Making the Most of Your Time

Hello Cuties,

Everyday we are all given the same 24 hours, no one gets to cheat and get 25, we all are given an equal chance to make the most of what we are given. How are you going to make the most of today?

I really was not sure what to write about for today, but after doing some soul searching on Pinterest I decided this was a good topic. This does not only pertain to being productive, it also means making a life you love and working on that everyday. We are not promised a tomorrow, therefore we should make each day count.

In life we have responsibilities that can often overwhelm us and cause us to become stressed and clam up. We then fall into routine and the days start to be wasted.

A new semester is upon us and that means our deadlines and responsibilities are about to be filling our schedules. I want to encourage you to work at making everyday productive and worth your while. Set goals, make a bucket list and use an agenda; this will give you motivation and keep you on track. In my last post I shared one way I stay inspired and display my goals and that is by making a Vision Board. I also love using my agenda to organize my thoughts and deadlines, and I always keep a notebook handy for bright ideas. These things keep me inspired and motivated to stay productive.

Here are my tips to making the most of your time:

Make a Bucket List: Make this a small scale bucket list, what things you want to do by the end of the year, not just the end of your life. Take adventures with your best friends, take adventures alone and take time to find who you are and who you want to be. Make time for yourself.

Set Goals: What do you want to have accomplished by the end of the year? What do you want to have accomplished by summer? What is your ‘big’ goal for the year (Internship, new job, etc.) Make these goals realistic and obtainable.

Use a Planner: My planner is my life saver, a lot of people do not use a planner or agenda and I have no idea how. It keeps my responsibilities in one place, I know when all my deadlines are and I can have a visual of them. I suggest this to keep track of all your activities, it’s not the fun part of this whole time saving thing but it will help you manage your time.

Make a To-Do list: Lists aren’t for everyone but I personally like to make them to see what I have to accomplish in a day. This helps me be productive. The best tip in the book is always starting with your biggest task in the morning then working down the rest of the list throughout the day. Lists help you stay on track and accomplish more, therefore saving you precious time.

| Check out Team Boss Babe on Twitter & Instagram for some more amazing inspiration |

These are just my personal favorites to making them most of my days and time. This month my list of to-do’s is quite long, from building up my resume to finding a internship, I know I will be using these all to make each day count. Thank you all for reading today; I know this post was a spur of the moment for me, so I hope you still enjoyed reading it. Happy Wednesday!

Take a chance this week.

xo, Lyss

 

 

Parisian for a Week

Hello Everyone,

I arrived back in the States on Sunday after spending a week in the beautiful city of Paris and 4 weeks in Nice. I promised you guys a post last week, but with the limited time frame in Paris I could not waste anytime on my laptop. So today I bring you a guide to being Parisian for a week. I did not hit all the normal Paris tourist stops, so if you are looking for a different view of the city check out this post. It’s a mix of tourist & local Parisian. Feel free to share your favorite spots in Paris in the comments below.

Monday:

Everyday I attended classes at a French language school called France Langue, which is an amazing school with great professors who are willing to help you reach your goals with French. So, my day started here with orientation to the Paris program and meeting my new professor for the week. The rest of the week I had class from 8:30-12.

My morning commute was a 40 minute metro ride from Maison Blanche to Trocadero. If you are staying on the outskirts of Paris you may want to check out the metro to get around. It can look intimidating at first, but it’s a pretty simple system once you understand it.

Figure out your metro stops here.

After class my friends and I went to lunch at a cute little bistro cafe close to our school called Le Pain Quotidien. I had this delicious vegetable soup with quinoa in it, the other girls dishes were equally as delicious. The food here was fresh and filled with taste, like all the food here in France.

Then, we tried to check out the Catacombs of Paris but they ended up being closed on Monday’s, so that was a no-go. Tip: Be sure to check when museums are open, for example the Louvre is closed on Tuesday’s, other museums are closed on Monday’s. Check for strikes as well. 

Due to the road block, the group decided to grab some Nutella Crepes and walk in the park close the Eiffel Tower. Tip: Eat Crepes, lots of them. Then it started down pouring and we had to hid out under the Eiffel Tower. We called it a day after the rain and headed back to our houses to eat dinner with our host family’s.

Tuesday:

After our class we had lunch with the group from our university, we ate at a cute little restaurant by the Oden metro stop. I apologize for the lack of knowledge on the name, but I ordered a steak with fries. How American, I know!? Tip: A point, is like medium well.

Catacombs of Paris: We hopped in line right after lunch. The Catacombs were seriously amazing and creepy all in one. The walls were close and the ceilings were low, not a great place to visit if you are claustrophobic. At a certain point the walls became lined with human bones and skulls, my stomach started to feel a little funny at this point. The Catacombs hold a lot of history and they are a must see if you are interested in the history of Paris.

Tip: The line for the Catacombs is very long, come early or be prepared to wait a couple of hours. 

Wednesday: 

Louvre: Today we visited some of the Louvre, I say some because to see all of the Louvre it would take you 3-4 days. It’s huge and the art inside is extensive. My group went in with a mission to see certain things and that is what we did. We stopped at the Mona Lisa, of course, then the Venus sculpture and some of the other famous Italian & French Paintings. We also checked out Napoleons Apartments, which was unreal to think people lived like that. Along the way we made a few detours to check out some of the other works, but we were able to see most of what we wanted in a couple of hours.

Jardin des Tuileries: For lunch, my little group ate in a cute cafe in the Tuileries Garden, which is right across from the Louvre. This is one of my favorite spots in Paris because you get a view of everything. You can see the Eiffel Tower peeping out of the trees, the Arc de Triumph in the distance, the Louvre behind you and the Seine flowingg behind the extensive buildings. I love it here, it’s the perfect spot for a picnic too.

Next, I checked out a museum close to the Louvre called Les Arts Decoratifs where they had a Barbie exhibition going on. This was actually so cool to see, it was like a walk through my childhood. They also had a Fashion Forward exhibit that was a run down of fashion through the years. I was unable to reach this section on my first visit, but keep reading to see this stop.

After grabbing some ice cream, I peeped into an amazing bookstore called Galignani Bookstore.  This bookstore was unbelievable, they had a huge selection of Fashion books in French & English. They also had cute little nooks to read in, along with a industrial staircase to more books. I was in love!

Tip: If you are student in France, bring your student card and proof of residency and you will get in for free. 

Thursday:

Thursday I decided to take a Fashion Tour of the city, put on by yours truly…me. I researched all the places I had to hit and here are a few of what I found.

Palais Galliera, Museum of Fashion: This museum was by far one of my favorite stops in Paris. It displayed garments from the 1700’s up until recent high fashion runway pieces. There was Chanel, Christian Dior, Balenciaga, Paul Poiret and other big designers. Audrey Hepburn’s hat collection was on display, along with other famous fashion icons most loved fashion pieces.

Chanel Boutique: This Chanel is one of the most popular ones because it is located under Coco Chanel’s apartment. I did some window shopping in the store, being careful not to break anything because it felt like a museum to me. The Chanel Boutique was amazing, I was unable to visit the apartment because I did not make a reservation in time.

Tip: Make a reservation or call ahead to be sure tickets are available. 

Galeries Lafayette Paris: This is the must-go shopping spot in Paris, especially during Soldes. The sales (Soldes) are amazing and the store is 7 stories tall. It includes big name brands like Chanel, Kate Spade and Miu Miu, along with more affordable brands like Top Shop & Anthropologie. I almost bought a Kate Spade purse while I was here because it was so cheap for Kate, but I could not do it.

Vintage shopping: Next stop was vintage shopping, two shops I found to be the best were Kilo Shop & Free ‘P’ Star. I found an awesome vintage leather purse at the Free ‘P’ Star, along with some cute scarfs. At the Kilo Shop, they sold Levi’s and other cool denim jackets. I ended up purchasing a vintage black wallet from here and one scarf. These shops were so cool to look through, I think purchasing vintage in Paris is so much better because I know some Parisian woman carried it before me. Therefore, I feel like I am carrying a piece of history. I would have probably purchased some clothes too, but due to the suitcase requirements I could not stuff my luggage anymore.

Tip: Buy vintage purses, they’re better.

 

Friday:

After class the girls and I grabbed lunch at a cafe near the Notre Dame, once again I do not recall the name but there are lots of cafe options close to Notre Dame, so it is a good stop for a tourist. I also got proposed to here by a waiter, so that was interesting.

Then we hit up some souvenir shops to finish buying gifts. I suggest that you do some of your souvenir shopping close to Notre Dame as well because they have a street filled with shops. I think it is a good idea to mix up your gifts too, buy some souvenirs and some meaningful gifts too. For example, buying a specialty gift from the city you are visiting, in Nice this was soap or perfume. Souvenirs can be fun sometimes, but buying unique gifts are nice too.

Tip: Do not over spoil people at home, buy close friends and family something small but do not break your bank to buy them expensive gifts. Most of the time they will not value the trip like you do and they may not cherish something you buy, that’s not a bad thing but something to remember. Choose something small and meaningful, but not overly expensive. 

Musee Rodin:  This museum is home to The Thinker statue. The Thinker sits in this beautiful garden that surrounds the museum. I visited the garden section of this museum but the girls and I got talking and then we got kicked out because the garden had closed. It was still a great stop.

Fashion Foward, 3 siecles de mode: I was finally able to return to the Decorative Arts museum to see the Fashion Forward exhibit. Next to the Palais Galliera, this was the coolest exhibit I have ever seen. I really do love art, but fashion moves me in a different way, I can connect with it. The Louvre is great, but this stop was more my cup of tea. I was on the brink of tears when I walked into the grand room filled with Dior, Chanel & Yves Saint Laurent dresses. If you are in Paris now, or going to be, this is a must see for fashion lovers.

Dinner @ Le Champ de Mars: For a last night out, the girls and I grabbed a nice dinner at Champ de Mars. We sipped on some white wine, ate chocolate mousse and laughed until our cheeks hurt. It must have entertained the waiter because he brought us each a free glass of wine.

After dinner we made our way to see the Eiffel Tower lit up, we found a spot in the park next to the tower and we gazed up at it in shock of its beauty. We asked some people behind us to take our picture and we ended up befriending them. They were from Australia and Canada. I find it so amazing how easy it is to make friends here from around the world. We sat with them until 11 pm to see the Tower sparkle, we yelled at some people selling Champagne and we said our good-byes to our new friends and the Eiffel Tower.

Tip: Sometimes it’s okay to mingle with strangers, you may learn something new.

Saturday:

I tagged along with a small group to go visit the Palace of Versailles. The trip out there took a little while, but once we were in the Palace it was unbelievable. The walls were works of art, the furniture was extensive and the palace itself was huge. The gardens surrounding the Palace were also amazing. It’s insane to think back into history and realize people lived like this. The kings and queens of France built this palace to reside in. It is truly amazing to look at the details they put into the structure, but also sickening to know they used the people of Frances money to build this extensive palace. I am so happy I visited the Palace of Versailles, I was unable to walk through all of the gardens but I was happy to see most of them.

Tip: Take the hike from the city to see Versailles, it is worth it.

Sunday was departure day and I headed back to the States, but my heart was stuck in Paris for sure. I am already thinking of ways to get back, I loved France so much. I will be constructing a summary post to give you an insight on lessons I learned and give a reflection of my amazing trip. I will also be constructing a guide to Paris street style because let me tell you it’s perfect. I am taking a little more time on this post because it deserves it!

I hope you liked this little insight on my week in Paris, I know I did not cover all the hot spots, but I definitely found some hidden gems and visiting the fashion museums were most meaningful to me. A last tip from me is to visit things that actually mean something to you because yes it is great to visit some of the historical sights but you will remember visiting places you liked more than forcing yourself to see something you do not care for. Visit was you want and get the most out of your time, do not be afraid to leave the group to look at something else.

If you have any specific questions regarding these places check the links I shared or feel free to comment below, I would be happy to offer help. I loved both Paris and Nice, I am looking forwarding to returning to both places in the future.

For now it’s time to get ready for the fall and start working on new series for my beautiful readers, my inspiration is flowing now so stay tuned for amazing new posts and a possible change to Vogue & Van Gogh… I am looking forward to what the future holds and I hope you all continue to follow me on this journey. Until next time…

Stay positive & confident.

xo, Lyss

 

Cannes, Euro 2016 & Beach Parties

Salut Beautiful Readers,

This past week has been crazy busy and amazing all in one. The past few days have been a complete 180 for me because I have spent every night out with friends and meeting new people. Before I jump into my stories about being a crazy France fan and swimming in the sea, I will share my Cannes and Ile-Sainte-Marguerite experience with you.

Cannes:

We visited both cities in one day due to their proximity, Cannes was a very beautiful city and the beaches were sand. (That’s crazy here!) We walked along the beach for a little while before taking a hike up to the old part of Cannes. The view from the top was breath taking! We then grabbed some lunch at a local deli and headed to a shaded area to picnic. It’s always beautiful weather here, but sometimes the sun kicks your butt. Everyday I am exhausted and I love it!

Ile-Sainte-Marguerite:

This was an island just south of Cannes, it was a short boat ride to the island. On the island we visited the prison where the man in the iron mask resided, it was very creepy to see the old cells but also very interesting. History is always intriguing to me, it is crazy to think people lived here before us and they lived so differently.

After we hiked up numerous stairs, per usual, we reached some more amazing views that stretched to the coast of Cannes. This was also a great photography moment! We then headed to the beach for some downtime and sea glass hunting, which were both successful. This island was gorgeous and I loved the history on it.

Now for some fun stories from the past couple of nights; and if you know me you know I am not one to go out, yet I’ve gone out the past three nights…when in France???

The fun began on Wednesday night when I decided to grab a drink with Shayna at the local bar to watch the Wales vs. Portugal match. Bailey and Danielle joined us later. We ended up meeting some Irish people and two Swiss girls, we debated about tuition and other political things, which was quite fun to hear there view. After the match was finished we went out to the streets to celebrate a little with the Portugal fans. It was crazy, which it always is after the games. The beach is so convenient here in Nice, so after the bar we decided to take a walk on the beach with our new friends. This resulted in half of us swimming in our clothes, or a little less. It was super crazy and amazing all in one!\

Thursday night was the France vs. Germany match, which was a big deal. The bar was packed and we hit up our usual spot at Checkpoint (the bar). Fans filled the room wall to wall, every time France got close to scoring or scored the room exploded with cheers and chants. It was so fun to be apart of the atmosphere there. France ended up winning the match, which caused the streets to fill with insane fans filling the fountain and city center. French flags flew high and people were exuberant from the win. Before long the girls and I thought why not join the celebration by jumping into the fountain too?! So that was another amazing experience.

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For Friday, I spent the day out on the sea, snorkeling and soaking up some sun. Snorkeling was beyond amazing and it leaves me breathless every time. For the evening, we went to a local night club to have a final hooray for one of our friends from Spain. The club did not open until midnight and we showed up at 11 pm, so we grabbed a bottle of wine and headed off to the beach to kill time. This time did not result in swimming. It was very chill, but then we finally went back to the night club and that was my first time in a club. It was super fun because I love dancing and I just danced for 2 hours straight basically. ‘Twas a great night!

It has been amazing being able to go out and see so much, I have met so many people from around the world and I feel so lucky to have this opportunity. The people I have met so far have really incredible souls and I am also thankful for my new girl gang (Danielle, Shayna & Bailey) #DaretoLove. I feel like I am dreaming from time to time. I can’t believe I only have two weeks left here in Nice and one in Paris. I hoping to embrace every moment!

I don’t have much for fashion today just because I have been so insanely busy but I will share my photos from Cannes/Marguerite. Also, it’s “Soldes” here in France right now which is basically like Black Friday but 5 weeks long, so I will be broke by the end of this trip. When I return to the States I will have to do a “Haul” type of post for all of you to see my goodies.

Outfit from Cannes:

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| Black & White Romper-Dry Goods |

Thank you all for reading today, sorry that my posts are at such crazy times but I hope you still love them. I enjoy doing these recaps of my travels, so let me know your thoughts too! I hope you have a Happy Monday and an even better week.

See you again soon!

xo, Lyss 

Quote for your Monday:

Nice, Eze & Monaco

Bonsoir Cuties // Good Evening Cuties,

I have finally arrived in Nice and I am all settled in with my host family. It has been a busy past couple of days and it sometimes still does not feel real. I arrived in Nice on Sunday, and that evening was spent with my host family. It has been very different trying to communicate in French. I came into this trip only having two years of French under my belt, so it has been difficult to say the least. It is kind of like a game of charades every night; but, I am slowly adjusting and learning new things every day.

So far, since I’ve been in Nice, we have visited the city of Eze and also Monaco, which are both beyond beautiful. I have also visited the gorgeous beach twice now, the water is quite salty but so refreshing from the hot sun. I began my classes at the language school, France Langue, which is right here in Nice. The class is very interesting but can be very long (4 hours 4 days a week!!!). Since arriving in Nice I have already seen my French progress from trying to speak to my host family and conversations in class.

 

Nice:

Nice is the home base for the next 3 weeks, I am taking classes in downtown Nice and walking past the beach everyday. Old Nice has been one of my favorite places so far here, along with the chateaux view of the city. The view here is unbelievable, you can see the whole city, plus the beautiful blue sea. Nice has been great so far, I have visited the beach twice now and classes are going great. The beach is a little different because it is made up of rocks, still not sure how I feel about that.

Eze:

Eze was this beautiful village tucked away in the mountains near Nice, we took a bus here on Wednesday. At the top of one of the rocks is a beautiful botanical garden, combined with the overlook of the Mediterranean, the view was unlike anything I have seen. I will share pictures but they do not so the view justice. I recommend this spot to everyone who ever wants to visit France. We also visited the Fragonard perfumery! I bought this lovely scented body lotion. Eze has been my favorite stop so far.

Monaco:

I was not in Monaco for very long but it is very cool place. Monaco is its own country in a way, they have a prince and palace. Our group moved very fast through Monaco and we were stuck on a bus for a good amount of time, so we did not really do much there except for walk. Monaco has an amazing casino and it’s filled with wealthy people, it’s quite a nice city though. I am hoping I can return for a longer period of time before we leave Nice for good. We hiked up a million stairs to reach an amazing overlook of the city, which I will share a photo below.

All the places we have visited so far have been amazing in different ways. I am really appreciative for the group activities but sometimes it gets annoying and hard to see all the things you would like when you have to wait on a large group.There are many more adventures to come though and I look forward to the next 4 weeks.

On to fashion, the fashion here in Nice has been a little different from Paris, but it is still equally chic. The sun is a little hotter here, therefore the fashion has a tropical touch to it. Brighter colors are welcome!

For my culture class, I have to work on a project and my topic is Fashion (la mode) in the French culture. I could not be more ecstatic to do “research” on this topic. So, I have purchased a Paris Vogue, visited some stores and people watched religiously; so far I have been able to pick up some key factors. Throughout this project I will be sharing my findings with all of you and hopefully provide you with some fashion advice.

For today though I bring you some of my outfits over the past week:

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For my day trip to Eze, I wore a burnt orange colored dress with my canvas flats from Roxy. This dress was super comfortable and perfect for the hot day. I would love to recommend it to you but I actually picked it up off a sale rack at a boutique. You can find similar dresses at H&M or Forever 21. Check local boutiques for unique pieces like this!

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For my tour of Nice on Monday I wore my favorite linen dress from Forever 21, it’s so light and airy for the summer. I paired it with my brown strappy sandals and my cross-body light pink purse. This was also very comfortable for my day that was filled with walking and exploring. Denim/linen styled garments are hot this summer and they are easy to style.

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for Monaco, I wore one of my favorite summer dresses paired with the same sandals I wore in the previous outfit. This dress is also very light, but I was still sweating after climbing all the stairs to the amazing views. I bought this dress last summer when I visited New York City and I still love it for the summer months.

Disclaimer: Don’t mind my crazy hair because I have not used any of my hair tools since I have arrived, therefore everyday is a different for my hair. It’s been a fun experience!

The days not included mostly included jean shorts and plain shirts, the easiest way to look chic but stay comfy. I just bought some really fun pants from a store here, so look for those in the upcoming posts.

I hope you are keeping up with me because I love sharing my journey with all of you. I am sorry for delayed posts and long breaks but keep up with me on Instagram if you are hungry for more. I may do a quote post here soon because some of the girls in my group have sparked my motivational self to do a post on being confident during bikini season. LOVE YOURSELF PEOPLE! Thank you for reading today and I will try to get another post to you early next week, but I do have lots of homework and such so be patient.

Find adventure everywhere!

xo, Lyss

Travel Quote:

A Note Before My Departure

Bonjour tout la Monde // Hello Everyone, 

Tomorrow is the day that I leave for France and before I left the country I wanted to do some house keeping on my blog. When I am in France I will not have the same access to internet as I do here, therefore I will probably only be able to post once a week or so. These will be spontaneous posts, so it is important that you subscribe to my email list below to catch all my posts.

Here are all my social media handles too:

Instagram: @betweenvogue_vangogh | Twitter: @Vogue_VanGogh |

Facebook Page: Vogue & Van Gogh

Also, when I am abroad my content in my travel posts will be a slightly different than my usual posts. I am going to share an insight on my travels and some of my outfits. I want to share my adventures with you but I also want to be able to enjoy every moment to the fullest, therefore I do not want to be behind my computer too much. I hope you all will keep up with me and feel free to share any of your travel stories with me along the way.

I will be in France for about 6 weeks and I will return to the States on July 31st. You can follow me through Paris, Bastille Day, living with a host family in Nice & eating all the amazing French food, all right here!

Check out my packing series: Packing for 6 Weeks in France & What’s in My Carry-On?

Check out my fashion forecast for France here!

My plane departs tomorrow at 5:35, my next post will probably once I arrive in Nice which will be next week sometime. I start in Paris for the first 3 days then we train to Nice on Monday, once we arrive I have to take an exam and get settled so give me some time. I hope you all stay connected on my crazy adventure and keep up with me on social media. As they say in France, Bon Voyage!

See you soon readers! // à bientôt! 

xo, Lyss 

While I am out of the office for a bit, check out some oldies but goodies:

Why Quitting Shouldn’t be Seen as Failure

3 Ways to Wear Denim this Season

Book Review: Leave Your Mark

 

Real Talk: Loving in the Eyes of Divorce

Hello Everyone,

Today I am going to address a more touchy subject for some, a subject that is also kind of personal to me. I have briefly mentioned it in previous posts that my parents are divorced, and I do not do this for sympathy or attention, it’s just the facts. Anyway, my parents have been divorced since I was two, so I am really not sensitive to the matter anymore.

The reason I bring up this topic is because of the way it has impacted how I love in life, in both negative and positive ways. Now, let me start by saying I love both of my parents very much and this post is not directed to hurt them or be a “shame-on-them” deal, it’s for other young adults out there who have gone through similar situations.

As I said before, these Real Talk posts are meant to be a common ground, to make an outsider not feel so alone in this crazy world. I do not want these to seem like a pity party or an all about me, but they will be my personal stories and views that you can take how you will. These are just real facts of life that we don’t always want to talk about, but they are there. This helps us connect on topics we may think we are alone on.

So, on to the topic of loving after watching your parents get divorced or even be divorced multiple times. Starting with some negatives…

It’s a lot harder to fully trust someone after witnessing you mom/dad crying on the floor, broken from a person who walked away. Nothing is set in stone in this world. Someone can wake up at anytime and be like “I don’t love you anymore” and just leave without any regrets or remorse. This is a very pessimistic view to have, but it is true and real. It happens. I’ve tried to explain this concept to my own boyfriend because I constantly ask him if he “really” loves me or if he “really” wants me for forever; and it’s hard to express this feeling. It’s not that I don’t trust him because I do, but like there is that small piece of me that will never fully allow someone to get all the way in.

I don’t mean to have it but it’s there.

Another disadvantage is you love differently, now this one is not necessarily bad, it’s just you love different. This can depend on the person, you could be a person that loves more passionately and holds on to your relationships a lot tighter, in fear that they may be lost or you could be a person who is very closed off and has a hard time opening up. I think I fall somewhere in the middle, as I mentioned before I question the relationship often. Will it last? Does he really love me? Why does he want me? Etc..

A positive to the situation though is that you learn from your parents mistakes. You seek a relationship where the other person treats you better than your father treated your mother or vice versa. You are more caring and emphatic to your partner, after all you wiped you moms tears and hugged your dad after every argument. You appreciate the small things because you know those are what really matter in a relationship. You are more passionate, you know that relationships are not always easy and they require work.

So, in the end, divorce truly does suck and it affects everyone involved. But, I think kids that come from a divorced family love stronger and care more deeply for their partners. They know when to forgive and forget and when to hold on. It can cause some issues in the beginning when you are scared to love and not ready to trust. But, overall just remember everyone is different and just because your parents may have got a divorce, that does not mean you are destined to have the same fate. I am sharing a quote at the bottom of this post that sums up the perspective you should have. Yes, you can focus on what your parents have done or gone through or you can look at it and say I’m going to change this. Focus on what could go right in your relationships rather than what’s going to go wrong. 

 Love is a beautiful thing and I may be young, but I know if you hold on to something and work on it everyday, you’ll never lose it. It’s like the grass outside, if you stop watering it, it dies. But, when you water it and fertilize it, the grass grows happy and tall. Relationships work the same way. If you don’t take care of them you can’t be upset when they die. That’s the moral of the story. 

Thank you for reading my second Real Talk in the series. This one was a little more open and I am/was nervous to post it, so I hope you liked it. Let me know if you have gone through similar things, I would love to connect with you. Also, let me know what Real Talks you would like to see in the future. Thank you again for reading and I wish you the best Wednesday.

If you missed the last one you can read it here. 

xo, Lyss

Wednesday’s Quote:

Saturday Adventures

Hello Cuties,

This past Saturday I spent the day exploring Grand Haven with my one of my best friends, Tessa, the owner of Simply Tess. I have only been to Grand Haven one other time, so it was very cool to really spend a whole day there. I will definitely have to return!

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Our first stop was at the adorable farmers market in Grand Haven; I picked up some yummy carrots and enjoyed looking at all the fresh and homegrown goods. There were so many options for vegetables and fresh flowers, I look forward to returning after I get back to the States in August. I plan on attending the local farmers market at home (Manitou Beach) next weekend.

After our market stop, we headed to the city center for some boutique shopping. We visited Lee & Birch, Lemongrass and Down to Earth; all very cute stores with a lot to offer. There was a slight overcast in the sky, so the weather was perfect for walking around. I was able to find a new dress, which actually happened to be a size large shirt and it is actually super cute! I also picked up a small gift for my host mom as well, I am so thrilled to meet my host family in just a few short weeks. 

We then grabbed lunch at the brew house in downtown Grand Haven, I actually was not a fan of the soup I chose, but I loved Tessa’s pizza. Our last stop was at the beach, of course. It was a little chilly at this point but it was nice to end our adventure on the beach, listening to the water and just relaxing. 

I’m so excited for my trip to France but I know I will miss these little weekend adventures with my bestie. What’s your favorite weekend adventure to take with friends?

 If you are looking for a new weekend trip check out one of my recent post Go Out More Often. 

For my outfit, I bought this dress from Forever 21 & I am in love with it! I’m supposed to be saving it for France but I could not resist. It is a light linen material and it is the most comfortable garment. I paired it with my brown strappy sandals and some of my favorite jewelry. (Pura Vida bracelets, Pandora bracelet and Forever 21 rings) 

I hope you all enjoyed this small post, I haven’t done one like this in awhile so, thank you for reading today! I wish you the best this week and I hope that you accomplish many goals. I had to send my laptop in for maintenance, so bare with me if my posts seem a little weird because they are coming from my phone. Thank you! 

Happy Monday. 

xo, Lyss

Monday Motivation:
  

Go Out More Often (GOMO)

Hello there Cuties,

Summer is just kicking off and the sun is shining bright, how are you going to get out and make the most of these hot summer days?

Don’t have a clue? Don’t know where to start? How about here…

This summer I plan to break the FOMO (fear of missing out) and start the GOMO (going out more often), what about you? I am going to share some of my favorite summer activities and events, as well as some new things I have yet to try. I’ll share both expensive & affordable events, events that are friendly for families or young adults. Don’t miss out on the summer heat, fill your schedule with more outdoor activities and less sitting behind a screen. The world is your playground, eventually your phone will die and all you will have is the world.

 

 

 

To break my FOMO, I am studying abroad this summer because my heart is seeking a new crazy adventure. I will be studying the French language and culture for 6 weeks in France, traveling from city to city and living with different French families. This will give me the full French experience and change my life. Spending time in the Mediterranean and The City of Lights (Paris) will for sure break that FOMO. Although this trip is the ultimate GOMO, this may be a little extreme for your budget but I will share some of my favorite ways to get out of the house and how you can enjoy every moment this summer.

Travel:

Traveling is the best way to really get out, it not only fills the void of travel in your adventurous heart but it fills your soul with happiness. Traveling breaks barriers and comfort zones. It challenges your mind and forces you to adapt to cultural differences. This is the ultimate way to get out, it feeds your soul. So how can you get out on that tight budget?

Small trips: This will all depend on your location but for me, in Michigan, a weekend road trip up north is the perfect trip. Find a hidden gem in your state and make a weekend trip to it. Last summer I traveled up north to Lake Leelanau and made a stop at Suttons Bay. It was a mother daughter trip that was super fun. We took a bike trip along the lake coast, enjoyed ice cream on the bay and found some hidden towns along M22. (M22 is a famous road for the adventurous Michiganders!)

Research your states parks, large lakes and popular places to visit then make a quick weekend trip. You can go camping (most affordable, especially in a group), you could do a house swap with a friend that lives else where or you can split a hotel. There are many possibilities!

Big trips (with a budget): Well, I recently shared an example of this in my post New York City for $500, Please. Traveling farther away does come with a price but through networking and planning helps. Carpool, split costs & make a travel budget. I’ll add more info on ways to budget, save and travel when you’re young below.

Traveling on a Budget | Traveling in your 20’s | Forbes-Saving for a Big Trip

Local:

Local events can be the perfect way for the average person to get out on a daily basis, as much fun as traveling is, it does come with a steep price.

Checking out some local events will get you out of the stuffy house and into the beautiful sunshine, even just for a couple of hours. Getting involved locally can be very rewarding as well, you can support local small businesses and get to know your community at a deeper level. Here are a few of my favorite local events and spots:

Farmers market: There are multiple farmers markets in the Grand Rapids area, and this year I plan on exploring most of them. Farmers markets are in nearly every city, if not in your exact city check surrounding areas. My super tiny hometown started one just last year and it is perfect. There is plenty to see and it’s right on our local lake. It’s the perfect way to spend a quite Saturday morning. Find farmers markets near you by looking online.

Here are some of the favorites in the Grand Rapids area:

Fulton Street Market | Downtown Market GR | Holland Farmers Market | Michigan Farmers Markets

Museum: You may be turning your head at this one because who wants to spend time at a museum? Well, many museums put on events weekly and they are either free or very affordable. Plus, you may have never even explored your local history.

Check out my local museums:

Grand Rapids Art Museum (GRAM) | Grand Rapids Public Museum | Grand Rapids Children Museum

Beach: What better way to spend a hot summer day then at the beach? In Michigan, we are lucky to have miles and miles of lake shore to spend our time, but if that is not the case for you maybe find a local pool to catch some rays at.

For me, I love exploring the beaches along the coast of Lake Michigan. They are usually the most beautiful. Don’t know which Michigan beach to check out?

Here are 19 of the best beaches: Best Michigan Beach Towns

Concerts: Yes, concerts can be pricey but if you look for local talent the tickets are usually a little more affordable. You may want to check out those tickets for the Selena Gomez concert, but if you look at a local venue you may find a new favorite band at a more affordable price. This can also be fun if you want a night out with some friends, you can purchase a cheap ticket and either love the music you find or make fun of it and get a laugh out of the experience. I have loved the cheap concerts that I have attended, they are usually the best shows and the artists are more personable.

Here are my local venues:

The Pyramid Scheme | The Intersection  | The Orbit Room

Cafe hopping: A favorite activity of mine is trying out different cafes, in my area this is very easy to do. Grand Rapids offers an extensive list of cafes to try, there is one for everyone’s taste. Beyond coffee shops, you can explore smoothie bars or brewery’s if you are of age. My city also has an extensive choice of brewery’s, beer city USA.

Here are my favorite cafes:

The Lantern Coffee Bar | Madcap Coffee Co.  | SIP Organic Juice Bar

Events:

Events differ from city to city, but I am going to give you just a couple examples that I attended this past year. Events change season to season, so be sure you check out event planning sites like Eventbrite, they sell tickets to events worldwide and you can research local events based on your location.

This past year I attended a couple of fashion shows, an art exhibit opening, ArtPrize and a few others. ArtPrize is a known art event across the world, it takes place right near me (LUCKY!!) in Grand Rapids. This is one you have to for sure check out! I never knew about these events until I did some research and networking.

You can find more ways to get out this summer by clicking here and checking out Eventbrite. I found great events to attend through this company and you can too!

Let’s make FOMO a thing of the past and start getting out more. Life is too short to let it pass you by on the couch, don’t be jealous of other peoples lives, just make your life as amazing. I think FOMO began since social media has taken off, we watch people post these perfect pictures and instantly feel low about your own life. Change that!

Get out, meet up with friends, smile more and worry less. GOMO is the new FOMO, next time you see a post on Instagram and you feel “left out”, get out and do something that feeds your soul.

 

Thank you all for reading this post, it was in collaboration with Eventbrite’s summer GOMO project, that I love! I hope this post has inspired you to hope of that couch, turn off your phone and spend your hard-earned cash on something meaningful rather than material items. Life is truly too short, don’t miss out anymore! Summer is just beginning and now is your chance to plan some amazing trips and attend some new events. Thanks again for reading, subscribe below if you enjoyed this post and want to see more!

Happy Fri-yay!

xo,

Lyss

Spring Favorites

Hello Pretty People,

I hope your week has been filled with endless sunshine and positive vibes. Today I am going to share a few my favorite things from this Spring, from books to beauty products. These are products or things that I have been using a lot this season and I thought I would share them with all of you.

(Starting with the first picture)

1. Essie St. Lucia Lilac: This is such a perfect nail color for the spring season, it’s light and it follows the pastel color scheme everyone loves. I have been wearing this on my toes and it’s so cute and girly. This nail polish costs about $8.50 but you can find similar colors else where.
2. Mask of Magnaminty-LUSH: This is an all natural, self-preserving face mask from LUSH, it is amazing and I am loving it. It has been helping me fight my stress breakouts and leaving my skin feeling fresh. It is for both your face and back, but I have mostly used it on my face. The mint makes your face feel tingly and leaves it smooth. It is the perfect deep-cleansing mask to fight all breakouts and refresh a tired face.
3. Iced Coffee: I have always been a lover of iced coffee but especially in the warmer season this is my go-to drink. It’s also a whole lot cheaper than buying a fancy latte and it is cold summer drink.
4. Vogue (March edition): Vogue is obviously my favorite fashion magazine, hence part of my blog title. This contains the best high-fashion styles and news, along with seasonal trends. Definitely a must-have for your beach bag!
5. Forever 21 Grey Tee: I recently picked up a basic grey v-neck tee from F21 and I love it. The fabric is light and it matches basically every piece. Grey is one of my favorite colors to style with because it is a neutral. Although I got mine from F21, you can find something similar anywhere.
6. Madcap Coffee Co.: I just visited this cafe in downtown GR with my friend Tessa, I’ve only been there once but the coffee was good and the atmosphere was relaxing. It was decorated in white, the original brick was exposed and the street view tied in the whole environment. If you are ever in GR, you should check out this cafe.
7. Spinning: As I mentioned in a recent post, spinning has been my fitness obsession the past few weeks. I burn killer calories, it boosts my metabolism and I feel refreshed the whole day. Spinning is a great workout, check it out if you have the chance. It’s the perfect
8. #GirlBoss: I started to read this book about a year ago, but I had to return it to a friend and was unable to finish it. But, I recently received this as a gift and I am restarting the book and I will probably take it along with me to France. This book gives women a look into starting your own business and kicking a** while doing it. Sophia is the perfect example of a #GirlBoss and this book inspired my #GirlBoss series.
9. Pura Vida Bracalet: This is one of my favorite companies because with the purchase of a bracelet proceeds are given to a charity (depending on the bracelet you choose). I chose “for the oceans” and a percentage of my purchase went toward marine life conservation and ocean preservation.
10. Victoria’s Secret Body Lotion: This lotion has been my everyday post-shower lotion, it leaves my skin smooth and soft. I use the coconut milk scent, but there are many other scents. I also was using the Acai body wash up until I ran out. I was unsure about trying these products but I have adored them.

I’d love to hear about your favorite Spring items in the comments below or on Twitter. These are just a few of my favorites and I may do another while I am in France for my French inspired favorites, if you would like to see that let me know.

Thank you for reading this little post today, I hope your Wednesday has been great. I am working on another #GirlBoss right now and I will hopefully have that next week. I am also wondering what you guys would like to see in my posts from France, let me know in the comments as well. Thank you again for reading, see you soon!

Happy Wednesday.

xo,

Lyss

Today’s Inspiration:  

Cannes Film Festival 2016

Hello Everyone,

The Cannes Film Festival kicked off last week and my focus has been on the fashion, which has yet to disappoint. Since I will be departing for the South of France myself in less than 40 days, I figured we should start my France fiasco with the best looks from the Film Festival.

Starting with the beautiful Blake Lively, her looks have been on point, without a doubt. From the moment she arrived in Cannes to her princess inspired red carpet looks, she is killing it. Some are calling Blake the Queen of Fashion at Cannes Film Festival. Even with her little baby bump, she makes all these pieces look amazing. I’ll share some of her looks below:

attends the ‘Cafe Society’ Photocall during The 69th Annual Cannes Film Festival on May 11, 2016 in Cannes, France.

CANNES, FRANCE – MAY 13: Blake Lively seen leaving The Hotel Martinez on May 13, 2016 in Cannes, France . (Photo by Neil Mockford/Alex Huckle/GC Images)

I loved the scarlet red coat with the flowering detail, underneath she wore a striped red dress. I also loved her Cinderella inspired ball gown, it was such an elegant look. In the bottom middle photo, she is rocking a wet-suit dress for the premiere/showing of her new movie “The Shallows”, only Blake could rock such a tough fabric. Blake Lively is such a beautiful and classy woman, hence why she is one of my favorite celebrities and fashion icons.

My next favorite celeb that is slaying the festival is Victoria Beckham. She is another classic woman that knows how to kill the red carpet. As a fashion designer and icon herself, her looks are both edgy and chic. I’ll share her looks below:

I loved Victoria’s red carpet jumpsuit, it wasn’t your usual ball gown, yet it still was one of the hottest looks of the night. As Vogue put it “Swapping out the embellished top and skirt from her Pre-Fall collection that she wore for the airport, Beckham looked stunning in a menswear-inspired bustier trouser suit and statement diamonds from Chopard” Her stunning beauty and simple style make her style completely classic.

Both Blake and Victoria brought the jumpsuit look to the Film Festival. I loved that they broke the usual “dress” code and pushed the fashion limits. Pants on the red carpet are not only for men, these ladies proved that loud and clear.

Here are more beautiful looks from Cannes:

I cannot believe that I will have the opportunity to visit Cannes when I am in France, although I am sad that it will not be during the Film Festival. I have loved watching the fashion at the Festival and I cannot wait to see more looks. If you are also following the fashion, feel free to share your favorite looks with me.

Check out what the fashion magazines are saying: Vogue | Elle | Harpers Bazaar

Thank you for reading on this bright Monday morning. I hope your week is filled with great adventures. Don’t forget to subscribe below or follow my social media sites, @Vogue_VanGogh & @BetweenVogue_VanGogh. Thank you again for reading today. 

Happy Monday!

xo,

Lyss

Monday Motivation: