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    Weekend Picks

    July 25, 2014
    (Photo from my Instagram)
    I have to start off by saying that I was a bit lazy this week, and spent most of it watching online videos of cute cats and dogs. As a result, this week’s Weekend Picks are not as insightful and well-researched as last week’s. However, I really hope that some of these picks will put a smile on your face.
    -This article from Bustle entitled “What I Instagram vs. Real Life, Or My Entire Life Is A Lie,” had me laughing so hard! I am guilty of many– if not most– of these things. But, can you blame me? The internet is where I go to pretend that I’m an extremely sociable and adventurous person, and to post my best selfies. On that note, I sincerely apologize if my face keeps popping up on your Instagram feed! 
    –Parks and Recreation is my favorite show on television, and I am super sad that the upcoming season will be the last. However, I am really glad to see that many of the stars of the show are venturing on to other projects. Chris Pratt, the actor who plays Andy on the show, has recently been all over doing interviews for his upcoming movie Guardians of the Galaxy; in watching them, I’m glad that he seems to be just as lovable and down-to-earth in person, as his character on the show. If you don’t believe me, check out this cute video of him braiding an intern’s hair. 
    –Raina Roo, one of my favorite Etsy Shops, just posted some new items. I really, really want this Watermelon Bikini Top! 
    -I’m in love with Hello Giggles’ Instagram because they always post cute, funny and inspiring photos. I almost died when this picture of a bunny with a shopping cart popped up on my feed! 
    –Design Love Fest just posted some really awesome free desktop wallpapers on their blog. My favorite wallpaper is the one with the popsicle theme, and it’s probably because I’ve become hooked on frozen treats as a result of the intense heat that we’re experiencing in California.
    – I’ve noticed that the words feminism and feminist seem to be trending all over the internet right now. As a person who identifies as a feminist, I am always surprised when I meet people who have feminist ideals, but refuse to identify as such because of their misconceptions of what feminism means. That is why I really enjoyed this article on XOJane, which talks about one writer’s journey from identifying as anti-feminist towards understanding and accepting feminism.

    xoxo,

    Helen Grace

    Outfit

    Feeling Edgy

    July 21, 2014
    Photos by Sarah Veyna
    Outfit Details:
    Forever 21 Retro Round Sunglasses in Pink/Nude
    H&M Faux Leather Jacket
    Cotton On Dress
    Caged Heels
    Madewell Bag (Here is a similar bag)
    Putting this outfit together was really fun because most of my go-to pieces were already in my laundry basket, and I had to pull out things from my closet that I don’t normally wear. I’ve only worn this dress a couple of times because I’m not a huge fan of the way that it fits on me. However, I loved how edgy it looked when I paired it with this faux leather jacket and caged heels. I felt like a total badass for the rest of the day, and nobody would have guessed that I “didn’t have anything to wear” that morning (at least I hope that they didn’t).
    —
    I had such a rejuvenating weekend! I finally got some much-needed rest and relaxation. I’m really bad at listening to my body and acknowledging when I’m sick. After spending almost the whole week trying to deny the fact that I was not feeling well, I finally caved in and took off a sick day from work on Friday. Who knew that all I needed was to give my body a break in order to get myself back on my feet? The rest of my weekend was extremely productive: I caught up with friends, spent time with my family, and I even managed to shave off a whole minute from my mile!
    I hope that you all had an amazing weekend! Thanks for visiting.
    xoxo,
    Helen Grace
    Uncategorized

    Weekend Picks

    July 19, 2014
    Weekend Picks July 18th.
    -Lately, I’ve been making a serious effort to focus on saving money, and I’ve been trying to be more mindful of my purchases and plan ahead. Well, I’m planning way ahead of time because this felt hat from the Moorea Seal is already on my wish list for the upcoming Fall season. What makes me excited about saving up for this purchase is that Moorea Seal donates 7% of all purchases to five nonprofit categories which include: Women’s Causes, Health & Wellness, Protecting Our Planet, Children’s Needs and Caring for Animals.  
    – This sweatshirt from Everlane is also currently on my fall wish list–I really am planning ahead  of time, because I’m working with a limited budget. Everlane is a really cool company that works hard to build a relationship with factories and ensure that their products are made with integrity. The company also strives to inform its customers of how much the products that they buy cost to make; each item description includes a breakdown of how much of your money goes into the design, materials, labor and transport of the item that you buy.  
    -As I’m going out to replace any beauty products that I’ve run out of, I’ve been trying to replace them with products that are safer and more environmentally friendly. I have recently replaced my old blush with this liquid lipstick from Lush Cosmetics that doubles as both a lipgloss and a blush. I like that the product is very pigmented and a little goes a long way. I also love Lush Cosmetics because the company does not conduct any animal testing, and makes a serious effort to use fresh and safe ingredients in all of their products. 
    -I recently heard about Sackcloth & Ashes, a company that sells beautiful handcrafted blankets, when they started following me on Instagram.  What really intrigued me about this company is that for every blanket that you purchase, Sackcloth & Ashes will donate a blanket to your local homeless shelter. These blankets are very beautiful, and you can feel good knowing that with your purchase, you are making a positive contribution to your community. 
    -If you’ve followed this blog from the beginning, you may have heard me rave about 31 Bits a couple of times. Well, the reason that I’m bringing them up again is because they are having a Summer Warehouse Sale this weekend in Costa Mesa. If you are in the area and would like to attend, you can check out the details here. 
    -The talented ladies from A Beautiful Mess just released the app Party Party, and I am super excited to purchase it this weekend! The app allows you to make stop motion animation videos and photo collages, and even comes with a selection of filters for you to use on your photos. I’ve been seeing pretty cool collages and GIFS pop up on my Instagram feed, and I can’t wait to make my own.
    —–
    I’m trying to be more active on this blog, other than doing outfit posts, and I thought that it would be a good idea to start doing a segment on things that I’ve really liked throughout the week. Let me know what you think of this week’s picks, and if you would like to see any particular kinds of lists in the near future. I hope you all have a great weekend! 
    xoxo,
    Helen Grace
    —–
    P.S. I didn’t quite know how to fit this into my weekend picks, but if you’re looking for something that will both put a smile on your face and send you into tears, you should definitely watch John Legend’s latest video for  ‘You and I (Nobody In The World)’. I love that the video truly emphasizes that all women are beautiful in their own unique way, and watching it makes me want to go out and hug all of the wonderful sheroes in my life.