Category: Lifestyle

Ray of Pitch Black

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One of my big purchases of 2024 was this Foxblood jumpsuit. I had missed the first drop so once it became available again I didn’t hesitate. Actually, that’s a lie. I totally did, and I ended up waiting so long that the XL/2XL size option sold out by the time I was ready to pull the trigger. I didn’t let that stop me though, I ended up sizing down to the M/L size instead. The jumpsuit does have an oversized fit which drapes my petite plus frame just fine, except for at my bustline.

For the record, all the buttons do close, the fabric just doesn’t have any stretch and pulls a bit more than I would like at the bust. This means that I have to keep the first few buttons open, serving major cleavage every time I wear it. You know what they say: If you got it, flaunt it.

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10 Years of Blogging and Still Figuring Things Out

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I never been one for dates, other than birthdays. This is part of the reason why I’m so attached to both my Google calendar and pocket planner to keep everything together. Not that I would be completely lost without them, just that it does help. Knowing this, you might think that I had forgotten that this blog turned 10 years old back in January, and yet that is simply not the case.  I simply didn’t get to mark the occasion due to becoming  a recluse as I deal with (f)unemployement.  It is also why I did my best to not acknowledge my milestone birthday this year, and believe me, I had plans.

Ten years in and I’m still waiting on that influencer money. (I’m kidding, of course.)

Anyway, now nine months into the year,  I wish I could say that things have improved, though sadly it has yet to. This is all far from what I had planned last year when I decided to make the biggest taboo move and quit a job without a back up. You’re probably reading this and saying, “In this economy?!” Yea, I know. And it’s the second time I’ve done it, which is funny because the last time five years ago I said it would be the first and last time. My best friend, an HR specialist and consultant, has told me on more than one occasion that this happens when you leave a toxic job; oftentimes you end up at another one, which can be worse than the one you left…if you’re not careful. Make of that what you will.

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2024 – A Delightful Disaster

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If I had to surmise this year in a movie quote, it would have to be the fun one from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban: “You’re going to suffer, but you’re going to be happy about it.”

For one I started the year in hopes of no longer working in a toxic environment. What I didn’t really account for was that I would be taking steps to do so without having something lined up…for the second time in my career.  Thankfully this time I was much more prepared than I was 5 years ago, emotionally, mentally and most importantly, financially.

As someone who grew up working class, I’ve worked hard to get myself and my immediate family out of poverty. This included taking jobs that overworked and underpaid me, where I was afraid to speak up due to fear of being let go,  as well as having to work more than one at any given time. Even as I got to a full- time position that paid more than my own mother has ever been paid annually, I’ve still had to take on additional part-time and freelance jobs to not only make ends meet, but to ensure that there would be ample funds available to for any unforeseen circumstances than may arise. I set my sights on an ambitious financial goal that honestly made me blind to the accomplishments that already surrounded me.

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The Jetset Life

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This year marked the 20th anniversary of My Chemical Romance’s second album, “Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge.”  It was the album that basically served as a formal intro into the shift in my music tastes as a freshman in high school. And, yes I am fully aware that I’m aging myself with this info.

Fast forward a few years and I’ve since settled into the metal/goth scene,* yet MCR remains a top band for me that I keep listening to on the regular. Sadly, I never got to catch one of their shows back when they were at the height of their popularity, and I wasn’t lucky enough to score a ticket this weekend to their upcoming tour, so I continue to be a sidelined fan longing for their next album to drop while wearing (somewhat, but not really) obscure references to their songs like this tank designed by Kerin Cunningham.

This piece was one of a few items from her REVXNGE: 20th Anniversary Collection released in June of this year. It was a limited time preorder kind of thing, so if you’re a fellow MCR fan, I recommend giving her Instagram a follow to see if she drops more of these in the future.

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My Panamá Travel Diary: Where to Stay, What to See and What to Eat

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At the start of this year I set my sights on getting one thing done – planning a visit to the homeland of my parents, Panamá. Having lost three aunts in the last two years my mother and I were determined to plan this vacation around surprising the family in time for my grandmother’s birthday.

This trip was 17 years in the making. That’s right, my grandmother and I haven’t been in the same room together since I was a teenager about to graduate from high school. This is the kind of thing that happens when you’re low-income/working class and the average round trip ticket is about $1,200 EACH no matter the time of year; it’s all family-emergency-travel only and vacations are non-existent. It took a lot of budgeting, research and secret-keeping, but we managed to make this dream a reality last month.

This trip was all about family so the majority of my plotted itinerary leaned heavily on family activities and the like, hence the reason I also don’t have a vacation outfit roundup,  yet I wanted to share a few highlights of the trip with you as it was so fun and I spent a great deal planning it all.  So consider this a simple small guide you can bookmark for your own future adventure to Panamá.

Disclaimer: While links are included, no part of this post is sponsored. 

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