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    Outfit, Travel

    The Madonna Inn and San Luis Obispo

    May 25, 2015
    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)
    ASOS Striped Bikini Top
    Topshop High-waisted Bikini Bottoms



    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

    Pastel Polka Dots

    April 6, 2015
    Photos by Sarah Veyna
    Outfit Details:
    Maison Jules Dress (Similar here and here)
    Madewell Bag
    Franco Sarto Pumps (Similar)
    Urban Decay Naked Palette (Eyes)
    I wore this navy and pastel pink polka dot dress on Easter Sunday. I thought it was the most appropriate thing to wear on that day since the pattern and colors tend to remind me of a decorated Easter egg. Instead of accessorizing, I decided to put a bit more effort into my makeup and played up my eyes. I followed Keiko Lynn’s Urban Decay Naked Palette Tutorial to achieve this look since I’m still a newbie to using eyeshadow. I have to say that Keiko makes it seem so easy to put on makeup and use the Naked Palette, but I think I did pretty well for my first try. Wouldn’t you agree?
    In other news, I’m going to be flying out to Portland next week. This trip is very last minute–I just booked my flight a couple of days ago–which makes it even more exciting. This trip isn’t exactly a vacation since I’m making the trip up to Portland so that I can check out a grad school, but I’m looking forward to seeing some familiar faces and drinking copious amounts of coffee while I’m there. If you’ve been keeping up with this blog, you might remember that I applied to grad programs earlier this year. Well, as it turns out, it looks like I might be moving to Portland this fall. This big change in my life is what has been causing me so much anxiety lately, even though I’ve been working towards this goal for almost an entire year. I’m hoping that visiting the city for a couple of days will allow me to feel more at ease about everything that’s coming my way.
    xoxo,
    Helen
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    Outfit, Travel

    It’s Beach Time!

    June 2, 2014
    Photography by Laura Nolan
    Outfit Details:
    Forever 21 Sunglasses
    Old Navy Chambray Shirt
    Forever 21 Crop Top
    ASOS High Waist Linen Shorts
    H&M Strappy Sandals in Black (Not Pictured)
    My best friend Laura and I met up in Dana Point this weekend, since it’s our halfway meeting spot between L.A. and San Diego. I had only been to Dana Point once before on my first year of college, and I basically spent all day seasick on a boat collecting water samples for my marine biology class. Needless to say, my first visit to the area wasn’t a memorable experience. Thankfully, this trip made up for my last. Laura and I decided to head over to Dana Strand Beach while we were there, and I loved how calm and relaxing it was. I’m not much of a beach person, and I’m used to frequenting busy L.A. beaches that offer limited and expensive parking. Unlike most beaches that I’ve visited, Dana Strand Beach had tons of free parking, and it had a very calm vibe to it.
    What I really loved about Dana Point is how friendly everybody was. People noticed Laura and I taking pictures of each other–she took outfit pictures of me for my blog, and I took pictures of her in various yoga poses for her Instagram–and they were quick to offer to take a picture of the two of us together. Laura thinks that many of the beach goers had a friendship crush on the two of us. However, my guess is that many of them were probably super impressed by Laura’s awesome yoga poses. She is currently participating in Free People’s Instagram Yoga Challenge, and where else can you find a more serene spot to practice yoga than the beach? I can only dream of the day when I’ll be as strong and graceful as my best friend. You should all go check out her pictures on Instagram and cheer her on throughout the challenge.
    After lounging at the beach for a couple of hours, Laura and I decided to head out for lunch. Thanks to recommendations on Yelp, we ended up going to the Hummingbird House Cafe in nearby San Juan Capistrano. Little did we know that this particular cafe was located on Los Rios Street, which just happens to be the most darling street I have ever laid eyes on. Los Rios Street is located behind the San Juan Capistrano MetroLink Station, and is lined with houses that have been converted into shops and restaurants. These businesses all had a boho chic and vintage feel to them, and every store we walked into had a nice garden and lounging area which made you feel right at home.
    This was the outdoor dining area of the Hummingbird House Cafe.
    Las Catrinas, a cute and colorful shop featuring Mexican/Mexican-Inspired Jewelry, Crafts and Artisanal Products.
    Laura has the coolest laid back beach style.

    I can’t believe June is here already! It’s already starting off to be an exciting month. Not only did I meet up with Laura this weekend, but I also had the opportunity to celebrate my friend Sara’s birthday at a cute restaurant called Abricott in Pasadena. It’s seems like it was only yesterday when I had made my New Year’s resolution to start this blog, and made a commitment to doing new and fun things. I’m very proud of myself for keeping up with it.

    What was your New Year’s resolution and are you keeping true to it? Are you making any new resolutions now that we’re halfway through the year? Let me know, I’d love to hear from you.

    Love,
    Helen Grace