These "Botas" were Made for Walkin'

City girl.

No doubt about it, that’s what I am. But on my recent trip to Mexico (see here and here). I found my long lost inner country girl. I spent most of my time in Mexico by the country side. So I thought, “well, when in Rome…” and I threw on my first pair of cowboy boots and my father-in-law’s sombrero and I was ready to roll. The boots were amazingly practical for that terrain, although that is rarely a prerequisite of mine for shoes. It was a pleasant surprise that I could be comfortable and stylish while wandering around the mountainside. In the end, I felt like I was ready to jump on a horse (or donkey) and ride off into the sunset with the cactus behind me. “Orale!”

Are there shoes or outfits you’ve tried that are typically out of your style realm?

I left my heart (but got a blouse) in Mexico

“I’m inspired by different cultures around the world and love to incorporate these facets into my collection.”
– Rachel Roy

My Inspiration Captured: The Mexico Edition

There’s nothing like traveling to new places to get a fresh perspective. I did that recently on a memorable trip to my husband’s hometown, which is a small town in Central Mexico. You’d think that 10 days with no internet, phone, or tv would make a blogger go crazy. But I had no pings, rings, notifications, commercials, or other trivial distractions. Conversations were real and in the moment. Laughs continued without pausing to Instagram and share. And in these moments of disconnect, I was able to truly appreciate my surroundings and find many aspects inspiring. I captured these instances with the hope that they will continue to inspire me when I returned back home.

What places have inspired you?

Back From A Magical Train Ride

“Let’s go play choo choo train!”

“Yeeesss! I call Conductor!”

That’s basically how my conversation went with my nephew and niece when my brother-in-law and sister unveiled their hand-made wooden train. A sweet gift made by my brother-in-law. So, of course, I agreed to go along on our magical train adventure. And how does one dress for such a ride? Striped conductor jacket – check. Appropriately bright colored shorts and accessories to enter into magical lands – check. Mostly thrifted items in case something is left behind – final check. We jumped on board, waved our little hands good-bye (okay, their little hands) and began our journey across miles of bright blue oceans and into enchanted lands. I couldn’t have asked for a better adventure this past summer. And that my friends, is why I have been gone for so long :-)

A Casual Beach Stroll

As much fun as it is to get all dolled up, sometimes a girl just wants a laid-back day with cozy pants and a soft blouse. Something you can take a relaxing stroll in and just be your natural self. It’s like being in your pj’s but in a much more acceptable form. And this has been extra important for me this past week because – get this, I have poison ivy!?! Eww. First time in my life I’ve had to endure this allergic reaction. The first thing I learned was that soft, flowy, and loose clothes are my best friends. This outfit was the perfect combination of comfortable and fashionable. The mix of textures with the embroidered flowers and the linen striped pants make the outfit interesting so I don’t look like I have given up on dressing up and it also manages to hide the fact that I am in poison ivy pain. Sigh, at least it’s an excuse to take things slow and casual.

What about you – do you take casual outfit breaks or are you a fashionista all the time?

4 Beauty Products I Regret Buying

Have I ever mentioned just how much I love taking trips to beauty stores? It’s like Christmas day, except for the fact that I’m buying myself gifts. The only thing that can sour this magical event is getting home and un-wrapping my gift to find a toy that just doesn’t work right. I’m sure you’ve also encountered this once or twice and that’s why I wanted to write this post. Before I give up hope on these products, I wanted to reach out to you guys and get your opinion. Have you tried these? Do you have any thoughts?

From the Runway to the Boardroom

Is it weird if a piece of clothing I’m wearing has had a longer and more intriguing life than me? I find that remarkable and slightly disturbing.