Outfit Of The Days (E ku'u kumu e, mai hopohopo, ua kapa 'ia ko'u inoa waena, 'o ia 'o Severe Turbulence)

Baby, "Severe Turbulence" is my middle name.

Whittling down vacation photos can be both fun and incredibly daunting, can't it?  It's an absolute blast to look through all of them and relive the vacation a bit, but  I snapped well over 1,000 pictures during our 8-night stay on the island of Kaua'i last week. And sure, that  only figures out to about 125 pictures per day, but it still seems absolutely prodigious once a girl has to hunker down and edit them all.

So I decided to start with the most important part since it's been awhile--what I wore! So you guys don't get confused and think I went on this vacation naked, uh duh.

Husband and I got married in Kaua'i five years ago and our vacation then was full of the usual twinkly, misguided dreams and warm weather with intermittent misty showers that would last mere seconds before the sun would be out shining again. This vacation was entirely different however, with the first four days a complete deluge of nonstop heavy, soaking rains and the first four nights spent with us lying in our hotel room at the Hyatt Regency, listening as the creepy and robotic National Weather Service Voice would repeat the Flash Flood warnings for all of the Hawaiian-named towns on Kaua'i, lulling us into a dreary, non-sparkly sleep.


Which was actually really funny to hear, that automated voice trying so hard to pronounce  the Hawaiian towns, but only the first time. Oh alright I laughed the second time too, but it really grew old by night three and four, I swear (but only Ka-pa-a-and-Kau-ma-ka-ni-kind-of, ha-ha-ha-ha). The weather did clear up a bit halfway through our trip thankfully, giving us just enough good weather to be slightly satisfied and hungry for more.

One of the big reasons why I love Kaua'i is because of the laid back nature of the island--it is the only place that Husband and I can go and feel like we are truly getting away from it all. There is no hustle, there is no bustle. It is the least populated of all of the main Hawaiian islands, and there are no high end boutiques or shops but only stores dedicated to trinkets, fun and chintzy souvenirs, or surf gear.

I actually like the surf stores the best, though I make no claim to be any sort of  salty sea turtle, because nestled between the racks of bikinis, short-shorts, and brightly printed tees are incredibly soft, cool knits perfect for the hot days of summer.  The only shopping I did for myself on this  vacation was to stock up on Ola sugar scrubs, Island Soap & Candle Company Plumeria scented products (I love their oils & shower gels and they're all made locally in Kaua'i), and a few seriously, seriously soft knits from a brand I'd never heard before called Indah (but apparently Shopbop knows what's up, and you can check the brand out here!).

I didn't snap pictures of all of my outfits, as I decided to take a little break from the blog so I could enjoy spending time with the D-hubs, but I did catch a few snaps here and there. So let's get to it, hm?

A girl can never bring too many shoes yes? I'm not even going to say what Husband said when he saw these all lined-up because I couldn't really understand him, we're at that stage in our marriage where we both mumble a lot now, but I'm pretty sure it was something about how much he loved me aaaand all my shoes.  Especially the studded spikey ones:

Here's what I wore to go on a day-trip on a boat up the Nā Pali coast.  Because of the rain and cool early morning weather, I had to be crafty and layer up a bit!  I also promise that my watch does fit, it just wasn't latched when I quickly snapped these before running er, wobbling out the door:

T-shirt: American Eagle Outfitters (buy it here, on sale for $10)

Belt: Urban Outfitters (buy it here) (similar style here at F21 for $6.80)

Skirt: American Apparel (buy it here, now 50% off!)

Watch: MICHAEL Michael Kors 'Large Runway' Rose Gold Watch (buy it here) (similar style under $100 here)

Ring: Yves Saint Laurent Arty Ring in Green (buy it here) (similar style here) (and at Anthro for $58)

Sandals: Christian Louboutin Glittered Atalanta Flats (buy them here) (similar style here) (and love these for $29.50, too!)

Bag: Chanel Crackled Patent Camel Classic Flap (similar style here) (and here) (and Miu Miu-esque under $100 here)
Grumpy face: IT WAS 5:00 AM.

Here's what I wore while laying out by the pool, safe under a cabana since I'm not supposed to be in the sun.  I also damn near lived in this  Mint by Goorin Nubby Panama Hat from Urban Outfitters, wearing it during most of our vacation--it's the first hat I've ever owned that has been truly packable. It's amazing! I had the poor thing mashed up so badly in my suitcase both to and from Hawaii! And it popped out and right back into shape with nary a kink each time!  Good stuff:

I am also going to be a bit honest and discuss something that I rarely discuss on here: it's a little bit nerve-racking posting swimsuit pics. I have received a few rare comments here in the past regarding my size, as most fashion bloggers likely have since we put ourselves out there and ask for it (which is totally weird because I'm preeetty sure I haven't worn my "OMG How Do You Think I Look At This Weight Please Let Me Know By Anonymously Telling Me To Either Eat a Sandwich Or By Congratulating Me On My Magical Secret Pregnancy In The Comment Section On My Blog ASAP Because Apparently My Magical Secret Unborn Baby Really Likes Sandwiches LOL LOL LOL!!!" t-shirt in an Outfit Of The Day yet, but it's coming soon I promise!), so I will just say this: like most women, I've had my fair share of body issues.  Who hasn't? 

But having dealt with Lupus for the past four years has really helped me to finally be mostly at peace with my body in that regard. It's odd, but true.  Lupus is both a painful and uncontrollable condition, and auto-immune disorders are incredibly tough on one's body.  I can often fluctuate up and down in weight a good 10 to 20 lbs from the various medications I take and from all of the illnesses and side effects that come with it, which can be a lot for someone who is only 5'2".


It is bittersweet.  As a fairly major control freak who felt pressure in her late teens and early 20's to be a certain size and never fluctuate nary a pound, it has been difficult yet strangely liberating to give up the regimented control I used to once command over my body and actually be, well...nice and gentle to it, even though Lupus often times isn't so nice and gentle back. I had to call a truce; this disease has given me no other choice.  It's in control now, and I'm just along for the goofy motherfucker of a ride. 


I rarely discuss matters like this on here mostly because...well, it never pops into my head.  I' have made my peace with it and it's simply no longer an issue for me.  But I also do enjoy  occasionally getting a bit more personal on here than just sharing some pictures with ya'll displaying my basic grasp on the concept of matching clothes, so I figured this was as good a time as any to discuss it. 



So there you have it, I'm a real human with real human issues and not an emotionless robot-lady-with-an-oddly-large-head-and-an-unhealthy-attachment-to-expensive-shoes-and-a-fuzzy-brown-dog-named-Petunia-that-most-reserve-for-a-stressful-career-or-Farmville-or-a-human-baby after all.  I TOLD YOU.

Onto the pictures. I am a true apple-shape and carry most of my weight in my midsection, so while I do occasionally don a bikini I always feel comfiest in the Extremely Buddha-Belly-Friendly tankini.  Especially while on vacation and eating all the good vacation food and drinking all the good vacation drinks, too.  It's not like I can go flop out in the sun and splash around in a pool or catch an amazing tan brah anyhow.  Swimwear for me now is no pomp, all circumstance, an occasional  melancholy hot tub after the sun safely sets at night, sad trombone.


But I did feel a little bit festive and fun while hiding in the shade when Husband stole my camera to snap this pic; he always makes me feel lovely, tankini and Buddha belly and trying to see the glass as half-full  and made-up conversations with a 5 lb chihuahua and all:

Tankini top: J Crew Ruched Betty Swing Top in Dark Cypress (buy it here)

Bottoms: Marc by Marc Jacobs Belleville Snap Bikini Brief (similar style here) (and here for under $20)

Book: Something Borrowed by Emily Griffin (only because I accidentally left my copy of Ice: A Memoir of Gangster Life and Redemption-from South Central to Hollywood by Ice-T at home, sheeeit!)

And this is what I wore when we decided to go out for dinner  and to visit the beach where we got married five years ago.  Yay, so happy!  ♥

(See now, if I were a fashion blogger with a photographer Husband you'd ONLY get a million of the same Outfit Of The Day snaps of me doing the Awkward Freaked Out On Guard With My Arms Over My Boogs Imma Beat You With My Louboutins pose. And it'd be awesome.)

Cardigan: Rodarte for Target (similar style here) (and here from F21)
Cami: Wyatt U-neck Ruffle Camisole (buy it here) (similar style here for under $50) (and here on sale)
Belt: J Crew Patent-Tab belt in Cinnamon Spice (buy it here)
Shorts: Old Navy Pleated Linen Shorts in Salamander (buy them here, on sale for $15!)
Watch: MICHAEL Michael Kors 'Large Runway' Rose Gold Watch (buy it here) (similar style under $100 here)
Heels: Christian Louboutin Knotted Greissimo Pumps in Camel (buy them here) (similar style here + take 25% off with code "MAYAFF25") (and here for $35)
Sandals: Christian Louboutin Glittered Atalanta Flats (buy them here) (similar style here) (and love these for $29.50, too!)

More pictures to come! :)