the one where I say thank you

I was walking home from class the other day, stressed to the point of tears and exhausted to the point of having to remind myself to open my eyes after blinking.

These past few weeks have been crazy. With the realization that I’m finishing my first college degree- an Associate in Visual Communications- going back to Brownsville, and being blessed with so many amazing opportunities, it was as if life was crashing over me like a tidal wave.

And then I saw a young girl; she must have been about 7, riding through Grand Hope Park (which is right outside of the main FIDM building) on a scooter. She looked at me intently as I put on my sunglasses to cover up the tears welling in my eyes

And suddenly I remembered what life like at 7 years old. When I was seven I wasn’t worried about finals or presentations. I didn’t care about boys or finding a job to support myself in one of the biggest and most expensive cities in the world. I wasn’t responsible for buying myself groceries, or cleaning my bathroom or washing my sheets.

But then I realized how incredibly blessed I am. I am living in one of the biggest cities in the world. I've met so many amazing people in the almost two years that I've called Los Angeles my home. 

I've done so many things that I never even fathomed I'd be able to do.

 Like, sitting front row at NYFW? Or casually passing Glenn from The Walking Dead on Runyon Canyon. Or crashing a celebrities surprise birthday party on Cinco De Mayo. Or getting stopped at The Grove for a Japan Street Style magazine. Or ending up at a big house in the Hollywood Hills for an after party after seeing the Kardashians at a club on a Tuesday night. And then some. 

So thank you. 

Thank you for following everchic when it was LA Lady or Kick Up Your Heels. 

Thank you for liking my pictures on instagram and Facebook. 

Thank you for your love and encouragement and support. 

As of yesterday I'm officially an Alumni of The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising. 

And as of this morning, as I shared on Facebook, Everchic hit over 10,000 views. 

I created this blog to chronicle my life as a FIDM student and beyond. 

So, from the first post I wrote while I should have been studying for my finals Senior year, to my last post which got me a lookbook.nu feature, 

This has been one hell of a ride. But the park isn't closed yet and I'm in line for another. 

So, to celebrate my degree, and as a thank you for the 10,000 views ( and to make some extra money if I'm being honest ) , I've opened my own Society6 shop.

For those of you who don't know what Society6 is, its basically a place where artists can upload and sell their art on mugs, pillows, t-shrits, phone cases etc. 

So, here's mine! It's all my handwriting, and I'm really excited to share it with you! So buy something! (kidding.) (but not really.) 

http://society6.com/vivalahannahdesigns

I'll be adding more designs soon! 

thanks again & lots of love!

See you soon Brownsville! 

xxHannah

"If nothing ever changed, there would be no butterflies"

the one on the roof (again)

So once upon a time, way back when, the first ever lookbook post I did, I did with two very good friends Carly Beth & Drew Scott, I did on the roof of my apartment building. you can see it here.
I look like such a babyyy! Well, I had just been 19 for a few days over a month when these were taken. So much has changed since then.

Anyways, yesterday, to take a break after working on our presentations, Carly & I shot a look where it all began, right back on the roof. I didn't realize it until just now when I sat down to write this, that the first look I ever did in Los Angeles was where I did my last.

Now don't freak out, it's not my last look ever, or even my last look in LA, but its my last look as a Visual Communications student, and my last look in this apartment, and my last look in LA for a stretch of time.

I'll explain what I mean in a sec, just scroll through these pictures:

button down & jeans : gap 

shoes: forever21

bag: zara

sunnies: polette 

As you can tell, I was feeling unusually preppy yesterday. I don't know. I also put on lipstick to go to Target. Finals do things to me. 

And, if you happen to go back and look at my previous roof pictures, you'll notice that it's a tad sunnier than these pictures are. 

It decided to start raining while we were up there, so thats cool, thanks LA. 

Also, go see Chappie I guess? hahahaha 

Okay, so here's what's going on.

A lot of people have been getting mixed up with how my school stuff is going, so here's what's up:

I started my degree in Visual Communications in July 2013. 

I finish my degree in Visual Communications on Monday. 

After Monday, I'll have my Associates Degree in Visual Communications from The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising. 

THEN, this July, I will be returning to FIDM to get a second ( and separate ) degree in Social Media. Because classes transfer, as I will have had prior college experience, I will finish my AA in Social Media in 9 months, so, this time next year, I will finish my second degree at FIDM. 

SO, I will have two Associates degrees from FIDM, and at that point, if I so choose to continue my education, I will further my degree in Social Media to a Bachelors Degree, but as of now, that's still up in the air. 

boom.

So, after I finish school on Monday, I'm going back to Brownsville for a bit. A long bit, actually. 

I'll be home until mid-june, when I move into my new apartment and walk the stage to officially graduate with my AA from FIDM.

Did I mention the ceremony is at the Staples Center? 

Oh yeah, I graduate in the Staples Center. It's casual. 

Then, right after I graduate, I'm going back to my favorite place in the entire world. 

PARIS, FRANCE.

speaking of baby Hannah. (2011)

I'll be going with some of my best friends and staying in the City of Lights for three weeks and I couldn't be more stoked. 

Anyways, thank you all so much for your support through my journey out here in LA. You honestly don't know how much it means to me. 

But don't worry, my journey isn't over quite yet. 

More to come!

lots of love,

Hannahxx

"Work until you no longer have to introduce yourself" 

just a reminder: you can still use my code 'vivalahannahxoxo' on rocksbox.com for one month free! 

the one with zinc

hey there everyone!

I've been wanting to try this place for months now!
And when I was sitting on the couch working on homework, wanting to pull my hair out, and my roommate Urisa suggested we get out of the house and grab something to eat, Zinc was the first place to cross my mind!

Since living in LA for almost two years now (!?) I've gotten comfortable in my restaurant choices, usually frequenting the same spots. Just recently, I've been changing it up.

The restauraent was gorgeous. There was tons of natural lighting, the staff was super sweet, and the food was fabulous. 

As if today wasn't awesome enough, the weather was perfect SoCal weather.

outfit details:

sunnies: OU

sweater: gap

shorts: f21

shoes & bag : zara

 
& I seriously love the Arts District.

also: Happy International Women's Day.

okay I'm going to do homework now.

xxHannah

"We've gotta start teaching our daughters to be somebodies instead of somebody's.'' -Kifah Shah

the one before the storm

hey there everyone!

this past Sunday, as per our tradition, Larissa and I went to do "homework"at Alfred's Coffee on Melrose. We really just sat there, people watched and gossiped. But, as rain drops began falling from the sky, we decided to take advantage of as much light as was left, and take some pictures.

I obvs had mixed feelings about the hedge.

hat: Brandy Melville 

leather jacket: H&M Kids

navy sweater: gap 

jeans: gap 

shoes: zara

necklace: Vanessa Mooney 

photos by: Larissa T.

after Larissa and I left Alfreds, we were driving to the freeway, and at a stoplight, I noticed the side of this building, and how the rain was creating a cool texture on the wall. so with out words, Larissa pulled over and we took pictures by it. 

ALSO: 

head over to rocksbox and use the code 'vivalahannahxoxo' to get one month F R E E <3 

xxHannah

"every morning you have two choices: continue to sleep with your dreams, or wake up and chase them."

lookbook link: http://bit.ly/1M3JtSC

the one with the chocolate chips

hey there everyone!
I'm doing something a little bit different today!

If you know me, then you know I love three things unconditionally:
1. coffee
2. instagram
3. chocolate

So, while drinking my second cup of coffee, and taking pictures for instagram, I baked for the first time in forever ( if you didn't read that to the tune of that one frozen song, I'm disappointed. )

I stumbled upon this recipe for 4 ingredient chocolate chip and peanut butter cookies and decided to give them a go.

So, I walked myself to Targè and gathered the ingredients:
-peanut butter
-chocolate chips
-sugar
-eggs

Add

1. 1 cup peanut butter 
2. 1 cup sugar 
3. 1 egg
4. 1/2 cup chocolate chips

• into a bowl and mix until smooth 

• Then, using a spoon - or your hands - form the dough into small little balls and dip them in sugar. 

then put them on a greased cookie sheet and add sprinkles of sugar and some extra chocolate chips on top

then bake in a 350 degree oven for 10 to 15 minutes! 

• 
  
• et voila! enjoy with a glass of milk your roommates will love you forever! 

so here's the recipe again: 

ingredients:

1. 1 cup peanut butter 
2. 1 cup sugar 
3. 1 egg
4. 1/2 cup chocolate chips

supplies

1.  mixing bowl 
2. measuring spoons
3. cookie sheet
4. pam 
5. an oven (duh) 

steps:

1. pre heat oven to 350F degrees 
2. grease cookie sheet
3. mix all ingredients until batter is smooth 
4. using a spoon - or your hands - form the dough into small little balls and dip them in sugar
5. put onto cookie sheet
6. bake for 10-15 minutes
7. enjoy!

So get baking!

Let me know how yours turn out! 

Also- let me know if you want more posts like this!

I know the roomies would appreciate it! 

xxHannah

"people who love to eat are always the best people" julia child

the one with polette

Hey there everyone! 

I'm honored to have been contacted by and be collaborating with the awesome Polette Eyewear. 

An eyewear company out of France, Polette has an INSANE selection of frames, from sunnies to prescription glasses all for the best price on the market. 

So if you know me, you know I don't need glasses, and no, these aren't fake hipster glasses either. 

Polette has a selection of e-glasses, designed specifically for those people, like myself, who spend way too much time on the computer. 

The e-glasses, have a special lenses that protect your eyes from computer screens by blocking out artificial light and blue rays coming from the screens that are harmful for your eyes. 

Bye bye migraines and eye strain. Seriously. 

And, they just look cute. 

glasses: e-brooklyn 

 top & skirt : Forever 21

pictures by: Carly Beth 

notebook: rifle paper co.

I've been so happy with these frames. I've worn them pretty much everyday since they've arrived in the mail. From chilling on my iPad to working on homework to falling down the black hole that is tumblr, they're super comfortable. 

Plus: they're really sturdy so they don't get crushed in my bag! Yay! 

Soooo if you want to learn more about the e-glasses or just how awesome Polette is, check them out on their: 

website : http://www.polette.com

facebook: https://www.facebook.com/polette.eyewear?fref=ts

Instagram: @poletteeyewear

Twitter: @poletteeyewear

Also, big news coming up!

Have a fantastic week everyone! 

xxHannah

“You have
galaxies inside your head.
Stop letting people
tell you
you cannot shine.”

the one with nothing to wear

Have you ever gotten really excited about going some where, or doing something or seeing someone, then suddenly realized that you have no clue what you're going to wear?

Or, having to go somewhere, do something, see someone that you're NOT excited about and then think to yourself, "Ugh, what am I going to wear?"

Then, when the time comes to get dressed you stand wrapped in a towel in your closet full of clothes and declare to yourself or your roommate that you "... literally have nothing to wear..."

Well I know I have.

Oh the good old days when I was in high school and my biggest dilemma when getting dressed for school was having to decide between the plaid skirt or the navy skirt and which socks to wear.

I didn't realize how easy I had it when I wore a uniform, until I started thinking- I still wear one.

Black Jeans. Grey top. Jacket/Sweater. Boots/Flats.

Though I didn't realize it as it was happening, over 2014 I started realizing a trend.

Sure I'd wear something different to class each time I went, but I'd just be alternating and mix-matching between the same 10 articles of clothing.

So, in testament to my above statement, I started class last Thursday, the morning after I flew back into LA. It was an 8:30 class and I essentially pulled whatever was on the topmost layer of my suitcase and threw it on before class. What did I wear you ask?

Black Jeans. Grey top. Leather Jacket. Flats.

Another 8:30 on Friday, and I pretty much got dressed in the dark. What did I wear?

Why my uniform of course.

So here's to starting my last quarter of my Visual Communications Degree (I finish in March!)
Here's to 2015
& here's to red lipstick being the only color in my wardrobe.

xxHannah

"I realized this week that I just cannot do it all. So I will choose to do what I can, fabulously."
-Clinton Kelly


{outfit details}
buttondown- banana republic
grey sweatshirt- gap
black jeans- h&m
boots- zara

lookbook.nu link : http://bit.ly/1IfvsPX