Service Trip to the Dominican Republic Review

My blog is called Traveling Posh; however, I tend to post more of the posh part.  Today I am focused on the traveling half of my title and am sharing my first service trip experience to the Dominican Republic.

I went on this trip with my school (about 25 students went) through the travel company Outreach 360.  We stayed in a small, relatively cheap hotel with cold water and no wifi.  When we first arrived I was disappointed in not having wifi and dealing with cold showers, but in the end it doesn't matter because the rest of the trip was amazing.

We arrived on Saturday, then Sunday was an informative day.  The real fun started on Monday when we began teaching English at a primary school with grades 1-8.  I taught 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, and 6th grade.  

The kids we taught were so enthusiastic about learning and beyond welcoming.  They're what made the trip unforgettable.  When the recess bell rang all of the kids would try to get hold of your hand and claim you to play with them for recess.  Since we taught for 5 days you make friends with the students and get to know them.  I became very close with the a girl named Mirian (pictured above) and it was so hard to say goodbye, but fulfilling knowing I made an impact on her education.

Knowing spanish helps to communicate with the kids at english; however, I do not take spanish and you're still able to communicate with the children through love (that sounds so cheesy, but it is so true).

Pictured above are my 6th grade boys I taught.  They were hilarious (as you can probably assume from the picture)... They were super enthusiastic and learned really fast.

After each day we had a reflection where we got to share inspiring parts of the day or parts we struggled with, this was led by an Outreach 360 staff member.

Aside from teaching we got a taste of the culture on Friday when we visited a market on the Haitian and Dominican border.  It was crazy crowded and afterwards we went to a museum.  We also took a beautiful hike and then spent the afternoon at the beach.  So even though you're teaching the majority of the service trip, the last day gives you a break.

This entire trip was unforgettable (mostly the kids I met).  If you're thinking about doing a service trip I highly recommend it, especially one based on educating children.  I cannot think of many negatives about this trip other than getting sick of the food.  If you have questions or comments I'd love to hear them because I love talking about this experience of mine.  For now here are a few other pictures:

Coloring during the Dominican's National holiday called Students Day (we were lucky to be there for students day and got to hang out with the kids all morning like it was recess)

My adorable first graders.

Hopefully I have the opportunity to take another trip similar to this again!  Once again, if you have specific questions or are thinking about going on a trip like this feel free to leave a comment below or send me an email.

xoxo

Emma

P.S. check out my previous blog here.

Oscars 2015 Best and Worst Dressed

To be honest I am not the biggest award show fan; however, I do enjoy the fashion.  The Oscar's had some amazing dresses, and some not so good looks too.  Here are my 5 favorite, and 5 least favorite dressed celebrities at the 2015 Oscar's.

{best}

Jennifer Lopez

This dress screams fairytale princess and it is absolutely stunning. I love the sheer fabric on the sleeves and over the bottom of the dress. Her clutch is also super cute.

Karolina Kurkova

This faint blush color is everything.  She looks flawless.  My favorite part of the dress is the really cool back of it and I love the color of lipstick she wore with it.

 Rita Ora

Another stunning dress, this color was awesome since most people wear soft whites, pinks, and tans.  Not to mention her eyebrow game is on point.

Miranda Kerr

This dress is tied in first place with Nina Dobrev's.  It fits perfectly and the gold stripe is really cool.  I love the open back as well.

Nina Dobrev

As usual, Nina has my favorite look.  She is aways dressed perfectly at big events and always catches my eye.  The detailing on this dress is stunning and I love the open sections in the middle.  You can always count of Nina for the perfect gown.

{worst}

Jennifer Anniston 

Don't get me wrong, she is one of my all time favorite actresses, but what was she thinking.  To be honest she is too old for this dress and I never like when she wears her hair like that- kind of messy and like she doesn't care look.  Just not my favorite this time.

Rashida Jones

I hate the colors on this and I don't like the pattern.  Sorry.  The shape is really weird too.  I do like her lipstick though!

Solange Knowles

This wasn't the worst, but I'm still not loving it.  Way too many layers it looks like she's wearing blankets or something weird.

Scarlett Johanson

This dress could've been okay, but seriously that neck thing?  Why?

Keira Knightly 

Yikes.  This is my least favorite.  I just don't like it at all.  Especially the bottom and top ruffles.  She looks like a doll in a horror movie.

Okay those were my favorite and least favorite looks.  Sorry if I was harsh and offended anyone, but I was just saying my fashion opinion, nothing against any of the celebrities.

xoxo

Emma

P.S. check out my previous post here.

Everyday Winter Outfit

Don't you love those days in the middle of the winter when the weather is 10 degrees higher than normal and the sun is shining?  I live for those few days.  This Sunday was unusual and it was almost 40 degrees here in Massachusetts.  I rolled up my ripped jeans and didn't have to wear a long sleeve shirt for the first time in what felt like forever.  I also got some use out of my favorite hat from American Eagle.  This hat matches with almost everything, and really pulls the outfit together since it matches with my bag and shoes.

Shirt | Jeans | Bag- similar | Hat

xoxo

Emma

P.S. to see my previous blog and learn how to make the best grilled cheese, click here.

The Perfect Grilled Cheese Recipe

Out of every food I have ever eaten, grilled cheese has to be my chosen meal.  I order grilled cheese wherever I go out to eat whether it is Panera or a 5-star restaurant.  Naturally I've had a hard time making  grilled cheese as good as the ones from restaurants, but I think I finally found a real winner.

Ingredients:

• whole wheat sourdough bread
• butter
• american cheese
• arugula
• red onion

Assembling the grilled cheese is simple.  I like to use 1 1/2 pieces of cheese and lay them on one break then stack on the red onion, then arugula.  After I close the sandwich I butter each side and lay in on the pan.  With the heat on medium-low, put a lid over the grilled cheese and let it sit for 5-7 minutes, occasionally checking on it.  Then flip, and repeat for 4-5 minutes this time.  When it is finished, that is your end product and I can guarantee, you'll love the results!

xoxo
emma

30 Things Every Girl should have in their Closet

{30 Closet Essentials}

1. Fashionable Hat

2. Circle Scarf

3. Belt

4. Strap Sandals

5. Knee High Socks

6. Wallet

7. Basic Crop Top

8. Sunglasses

9. Bralette

10. Riding Boots

11. Skater Skirt

12. Little Black Dress

13. High Waisted Shorts

14. Black Bikini

15. Big(ger) Bag

16. Light Long Sleeve

17. Cozy Sweater

18. Wedges

19. Jean Jacket

20. Formal Summer Dress

21. Leggings

22. Chambray Top

23. Romper

24. Cute Backpack

25. Blue Jeans

26. (oops)

27. Flowy Shorts

28. Rain Boots

29. Statement Necklace

30. Nude Flats

xoxo

Emma

P.S. Check out my January Favorites here.

Sweater and a Statement

In contrast to the lovely 80 degree weather California is enjoying, here in New England we're still trying to find a place to put all of the snow.  But, snow does mean sweaters and sweaters are my favorite clothing article ever.  Today I put together a typical winter outfit combining a simple sweater with a small statement necklace.  I love this sweater from Max Studio (everything in their Winter Line is 70% off right now...check it out here.) which I picked up at Nordstrom.  It kept me warm on this chilly day and combined perfectly with this semi-statement necklace.

I am currently in the Dominican Republic and the wifi won't let me link the products in the pictures above (the internet is really slow so I cannot find the products on the website); however when I return I will have everything linked.

xoxo
Emma

P.S. check out more outfit posts here.

February Fashion

Surprise, surprise, another snow day!  My town seems to be getting the worst of this 3rd storm according to the news and I completely believe it.  At this point you cannot even see the furniture in my backyard a the table and chairs are covered in white snow.  I will say it looks pretty, but I'm long over the snow and the cold.

Taking pictures today was a bit of a struggle in the freezing temperature, but I wanted to get a real outfit on the blog.  I paired my plain light blue jeans with one of my favorite new shirts from T.J. Max.  This shirt was an awesome find for only $16.  I love it because it has an open back which looks really cool.

 I love the patterns on the shirt.

Shirt- (not on website) | Jeans | Belt | Necklace | Boots

xoxo

Emma

P.S. Click here for Valentine's day gift ideas

       Click here for more fashion

Valentine's Day Gift Basket

Instead of giving a single, pricey gift, I like to give a bunch of smaller items as one big gift for a person.  For valentine's day a cute and affordable idea is making a gift basket filled with $5-$15 items wrapped in pink and red and very festive looking.  Here are some items ideas for what you could put into the gift basket.

Cup (12.99) | Body Lotion (14) | Moccasins (25) | Blush (5) | Lip Gloss Set (29.50) | Nail Polish (8.50) | Earrings (38)

xoxo 

Emma

P.S. if you want to make a DIT Valentine's Gift, click here.

January Favorites

January 2015 was a fun, exciting, and stressful month.  It consisted of traveling to Arizona, midyears, volleyball tournaments, the big snowstorm, and getting my permit...a pretty eventful month.  Check out some of my beauty favorites from January 2015:

{favorites}

1.  Juice Beauty Moisturizer- my skin has been very dry the past few weeks because it is the middle of winter and I've been relying on this amazing moisturizer in the smell green apple.  I apply it once a day and it leaves my skin feeling moist and hydrated.

2. Leaves Candle- I got this candle for 75% off because it is a Fall season candle and they had an extra.  I love the smell and although it isn't Fall, I'm not a huge fan of the Winter candles at bath and Body Works.

3.  Stila Liquid Liner- Eyeliner is an everyday must for my makeup routine and I've fallen ni love with this liquid liner which I got for Christmas.  I've heard a lot of good things about it and it is definitley worth the hype.  It's amazing for a winged line, and great for a simple thin eyeliner too.

4.  Essie "bikini so teeny"- This icy blue color by Essie has been a Winter favorite as it reminds me so much of the season.  This blueish purple matches with almost all of my outfits and adds a fun pop of color.

5. Benefit Hoola Bronzer- I've had this bronzer for a very long time, but hadn't used it much until last month. Contouring has become an essential for my makeup routine and is my absolute favorite part.  The Hoola bronzer is a really nice color and adds great dimension to my face. Especially since it is Winter, this has added a lot of color to my face and made me slightly less pale.

6. Naked Basics Palette- Another makeup item I've had for quite some time now...Let's be honest is anyone else lazy when it comes to makeup early in the morning? I now I am.  This Palette makes it easy to get a cute eye makeup look with almost no effort.  It only has the basic neutral colors, but has some sparkle and some dark shades, just the necessaries for an everyday look.

xoxo
Emma

P.S. check out my last blog post here.

Earmuff Obsession

Clearly New England has been getting a ton of snow this Winter and I've been searching for cute ways to stay warm.  I just discovered a new favorite method in fighting the cold- earmuffs.  I think earmuffs are actually so cute and different.  Below I'm wearing some from Anthropologie that are $30 and totally worth their price.  In the winter since half the time you are wearing a big coat and snow boots, accessorizing is very important!

I apologize because some of the pictures are a bit blurry since the camera lens was soaked by the snow.

Earmuffs | Jacket | Leggings | Boots | Socks (similar)

xoxo

Emma

p.s. Valentine's day is coming up!  Click here for a DIY gift idea.

Valentine's Day Gift DIY

Welcome February! Valentine's Day is coming up and I never know what do to about gifts.  I don't have a boyfriend and my friends and I don't normally give each other gifts on Valentine's day, but my sisters and I do.  Usually we just throw a bunch of candy in a bag and give it to each other, but this year I wanted to do something nice.  Whether this is for a best friend, boy friend, parent, or sibling this DIY Valentine's Day treat is an adorable, easy, and affordable one.

Valentine's DIY Mason Jar

Supplies:

• candy (particularly red or pink)
• mason jar (any size)
• string
• notecard
• cloth

Assembly:

1. Decorate the Card (you will be attaching a card to the jar, so before getting started sign the card!)
On mine I wrote: Be My Valentine xo
Other Suggestions: Be Mine
                                Hug Me
                                You Rock
                                ILYSM
2. Pour in the Candy
I bought these hershey kisses (2 bags for $6) this was the only expense of this DIY.  The rest of these materials I found in my house.

3. Cut a cloth/tissue paper
Cut any material to go under the lid of the mason jar to add a pop of pink for valentine's day.  I recommend using cloth, but I only had tissue paper and it worked fine too!

4.  Attach Lid

5.  Attach Card to String
Cut a whole in the card and put the string through it.

6.  Screw on the Lid

{FINI}

xoxo
Emma

p.s. click here for my previous post!