spin me up

dress : modcloth
ring : modcloth
shoes : converse

Last week, I went out for a spin at the California State Fair. It was the Thursday before it officially opened, so I was free to roam among the ferris wheels as I pleased. Empty, and without all the people, the fair looks it's 50 years. But to be fair, so does this dress, and it's fresh in from Modcloth. It's weird how some places are so much made up of the people in them. 

Over my 10 years in 4-H, I spent a considerable amount of time wandering the fairgrounds, and I never got over the smells, the people, or the immense amounts of chili cheese fries available to me. It's a place where everyone fits in somewhere, even though it's populated by an incredible cast of individuals. I've decorated cakes, shoveled horse poop, and surprisingly, sold market animals. I've developed a love of overalls, lost a sense of smell, and built an integral part of my identity. I also learned that pockets are to be valued wherever they can be found. (This dress has two of them, and they're DEEP.) 

Speaking of this dress: As someone who routinely participates in return policies when things don't fit, I appreciate that Modcloth has a really cool thing where they show how their clothes look on a diverse group of humans, so you can get a better idea of what it'd look like on You, not "____ who is a 5'11, 108 pound Elf from a far away land." When this dress arrived, it fit perfectly. YAY ACCURATE SIZING.

I'm going back to the fair this week, this time with all my friends, and thousands of other people,
and try to not melt while we're eating our deep fried food.

x Justina

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camp in the past tents

my beloved lemon dress: show me your mumu
my cute as hell swimsuit: aerie

Camp is where I'm my happiest, most exhausted, croc-wearing self. This was my 10th, and ostensibly last, year at 4-H camp. 10 years may seem like a long time, but camp is the greatest thing my allergic-to-the-outdoors self has ever gotten to work on.  I'll talk to a brick wall about how much I love this program and these kids. 

When I was 9 years old, I got on a bus with a bunch of strangers headed to a place full of mosquitoes and things that went bump in the night and a new kind of family. Ten years later, I'm the adult director, and I have the privilege of making sure that 80-something kids get that very same experience, and I'll never take that lightly. Every summer, I learned more about being a better human and am reminded of just how incredible the world can be, because 9 year olds won't let you forget. 

 I do have a couple of things to say for my walk-off speech:

To my twelve year old girls deck, thanks for still liking my bedtime stories and thank you  for not getting up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom.

To my 15 year old brothers, you guys are the worst and I wouldn't trade you for anyone. 

To my logistics crew, hammock life is truly the best life.

To all 82 children, 22 staffers, 10 chaperones, and Jen - 

who am I kidding,

I'll see you guys next summer.

x Justina

ps. to see more photos of my camp aka THE BEST TIME EVER click here 

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santa cruise

Today is the first day of school, but I'd like to stay in the last days of summer for just ten more minutes.

On Thursday, Jordan went off the map and drove us to Santa Cruz on the end of a back-to-school shopping trip to The Great Mall (next post. next post.). If you've never had the pleasure of visiting this strange little place, I'd highly recommend it for a day trip.  It's the quintessential beach town - one good street, more seagulls than people, and a lot of tourists - but is also home to UC Santa Cruz, so there's a ridiculous amount of hipster college students everywhere. This one-off combination has led to a place that is home to sock shops, a pizza joint whose shirts are collected around the world, and three all-you-can-eat vegetarian Indian buffets. Jordan says there's more to it than that, but honestly, those are the best bits.

The Boardwalk is the crown jewel though, and for good reason - it's the one of the last places around where you're allowed to get on blatantly unsafe rides. All in the name of the kind of sheer terror that is a cornerstone of incredible fun. You may think I'm joking, but most of those things start shaking suspiciously when someone sneezes too hard. It's great. The whole places is covered in a fine layer of sand as well. Tastes incredible on a hotdog or chili cheese fries, and the lightly sanded Bavarian Almonds are a must. Absolute pinnacle of culinary art. 

All jokes aside, the Boardwalk is a cultural icon not because of its creaky boards, or impressive sunsets, or even its typical California beach. It's weathered millions of tourists and gallons of saltwater and remained a place that undeniably feels like summer. The bright, cracking paint, and the top 50 hits piped out of speakers that sound older than the artists performing through them, those are accoutrements of this cotton candy scented time freeze. Even on a cloudy Thursday, at 60 degrees with a cold breeze coming off the Pacific, it felt like the right place to spend the summer with your friends. If you have those.

It was the perfect way to close off what has truly been a whirling and sunburnt summer. But now it's time to pack it in, and pretend that fall has arrived, so that it won't seem so sad to spend the next 16 weeks in a classroom.

Summer '16,
you did good.

x Justina



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get your friends out

 all photos and video taken with FUJIFILM X30 + FUJIFILM INSTAX

I'M BACK. I know I went dark for the last week, but it wasn't on purpose and you should be following me on instagram anyway. It's time. I was fully participating in the other side of my Hannah Montana deal, the part where I am 4-H Barbie. Our State Leadership Conference this summer was the culmination of 14 months of serving as a 2014-15 California 4-H State Ambassador, an adventure that not only brought the absolutely weirdest people ever into my life *cough* sallielylecolton *cough* but took me even deeper down the 4-H rabbit hole than I already was. As an Ambassador, I worked with my team to plan the conference, so that's what I've been doing. I also got to go to Disneyland, but if you missed the snapchats, you missed it, and there's nothing we can do (until I go again and remember my camera). I also had to wear the exact same outfit every day so there's no sartorial value at all.

The best thing about this week was that absolutely every single one of my insanely incredible friends was there. Over the last couple of months, I've had some deep thoughts about how important the people you surround yourself with are, and also realized that I've done a pretty decent job. I mean, they can't dance at all, but my humans are pretty great people. Plus, they usually have snacks on them.

I would like to put it out there that I am a terrible secret keeper because I usually am too excited to keep my mouth shut BUT in the next month, some REALLY BIG STUFF is happening, and you don't want to miss it. Stick around, bring your friends. We're about to go waaaay out there. 

Also, if your friends read this blog, they'll have one up on mine, who will probably never see this post ever and therefore never know that I say nice things about them to strangers. 

x J

ps. #ca4hsa15 (YOU'RE WELCOME)

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faking fitness

 top + bralet - ADIDAS NEO

Here is a thing people do in the summer instead of actual fun stuff: work on their fitness. Gyms fill up, sneakers are dragged out of hiding, and the muscle tanks are pulled on. Here is a thing people also do: worry about how much more other people appear to be working out.

Don't do that.
 
 Here are some very handy tips on how to fake fitness, as illustrated in the photos above:

1. First, don some cute workout gear. Mine is Adidas NEO. (Also make sure you are wearing the wrong footwear.) Then find a public place with other vaguely fit people milling about doing sports and whatnot.

2. Be slightly glowing already (or if you sweat, that's okay too) and lean up against walls looking like you might have just run a bit of a half marathon.

3. Get your hair in order. Make a big show of nailing the perfect messy bun for your obviously rigorous routine.

4. Boxing is easy to fake. Bounce around a bit, pretend to punch some things. Make sure you have semi-decent form so you don't look ridiculous, but don't look serious enough that someone challenges you to a fight (especially if you're holding your arms as I am demonstrating, as you will get properly thrashed.)

5.  Appear to stretch intensively every ten minutes or so, as the chances are people are rotating, and this is the easiest way to pass time without actually putting up much effort.

6. Do some poses that might be yoga, but could also maybe be more stretching. Tai chi? Who knows.

7. Show off your guns. If you believe, so will everyone else.

Not even joking, people in the park thought I knew what I was doing. I was asked if I was a fitness blogger, which is making me question every fitness blogger I've ever seen doing a handstand on instagram.

Seriously though: it's summer, and, as my friends at Adidas NEO like to say: #NOWISEVERYTHING. (hashtag and all) You only get a few beautiful weeks of the best part of the year. Don't spend your summer worrying if doing 600 more squats will make it better. Go have fun, explore, spend time with your homies.

 Or if you're really attached to the whole work out thing: drag them to a park and at least have them photograph you for instagram. 

x J

pps. I honestly have no clue what I'm doing so please don't injure yourself trying to copy me.



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oh shes a camping queen

 all nice photos taken with fujifilm x30 - all not nice ones taken with sketch iphone

I know my skin is under all the dirt and bugspray but by now it's pointless trying to get it off.


THE CAT IS BACK. I have returned from camp, and it was fantastic. Every summer it gets better and better. I mean, I could have done without the spot of extreme heat exhaustion, dehydration, and fever I went through, but you know. *Kanye shrug*. The things 11 year old girls will gossip about are unbelievable. They're all Kate Sanders - no one will ever get away with being an outfit repeater. Beyond that though, it's nice to just take a week out and not talk to anyone but the people across from you at the breakfast table. What is not nice is hitting signal on your way out and the subsequent phone heart-attack. I had 583 unread emails. No chill out here on the internet. None.

I keep waiting for the feeling of ~summer has started~, and so it was a total jolt for me to realize today is literally halfway through the year. There are only six more months of 2015 left, and I have sO MUCH TO DO. Pray for me.

There was ONE thing that happened last year that you guys probably forgot about: I went dark for one day in July. Like deep, dark, code black dark. All you guys had was a snapchat check in at Burbank airport. FINALLY, I get to tell you: I was having lunch with Gordon Ramsay for a new show on the BBC.

There's really no way to follow that up with a decent closer, so just click this and enjoy.

The overalls are thus preserved forever.

x J


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instant summer with fujifilm

all photos taken with an instax mini 8 on instax film, courtesy of fujifilm

wow that's a lot of photos, 

and this is just a summer-y summary 

hahaha a summer-y summary 

see what I did there

At the beginning of summer,

 I decided to consciously document the months in Instax photos. 

So I packed up my little camera and took it on all of my adventures.  

You'd be surprised how heavy that thing gets after a couple hour. 

 These are just a few of the hundreds of photos I took, each a special little moment that I get to keep forever. I keep them all up on my wall and love that by looking at them, I can automatically remember exactly who I was with, what we were talking about, 

and what I was eating.

From the top:

a. The California State Fair.

 I ate way too many Bavarian Almonds, talked about 4-H to every human who walked by me, learned how to properly program a robot to walk the thin line, and then conquered my fear of Poppy The Bear (State Fair Mascot) and HUGGED him.

b. Paul Smith. 

I can't get over this building. It's so pink. The walls are so massive. Sallie took this photo of me taking photos of it.

c. The Tower Theatre. 

You know the story behind this one. My mum and I got yelled at for taking it but 500% worth it.

d. Alfreds Coffee.  

I love this place so much and it was made even better by the company of my main bae Sallie. My drink order hasn't changed.

e. Portos' Cafe, 

with the aforementioned bae. 

GET THE PINA COLADA SMOOTHIE. Just do it. Thank me later. 

Also saw, selfied, and had a lovely conversation regarding overalls 

and red carpets with Greer Grammer.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!

f. The Santa Cruz Boardwalk. 

People pile on the sidewalk with my favorites at the 2014 California 4-H State Leadership conference at approx. 11pm. We're the best dressed hobos in town.

g. Beverly Hills.

 (duh) With all my trips to LA, I had never seen this iconic sign. It was everything I wanted it to be, and I met two of the most glammed out humans I have ever see, who were wonderfully French.

h. The Griffiths Observatory. 

Not really the best place to take chances with gravity, but what a beautiful view. This is the very best place in LA to explore European languages, because there are more Europeans there than in Europe.

i. Beverly Hills. 

Again. PALM TREES. PALM TREES EVERYWHERE.

 j.  Santa Cruz Boardwalk.  

Believe it or not, this was my first time ever, and I decided to do everything. I got on the sketchiest rollercoaster I saw (cried off my eyeliner - totally worth it), ate bavarian almonds again (still freakishly good, still not a great idea), nearly lost a Doc on the chair lift, 

and laser tagged the people I love.

Summer is nearly done

and winter is coming

(or whatever version of it we get in california)

but thankfully, Instax photos aren't limited to sunshine.

How do you capture your moments?

x Justina

ps. speaking of capturing moments:

 I'M GOING TO INSTAGRAM TODAY TO SEE THE GREAT AND WONDERFUL LIZ.

Today as in Monday.

If it is not Monday, 

you are late. 

Follow along on (what else) instagram (abentpieceofwire) to keep up with my adventure!

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july playlist // drown out the fireworks

"Justina, it's the 28th. Might be time to do the monthly playlist."

 I'm sorry that it took so long but you know what

you guys sent in a LOT of suggestions,

 and I have only two ears,

 and as I now know, 

using each of those ears individually can't be pulled off.

Plus, how am I meant to know if I'm properly obsessed with a song 

unless I listen to it until I've memorized every lyric?

Exactly.

But I think this one was worth the wait.

We have my favorite AJR song, hands down, AfterHours. Their lyrics blow my mind sometimes.  Listen, dance, and understand.

KONGOS + Kalin and Myles are straight up dance jams.

Do it for the vine.

I recently got Hulu+, 

and so like any sane person,

 decided to watch 5 seasons of Community in a week.

That's how I met Troy Barnes aka Donald Glover

aka Childish Gambino when he's shopping with his mum.

It was a bit like seeing a Kardashian in Walmart: 

unexpected and brilliantly hilarious. 

I of course had to include one of my favorites off his first album Camp.

Next themesong of "Troy and Abed in the Morning"?

 

 Last but not least in any sense are my favorite blonde siblings. 

Last week, 

R5 dropped an EP, Heart Made Up On You, 

with 4 songs that will make up a big chunk of your future playlists.

"Things are Looking Up" is a sunshiney number

 that brings an American Authors vibe without being too skip-a-long.

So there you have it,

 the sounds of July. 

Now just overlay the noise of fireworks

 and people swearing when the aformentioned fireworks land on their foot, 

and you're all set.

Huzzah

xx

Justina

ps. 

as always,

 if you have suggestions for next months playlist, 

drop 'em in the comments.

 

 
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stripesandgoldandstripesandgold

 (for best quality, watch in 720px)

Summer is coming, 

unless you live in California, where it NEVER LEAVES.

With it, a whole new set of things to wear. 

yippee

I'm narrowing down the madness by sorting out my staples. 

First up: the classic stripes, with the not so classic gold midi rings

 and just a dash of charming necklace.

missed opportunity:

 using an iggy azalea aka the new classic song for this video

or any video, like, ever.

xx

Justina

ps. I'm going to be at fair all weekend,

 so hit up instagram for live updates of me eating a lot of cotton candy

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your lips are moving, but you aren't making any noise

  I have my headphones on, why are you talking 

I love finding new music.

Y'all ask me rather often what exactly I'm listening to on my golden earmuffs,

and I like making lists, 

soooooo

I've decided to start making playlists every month with 

the songs + artists I'm listening to on repeat.

 This month is a bit all over the place.

The recent round of music festivals has definitely influenced me a bit,

 but I mean, Jolene came out in 1974, 

so I haven't really got an excuse for that.

I am newly obsessed with Ella Eyre. Her hair alone was enough to convert me,

 but her voice reminds me a bit of Amy + Adele, so gold stars all around. 

Calvin Harris literally called his summer smash single Summer,

 and if that isn't positive thinking in action, I don't know what is.

Iggy. IgGY. IGGY.

You done good girl.

Mostly I'm waiting for summer summer to arrive, 

school to be finished, 

and uggs to disappear for eternity.

xx,

Justina

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