ciao, bella

I just returned to the US after 2 weeks exploring Italy by train. 5 towns, 14 days. It was quite the adventure. While in Rome, I stayed at the most beautiful little apartment hidden on a quiet, crooked, cobblestone street near Piazza del Popolo. I was inspired by the simple, yet elegant decor, pictured above. White walls, wood furniture, crystal accents. Simple and sweet.

What's been catching your eyes lately?

xo,
A

sunshine and rose chai lattes

I took a little afternoon stroll in Greenwich Village the other day as I passed through Manhattan for a few days, and boy did it feel like summer. Sunshine pouring in. A gentle breeze in the air. General good cheer. I picked up this rose chai latte at Nourish Kitchen + Table to fuel my afternoon walk, and then I was off for a day of meandering crooked streets and peaking into gardens for a glimpse of some pretty blooms.

What're you up to these day?

love

Transforming Power

Lau Tzu

Your love contains the power
Of a thousand suns.
It unfolds as naturally and effortlessly
As does a flower,
And graces the world with its blooming.
Its beauty radiates a transforming energy
That enlivens all who see it.
Because of you, compassion and joy
Are added to the world.
That is why the stars sing together
Because of your love.

lately

Tap, tap, tap...is this thing on? It's been ages since I last posted, so I thought I'd share some pictures of how spring is shaping up here in Western Mass. Blooms everywhere. Sweet smells. Gentles breezes. Of course, then it snowed and went back to winter. But for now, let's just enjoy daydreams of flowers and sunshine.

All of the right spring things. 

xo

grey days

For those of us living in the northeast, or otherwise frosty places, the grey days of winter have begun. The fog and drizzle have been constant and thick for the past few days in Western Mass. As a Florida girl who's used to abundant sunshine, these type of days make me feel sluggish, and by 4p.m. I'm ready to curl up in bed and call it a day. To make the days a little more cozy and a little less dreary, I've developed a few strategies.

1. Curling up under my covers with a pager-turner at the end of a long day. I'm currently reading this and loving it.

2. Drinking a warm cup of tea.

3. Exercise of any kind, for even just 20 minutes to give me a boost of energy. Bonus points if I take a jog or a long walk outside for some fresh air.

5. Getting out of the house, even just to run an errand or grab a tea at a nearby cafe.

4. Baking cookies to brighten my mood and satisfy my sugar cravings. Baking is just about the coziest thing you can do this time of year, besides cuddling up with a blanket and eating said baked goods, of course.

What about you? What do you do to stay cheerful on the greyest of days?

xo,
A

(image)

love letters

For the past few weeks I've been working on a project for my art class that I'm excited to share with you today. The world's been feeling a bit heavy lately what with recent global and national events, and in light of this, I wanted to spread a little love and cheer. To do this, I decided to write simple love letters to hide around campus. I loved the idea of passersby finding a little note to remind them that they're loved and that we're in this together.

I made handmade, sun-printed cards using a collection of flowers and foliage I found at a local flower market. I then stamped a friendly little message on each card and envelope. You can find the stamps I used here. After the cards were ready to go, I meandered around campus, tucking them in unexpected and not-so-unexpected places. Keep scrolling, if you'd like see more...

Lots of loooove.

Carefully tucking away the prints.

Perched on a windowsill outside a classroom. 

Can you spot the note below?

On a bench with a view of the pond. 

I've been checking the spots where I left these little guys to see if anyone has found them yet. So far, a few of them have been picked up! I hope they made each person's day a little brighter.

Have a great weekend, friends.

xo,
A

just a little note

Stumbling upon hearts in unexpected places is always a nice reminder to spread a little love. 

Hope your week is going great!