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!!!

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!!!

Kicking the relocation blues

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?

My 15 X 4 Facial Oil & Anti Aging Serum

My 15 by 4 facial oil/Anti Aging

For about a year I have been using straight coconut oil as a single oil on my face. I have been using it as night cream and a daily moisturizer. Before this I was using a commercial moisturizer. I really wanted to use something that was free of chemicals and coconut oil is very helpful in a multitude of ways. I didn't have issues with it per se, but I did feel that it might be just a bit too oily for everyday use on the face if you are using it as your single source.

So, I have been on the look out for a lighter replacement and the perfect oil for my face. 

Last month I made a face serum with a recipe that used Rose Hip Oil. In addition to being a pretty expensive oil,  I did not care much for the scent. I do realize that the oils are therapeutic, however there are generally alternative oils than can be substituted if you do not have a suggested oil or, as in my case, you do not like the scent.

So I have continued my search

This newest herbal face oil is amazing for skin. It does use 5 different essential oils (and not the least expensive oils) but it smells incredible and should work just as well.

If you follow the recipe you will only need a couple of smalls drop each day and it should last about 6-8 months and it is the only face moisturizer you'll need.

Herbal Face Oil Ingredients

The special blend of oils in this recipe is especially good for skin, including:

• Argan Oil ( I did not have Argan so I substituted jojoba)
• Rose (I used Rose Absolute)
• Lavender Essential Oil
• Frankincense Essential Oil
• Myrrh Essential oil

Another great thing about this recipe is that it takes seconds to make because you are just mixing oils with other oils and no water or emulsification is needed.

Keep  it handy by your sink and use a drop after oil cleansing each night or after washing your face in the morning. It smells incredible and I love smelling the oils as I drift off to sleep or as I work in the morning.

Face Oil Ingredients:

• 2 ounces argan oil
• 15 drops each of Rose, Lavender, Frankincense Myrrh essential oils

How to Make Herbal Face Oil:

1. Mix all ingredients in a small glass dropper bottle or pump bottle that can release only a drop or two at a time.
2. Use 2-3 drops per day as needed on face.

Note: If you have drier skin, another oil like jojoba, olive or sea buckthorn can be used.

Recipe Source 

Step into my kitchen

Can you guess what I'm cooking up?

hint...I don't cook!

No, it's not a Thanksgiving turkey. As a matter of fact it has nothing to do with Thanksgiving.

When last I wrote, I told you that I was making some big changes in my life. The biggest being a complete change in diet and my approach to wellness. In conjunction with participating in the healing of my own body, I have also started using essential oils. The oils can be used therapeutically to support physical and emotional well being and are also useful in so many other ways. My plan is to rid myself and my home of the toxic products I have been using and replace them with clean, natural organic, products. 

Another thing I have always loved is creating scents and fragrances. I did this by mixing different fragrances together. Of course I have known for some time that commercial fragrances contains harmful, toxic ingredients but thinking I had no choice, I used them anyway. 

Scent of Danger: Are There Toxic Ingredients in Perfumes and Colognes?

So now I've decided to make my own perfume using essential oils. 

Over the weekend I also made anti aging night serums for my face and neck. Clean and for a fraction of the cost to buy them @ Nordstrom or Macy's!

 With the night cream under my belt, how hard could it be to create a fragrance? 

I scoured the internet watching video after video 

and learned a lot about how to make my own fragrance. 

And, really it's not that difficult

I gathered up all of my oils and set out to whip up a new scent. 

except.....

I didn't follow the directions closely enough as I discovered 

I needed to use alcohol for the recipes I had chosen.

I had not seen that part. Nor had I paid attention to the fact that I also needed distilled water.

So back to the store I went. 

 You can use perfumer's alcohol 

or 

wait for it....

Vodka! 

At least 80 proof. The alcohol helps the scent to evaporate 

I bought a  bottle @ Trader Joe's for $5.99 (don't think I will try drinking it) 

Once I had all of my ingredients. I set them out on my counter top and 

separated them by base, middle and top notes

Snapping a few pics of myself along the way

All kidding aside, it's really not that hard. All you really need to make your own perfume is a good quality oil to use as your base, some quality essential oils (there are many companies out there to choose from) and a non reactive container to put it in. I think glass is better. 

Now I have so many choices that I haven't decided which one I want to make first.

I'll be sure to share the results with you. It also takes about 30 days after you make the fragrance before you can wear it.

I'm shooting for a Xmas reveal! Be sure to stop back by.

Also if you have questions about essential oils and/or want to make your own creams. perfumes. etc. Email me or Leave me message in comments.