Much Love Monday: August 1, 2011

Happy (early) Monday.

I'm preparing for the rapid weather change of winter to scorching hot summer in the States!

Here's a few things I love this week.

1. I just bought this lomography camera! And I have my eye on another one. I can't wait to test this out.

Photo from Amazon.com



2. Tex Mex from El Camino in Kingsland. We just caught up with our friend Jeff and enjoyed a nice meal there.


3. This song-

I miss Brooklyn.


4. The amazing care package I received from my amazing pen pal L-
I'll have to photograph all the cute things she sent me. She even sent me one of her custom pencils. (She's a teacher.)

Photo by L<3



5. SUMMER-
I am going to soak up the Northern Hemisphere summer. Celebration summer here I come.

Lake Mead

thanks for stopping by!

Tirau, New Zealand

I am so far away and am doing anything I can to avoid monotony. I hope one day Chris and I can travel across this country exploring all of the charming small towns and cities.

New Zealand: Lord of the Rings Country

Last weekend, Chris & I had a nice weekend in Hamilton, Matamata and Tirau! We met up with Wugga and his partner Nicola for a nice dinner and stopped by my friend J-Dub's birthday party. :)

J-Dub is an amazing baker and even started her own cupcake//baking business!


Check out:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/MissVonDoomsKitchen
based in Auckland!






my handsome husband :P


The next day we had an amazing brunch with mum-in-law in Matamata. I decided to be a tourist and take a photo in front of the Hobbiton sign! My in-laws actually live in Hobbiton errr Matamata where all the Hobbiton scenes in Lord of the Rings (and now The Hobbit) were actually filmed.



thrifted sixties plaid houndstooth coat | thrifted dress | scarf from Singapore | Cotton on shoes





I wore this vintage plaid houndstooth coat I found while thrifting in Napier/Hawke's Bay! I was so pleased with this. Smeagol wants my coat, "Me wants it." :P

It's difficult putting effort in dressing up when it's so cold out and half of my clothes are non-functional and a bit outrageous. I have lots of crazy bold patterns that don't go with anything else and may not be as age appropriate anymore. My life is an indefinite transition right now, so I haven't bought much in the past few years. I can't wait to (sensibly) reconstruct my wardrobe. How convenient since I'm going back home (USA) next week!



I'm waiting for my friend Frodo...

Inspiration: Don Vincent Ortega

My friend Vince is one of my all-time favourite photographers. He has such an incredible eye for shadows and lighting. Whether it's natural or something he can create.

Here are some of my favourites I've collected over the years:










http://www.donvincentortega.com/
http://donvincentortega.blogspot.com/


I was lucky enough to take photos with him a few times. He took this photo of me a very long time ago. :)


xo
jv

About Me

Hi, I'm Jen. I'm a blogger in Seattle, USA who writes about music, style, fashion, pop culture, art, my adventures, and creative inspiration. I like to take pictures. I was born in Philadelphia and lived in Las Vegas most of my life.

When I lived in Philly for a summer while being surrounded by other ladies named Jen, my friends referred to me as "Jen Vegas." That name has stuck.

In my past life, I was a smoothie maker, retail associate, poor college student, photographer, intern, news writer/producer working in the crazy world of TV news, an assistant for an international exhibit in Seattle, and now a Branding/Marketing/Social Media Specialist. I am thrilled to be living back state side and continuously feel perma-culture shock and reverse culture shock.

I lived in Auckland, New Zealand for three and a half years and married my pen pal Chris. Now we're settling in and enjoying our new life in the Seattle, Washington.



I take lots of pictures, love music/art/design/'60s fashion/travelling/reading and being around extremely outrageous, nerdy and good-hearted people. I am obsessed with The Monkees. Most of my friends have nicknames. I'm enjoying life with my Kiwi husband. I have adapted and learned how to write in Queen's English.

I'll share a little bit of this with you on my blog.

If you need to contact me,
jenvegasblog@
gmail.com

Thanks for stopping by! Leave me a message :)

Much Love Monday: July 25, 2011

Happy Monday to you. I'll be home on the sunny west coast in just about 10 days! I'll miss my husband, but I won't be missing this cold weather! (We don't have heating in our flat.)

Here are a few things I'm loving this week:

1. I love this...and you can even vote for it to be sold on the Modcloth website!

from Flashes of Style
One day I will own a Dear Creatures dress!

2. Pizza + Blogging = Pizza Punk
I love pizza, and so do my friends C&P. Check out this pizza blog, especially if you live in the Seattle/Portland area.



I want to attempt to make these cupcakes! I've never made cupcakes from scratch before. Which is the norm in NZ! (And obviously not the norm where I'm from)

I love this reading corner.


xo
jv

French New Wave, (Mini) Blogger Meet up

Two weekends ago, I met my lovely long time blogger friend Hayley (from livejournal) and her partner Adrian! It was my first time ever meeting a New Zealand blogger. It was super fun, and we really enjoyed their company. They are such genuinely nice people. :) I can't believe we've been friends via blogging for over a year and a half now. Gosh, we should have met them ages ago.

Earlier in the day, I decided I wanted to wear my bold blue-ish, turquoise coloured blouse. I was feeling inspired by Anna Karina, and decided to match it with my canary yellow tights. (Oh Crayola box where are you?) I love the 1960s look, and my wannabe French New Wave attire is much more age appropriate.


thrifted blouse and coat | Dotti skirt | F21 tights | Cotton On shoes







Meeting Hayley & Adrian!









We couldn't stop laughing about this.



We looked at a couple of books.



<3 br="">
They'll be going on a trip around the US pretty soon! A road trip from Los Angeles to New York! I'll be making a list of things for them to do and see. Do you have any recommendations of ANYTHING?

Photo Round Up: July 8th-10th

Here's some photos from a few weeks ago.













1. Glenn & Kim being adorable.
2. Jerry enjoying a drink after a very, very long time.
3. Vulcan Lane
4. Flat white heart
5. Vege Tofu sandwich at Raw Power
6. Vulcan Lane sky line

All taken with my Android phone with apps: Retro Camera, Action Sampler and Roidizer.
When I go home, I'm going to pick up some real lomography cameras! YESSSSSSSSS. :)

<3

My fabulous friends, City Dwelling & Themed Parties

Hello my friends! Aside from working lots of overtime and a minor cold, I've been a bit more social lately. Which I find strangely odd, since it's the middle of winter. I'm used to hibernating until the temps rise again.

About two weeks ago, I went to a party ALL BY MYSELF and only knew two people there. One, who was the birthday celebrant and the other who was his lovely partner! They were understandably busy being hosts. LOL. It was a bit intimidating since prominent New Zealand musicians were at this party. There were moments where I felt like I was going to have a panic attack like when I had nowhere to stand alone, but I made it through okay. I was introduced to a guy named B. He was really nice. At the end of the night, he revealed his music projects. I responded with, "OH WOW, I've seen your guys' music videos on TV." :P Needless to say, I didn't take any photos at this party.


Big shout out:

I went to see a play our friend Rey (see: middle) directed at the Short & Sweet festival! His play called, "A Bit of A Blow" was entertaining and had a great unexpected twist. And do you see that lovely lady on the left? That's Gabby and she just handed in her PHD thesis!!! Congrats to her, and I'm glad she can finally enjoy a long holiday without any stress. I am surrounded by greatness. Excuse my perma-messy hair and straight-up haggardness.


Stylish Rey

That weekend Chris & I did our usual weekend city walk and wander.

thrifted trench coat | Mossimo shirt and sweater | Gap jeans | Cotton On shoes









And then we went to our friends' themed party. "Be your high school self." :)
My husband (see: left) went as Bill Haverchuck from Freak & Geeks!

some funny high school labels here:
geek, freak, emo kid, school girl & goth


Bill is in the middle. Chris really pulled it off well eh!?

I basically wore a big hoodie and some jeans. That was my look when I was 14. It took me less than 5 minutes to get dressed. Chris loved it, and thinks that I should wear that look more often. HAHA!