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    Outfit

    Gray with Gold Accents

    August 11, 2014
    Photos by Sarah Veyna
    Outfit Details:
    Crocheted Dress
    Ruche Earrings
    Jewelmint Bangle
    Madewell Purse
    Target Belt
    Lotta from Stockholm Peeptoe Clogs
    MAC Lipstick in Twig
     As I was digging through my closet about two weeks ago, I found this dress that my aunt gifted to me about 3 years ago. I had never worn it because I usually don’t feel very comfortable wearing clothes that are very form-fitting, and I also thought that it was very plain. As it turns out, this dress is actually one of those items that looks better on than it does on the hanger. The fit was more flattering on me than I thought it would be. I also really love the simplicity of the dress because it makes it easy for me to experiment with different accessories. On this particular day, I wore this dress with a couple of gold accents.
    This weekend was so fun and rejuvenating for me. I was able to schedule a couple of hours of much-needed alone time, and relaxed with a latte and a book at Copa Vida, my favorite neighborhood coffee shop. I sometimes forget that it’s necessary for me to carve out time to recharge, since I’m always trying to catch up with everybody in my life and am afraid to miss out on something important. However, I also need to keep in mind that I’m much more enjoyable to be around when I’m not tired and cranky.
    I also spent a great amount of time working on making items for the Etsy shop that I’m planning to open up in a couple of weeks. I’m currently making packs of notecards with block print designs on them (which you can check out on my Instagram). Although I spent a great amount of time this weekend carving out linoleum blocks and making prints, it was a very fun and therapeutic project to work on. I don’t really know what will happen once I do open up the shop, but right now I’m really enjoying the whole creative process of making and packaging items. At the end of the day, the most important thing to me is that I’m having fun.
    Speaking of having fun, I seem to be having more of that these days. When I started this blog earlier this year, I was going through a “quarter-life crisis,” and many of my posts seemed to revolve around me feeling lost and stressed out. Although I’m still trying to figure out what it is that I want to do with my life, and have even started the process of applying to grad school, I’ve been less stressed about it these days. I realized that part of my anxiety stemmed from me trying to fulfill other people’s expectations of what I’m supposed to be doing with my life at my age. At the moment I’m content with focusing on what makes me happy.
    I hope you all had a lovely weekend. As always, thank you for stopping by my blog.
    xoxo,
    Helen Grace
    Outfit, Travel

    Soaking Up The California Sun

    July 14, 2014
    Photos by Laura Nolan
    Outfit:
    Crocheted Vest (Handmade by my Grandmother)
    Forever 21 Cropped Top in Polka Dot Print (Similar)
    Topshop High-Waisted Bikini Pants
    Linen Skirt (Handmade by my Mom)
    Dolce Vita Zen Flat Sandal (Available in Black)
    Crocheted Bag with Bottle Caps (Also handmade by my Grandmother) 

    This weekend I drove down to Dana Point and San Juan Capistrano to hang out with my best friend Laura. As you may already know from some of my previous posts, Laura and I live two hours apart, and Orange County is our halfway meeting point. Since Laura will soon be moving to China for a year, lately we’ve been making a serious effort to see each other more often.
    Since neither of us had ever been, Laura and I decided to visit the San Juan Capistrano Mission while we were in the area. The mission is a place that is very rich in history, and it was wonderful to spend part of our day touring the monument and learning about the people who first lived there when it was built. It was such a beautiful and serene place to visit, and it reminded me of why I love living in California.

    As you may have already noticed, many of the items that I wore this weekend were handmade by my Mom and Abuela/Grandmother. I love receiving gifts that are handmade, because I feel like they are much more unique and personal. This vest and handbag are two of my most favorite items because they were made by my grandmother. They are particularly special to me because my grandmother has C.R.E.S.T., a disease that makes it hard for her to use her hands–it’s so astonishing to me that, despite of her disability, she puts in the time and effort to crochet items like these and is also able to achieve such intricate detail.

     

    As usual, I was in charge of taking Laura’s yoga photos, and I snapped a couple of outfit photos as well. I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again–I can only wish to be as strong and graceful as Laura is one day. She always carries herself with such poise, and her photos look like they belong in an Anthropologie catalogue.
    Before going down to the mission, Laura and I spent a couple of hours lounging and soaking in the sun at the beach. I’ve been making an effort to go to the beach more often this Summer, since I feel like I need to start taking more advantage of one of the most wonderful activities that California has to offer. I’ve also invested in a swimsuit for the first time in years, so I no longer have that as an excuse to not make my way down to the beach. While I’m on the topic of swimwear, I have to say that I’m so glad that high-waisted swimsuit bottoms are back in style; I feel like they make it easier for girls like me, who don’t like showing too much skin, to go out and have fun in the sun.

     

    I feel like I’ve been going at full-speed this Summer. There isn’t a weekend that goes by where I don’t have anything to do. I’ve been having so much fun, but I do feel the need to slow down and spend a weekend just focusing on myself. I think that it’s always important to set apart time to focus on self-care and recharge. Doing that definitely gives you energy to get back out there and take over the world.
    How are you enjoying your Summer? Do you have any goals or activities you would like to accomplish before it ends?
    xoxo,
    Helen Grace
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    Follow my adventures in real time on Instagram