Instagram Love

My camera charger was lost for what seems like FOREVER (only a couple a weeks but in that time I realized just how much I adore my camera…!) and it's started raining up a storm, thus my absence! When it rains it really does pour, hm?!

In the meantime I thought I would share some instagram snaps, I hope you don't mind! Like everybody else, I'm completely head over heels in love with instagram - it has been encouraging me to take pictures everyday, experiment, and practice..!

Please leave me your username so we can follow each other! I'll be back in the next couple days with a proper outfit post <3

Week of Wonders by Hana Haley for Zeum Mag

Early this July, I met Hana Haley, Berta Pfirsich, and fellow Oregonian blogger, Tori Bonaventura in Hana's hometown of Estacada to shoot a photo series inspired by Valerie's Week of Wonders for Zeum Magazine! The location was an idyllic vintage shop sprawled on a very green lot, with butterflies hazily dipping in and out of flowers and overpopulated with beautiful trees - the sun streaming through their leaves and dappling the grounds with sun spots.

Being surrounded by talented, idealistic babes is my definition of the perfect way to spend the day, and the end results are positively dreamy. Check out the full feature on Zeum Magazine HERE ♡

BY HANA
BY BERTA
BEHIND THE SCENES
The photographers: Hana & Berta All together ♡♡♡

A Love Letter to Magazines

GLASSES: HELLO HOLIDAY
My love for magazines started early when me and my sister would await her monthly issues of Teen Vogue, YM, and ELLE Girl with baited breath (who else loved ELLE Girl and YM?)! We would cherish the stack of magazines, sorting them by date and memorizing the covers.

This love has only grown as I've gotten older! I adore reading articles and viewing images on the internet (I mean, duh - I am writing this on my blog after all..!), but there is nothing like the feeling of flipping through glossy pages filled with interesting content and drinking it all in.

I thought it would be fun to share some of my favorite magazines with you!

NYLON
Discovering Nylon around age 14 kind of reawakened my love for magazines! From a graphic design enthusiasts perspective alone, Nylon is a joy to look through - the photography, use of illustrations and design elements like collages and sequins are a feast for the eyes. I also loved their beauty icons series and the accompanying book they released, The Nylon Book of Pretty!

BALLAD OF...
Showcasing the works of many bright young things, Ballad Of's issues are always beautifully put together. This issue in particular is made even more special because I'm in it! In an editorial for Lazy Oaf and photographed by two of my favorite ladies, Berta Pfirsich & Hana Haley ♡

TEEN VOGUE
Through Teen Vogue, I first learned about fashion design and would rip up the beautiful collages for collages that I cherished! Even though I'm no longer a teenager (cough ~__~), I still think Teen Vogue finds strength in it's editorials and important articles for teen girls (plus I am a little nostalgic about it hehe).

LUCKY
Ever since Eva Chen took over as editor-in-chief last year, I feel like Lucky magazine has really come into its own!

MISS ROBIN
Created by a group of students from Barcelona, Miss Robin's nostalgic, dreamy editorials with a 60s fashion bent and interesting interviews makes it a standout to me! I've contributed to Miss Robin twice now - which is so exciting when it's one of my favorite zines! You can buy their "Twisted Girls" issue, with an interview by me with my bbff (blogging best friend forever) Marlena here ♡

BETTY
I was actually lucky enough to win two issues of Betty in a giveaway from Kerry, and I fell head over heels in love as I read them both cover to cover in one sitting! Betty magazine is an example of exceptional writing mixed with extremely beautiful & inspiring photo spreads and illustrations. Truly a treat to look through!

HONORABLE MENTIONS:
Aka magazines I don't have physical copies of yet but I had to mention anyway...!
Zeum - Gorgeous magazine that spotlights so many amazing artists.
Dazed & Confused - I've been admiring D&C years but haven't managed to snag an issue yet (it's harder to get in the US)! I am bound determined to pick up a copy of their new, Nicki Minaj covered issue however *^*

I'm always on the lookout for discovering new magazines, so pretty please tell me about your favorites! <3 (Ahhh how many times did I say magazines in this post?! Sorry ;__;)

$50 Hello Holiday Giveaway

Happy September! What better way to usher in a new month then with a giveaway?! I'm giving away a $50 gift card and your choice of sunglasses to/from one of my favorite stores, Hello Holiday! Stocked with some of my very favorite brands like Seychelles, Sugarhill Boutique, and Dear Creatures, you are bound to find something you love ヾ(＾∇＾) ♡

Enter using the widget below! Giveaway is open internationally. Winner will be contacted via email. If winner does not respond within 24 hours a new winner will be chosen. Giveaway ends September 16th, 2014.

Good luck! ♡

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Pistachio

BAG: c/o Jump From Paper BODY SUIT: c/o Missguided SKIRT: American Apparel
SOCKS: American Apparel NECKLACE: c/o Fatally Feminine Designs
ICE CREAM HAIR CLIP: c/o Hair Dessert SHOES: Forever 21

Too much mint? n__~ I just can't help dressing up in ice cream colors and this has been one of my very favorite combinations to wear lately! I finally bought one of American Apparel's corduroy circle skirts when they were having a 30% off sale and I'm obsessed - it matches perfectly with this beautiful body suit from Missguided! I really love the deep back and tropical print *__*

Accessories wise, I took the opportunity to show off some of the cutest pieces I own: one of which, being this darling cotton candy necklace by Fatally Feminine Designs! Even my sister, who doesn't usually like the kitschy pieces I am so fond of, is in love with this darling necklace - it looks exactly like cotton candy and so beautifully made! The shop owner, Aubree, is an absolute doll too <3

Meanwhile, without a doubt I can say Hair Dessert has the most adorable hair clips I have ever seen. I am all about food themed accessories (which I'm sure you have already guessed *cough*), so Hair Dessert's range of food themed hair pieces are nothing less then heaven! I'm wearing the ice cream clip and it's incredibly durable and professionally made as well as cute - eeek!

And finally, is this not one of the most clever bags you have ever seen? Jump From Paper specializes in purses that look like they literally jumped from an illustration into a real life, physical bag you can hold in your hands and o m g? My dreams of always looking like a cartoon character have totally been realized! It is such a clever idea and brilliantly executed, I'm completely in awe of it! Thank you again Jump From Paper!! <3

I've been wearing this outfit doing just about everything - including walking my dog! Isn't she precious? n___n For some reason I am very drawn to pointed toe shoes, and this pair from Forever 21 are absolutely perfect! I kind of want the black version now… D:

(thank you Becky for the post title name idea!) ♡♡♡

Sail Away

DEAR CREATURES CARDIGAN: ℅ Hello Holiday BLOUSE: Forever 21
JEANS: Forever 21 SEYCHELLES WEDGES: ℅ Hello Holiday GLASSES: ℅ Hello Holiday

Good morning! A quick outfit post for you today - featuring pieces from one of my very favorite stores, Hello Holiday! They stock so many of my favorite brands, like Dear Creatures and Seychelles, and are run by two of the most inspirational babes I know, Megan and Sarah!

This Dear Creatures cardigan is so darling - I love the nautical color scheme and how easily it fits in with any season!

Meanwhile, THESE SHOES. Unbelievably glitzy and even more dazzling in person, they might just be my dream shoes. And, even though they are pretty towering, they actually aren't as difficult to walk in as one might think *__*

♡♡♡