Hello everyone,

So I went on another adventure recently and I thought I would share what I packed to help others who might be going to Ghana too.  First of all, I did my research because I wasn’t sure what I would need. Normally I get eaten alive by mosquitoes no matter where I go, so this time I was determined to change that. I read in other blogs that one way to avoid mosquito bites and still stay cool is to wear loose fitting clothes made of cotton and linen. Another thing I found out was that the perfume “Bombshell” from Victoria’s Secret also repels mosquitoes. Peppermint smell is also good to avoid mosquitoes.  A friend also gave me some oil ‘Skin So Soft” (I think that is the name) and this is amazing to keep mosquitoes away. This was the first time I traveled and had absolutely no mosquito bites.

Keep in mind Ghana is very hot and humid so I had to plan accordingly…

Here is what I packed for a 10 day trip to Accra, Ghana:

• 4 linen pairs of pants (interestingly enough I made 3 of them)
• 1 cotton pair of pants
• 3 linen 3/4 sleeve shirts
• 2 cotton dresses
• 1 light wait capri pants
• 2 loose tank top
• 2 losse t-shirts
• 3 tank tops to wear under the linen shirts
• 1 white and black fedora hat
• 1 pair of jeans for the trip back
• 1 pair of flat nude color shoes
• 2 flat sandals
• light bras with no wires (so that I could fit more of them in my bag)
• underwear
• Peppermint shampoo and conditioner
• Bombshell body lotion and perfume

I was able to pack everything in a carry-on and a backpack. While I was there I shopped for some traditional dresses and even a pair of pants. I was able to fit everything back in my carry-on and that alone was a miracle.  I also got lots of jewelry from there.  In addition to these things, I took my iPad with  videos and books downloaded, hair rubber bands, one silver earring that I wore the whole time and the silver rings that I also wore the whole time. I left my nice jewelry home just like I do when I travel anywhere.  I did pack a few snacks since the domestic flights do not serve food anymore.

I have to say that this was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. I got to visit the Ashesi University and I met some wonderful people. The university is in a very peaceful area so I got a lot of rest while visiting one of my best friends.

Well, I hope this is helpful for someone out there…

Thank you for reading,

Juliana

Hello everyone,

Some of you may know that my favorite TV show is Gilmore Girls. This week I decided to have a little piece of the show with me by getting some dragonflies on my nails. The green was a way to go for a bold change. I had never had my nails done in this color. I have to say I actually like it a lot. The darker green is one of my favorites and my toe nails look the same.

Thank you so much for reading,

Juliana

Hello everyone,

This happened a few weeks ago, but the university where I work holds a night of academy awards where faculty and students are recognized and this year I had the privilege of being chosen by the students as the best faculty from the College of Education. This is the night where students get to dress up so we teachers try to dress up a little too. I had a hard time deciding what to wear this year and after trying on several outfits I decided to wear the outfit above and I have to say the kimono I am wearing I made it myself. The lace is silver and my husband was the one who found this fabric. I made this last year and had not found a good time to wear it yet so this was perfect! I got a lot of compliments on my outfit which always makes us feel good, but I felt even better because I was the designer too. Under the kimono I was wearing a one piece black jumpsuit.

Thank you for reading,

Juliana

Hello everyone,

So, I love yellow, especially at this time of the year! Of course I look better in yellow after I get a little tan but I just couldn’t resist these yellow pieces. I am feeling lucky that this year, yellow is in and it is so easy to find yellow clothes. Here are 3 of my yellow outfits. My favorite is the black and yellow dress. The sweater I found happens to be the perfect  color. I have a few more yellow pieces that I will be wearing this summer. I will update everyone as I wear them.

Thanks for reading,

Juliana

Hello everyone,

I just thought I would stop by to share my cure Easter nails…. I love my little bunny. As usual, Jenny did an amazing job!

Thanks,

Juliana

Hello everyone,

It is finally spring and even though it is not super warm, it is nice enough to wear some cute spring clothes. I will be honest in saying that I had not stepped foot in the store Buckle in a long time thinking none of their clothes would fit me anymore. Well, one day a pair of shoes caught my eye so I went inside. I found this gorgeous spring blouse which I have to say, I loved myself wearing it. I felt like it helped my shape tremendously. I was super excited when I realized the shoes I got in Germany last year matched it perfectly.

By the way, the earrings are a souvenir I got from Ireland. It was a great addition to the outfit. If I could I would buy all my shirts with this shape. Not really a possibility but will keep looking for more of them in different colors. It is so nice when a shirt makes you feel so good.

I would also like to give a shout out to the staff from #TheBuckle at Washington Square Mall, they were wonderful and super helpful. They also helped find new jeans for my son and that was great.

Thank you for reading,

Juliana

Hello everyone,

So, some of you may know that I went to Dublin with my kids and my mother over Spring break. It was a great trip and I thought I would share here what one should pack for a visit to the island. While, many say that it rains all the time in Ireland, we were lucky enough that it was sunny and beautiful the whole week we were there. However, when traveling to a wet place it is prudent to take a rain coat that will protect you from rain and wind.

Well, I already had my white #Columbia rain jacket and as an early Mother’s Day gift I got a similar one for my mother. These jackets came in handy since it kept us warm when it would get a bit windy at the end of the day. Even though it did not rain, it is always a good idea to have a rain jacket when traveling.

Another important thing to pack for Ireland is comfortable shoes. We did a lot of walking even though we only stayed in Dublin. I also recommend taking at least 2 pairs of shoes and again, they should be resistant to rain. I took a pair of booties and a pair of #Melissa shoes. One was gray and the other black, this way they went with everything.

I opted for leggings and plain long shirts. The leggings take less space in the bag and this way I was able to only take a carry-on bag with enough outfits for 8 days. Because I chose plain shirts I also took some scarves to accessorize. I chose simpler ones so they would go with all of the outfits.

Finally I chose to wear the same sterling silver earrings, necklace and rings. Less to keep track of and no need to worry about losing anything. I also left my diamond wedding ring at home and only wore my band. Better safe than sorry when traveling.

I would add that layering is key when traveling to a place with weather like Ireland. There you could have all different seasons in one day alone so it is best to layer. I did take a stocking cap and a ball cap, they did come in handy. (I have very thin hair so I need to make sure my head is covered when I spend a lot of time outside so that I don’t burn my scalp.) The stocking cap helped me keep warm though.

Thank you for reading,

Juliana

Hello everyone,

First of all, I would like to apologize for not having posted in a while. But here I am… Last week I got to go to a professional Conference and it was in Atlanta so the weather was warmer than here. I got to wear my dress and my new jacket. I love this jacket because I am currently learning French and the whole thing is imitating a newspaper written in French. It is indeed a special piece that I got at a boutique in Portland, Oregon. This was a bit more expensive than I normally pay for clothes but since it is a unique piece I was willing to pay for it. I did have to special order to get it on my size but here it is.

I did complement it with one of my many Brazilian shoes #Melissa. I love them because they have a sweet smell inside and are perfect for rainy weather so now when I travel I usually take them just in case it rains wherever I go.

Thank you for reading,

Juliana

It is interesting to see how much fashion changes throughout the years as well as how it differs from culture to culture. What might be acceptable in one culture or country is not accepted in another. It is also possible to guess where people are from based on the way they dress because clothing is so cultural. Also, clothing choices that once were not acceptable are now part of the common fashion.

The one debate I have entered in before even on this site is that of the leggings. I used to watch the show What Not to Wear on TLC religiously, and Clinton and Stacey always said leggings are not pants. While I agree with that I also think it is a lost battle. More and more girls and women are wearing leggings with short shirts. I would have to say that part of the problem is when the leggings are see through or thin enough and shows “too much.” Some companies are now making some thicker ones that are also used for exercise. These have the potential to be ok without a long shirt. However, I still believe that there are appropriate places to wear them and work might not be one of them. I have posted before what would be ok and what is not ok to look professional but more and more I see those lines getting more and more blurry. It seems like professional wardrobe looks different for each person and each job place. It sounds like many jobs are very relaxed with their dress codes.

I guess in the end, depending on the culture, just about anything could be acceptable as long as your boss is ok with it. Good thing I am no one’s boss is all I have to say.

Thanks for reading,

Juliana

I think this picture speaks for itself. I got my nails ready for the holiday. I think they look bright and festive… Thank you Jenny Vo at MP Nails.

Thanks,

Juliana