From Hollywood to Sweden

(This is our little amphitheater in town, what I like to call our version of the Hollywood Bowl)

I was raised in Los Angeles starting from when I was 5 1/2 (before that I had lived in NYC), and one can only imagine how strange it was for me to move out of a big bustling city to a small town in west Sweden like I did last year. I often get asked why I left LA for Strömstad (the town I live in now), and once I explain that it's because my now-fiancé is from here, people understand, but it is the number one question I get asked when I'm meeting someone new, no doubt.

I grew up in a suburb of LA called Valley Village (back when it was still considered to be North Hollywood), so the word "Hollywood" has always had a strong significance to me (not only because, fun fact!, my dad is an actor so I've grown up in the entertainment industry). I remember going on a summer trip to visit my childhood friend in Atlanta, Georgia, when I was 11 years old. Our moms had signed us both up for tennis camp (I played tennis regularly at that age), and on the very first day, as soon as the other kids found out that I was from LA, they immediately referred to me as "Hollywood" every single day for the next 3 weeks. I wasn't offended by it, but it made me realize that "Hollywood" was a special place to a lot of people, especially to people who had never been there and had always fantasized about it, like these kids at the camp. 

Do you remember watching the movie Hocus Pocus? I mean, who doesn't if you grew up in the 90s, but the main character (Max, coincidentally enough) went through the exact same thing when he moved to Salem from LA. The two guys he met in the cemetery on the way home from his first day of school teased him, called him "Hollywood" and stole his shoes. Luckily my shoes were never stolen, and I wasn't totally offended by being called Hollywood, but I always found it funny, and the older I get, the prouder I am of being from there. So when I saw this sweater on Joanie Clothing's website, I knew I HAD to have it.

Since moving to Sweden, I've discovered that I find the most comfort in surrounding myself with clothing and even home goods that make me feel connected to my old hometown, and that definitely includes this jumper. It's soft as can be, can be thrown on with a pair of denim and converse, or can be dressed up tucked into a skirt with a cute pair of flats like in these photos I'm sharing here! I plan on wearing it all spring and summer, and into the fall, too.

*gifted*

Link to the Oscar Hollywood Slogan Jumper can be found by clicking this link HERE

A Sunday Afternoon in Fredrikstad

Outfit Details:

Lipstick on Your Collar Sweater     Janet A-Line Button Cord Skirt

      Clogs     Yellow Crossbody Bag

As soon as I saw that sweater, I knew I had to have it immediately as I LOVE Connie Francis and she had a song called Lipstick On Your Collar that is just too cute for words. I wanted to step out of my comfort zone a little since I hardly ever wear mini skirts, so I went for this pink button cord mini skirt and it is SO flattering on. I can't recommend both of these pieces enough, and they're perfect transitioning into the fall! Just throw on some tights and ankle boots, and you're good to go!

One thing that hasn't changed since I moved to this small town in Sweden is that the need for exploring and going on small adventures is still a big part of me. Back when I lived in LA, I found myself driving up the 101 to the Madonna Inn, or east to Palm Springs for the day. I didn't think about it much beforehand, I would just go. It's not quite as easy to do here... gas is more expensive, and there isn't AS much variety of places to choose from if I want a quick getaway. I get bummed out sometimes when I think about the fact that things ARE different here, and that I simply don't have the money to travel very far, unless I save up for a reeeaally long time. So when I want to go somewhere, it's always kind of a battle of sorts. Originally, I had planned on shooting this look in a location that's over an hour away from where we live. We spotted it coming back from Stockholm earlier this summer and I had my mind set on using it for this exact look. But when it came down to it, it was simply too far and not worth the drive, and I am SO glad that I decided on my plan B.

I've been visiting the town of Fredrikstad in Norway since I first came to Sweden, and this was the first time when the weather was actually nice (it was snowing and very cold when I brought my mom here back in January= not fun). So Max and I took advantage and walked around for a while, shooting me in my new favorite fall outfit from Joanie Clothing in front of all the colorful buildings. To our surprise, all the stores were open and they were even having a flea market. Did you know that all stores in Norway are closed on Sundays, even grocery stores? Norwegians carry a mentality of relaxation one day a week, and I don't blame them for that one bit. 

I love that Fredrikstad is so well-preserved (it was discovered in 1567 by King Frederik II). You can still see where the motes used to be and every building has colorful doors and windows and you can just feel history oozing out of it with every cobblestoned step you take! Not to mention, Fredrikstad is known for having the biggest miniature train museum in all of Scandinavia which I had the chance to visit when I brought my mom there in January. It was AMAZING. See?

So much to love about a place that's just a short drive outside of town. As boring as this part of the world can feel sometimes, when it's warm outside, these towns really all come alive and all it really takes in the end is a fresh perspective! Is there one special place you like to travel to just to "get away" that you only started to appreciate recently? I'd love to know where!

Life lately

(Wearing the CUTEST summery strawberry sweater from one of my favorite brands, Collectif, and it's currently on SALE! Want to snag one for yourself? Click the direct link to the product HERE.)

Happy June! I can't believe that it's officially summer here, and that I've now been living in Sweden for half a year. Not much has changed since I arrived in January with my giant suitcase, except the weather has gotten TREMENDOUSLY better and I now have a job (yay), but my health has been in a weird place.

I recently visited the lady doctor to obtain new birth control (boo for Sweden not carrying the pill I love and have used happily for the past few years), and she took my blood pressure, which ended up being preeettyy high. We tried it again and it was even higher the second time. She assured me that maybe it was high because I was nervous to be in a doctors office, but I also think it could be a result of all of the stress I've been under for so long now. It's not even bad stress necessarily; some of it stems from a lot of really happy moments in my life: meeting Max, falling in love, visiting Sweden every few months in the beginning, obtaining my permit to live here, moving here, etc. It's a lot for one person to take in in a year.

I also have battled anxiety from the whole Instagram algorithm change. I don't like to admit it or talk about it often, but yes, like all of us, I have been very frustrated with my lack of engagement and lack of growth which has really slowed down in the past year compared to 2-3 years ago when I feel I was at my highest level of success. And up until recently, my anxiety would get to a point where I would cry if my post was "bombing" (aka not even getting up to 100 likes), and if I couldn't get a photo posted fast enough because life got in the way, my heart would be racing and I would be extremely anxious until the moment when it would finally go live. I thought because I wasn't getting a large amount of likes or followers, that must have meant that people didn't like ME or what I was doing or contributing, which sounds so ridiculous now. It's all pretty embarrassing to admit, really, because - Instagram is just an app. But it is what it is. I had a problem, and once I started working, I physically and mentally didn't have the energy or the time to put in as much time as before, and that actually resulted in a POSITIVE mental change within me. I'm working so much right now that it's actually hilarious - 10 and a half hours of work, on my feet, and starting this week, I will be working 7 days in a row. I'm so grateful for this big life change because it's caused me to step back from what I know was a real issue. It actually made me realize that it's OKAY to not be posting to my feed every day, and OKAY that I may lose some followers here and there. In the end, I know I have a very dedicated group of amazing people who love what I do (thank you thank you for that!), and that's all that matters.

I recently started taking one day a week off from posting to my feed, but it might become more frequent as things gets busier at work. But don't worry, I'm not going anywhere. I intend to continue to share even more fun and exciting stories and photos of my life here in Sweden. <3

If you've been battling anxiety, how have you been trying to combat it? I'd love to start a conversation on healthy tips and tricks that we can all share and use together!

Fun in the desert

Jade Plain Swing Dress

A few weeks ago, Max and I flew out to California to attend my good friend Amy's wedding and we had the best time! It was held in Pioneertown, which is a little western town in Joshua Tree. I was so thrilled to be able to wear this amazing dress by Collectif for the occasion, an amazing retro-inspired brand from the UK. When I first spotted this dress on their website, it reminded me of something that would've been worn by Ann Margret or some other fabulous curvy actress in the 1960s. The belt is thick and holds everything in, the skirt is full and super twirly (great for dancing!) and the straps are adorable with the shoulder bows. When it arrived in the mail, I tried it on and it fit like a glove and now I'm hooked on this brand! I have a few other pieces that I'm excited to play around with and share right here on the blog soon! Stay tuned :)

Do you have a favorite retro-inspired brand? I'd love to know about it!

A Big Week Ahead

Outfit Details

Horse Print Dress  /  Belt

First off, let's talk about this dress! It was only a few weeks ago when my Instagram feed was covered in photos and stories from Dapper Day, which is an event held at Disneyland (and Disney World) where Disney fans come dressed in their favorite fancy frocks, sometimes bound as Disney characters, to meet, shop at the Dapper Day Expo, and spend time with their friends in the world's happiest place. I attended the one last year and loved it so much, so of course I was a little bummed out that I couldn't be there for this year's festivities. I saw that one of my favorite lady bosses, Audrey of Audrey K, was wearing the most adorable rainbow printed dress I had ever seen, and immediately I went into my google search and looked up the brand, and that's when I found Love Ur Look! I was hooked by the prints and ultra feminine cuts of the dresses immediately. But when I read on their About page that they are a brand that practices sustainable and ethical practices, that really sealed the deal. The clothes are produced both in the UK and a women's factory in India, and the practices there have specific obligations which protect the workers and it is truly amazing. Not only that, but every year, the company takes some of their profits to support the well known animal shelter in India called Tolfa. The actual clothing designs are made from up cycled fabrics, such as discarded materials, like surplus stock and production off cuts, as it states on their website. If you're into retro-style fashion and you enjoy supporting a company that practices ethics and sustainability, I highly recommend that you check out Love Ur Look! Also, for those of you who follow me on Instagram, I posted myself in this dress over the past weekend in lieu of the Kentucky Derby. I mean, the print was just too perfect not to wear that day, right? :)

Now on to some more exciting news...I'm flying back to LA this week! I'll be in town visiting family, friends, and attending my good friend's wedding. I'll be honest, when I first started planning this trip, I wasn't thrilled.. not because I didn't want to see everyone, but because I was hoping I could use what money I had to go somewhere brand new. But this trip is exactly what I need right now. We are landing in the evening on Wednesday, and I'm hoping the jet lag won't be too horrendous. The next day will be filled with lots of errands, and dinner with my two of my besties. Then we're off to Joshua Tree for my friend's wedding for the weekend, and right when we return we'll be meeting up with MORE friends, and well, you get the picture. It's going to be one busy week!

Additionally, I will be working with some of my favorite LA based brands again, shooting some really fun blog posts for them so I'm thrilled about that. If we have time, we're going to try to go to the Flower Fields in Carlsbad, which I used to visit every year! Praying that it's still going to be open in a week.

If you've moved out of the state or country, I'd love to hear your thoughts on what it was like going back to your old hometown for the first time. What feelings did you think you would have vs what it actually felt like when you arrived? Were you happy to be back? Sad? A mixture of both? I'd love to know your story.

Photos taken at Tilt Recording Studios in Strömstad, Sweden

The Pros and Cons of Moving My Brand Overseas

Outfit Details

Red Denim Dress   /  Ribbed Top

Sunnies /  Red Mules

Rainbow Bag

Now that I'm a fully-fledged Swedish resident, I figure it's probably time for a life update. I moved here almost 4 months ago, and I can finally say that I am used to the weather, the people and the lifestyle. But I'm still struggling to figure out how my brand fits in and it's something I'm trying to figure out all the time. For those who have been following along with me for many years, you know that I live a very colorful lifestyle. I've always been inspired by colorful clothing, colorful food, colorful buildings, etc etc which show in my work. But Sweden is a whole different world, especially the small town that I have moved to. Life moves a lot slower here, and though there are many-a pastel building, things are truly different. You won't find a new craze of desserts here such as charcoal ice cream or rainbow crepe cakes. I no longer have the luxury of getting into my car and driving to places like Palm Springs, San Diego, or Vegas, which often served as backdrops for many of my photos. My new backdrops are boats, barns and dark cafes. The next biggest city is over an hour away, but the only way I can get there is if my boyfriend drives me, and, well, he's a busy guy. Craft stores here are very limited for supplies if I want to do a flat lay. Brand events are a thing of the past (pretty sure I'm the only blogger in this town so blogger events simply don't exist here). Collaborations are harder to come by (I feel like I get excluded from many collaborations now because I'm in Europe and many of the companies I used to work with are US-based only). It's been hard, not going to lie. I've had moments of being sad about what I've lost, business-wise, by moving here, and have been up at night worrying about how my brand will ever grow at this rate, and if anyone even cares anymore.

Ever since returning from Paris, though, I've sorta kinda turned a new leaf. Traveling is so therapeutic for me as it is for many people, and it really helped put things into perspective. I recently watched a travel vlog from one of my favorite bloggers, ADashofFash, who is a blogger from Amsterdam. In the short but informative video, she showed the best places to see in the city centre of Amsterdam, and it really inspired me. The reality is: I no longer live in LA, but I do live in Sweden, and Sweden is a beautiful country. The town I moved to is adorable, and will only get more fun as the weather gets warmer (and the flowers start to bloom), so why not show it off? There are so many adorable street corners, cafes, walking paths, castles.. I could go on and on. 

So that brings me to the question: How can I keep my content fresh, in a small town that doesn't have a lot "going on"? The answer is: I don't know! I'm always trying to think of new ideas. I've been toying with the idea of starting a youtube channel, but the thought of it totally overwhelms me every time I get closer to it, and I haven't yet gotten to a point of feeling "ready", so for now it's off the table again. I think the best thing I can do for myself, at this point, is to not be so hard on myself if I can't produce a new blog post every week, and f I don't have the money to travel somewhere exciting for a while. I have to just enjoy what's right in front of me, and share this amazing place even if it's in a very simple way: by photographing it, writing about it, and by continuing to be my crazy colorful self. One of my favorite quotes is by Maya Angelou and it goes, "Be a rainbow in someone else's cloud". That quote right there is the perfect example of why I do what I do. I love nothing more than to bring my love for color and fun into people's lives, and I hope that I can continue the same even though my lifestyle has changed so drastically.

And here is where I need your help: What would you love to see more of from me on the blog and on instagram? Does a YouTube channel interest you or would you rather just watch an Instagram story? Do you want to learn more about the Swedish culture? If so, in what way(s)? Let me know in the comments below!

Exploring Colorful Smögen

Outfit Details

Jupiter Skirt  Carlotta Jumper  Crossbody Bag

Velvet Hair Bow

Before I ever visited Sweden, I had always pictured the homes to look like something out of the Pippi Långstrump series: bright and colorful surrounded by, well, nature.

Like this:

And I wasn't far off, actually! Many of the homes here are painted a bright yellow or red (sometimes green or blue), but I haven't seen much else variation so far. That is until Max drove me to Smögen, a small boating town around 40 minutes from where we live in Strömstad. The town is actually pretty similar to ours; they have a big dock, a boardwalk with restaurants, cobblestone-lined streets and the like, but one thing that we don't have and that they excel at is their insanely beautiful array of rainbow boat houses! When I first saw them, I couldn't believe my eyes. The first time I saw them, it was late May, so not quite summer yet. The restaurants weren't open, and there weren't many people around. It was the same situation this time around, but honestly, I enjoy the quiet and having this amazing backdrop all to myself.

For this blog post, I'm wearing my favorite Swedish clothing brand, Jumper Fabriken. They have locations both in Gothenburg and Stockholm. I actually stumbled into the Stockholm location on my first visit to Sweden last year, and fell head over heels in love with their 60s-inspired dresses, striped boat-neck tops, and pastel slip-on clogs. Since I was nearing the end of my trip, I was a bit low on cash and chose to not buy anything that day, but man, I thought about that store for WEEKS after, and kicked myself for not writing down the name. After about, what felt like a hundred google street view searches, I found a shop that was nearby, wrote to them and asked if they knew of "the shop with the pink clogs", and lo and behold, they sent me a link to Jumper and the rest is history!

I had been wanting a feminine a-line skirt that I could tuck a sweater into, and one that cut above the knees, and this one happens to fit me perfectly. It also has a polka dot lining which is just the cutest detail and goes to show how much thought is put into each piece by Jumper Fabriken. The cornflower blue shade of the sweater caught my eye right away and I love that it's not too thick so it's easy to tuck. It would also be cute with a pair of jeans as well. I plan on wearing this outfit all spring long, and when the weather finally lets up (we have our days but not enough, sadly!), I will be transitioning to flats, something I am very excited about! Haha.

I hope you check out their clothes and treat yourself to an amazing Swedish brand! And if you order a piece, be sure to tag me on Instagram so I can see how cute you look in your new outfit!

xoxo, Jenna

A Retro Weekend on the Koster Islands

Outfit Details

Dress / Voodoo Vixen

Bag /  Voodoo Vixen

Sunglasses / Ouifresh

Flats / Bait Footwear

Hair Bow / Crown & Glory

I just came back from the most wonderful and much needed staycation at Max's parents' house on the Koster Islands. For those who aren't familiar, you can learn more about the islands HERE. For us, it's a 30 minute (sometimes less) ferry ride to the islands which is a relatively short and speedy trip! When I first visited this house last spring, I couldn't believe how amazing it was - from the midcentury decor to the stellar views of the ocean, I was in heaven. This island reminds me a lot of Martha's Vineyard where I spent every summer of my childhood, so it makes a lot of sense for me to love this place, too. There are no cars allowed on it, so most people either take a bicycle or an electric golf cart around. There are a few restaurants and great hiking trails as well.

In this blog post. I want to share my love for the vintage inspired clothing line, Voodoo Vixen, as well as show some of the amazing rooms in this house! I thought the dress and bag would fit so perfectly with the decor that I had to bring them along and shoot something fun. The dress is so beautiful in person and is very well made. I especially love the buttons in the front. The bag is a really great size. I was able to fit many of my overnight items in there, and I appreciate the removable shoulder strap so that I can wear it as a crossbody! The cake, by the way, was one of the most amazing slices of cake that I've ever had and I'm still thinking about it a few days later, haha. It had a brownie base with chocolate mousse and plump blueberries strewn throughout. Thinking this might be my new favorite cake in town. Also, I felt like I was channeling my inner Betty Draper here and I kinda love that (who else reading this loves Mad Men? Let me know in the comments!).

The bar cart area in the house is so cute and I love the starburst clock!

As always, thanks so much for reading! xoxo, Jenna

Outfit Post- How I'm Dressing for Snowy Weather

Outfit Details

Dress by Lindex

Two Tone Bag by Zara

Clogs by Haga Tratoffel

In case you were wondering, yes, it is a still a winter wonderland here in Sweden, and this LA girl is starting to get a littttttle tired of it. I find myself daydreaming of getting dressed in the morning and only having to worry about a t-shirt, jeans and a pair of flats. Since the snow probably won't be going away for a little while longer, I've been trying to find ways to incorporate my love for bright colorful pieces while still doing my best to stay warm, and I'm pretty pleased with what I've been coming up with! I found this dress at a popular store here called Lindex, and tried it on immediately. I fell in love with the adorable sleeves, and the print was so eye-catching that I couldn't help but bring it home. If you remember my last post, I had picked up a pair of clogs by Haga Tratoffel, and decided to try them with this outfit, and I love the result! When it gets warm again, I'm looking forward to wearing the clogs with a t-shirt and jeans, and dresses without tights (a concept I can't WAIT for).

If you've been dealing with annoying snowy weather, I would love to know how you've been maintaining your style while keeping warm. Do you stick to boots and sweaters? Or do you opt to wear dresses and tights like me? Tell me in the comments!

Don't forget that you can still get a pair of clogs with free shipping by using my special code! 

If you're ordering from within Sweden, enter code Haga18 at checkout.
If you're ordering from outside Sweden, enter code Haga1819 at checkout.

xoxo, Jenna

Getting to know Haga Trätoffel

When I first visited Haga, an adorable neighbourhood in Gothenburg that is lined with charming cobblestoned streets, boutiques and quaint coffee shops, I stumbled right into a small shop that specialises in handmade wooden clogs. I wanted to buy a pair immediately, but seeing as how I just done way too much shopping, I decided not to, but had this shop bookmarked in my brain and I knew someday soon I would be back to buy my very own pair. And now here I am, no longer a tourist in Sweden but an actual resident, and it's finally time to buy myself a pair!

HagaTrätoffel has been a staple for Swedish locals tourists alike since 1933, and you can feel the history as soon as you step inside. Since 2015, it has been operated by an American named Erik Davis, who recently let me come in to explore the shop, try on all of the amazing handcrafted clogs, and take some photos. We instantly connected not just because we're both from the US, but because we both grew up spending our summers on Martha's Vineyard. It's truly a small world out there.

Erik has done a fabulous job of maintaining the authenticity of the brand while also bringing in modern touches such as more feminine styles of clogs, cozy knit hats, leather bags, and the coolest wool coats by the Swedish brand Sirri.

I fell in love with their vegetable tanned leather clogs, also known as Veg Tan. Vegetable tanning comes from tanning the leather with natural materials. The leather eventually darkens with age and becomes a really soft buttery leather and no pair of clogs will ever look the same as they age which makes them even cooler in my book. What's so cool about this shop is that they also carry clogs that were very popular in the 1960s, made out of a more synthetic material and which come in a rainbow of colours. I saw a pair of pink slip-ons that I really wanted but ended up going back to the veg tan collection. I'm sure I'll be scooping up the pink ones this summer!

I ended up going with those cuties above! Love that the natural colour can go with anything in my wardrobe including plain black tights and the little strap adds an extra touch of sweetness.

Outfit Details

_________________

All-in-one Hunter Green dress by Smak Parlour

Hagatoffeln Clog in Sandra by Haga Tratoffel

Green & Black Tartan Round Hat Box Purse (no longer available but I found it in Red & Navy) by Voodoo Vixen on Unique Vintage

__________________

This is a newer style that has a really cool cutout on the side. They were super comfortable, too!

Max and I had a great time getting to know Erik and the team behind Hagaträtoffel! And guess what? I've partnered up with them to offer my readers free shipping on any pair of clogs! Yay! Just go to their website HERE and enter the proper discount code when you check out!

If you are ordering from within Sweden, use code Haga18.

If you are ordering from outside of Sweden, use code Haga1819.

*The shipping cost will be deducted once you checkout.

*Code is only valid on shoes.

If you buy a pair, tag me so I can see which ones you purchased! And if you ever find yourself in Gothenburg, stop in!

Date Night Outfit

Whenever Valentine's Day comes around, I never know what to wear for our traditional "date night" where we go to our favorite local restaurant and indulge on homemade pasta and glasses of wine. I recently picked up the sweetest red dress from Anthropologie for a friend's 30th birthday and was thinking of wearing that, but I was looking in my closet and re-discovered a dress I wore as a bridesmaid to a dear friend's wedding two years ago. I picked it up at Nordstrom, and the back detail is what made me choose the dress for that occasion. It's so sweet and edgy at the same time with the low cut. There's also a really sweet laser cut detail and pleats in the skirt that I adore. I paired this dress with a bold pair of scalloped heels that I also wore to the wedding (for a pop of color), and curled my hair a little. Sadly this dress is long gone from Nordstrom stores, but there are similar styles - here, here and here.

  

 

Ahh this bow detail in the back just kills me! And the laser cuts are actually tiny hearts!

 

Shoe pictures are always awkward, but I loved that there were flowers all over the ground, so I had to take advantage.

I'm Going To Graceland (Pt 2)

Lately I've been really into wearing black + neutrals, which is unusual for me considering my wardrobe is filled with so many bright hues. There's something so simple and chic about black, and a little rock & roll, which is what I'm hoping to pull off while visiting Memphis. Some of these items I own and will be bringing (like the bow dress and leggings), some that I've ordered in the mail (rock&roll top), and a couple that are majorly on my wish list (Kate Spade purse, denim jacket). I particularly love that Elvis tote and hope I'll be able to pick one up at one of the souvenir shops around town, and I'll definitely be wearing flats, leggings and one of my slouchy thin pullover sweaters (not pictured here) on the plane ride over. Tomorrow's the day that I embark on my long awaited journey to Memphis! Lots of photos to follow when I return <3

01. Diner Food Denim Jacket / 02. Elvis Tote / 03. Striped Dress / 04. Flats

05. Leggings / 06. Music Notes Top / 07. Bow Dress / 08. Rock&Roll Top

09. Dashboard Clutch / 10. Blush Sandals

* Also, just on a super awesome side note, the lovely Aileen of At Home In Love is featuring our apartment tour on her blog today, so be sure to check it out! Thanks again, Aileen! :)