Playing Catch Up

Yikes, three weeks since posting here! Sorry about that. Since returning from my husband's and my anniversary trip last month, it's been nonstop busy, and while I've been online, this blog has been last priority. Of course, the trip was fantastic -- our fourth time to Jamaica, at the same resort where we honeymooned. Perfectly relaxing! TropiGoth FTW!

My blogging activity these days has been at Frock Flicks, where we're totally wrapped up in the PBS Masterpiece / BBC series "Wolf Hall," a new take on Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn through the eyes of Thomas Cromwell. It is FANTASTIC! We've podcasted about it and have a series of articles (with more coming). I'm also watching a ton of newer series to blog about, including some gothic horror shows in Victorian settings, such as "Penny Dreadful" and "The Lizzie Borden Chronicles." Watch for reviews coming soon.

My free time has also been filled by performing with Bella Donna Historical Performers. We participated at the San Jose Fantasy Faire as pretty pretty princesses -- where I ran into the 10th Doctor and Chewbacca, which was a hoot.

This weekend, we're on stage at a brand-new event, Carnevale Fantastico, and I'm on stage as an evil queen (typecasting the goth? hah!). I have a great time with these folks, and I'm very excited about this Italian Renaissance-themed event.

I do have some CorpGoth outfits waiting to be blogged, so I'll try to get back on track. And hopefully next month, I'll have a CorpGoth Status Report theme too, if anyone's still hanging around with me!

The Professor's Homework Assignment: Tiki Time

She said "Dog Days of Summer" & I said "Welcome to my cabana!" The Professor brought back her homework assignments by asking us to recall our summer days & how we cope with the heat. Well, my husband & I turned our lifeless little backyard into a tiki oasis over the past couple years.

Tiki bar with a few of my favorite repro cups.

You can see how we did it in this article on Offbeat Home, because that's where I got the idea originally. We used a temporary carport structure to provide shade & then decked it out with rugs, furniture, a bar, & tropical decor. Over the past two years, & especially this spring, we've upgraded & fully decorated to achieve our dream of a Hawaiian- / Jamaican-inspired touch of paradise hidden away in Silicon Valley. I bought a ton of themed crap on eBay & Amazon, plus we found things at the local hardware store. I sewed pillow covers & crafted floral touches. And those neighborhood cats have made the cabana their home, which we don't really mind.

Last year, we started hosting Tiki Thursdays & have continued this year. Basically, one Thursday evening every month during the warm season, we invite friends to come over after work for fruity rum drinks & snacks out in the cabana. Just a chance to chill & socialize. It's been a lot of fun!

My husband & I also grill dinner every so often in the cabana for ourselves & even for friends. Last year, we had a Fourth of July BBQ, & we were all surprised to find out that the street behind ours was having a block party with HUGE fireworks (which are usually illegal here). So we got quite a nice show. And we pulled out a couple of our own sparklers too, bought out of state (don't worry, we used them in the driveway, nowhere near vegetation :-).

The cabana with tiki torches lit.

A sparkler on Independence Day 2013.

So that's my favorite way to deal with the dog days of summer, at least at home. How about you? Join in with your homework assignment or share in the comments below!

Memories of Summer on the Copacabana

The citizens of Rio use the beach as their living room. Teens and young people sit and stroll, chatting, flirting, drinking, smoking. They clearly own the place and since the beaches are public, they literally do.

Women are dressed in as little as possible here, which is very little indeed. Perhaps it's only the prevailing Catholicism that keeps the beaches from being universally topless. Only recently was one local beach allowed to be nude. Everywhere else, women strut around in bikinis. All Brazilian women -- young, old, large, small, tan, pale -- uniformly wear two-pieces. Often quite small ones, regardless of proportion. Only a few matronly tourist women wear the over-modest one-piece.

Brazilian women are divas, one and all, and they display the most amazing comfort in their own skins. Body confidence is not just for the skinny girls -- the bigger the body, the smaller the bikini, and the bigger the attitude.

It is totally refreshing and unlike American beaches where thin women look down their noses at the plus-size gals, who cower under cover-ups. In Rio, bellies may protrude from bikinis and older bosoms sag in skimpy tops, right alongside the curvaceous bombshells, skinny-twig teens, and topless toddlers. All the gals act proud of who they are and what they look like. You won't find a local lady under 40 in a maillot, and everyone sheds her sarong or shorts as soon as she hits the sand.

--excerpted from Smile, You're in Rio

What I'm wearing: Burgundy peplum sweater, Anthropologie | Black & white floral print T-shirt, Old Navy | Black skirt, NY & Company | Black studded belt, Macy's | Black slingback pumps, Payless Shoe Source | Silver chunky bead necklace, Target | Silver  hoop earrings, random accessory store

Tiki Night

Since winter has been dry & warm here, how about a touch of TropiGoth? Might seem early to break out the tropical prints, but while visiting DisneyLand, my friends & I had to check out the Trader Sam's tiki bar at the DisneyLand hotel. And I dressed appropriately, natch.

What I'm wearing:
Black & pink Hawaiian-print dress, Hilo Hattie | Black tights, Calvin Klein | Black flats, Aerosoles | Black shell necklace, bought in Florida | "F@$k Cancer" earrings, made by me | Skull bracelets, gift from Mom | Pink flower hair pin, random accessory store

zombie cup from Trader Sam's

Thoughts on Stuff and Sentiment

Here are two different, perfectly valid, but fairly opposite philosophies about saving "things," whether they be mementos, memorabilia, heirlooms, or vintage items. I find both fascinating...

A Word About Heirloom Guilt by Bea of The Zero Waste Home -- As part of her radical no-waste, no-clutter, minimalist lifestyle, this woman & her family have stripped down their possessions & eliminated pretty much anything they don't actively use every day. That includes mementos & heirlooms, which she feels are mostly kept out of obligation, not practicality. Bea states: "I believe that we do not need things to remember our lost ones."

Why I'm Not a Minimalist by Franca of Oranges & Apples -- Starting with the concept of a minimalist wardrobe & why that doesn't work for her, this blogger also enjoys having things around her house. She explains: "Often while sitting about in our living room, I will zone out and look at a vase or whatever and think how nice it is, and how happy I am that we have created a home where we are surrounded by things we love ... What makes me even happier is that a lot of this stuff is inherited, bought on holiday, or rescued from a charity shop or car boot sale ... It has meaning."

some of my sentimental jewelry

On the one hand, I really love Bea's point that memories don't depend on physical items.  I can remember all that was wonderful about my deceased grandmother without holding onto the vintage brooches that came from her collection. But I also adore those brooches because they're intrinsically pretty *and* they remind me of times I spent, as a little girl, playing dress-up with my grandmother's jewelry. These things have meaning, as Franca points out.

The shell necklaces I buy on vacation in Hawaii & Jamaica soothe me on stressful days at the office precisely because they remind me of those lazy, hazy days spent on the beach with my sweetheart. It's a little bit of a holiday on a string around my neck. Sure, I could just look at a digital photo from those trips (or a scanned picture of my grandmother) that takes up no space. But the tangible does have a stronger connection.

Maybe I'm being sentimental. But with a practical side too -- I don't believe it's necessary to preserve every last item that reminds you of someone or something that has a positive memory. One or two very special pieces are plenty, particularly if those items have their own unique artistic or practical value. I don't believe most heirlooms are kept out of obligation, as Bea asserts. Perhaps out of neglect ("do we really have that old thing from Aunt So-&-So up in the attic?"), but I don't personally know anyone who feels beholden to their heirlooms. I only hear of family treasures that people cry over when calamities destroy them.

What about you? Are you a minimalist who doesn't believe in keeping old stuff? Or do you surround yourself with mementos of the past? Whether in fashion or home decor, do tell!

Recommended Reading (Whilst I'm on Vacay)

I'm on a little break from the office -- spent last week indulging my TropiGoth side in Kauai! -- and I'm now relaxing at home, catching up on some projects, everything from renovating the backyard to working on costumes. Thus, no daily office outfits for a while. But I'm still reading your comments (thank you!) & reading all the fabulous blogs out there. Here's some things that caught my eye today...

Allie of Wardrobe Oxygen wrote an excellent post about why she promotes black as a wardrobe staple. Now, she's not goth, but she extols the virtues of this practical & always chic color choice for the working woman. I'm sure you'll agree & probably find some reasons you may not have considered for why you need even more black pieces in your closet.

Meagan of Coffin Kitsch reminds us to accessorize that waistline -- yes, belts! They're really a girl's best friend. A belt makes a shapeless sack of a dress or top into a stylish, figure-flattering garment. Bonus, belts are usually cheaper than a whole new dress or top too, so buy several styles & widths. Experiment & make more out of your wardrobe with belts.

Oh & I've finally joined Pinterest! It's a huge time-suck, but kinda fun in that way -- you can find me here. Feel free to pin from my blog (I know many of my photos already are pinned) or from my costume site. I have a CorpGoth board where I'm gathering inspiration for future outfits too.

TropiGoth Birthday Party

This year was the big 4-0 for my sweetie, & he requested a luau-style birthday party. The nearest Saturday happened to be St. Patrick's Day, so we mashed-up the themes a little bit & held a tiki party dosed with shamrocks. It was great silly fun!

Wearing an authentic Hilo Hattie Hawaiian dress & my hair in victory rolls.

Gothic paradise cooler: Dark rum, pineapple-orange-guava juice, cream of coconut, grenadine, & ice, blended, then poured in a vintage black margarita glass with a pineapple slice & skully paper parasol (bought around Halloween).

Me & the bday boy.

With the tropical buffet.

Size Is Just a Number (Swimsuit Edition)

My name is Trystan, I'm 42 years old, I'm 5' 2" tall, & I currently weigh about 180 pounds. By some (rather questionably scientifically sound) measures, that means I'm obese. But by other measures, I'm pretty darn average. Yet you wouldn't know it if you looked in American mass media.

So I'm posting these swimsuit photos from my recent Kauai trip to show what a curvy -- perhaps even fat! -- woman like me really looks like (maybe I should submit one of these to the BMI Project on Flickr, which is a lovely dose of reality).

An L.A. Times article from 2009 claims that an average American woman is "162.9 pounds and wears a size 14." This seems to be a riff on the U.S. Center for Disease Control stats that states the average American woman's weight is 164.7 pounds and waist measurement is 37". At an average height of 63.8", this U.S. lady is firmly in the "overweight" category on the BMI scale (of course, that measurement is highly suspect).

My point being, I'm about 20 pounds over average & an inch short, but I typically wear that standard size 14 (and 12s and 16s, along with "mediums" & "larges" as long as they aren't in the juniors section).

And I don't care about any of these numbers, & neither should you.

Really, size is just a number, a totally arbitrary number. The numbers on the scale are just numbers, & the BMI is just a number dreamed up by a Belgian insurance adjuster 200 years ago.  Clothing sizes are rather arbitrary & vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. Each designer has their own "fit model" with different physical proportions that are based in some fantasy land of who that designer wishes would buy their products. None of these (or other) numbers should not dictate how you feel about yourself.

I can enjoy the beach & the sun (hush, goths are allowed to enjoy the sun -- that's what 100+ sunblock is for!), regardless of my size. The sand feels just as ticklish beneath my feet, the waves are as delicious against my skin, the sea breezes are as delightful on my face & hair.

Women shouldn't shun swimsuits if they don't look like fashion models or celebrities. There's a whole industry designed to make women freak out about "swimsuit season" & force us to go on crazy "bikini body" diets to lose some unrealistic number of pounds in an equally unrealistic number of days before hitting the beach. Fie on that nonsense, I say, fie!

I've been to beaches in Florida (where I was born), two Hawaiian islands, Jamaica, the Bahamas, Rio de Janeiro, & random parts of the U.S. that I can't exactly remember right now. None of these beaches had posted size limits or signs saying "you must be this thin to show your body here."

In fact, when I went to Rio, I was amazed & felt liberated to see large, voluptuous women, easily twice my size wearing thong bikinis & high heels, strutting down the Copacabana. These sassy women of substance had, I kid you not, scads of young, bronzed men following them like puppy dogs.

It's all about attitude, ladies. If you feel comfortable in your own body, you will exude confidence & sex appeal, & everyone else will feel it too.

Swimsuits will be hitting the stores any minute now in the U.S. (even if temperatures are too chilly to contemplate swimming -- but that's how retail works ;-). You'll have the best selection of styles & sizes between now & Memorial Day. So get out there & try some on. Don't let the fashion magazines scare you into thinking you have to wait until you lose X number of pounds or some other BS.

Live life in the now, love the body you have, enjoy the sun & soak up a little healthy vitamin D this year.

Check out these awesome swimsuits online:
Pinupgirl Clothing swimsuits (where mine is from!)
RetroDress Esther Williams swimsuits
Shabby Apple retro-styled suits & tankinis
Spiegel swimwear, many styles
Newport News swim shop (great for mix & match two-pieces)
 

TropiGoth Fashion Show, Part 2

And here's the second of my TropiGoth outfit posts -- this one's all about the dresses.

I have a mad passion for sundresses. There's something so easy & breezy about little dresses you wear with nothing but undies & cute shoes. I collect them, but I don't seem to have enough reasons to wear sundresses -- except for tropical vacations! This may be why I invented TropiGoth in the first place...

What I'm wearing, outfit #1:
Black, white, & purple print sundress, Target
Black leather sandals with flowers, Target
Black shell choker, bought on a Florida trip
White dangly shell earrings, Icing
Black Baby Phat purse, swapped with a friend

My husband took this photo when we were strolling through our favourite little town of Koloa, not far from our condo in Kauai.

This trip was to celebrate my 42nd birthday (maybe now I'll figure out the answer to Life, the Universe, & Everything! I'm still waiting for clues, but I do know where my towel is ;-)

We went to the best restaurant on the island, Roy's Poipu Grill, for dinner that night. It's always great, but they treated us extra-special for my birthday. Highly recommended.

What I'm wearing, outfit #2:
Pink print sheath dress, Liberty of London for Target
Black thick velvet (or low-pile fur?) ankle-strap wedge sandals with sparkly bead trim, Payless Shoe Source
Black shell choker, bought on a Florida trip
White dangly shell earrings, Icing
Two pink flower hair pins, Icing
Pink lipstick
Black Baby Phat purse, swapped with a friend

Ok, I know this is practically the same as my first daytime dress outfit, but my hair is down, there's a macaw in the background, & check out the awesome amethyst necklace I'm wearing! That's a birthday gift from my sweetie. He knows what I like.

What I'm wearing, outfit #3:
Black, white, & purple print sundress, Target
Black leather sandals with flowers, Target
Amethyst necklace, gift from husband
White dangly shell earrings, Icing
Black Baby Phat purse, swapped with a friend

The location here is the Kauai Grand Hyatt Resort's lobby, which is enormous & has a tropical garden complete with three giant macaws. We had brunch at the Hyatt that day, also highly recommended because the buffet is excellent & the ocean & garden views are spectacular.

For our final night on the island, we went to another fancy restaurant, the Beach House. As the name suggests, it's right on the ocean. Alas, we didn't get a table with a view, but we did walk outside the restaurant, along the shore, after our meal. We could see a million, billion stars, plus we saw some night divers in the water.

What I'm wearing, outfit #4:
Red & white Hawaiian-print sheath dress, Hilo Hattie
Black thick velvet (or low-pile fur?) ankle-strap wedge sandals with sparkly bead trim, Payless Shoe Source
Black wood bead necklace, bought on a Jamaica tripWhite dangly shell earrings, Icing
Red flower hair pin, Icing
Red lipstick
Black Baby Phat purse, swapped with a friend

If you go to Hawaii, you have to wear at least one piece of traditional aloha garb. C'mon, get in the spirit! If this goth gal can, you can too. I bought this dress a few trips ago, & while I always look for updates, the classic print & shape is hard to beat. Plus, red is just so easy to goth up :-)

Want to see photos of the trip itself (including a detailed tour of the condo, just in case you're looking for a place to stay in Kauai)? Check out my photoset on Flickr!

TropiGoth Fashion Show, Part I

Welcome to the first of two posts that prove goths can too be seen in summer or hot-weather clothes! It's what I've been calling TropiGoth for over a decade now.

This is also an example of how I'm trying to up my game in casual wear. I made more of an effort on this trip to accessorize & wear interesting casual outfits than I usually do.

My typical travel wardrobe can be awfully dull -- I pack basic black & maybe one solid color, hardly anything else. I'm a chronic under-packer & get incredibly bored with my travel clothes. So this is all a bit new.

These pix are all from my recent birthday trip to Kauai, Hawaii, with my husband, who took all the photos. The setting for first two outfits is around the condo we rented.

What I'm wearing, outfit #1:
Black & white T-shirt, Express
Black cargo capris, Kohl's
Black leather sandals with flowers, Target
Black wood bead necklace, bought on a Jamaica trip
Black beaded earrings, Target
Red tropical flower hair pin, bought on a previous Hawaii trip
Red lipstick

The weather was a tiny bit overcast in February, but still in the 70s to low 80s & humid with occasional rains. So dressing for the climate was crucial. Lightweight, nothing fussy or clingy.

Most of our activities on this trip were rather mellow (especially compared to previous trips where we'd done a lot of hiking & more snorkeling). This was time to relax!

That meant I over-packed a little bit because we ended up loitering around the condo wearing PJs or on the beach in a swimsuit more than I planned. But when over-packing means "two more T-shirts," it's not a big deal.

On our first full day of the trip, we went to a cute little day spa for massages. I also got a pedicure, so my dull winter tootsies could be beautiful for a week of sandals! This hot pink polish perfectly matched my swimsuit.

Here's a tip if you're playing snowbird: Shop for tropical-type clothes as early as possible when you start planning the trip! If you need a new swimsuit / shorts / sandals, but you're traveling in January / February / March, you can't run down to the mall and find those things in the weeks right before you leave. You'll either need to buy stuff a year before your trip or hunt around online.

Looking through my wardrobe last fall, I realized the black shorts I wore all summer 2010 were falling apart. But summer clothes were already out of the stores! So I searched online & found these shorts from Land's End. They feel a little bit like "mom pants" (mom jeans but not in denim), but they were literally the only thing I could find in black!

What I'm wearing, outfit #2:
Grey T-shirt with bats, Target
Black twill shorts, Land's End
Black leather sandals with flowers, Target
Black wood bead tribal choker, can't remember!
Black & white shell dangly earrings, Kohl's
Red flower hair pin, Icing
Red lipstick
Black Baby Phat purse, swapped with a friend

I don't use my "normal" everyday purse when I travel -- it's too big. I pack this (or another) small purse in my carryon bag.

I also wore my hair up a lot in Kauai, due to the humidity. That makes my wavy hair go frizz-tastic, & I don't like to travel with a bag full of hair products. Easier just to bring one hair clip & some flowers.

It did rain heavily one day during the trip. So we sought out indoor diversions along the west side of the island. And I wore basic black that would dry out easily.

What I'm wearing, outfit #3:
Black jeweled T-shirt, NY & Co.
Black twill shorts, Land's End
Large silver filigree earrings, Target
Black & white beaded bracelet, bought during this trip
Black lace headband, random accessory store
Black flip-flops with rhinestones, Old Navy
Red lipstick
Black Baby Phat purse, swapped with a friend

Flip-flops were definitely better in the rain -- you're always stepping in huge puddles, so there's no way to avoid getting your feet wet & why bother getting nice shoes wet too?

I love finding pretty accessories, like this bracelet, while traveling. Then I have, not only a new addition, but something with a positive memory.

 

Want to see photos of the trip itself (including a detailed tour of the condo, just in case you're looking for a place to stay in Kauai)? Check out my photoset on Flickr!

Sundress Between Raindrops

Drizzly morning, so just the one photo. But I wore this sundress a lot in Kauai the other week & couldn't resist giving it a wintery remix.

What I'm wearing:
Black, white, & purple print dress, Target
Black T-shirt, Gap
Black elastic belt, NY & Co.
Black leggings, Newport News
Black boyfriend cardigan, Chadwicks
Red heeled ankle boots, Aerosoles
Silver chunky bead necklace, Target

Ran out the door without earrings on! Nearly forgot my rings & studded bracelet.

When you're having a rushed morning, what do you tend to forget?

At the Office in Body, if Not in Spirit

My brain is still back in Kauai, *sigh*. We arrived home late last night, & I had to get up early today for the carpool, so no outfit post. Besides, I'm bundled up in a sweater & jeans because it's cold here, especially compared to the balmy Garden Isle. In fact, snow is predicted for Silicon Valley -- like, flakes might actually touch the valley floor (not just sit on the hills, which happens every couple of winters). This hasn't happened since I was a kid in the 1970s. Omg!

Good thing I'm working from home tomorrow & can bundle up with the kitties. And with my new espresso maker ... I received my 10-year-anniversary gift from the company a month early. Wow. Fabulous timing & a nice way to stave off the "boo hoo, back at work after vacay" feeling. I can't complain too much.

While I dream of brewing my Kauai beans, I'll leave you with a few iPhone pix until I get the full TropiGoth outfit photos of the real camera.

On my birthday at Roy's Grill -
they printed a special menu message!

The view from our condo.

On the beach, last day in paradise.

Thanks for all the comments everyone left while I was gone! I'll be catching up with your posts for a while.

Tales of the TropiGoth

two print sundresses

Next week, my husband & I are going to the island of Kauai in Hawaii to celebrate my 42nd birthday. This will be at least our fourth time there. We've also been to Jamaica three times (for our honeymoon & two anniversaries). Yes, you heard this right: I'm a gothic girl who vacations in the tropics.

Now, that's not the only kind of vacation I enjoy -- most of our trips are to Europe or somewhere exotic (we've set foot on every continent including Antarctica). But I have no fear of losing goth cred by admitting that I enjoy surf & sun & fruity rum drinks. Besides, I know I'm not the only one anymore. Maybe I started a trend...

Anyway, I have to plan my packing list this weekend, as there's lots to do during the short work week before we leave. So I thought I'd share some of my packing strategies, since it's fashiony & kind of on-topic.

black tribal-tropical choker

First, because I travel a lot, I have a standard packing list saved on my iPhone in a notes app. I reuse this list over & over again, changing the details to fit each trip (& I save every version to refer back to). The stuff that never changes are the toileteries, makeup, purse, & carry-on bag items.

gotta put a flower in your hair

Oh, I should mention, I am NOT one of those people who believes in only packing what you carry onto the plane. Madness, I say! Sure, pack light, but you gain very little by taking only what you can shove into the overhead compartment & lose a lot. Take with you on the plane only the things you actually need to amuse & comfort you while you are on the plane. This will make the boarding, flying, & off-loading experience faster, easier, & more pleasant for you & those around you. Honestly, you'll save more time there than you might "waste" in baggage claim. Flying can be a very stressful experience, & I prefer to make the part on the airplane simple & smooth. The part in the airport is usually the least stressful -- after all, you can get up & move away from all those screaming kids ;-)

Liberty of London for Target
print sundress

Enough of my rant. Back to packing. I keep an Eagle Creek Wallaby toiletries bag permanently packed with everything I need, year-round. Just refill shampoo & conditioner bottles after each trip. Btw, if you haven't tried the no-poo or low-poo method for treating your hair, give it a whirl at least a month before traveling. I find it works pretty well for my wavy hair & oily scalp, plus it cuts down on resources needed. I only have to thoroughly shampoo every 3-4 days because I use a lot of styling products (because I like fancy 'dos; but I do less of that when traveling).

For makeup, I bring 3 lipsticks, 2 eyeshadows, black eyeliner, & mascara, plus a travel-size, refillable container of baby wipes for removing makeup. I have yet to find a makeup remover that works as well as generic baby wipes, particularly for eye makeup. It's probably not the most eco-friendly (real cotton balls & some kind of cleanser would be), but when it works...

necklace from Jamaica

For jewelry, I tend to bring just one pair of earrings & one necklace, other than what I wear on the plane (e.g., my everyday stuff). I may also add one or two hair thingies, like a flower pin or headband, plus clips to vary my hairstyle a bit. Now, on this trip, I *am* bringing my collection of tropical jewelry, mostly purchased on past Hawaiian/Jamaican visits. Plus tropical hair flowers!

But what about the clothes? That's pretty darn simple. For a trip of a week or more, I pack 3 bottoms (a mix of pants & skirts, depending on climate & what I currently have) & 4 tops, plus one or two jacket/cardigans & one dress. Colors are predominately black + one accent. And I bring just two pairs of shoes, one boots, one flats. Every top has to coordinate with at least two bottoms, if not all of them (which is easy since the bottoms tend to all be black). The dress must go with the jacket/cardigans, & the shoes go with everything.

bracelet from Kauai

For Kauai, I'm bringing black shorts, black cargo capris, & black leggings, & then a black & white stripey T-shirt, a black jeweled T-shirt, a grey T-shirt with a bats print, a pink T-shirt with an 18th-century furniture print, & a black lace-trimmed cami, plus a black boyfriend cardigan & a red knit dress. Shoes will be jeweled flat sandals for walking around & rubber flip-flops for the beach/pool. And, of course, I'll bring this adorable hot-pink retro swimsuit.

Tropical trips are a little different than others, since all the clothing items are a bit, uh, small, & that gives me some leeway to pack a few more. Especially since we'll be going out to dinner most every night, & I'll want to wear a cute tropical sundress with snazzy sandals. And I don't have many other places to wear such things, so I'm bringing 'em all! So I'm bringing four sundresses & as many of my wacky wedge sandals as will fit in the one suitcase my husband & I are sharing.

necklace from Waikiki

Yep, we're sharing a bag. We only do that on tropical vacations because (a) we don't bring as big & heavy of gear, & (b) that means one less baggage fee. It's even easier since I started making him use we started using packing cubes. I also use shoe bags rather obsessively -- I've collected & made soft bags to transport shoes in. They're important!

Couple more things I always pack: some ChicoBags (expandable, reusable bags that I can tuck into a purse; perfect for shopping trips!) & a KleenKanteen (stainless-steel reusable water bottle; fill with tap water after security check in the airport for easily accessible water on the plane & use when out walking around town during the trip). I use both of these alllllllll the time at home, & they are insanely useful on the road & abroad.

I plan to take lots of pix on the trip, but we'll have minimal Internet access (just on our iPhones). So no blogging. But I've got a couple more work days before I leave...

Hilo Hattie's print sheath dress

necklace from Florida