obsession: polka dots

As always, I'm totally enamored with polka dots. I have one too many dotted blouses and have hopes of collecting some dotty shoes & even an umbrella, if I can find one! (Don't worry, I promise I won't wear them all at the same time.)

I've even been noticing polka dots in food. How wonderful does this frozen juice + fruit look? Or how about that cake below? Or this spiked blueberry lemonade drink? Blueberries jazz everything up so nicely. (Made something that looks average at best? Just throw blueberries at it.)

Dots make me happy... unless they're on my face... in which case, go away!

(Fashion photos via 1, 2, 3, 4; Food photos via 1, 2)

manhattan rooftop + pretty dress

My friend Danny lives in a great apartment in Union Square with rooftop access to some of the best views, so once in awhile I like to invite myself over. There's nothing like catching up with a good friend while also sunbathing on a roof all to yourself! Today we decided to take a few photos on my iPhone-- I wanted to show off my new favorite dress courtesy of Sugarlips :)

What a spectacular view! The Empire State building was RIGHT there. Amazeballs.

Danny! One of my dearest friends since the first day of NYU. How has it been 5 years?!

I took this photo by accident -- my iPhone camera was flipped -- but it came out kinda cool. I was lying on a sun chair, trying to capture the views. 

This dress came in the mail yesterday, and I literally hung it on the wall of my work cubicle just so I could stare at it. The colors are so fun, and I especially love the blue bodice. 

Hope you have a great weekend friends, and enjoy the weather (but make sure you wear your sunscreen)!

J.Crew necklace = eBay steal!

I just had a heart attack. Trust me, in the best way. So I was admiring my super stylish co-worker Margaux's  J.Crew necklace today, and she let me in on a little secret... she bought it on eBay for under 15 bucks! Wait, the same "Bubble" necklace that currently retails at $150 at J.Crew can be found on wholesale for $15?! Yes. This is no joke. I swear it looked exactly identical on Margaux vs. in the J.Crew store. And equally amazing.

This is J.Crew's model currently on the home page of J.Crew dot com-- wearing the "Bubble" necklace!

So now I'm sharing the eBay gospel with you! And btw, I just bought five (but only keeping one for myself -- the rest will be gifts to friends!). Find the J. Crew "Bubble" necklace on eBay here. (I personally think it looks 100% better in person than in the photos.) And leave me a comment if you end up purchasing! Would love to know if more "shopping steal" posts are up your alley -- I'll definitely keep my eyes out.

modern rustic

You guys, I think the term "modern rustic" is officially my interior design style. I feel so Swedish/Scandinavian! (No wonder I love Ikea so much...) Now to finally get my apartment to look like these pictures below... (Check out that incredible headboard! What a dreamy blue.) What's your design aesthetic look like?

(photos via 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

PS: Congrats to Lauren (Lucky comment #7) for winning the TATCHA skincare giveaway! Will be in touch via email. Thanks for playing everyone!

currently reading: the history of love

Step 1 to keeping myself creatively accountable -- setting a dedicated reading hour (or two) per week. With a busy work schedule, that's often a big challenge! I'm excited to finally finish the second half of The History of Love, which always amazed me. What a complex character-driven story. Brilliantly told and just... brilliant. Nicole Krauss (also known as Mrs. Jonathan Safran Foer) is unbelievably talented. 

I completely understand why so many friends say this is their favorite book. Skipping the gym tonight (a bit unwise, but oh well) to read some more. You'll be finding me at Think Coffee or The Bean this weekend, finishing this up (instagram from last weekend above!). xo

“Then he almost but didn't say the two sentence he'd been meaning to say for years: part of me is made of glass, and also, I love you.” -- The History of Love

helen loves: edition #5

Sweet camera tote bag; wanted: neon bib necklace via Bauble Bar; gorgeous tufted leather loveseat via Babble (but so pricy!); best pimple zapper ever: Yes to Tomatoes Roller Ball Spot Stick; OMG Mudslide Icecream Cake!; 4-set of colorful glass tumblrs;  xo

Some more things Helen Loves...

A Puerto Rican Vacation (lots of photos up ahead!)

As promised, here's a little recap of my 5 night/6 day Puerto Rico vacation with my three NYU friends Steph, Justin, and Graham! We were super lucky to have found a great flight + resort deal via CheapCarribbean.com and just impulsively decided to go! So for a week in May, we called the Wyndham Rio Mar Resort our home, which was my first time at a resort and I felt like a queen. (Our own private balcony + 5 different pools to choose? Could get used to this.)

We decided early on to rent a car, since we were in the North East part of Puerto Rico (in Rio Grande). San Juan was a 40 minute drive, so we spent a whole day strolling around the tiny city. We explored El Morro, an old fortress, and also took our time wandering the cobblestoned streets of Old San Juan, which was full of character. While Old San Juan has a small-town feel, the more metropolitan outskirts of the city  reminded us of Miami. Later in the evenings, we made sure to stuff ourselves with mofongo and pina coladas, which are native to PR. (Again, I could get used to this :)

Since we lived right next to El Yunque, the national rainforest, we of course had to explore! We part drove, part hiked down a trail. Another outdoorsy trip was to the Camuy Caves -- it was cool to see all the rock formations. My first time caving! (Or should I say... spelunking?)

Of course we spent a huge hunk of time at the beach!!! First, we went to Luquillo Beach, which felt like our own private beach because only 4-5 other people were there! We bought a case of beer, a case of water, and just enjoyed the calm surroundings. Another day, we took the ferry to Culebra Island, which boasts the famous Flamenco Beach. Discovery Channel called it the 2nd most beautiful beach in the world, and with its clear blue waters and white sand, I could see why. Felt like paradise.

Lastly, we had the good fortune of stopping by the Bacardi Distillery! It was fun to go on a little tour on the Bacardi bus. (I swear our tour guide was tipsy! Can't blame him.) We ooh-ed and aah-ed over the 20 vats of Bacardi, each of which held 20K gallons of liquor. Then we grabbed free drinks and were pretty much in heaven.

PR was a blast, and I would go back in a heart beat. Unfortunately we didn't get a chance to experience the the Bioluminscent Bay, so that is definitely on my to-do list for next time. So grateful to have had this wonderful experience and to have shared it with friends! xo

GIVEAWAY ALERT: TATCHA skincare deluxe sampler kit (worth $162!)

Hi friends -- so, so excited to share with you a new giveaway! TATCHA is a recently launched beauty company inspired by ancient Geisha skincare tradition, available at Barneys and in a variety of boutique retailers around the world. Offering the best of Eastern skincare and beauty, TATCHA's products are made with a blend of indigenous Japanese extracts, from the very best green teas to Okinawa red algae and rice bran-- all ingredients that real geishas once used to obtain beautiful, luminous skin!!

TATCHA is offering one Helen Hearts reader a Deluxe Sampler Kit worth $162 (pictured above), which includes travel sizes of their cleansing oil, rice enzyme powders, moisturizing cream, and brightening serum. Also included in the kit are their famous Beauty Papers, which are named by Allure Magazine as one of 12 products that will give you better skin instantly. (I can attest, no more mid-day shiny forehead for me!)

To enter to win, simply follow Helen Hearts on Google Friend Connect (just click on the box to the left) and leave a comment below with your email address. Receive an additional entry if you sign up for TATCHA's emails here-- just let me know in an additional comment below. A lucky winner will be randomly drawn and announced in two weeks on Monday, June 18th. Enter below -- your skin will thank you! 

(Giveaway Disclaimer: The views of this blog post are my own and do not belong to my employers or that of TATCHA, LLC. I do not receive monetary compensation for this giveaway. Cheers!)

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Update: Congrats to Lauren for winning the giveaway! Thanks for playing everyone.