Good-bye Skirt

I think this skirt was a "good buy." It's 100% wool, has been altered and fits perfectly now. This black pencil skirt truly is the "perfect" winter skirt. I can't remember exactly, but I think it's FCUK (French Connection UK) I bought it when I was a teacher in 2002 at Loehman's. Wow... I've been holding on to this skirt for 5 years... (sigh)
I have a lot to let go.

2007 has been an amazing year. Let's see...

I entered remission;
I started Skirt Project;
I traveled quite a bit in the United States: Chi-town, Baltimore, NYC, Boston, Philly, Austin, Portland, OR;
I fell in love;
I moved to Mexico;
I got engaged;
I got my Master's;
I got my heart broken.

It's been quite a year, but it's time to say good-bye.

The last sunset of 2007...

I find comfort knowing that the sun will rise and set again, and this experience of love and life is totally mine.

Here's to 2008... Happy New Year

xoxo

Love Skirt

I ♥ my family ~ they are love. Little E's T-shirt says it all...

L O V E

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

In the words of Nada Surf... Always love.

Here's too all the joy and discovery of 2007, Happy New Year!

Christmas Eve Skirt

I'm home, running around at the last minute, tying up loose ends and making my days merry and bright...

Christmas Eve skirt = Skirt 34, it's kind of like re-gifting! ;-)


Happy Christmas Eve!
xoxo
Skirt Lady
Dallas, Texas
12.24.07

Santa Spirit Skirt

Today is the last day of school! Yippeee!!!
It's also Christmas Spirit Day! There are elves and beach munchkins and they are all so freakin' cute! I could eat 'em!


I'm kidding of course...
I did eat my last meal for the year in Vallarta at El Brujo again, which was wonderful. Then we hit the streets for some last minute Christmas shopping.

At a Mexican Tatoo Parlor

(Don't worry mom, ran an errand with a friend.)

Check out this skirt, it epitomizes Mexico!


Nope, nope. This one is much better.

I love the flourescent Virgin de Guadalupe.

Too bad they are so expensive... Santa, are you reading???

Almost Skirt

Almost Skirt is Skirt 45.
Today it's Almost Skirt because I am ALMOST home: 2 days.
I ALMOST have all my Christmas shopping done: one more trip to la comercial here in Mexico and two errands once I get to Texas.
I am ALMOST done with school: tomorrow is the last day.
And finally, I am ALMOST done eating the food in my fridge:
Hooray for veggie pasta!

Almost, that's a funny word.

Errands, errands and more errands...
This errand wasn't so bad. I finally went to Liverpool, a Mexican department store that opened here in Vallarta two months ago. It's right in front of where the cruise ships dock and right next to the WalMart: a "perfect" destination for an American shopping experience. Can you believe people come all the way to Mexico to shop at Walmart?


A beautiful service of Mexico is the Lavanderia, the washing service. They wash, dry and fold your laundry all in the same day, and they charge by the kilo. I love, love, love this service, except that it's kind of brutal on your clothes.


I had a meeting with a pretty skirt today...

It looks like a Christmas ornament. So festive!

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

No hot water this morning and it's in the 50's here! Skirt 62 is the perfect skirt to wear this morning. I used to have a skirt that was made like a sweater... actually, that would have been perfect for this morning. Too bad the moths got to it.

The Vallarta Chamber Orchestra performed a Christmas concert for the kids today. For the first time, it really put me in the Christmas spirit.

Three more days!

Graduation Skirt

I graduated this weekend with my Master's in Art Education.
I was in Sayulita when commencement started. I made sure to walk the stage in the town square.

I am truly thankful for this opportunity. I never, ever thought I would pursue a Master's... But I did, and I'm done!

xoxo
Skirt Lady in Sayulita

A Day in the Life...

24 hour Skirt, Skirt 20.


On my morning walk I was surprised to see hydrangeas, one of my favorite flowers. I love that they are here in December, something wonderful about the warm climate.


My yummy breakfast at Pancake House. All of this for under $7 USD!


On the way down to one of my favorite places in Vallarta, Playa Punta Negra.


Ahhhh. The sound and smells of the ocean... so wonderful this morning.


Amazingly, I had the entire place to myself. No one was around... Odd for a Sunday afternoon.


It's just not the same.


I ripped my skirt hopping along the rocks... The end of Skirt 20.


On the bus.


In the square, although not in the shot, there are pigeons all around me.

Dinner at El Barracuda, yummy shrimp burritos.

Melissa's Skirts

Meet Melissa.

She is one of my best friends and colleagues here in Vallarta. She was wearing this fabulous skirt this weekend which she had made while she was living in Thailand. She picked the fabric and the skirt style, had it made, and picked it up 5 days later. It's beautiful, and so is Melissa.
♥s to you!


This is from Halloween. She is Pebbles and her husband is Bam-bam. Melissa sewed the costumes. You can't see it, but the best part was the dog bone in her hair.

Virgin de Guadalupe Skirt(s)

Our Lady of Guadalupe, also known as Virgin de Guadalupe, has a feast day and is celebrated on December 12. There are several processions throughout the Mexico commemorating her appearances on December 9 through 12, 1531 to Juan Diego on the hill of Tepeyac near Mexico City. It's a 12 day festival, with processions to la catedral and offerings to the Virgin.

My skirts and I attended two days of the processions, here is what we observed...

Lot's of fruit. You could smell the oranges down the street. I would also like to note the color of the oranges, because before the festival de Virgin de Guadalupe, I had only seen green oranges here in Mexico.


Candy vendors along the procession walk...

It smelled so sweet and looked so delicious.

Here come the Skirts!
I mean drums... all girls of course.


I watched from the sidewalk with warm, delicious, sweet atole de coco in hand. Atole de coco is a taste that I will always associate with Vallarta. I plan to drink as much of it as I can while I am living here.


An odd view on the bus... my skirt was glowing.


Waiting at the Pemex.


Walking home after the fanfare, in front of a truck full of golden idols... This time I have champurado in hand, a warm chocolate drink made with masa. My grandmother used to make this for me when I was a little girl. It warmed my heart and soul... recuerdo...

I should also mention that I tasted strawberry tamales too! Que rico!



Maya dancers along the procession. Check out his skirt!


This was a repeated vision throughout the night, little girls dressed up as the Virgin Mary. Note the skirt along the truck. Truck skirt?


The processions end here at the Church of Guadalupe in el centro. It was an experience that I'll never forget, was fortunate to witness and best of all, taste!

Home Sick Skirt

5 more days...

Falda de Navidad

I almost forgot all about Skirt Project today. I was going to wear a new skirt that was given to me this morning, but it was a little tight, and I didn't feel like being uncomfortable and feeling insedure all day. (Or feel it more so just because of the skirt I was wearing.) I went with a red courderoy skirt, Skirt 34 (again) and a green shirt. Nothing like the Christmas colors to put you in the spirit!

Out of the blue, I recieved a Christmas gift from one of my students. Actually, it was from him and his sister. So sweet!


7 skirts until D-town!

Making Coffee Skirt - Skirt 50

I'm wearing my making coffee skirt, Skirt 50. It was nice to wake up and choose a skirt this morning. I am blessed to have so many options, but it's also a bit ridiculous too. I have too many clothes: skirts, pants, etc. I'm going to have to figure out what to do with them all at some point, and hopefully sooner rather than later. How many is too many?

There was a chill in the air this morning, I could actually wear a jacket.


I unloaded the kiln that I fired this weekend. Only a few minor catastrophes.


At our beach. I could wear a jacket tonight too.

Fifth Day Fatigue

Friday night was our Chirstmas party, so I took the opportunity to change and wear a different skirt. There was lots of traditional yummy Mexican food, piñatas, caroling and dancing. I almost got to hit the piñata, but it broke before it was my turn. Boo! Incidentally they are made of clay and then papier-mâchéd! I can't imaging anything more dangerous, but the kids had a great time. I did too, and I have promised myself that I will have my way with a piñata before my time in PV is up.

I had no idea how hard it would be to wear one skirt, five days in a row. I'm not sure I'll be trying that experience again soon, but I did learn a few lessons.

My entries were simplified, though lots of stuff happened. I learned that I document my skirts in Skirt Project for me, not others. Not one person noticed that I wore the same skirt five days in a row. I picked a pretty inconspicuous skirt, so I think that helped things. I got a couple of comments throughout the week, but the best had to be on Friday, the 5th day of wearing Skirt 70, when a colleague told me "you always look so fresh." That's not the skirt he was talking about, that's me! That made me feel great.

Skirt 70 - Day 5

Finally! The last day. I've gotten lots of use out of this skirt, that's for sure.


Here I am with Liz, the music teacher, the other half of the Fine Arts Department. We coordinated well today, down to the colors, fabric, pink shoes and pose. Cute!


I salvaged this from la basura this week, painted it gold and Viola!
A frame for our Masterpiece of the week!

Here's some yarn art for ya!

From first grade


Guess who?

Skirt 70 - Day 4: Day of the Iguana

Some Iguanas wanted to enroll at Colegio today

This one was hanging out by the work area by my class room.

This big guy was hanging out on top of the black-top tent, longingly wishing he could join the kids in P.E. no doubt.

Check out his tail!

Skirt 70 - Day 3

I have to admit, I was tempted to put on a different skirt this morning. I mean, who cares if I wear the same skirt all week? I guess I'm doing this as a lesson to myself. I'm just not so sure what I am learning.

I'm not thinking so much about my skirts so far. All three days I've almost forgotten to take my skirt shot.

This caught my eye earlier this morning at the shopping center by my school. It's a brass crèche. I collect nativity scenes.
I ♥ baby Jesus.

Skirt 70 - Day 2

Here we are again. The same skirt, a different day.


Not much to report today, except that I took a fitness test today. The results? I'm out of shape. I have to run and jump rope more. At least my table stance was good 1:18 baby! Here are the rest of my results that I can remember from the top of my head:

28 sit-ups in 60 seconds
20 push-ups in 60 seconds
190 jumps in 5 minutes
4 laps in 12 minutes
I forget the rest...

I need a work-out skirt!