity of Strength, Confidence and Complexity

The desire for tranquility, strength, and optimism have inspired a Fall 2016 color palette that is led by the Blue family.

love this color

What's Underneath

The other day I bought several cute swimsuit cover ups by Raviya. I may use them to cover up swimsuits but I also wanted to be able to just wear them around when I'm in Costa Rica and the weather is hot. 

The problem was, I didn't have a bra to wear underneath.  Let's just face it, my breasts are way too big to go braless! And I am way too old to have my bra straps showing. The last time I tried to find a strapless bra I was much younger (although I have always had ample size breasts). I remember not being able to find a bra in my size in a strapless that would hold up my breasts so I gave up trying, and to this date I figured I could not wear a strapless bra.  

Well, obviously things have changed on the bra scene because I marched into Norstrom the other day and discovered I had several options in strapless bras.

They were very comfortable and actually held the boobies up! 

So I bought 2. They are by Wacoal and also come with straps so you can wear them under other clothes as well.  Go figure!!

What's Underneath by urbandoggs featuring a full figure strapless bra

The Rules Are, There Are No Rules!

I've been mulling over in my head over the last few months about what to pack for our year long trip to Costa Rica. I say year long because the plan is to go over for a year and then reassess whether we want to continue living there or possibly move to another country. Either way we'll be coming back home next year to take care of business, tend to any medical needs and restock our supplies. 

My dilemma has been about how much to take and what to take. I've read a lot of information about how to pack for Costa Rica and every single thing I've read has emphasized taking very few things and suggests that the clothes you take include short sleeve tops, flip, flops and casual skorts. Most of the expats have found little use for any type of dressier clothing.

At first the tips really bothered me because although I like to be as casual as the next guy, I also like to dress nice. I'm not in my 20's so the way I dress tends to be a little more dressy. I plan to attend cultural events like the ballet and the symphony. I just can't see myself in yoga pants and flip flops everyday. 

If you pack too light you run the risk of running out of clothes. I would not be happy if I only had 5 or 10 clothing choices. I think you should wake up in the morning and be inspired by what is in your wardrobe. Even in Costa Rica.

Style is personal. It comes from within, from knowing who you are and who you want to be; not from wanting to be somebody else or following someone else's rules. So I decided to be myself and take as many things as I want. To me its better to be safe than sorry. 

photo source

You can never please everyone so dress in what makes you feel amazing. Living abroad you most likely will have a different style than that of the locals. Adopt what you like and mix it with your own sense of style. 

Your wardrobe should contain only amazing choices. If you don’t like the way you look in something before you leave, you probably won’t ever wear it on your trip.

Here are some tips I agree with.

Tips for Travel in Costa Rica 

1. Take the lightest cotton "sun veil" fabrics to wear on or near the beaches. Sarongs over matching bathing suits can double as evening dinner wear. Denim is much too hot near beach areas. A light cashmere shawl is great to wear evenings in San Jose.

2. Consider packing a pair of quick dry pants with zip-off pant legs. They will keep you warmer, protect you from the mud in cloud forests and avoid mosquitoes. 

3. When you are traveling in Costa Rica avoid revealing clothes. Try to dress tastefully and elegantly. Pack light clothing made of cotton which is perfect. You can wear jeans or shots too, but not too short. But the best way is to dress simply and elegantly. If traveling in the mountains, bring a warm jacket, the higher the altitude the colder it is.

4. Take very casual summer separates--shorts, tops. If you intend on being in Cloud Forests or volcano areas, take rubber shoes--cheap ones that you can throw away at the end of the trip. It is very wet and these work great. Take a slicker or rain gear even during dry months. They have very soft gentle rains. Go with neat, simple items--a few skirts and long sleeve tops for night. People do clean up in the evening but not fancy.

5. In San Jose during the rainy season (May-November), people usually carry umbrellas--brightly colored "sombrillas" for women and black "paraguas" for men. In the mountains, a lightweight rain poncho is usually more convenient.

6. Oh and do bring all of your bras as they are very expensive if you have to buy them locally. 

Now, the only thing left is for me to choose which items to take. I have an assortment of clothing already picked out. I am going to following the 10 rule meaning I will take 10 of each type of clothing (dresses, pants, etc). Hopefully I can fit everything in 3 suitcases.

I'll report back. 

Camo Casual

   I'm still in the same tiny apartment with no space to take fashion pics but every time I am out and have a chance, I snap a few photos of what I am wearing.

Wearing:

Blue Caslon Camo Pants | Norstrom |

Blue top Jones of New York | Macys |

Black Sweater by Bloom| Nordstrom |

Blue Patent Flats by BP | Nordstrom|

Wearing:

Burgundy Lip Liner | Smashbox |
Electric Pink Matte Lipstick| Maybelline |

                     Cheers!

A Passion for Fashion

What are the odds that your grandchildren will be blessed — or saddled — with your most distinguishing features and/or likes and dislikes? 

 Meet Khalia Ariel

my granddaughter

New genetic testing techniques can now reveal individuals’ shared lineage going back multiple generations but still can’t determine if your grandchild will have your high cheek bones. And yet there is some familial resemblance in every new grandchild.

The features you're more likely to see carried over in your grandchild are more likely to include hair, skin, and eye color, than the actual contours of your face, says Barry Starr, director of Stanford at The Tech, a program run by the Stanford University genetics department at the Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose, Calif.

Geneticists are making remarkable discoveries since the mapping of the human genome.

The experts say that any future discoveries about how appearance is carried through a child's genes are likely to come as a byproduct of other research, such as DNA sampling.

Source Grandparents.com

Khalia lives in Colorado. This photo was taken in 2011when we travelled to Atlanta. I have not seen her in person since then, but obviously she has grown up quite a bit. I think it would be fun to do a photo shoot together one day. We share a passion for fashion.

Khalia has completed cosmetology school and is making plans to attend a new college in the fall.

I'm very proud of her!

Thank you Khalia for allowing me to post these beautiful photos!

The Eyes have it

I am now ticking off boxes on my Costa Rica to-do list.

Last Friday: Eye Exam and new glasses

Just as our physical strength decreases with age, our eyes also exhibit an age-related decline in performance — particularly as we reach our 60s and beyond.

Some age-related eye changes, such as presbyopia, are perfectly normal and don't signify any sort of disease process. While cataracts can be considered an age-related disease, they are extremely common among seniors and can be readily corrected with cataract surgery.

Some of us, however, will experience more serious age-related eye diseases that have greater potential for affecting our quality of life as we grow older. These conditions include glaucoma, macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. Source 

The AARP Eye Chart

There a couple of parts of the eye exam that I am not too fond of. One being the eye dilation test. It takes about 15-20 minutes for your eyes to dilate, the test takes about 5 minutes, and it was close to 6 hours before my eyes were back to normal.

The 2nd is the peripheral test - "wow" - what a doozie. The test consists of a series of very faint wiggling gray lines that periodically pop into your field of vision.  You are instructed to stare only at the dot in the middle screen and use the clicker when you see the wiggling lines appear. I wasn't sure what I was seeing half the time. I got a total fail! I had to take the test a couple of times as I was told "the machine caught your eyes looking around!!" After switching me to a different machine,  I did get them all correct but....what the heck happened to the good old days when they used a simple farmhouse to test your peripheral vision?

I have a couple of friends around my age who have macular degeneration and also in my research I learned that glaucoma is the #1 cause of blindness in African Americans, so I was a little concerned. I was really happy to find out after my exam, that I had no signs of color blindness, glaucoma, cataracts, or macular degeneration (which, according to my doctor, is more prevalent in people with blue eyes). However, I am almost 66 - so I do have some slight changes in my vision, but nothing too worry about at this time.

After the exam I tried on the Oliver Peoples frames again, they had originally been my 1st choice, but the 2nd time around they felt just a little bit too tame for me and my new life in retirement.

I really do like the frames but once I put them on, the subtle details disappeared and they looked more like a simple pair of black glasses :( They would have been a sure choice if I were going to continue working in corporate America.

In the final analysis I decided not to go with the Olive Peoples frames and chose instead the Dior frames.

My plan in retirement is to GO BOLD!

The cost of my Dior choice without insurance would have been $1,100!!! Can you believe it? I am always hearing about people who buy their glasses for $99. No, not me. I have never purchased a pair of glasses for less then $500. With my insurance the cost is mere $433. My progressive, transition lens would be $533 alone without the insurance.  There is also a new Hoya Progressive lens that I am getting. It will take 4-5 weeks to get the glasses back. (No "in about an hour" here)

Oh, I also ordered the Prada glasses as my 2nd pair but I will have to pay full price for those - no insurance discount. I think the optometrist office will give me 20% off the frames :)

What is your best bet for healthy eyes after 60?

A healthy diet and wise lifestyle choices, such as not smoking, are your best natural defenses against vision loss as you age. Choose vegetables high in lutein.

Be sure to get your eyes checked yearly after 60 as it is so important!

I'll be sure to post my glasses when I get them!

Read my Lip(stick)

HOW MANY LIPSTICKS DOES A GIRL REALLY NEED?

According to author Helena Frith Powell's book All You Need to Be Impossibly French, she bluntly states that to be more French all you need are two lipsticks (and a lover). She explains that one lipstick is for everyday wear and that the second is for nighttime or those occasions when you really want to vamp it up.

Can't say that I agree with her on having only 2 lipsticks, but in an effort to downsize for my move to Costa Rica I must go through everything, including my makeup. I need only take the bare minimum. 

The choice of which lipsticks is really hard because I have 20 tubes, and I pretty much like them all! 

This was also a rather difficult post to do because I am not exactly in love with my lips, but I decided to take these pictures anyway so that I could see the variety of shades I have (mostly red) and then make the cut from there. 

In the interest of your time I will not photograph all 20. 

I started with my lipliner - Smashbox Always Sharp Lip Liner in Ruby 

it goes well with all my colors and the pencil is self sharpening - I like that a lot

1st up from the Exclusive Collection Blake's Red by L'Oreal Colour Riche

It's a smooth and long lasting matte. It's my go to lip color for everyday wear.  

2nd up

F-Bomb by Urban Decay

Another one of my faves - creamy with a bit of shine

3rd lipstick

L'Oreal #315 True Red

4th Channel (can't read the shade anymore)

5th Bobbi Brown Essentials

Burnt Red #9

 6th Smashbox Rouge A Levres Screen Queen Matte
this one is new so I am still getting used to it

 7th Luxury Moisturizing Lipstick #001 Wild Thing
with just a hint of orchid

 8th YSL Rouge Pur
my spring and summer time pink

9th Mac Cosmetics CB96
this one is actually orange so can't say I have ever worn it alone. I usually mix it with a red 

How many lipsticks do you have?