Summer wardrobe finds

I'm spending a few months in Mexico City. Here's what I've added to my suitcase.

Hola!

I’m so happy you’re spending a moment with me. Thank you.

I am days away from leaving for Mexico. This is a six-month trip to give myself an opportunity to explore whether I want to apply for temporary residency.

I’ve wanted to do this for the past ten years. The weight loss surgery and knee replacements I’ve had weren’t just about better daily health. I needed to be well enough to walk and enjoy places like Oaxaca and Mexico City.

My wardrobe is more ready, too. I’m going to Mexico City during its rainy season. I plan to walk and use public transportation. I’ll be taking immersion language classes and working remotely from cafes and coworking spaces.

First on my list: prepping for rain.

Rain gear

I bought a Boden rain jacket from ThredUp ($42.92). It smelled like it had been sitting in moth balls for ages and it lost its ability to repel water. I followed Nichole Aksamit’s post about getting rid of scents in second-hand clothes (and called her for advice). Next, I did a wash in Nikwax cleaner and waterproofer.

I also got a pair of second hand Joules ankle-high rain boots ($16.38).

Shoes

I’m staying close enough to the language school to walk every day, plus I love walking in Mexico City’s parks. When I visited the city in February, I met up with a group of other Black American women who walk in Chapultepec Forest every Saturday. I’m looking forward to joining them again. I bought a pair of Hoka Solimar 2 shoes (left, $125) for our hours-long treks.

I also wanted comfortable, supportive shoes that look good with jeans and dressier pants. I found these navy Clarks Caroline Rio Women’s Leather Slip-On Shoes from Kohl’s ($75).

Jeans

Next: Comfy jeans I found on ThredUp. I love both of these! A recent session with ShapeShopp encouraged me to try wide leg and flare pants (which totally fit with the 70s vibe I’m working toward). And an IG post from Asta taught me about buying clothes in different sizes to be comfortable or to give yourself room to play with the fabric.

On the left, a pair of Kut from the Kloth wide leg jeans ($41.99). These also needed two rounds of the Oxy-ammonia-vinegar treatment because the laundry detergent smell could induce headaches. (And not just mine!) The pair on the right are lighter weight, high rise wide leg two-tone jeans from Gap, also found on ThredUp ($14.50).

Pants

Taking pictures of myself in clothes I'm trying on is soooo helpful.

Gail K. and I went thrift shopping at Prime Thrift Laurel about 20 minutes outside of Baltimore. I tapped into the shopping skills I learned from Nichole from our autumn second-hand shopping spree, and I left with a pair of wide leg navy pants and some white linen cropped pants.

Accessories

Tina's necktie gave me an idea for what to do with these blouses I can't wear... Plus I got some second-hand sunglasses I couldn't resist.

I had two Boden blouses I can’t wear anymore. I accidentally scrubbed a hole in the pink and red blouse, and the green with pink polka dots is way too big. I didn’t want to totally get rid of them, though… and then I saw this picture of Tina Turner, and her necktie inspired me. What about a narrow double-sided scarf? The blouses are currently at an alterations shop. ($40.) Pic soon!

I love the 70s vibe of the glasses and this discreet engraved medical alert bracelet.

Two more accessories: an oversized round blue sunglasses I found on ThredUp for $35, and an engraved medical alert bracelet (in Spanish, of course). Etsy, $84.

Making ‘bye a good ‘bye

This move feels so different than others because I’m not packing up my stuff to take someplace else. I’m getting rid of almost everything. I keep feeling like I’m dissolving down to my essential self, maybe like a monarch caterpillar going through metamorphosis. That’s what’s sticking in my head, anyway.

I met a friend for tea at Equitea Matcha in Baltimore to give her one of my plants. Afterward I ran into a little pop-up craft marketplace. One of the booths was Brown Butter Cookbooks, an online secondhand cookbook shop.

The owner, Jayla Johnson, just launched the shop a few months ago. I asked her how she’d been curating books, and then I said, “I’m a former cookbook editor, I’m about to leave the country, and I’ve got a lot of cookbooks…”

I used to have over 500. If you’d told 2012 Me that one day I’d give away all my cookbooks, I’d have assumed I’d died and left final wishes for my family to hand them out at my memorial. Last year I gave over 300 away. Now it’s time to thin the remaining 130 down to the few I really can’t let go… mostly autographed copies and books I worked on that I really love.

Jayla Johnson just launched Brown Butter Cookbooks, an online secondhand cookbook shop.

I invited Jayla and her dad, Joe, over to my place and let her choose the books she wanted. I told her they were my investment in her business. She loaded up three boxes and Joe said, “we don’t have much room in the car but I’m gonna make it work!” We talked for several hours. Something just clicked between us, and I’m looking forward to following her venture.

If you know me, you know how much love supporting small, women-owned and BIPOC-owned businesses. I hope you’ll give Jayla some support, too:

• Follow Brown Butter Cookbooks on Instagram.

• Buy something from Brown Butter Cookbooks.

• Tell your favorite home cook about Brown Butter Cookbooks.

• If you have a food-themed Substack newsletter or podcast, or you’re a chef, food blogger/influencer, or restaurateur in the DMV or if you have connections at a culinary school in the DMV, message her on IG—she’s looking for collaborations.

I am going to miss walking around the harbor, the quirky Visionary Arts Museum down the street, and being with my family here. But I’m leaving with good vibes, especially after meeting Jayla and spending time with my family. My affirmation cards for the week are mindset reinforcements. The next time I write you, I’ll be in CDMX.

Thinking about living in another country

If you’re exploring moving abroad and you don’t know where to start, check out Expatsi, a move abroad company started by a friend of mine and her husband. They just held an in-person conference with sessions on visas, housing, health insurance, retirement, moving with kids, jobs, and study abroad. Expatsi also offers group scouting trips and can help you plan a solo scouting trip.

Use my affiliate link to get 10% off an annual Expatsi membership.

Muchos besos!

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