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Denim

    Outfit

    Denim Jacket

    March 30, 2015

     

    Photos by Ale Veyna
    Outfit Details:
    Old Denim Jacket
    H&M Shirt Dress
    Thrifted Vintage Bag (Similar here and here)
    31 Bits Bracelet (Similar)

    Lately I’ve been going on and on about my goal of investing in classic pieces that will remain in my wardrobe for years to come. I thought I’d switch it up a bit this week by featuring an item that has already survived the test of time; I bought this denim jacket when I was in high school and it’s been in my wardrobe for more than 10 years. The most obvious sign that this denim jacket was acquired during my teenage years is a patch with the word “Angel” located on the top right pocket, but that’s a detail that can easily be covered up with a pin or brooch to give it a more sophisticated vibe. Of course, no matter what I do to make myself seem like an adult, people are sometimes still going to mistake me for a teenager instead of a 26-year-old woman.
    Speaking of being a 26, my friend made me realize the other day that I’m getting closer to turning 30! I’m not really ready to discuss this in full detail, but there are some really cool and exciting changes happening in my future. Despite my enthusiasm about what the future has in store for me, I’m really bad at dealing with change. I was discussing this fact with a friend and she made me snap out of feeling anxious by turning to me and saying, “Helen, just look at this way–you’re almost going to be 30!” I don’t have a fear about getting older, but putting things in that perspective made me realize that I should start embracing change and looking for ways to move forward with my goals.
    In other news, I’ve finally started to recover from feeling burnt out. I decided to take it easy last week and felt so much more energized this weekend. Even though I’m on my way to becoming my old cheerful self again, I realize that I need to start taking better care of myself. That is why I decided to plan out a vacation this weekend and booked a one-night stay at the Madonna Inn during the month of May. I’m very excited about my getaway because I’ve wanted to visit the hotel for a while and I’m really looking forward to spending time relaxing by the pool. Plus, having this trip all planned out will definitely serve as motivation for me in the next few weeks.
    xoxo,
    Helen
    Food & DIY, Outfit

    Girl in Blue

    January 11, 2015
    Outfit Photos by Ale Veyna
    Outfit Details:
    Blue Coat (Similar)
    Old Navy Turtleneck in Black Marl (ON SALE!)
    Madewell Skinny Skinny Crop Jeans
    Madewell Ames Boots (Back in stock!)
    Madewell Leather Bag
    MAC Lipstick in Russian Red

    If you’ve been keeping up with this blog, you may have already noticed that I’ve been wearing certain items very frequently. Part of the reason that I keep wearing things over and over again is because I’ve been so happy with my recent purchases. I mentioned in my New Year’s resolutions post that one of my goals is to be satisfied with my wardrobe, and I think I’m making really great progress with that goal. I’m really proud that when I cleaned out my closet two weeks ago, I didn’t get rid of any clothes that I purchased in the last year. It’s funny, though, because the blue coat that I’m currently wearing was one of those items that I was very hesitant about and almost ended up donating. I’ve had it for almost 6 years, I hadn’t worn it in a long time, and I just wasn’t sure if it fit in with my style anymore. I’m glad that I decided to keep it and give it another chance because it brightens up and adds a nice touch of color to my outfits, which is the reason that I bought it in the first place. The marled turtleneck that I’m wearing is a recent purchase that I know will also be in my closet for years to come. It is extremely comfortable and it also takes out the hassle of having to wear a scarf on days when it’s cold outside, which is convenient for when you’re rushing to get out the door in the morning.

    This weekend my sister Ale and I decided to visit the Claremont Packing House, which I’ve actually visited very frequently during the past month. It’s funny because the only reason that I ever ventured to that area of town while I was attending school in Claremont three years ago, was to visit the Claremont Forum, a bookstore that raises money for the Prison Library Project. Other than that, there wasn’t much going on in this space until recently when all these new restaurants and shops started popping up out of nowhere. Although many of the spaces in the Packing House still need to be filled, I’m glad that there has been a good amount of progress in making use of a space with so much potential. Augie’s Coffee Roasters and à la minute creamery, which share a space, are some of the most recent additions to the Packing House. If you’ve been following me on Instagram, you probably know that I’ve been here several times in the past month. Both the coffee and the ice cream are so good, and I’m so glad that I found out that these places even existed. (If you happen to read this, thanks for spreading the word, Angelica!)
    As you can probably tell from the photo, the barista working at Augie’s Coffee totally caught me photographing the place, even though I was trying my best to be sneaky. If anything, that photo is an indicator of how lively and friendly the baristas are at Augie’s. I initially came here for the delicious coffee that everybody kept raving about, but I’m definitely going to keep coming back because of the wonderful customer service that I receive every time I visit. In terms of à la minute creamery, I didn’t have ice cream this time around, but I can say that the olive oil vanilla bean flavor is delicious. I also love that their ice cream doesn’t have all these preservatives found in store bought ice cream, which usually make me sick. It’s also really cool to watch the staff make the ice cream right before your eyes!

     

    One of my resolutions for 2015 is to grow and create more diverse content for this blog. I have so many ideas and really want to get working on creative projects. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to take on that project any time soon since I have grad school application deadlines that I need to meet by the end of this month, and I need to squeeze in some time for self-care and sleep. The good thing is that my life is not all about work this month, especially since my birthday is coming up in the next week. My sister Ale and I are going to go see Geographer on Friday night to celebrate. At least I have some fun activities scheduled somewhere in between all the craziness that is happening this month, right?
    xoxo,
    Helen
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    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