Finding Time for Creative Projects

Happy Friday! It's the end of the week but I still haven't managed to find my groove. Since post-grad life hasn't dictated a schedule for me (yet), I spent the beginning of the week at the beach with my fam and then over the last two days have been hanging out at home. My sleep schedule has consisted of me both going to bed and waking up very late, and now here we are at the week's end!

While I have lots of free time, I've been thinking about the creative projects I can or want to be taking on. I want to read more, start working out regularly, and upload to the blog three times a week. I'm also applying for jobs like crazy, doing lots of organizing and trying to establish healthy routines (not the going to bed late part) as I set up to be a working adult.

One of the problems I keep running into is the idea that my creative projects aren't productive. If I'm writing for the blog, I'm just wasting time on my computer. I could be doing something more useful instead of sitting around reading, cleaning my email inbox, or brainstorming choreography. These are all things I love and enjoy and want to be doing, but I feel as though sometimes they don't show enough results at the end of the day to qualify as valuable. 

So, it seems that every year when summer draws to a close, I've read way fewer books than I wanted, stopped journaling, haven't cleaned out the drawer I've been meaning to go through since January. And now that summer doesn't signify moving back to school and starting with classes again, this is especially important this year more than ever. The last thing I want is to get to 2019 and realize that I gave up on all the creative projects and activities I wanted to pursue in 2018. 

Does anyone else feel this sense of guilt for taking time to pursue their creative hobbies? I definitely want to nip this nasty feeling in the bud before the rest of this year flashes before my eyes. June is officially over this weekend, and that means that we are halfway to another round of holidays and New Year's resolutions. Over the next six months it's our chance to take on those tasks that might not further our 'productivity' in the traditional sense, but make us feel alive and spirited and good. What will you be doing to feed your soul creatively in the next six months?

Summer Shopping List with a Twist

Happy hump day everyone! This post is going up a little later than anticipated, but I finally got resettled in from the beach this weekend and am doing lots of brainstorming for where I want to take this blog. 

Today, I wanted to share my summer shopping list for the season and the many different types of pieces that I am coveting for the warm weather. I wanted to break this down by category, as inspired by my three favorite summer fruits! Click through below to see the pieces I'm after right now, whether they be classic, girly, or a bit edgier. 

What is your favorite summer fruit? And what's on your wishlist for the season? I'm trying to avoid thinking about buying a professional wardrobe and all the easy, breezy things I could wear instead. And, I have a fun concert coming up in the next month that I have to choose an outfit for also! xox🌱

Beach Trip Tunes

Happy Monday! I got back in from the best beach weekend with friends last night and we spent all weekend in the sand, on the boardwalk, and sitting outside chatting. One of my favorite parts of making a trip to the beach is stocking up on all the essentials (Dunkin and Wawa 😉) and blasting some tunes all the way to the shore! Back before I left school, I started a playlist for summer that reminds me of denim cutoffs, plum and cherries, and feel good vibes. It has some of my OG classics and newer songs that have me wanting to dance on the beach all night long... Who here is a fan of bringing speakers to the beach? Or do you prefer to just listen to the waves? xox🌱

My Summer '18 Look

Happy 2nd day of summer! After reading yesterday's ITG post about defining your summer 'look', I wanted to take a stab at my very own moodboard for the summer featuring all the pieces that my closet is itching for. I've been dreaming of my summer wardrobe since January when I started a Pinterest board for the year, and I've been gravitating toward a lot of the same colors, prints, and fabrics all summer. 

My look for this year consists of lots of gauzy linens, classic stripes, and pops of blood orange reds. I'm totally head over heels for that green striped bikini - the color is so retro to me - and other nods to the past like neon and hair scarves. Anything blue, whether it be navy or lighter shades, is my go-to for warmer weather paired with Jacks and white denim, and I've been wearing this Essie color on my nails for the pop of scarlet. To keep things up to date, I would try some bold eyeliner (I've been tightlining with green almost every day) and otherwise minimal makeup. Add some high waisted denim, classic tees, and a broken in college crewneck to the mix and my summer look is near complete! What is your fashion mood for the season? xox🌱

10 Ways to Practice Sustainability this Summer

Now that I've graduated from school, I've been thinking of how I can and should incorporate all that I've learned into my blog and my daily life. This summer is the perfect time to try out different sustainable behaviors and really refine my lifestyle so that I can practice what I preach. Check out my list of 10 ways I plan to incorporate more sustainability in my everyday!

I'm really excited for the new direction the blog is taking and will hopefully be able to write a more lengthy post soon talking about what other kinds of changes you can expect to see soon! xox🌱

College Graduation

It's been a looong time but I'm popping over to the blog to say that I graduated from college at the end of May! I can't even begin to describe what it feels like to finally be done (it hasn't really set in yet). 

I wanted to share a few photos that I took with my friends, and my twin brother, to commemorate our graduation, and also share some updates on how The Scalloped Edge is changing now that I have lots of free post-grad time.

Our university has a tradition not to step on the seal located in one of the main academic buildings. We took a few silly shots like this with our photographer and then I went after the graduation ceremony (once I had my diploma!) to step on the seal and take one last walk around campus.

Our photographer did an amazing job at taking lots of really beautiful pictures, as well as capturing all the fun that my best friends and I have. We are all members of the same sorority and were so lucky to find each other! Of course, Josie and I ended up buying coordinating Lilly Pulitzer dresses - on any given day we are almost always dressed in exactly the same thing!

My friend Jacqui and I have our own hashtag - #jacqandvictakepics - so be sure to follow along with our adventures on Instagram.

We did it! I'm sure that one day soon I'll have a lot more thoughts about what it's like to no longer be a college student, but for now it just seems like summer vacation 4.0. It's been such a wonderful experience and I can't wait to share more with you about my studies, what I learned in school, and how I'm hoping to apply all my knowledge going forward. Let me know if you have any questions regarding academics, applying to colleges, or my collegiate experience!

College: Johns Hopkins University

Major: B.A. in Global Environmental Change and Sustainability

Minors: Entrepreneurship & Management; Spanish Language & Hispanic Culture

Dress: Lilly Pulitzer

Earrings: J. Crew (similar style)

Shoes: Guess (old) / Jack Rogers

Photography by Tracy Gao