Back to Blogging (FOR REAL) and What I Wore: Wednesday 12/7/16

It’s hard to believe that after over a full year, I am back to blogging (once again). As someone with an outrageous abundance of thoughts that I’d like to get out, I’ve known since I started this blog in the beginning of 2014 that this is a great outlet to do just that. Regardless of if two people or two hundred people read my scattered mess of thoughts, there is something so therapeutic to me about writing and, to be honest, I will never get tired of hearing people tell me that my words inspired them.

As I now am going through what is the biggest transition period of my life, I find myself, more often than not, extremely overwhelmed. I am always feeling like there is more that I should be doing. More that I could be doing. Prior to graduating, I had convinced myself that I had a definitive plan for my future. I’d live at home for the summer after graduation, work a couple of part time jobs, save up some money, find a full time job by the time fall came around, and be able to move out of my parents’ house and into my own place. As it always goes, life sometimes has different plans for us. Your road map could look a hell of a lot different as you actually begin to embark on your journey. But one thing I have been reminding myself lately is that although my map may have its fair share of bumpy roads and detours, it does not make it any less meaningful. The detours don’t mean that we are going the wrong way, they just mean that we are taking a different route. And maybe these diversions are there for a reason- maybe they serve as a way to steer us clear of something that wasn’t exactly right for us. The reality of it is this: we will never know unless we keep going. 

I am making a vow to myself to focus more on what really matters. I love fashion. I love writing. I love promoting what I love. This space is the perfect outlet to do exactly that- so I am going to continue to do so as long as people continue to read. :) 

As far as fashion goes, I am basically waking up each day and attempting to see what I can pair with this skirt. It is the most comfortable and adorable thing I own and recently decided to splurge on. As a Free People stylist, I may be biased, but this store has basically everything my grungy/boho loving self needs. I’ve been pairing this skirt with everything from cropped tanks to baggy sweaters and it’s now become an essential part of my wardrobe.

I have spent so much time planning so many new and exciting things for V&V and I hope you’ll stick around to see. As a 22 year old fashion obsessed chick with more spare time than I’d like to have lately, I’m promising to prioritize this blog once again. Thank you for staying around and reading my mess of thoughts almost three years later- you all are the absolute best!

Skirt: Free People, Bralette: Free People, Top: Free People, Boots; Yoki, Jacket: Levi's

What I Wore: Saturday 8/15/15

It’s hard to believe that we’re already over halfway through the year. 2015 (so far) has been a whirlwind year full of transitions, setbacks, harsh AND exciting realizations, and countless lessons. In what seems to be the most growth-filled year so far, I’ve accepted the end of many once seemingly vital things in my life and welcomed the start of exciting and new beginnings.

I’ve found myself thinking lately that- for someone so focused on their future- I do reflect quite frequently on my past. I often wonder why things don’t work out the way that we hope that they do- despite our resilient efforts. Whether it’s a rejection for no valid reason after a job interview for a position that seemed perfect for you, or rejection for no valid reason from a guy that seemed perfect for you, series of let downs make it especially easy to lose hope. At the end of the day, we can chalk it all up to one thing- timing. Timing is everything- and sometimes, it just is flat out not on your side. 

The crazy thing about life though, I have learned, is that what seems like the absolute end of the world is really just a minor bump in the road. Successes wouldn’t feel so great without past disappointments, and for these disappointments, we should be thankful. Without the failed job interview, I would have never been given the chance to land the job I now have- one that I am far more well-suited for. And thanks to the fact that things with prior love interests did not work out how I had hoped, I have learned my worth. To sum this long lesson up, here’s my advice: never settle. The moment you realize that things didn’t work out how you had planned, it’s time to make a new plan. Know your worth. Timing may be a big, massive *B word*, but it’s everything. When things don’t go your way, know that your way may not have necessarily been the right way. It’s easy to mope and feel as if the whole world’s against you, but it’s vital to recognize that there are far better things out there. If it passes by you, it’s not meant for you. Moving forward, vow to do just that- move forward. Never look back- appreciate your past but don’t let it cloud your future. There’s an entire world of opportunity awaiting you in the future, and you’ll never get to revel in that fact and see what’s out there if you continue to live in the past. Here’s to recognizing your worth, moving onward and upward and acknowledging and appreciating that while we may not always have it all under control and well planned out- there is beauty in the unknown.

Tank: H&M, Pants: H&M, Shoes: Windsor Store, Polish: Mint Candy Apple by Essie

Back to Blogging (Again!) and What I Wore: Wednesday 6/10/15

After a series of setbacks that resulted in a long period of complete discouragement, I am finally back to V&V. Inspired by a conversation I had with a friend who has come a long way in reaching success by focusing on turning his passion into a career, I began to think about what it is that I want to be focusing on at this point in my life. At the start of 2014, I was writing for my own blog and focused all of my time on energy on producing content regardless of who was viewing it. To me, this meant that I would write about things that I was passionate about for this blog, even if one person out there was reading it. It was only after I started writing for a company that I began to reevaluate my decision to blog on my own. The content I was writing for this company was receiving page views, but at the end of the day, it was not something that I was passionate about.

I found myself wishing that I could write what I wanted to write- in the way that I wanted to write it. I wished I could show off my inspiration and my thoughts without having a mandatory format to follow and certain restrictions on the content that I was allowed to produce.

Ultimately, no one can choose your path but you. It is our own responsibility to say no to things that don’t matter and yes to things that will help us to grow. The most important reward, I have learned, is not the recognition that you may receive, but rather the happiness that what you are doing brings you. Surround yourself with people who inspire you. Find someone who has found success in doing what they love- and learn from them. There is nothing more inspiring than choosing to have the right people in your life- the ones who have been at the bottom but have worked relentlessly towards reaching their goals. Being stagnant and expecting others to hand you what you want will never allow for growth. Success will never come overnight. It may not even come for years, but every second spent working towards your dreams is one second closer to getting where you want to be- and if that isn’t inspiration enough, then I don’t know what is.

Top: Forever 21, Necklace: Brandy Melville, Overalls: Loft, Similar sandals: Zooshoo, Arm cuff: Topshop, Lipstick: Anastasia Beverly Hills Lipgloss in Undressed

Blogging Breaks and What I Wore: Thursday 4/1/15

After yet another blogging hiatus, I’m finally back. Sometimes I find myself wondering if anyone notices whether or not I post on here, and I’m always so happy when people asking me questions about my absence. When I first started my blog a little over a year ago, I posted every single day. Since then, life has become a bit hectic and messy- but my time away from this has shown me that it’s so important to make time for the things you really enjoy doing. Blogging brings me a sense of happiness and relaxation and always makes me feel like I’m on the right track in terms of doing what I love. Four months into 2015, I’m as busy as ever, but that’s no excuse to stop doing the things that make me happy. If you find something you enjoy doing- make time for it no matter what.

After living in another country for four months, my first semester back home has been full of adjustments and realizations. As one of my final semesters comes to a close, I’m finding myself feeling overwhelmed by the idea that maybe I’m not exactly where I had imagined myself being in life at this point. At age twenty, I’ll be starting my last year of college in only a few months. The realization that in one short year I will be ending yet another chapter in life and soon totally out on my own in the real world is terrifying, but I’ve always been one to believe that there’s a plan for each and every one of us. Instead of being disappointed by the things we have not yet fulfilled, we should be excited to know that there is so much for us left to explore and encounter. It’s all about having faith in the right things and believing that you are good enough to achieve whatever it is that you put your mind to. The idea of disappointment is just a fork in the road. We often fail to recognize that we are doing better than we let ourselves believe. We have unknowingly picked our paths and are taking steps towards becoming exactly who we want to be each and every day.

Here’s to reveling in the fact that there is a lifetime worth of opportunity and excitement that awaits us. We are not behind, we’re just slowly (but surely) making our way down our own paths.

-          A

Bodysuit: Missguided, Jeans: PacSun, Sunglasses: Forever 21, Sneakers: Vans

Florence, Italy: 11/28/14-11/30/14 and the End of My Time Abroad

One of my last weekends abroad was spent in one of my favorite places on the planet, Florence. Only a short train ride away from my apartment in Rome, Florence was a city full of breathtakingly beautiful sights and some of the best people I met on my journey.

Just as I had hoped, my weekend in Florence was spent doing typical Italian things- eating gelato and pizza, visiting the Duomo and Piazzale Michelangelo, shopping in the markets and wandering the streets. Without a doubt, one of the greatest findings in all four months abroad was "The Secret Bakery". At two o'clock in the morning, we were able to wander down a side street, knock on an unmarked door, and be greeted with a warm Nutella croissant for only one euro. It was here that I decided that I was somewhat thankful that I did not live in Italy permanently, because there is no way I could have self control when it comes to late night hunger and The Secret Bakery. Number two on my list of Cool Things that Happened in Florence is the fact that I met Ed Helms (!!!!!!) from The Office. With all of the celebrities that visited Rome during my time there that I did not get to meet, I was happy to say that I did meet one before I returned home.

Returning back to Rome, I was quickly faced with the realization that I had less than two weeks left in this city. I reassessed my "Study Abroad Bucket List"- I jotted down places I absolutely had to see before my departure back to the states and crossed out the places that I unfortunately would not have a chance to see. Determined to complete this list but also facing time constraints and the stress of final exams, I set off to finish as much as I could in such a short time frame.

I spent my last couple of weeks in Rome visiting some extremely touristy places that I (surprisingly) had not yet seen. Though it took me almost four full months, I was able to see the Vatican and the Colosseum (both beautifully decorated for Christmas). I woke up at 6:00 to see the sunset from the top of one of my favorite spots, Gianicolo Hill. I said goodbye to some of the people in the area who I had grown close to and had been so used to seeing on a daily basis. As my last night approached, I was just as sad about leaving Rome as I thought I would have been. The semester had been, without a doubt, the greatest four month period of my entire life. I knew that I was so lucky, but that did not make it any easier to say goodbye to this place and the people I had met.

As I walked around Rome on my last night, crying and saying my goodbyes to the familiar faces, I felt so overwhelmed by just how lucky I was. I found it ironic that I was fortunate to feel such sadness about leaving these people and this city. The fact that it was so difficult for me to leave proves how meaningful it was to me to be able to be there in the first place. My experience was so wonderful that I was sad to leave it behind- so how lucky am I to have loved it so much? 6 countries and 14 cities all in 4 (short) months. At age 20, this is something I will be able to reflect on with nothing but fond memories for the rest of my life. I have seen places, done things and met people that I had only dreamed about up until my arrival in Italy. To all of the people who made it possible- I am forever grateful for you. You gave me the experience of a lifetime and it is one that I will never forget for as long as I live. Thank you for following my experiences abroad, it has been one hell of a journey.

To the trip of a lifetime, evviva. 

- Alissa 

Amsterdam, Netherlands: 11/20/14-11/23/14

For my last big trip abroad, I flew out to Amsterdam for a weekend. Of all of the amazing places that I have had the chance to visit, Amsterdam was by far my favorite. I couldn't help but think about the next time that I could visit- and hope that it would be for a period of time far longer than just one weekend. Getting to experience the amazing architecture, the delicious food, the laid-back lifestyle and the easy transportation made for one of the best weekends of my life.

After breakfast at one of my new favorite breakfast places (and I have a lot. A lot), De Drie Graefjes, Friday was spent exploring the city and shopping on Nieuwendijk, one of the best shopping streets I've been lucky enough to enjoy abroad. After walking around all day, we had dinner at Cau. The roasted pumpkin and sage risotto was so delicious, but nothing could top the dessert I had at a hot chocolate shop around the corner. With fresh strawberries, bananas, Nutella and some of the best Dutch hot chocolate, I truly believed that I would be content eating here and only here for the rest of my life.

On Saturday, we had breakfast at Sara's Pancake House before continuing our city exploration and finally seeing the Red Light District (yet another bucket list item I can now check off!) This area is something that you must see firsthand. No online reviews or stories from others who have visited could ever explain the Red Light District. From brothels to sex shops and museums, this area was an eye-opener and unlike anything I have ever seen before. Our afternoon was spent enjoying "The Heineken Experience" while learning a ton about the history of Heineken and getting the chance to draft our own beers. That night, I finally went to an ice bar and loved every second of it. Leaving the city the next morning was one of the toughest things I've had to do- if I could move my family out to Amsterdam I would be content with staying there for years and years.

To one of the best weekends of my entire life, thank you, Amsterdam! Until next time.