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    Outfit

    Flowers in My Hair

    June 24, 2014
    Photos by Sarah Veyna
    Outfit Details:
    Free People Lace Dress
    Belt (Borrowed from my sister)
    Seychelles Pumps in Beige (Old)
    I featured parts of this outfit in my DIY Floral Fascinator post a couple of weeks ago, but I wanted to give the whole ensemble the attention it deserves. After looking for a white lace dress for the longest time, I finally settled on this one from Free People when I found it on sale about a year ago. What I love the most about this dress is that the fabric has beautiful peach-colored embroidery which gives it a very romantic feel. When I originally bought this dress I had planned to wear it with a floral crown to give it a bohemian look. But, let’s be honest, boho chic is not exactly my style. Wearing a floral fascinator with this dress gave my outfit a girly and vintage vibe, which I think better reflects my personal style.
    My sister took these pictures about a week ago because I went to Portland this weekend, and didn’t want to be bothered with having to post pictures from my adventure immediately after I got back. I’m still letting all that happened on my trip sink in a bit before I try to piece it all together on this blog. I am planning to post a couple of pictures later this week, but in the meantime you can catch glimpses of my adventure on Instagram.
    I had been planning my trip to Portland for months, and I’m so glad that it finally happened. Lately I’ve been feeling very unsure about how I want to grow these next few years, and taking a vacation gave me time to really give the matter some thought and gain some clarity. I’ve been feeling very bored and stuck in one place for the past year, and spending time with friends and exploring a new place gave me the opportunity to think about what really makes me happy. In that vein, my weekend adventure also gave me the opportunity to start considering other things and be open to big changes such as applying to grad school, and possibly moving somewhere else. I don’t know what my game plan is just yet, but that’s just what makes new adventures even more fun.
    xoxo,
    Helen Grace

     

    Outfit

    Railroad Stripes

    June 16, 2014

    Photos by Sarah Veyna

    Outfit Details:
    Asos Woven Tank (Available in Black)
    Madewell Walker Mini in Railroad Stripe
    Dolce Vita Zen Flat Sandal
    Madewell Dover Crossbody Bag

     

    My favorite go-to outfit combination this Summer consists of a simple tank top, mini skirt, and a pair of sandals. With all the fun things that there is to do in the Summer, I just want an outfit that I can easily throw on before I walk out the door. The last thing that I want to do is spend countless hours trying to find an outfit that is both cute and comfortable enough to wear in the Summer heat. If you follow me on Instagram, you may have already seen me post pictures of similar outfits to the one that I’m wearing in the past few weeks.This skirt from Madewell has to be my favorite recent find, and I’ve been wearing it all the time. I was lucky enough to walk into Madewell when they were having an extra 40% off sale (which they have often), and I was able to score this skirt and the version in khaki, for about $15 each (they had a lower sale price in-stores than online)! I love the railroad stripe pattern of this skirt, because it kind of reminds of things that I used to wear when I was a little kid. It has a very subtle playful feel to it, which is perfect for fun outings.

     

    In other news, I broke my promise to limit myself to one episode of OITNB a week, and bing-watched the rest of Season 2. The good thing to come out of that is that I can now fully resume with my life without worrying what will happen to the inmates at Litchfield. The sad news is that I’ve realized that I have no self-control, and I now have to wait months until the premiere of Season 3. I have to say that I’m glad that the World Cup is currently airing on T.V., because it is giving me something to look forward to at the moment. Watching futbol matches also made for good bonding time with my Dad this Father’s Day weekend.
    A couple of posts ago, I had mentioned that I was going to visit a couple of friends in Portland. I’m glad to say that I’m finally making that trip at the end of this week, and I couldn’t be any more excited! My friends have promised me a fun-filled weekend consisting of activities such as berry-picking, drinking coffee and beer, and exploring new places. The last time I visited the city of Portland was in 2011, and I definitely didn’t get to fully experience all the wonderful things the city has to offer. I’m a huge fan of Portlandia, and I can’t wait to visit many of the sites made famous by the show. But, more importantly, I can’t wait to be reunited with my wonderful friends Candace, Kelsey and Laura. I haven’t seen them in ages, and talking to them over Skype just doesn’t cut it sometimes!
    I’m also excited to come back from Portland, because I’ve made a goal to start working on a new creative venture when I get back home from my trip. I have so many fun ideas that I can’t wait to share with all of you in the upcoming weeks. Stay tuned…
    xoxo,
    Helen Grace
    Food & DIY

    Strawberry & Mint Agua Fresca

    June 9, 2014
    Since it has been extremely hot these past few days, I thought that it would be a good idea to start sharing some of my favorite Summer recipes on the blog. The first recipe that I’m going to share with you is for a delicious Strawberry & Mint Agua Fresca, which is super easy to make. I have a soft spot in my heart for aguas frescas because they always remind me of my childhood Summers; my mother and my abuela (grandmother) often made different types of aguas frescas such as horchata and other various fruit drinks. Other than the childhood nostalgia that they ignite in me, what I also enjoy about aguas frescas is that they are always a great alternative to store-bought juices and soft drinks, since they are made with fresh ingredients. I really hope that you enjoy this recipe, and that you use it often this Summer!
    Strawberry & Mint Agua Fresca Recipe
    INGREDIENTS:
    3 1/2 cups of water
    1 1/2 cups of pure cane sugar
    2 16-ounce containers of fresh strawberries (chopped)
    Mint leaves (according to taste)
    1. Blend the chopped strawberries, pure cane sugar, and 1 1/2 cups of water.
    2. Leave the strawberry mixture in the blender, and slowly start blending in mint leaves according to taste. This mixture makes a strawberry and mint concentrate, which you can freeze and use to make agua fresca at a later time.
    3. Pour the strawberry and mint concentrate into a large pitcher, and stir in 2 cups of water.
    4. Serve over ice.
    Optional: If you’re really looking to cool off from the heat, you can also pour the agua fresca into popsicle molds for a delicious frozen treat.
    —————–
    I have to admit that I’m glad that I decided to post a recipe on the blog this week, because I definitely didn’t have the energy to get dressed and take outfit pictures this weekend. This past week of work just left me feeling drained and tired, so I spent most of my free time this weekend in my pajamas. All I accomplished was laying on my bed and binge-watching the second season of Orange is the New Black. I still have a few episodes left in the current season. However, I have decided that from now on, I will limit myself to an episode a week so that it feels more like a treat. It’s so hard to do that because this season is so good!
    Another reason that I’m trying to limit my television time is because I’ve let go of many of my hobbies, and I’ve made a habit of spending too much time in front of a computer. I don’t read as much as I used to anymore, and I also haven’t been keeping up with creative projects other than this blog. I need to make time to experience the world around me.
    xoxo
    Helen Grace