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    Food & DIY, Outfit

    Celebrating 40 Years of Hello Kitty!

    February 5, 2015
    Photos by Dana Rodriguez, Monica Coy-Miras and Me

     

    Today I’m sharing some pictures from my trip to Hello! Exploring the Supercute World of Hello Kitty exhibition at the Japanese American National Museum(JANM) in Little Tokyo. Visiting this exhibit was like a dream come true to me because I’ve loved Hello Kitty ever since I could remember. When I was a little girl I would beg my mom to buy me Hello Kitty stationery at the Sanrio store, but she would refuse because she was sure that it was a phase that I would grow out of. It could be because I’m still a 10-year-old girl stuck inside a 26-year-old woman’s body, but I never did grow out of my obsession. I was the happiest girl in the world exploring this exhibit, and I’m glad that there were plenty of other grown women who shared my enthusiasm so that I didn’t have to feel self-conscious about it.I apologize in advance for the poor quality of some of these photos. It seems like lately I keep forgetting to haul around my DSLR and have to resort to taking photos with my iPhone. I promise to be better about that in the future! That being said, I hope you enjoy this post!

     

    My friends Monica and Dana were my partners in crime during my trip to the exhibit. We’re all wearing the cute Hello Kitty headbands that were handed out to all visitors. It was quite entertaining to see people still wearing them once we left the exhibit and were walking around Little Tokyo.

    The exhibit featured many art pieces inspired by Hello Kitty, and it was fun to see the many different ways artists have incorporated the iconic character into their work.
    My favorite part of the exhibit was the display of fashion inspired by Hello Kitty. Although I don’t think I’d ever leave the house wearing any of these dresses, I think they are so amazing. My favorite had to be the dress made completely out of Hello Kitty plush toys. I can’t even begin to imagine how much work it took to put that together.

    The exhibit did an incredible job at featuring all sorts of Hello Kitty products from the past 40 years. I loved being able to look at Sanrio stationery made in the 70s, and it was amazing to see how many other types of products have been inspired by Hello Kitty. Can you believe that they even have Hello Kitty braces? Why weren’t those an option when I was a teenager?

     

    I loved all the details of the exhibit, especially these cute Hello Kitty bow decals on the floor that served to guide visitors from one section to another.
    I still can’t get over the fact that Hello Kitty is a little girl and not a cat! According to the exhibit she is 5 apples tall, and all visitors had the opportunity to see how they measured in comparison to the character.

     

    I hope that you enjoyed these photos and that they inspire you to visit the Hello Kitty exhibition before it closes in April. If you cannot make it down in time, I still encourage you to make a trip to the JANM if you’re exploring Little Tokyo. The museum always has an interesting exhibit and it’s a great place to learn about Japanese American history.
    xoxo,
    Helen
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    Outfit

    Vintage Plaid Skirt

    February 2, 2015
    Photos by Sarah Veyna
    Outfit Details:
    Forever 21 Clutch/Wallet
    Lace Peter Pan Collar Top (Similar here and here)
    Vintage Plaid Skirt (Similar here and here)
    Franco Sarto Stilettos (Similar here and here)
    This outfit is proof that you don’t have to spend tons of money to look like a million bucks. Believe it or not, this vintage skirt was only $3(a fact that I’m extremely proud of)! I purchased it two weekends ago when I attended a sample sale at Shareen’s Vintage with my friends Sara and Shantal. I had never been to one of these types of events before, and was surprised at how serious most of the women in attendance were about finding the perfect bargain; it seemed like most of the best items were claimed within a matter of minutes. Luckily for me, nobody else thought that this skirt was worthy enough to add to their wardrobe. I was immediately drawn to it because it is a piece that can easily be dressed up or down, and I think the plaid print on it is really fun and beautiful.
    The rest of the items featured in this post weren’t that much more expensive than this skirt. The peter pan collar top I’m wearing was less than $10 at a small boutique, and the shoes were marked down from about $100 to $35. My secret to finding good quality items for such low prices is patience and a little bit of research. I have been known to monitor the price of certain items for weeks until they go on sale, and I’m always on the lookout for promo codes. Every once in a while, I also stop by stores like Ross and Nordstrom Rack to check if they have any good deals; sometimes you have to be willing to search through racks and piles of random clothes and shoes in order to find something that is perfect for you. Even though my current shopping habits are out of necessity, I don’t think I’ll ever change; I just really enjoy the rush and sense of accomplishment of getting a great deal.

     

     

    I hope you all had a terrific weekend.  Mine was both fun and super productive. On Saturday I went to see the Hello!Exploring the Supercute of Hello Kitty Exhibition at the Japanese American National Museum, and it was awesome! I’m working on post for later this week so that I can tell you more about it. I also turned in my first grad school application. I’ve been talking about the process for months, so it’s good to finally feel like it’s coming to an end; I’m so grateful that I have so many supportive friends and family members that were willing to give me feedback on my application. I have to say that regardless of whether I’m accepted into a program or not, it’s been a very positive experience to take time to map out goals and think about the future.
    xoxo,
    Helen
    Uncategorized

    Weekend Links

    January 30, 2015
    Photo from my Instagram
    TGIF! This week has been incredibly slow and I’m ready to enjoy the weekend. Actually, the reason that I’m so tired is because I’ve been having too much fun this week. I went to see the band We Are Scientists on Wednesday evening, and didn’t get much sleep before I went back to work the next day. That completely threw off my sleep schedule, and I’ve been trying to recover from lack of sleep all week. I think it’s needless to say that I’m really looking forward to getting some rest and relaxation in this weekend!  However, in between naps, I am also making time to finally go see the Hello Kitty Exhibition at JANM, so I’m excited to report on that next week. Until then, enjoy these links:
    -This recipe for Orange, Marzipan and Cardamom Swedish Buns looks delicious!
    -I’m all about self-care and self-love these days, and reading articles on these subjects has helped me become better about incorporating both into my life. These are a few articles that I enjoyed reading this week: 5 Steps to Overcoming A Major Setback, 5 Mantras to Comfort You When You’re Feeling Lonely, and Seriously, Let’s End The War With Our Bodies.
    -Speaking of self-care, I’ve found that yoga and meditation are extremely helpful when it comes to managing anxiety.  Can’t afford a membership at a yoga studio? Don’t worry about that because I’ve got you covered! Youtube has plenty of awesome Yoga channels and this is my current favorite.
    – I’ve decided that next year I’m definitely going to throw a Galentine’s Day Party! This week I’ve been reminded of how incredible all my girlfriends are, and I think having a day to celebrate our friendship is a great idea. If you’re into the idea, Paper & Stitch has the cutest post on how to throw your own.
    -I’m not much of a drinker, but this Blood Orange Rosemary Gin Cocktail sounds yummy!
    xoxo,
    Helen