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

In Search of Fenty Beauty

Been watching a lot of the reviews on Fenty Beauty by Rihanna. No Sephora in Costa Rica so on our recent trip to Cancun, I went in search of Fenty products. I plan to do my own review shortly.

Pre Packin Mexico Bound from Devon on Vimeo.

Wedding Series - Sephora in Playa del Carmen, Mexico from Devon on Vimeo.

Pink Linen in the Rain

We had big plans on Sunday to attend Barrio Escalante's La Luz outdoor food festival in downtown San Jose -- but we woke up to rain. (BTW-the rainy season was supposed to be over in Nov -- we are more than ready for the beautiful summer dry season!!) We were going to the festival with a group of folks in a rented 21 person van. The instructions were to meet at La Terraza B&B for breakfast at 9am and leave for San Jose at 11. Usually the rain here is intermittent and a shower in the morning is not indicative of rain all day but as luck would have it, once we arrived, we found out that the forecast for Sunday was for rain -- all day! So, our event was canceled -- however, since we were already there and a couple of folks had cameras, we decided to take some photos of the beautiful grounds. 

Also one of the ladies is a videographer and was shooting film for an upcoming ad for the B&B which I just might have a bit part in (stay tuned).

While cameras were out I had my other half take a few pics of me in my pink linen and also a couple of video clips of me using the bridge as a make shift runway. 

Canceled due to rain! from Devon on Vimeo.

Hotel Atitlan - Panajachel Guatemala

I LOVE a nice hotel!

Our stay at one of the best!!!

A First Class Hotel - for more information on rates etc contact Hotel Atitlan, Panajachel, Sololá Guatemala

The view speaks for itself and the service was superb!!

Let the photos do the talking...

below is our personal video with photos of our stay! Four days in paradise! (BTW the prices are very affordable)

HOTEL ATITLAN from Devon on Vimeo.

(click video ink above for email subscribers)

The no fashion, fashion shoot in Guatemala

Hope everyone is having a wonderful Sunday. 

I didn't get around to doing any fashion shoots while in Guatemala

so I thought I would substitute some pictures of our hotel and the grounds along with a few pics of me.

Have a great day!

Breakfast @ Hotel Atitlan 

Lake Atitlan, Panajachel Guatemala

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!!!

Costa Rica Wedding Day fashions

The wedding (of 9 couples)  was today and it was a wonderful event!!

I took photos and video so now I have the tedious task of editing.

Not sure how long it will take, hopefully should be done to upload by Wednesday (fingers crossed)

Till then, here are a few pictures of my outfit.

 Balloons mark the path to the event location

Taking some photos in the bedroom of one of the brides. 

Ms Jane with the veil she made with material she purchased in town a few days ago 

Me & Kathleen (one of the brides)

A beautiful setting. Don't you agree?

See you back in a few days with the video!