Halloweentown 2022

Happy 13th day of Halloween!

The minute we finally made it to the best month on the calendar that is October, I made up my mind that this would be the year that I finally head up the Hudson River for some spook season fun. I did some research and came up with a pretty ambitious itinerary for a day spent in Sleepy Hollow, NY with my friends; though only one was able to make it in the end.

Still it was a day well spent that even left my friend, and trusty photographer, Diana wanting a bit more. We can’t report that we even caught a glimpse of the Horseman but at least we got to see the replica of the bridge during our walk through the historic cemetery.

Get you friends that supports your unique blend of quirky, spookiness.

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When in Doubt, Wear Black

In the last two weeks I had the pleasure of getting to reconnect with two best friends after spending so much time apart and with limited communication due to our crazy schedules. One week apart and in two different cities, I had the best time catching up with them, reminiscing over past adventures and of course, making new memories.

Yet even still, both of them at one point asked me the exact same question that caught me off-guard and left me nervously chuckling as I changed the subject :

“Are you still blogging?”

You need only scroll down a bit to see that the last post I wrote and shared here was back in April.  Truth is at the time I was knee-deep in work for multiple projects and only just getting my footing at my new full-time role that I had started barely 3-weeks before I wrote that post on sustainability and plus size fashion.

I told myself that once those projects were done and I felt better situated in my new role, I would get back to work on my stuff, however, once that time came (which was in early June) I found myself uninspired to doing much of anything.  I was burnt out.
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My Two Cents: On Sustainability and (Plus Size) Fashion

Sustainability has become THE topic of conversation over the last 5 or so years when it comes to fashion and for good reason considering global warming is only getting worse with every passing day. However, I can’t help but notice how it has also become a weapon of shame used against those of us who are unable to shop the same way our well-off and/or straight size peers can.

Speaking from experience, when your income is low you typically have no choice but to shop places that will allow you to stretch what you little you can spend. Often what happens with this is that thoughts around quality and even quantity goes out the window. For the most part its a “you take what you can get” kind of mentality that takes over so the last thing on your mind are fashion trends and/or social issues. And this gets harder when it comes to shopping plus. Which is not to say that no sustainable plus size fashion brands exist, they do. However the reality is that many of us can’t afford to put down $100-400 for a dress or basic top even if it is for a good cause as “saving the planet.” However, if you are in a position to support those brands, please do, just don’t come for those of us who can’t. Continue reading

New Year, New Skincare (feat. Vamigas)

So I’ll be honest that when it comes to skincare I either stick to a routine or avoid it entirely.  What can I say, I’m a Taurus, I like my sleep so having a 10 step routine before bed is a tall order for me. Thankfully, using the right products can help cut down the steps a bit and I’ve found some pretty great products from a new brand called Vamigas.

Disclaimer : This post includes affiliate links, any sales made through such links will reward me a small commission.

Vamigas is a Latinx owned and founded beauty brand specializing in health and wellness. They launched last year with products for skincare, body care and even hair care. What I like about Vamigas is that the brand weaves culture into the products by incorporating ingredients found and cultivated in Latin America. Ingredients such as rosa mosqueta, chia, prickly pear, papaya, jojoba, maracuja, maqui and açaí that our ancestors have been using for centuries. Continue reading

A Pop of Culture

During the first couple of weeks of quarantine last year (in which time I was furloughed so I had A LOT of time on my hands) my mother and I spent most of our days working on different craft projects. The first week we baked and then for the next two all we did was sew. I made myself a denim shoulder bag out of an old pair of jeans, we fixed some dress and pant hems, we even made some new curtains for the living room out of fabric that had been in storage for years.

While in storage, my mother dug through some old boxes and also found a bunch of scraps of mola she had bought years ago on one of our trips to Panama  back when I was a kid. I think her intention was to create a vest or a small handbag but she never got around to it. More than 2 decades later, in which time she clearly forgot about it, she figured it was time to give it a fashionable purpose.

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