Top/Blusa: Zara (also love this short sleeve version!) Shorts/Mahon Corto: American Eagle (similar) Jewelry/Joyería: Alex and Ani Scarf/Pañuelo: Zara (old, love this one) Bag/Cartera: TJ Maxx Lipstick/Lápiz labial: Maybelline Color Sensational Creamy Matte Lipstick in Craving Coral (685)

¡Hola! Today's post is all about this gorgeous blouse! I love wearing white during spring/summer, especially when I'm a little tanner. Although I have yet to acquire such a tan (yes, this is just my natural, non-tan color), white is still a staple color for these seasons because it can be so fresh and airy. I love every detail of this blouse: the lace, the polka dot pattern, the ruffled shoulders, everything! As I mentioned in my previous post, I'm loving wearing a scarf like this one in my hair. This time I tied it around a ponytail for an effortless look.

I also want to let you guys know about a little giveaway I'm hosting on the blog's Instagram! To celebrate reaching 1k followers on Instagram, I'm giving away a $50 Zara gift card! Straight out of my own pocket! Followers voted for their gift card of choice over on the blog's IG stories and the giveaway will be live over there in a few hours. If you're interested in participating (open to US and PR only), check out @thegirlonanisland, follow, and look for the post (I'll include it here once its up)!

UPDATE: The giveaway is LIVE! Follow @thegirlonanisland on Instagram and like this photo to participate! More information in photo's description.

Con amor,

María Eugenia


SHOP WHITE TOPS!

¡Hola! Today I thought I'd list out for you 5 things I've learned since starting this blog. The inspiration for this post comes from all of you! I get a lot of questions and requests for advice (even though I truly think I'm still just a rookie at this!) about blogging. We can definitely do a Q&A in the future if that is something you would like to see!

A little background on The Girl on an Island before we start: 

I started The Girl on an Island in 2016. I had just taken my USMLE Step 1 (the first of three medical licensing exams you need to pass to become a doctor in the US; more on the logistics of this and other exams at another time). Just so you get this gist of it, I had studied 18 hours daily for months to take an 8 hour exam that would test all my knowledge in basic sciences and set me up for future residency opportunities. After you take the test, you have to wait 3-4 weeks to know if you even passed it. THREE TO FOUR WEEKS! Three to four weeks of not knowing if you even passed, remembering all the questions you might have gotten wrong, killing yourself with the suspense! Am I being overdramatic? Maybe, but I was definitely going through a lot of anxiety. What did I do to get my mind off of it? I started this blog! 

It was the best decision I made. It kept my mind busy and I throughly enjoyed it. I had always wanted to start a blog, since my college days when I followed countless little blogs that are now huge influencers, and this was the perfect time to do so. The weeks went by and I got my score: PASS! I kept the blog going without real rhyme or reason, just because I loved it, until I had to take a 6 month hiatus to focus on surgery rotations. Medicine and surgery will always be my first priority. Now that I've graduated and have a little time to kill before residency, I've dedicated myself to growing my blog. It has definitely been a crash course and everything I've learned as been 100% self-taught. I'm slowly getting the hang of things even though I learn something new every single day.

Now, let me stop babbling and let you in on what I think are the top 5 things I've learned since day one.

Having a blog takes up A LOT more time than you would think. First of all there's the time it takes to set it up. You need to settle on a name, figure out your niche (very important! more in #5), set up your page/theme, set up all your social media, etc. Once you're all set up, there's the time it takes to prepare your posts. Some posts come easy to you, some posts take a little more time. Some days you're inspired and can even prepare posts in advance. Some days you have no idea what to write about. A post like this one could take me a couple of hours but a fashion post where I'm sharing my street style takes much more planning. I need to take photos during the weekend when (and if) my husband/photographer is available, then I need to edit images, choose the best ones (the hardest part because I always love too many!), find links to the clothes I'm wearing, and finally, write a short post too! I recommend you try to prepare all your posts in advance and schedule them to publish automatically (key word: try!). Start off with one post per week then more if time allows. Don't sacrifice quality for quantity.

Then there's the time spent sharing it! Posting on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, etc. takes time. There are sites that you can use to schedule these in advance also but they charge you and since I don't use them I can't recommend any for you (sorry!). Keeping up your social media presence takes time but this is where you can engage with your readers the most (more in #4). We all know the struggle of aiming for a perfect Instagram feed! Try to not hold yourself to some image of perfection. If you're like me and doing this in your free time, don't compare yourself with people who's sole job is having the perfect Instagram feed.

Finally there's the time needed to be patient. You don't start a blog and suddenly have thousands of views and followers. When I started I would get roughly 35 views daily and I'm pretty sure they were all my mother. How did I grow my blog? Be keeping at it and sharing! Don't be afraid to share with your friends and family. Have them share it forward. Comment on your favorite bloggers posts and leave your own blog's link. Sooner or later, people will start to notice. The key is consistency.

The most important thing I've learned is to stay true to myself. At the end of the day, this blog is for you. Its your escape, its your hobby, so it should be about what makes YOU happy. Obviously you would love to have readers that follow along with you but if you stick to being true to yourself that will happen naturally. Don't try to put out an image that is not you. That'll just take more time and effort to achieve and at the end of the day you won't be happy and your reader's will notice. 

There you have it! Are these fool-proof ways to become instantly famous? No. These are the top 5 tips that I can share with you that I know will at least make your blogging experience pleasurable both for you and your reader.

Do you have a blog? Leave your link below and I'll be sure to stop by and say hi!

Con amor,

María Eugenia

Tee/Camisa: Zara Jacket/Abrigo: Forever 21 (old, similar here) Jeans/Mahones: American Eagle (similar) Bandana: Zara (old, loving this one!) Shoes/Zapatos: Forever 21 (old, similar) Bag/Cartera: Kate Spade (old, for cheaper versions love this one and this one!) Jewelry/Joyería: Alex and Ani Sunglasses/Gafas: Forever 21

¡Hola! About the title: pun intended! I absolutely adore this look I wore last Sunday for some reminiscing around my college town. There are a lot of spring trends going on here! 

1. Bandanas/Scarves in hair: Milkmaid braids is my favorite go-to hairstyle when I have no hot tools around but want a polished look. It takes me literally 10-15 mins to achieve (depends on my OCD level). I decided to add this Zara scarf I usually tie around my bag to it by knotting it over my head for a fresh, spring version. I've been seeing them used in buns, braids, and all kinds of different hairstyles lately! 

2. Yellow: This color is very on trend now. You're seeing it in every store! If you interested in rocking this trend I recommend buying a piece like this t-shirt because it won't break the bank and its very versatile!

3. Espadrilles: Espadrilles are always in style in spring/summer! I love this old pair from Forever 21 because they are very Chloé-esque! 

4. Straw bag: This Kate Spade bag has been in my wardrobe for around 2 years and I love bringing it out once spring starts and really almost every time I do a little touring around the island. Living on a tropical island means this bag is pretty much on trend ALL YEAR ROUND. I've linked a couple of cute and cheaper alternatives above!

5. Cat-eye sunglasses/Micro sunglasses: Ok, micro sunglasses do NOT look good on me. I think my eyes are just to big to pull them off! I was so happy, though, when I found these at Forever 21! I know they are not "micro" but I think the shape of them is enough to count! 

You're definitely going to be seeing these on repeat here and on the blog's Instagram! 

Fun fact: The first play I saw in this theater was when I was in college. I had been handed out a flyer for a play and decided to check it out on a whim. First scene comes to life and there's a bathtub on stage. Suddenly a naked man comes out of it and more naked people start to show! Needless to say I was in awe, watching families with kids running out of the theater, because there was no way to have known! It was quite a funny (yet it was a very serious play so, no laughing!) sight! 

What is your favorite trend for this spring?

Con amor,

María Eugenia

¡Hola! As you all know, my husband and I are both doctors. I just finished my medical degree and am waiting to start my residency and my husband is an surgery intern. This means that planning a weekend getaway just the two of us is extremely rare and almost always left until the very last minute because we never know too much in advance when we are going to be able to get away. Even so, we always manage to plan fun and cheap weekend trips in less than a day or two. How? Keep reading!

1. Where to go: First things first: where do you want to go? Even though Puerto Rico is such a tiny island, it is jam-packed with places to go! There's something different worth exploring in every single town! How do you decide where you want to go? Check your mood. Do you need a relaxing weekend just chilling on the beach? Head to the west! Do you feel stuck in a rut all week and want to have a little fun? Head to the north! Do you want to jump on a catamaran and explore the sea? Head to the east! I can go on and on! If you're up for anything, go somewhere you haven't been before. Check something off that Puerto Rico bucket list! I like to check out a list such as this one: 100 Things to do in Puerto Rico Before You Die. I also always check for any deals on Gustazos and Spotin (they have an app too!).

2. Where to stay: We are lucky enough that both our parents have apartments in Cabo Rojo (west PR) so every time we want to explore that side of PR, they kindly lend us their places (WIN!). Maybe you have a family member or friend living around the area/with a place in the area you want to explore! ¡No pierdes nada con preguntar! There's nothing to lose by just asking if you can crash at their place! If you feel too guilty, invite them on your adventure!  When we decide to spend the weekend in the metropolitan/capital area (San Juan), we usually opt for an Airbnb. These are some we have stayed at and highly recommend: Old San Juan's Hidden Gem, Tripper's Inn Ocean Park, Cozy Studio Apartment Condado.

3. Where to eat: I am always asking friends (and you guys!) for restaurant recommendations. I keep them listed on my phone's Notes app by city. This way we're not going through the usual "where do you want to go?", ""I don't know, where do you want to go?" debate when it comes time to choose a place to eat. I also follow recommendations from Puerto Rican food blogs such as Una Jeva con Hambre and use apps such as Sal! (check out their website here).

4. What to pack: This really depends on the type of weekend you have planned. Obviously if you plan to spend it on the beach, pack swimsuits, coverups, sunscreen, etc.! If you're planning a more city/touristy weekend pack lightweight tops, shorts/jeans, etc. However, there are some things that could come in handy no matter what you have planned such as: your camera, a straw hat, sunglasses, an evening outfit, mosquito repellant, and I always carry an abanico de mano (fan). The trick is to pack light and with pieces that you can mix and match as needed!

Con amor,

María Eugenia