monday smiles.

After a few rough weeks, I made my way to Durham, North Carolina to spend one last quiet weekend away before baby {v} arrives. Surrounded by three of my closest girlfriends, it was one of those weekends which will forever be written on my heart. I know my world is about to change in a big way, but it is such a comfort to know that some things will always remain the same. Though I may lack sisters, baby {v} will have no shortage of loving and doting aunties. They proved that this weekend.

This wasn't my first trip to Durham, but we did visit a number of new-to-me places worthy of a look if you're in town. Let's just say that baby {v} ate very well this weekend. I wish FedEx could deliver Pizzeria Toro to my door on a weekly basis, along with a few amazing bites from Mateo. As always, Parker and Otis hit it out of the park with their brunch  {and their amazing gallery wall seen above}.  

Autumn hadn't quite hit Durham, but we pretended it had with a trip to the pumpkin patch {as evidenced with those cute pumpkins at the top of this post}. The sunny weather also made a lovely picnic in the Sarah P. Duke Gardens possible. {I only wish I could have brought that warmth with me to Rhode Island. Waking up to temps in the 40s was a hard reality this morning!} I packed for cooler weather, so the bump looked rather autumnal. It is still crazy to see myself in pictures with this 31-week bump. Time is flying. 

As an aside: I've been paying extra attention to amazing stock-up sales in an attempt to dress the bump. As it cools down quickly in New England, finding pieces which will work now and later are most certainly on my radar. I have been living in this Splendid cardigan, which is now 25% off at Nordstrom. {I seriously want it in every color. It is so soft and machine washable. #winwin} Unless you've been living under a rock, I'm sure you know that the Tory Burch Friends + Family sale ends today... 25% off doesn't hurt anyone! Gap is also having a fabulous flash one-day sale: $45 off a purchase of $100+ online makes many of these gender neutral goodies extra affordable. Fall shopping doesn't have to kill your bank account after all ;)

A special thank you goes out to my girlfriends for making baby {v} and me feel so loved. If there is one thing I have learned in my 20s, it is this: investing in friendships is one of the best decisions you can ever make. The same applies to the readers of this blog: though posts have been sporadic lately, thank you for sticking with me. This is an unbelievably hectic but incredibly special time -- and it is a joy to have you along for the ride. Have a very happy week, everyone! xoxo {av}

sweet sweet summer.

{my image, originally found here}

{cv} and I have been filling this sweet, sweet summer to the brim with memories. From our babymoon in California to perfect weekends with friends and family, this last summer sans baby {v} is certainly one for the record books. It may be the pregnancy hormones, but I find myself extra nostalgic. While it feels like the last few months have passed in the blink of an eye, there is a part of me that feels like this summer has progressed at a snail's pace. In some ways, it mimics a summer a decade in my past...

The summer between my freshman and sophomore years of college was, by far, the longest of my life. I was living in Kansas City and training for my first marathon in the worst of the Midwest heat. It was the summer my beloved grandfather passed, after a battle with cancer which was both too quick and too long at the same time. It was also the summer I really started to figure it out -- with boys, with friends, with school, and with life. I emphasize "started" because I am still a very long way from actually figuring out life. 

Though this summer has been much different than the hot one spent in Kansas, I realized recently it has held much of the same change. In 2004, I was returning to Georgetown after a transformational summer in the Heartland. This summer, I am embracing the craziness of life and what it will soon hold for us. On my daily walks, I get lost in thought about the next few months. With the baby and the house, {cv} and I have so many wonderful and "big" things on our plate. There is no shred of complaint in this happy anxiety; it is only the fear of the unknown. 

If you're a long-time reader, I'm sure you've noticed I have been posting much less frequently this summer. {cv} and I are doing our best to enjoy the peace and quiet of our life as it exists today. I find myself missing more regular posts {and, for once, have a queue of ideas a mile long in my head}. At the start of 2014, I pledged I would share only my best with each of you. I can look back on my posts from this year and say I didn't just toss something up for the sake of sharing a post. I'd like to think I saved you the pain of reading a tired post and I saved myself the misguided effort. {I will take it as a win for both of us.} Though the posts may be less frequent, I hope they are posts worthy of a few minutes of your time. 

The biggest blessing of this sweet, sweet summer is simple: I am finally working toward a more focused and fulfilled life. Many thanks for staying by me -- and I hope you'll stick around for the ride. I'm not going anywhere. xoxo {av}

P.S. Do you have any specific topics you'd like me to cover in future posts? Leave a quick comment below or shoot me an email. 

I want to make my content relevant to you -- and the best way for me to do that is by asking, of course. 

life by the water is always better.

{photo + text source: my Instagram}

This past Memorial Day weekend, we had the chance to really relax for the first time in what felt like forever. With the big news we shared last week still under wraps, it was wonderful to be surrounded by a small group of friends who knew our big secret. As goofy as that sounds, it is the absolute truth. 

Being an only child, I have always placed an enormous value on friendships. I am an all-in kind of girl. I ask lots of questions and really seek to know everything I can about the people I love. Living on our own little island in Rhode Island, I crave those phone calls and FaceTime sessions with my faraway friends. The visits are even more special: we stay up until the wee hours soaking up every minute. Over Memorial Day though, I put my "FOMO" to out to pasture and went to bed at a reasonable hour. My pregnant self couldn't keep up with the late nights! 

Moving into a new phase of life, I find myself cherishing each of my conversations. There won't always be serene walks or uninterrupted chat sessions, but I will still be taking time for the ones I love. For the next six months though, I will be making the most of the quiet ;) Many thanks again for all of your love and support. I have literally been smiling ear to ear since we shared the news. Thank you so much for putting that smile on my face. xoxo {av}

what I learned from Forrest Gump.

I'm sure you have a list of movies which always detracts from your task at hand. My short list includes: You've Got Mail, Notting Hill, and Forrest Gump. {Apparently, I love '90s movies.} Over the course of the last week, I stumbled on Forrest Gump three times. Though I've seen it more times than I can count, I tuned in and caught different portions of the movie each time. I think there is so much to learn from Forrest--beyond his box of chocolates.

Hearing Forrest's mother utter the quote above to him in one of the early scenes of the movie struck me in a way it hadn't before. Like pretty much every teenage girl, I struggled with the whole self-acceptance thing in those dark middle and high school years. I was never good enough--and I fought hard to try and prove myself. It is funny to think a movie could bring this sort of clarity, but go with me here: my teenage self thought it had something to prove to the world, but my late 20s self realizes the person I really had to impress was myself.

I demand excellence of myself. I don't do things halfway. I am definitely a perfectionist. Being out of my blogging groove in the last few months feels...weird. I miss posting more often, but sometimes, I realize that real life trumps the hours I spend crafting a post. With so much going on behind the scenes with our house, I would rather give you two good posts a week than four or five that are mediocre at best. I don't know why seeing Forrest Gump caused a lightbulb moment for me, but it did. I don't need to be like every super human who somehow cranks out twenty crazy good posts a month. Why? I am happy with the few in which I pour my heart and soul.

What I learned from Forrest Gump {or from Winston Groom--the author behind his story} is this: what I create is enough. The game of comparison is not one I enjoy, but it is one in which I sadly participate. If blogging were easy, everyone would do it. With my 29th birthday looming in May, my goal for the coming year is to finally embrace me. Others' stars may rise, but I'll be happy with wherever mine shines.

Thanks for reading this long, somewhat cheesy post. Claiming Forrest taught me anything could be construed as a stretch, but I promise you it's not. I cannot send enough gratitude to those readers who stick by me, through thick and thin. I read each of your comments and cherish them. You keep me encouraged and inspired, so thank you from the bottom of my heart. For those who celebrate, Happy Easter! xoxo {av}

dreaming away the cold.

This has been one brutal winter. With spring finally making its long awaited return this week, I feel like I can finally breathe a huge sigh of relief. The temperatures may not be spring-like just yet, but I am holding onto hope that we aren't far from some warm sunshine. I spied this quote from Ben Aaronovitch and it described my feelings about this winter perfectly. I am officially dreaming away the cold.

After this endless winter, I'm calling March 20th is the start of a new "year". Who's with me? I may even make a few new resolutions, starting with putting my phone away after 9:30pm. What other "resolutions" would you like to start with this new season? xoxo {av}

P.S. Tackling our biggest project yet is taking the vast majority of my time and attention. If you hear from me less frequently in the coming weeks, please know I'm not far away...we just have a ton of decisions to make. I love my little space on the internet, but sometimes "real life" wins out. I promise to share updates on the house front when I have them. Thank you so much for your understanding {and moral support!}.

 

find happiness in the simplest of things.

First things first, this isn't the post I sat down to write. I love editorial calendars, but this post evolved on its own. Follow me here: by the end of the week, I find many {seemingly} random photos on my phone because I'm a constant picture-taker. There are so many photos which I don't share on Instagram, mostly because I don't want to overwhelm your feed. I try to pick the best of the best to share with all of you, but it does mean my phone fills up with plenty of funny snaps.

I realized that many of those photos are little moments of happiness, which only mean something to me. Case in point: the photo featured above of the bookshelves in the entry of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum {touched up a bit with everyone's new favorite app, Waterlogue}. For me, this photo represents a perfect afternoon spent exploring a historic hideaway with my main squeeze {cv}. For everyone else, the photo looks like a random set of bookshelves.

 

In this internet-driven world, we're compelled to share everything.  Somewhere along the way, I made the choice to share the things I think others will like too {probably because it's called a "like"--go figure}. If I shared everything, you'd see just how normal my life really is. I just assume you'd rather not see my sweaty post-gym selfies or a bazillion snaps of my favorite kitties. I'm okay with that. I will treasure those random snaps from my typical Tuesdays for years to come. Who knows? Maybe they'll even become a future #tbt post.

In my pledge to you at the beginning of 2014, I promised you the best. The same applies to all elements of my "internet" life. I will continue to spare you my sweatiness, but I promise to share some of those hidden gems with you here on the blog. When you've long forgotten me ten years from now, I'll be grateful for those gems as I scroll through old posts. Maybe that is what blogging is all about...

How do you draw the line between the internet and "real" life--or do you? xoxo {av}

P.S. Does the idea behind Waterlogue remind anyone of those funny mall photobooths with the paint effects? I know I'm dating myself here.

I love you more than peanut butter.

As most couples do, {cv} and I have our fair share of inside jokes. Peanut butter is a legitimate food group for me, so my valentine will know just how much I love him with this graphic. We say the "I love you more than..." phrase on many occasions, but today, I love him more than peanut butter ;)

{cv} and I are headed on a little staycation in Boston this weekend. Even though we live less than an hour away, I cannot wait to get away for a few days. We have two fun dinners on the books--and we're even going to see a comedian we've loved since our Georgetown days. I just can't wait to roam the city a bit slower than I do on a quick visit, even if the weather is looking a bit snowy.

Don't forget to add your Valentine's looks for this month's #FridaysFancies--it's open all month for you to share your outfits and inspiration! I may or may not have rented a super Valentine's appropriate dress for tonight's date. {Keep an eye on Instagram to see it!}

Thanks for indulging me in this funny little valentine for {cv}. {I've made him much sweeter ones in years past!} Whether you have a date with your best pals or your main squeeze, I hope your Valentine's Day is filled with love. I just wish every day could be filled with this happy spirit! xoxo {av}

P.S. I love my alma mater. Even if you didn't go to Georgetown, these stories of how people found love on campus will warm your heart. I decided to play along using the #hoyalove hashtag yesterday in my #tbt Instagram :)

why not you?

On Sunday, Russell Wilson led his Seahawks to a serious Super Bowl victory. In pre- and post-game interviews, commentators highlighted Wilson's mantra for the season: why not you? His father asked him this question repeatedly throughout his childhood and into his pro career. For a "smaller" quarterback like Wilson, he had to prove he was worth the extra look. At the beginning of this pivotal season, Russell Wilson asked his team the same question: why not us? The Seahawks are proof positive of a team rallying behind their leader--and believing they really could go the distance. I enjoyed the commercials this year, but truly, my takeaway from Super Bowl XLVIII was this question from Russell Wilson's dad.

Since the Super Bowl, I have been continuously asking myself the same question: why not me? Every day, I have the opportunity to share a part of myself with others--at my job, through my blog, and with my family and friends. I started blogging in 2010 to find a creative outlet and to find a community. I didn't start blogging to get a book deal or to make big money {though either of those outcomes would be tremendous}. Big props to Harrison Wilson III for making me realize something important about life: if I don't believe opportunities are out there, I'm never going to find them. Whether in blogging or in life, I have to keep pushing for more. I have to believe that what I do is good {and even great, on occasion}. I need to have the confidence to seek out the things I want. Little reminders from the Wilson family serve as that extra push to reach even higher--and not stop until I get there.

If you're a blogger, how do you quiet the nay-saying demons and keep your voice alive? Some people may beg to differ, but I don't measure a blogger's success in their pageviews or followers. I measure it in their ability to affect the way I see things and to inspire me to do something differently. My new goal is to be this same blogger for others. At beginning of 2014, I pledged to bring you my best. This post is my promise to you that won't quit until I get there. I'd rather give you two great posts a week than four which don't somehow enrich your life. Above all, thank you for sticking with me on this journey. You're the reason I'm here. xoxo {av}

P.S. I did some digging and found a long excerpt from Steve Maraboli featuring this same question. I figured it was worth mentioning if he laid claim on this phrase. 

gratitude.

I stumbled upon this quote recently and knew it would be perfect for this pre-Thanksgiving Day post. The hopefulness and kindness which always seems to spill out of the month of November is incredibly refreshing. This season of gratitude begs the question about why we wouldn't continue it all year long.

Even though this year has been a bit more challenging than others, I look around and see all the amazing things I do have--and feel even more grateful for the life I am living. Be it the roof over my head, the food in my pantry, or the love of my family and friends, I know there are many who don't have all of those in their lives. My goal for the coming year {and the rest of my life} is to live with gratitude in my heart all year long, rather than just this celebratory month. How much better would life be if we did?

I'll start this thankful movement by sharing my gratitude for each and every one of you. You challenge me each and every day to be better than I was before. I have learned so much in the three years since I started this blog--all because of you. Wherever you are, I hope you are surrounded with family {or friends that are like family}. Thank you for sticking with me :) Have a very happy Thanksgiving! xoxo {av}

hope.

In thinking about this post, it struck me just how much of my life doesn't make this blog. After nearly three years, I deem a few things "blog-worthy" but plenty of others don't make the cut. While I desperately want to pour out my heart with the events of the last week, I need a bit more time to process.

Last night, {cv} and I discussed calling 2013 the year of curveballs. As I've learned after recent Red Sox games, curveballs are pitches intentionally thrown to catch the batter off-guard. In the last few months, the wild pitches of life have made {cv} and I stronger and more connected than ever. Even if the circumstances weren't always what I wanted, I can't help but think God had a hand in all of it. 

I don't talk much about my faith here, but it doesn't mean it isn't a major part of my life. Faith is a very personal thing, so I try to respect each of you--whether you're Christian, Muslim, Jewish, something else, or nothing at all. For today, indulge me in this particular Bible verse. Paired with prayers from our family and friends, this passage has provided a great deal of comfort in the last few days. Regardless of whether you pray or mediate, I think its message is universal.

Please be patient with me in the coming weeks and days. I plan to stick with Friday's Fancies because it brings a bright spot to my week. I promise I'm not going anywhere, but I just need to take a little extra time for myself. With all my love, Alison

you are never too old.

C.S. Lewis nailed it with this quote, eh? The ending may sound a bit like Les Mis (which is never a bad thing), but I believe it wholeheartedly. When someone asked how old I was last week, I couldn't remember. It took me ten seconds to remind myself I was 28. I don't know when that happened really. The good news? 28 is just a number and I still have plenty of life ahead of me. (Leave it to Buzzfeed to nail it with this list about your late 20s.) 

Here's the thing: my dreams at 28 are infinitely more exciting than the ones I dreamed at 18. The difference? I didn't know what my life would look like at 18, but I have a pretty (happy) idea of what my future looks like. Today's post may be short and sweet, but my hope is that you'll pin this quote and remember it when you need it most. Dream that new dream, folks. You've got this. xoxo {av}

P.S. Are there any other quotes you'd like me to bring to life? Share them with me here or comment below!

do something.

Leave it to good ol' TJ to remind me that I can't just sit around expecting change to happen. Consider this quote the fuel for the fire of a great week. So many times, I sit around expecting things to come to me. As much as I'd like it, the truth is that most opportunities don't fall squarely in my lap. Hard work is required to achieve a different outcome. In other words, keep your eyes peeled. {long distance loving} turns three in November--and I want to bring you the best content yet. Many thanks for sticking along for the ride!

What will you be doing differently this week? This week and beyond, I want to invest the right energy into the posts I create for you. Is there anything in particular you'd like to see on {ldl}? I am all ears!

Thank you, Thomas Jefferson {and my sweet reader, Amy}, for inspiring this post today. Let this simple reminder help guide your week--I know it will be guiding mine :) xoxo {av}

a little bit of summer.

Somewhere along the line, the calendar turned to September. I'm still in denial, but fall will be here before we know it. Growing up in Indiana, I loved autumn. It was by far my favorite season. The leaves, the bonfires, the sweatshirts, the football games. Everything. I loved every minute. 

For most of the year, I can look past my homesickness, but something about fall makes me miss the quiet life in my hometown. Life in New England has me hanging onto every minute of summer--because fall signals an impending winter. When I first heard John Mayer sing Wildfire, this line in the song struck me to the core. As simple as it is, this line made me remember another summer will come around again...

{cv} and I pack so much into the summer months. Travel is more reliable {without snow in the forecast} and the days are longer. Whatever it is, I am learning to savor the craziness. The fall and winter months signal a quieter existence for us--and you won't find me complaining. I can still be homesick, but I need to soak in the beauty of fall in New England. There's no reason to dread it anymore.

What's your take on fall? What song do you have stuck in your head as of late?

This autumn, I'm going to keep the hope. After all, there's always next summer...

Thanks for that reminder, Mr. Mayer. Enjoy this short week! xoxo {av}

you is.

Happy Monday! Emily suggested this quote from The Help and I knew I had to bring it to life. I loved the movie inspired by Kathryn Stockett's novel and my favorite scene featured these nine caring words:

I realized this quote could be related to blogging, as almost everything can ;) It may not be the exact interpretation that Kathryn intended, but I'm running with it...

KIND: Be supportive not combative to your fellow bloggers. If you see something which may be wrong in their post, don't call them out in a comment. Everyone makes mistakes. If you feel inclined to share the error, send a friendly email and let them know you have their best interests at heart.

SMART: Do some research to see what content resonates best with your readers. Engagement isn't limited to comments or pageviews. Pay attention to what is being pinned from your blog and you can create content which will keep your readers coming back for more. {If you don't know how to find this, all you need to do is visit: pinterest.com/source/YOURURLWITHOUTWWWHERE} 

IMPORTANT: Even though it is easy to do, try not to get bogged down in the numbers. Everyone in the blog world brings something unique. A crazy amount of pageviews doesn't always translate to blogging success. You are important and your words are helping someone, whether they tell you or not.

What else might you tell a new blogger to make them feel at home in the blogosphere?

Want to see your favorite quote come to life? Submit yours + I might use it in a future post!

xoxo {av}

love don't know what distance is.

I'm the first to admit I have a rather eclectic running playlist. From rap to country, my running tunes run the gamut. Even though I've heard the song a number of times, one particular line from Hunter Hayes' "I Want Crazy" caught me off guard on my run yesterday: love don't know what distance is. Even though {cv} and I have been in the same place for a few years now, the line hit close to home.

When I started this blog in November 2010, {cv} and I were newly married. Long distance was still fresh on my mind. The name {long distance loving} came to me that random Wednesday night and I went with it. As time passes and the hardships of our long distance years fade, I've thought more than once about changing my blog name. The bottom line is that I'm not ready yet. For as often as I get requests to bring back my distance makes the hear grow fonder series, I realize the need is still there. Long distance may be over for me, but it may be just beginning for you.

Though I won't have long distance features every week, I want to give hope to those of you who are wading in the long distance waters. I will be bring back features on couples who are currently long distance {or survived it themselves}. If you'd like to be considered, click here to submit your information. I'll be calling this the "Love Is" series--as an ode to the song from Hunter Hayes which reminded me to go back to my roots ;)

If long distance doesn't apply to your love life, never fear. The content you've come to expect from {long distance loving} isn't going anywhere.  I just want to give some love to the distance folks--because goodness knows I needed it when we were long distance. Have a great start to your week! xoxo {av}

the cure for anything.

I grew up in the middle of America, far from the ocean. Four years ago, {cv} and I moved north to the Ocean State. As a Midwesterner, I'm just as surprised as you that I ended up in New England, but with each passing year, it feels more and more like home. The salty air agrees with me.

I sometimes forget what a luxury it is to live close to the ocean, but I'm quickly reminded whenever we have visitors. When you see the water every day, it loses its luster somehow. In the eyes of someone who doesn't see it, you catch a glimpse of why it is so special. It may also be at the root of why I love this quote from Isak Dinesen, submitted by one of my readers. 

The cure for anything really is salt water--of any variety. Be it a good long run, a cry on your

best friend's shoulder, or a fun beach vacation, it has a way of truly cleansing the soul.

Want to see your favorite quote on {long distance loving}? Submit it here! xoxo {av}

#raceyourself.

Sixteen years ago, I started running. Barring a few stress fractures and a summer in France {where no one really exercises?}, I've been running ever since. When I lace up my shoes and get out the door, I leave my worries at home. I run to stay fit, I run to clear my head, but most of all, I run because I actually enjoy it. Running is truly my escape, which brings me to this post.

I realized something on a run recently: my years of competition took the joy out of my running. I was always looking over my shoulder or tagging behind someone faster than me. While I got a rush out of racing and loved my teammates, I never felt good enough. I was a solid competitor, but I didn't win every race. My competitive soul stirred up feelings of inadequacy and ultimately distracted me from why I started running in the first place.

When I ran my marathon last fall, I didn't run it to break any records--except my own. After competing for six years in middle and high school, I made the choice not to run competitively in college. I received a few offers to run for smaller schools, but my heart was set on Georgetown. I chose the college experience over the athlete experience--and it was one of the best decisions I ever made.

In the ten years since my high school graduation, I have run two marathons, three half marathons, a handful of ten milers, and a few random road races. I absolutely enjoy racing, but that pesky competitive pull comes right back. I find myself picking out people ahead of me to catch or getting frustrated when my splits aren't stellar. Above all, it's expensive. {Paying $100+ to run a race hurts my soul.} Competitive juices aren't a bad thing, but too much of that "juice" isn't always healthy. In the end, I've realized my best runs are often the ones when I race myself. Why? I am on my own clock--or no clock at all.

If you're a runner, why do you run? How do you keep your competitive juices in check?

My best advice? Race yourself. Know you'll have good and bad days--and be okay with it. Pledge to #raceyourself and be happy with your running. After all, running isn't for everyone. When you get out the door, you're already doing more than the person who stayed home. GO YOU. xoxo {av}

Sidenote: Runner or not--after thinking on this post for a few hours, I realized this "racing yourself" idea works in life. Be it with blogging or at work, you've got to give yourself the space to succeed!

plan to be surprised.

There are a few movies which will alter the course of an evening in our little apartment. If {cv} is out of town, I will always leave on You've Got Mail and Forrest Gump. If he's here, Love Actually and Dan in Real Life make the cut. Dan in Real Life is the most recent addition to this list. In case you haven't seen it, Steve Carrell plays the widowed father of three girls. I won't divulge too many details, but these four words from the last scene of the movie struck me last night: plan to be surprised.

Without giving away the entire storyline, I can still give this quote a little context. Steve Carrell's character, Dan, plays a newspaper advice columnist and shared a snippet of one of his columns:

Dear Readers, for most of you, this is my first column in your paper. In the future, I will be answering your questions, but today I want to break from my usual format and talk to you about the subject of plans. Not so much my plan for this column, but life plans, and how we all make them. And how we hope that our kids make good, smart, safe plans of their own. But if we're really honest with ourselves, our plans usually don't work out as we had hoped. So instead of asking our young people "What are you plans? What do you plan to do with your life?" Maybe we should tell them this: Plan to be surprised. {quote found here}

We attended a college graduation party for one of my cousins yesterday, so this movie struck a little closer to home. For so long, I've been a planner--wanting to always know what is coming next. When we were long distance, I needed to know when our next visit would be. When I was in college, I needed to know when my next paper was due. Over the years, I have learned firsthand how exhausting these plans can be. The truth is that the "plans" I had for myself at 18 sound downright boring compared to the life I lead today. I never dreamed about a life in Rhode Island--alongside {cv}, my best partner in life--surrounded by the most amazing friends and family imaginable. No offense to international lawyers, but I'm pretty glad my 18-year-old dreams didn't come to fruition. 

What movie do you find on TV and always watch to the end? 

{Please also tell me I'm not the only one who takes movies this literally!} 

Have a great Monday, friends :) xoxo {av}

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embrace your imperfections.

Truth be told, I am still on my "high" from Alt Summit NYC. I understand it sounds a bit cliché, but it is the absolute truth. Being surrounded by inspiring people from every corner of the country {and world} isn't something that happens often. When it does, I make every effort to soak up as much as I can. In this case, it may take me a few posts to adequately capture my takeaways from Alt. My first takeaway came from Alt's closing keynote speaker, Garance Doré. In her fabulous French way, she touched my heart--and offered a poignant everyday reminder for me, the queen of all perfectionists:

{click here to see Garance Doré in her own words!}

At a certain point, we all have to step back and realize we don't know it all. We can't be it all. These imperfections are what make us unique. The blog world can often feel like one big hamster wheel of competition, but in the long run, the only person you should be in "competition" with is yourself. 

My nerdy quirks make me different--and for once, I'm not trying to shed them just to "fit in". The blog world can have a tendency to feel a bit like high school: the cool kids sit in one table {and have their inside jokes on Twitter}, the artsy kids all hang out in another corner {and curate joint Pinterest boards}...you get the picture. What I took away from Garance Doré was that this doesn't matter. AT ALL. The sooner we stop trying to fit ourselves into a particular bucket, the better our blogs {and lives} will be. I wish I could have told myself this when I actually was in high school, but I digress. I'll leave you with this...

This is my thank you note to all of you, whether you've been following for days, months, or years: 

You are so much more than a reader to me. You are a friend. You take time out of your day to spend with me, be it reading one of my posts or pinning from Pinterest. However you spin it, you're there. There are plenty of times when I question why I blog--and the answer is reading this post. YOU. Thank you for giving me a little place on the internet to call home--and one where I can finally feel comfortable to be me, nerdy quirks and all. Thanks again for the advice, Garance! Much love to each of you today and every day. 

xoxo {av}

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inspired by lilacs.

A few towns over from {cv}'s hometown, you'll find Rochester, New Hampshire. This little spot on the map calls itself the Lilac City, though it might stir up a debate with Spokane, Washington. Without fail, I can count on seeing gorgeous lilacs when we visit the Seacoast ever May. During our trip to see {cv}'s family this past weekend, I snapped this instagram after cutting down a few small sprigs. I only wish I could magically have a bouquet of lilacs all year round, but I digress...

This weekend's lilacs reminded me just how much I adore this light purple hue.
The nail polish and studs would be good gateway goods to this lovely shade, don't you think?
If I had an unlimited budget, I might invest in a few more of these lilac beauties...

find them here:
Gorjana Bleecker Bloom Tote
Trish McEvoy Effortless Eyes Wet & Dry Eye Shadow in Lilac
Essie Wedding Collection 2013 Nail Polish in Meet Me At The Altar
Bobbi Brown Lilac Rose Collection Brightening Lip Gloss in Pink Lilac
Kate Spade Tudor City Stacy Wallet + Small Square Studs
Superga Linen Sneakers in Lilac

What hue is catching your eye this spring? Am I the only one in the lilac camp or are you there with me?
I'll see you all for a round of striped Friday's Fancies tomorrow! Happy Thursday! xoxo {av}

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