When Friends Become Family...

Hola,

How is everyone doing? I'm hoping that with my last post "Style Is What You Do With It," you all got to know the person behind this blog a little better. That you got to know my fashion style and tastes, and that perhaps some of us have something in common. I would love it if you went back to that post and shared yours with me. Give me some insight on your style and/or what you find is missing in the fashion world that could make you more fabulous than you already are. :)

So my loves, in this post I'd like to veer off of the subject of fashion and instead talk about FAMILY. Yes, that wonderful word that brings to mind unconditional love, loyalty, support, unity and so many other positive emotions. Family, and I'm of course referring to "blood relatives," are really some of the most important people in our lives. We learn to love because of them, we learn our core values, morals and principles because of them as well. Our parents teach us all these things in our early years. They are the key to how we are raised. Our first interactions when we're born are with our parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles and cousins. They become some of the people we love the most throughout our lives. Our cousins can easily become our first best friends. We grow to cherish our family and turn to them in times of need, during happy and sad times. There is nothing sweeter than a family that is united.

Yes, the love of a family is incomparable. Whether the family is large or small, it does not matter. What matters is the bond. There are so many lovely families in the world that get along no matter what goes wrong. They know how to put differences aside and resolve their issues.  These are beautiful families that support each other in everything. When one needs help, they all unite and support, when one has a dream, the family pitches in and makes it come true. One of the most amazing things to me is hearing stories about a family-owned business and how the family got together and made it happen then passed it on from generation to generation; or how someone lost their job and the family got together to help out until the person was back on their feet. There are so many great stories of support and unity. If you have this connection with your blood relatives, I beg you to cherish it and maintain it no matter what. It is one of the most important and sought after relationships.

So what happens when that familial structure changes and not in a positive way? What happens when you grow up and you realize you have nothing in common with one of your siblings, one or both of your parents aren't all they should be (because let's face it, not everyone is cut out to be a parent), the fights begin within the family because of gossip, instigators and lies spread that can sometimes be irreparable? The once unified family as we saw it begins to deteriorate, breakdown and yes, it breaks up. What do you do then? Who becomes that loyal support system that we all need?...

FRIENDS!!

Yes, FRIENDS! Another wonderful word that brings to mind unconditional love, loyalty, support, unity and so many other positive emotions. There is a quote that I love that says:

...I believe this to be the absolute truth. There is no doubt that we all have that friend or friends who we consider part of our family, if not more than. Isn't this a wonderful thing? When we find those people that you know in your heart are the realest of the real, your heart soars and is at peace because you have made that special connection that will be everlasting. You've found that person you can count on, turn to, trust with your life, secrets, hopes and dreams and know that they support you and believe in you 100%, that person you can spend time with and just be yourself with, the one who you can completely let go with and just be crazy, those friends who you can laugh hysterically with over the silliest things... That, my dears is also called being "FAMILY." I mean, if not for that friend or friends, we'd be a bunch of lonely souls with nobody to turn to when we feel we've lost that primary family connection.

FRIENDS! We all have them. You just have to know which ones are real enough to call them family. Which ones will stand the test of time? Which ones can you ultimately trust with your feelings, emotions and best kept secrets? Which of these friends will be there for you no matter what, no matter how crazy you drive them or how many stupid things you do? Those that are willing to stick around regardless of your flaws are those friends that become your family.

Keep in mind that sometimes we out-grow some of our friends. This is not terribly bad because they can still be a part of your life just not as close as you were. This is sad but people change, their lives change (marriage, kids, careers, etc.) and you may no longer have much in common. When we out-grow certain friends, we are making room for the new ones that God is about to put in our paths. Haven't you ever met someone and instantly "clicked" with them? In a matter of minutes you've shared quite a lot about yourself with this "stranger" and before you know it, you exchange phone numbers, you start texting, you become Facebook and Twitter friends, and you invite each other to outings, the movies and OMG shopping! :)... Mmmhmm, I've just described what can be the beginning of a beautiful friendship. This could be something that may have been missing in your life without you knowing it. These are the little miracles we live for, and are so grateful and thankful for when they happen. Friends are blessings and angels in disguise that are sent to us to fill a void, to comfort, love, understand, support, laugh and cry with, to share our lives with and expand our horizons. They can teach us new things and see our problems in a different light and thereby, making us feel better. Friends are simply the best and that is why we come to consider some of them our "best friends" and then are considered our "family." 

It's happened to me a few times, and it is just the most wonderful occurrence. I never thought I'd have such amazing people in my life as I have now. Most of them are friends who I now see as my family. Most of them I haven't even known for that long and some I've known for years, but they are very important in my life. I just adore them to pieces and I thank God for sending each of them to me at just the right moments. They offer support, they help me and most important, they believe in me. I may not have many blood relatives that I can count on and share my life with, and I am thankful for the few that I do have because they are awesome (ahem, my mommy - lol), but my friends make up for that missing bond. My "girls" are amazing (and wow, I now have several amazing guy friends as well). I am so lucky to have all of them in my life and for that I say thank you. I am at a place in my life where I don't need a million friends just a bunch that I know are sincere and I know I can count on. They give me love and I give it right back, and I honestly feel like I've finally cultivated a "harvest of friends" who I can now call my "FAMILY."

So there you have it. This is my take on a very important subject in all of our lives. If you agree or disagree with my views, please feel absolutely free to comment respectfully below and share your opinions. This is really a lovely topic to discuss and it's even lovelier when you can say you have a little bit of both. So I encourage you to please comment your story. To end this post, I'd like for you to go ahead and reflect on those people in your lives, your family and your friends and think which ones fall into any of the positive descriptions above. I hope you'll need more than ten fingers to count because that would mean that you, my dear, are truly blessed!

Until next time...

Gracias,

AnnaCris <3

Stylish In Paradise...

Hola,

Here we go again my loves! If you're reading this, I hope you've had or are having a super fabulous day or night!

So my last post (A Letter To My Father) was pretty intense, quite heartbreaking but so incredibly beautiful and liberating. If you haven't read it, finish reading this post then please go read the letter :). I promise you will like it. I'm extremely happy I wrote it, and that I received so much wonderful feedback and comments so thank you all!

This week let's lighten things up a little bit shall we? Since we're almost upon summer, I know many of us will be going on some type of vacation soon so it's only appropriate that I write about what to wear on vacation (as you can see in my picture below, I prefer vacationing on the beach). Plus, I was so flattered that I was asked by a reader to write about this topic. It means that there is interest arising in what I have to say so thank you! Now let's get started...

I was browsing the Internet the other day, and I found the most fabulous link on Elle Magazine's website which contains examples on what to wear on vacation to different places.  The options vary in price from affordable to expensive but nonetheless, you can get a general idea on what to wear if you're traveling to these cities or similar ones. I will post the link later in this blog because of course I want you to continue reading ;).

As for me, when I travel on vacation, I tend to pack what I know I will need with extras for emergencies, variety and unexpected activities. I'm not one who will take three suitcases full of clothes on a one week vacation. Does this surprise you? I bet it does but hey what can I say, I like simplicity. Plus I feel like it's a vacation for a reason. So traveling light is part of the whole rest and relaxation idea.

When I choose a vacation spot, I prefer the beach hands down. If a beach is not involved, there most definitely has to be a pool. To me, one or the other or both are essential for me to relax and have fun. I often wonder if it's because I'm from the Caribbean that I am partial to the ocean... I just love to swim, the smell of the water, the air and watching the sunrises and sunsets right on the beach. In any case, for me packing is pretty easy. Light airy clothing in bright beautiful colors are first on the list, prints are fantastic for the summer months especially dresses and long skirts, bikinis are a must (*smile*), beautiful sandals and cute summer hats as well. However, let's keep this post unbiased because some of us do travel to places where the weather is colder, and there are some pretty awesome outfits for this type of climate. A sexy leather jacket, super high heeled boots with comfy sweaters and scarves! Ahhh, scarves are so delightful aren't they?! So you see you can look amazing on vacation no matter what climate you're traveling to. I've included two lists. One for hot weather and another for cold, with the last being a list of accessories.

I feel that as long as you have the basics for the climate in question, you can then add extra pieces accordingly. So below you will find just a few of the items that I usually pack when I go on vacation. These are basic ideas and suggestions so of course, we will add as many items to this list as we think we will need for the entire trip:

If You're Traveling To Places With Hot Weather:

Shorts - Denim, cotton and anything in between.

Cotton Pants - White is a must, but bright colors are winners as well.

Tank Top - Cannot go wrong with tank tops in every color.

Dressy Top - Play up a skirt or pant for dinner or dancing.

Short Summer Dress - Great for sight-seeing, walking on the beach and shopping.

Maxi Dress - I love maxi dresses. They are especially great for a sexy evening stroll or a dinner date.

Swimsuit - Bikini, one piece, tankini... in all colors! Yes!

Flat Sandals - Great for sight-seeing, shopping or a late night stroll. Comfort is important.

Heeled Sandals - Play up a dress, skirt, shorts, etc. for a night out on the town. Fabulous!

Wedge Sandals - Great for a lot of walking even if they are several inches high.

Summer Hat - A floppy summer hat is a sexy accessory for a summer dress and any outfit.

Tote/Over-sized Bag - Great for the beach or sight-seeing. You can carry tons of items in them.

Sunglasses - Always carry a fabulous pair. I love over-sized sunglasses. They add style to an outfit.

I've added some style boards that I found on Pinterest to give you a visual idea for warm weather ensembles. Check them out:

I love these boards because they include a little bit of everything to make an entire outfit work right down to what color nail polish to wear. Awesome!

If You're Traveling To Places With Cold Weather:

Jeans - Perfect for colder climates and they go with absolutely everything.

Sweater - There's nothing like a snuggly, gorgeous sweater at a snowy ski resort.

Leggings - A great option to pair with sweaters and boots. Also, under jeans/pants to keep you warm.

Jacket/Coat - A stylish jacket or coat will play up any outfit while seeing the sights. Leather is great!

Sweater Dress - These dresses are stylish, cozy and great for an evening out.

Hoodie - I adore hoodies. Wear with jeans or pants for a more casual look.

Dress Pants - For those dinners out on the town if you don't want to wear a dress or skirt.

Dressy Blouse - You can pair with dress pants, skirt or jeans for an evening of fun.

Flat Shoes - Great if you’ll be doing a lot of walking. Again, comfort is important.

Heeled Boots - The sexiest cold weather shoe! The heeled boot can be paired with any outfit.

Sunglasses - Again, Do not go anywhere without a fabulous pair. Sunglasses are not just for summer.

Large Handbag - A tote is great for summer but for colder months, a large handbag is so stylish.

Check out this style board from Pinterest for cold weather outfits:

This board shows just how stylish and fabulous your winter outfit can be while on vacation. The leather jacket and boots complement the whole look. Oh yes!

Must-Have Accessories:

Hoop Earrings - You cannot go wrong with these. They play up every outfit, and the size can vary.

Bangle Bracelets/Cuffs - They are so pretty and stylish especially when stacked.

Over-Sized Ring - I adore these. They look fabulous coupled with an awesome manicure.

Over-Sized Watch - The “It” accessory. You can pair with a few stacked bracelets as well.

Clutch - Excellent for an evening out. You can choose a bright color to play up your outfit.

Wristlet - If you're going dancing, this would be the way to go rather than a large handbag or clutch.

Cute Socks - For cold climates there is nothing cuter than bright, colorful socks to stay warm.

Gloves - Leather gloves will complete your ensemble for day and night.

Scarf - Bright, patterned, colorful, solid... Whatever you choose, scarves are simply delightful.

Sunscreen - Especially if you'll be under the sun. Never forget your SPF.

Here is another style board with visuals for accessories:

Aren't these absolutely lovely? Note, for jewelry you can go with either gold or silver. It's your preference.

My last example is the link I mentioned at the beginning of the post from Elle magazine. This link has 13 examples of cities and what would be the best items to wear on your vacation. If your intended city is not listed, you can still get an idea on what to wear from these suggestions. I hope you find them as informative and fabulous as I did:

http://www.elle.com/fashion/spotlight/vacation-packing-list#slide-12

So there you have it my sexy fashionistas. I hope you were able to get some great options for your next trip. Remember, the items I listed are just the basics and some of the items that I would choose to bring. I hope they've given you an idea on what you would pack. You can add to this or change it up according to your tastes and what you'd like to wear on your fabulous getaway. Bring as many or as few (if you like traveling light) of your favorite items and make it work. Last, don't forget to take tons of pictures so you can have wonderful memories and proof that you looked super fabulous and stylish on your awesome vacation! Happy and safe travels my loves!

Please feel free to comment below with your ideas and choices. Add photos and links if you have pictures you'd like to share as examples. Let's make this fun! Go #engage!

Until next time!

Gracias,
AnnaCris <3