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    Outfit, Travel

    Christmas Time

    December 22, 2014
    Photos by Ale Veyna
    Outfit Details:
    Ruche Earrings
    Anne Klein Satchel
    H&M Parka (Similar)
    Beige Pleated Dress
    ASOS Leather Belt
    Black Tights
    White Mountain Loafers

     

    This weekend I went out with my sister Ale on Saturday morning to do some last minute Christmas shopping. Afterwards we headed over to Burlington Arcade, which is located on South Lake Avenue in Pasadena. It’s such a cute place that is very similar to the Burlington Arcade in London. What I love about this place during this time of year is that it looks so festive, and all you need to do is sprinkle some fake snow on the ground to create the perfect Christmas scene.
    Last time I visited Burlington Arcade, I wanted to go into Float-a sandwich, pop and coffee shop-but unfortunately they were closed. My sister and I ended up wandering in there on Saturday, and enjoyed some delicious coffee and sandwiches. I honestly don’t know why it took me so long to try out this place because it’s so close to my house, and the coffee is delicious!  I think I’m also going to try one of their ice cream floats next time I visit. After coffee, Ale and I made our way next door to Tiny Universe, the cutest stationery shop.  I’ve been very good about not spending money on clothes, despite all the sales going on this season, but I couldn’t resist buying a couple of trinkets from the shop’s beautiful selection. I ended up buying a pinwheel pin, another pin with an illustration of a fox and cacti, and a gorgeous card from Rifle Paper Co. That’s $20 well spent if you ask me!
    I hope that you’re all enjoying this holiday season and making time for family and friends. Most of my plans are taking place on the 24th, since it’s Mexican tradition to have dinner on Christmas Eve and open up our presents when the clock strikes midnight. I’m not only excited about spending time with my family, but also getting to eat delicious food that I only get to have during this time of year. Tamales are one of my favorite traditional dishes, but because making them is very labor-intensive, my family really only makes them for special occasions such as Christmas. I’ve never learned how to make them myself, but I guess that I better add that to my list of resolutions for next year so that I can pass on the tradition. While I’m on the topic of resolutions, have you all started thinking about yours? I’m curious to hear about what others have planned to accomplish in 2015.
    xoxo,
    Helen

     

    Outfit

    Make Something Old Into Something New

    November 30, 2014

    Photos by Sarah Veyna

    Outfit Details:
    Target Tights
    Black Top with Bow (Old)
    Altered Chambray Shorts (Old)
    Madewell Bag
    Madewell Loafers (similar and take an extra 25% off with promo code GIFTON)About two weeks ago, I had to take a sick day because I had a really bad cold and, since I was stuck at home all day, I decided to work on some projects that were in my mending pile. One of the items that I altered was a pair of old trousers that were too short, which I converted into the shorts that I’m wearing in this post. I’m really happy with the way that my new shorts turned out, and I’m also excited to be using some of my new sewing skills to complete small projects. Eventually, I want to be able to alter clothes that I find in thrift stores or on sale.

    I hope that you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and a fun weekend filled with shopping. I was fortunate enough to have a long weekend, and was able to relax. I really needed that extra time to slow down and take a break from everything, especially since lately my life has only consisted of work and studying. Even though I’m going to have to continue studying for the GRE, I’m going to try to be better about making time for self-care, exercise, and other fun activities from now on. I’ve already slowly started to fill up my calendar with lunch dates with friends. And, since I’m a 10-year-old at heart, I’m also planning to go to the Hello Kitty Exhibition at JANM next weekend. I’ll make sure to take a whole bunch of pictures to share with all of you that are also young at heart. HAHA!
    xoxo,
    Helen
    Uncategorized

    Holiday Shopping Guide!

    November 28, 2014
    Now that Thanskgiving is over, the holiday season is in full swing and many of us have so much shopping to do. Although it’s much easier to reference the many sales going on at larger retailers, I wanted to make an effort to highlight a few small businesses that I really like for my holiday shopping guide. I definitely do shop at larger retailers on a regular basis, but lately I’ve been trying to support more small businesses, whether it be by visiting a local cafe or a family-owned restaurant. By shopping at small businesses, not only have I been able to find some cool and unique items that I wouldn’t have found at a larger retailer, I’ve also been able to feel great about the fact that I have supported talented and hardworking individuals that are trying to make a living doing something that they love. This guide includes a few small businesses that I really like at the moment, and I’ve even included some promo codes to make your shopping experience more enjoyable and affordable. 
    Photo via Dear Creatures
    DEAR CREATURES
    USE PROMO CODE “DCBLACKFRIDAY” FOR 40% NEW STYLES
    I’ve been following the brand Dear Creatures for a while, and I keep falling in love with every collection they release each season. I have to admit that Dear Creatures’ clothes are usually out of my price point, but they are definitely well worth the money that they cost. If I had money to spare, I would definitely buy their “Bella” dress in blue.  I love how elegant it looks, and I think that the baby blue color would look great with my darker hair–a girl can dream, right? If you do have the money to spare, you should hurry to get 40% off any of their new styles. 

    USE PROMO CODE “BLACKFRIDAY14” FOR 40% OFF

     I told myself that I was only allowed to spend $30 dollars on myself this holiday season, and I wasn’t sure if I would be able to find anything within my price range that I liked and that was worth investing in. Luckily for me, Fleet Collection has an awesome SALE section. Once I applied the promo code, I managed to score their “Madeline” dress in gray for only $29.24, and that was including shipping. I can’t wait until it arrives in the mail and I get to wear it all the time! 

    Photo via Millay Vintage’s Instagram
    USE PROMO CODE “MERCI” FOR 30% OFF
     I first heard of Millay Vintage after I started following the business’ Instagram account, where owner Mary Spears provides her followers with beautiful inspiration. When I finally headed over to the Millay Vintage Shop, I was happy to find an equally gorgeous selection of vintage clothes and home decor items. They even have a look book, which you can check out here. 

    Photo via Burdees
    BURDEES
     Burdees is another one of those shops that I discovered on Instagram. I love that all of their items are very affordable, and their designs are simple, elegant, and suit a variety of styles. So, if you’re having some trouble trying to figure out what to buy for a certain family member or friend, you should definitely head on over to Burdees and see what they have in store. 

    Photo via Rainaroo
    RAINAROO
    USE PROMO CODE “SHOPSMALL14” TO GET 15% OFF 

    Some of you might remember that I teamed up with Raina from Rainaroo for a giveaway, not so long ago. Being that Raina is such a strong supporter of this blog, it only made sense that I highlight her business in this shopping guide. Raina makes a variety of very cute crocheted items including scarves, headbands, and hats, and you can even request a custom order from her if you’d like.  You should definitely head over to Rainaroo’s Etsy shop if somebody on your holiday gift list is an accessories fanatic.

    Photo via Cheese Before Bedtime
    CHEESE BEFORE BEDTIME
    As I was browsing through my favorite shops on Etsy, I rediscovered Cheese Before Bedtime, a shop that sells tiny pieces of embroidered art. Embroidery is definitely one of those skills that I want to master at some point in time. Since I have yet to do so, I can’t help but to be impressed with owner Amy Jone’s beautiful work. I don’t have a promo code for this shop, but considering the amount of work that goes into each of these pieces, most of them could be considered a bargain. 
    SWEET HELEN GRACE SHOP
    USE PROMO CODE “SMALLBIZ14” FOR 10% OFF
    And finally, who would I be without some shameless self-promotion? In case I haven’t bugged you all enough about this, I have an Etsy Shop called the Sweet Helen Grace Shop, where I sell jewelry, accessories and other items that I make by hand. I’m constantly adding new items to the shop, so check back often to see what I have in store. 
    —
    I hope that you all had a happy Thanksgiving, whichever way you chose to celebrate it. It’s always nice to be able to take some time to think about what you are truly grateful for, and I think that is a practice that I really want to try to implement more often throughout the year. I keep saying this, but I have really been trying to make more of an effort to be a more positive person, and I am so thankful for all of the people who have supported me in that goal through and outside of this blog. 
    xoxo,
    Helen Grace