Mini pilgrimage: South Pasadena

May was a crazy month, friends.  It was just one of those full months!  I'm hopeful that June will be a bit slower, with the hope of implementing some different rhythms in my life that include ongoing daily creativity.  I have many blog post drafts yet to be born, but for now I present you with a little one about one of my favorite neighborhoods in So Cal--South Pasadena.  

My very first home/apartment in Southern California was right at the border of LA, and South Pasadena. I love South Pas' beauty, and the quaint, adorable shops and boutiques on main streets like Fair Oaks Blvd and Mission Blvd.  South Pasadena will always have a special place in my heart as it was my first home in Southern California after college.

One of my very favorite areas in South Pasadena is a square where the South Pas Library sits--between El Centro St., Fairview Ave., Oxley St., and Diamond Avenue.  The South Pas Library itself is a gorgeous, old building with beautiful architecture.  While the square is small, it houses a lovely little green quiet space, ideal for hanging out for a Sabbath day for me!

My vintage Doc Marten boots have had a lot of play time these days especially since they've been repaired.  I happily kicked them off while I spread out my blanket on the grounds of the South Pas Library.  I still can't believe that I've had these boots since high school, that they still fit me, and they are still in such good shape.  

And right across the street of this square is a little cafe called Kaldi.  It's a perfect spot to grab a cuppa something delicious, and then lay on the grass or sit on one of the benches to rest, read, picnic, or simply be and waste time.

I don't get to come out to South Pasadena very often, but whenever I find myself having time and being in that area, I always try to make it a point to spend time at my favorite square by the South Pasadena library.  Enjoy this beautiful spot, there's plenty of parking nearby, and the South Pasadena Library is a lovely place to wander as well if you're a book lover (btw, their movie collection is amazing, too!).  Peace.

Urbanite of the month: Lorraina Armenta

I am excited to introduce this series featuring urban folks that I admire.  My very first Urbanite of the Month is my housemate, Lorraina Armenta.  I asked Lorraina to be the first because she came to mind immediately when I thought about others who love the same things that I love--fashion, thrift store/vintage clothes, South LA urban life, community, and a shared spirituality.  

Lorraina's style is so fun, colorful and bold, just like her personality.  Living with her, I can't help but be influenced by her style so I think that my style has become more bold and colorful in some ways.

Lorraina has put into words in an essay that she wrote in college what I also hope to in my work, writing, blogging, photography, etc. to promote thrift store and vintage clothes and urban life.  That someone else's "trash" is another person's treasure.  That what was once considered worthless is found to be worth much and cherished.  Lorraina has given me permission to share quotes from her college essay called "This I Believe."

"I believe in thrift-store shopping because of what it represents. I believe in thrift-store shopping because it is a vivid example of something I am still trying to figure out: Redemption...I believe in thrift-store shopping because I feel alive when I experience the joy and beauty of redemption."-Lorraina

Lorraina is wearing a vintage tailor made dress from the 1950's/1960's from Sonshine Shop Vintage.  Isn't it gorgeous?  As soon as I saw it, it made me think of her.  I told her that it looks like a water color painting.  

This street art graffiti walls featured in this blog post are right around the corner from our house.

Lorraina accessorized the look herself.  I love this purse that she got in Mexico with her name on it (spelled differently) Lorena.

"I think that’s why I love urban ministry as well.  I feel alive when I watch God redeem those that the rest of society has given up on."-Lorraina

The vintage dress that Lorraina is wearing is one her own.  Love it!

"There is something so powerful about watching something spring to life against all odds...the process of thrift-store shopping exemplify the beauty and power of the concept that is at the core of what happened on the Cross.  And that’s why I believe in spending time in thrift-stores and walking alongside teens [in the city]..."-Lorraina

Lorrainna graciously answered some questions to tell us more about herself in this interview below.  

Shapeofagirlinla:  What do you love most about South LA?

Lorraina:  My favorite part of living in South LA is the people. Some of the most warm, generous, hospitable, creative, and resilient people I know live here in the neighborhoods of South Los Angeles. 

Shapeofagirlinla:   What do you love most about working for World Impact?

Lorraina:  World Impact's commitment to incarnational ministry and spiritual community is what drew me to World Impact over five years ago. I love that we live where we work, and that for us church can happen every day of the week because most of us live within walking distance of one another. 

I love that both the people I work with and my students/neighbors are truly family to me. We engage in intentional, shared spirituality around here while seeing the Kingdom of God advance in one another's lives, homes, and churches--and that makes work something to get excited about.

Shapeofagirlinla:  What do you love most about vintage and thrift store clothes/items?

Lorraina:  For me, vintage and thrift store clothes are about redeeming that which someone gave up on.  The statistics on the fashion industry's current affect on the environment are pretty staggering, especially with the rise of a "fast fashion" movement that forces clothing companies to use earth's limited resources in order to produce enough clothing for the trends that come and go every couple months.  I shop in thrift stores as a way to show that we can physically slow down enough to find the little "treasures" that find their way in thrift stores while reminding people that clothes can be timeless if we have enough creativity and imagination. And of course, shopping second-hand is way cheaper!

Shapeofagirlinla:  Share an interesting story about life in South LA/World Impact. 

Lorraina:  Life in South LA is always an adventure. I never know quite what to expect when I go to Bible study or walk into the classroom each day. This much I can expect, though:  God never ceases to show up, even in the ordinary moments of life where I almost forget that He's there. Some of my favorite moments from living here came during the unexpected moments, like the time the neighborhood kids looked at me with startled faces as we felt the earth and our very-old house shake during an earthquake--then the beautiful peace wash over their faces as we held hands and prayed that God would protect us. Or the time we had a free Sunday night and invited some friends over for yummy pan dulce from the local bakery/panaderia and sat around the table for hours talking about life and loss, and where God is moving in it. Or the time I walked down the street and saw my middle school students convincing the neighbors to "just give a dollar--come on, there are children in the world that won't EAT today!" Each day I keep my eyes open for moments like these that remind me that He is here ​and that He's always moving. 

If you are interested in learning more about Lorraina and supporting the work that Lorraina is involved in, check her out HERE!  

Peace.

Mini pilgrimage on Good Friday--Roaming around San Gabriel Valley (LOVE Sierra Madre!)

Good Friday was a very GOOD FRIDAY this year.  I had the day off and decided to step out of South LA, and spend the day out in the San Gabriel Valley area.  

On the agenda was:

1)  Get hair cut.

2)  Get best boba at Half and Half Boba Tea House.

3)  Get best pho at Golden Deli Pho.

And then because I had time to kill before my evening activity in Pasadena, I decided to have an impromptu visit to a beautiful spot that I hadn't been to in a long time called Mater Dolorosa monastery.  I thought, "What better way to spend Good Friday than at this beautiful Passionist priests monastery?"  Since Good Friday is a day to reflect on The Passion, I knew that this Catholic order was founded upon the power and beauty of The Passion.  

Sadly, denied upon my arrival as there was a friendly guard at the gate, and he let me know that the brothers were in seclusion until later that afternoon.  So I decided to return when the gates would open again, and asked if there was a park nearby to rest and be still.  The guard very kindly pointed me to a park nearby which happened to be in the middle of old town Sierra Madre.

I didn't feel like settling down just yet and was curious about this quaint little old village area.  So I wandered a bit and was delighted to see all of this!

Old City Hall is pale pink!  :-)

All of the park benches looked like this, a big beautiful leaf across the back!

It was a beautiful day on top of finding beautiful buildings and spots throughout the town.  I finally did settle down for a bit on one of those beautiful benches, and had some lovely quiet sacred time and did some journaling.  I stopped by some of the shops and boutiques to look around, and also found this lovely bakery that had some gluten free items, which of course made me very happy.  I bought a green Easter meringue cookie and it was delicious!

The time came soon enough for the gates to open at the monastery, so I headed out there to find that every Catholic in the San Gabriel Valley area was there waiting to get inside as well!  I didn't know that Catholics come to do the Stations of the Cross on Good Friday!

I don't know if you can see this very clearly but there was a VERY long line of cars all the way down the street into the driveway of the monastery.  I ended up pulling over about a block down, and parking on the street and just walking up to the entrance.

I had a really beautiful time reflecting in the the garden of The Seven Sorrows of Mary.  It was a Good Friday, indeed.  

Peace.

OOTD: Vintage Myrjord Veveri Bo Telemark wool woven jacket

Check out this gorgeous vintage woven wool jacket from Norway that I am tempted to buy myself.  Photos shot in front of the World Impact Teen Center.  Posting this on SonshineShopVintage on Etsy so get shopping before I buy this myself!

Like I said, I'm a month behind so this is pre-bangs hair in March.

I would say that YOU NEED THIS JACKET.  It's gorgeous.  

Like our Sonshine Shop Vintage on facebook, instagram, or comment below. 

Buy it on Sonshine Shop Vintage on Etsy directly, or if you're local in Southern California, you can e-mail me at shapeofagirlinla@gmail.com to buy and pick up directly from us!

Peace.

Monthly Bike Rides & Gems of South LA: Tacos Locos

I seem to be a month behind on blog posting.  Oh well, better late than never!  

Awesome friend @stokesauce aka Sarah plans a monthly bike ride here for our dear little South LA community.  Believe it or not, I went from an avid bike rider as a kid growing up, riding my bike all over my neighborhood in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia...to being AFRAID of riding my bike in LA as an adult!  Crazy, huh.  Riding bikes in LA is definitely a different beast 'cause frankly, LA drivers do NOT look out for bike riders very well.  Sorry, LA drivers, but it's true.  I'm confessing that because I'm one of them...I've almost hit bikers before!! 

Anyhoo, I got over that fear when I bought my bike from none other than my very favorite SONSHINE SHOP THRIFT STORE!!  I started riding my bike to work to get a little more exercise (back when I used to live south of Exposition Blvd) and I got over my fear, but always always as vigilant as possible for cars.  Be smart or be dead, LA bikers!

Anyway, I love biking in groups, it's a fun social thing and we always have a great destination to get to, to hang out, eat something delicious, and play.  We have such great weather year round here in So Cal, and these days NO RAIN...so biking can happen anytime!  In March, we took about a 10 mile bike ride round-trip downtown to Grand Park.  

Here we are, all sweaty and squinty from the ride.  Good old John hanging with the women!  Until Tony showed up later.  Grand Park has these fun pink chairs and tables throughout the park.  If you ever steal them, we'll know that they're from Grand Park!!

We threw the frisbee around a bit, and then went to the Starbucks on the top block of Grand Park.  The park spans three city blocks.  

On our way, of course I noticed this lovely little mural painting with an oh so true message!  Adorable, eh?

And you can't resist a roll in their fountain at Grand Park.  The tiny little boy running in the WAAAAY back behind me in his undies taught me a lesson...to play freely like a child often!

Other friends frolicking in the fountain!  

And now for the latest GEM OF SOUTH LA--Tacos Locos located on Venice and Harvard.  Technically not South of the 10 freeway, but close enough and damn good.  What's better than eating a delicious plate of tacos, beans and rice for second breakfast after working up an appetite after a bike ride?  The answer:  NOTHING.  

John eagerly awaiting the deliciousness.  He and Jess ordered huevos rancheros.

Their food.

My food.

Jess is happy.

John is happy.

And I was very very happy.  Now go bike more, enjoy Grand Park, play frisbee, roll and play in fountains, eat delicious food at Tacos Locos, and shop at Sonshine Shop Thrift Store (like us on Facebook!) and Sonshine Shop Vintage!  (I acknowledge that there are only FIVE items on the Etsy site, but I promise that will change VERY SOON!  Photos and posts to come about some amazing new vintage items!)

Peace.