Photos by Ale Veyna and Me

Target Straw Hat (Borrowed from Ale)

I thought I’d share these pictures from my beach trip on the 4th of July weekend. My sisters and I drove down to Strand Beach in Dana Point and spent a few hours lounging and soaking in the sun. I have to admit that I used to not be the type of person who would enjoy spending time at the beach, but it has recently started to become one of my favorite summer activities. I think the reason for that is that I’ve been prioritizing self-care and carving out time to just relax, which is a perfect thing to do at the beach.

Since I plan to go to the beach often this summer, I decided to invest in a new bikini top. If you’re a busty gal like me, it can be very difficult to find a swimsuit top that provides enough coverage and support, but still looks very cute. I settled on this striped bikini top from Asos and what I like about it is that it comes in my bra size, has underwire support and doesn’t make me look like I’m wearing lingerie to the beach, which can be a problem when you’re shopping for swimsuits in extended sizes.

I love this picture of my sister Ale walking towards the ocean because it looks like an illustration straight out of a storybook.

My sister Sarah is the coolest teenager I’ve ever met. I wish I had been as confident, smart and stylish when I was her age.

I’m really glad I made a summer bucket list this year because it’s been motivating me to be more adventurous and active on the weekends. On Saturday, my siblings and I went hiking at Griffith Park and accidentally found the teahouse that was built by artists out of reclaimed wood. It’s a really cool place to check out if you’re hiking in the area, and you can even make a wish on one of the many wooden tags hanging on the walls. Unfortunately, since the artists that built this teahouse didn’t receive authorization from the city, there is the possibility that the building will get torn down. I signed the petition asking the city to keep it standing, and really hope it stays since I think it is a very interesting addition to Griffith Park.

xoxo,

Helen