Not finished yet but getting there - Costa Rica bedroom redo

If you know me, you know that I am a girl who LOVES color. Bright Colors!!

Although the decor in the home was Ok (especially since it came fully furnished) - it was not exactly "our design taste". Many of the things we could not change, like the furniture and artwork (or the lack of it).

In the bedrooms I've wanted to add some of the colors and design that I like by changing out the duvets, however, try as I might, I have yet to find a duvet in any store where it did not come in combination with a full sheet/pillowcase/sham combination. Even that would not have been too bad except I have not been fond of the designs.

Before

In the box we shipped I had a brightly colored cloth shower curtain from one of my previous apartments (I really like the bold colors) and yesterday I decided to see if it would fit on one of the queen size beds. Although it could stand to be a tad bigger, it made it across the bed and there was enough room to tuck it in the bottom and the sides.

Of course since it is a shower curtain it did not have matching sheets or pillowcases. The closest color I could find (that I had brought with me) was orange. Not a favorite but doable in a pinch if I covered with throw pillows.

     throw pillow purchased in Grecia

shower curtain 

After

The cool thing was that I bought a throw pillow in downtown Grecia and it was a dead ringer in color, but I only had one. I made a trip into town to purchase more -- but as luck would have it, they had no more in stock. I compromised and chose a deep burgundy. I also had a green pillow which I had bought in town and it looked OK so I used it. While I was in town I decided to replace the dark blackout curtains with 2 lighter sheer panels in a light lavender/purple. 

new curtains

I recently purchased a full length mirror since the house only had ONE mirror! (previously I had purchased one for the 2nd bathroom) but have not been able to see what I look like below my shoulders since I got here.

The room is a work in progress. Next up I will change out the orange pillowcases. I also need an additional stand in the room.

I will keep you posted on my progress.

Have a great weekend!!!

One Bag

Travel Wardrobe Capsule – Black & white

Been really busy working to narrow down the clothes for my upcoming trip. Been Mixing and matching outfits to wear for 15 glorious days in the tropics. 

Each of us has agreed to travel with only ONE carry on. So gotta make everything fit! That's the plan.

As we were fine tuning our itinerary I also attempted to fine tune my wardrobe selections. However, so far, no wardrobe plan has worked to meet all of my specifications. 

　

With time running out, I'm posting my most recent and hopefully my final attempt. 

I chose these pieces based on several factors and with a focus on total comfort dressing. No tight, clinging, digging pants. I'm not even taking a pair of jean (they are heavy and can also be very hot) We have a long flight and once we arrive we will be spending a great deal of time riding long distances on hot buses, which I also assume will probably a bit cramped. 

I don't anticipate that we will attend any dressy functions but I bought along 1 dress that can pass for dressy and I have a pair of trusty black pants. 

Four dresses

Six tops

All tops are inter changeable

five pairs of pants

 the navy, black and gray pants are all made of tencel

Batik long dress from Molly b

 2 swim suits

1 swim suit cover ups

1 Net King Tunic (also comes in black)

the tunic is not an "official" swim suit cover up. I'm just using it as one. 

It is very versatile. I have a million things I can wear under it. 

Also packing: 2 pairs of knee length shorts (khaki and pink) and 3 linen Tshirts (navy, black and olive green) 1 wrap, 1 pj, undies (I love the ExOfficio Quick-Dry Full Brief $20 /pr) 2 pairs of Toms (black and ?? (a pair not  purchased yet)

So far everything fits. We'll see how many "must haves" I will have to add to the bag.

I'll take a photo each day of the outfit I wear once we get to Costa Rica

A whole lotta color! - hats - day 2

How bout we add some color to the photo shoot, shall we? 

A whole lotta color!

I have a knit hat which I have always considered to be orange. I decided to photograph it with a beautiful scarf that I have which is full of vibrant orange and green. A sort of safari look. 

As soon as I put the outfit together and snapped the camera shutter  - uh oh - I noticed that the hat wasn't exactly orange like I thought but more salmon colored. 

But what's done is done, so why not just go with. So I threw on some aqua sunglasses and a bunch of colorful African bangles.

It's 2015 and anything goes right? 

Hair in braids (still drying).
I usually leave it braided for a couple of days to obtain the wavy look

These hats were my incognito (?) look while it dried - seriously!

Hair dry and down

There are no rules?
Well, maybe not everything goes with everything.
I ditched the aqua shades in favor a more neutral pair. 

I have a good friend who designs and knits the coolest hats.
She made the hats below for me

I also have the hat above in green (you'll see it on another "my hats" day later this week) 

When my hair is up this one looks like hair

please stop back tomorrow for "my  hats" day 3

and just in case you missed it....
click here for day 1

Happy New Year Paris!

New Year's eve is a great time for reflection ahh the memories!

Even though I won't be retiring in Paris, it will always be my favorite city.

In 2011 we rented the cutest apartment in the 6th Arr

If you enjoy hotels, here is where we stayed in 2010

outfit from Nordstrom
Black & Silver skirt by Halogen
Silver Glitter shoes by Anne Klein

The Bootie calls!

Another weekend is upon us. Where does the time go? We are winding down our Indian Summer here in the Bay Area and fall will be here in a few weeks.  I'm not really that fond of the shorter days and the time change but once we get through the season it will time for me to head over to Costa Rica. So that is something I am looking forward to.

In preparation of the changing season I needed to have a pair of ankle boots! Well, that's the excuse I used anyway.

I have never been a big fan of the ankle boot or (bootie) for me, until recently. The ankle boot has been around for a while now and I've loved the look, on other women, but thought I could never wear the style due to my thin ankles (yep there are my ankles standing in the way of a fashion trend once again) However, fashion has a way of adapting these days (still not enough where age is concerned but certainly fashion adapts to body type). 

So after seeing photos of some other women with thin ankles sporting the ankle boot I decided to do an extensive boot search and finally I decided to buy my 1st pair.  I do have to add that most ankle boots are still way to wide in the ankle for my taste but I was happy to find a few acceptable choices.

There are also many different ways to wear the ankle boot. If you are over 50 and beyond, like me, you may find that some of the bootie looks are bit too young looking while others are quite age appropriate. The key to staying stylish and hip is to take current looks and make adjustments until it feels right for you.

My musical selection this week isn't an oldie. 

Songwriter Jetta has been dubbed NBT (the next big thing)

here's more

Take it Easy

Jetta

ankle boots paired with black tights

ankle boots by Anne Klein ilex (very comfy)
worn with black fish net tights

gray and white stripe sleeveless dress from Old Navy

One easy choice for me is to pair booties with a dress

A good look for work

Of course there are many more ways to wear ankle boots.

 I will feature some of my other looks in another post. Coming soon

"Whatever you have planned (or don't)...Hope you enjoy your weekend."

In your face pattern mixing! Poppy & Plaid

A couple of weeks ago I went shopping for something to wear to my friend Maggie's wedding

After much searching I bought a poppy colored plaid blouse at Macy's

There was also a very pretty (matching) solid pleated maxi skirt but I decided not to buy the skirt

 Instead I decided to pattern mix the blouse with a pair of pants which I already had in my closet.

I don't ever remember pattern mixing being the "in" thing to do during any other time in my life

As a matter of fact, it was a definite style "no no"

However, over time I’ve become much more confident with wearing loud patterns, 

and figured out a few tricks

to make my pattern mixing look intentional, rather than loud

 Patterns become cohesive when you have one common color. Even if your patterns have several other colors that don't match up at all, it doesn't matter. That one common color will hold your outfit together and make your pattern combination look intentional. 

(Of course this is NOT the outfit I wore to the wedding) 

Pants by Halogen available from Nordstrom (last year)

Vince Camuto Plaid Drape Front Shirttail Blouse  (poppy) from Macy's (new)