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    Outfit

    Periwinkle Sweater

    May 31, 2015
    Photos by Sarah Veyna
    Outfit Details:
    Ruche Necklace (Similar)
    H&M Sweater (Similar)
    Asos High-waisted Trousers (Similar)
    Madewell Loafers (Similar here and here)
    We’ve been enjoying cooler temperatures these past few weeks, so I’ve had the opportunity to break out some of my clothes that I usually don’t get to wear, such as this periwinkle sweater. I love the lavender blue shade, and I also like that it’s a top that I can wear with pretty much anything. As versatile as this sweater is, I probably won’t get to wear it again until next winter since the weather is supposed to be over 100 degrees by next week. It’s getting to be that time of year where I basically live in shorts, tanks, and loose dresses.
    I hope you all enjoyed the weekend. I went to Disneyland with my sister and friend Dana, and that was pretty fun. I actually shot these photos about two weeks ago, which came in handy since I didn’t have the time or energy to take photos this weekend. I’ve realized that I like having the time to sit on my photos for a while instead of rushing to put together a post at the last minute. I’m going to try to be a bit more organized when it comes to this blog and plan ahead, so that I can work at  more leisurely pace and feature more diverse posts. I’ve been mostly focusing on outfits lately, since that’s easier to do when I’m in a crunch for time, but I want to get back to featuring more DIY tutorials and recipes on the blog. I already have some ideas for projects, but please let me know if you have any suggestions for future posts.
    xoxo,
    Helen
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    Outfit

    4 Ways to Wear Hats This Spring And Summer

    May 14, 2015

    Photo by Ale Veyna

    Lately, I’ve been trying really hard to incorporate hats into my everyday outfits as a way to shield my face from the sun and keep my skin as healthy as possible. I’ve also realized that hats can be very useful when you have a bad case of messy hair, like I often do, and just need something to hide it. Despite all the advantages, I have to admit that wearing hats has been very challenging for me because it can be hard to style an outfit around such an obvious accessory. That is why I thought it would be a fun idea to come up with a couple of ways to wear hats this spring and summer.
    Outfit Details:
    Forever 21 Hat | Yumi Shift Dress | Swedish Hasbeen Sandals (More affordable option) | Cambridge Satchel Company Bag (More affordable option)
    I’m definitely on a mission to buy a cute boater hat to wear during these warmer months. I love that the brim of this hat is large and flat because it keeps the sun rays away without getting in your face. I also love that this style of hat immediately adds a very romantic and retro feel to any outfit. I can see myself wearing a boater hat with a cute summer dress and sandals.
    Outfit Details:
    Wool Baseball Cap | Everlane Sleeveless Top | Vans Sneakers | Madewell Higher Rise Skinny Skinny Jeans
    I’ve been seeing baseball caps everywhere these past few seasons, and have been really tempted to purchase one of my own. My problem is that I don’t know if I could pull off wearing one without looking like I’m trying too hard. If I were to wear a baseball cap, I would incorporate into a simple black and white outfit for a minimalist and effortless look.
    Outfit Details:
    Moorea Seal Hat ( A percentage of your purchase helps support Health and Wellness Charities) | Blue Chambray Dress | Urban Outfitters Ankle Boots | Madewell Necklace
    I love floppy hats because they fit so well with my personal style. I just love how versatile this style of hat is–you can wear it with jeans and a t-shirt, a casual dress, or even style it with a maxi dress for a a fun and glamorous 70s-inspired look. In the summer, I would probably keep things simple and wear this style of hat with a shift dress, sandals or a pair of ankle boots, and a cute necklace. You don’t need to put too much effort into the rest of your outfit when you have a fun statement piece like this.
    Outfit Details:
    Free People Lace Hat | Madewell Maxi Dress | Madewell Bracelet | Madewell Earings | Seychelles Sandals
    Wide brim hats, such as fedora and rancher style hats, are also a great option for spring and summer because they look great with a variety of casual outfits. I personally would wear this style of hat with a fun maxi dress and sandals. If you’re going for a more rugged look, you can also pair it with a nice button down and denim shorts.
    —
    I hope you’re all having a great week. I’m personally counting down the days until the weekend since I’m driving up to San Luis Obispo to visit the Madonna Inn. I’ve wanted to visit this place for so long and I’m glad to finally have the opportunity to do so before I leave California. I also can’t wait to finally have some time to relax by the pool, and I’m just excited to explore the city since I’ve never been.
    xoxo,
    Helen
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    Travel

    Portland Travel Diary

    April 25, 2015
    Photos of me taken by Candace Kita and Kelsey Yocum
    Last week/weekend I had the opportunity to visit Portland for a couple of days. I mostly spent my time there learning more about my graduate program, but I did have some free time in the evenings and on the weekend to explore the city with my friends Kelsey and Candace.  My main goal during this trip was to get a better sense of the layout of the city so that I could begin exploring housing options. Kelsey and Candace were kind enough to give me a tour of the city and introduce me to new places (to me) in Portland, and I am now super excited about moving up there later this year! I thought I would use this post as an opportunity to share some photos from my trip and talk about a few of the places I visited.
     
    FOOD AND COFFEE
     
    Just as always, I did my fair share of eating during this trip to Portland. While I didn’t go crazy and drink all the coffee I possibly could like I have in the past, I did get to visit some cool new places that I really enjoyed. Here is a list of some restaurants and coffee shops I visited during this trip:
    Prettyman’s General: Brunch is probably my favorite meal, so I was really counting on my friends to to deliver an awesome brunch experience. They did just that when they took me to Prettyman’s General, which has a variety of mouth-watering options all served on Tabor Bread toast. I had the Ace in the Hole from their menu, and it was very satisfying and delicious!
    The Sudra: My friends and I went to dinner at the Sudra, which  seems to be quite popular and was packed for dinner. I had the Poori Plate which was really good. This place was also had an amazing playlist (they played Geographer!), and I liked that they projected Bollywood movies on one of the walls.
    Blue Star Donuts: When I posted that I was planning a trip to Portland, Tina from Just A Tina Bit recommended in the comments that I try Blue Star; since I love dessert, especially donuts, it obviously didn’t take much to convince me that I had to visit this local donut shop while I was in town. I had a carrot cake donut and it was the best donut that I’ve ever had. I have to say that I’m really looking forward to frequenting this place once I’m settled in Portland. It’s my goal to try out all of their donut options. Haha!
    Courier Coffee: This small and cozy coffee shop was my first stop during this trip to Portland. Kelsey and I got there bright and early so we didn’t have to wait too long for our drinks. However, Kelsey informed me that this tends to be a popular spot and is packed with people later in the day.
    Either/Or: This place has coffee soda and it’s as good as it sounds! I actually didn’t have the coffee soda, but my friend let me try hers and I immediately regretted purchasing an iced latte (even as delicious as it was). This shop is located around some cute antique shops, so it’s a good place to grab a snack or something to drink if you’re spending a day antiquing. Also, I just have to mention that the baristas working here are extremely friendly.
    Palio Dessert and Espresso House: This coffee shop was discretely hidden inside a very cute house on a very large roundabout. My friends and I made our way over here for a late night cup of coffee after dinner on Friday night. If you can believe it, I was asleep by 11:00 PM despite enjoying a delicious latte around 9:30 PM; if that’s not a sign that I’m a true coffee addict lover, I don’t know what is! This place looks like it would make a great study spot, so you’ll probably see me camping out here next fall.
    While Kelsey, Candace and I were exploring the Sellwood Neighborhood of Portland, we happened to walk into a cute home goods shop that had chickens and goats in the back. I wish I could say more about this magical moment, but I think the pictures pretty much some up how awesome it was to make new animal friends.
    THE OUTDOORS
     
    One of the things that I’m most excited about taking advantage of when I move to Portland is all the wonderful outdoor spaces around the city. As much as I love living in the LA area, our parks do not compare to those in Portland. During this trip I visited Laurelhurst Park (also seen here), which was a great place to spend the afternoon lounging. During one of the days I was in town, my friend Kelsey and I also made our way to Council Crest Park for a picnic dinner; it was such a gorgeous place, especially during this time of the year when all the magnolia trees surrounding the park are blooming.

     

     

    Since I had to leave early Sunday morning and didn’t have time to do much more exploring, Kelsey and I decided to take a walk around her neighborhood. I actually love exploring places on foot because it gives me time to appreciate my surroundings, unlike when I’m driving around, and I’m glad that Portland has a great public transit system so that I can have the opportunity to do more of that when I move there next fall. I hope you enjoyed these photos from my trip. Until next time!
    xoxo,
    Helen

     

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