I’m getting ready for my trip to Oaxaca on Friday, and I have to admit I am pretty excited. It will be great to meet everyone but also to get to work on the plan for spreading the word about the México we all love. The picture above is from our trip to Oaxaca last year.
It’s been frustrating for lots of us who live here and love it here to read and hear inflammatory news reports, many of which present information totally out of context. I’ve used this blog as my own forum for presenting the reality of my life in México partly so that people will read my words and see that there is another side of the story. The Mexico Today project is just what is needed – I believe that all of our voices together will make a chorus that hopefully will be heard.
So to get ready to get back in the workplace, (!) I had to take a look at my wardrobe to try to come up with some new looks. Mazatlán is not the greatest for shopping and since I usually only visit the US for a week in August I had to get creative. But for a change it wasn’t me being creative…a friend was taking some things to her seamstress and I got to tag along. I had two old, beloved shirts that were too worn out to wear. I had one skirt that I liked a lot.
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I bought two meters of fabric for each item for probably around 600 pesos ($51.00 US) and a couple of weeks later we picked up our new clothes. Four shirts and two new skirts for me! $550 pesos ($47.00 US) for all of this, perfectly done, just as I wanted. How about that?
Then I thought that I’d better get a haircut so I headed to Tippy Toes, a new beauty salon in Centro. The owner, Deb Rodriguez, is a talented and knowledgeable hairdresser and her salon is so fun – beach murals and surf decor of course, since they are a half block from the beach on Sixto Osuna. They don’t open until July 4, but she has been training staff so a few of us lucky year-rounders have been getting pampered during the soft opening. You may recognize Deb as the author of The Kabul Beauty School
I haven’t started packing yet, but the dogs seem to know something is up. My office/craft room doubles as a guest bedroom and the dogs have been keeping a close eye on me lately. Here are a couple pictures showing how they keep me company!
Zoe
June 23, 2011I know how much you love Oaxaca, so you will have a ball, I’m sure. I feel so guilty when I pull a suitcase out of the closet and put it on the bed to pack and all the furs gather round with woebegone expressions on their faces. At least it is only ONE suitcase this time, so they will still have the mister. Dinner and a sunset when we both return, okay. xxoo
Mexican Trailrunner
June 23, 2011Great post! I’ve done the same with having clothes made, what a cool idea no? I was also thinking of having some manta tops made, like the ones on your bed, and taking them to the Chiapas ladies in Aguacatenango to embroider. Also, my latest thing is to have Tere dye my clothes that get cloro-ed. Got a whole stack of ‘new’ tops the other day!
So, I don’t understand about the Mexico Today project, will have to look it up. I’m like you, trying to spread the good stuff as fast and furious as I can to try to counter all the crap that gets published.
I LOVED the Kabul Beauty School!!!! Does she really live in Maz now? Is she really training Mexican girls to cut hair like she did there???? That is so cool. Tell her I loved her book and am glad to know she’s here. Hope so meet her one day, ummm then I’d get to meet you too, huh? I’ve got to get back to Maz, why does Maz always pop up so brightly on my radar screen during the SUMMER!!!
Abrazos
Mexican Trailrunner
June 23, 2011PS: Travel safe and have great fun!
Nancy
June 23, 2011Hi Trailrunner,
Yes, she lives in Maz now and has opened a salon, although it is mostly for mani-pedi. She only has one chair, for herself. She lives around the corner from me and was a surprise guest at our book group a while back. She is fun and interesting and I know will be crazy successful. You should check out the pictures of the salon on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tippy-Toes/182923715089070
Contessa
June 24, 2011Nancy you get to have soooooooo much fun, I’m jealous. Love the new clothes, I think they will be perfect for the trip. I NEED to get in touch with your seamstress, I have been looking for a good one for 3 years. Poor fur babies, they will miss you. Colin left this morning for 3 days and our kids are so sad. Looking forward to trying out Tippy Toes and to hearing about your trip. Buen viaje!