Reflections on our new life in Costa Rica

Today I'm going to cover several things at once and get you all caught up.

Grab a cup of coffee or a glass of wine for this one

First - We now have a cat. A kitten. He came to us on July 5th. We had our housekeeper take him away to give to a family that wanted him but about a week later he was back.

I took him to the vet to have him checked out to make sure he was Ok and got him his first vaccination, de-worming, nails clipped and flea and tick prevention. Total cost $24.

Turns out he is a male about 4 months old. He is in good health.

We didn't really want a cat since I already have 2 dogs but there are a lot of strays here and rather than have him mistreated or dumped along the side of the road we have let him stay. He does not come in the house (unless he sneaks under the screen) LOL He loves playing in the hills and in the coffee fields. We have a large patio so he hangs out there most of the time (napping on one of our many chairs). At night he goes up on the ledge under the roofing over the patio (I guess he feels safer up high)

Very smart cat.

We named him Luis - actually one of our friends from California came up with the name. Beginning with the letter "L" to go with Lily & Lola and because we live in San Luis de Grecia. Lavanson is an L and my middle name is Lynn. So quite appropriate.

People have said that a cat chooses you and that they are your angel. So....for now....We have a cat.

our little angel "Luis"

Second - Some of you may remember me buying lots of stuff (makeup etc) to bring to Costa Rica before I left SF. Many of you were perplexed and thought it was sort of odd because I should just buy things here. Well, I am so happy that I did -- because prices are crazy here for luxury items. I looked at a pair of Tom's (just a plain black pair) and they were $65 and up. I think @ Whole Foods the cost was about $58.

If you want to really save money here you have to adjust how you live. You cannot live the same way you did in the states. However, rent is so cheap that it is still worth while living here. My rent is $266/month (my 1/3) Rent in the U.S was $2,400 - you do the math!

Before I came, I bought lots of makeup - lipstick, etc but the one thing I did not bring was nail polish. Mostly because I heard that it would dry out and I figured "how much could it cost?" Really?

When I decided I wanted to paint my nails I went out and bought some polish at the Central Market. It wasn't too much. I bought a small polish remover and polish for about $4.

Costa Rica nail polish in teeny bottles

the remover is in small bottles (the images are much smaller than they appear!) The remover is not strong so you use up most of the bottle trying to remove your polish.

The polish was dreadful It chipped and peeled and just looked awful. It never went on smoothly from the start. Yesterday we were at the Auto Mercado (a grocery store which caters to expats) and I decided I was going to get myself a bottle of REAL polish with a brand name that I recognized.

So I bought 2 bottles of Sally Hansen (that is not a high priced brand)

The smaller bottle was $7 and the regular size bottle was $12.50.  That is about twice the price that it costs in the states. The Revlon polish was $14

also pure maple syrup is $30. My Genoa salami is $6 a pack (about 8 slices) REAL cheese is crazy expensive like $15 or something. Yesterday I bought 3 packs and got charged for 4 - with the nail polish and other items my bill was $105
fruits & veggies are SUPER cheap but you gotta eat like a local or you will go broke!

Of course there are many, many pluses - Our view is to die for and the weather is perfect among other things so we still love it here! 

Third - We finally bought a gas grill. Price was $275 assembled. (I think that was a pretty good price) We brought it home in the back seat of a taxi.  The gas can with gas was $75! (ouch)  - but you have to buy the can then take it to your local pulperia (neighborhood store) for gas refills. 

To break in the grill we decided to invite a few friends over. Especially since we NEVER had a gas grill and did not know exactly how to use it.

Our short party video is attached below

Our 1st Party feat the cat that acts like a dog from Devon on Vimeo.

Video link above

Oh and Lastly - We took the bus to Alajuela (22 miles away) yesterday so I could get my hair done by my new Sisterlocks Consultant. Her name is Dr Carmen Hutchinson-Miller and she was awesome!!! Did a great job and took about 2 1/2 hrs (normal) The price was $40. I pay $100 back in the states. Cost of the bus was $1.20 ea way and takes about 30 mins.  Some of you may remember I was searching for someone to do my hair before I left.

NATURAL HAIR RULES!!!

after my lock retightening

Dr Miller and me

I won this one hahaha

If not now, when?

Is it time for a change?

I see a hat I like. 

Try it on.

9 times out of 10 - it doesn't fit. 

Looks like a toy sitting atop my head.

Story of my life.

I'm forever complaining about the size of my head and how I can never find hats to fit.
It has been suggested to me on more than one ocassion that the culprit might likely be the tons of hair on my head and not so much my head  per se (although my head is definitely larger than average) but at any rate, wearing hats has been a chore.

After 14 years of growing my natural hair (for those not familiar with black hair Sisterlocks are natural locs (think Whoopi Golberg) not braids), I have NEVER worn my locs completely down. Nope, NEVER! My hair has consisitently been pulled back in one or a series of ponytails or twist overs.

For photos I throw it over one shoulder but most of the time you can only see it from the back. There are many reasons for this and most of them stem from the fact that when I wear it down -- it is a whole lot of hair for a black girl in corporate America. And let's face it, 14 years ago it would not have been acceptable. So I got used to pulling it back and up.

But it's NOW --  it's 2015 -- and in a few short months I will turn 65 and sign up for medicare. And soon after that... I will be enjoying retirement!

So, if not now....when?

Over the holidays I spent some time at the boyfriend's house where none of the electronics were working properly (he doesn't watch TV)  He was in his office working and me and the girls (my Yorkies Lily & lola) were left to entertain ourselves.

I had brought my camera with me to take some photos featuring some of my hats.

I had also washed my hair the previous day and had braided it to dry. (I braid after washing for a crinkle look) My plan was to photograph the hats as I wear them most often (as a cover for my hair while it dries).

So I shot all the photos of me in my hats - hair hidden underneath.

The next day, with hair dry, I unbraided it and before I put it back in a ponytail, it was just hanging loose. It was then that I got the idea of seeing what the hats would like - seriously that idea never occurred to me in the past.

I popped on a hat and snapped some pics.

and...What a difference flat hair makes! And Suddenly OMG -  the hats fit like a glove and many were even too big!!

I was having such a good time taking photos and posing for photos the boyfriend took, that we ended up with a loads of photos (and if you know anything about photo shoots you know you have to take a ton of pictures to hopefully end up with a few good enough to use)

Well, I think we have more than enough pictures to highlight a different hat every day this week.

So that's the plan!

Hope you'll stop by and check me out. And feel free to leave a comment and let me know what you think about my new hairstyle possibility!

Oh and as usual the dogs just love the photo shoots

hair up
hair down
this is the same hat

big difference huh?

Do you see TWO different hats in this photo. 

If your answer is yes, you are correct

My boyfriend thought there was only one and suggested I should point it out

(thanks babe) 

Life! 

It's all about change

please stop back tomorrow for "my  hats" day 2

It's gonna be a bright sun shining day

Saturday pics

Off to brunch and a day with the girls (the Yorkie girls)

(and some re adjusting to be done re the camera settings - check!)

A little scarf action while the hair dries

Not bad

Here comes the weekend!

What are your plans for the weekend?

I survived week one. Got the blog up and running all by myself and that is quite an accomplishment in itself. I'm pretty proud of myself.

It's raining out but I hope it will clear up for Saturday and Sunday.

Tonight I'm hanging with my girls Lily & Lola and painting my nails. I have a hair appointment on Saturday morning and I'm not sure what else is in store for the rest of the weekend.

Livin for the weekend!

Happy Dance in a pair of black NYDJ from Nordstrom, Raspberry & black dotted blouse by Vince Camuto and Black scarf  purchased in Nice, France

Friday is jeans day at our office

Have a wonderful weekend, whatever you decide to do!