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    Outfit, Travel

    That Special Dress

    Photos by Sarah Veyna and Ale Veyna
    Outfit Details:
    Handmade Dress (Similar steal and splurge)
    Franco Sarto Strappy Stilettos (Similar here and here)

     

    I took these outfit photos a few weeks back while my sisters and I were staying at the Madonna Inn.   Since I’ve only worn this dress a few times because I don’t usually attend events that require a formal dress code, I figured that our fancy room would be the perfect place to photograph it.

    What I like most about this dress is the beautiful sequins on the sweetheart neckline and the tulle at the bottom of the skirt, details which you can’t fully appreciate in these photos.This dress has a very special place in my heart because my mom made it for me about eight years ago so that I could wear it to prom. I didn’t want to wear the same dress as any other girl and I also wanted something that was vintage-inspired; because most dresses that fit this description were outside of my budget at the time, my mom got to work and created this dress for me. It means so much that she went out of her way and put in all this effort to make me feel like a princess for the night.

    Do you have any items in your wardrobe that have a special meaning to you?

    xoxo,
    Helen

     

    Outfit, Travel

    The Madonna Inn and San Luis Obispo

    Photos by Ale Veyna, Sarah Veyna and Me
    I’m finally getting around to posting my pictures from my trip to The Madonna Inn and San Luis Obispo. I had been wanting to visit the Madonna Inn for quite some time and finally got around to planning a trip about two months ago. I decided to book a room for my sisters and myself after having a horrible week that convinced me that I needed to schedule time for self-care and relaxation. I’m glad I did because it was so much fun to get away for a weekend and explore a new place!
    Outfit Details:
    H&M Faux Leather Jacket (Similar)
    Handmade Gingham Top and Skirt worn as a dress (Similar here and here)
    Madewell Loafers (Similar here and here)



    The exterior of the Madonna Inn is as cute in person as it is in all the pictures I had seen of the place before I visited. The entrance to the Madonna Inn is very colorful and cheerful. I also loved the beautiful winding staircases on the outside of all the buildings housing the suites and rooms.

     

    My sisters and I stayed in the Fleur de Lis Suite while we were at the Madonna Inn. I have to admit that it wasn’t my first choice room–I had listed the Sky Room as my first choice when I made my reservation– but it far exceeded my expectations when I arrived and was able to see how incredible it was. This suite is pink and decorated with French inspired paintings and wallpaper. My favorite parts of the room were the pink wardrobe, which looked straight out of a Disney movie, and the gorgeous light fixtures. I have to admit that I was definitely picking up some decor inspiration for my future home while I was there.

    My sisters and I ran to the pool and jacuzzi area almost immediately after we had checked into our room. We were lucky that the pool area wasn’t too busy when we got there, and most people left soon after, so we were able to enjoy it all to ourselves. That basically means that I didn’t have to feel embarrassed when my sister Sarah and I worked on our synchronized swimming routine. I’m just kidding! Neither one of us is coordinated enough to do that. However, we did have fun swimming around from one end of the pool to the other.

    Since neither my sisters nor I had been to San Luis Obispo, we decided to explore downtown. I liked that this area was very walkable and most places we wanted to visit were in close proximity. We got to see the mission, do some window shopping, and even managed to squeeze in a short coffee shop crawl during the few hours we were there. Our first stop was Scout Coffee which not only has amazing coffee, but is also beautifully decorated and even has an an atrium located behind the counter area. We also stopped by Kreuzberg Coffee Company, a cool coffee shop with a European theme.
    Before we headed back home, we had to stop by the famous Bubblegum Alley. All I have to say about the alley is that it was really cool and disgusting at the same time. My sisters and I walked in, took a quick peek around, and then turned around and headed in the opposite direction. Nevertheless, it was a fun way to end our trip.
    I hope you all enjoyed this post and thank you for stopping by my blog. Have a wonderful week!

     

    xoxo,
    Helen
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    Outfit, Travel

    Downtown Santa Barbara

    Photos by Ale Veyna and Sarah Veyna

    Outfit Details:
    Forever 21 Wide-Brimmed Fedora Hat (Similar here and here)
    Denim Jacket (Similar)
    RVCA Shirt (Similar)
    Madewell Jeans
    Madewell Bag
    Madewell Loafers (Similar here and here)
    My sisters and I drove up to the Madonna Inn this weekend and decided to stop in Downtown Santa Barbara on our way there. I hadn’t visited Santa Barbara since my friends and I drove up the week before our college graduation, which was 4 years ago, so it was nice to do some exploring and get reacquainted with the city. We walked around and explored some of the cute antique and consignment shops in the area. We also stopped by The French Press, a cute coffee shop that I also visited last time I was in town. I was surprised that I still remembered where it was after not being there for a couple of years. That must mean that my coffee radar is on point!
    I have to say that I feel so happy and relaxed after this weekend. I have such a habit of always feeling like I need to be working on something, but I need to remember that sometimes it’s okay to take a break from it all and just focus on yourself. My sisters and I were quick to jump into the pool and jacuzzi after we checked into the Madonna Inn, where we were able to get in some much-needed rest and relaxation. We also had so much fun exploring the hotel, which is so cute. I’ll get around to posting more photos from my trip in upcoming posts, but I’m taking some time to let the experience sink in a little before I do.
    xoxo,
    Helen
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