My Word for April

Hey hi!!

Happy (day b4) April! I think April will be a good month. I am manifesting happy & positive vibes for us besties. My word for this month: 

                                                                        GRATITUDE

I think this will be a nice way to actively remind myself to be GRATEFUL for where I am. This plays into a part of mindfulness (shoutout January) and is a great way to maintain a positive outlook. Especially when things are difficult, being GRATEFUL helps ground you in the present and focus on what matters. GRATITUDE is a simple habit that I like to incorporate into tasks like brushing my teeth and journaling. I am going to work on being GRATEFUL for little things during my day that make me smile because I have so many things to be GRATEFUL for, and for that, I am extremely lucky. Now let's go slay April!

Xoxo,

Ava Lillie

                                                 (Beautiful art & quote from Christine Owens)

March Reflection

 Hi friends!

Happy March 31st! Now that I am up to date, I can set a word for the month and do a reflection. How awesome. My word for March was CONSISTENCY. 

In reflecting on my March, I think I met my goal to be CONSISTENT. I developed a routine of going to yoga tues, wed, and thurs at 8, and sat & sun at 9:30. This is nice to know the instructors and have a routine of what classes I like. I finished my first quarter of classes at my new school at it went really well! I am proud of myself. Even in finals with less structure, I maintained a routine that helped me stay balanced and focused. I kept up with new friends and old, and family members, which is really important to me. 

Yay March! You were good to me. Even though it was my word for this month, I hope to remain CONSISTENT for the rest of the year.

Here's to April, spring, and more sunshine!

Xoxo, 

Ava Lillie

(Art from Christine Owens)

Roadtrip Review

 Hi friends!

My family and I are driving home from our week-long road trip to the south. I live in Chicago and haven't been anywhere in the South besides Florida, and I loved it. We made kinda a rectangle? Our stops were as follows: Memphis, Jackson, New Orleans, Gulf Shores, Montgomery, and Nashville. Yes, there was a lot of driving, and for the most part, I was the passenger princess hehe. 

In Memphis, Tennesse we went to the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel. It is where MLK was shot, it was very powerful to be in the building where this happened. We also explored downtown Memphis, saw the ducks at the Peabody Hotel, and ofc had good food. On our way out, we went to Graceland where Elvis lived which was so fun, Elvis is so cool. 

In Jackson, Mississippi we stopped at the MS Civil Rights Museum. This museum is incredibly well done, with very interactive exhibits that are divided into sections. It was informative and inspiring, great for every age. 

We spent a few days in New Orleans, which was so awesome. We ofc had all the good eats like beignets (why are they not spelled like benyays?), gumbo, and pralines. My sister has gone on service trips to help those affected by Hurricane Katrina, so she showed us around the lower 9th ward. We went to the Tate, Etienne, and Provost (TEP) Center which is the school where the first three Black girls went to an all-white school, one of the first steps to desegregation. We met Leonna Tate, one of the three women who now works at the TEP Center and has a foundation committed to "remembering the past while looking forward." It was so cool to meet Ms. Tate and impactful that she is only 70, a reminder that this did not happen that long ago. In New Orleans, we explored the French Quarter, went on a cemetary tour, and saw live music on Frenchmen street. 

Then we spent a few days in the Gulf Shores of Alabama, which was gorgeous. The sand was white, the gulf was a little cold, but the sun was shining and it was beautiful. One morning I watched the sunrise and walked on the beach, and then went to a hot yoga class. Geeez it was hard and so hot. It was fun to go to a new studio and an advanced class, and my instructor was awesome. She used to be a snowbird from Chicago and just moved to the Gulf Shores permanently and works as a yoga instructor, talk about life goals. 

On our way back up to Chicago, we stopped in Montgomery, Alabama. We went to the Legacy Sites which was the most powerful museum(s) I have ever been to (my family luvvssss museums if you can't already tell, and I do too). The Legacy Sites are funded by the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) that were started by Bryan Stevenson. He is the author of Just Mercy, a novel that brought attention the problems in the criminal justice system. EJI is committed to end mass incarceration, excessive punishment, and racial inequality. The cite had three parts: the Legacy Museum, the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, and the Freedom Monument Sculpture Park. The Legacy Museum gives a timeline from slavery to mass incarceration through technology and art. The National Memorial for Peace and Justice is dedicated to victims who died from the racial terror of lynching. It is the first memorial for those who died and confronts society today for not recognizing it. The structure is very powerful and emotional. The Freedom Monument Sculpture Park is new, located along the Alabama River, and honors enslaved people. The Park features art and a Freedom Memorial that contains more than 100,000 Black family names who were the fist to be officially recongized in the 1870 census. The technology beside it allows for a QR code to help people find their last name on the wall as a connection to the courage and strength of their past. 

Our final stop was Nashville, yeeeehaw! I love Nash its so fun. We walked around Broadway street, went in a cutie neighborhood my friend who lives in Nash recommended, and I got cowboy boots. Huuuuge highlight for me. I got tacovas and got the customized with a sexcccy cowboy omg. They say ava and are so cute and I will be wearing them all summer. Very excited, if you can't tell lol.

Currently, we are in the middle of nowhere Indiana, and I have to pee! A small bladder is really terrible for road trips. This road trip has been epic. I am grateful to my family to spend it with me and take my picture at every stop. To the south, I will be back! Thanks for reading this far friends. 

Xoxo,

Ava Lillie

I have baby fever

Whats's up dear readers!

If you were to talk to me 6 months ago I would have said I would be a fun aunt and just live with my hot husband and be dinks. But o how that has changed. I started babysitting for this family a few summers ago on occasion, but they just had a baby, so now I babysit them a couple days every week. And to think I used to think kids were annoying! Now I want a baby!!!

The family I babysit for is so sweet, and I genuinely enjoy hanging out with all of the kids from the 1-year-old to the 11-year-old girl who is very similar to me. I even like playing Fortnite with the two middle boys. Being a mom is so fun. But also so tiring geez I cannot imagine doing that full time yet. 

I can’t wait to be pregnant and dress my bump, name my baby, have a cute mini-me and my husbands mini-me, and dress my baby in the most adorable outfits. I defo want to get married and spend time with my husband before I have kids, but I’m excited to be in my 30s and have kids. Besides what am I gonna do when I am 37 and bored. And my sisters will def have kids so we will force our kids to be friends and have so many family gatherings. My parents are gonna be the funniest and best grandparents. And I want to be pregnant with my besties and be like the summer I turned pretty fams where we vacay together and our kids fall in love./ Wow. I am shocked on this character change for me, but I guess motherhood is one of my callings. 

Xoxo,

Ava Lillie 

Spring

Hi friends!

It’s almost my favorite season! YAY! I am so excited for spring, it is the absolute best season. The weather is getting warmer, the sun starts to shine more, the days are getting longer, flowers are starting to bloom, and summer is on the horizon. What’s there not to like about spring?? (besides the terrible allergies I get from it lol, why is sneezing in class so embarrassing🙈) 

Spring is technically March 19th to June 20th, to get specific with you, friends. So it’s basically a little bit of March, April, May, and June. These are top-tier months (besides July which is without a doubt the best month). 

One of the main reasons I love spring is because of the flowers. I developed a love for gardening when I started helping my neighbor in the summer of 2020. What started as weeding, turned into planting produce, making pots, garden arrangements, and a hobby I look forward to every spring and summer. Spring is normally a preparation time for the garden, filled with weeding, turning over soil, and cutting down things that have died in the winter. I know readers, all of these tasks sound so boring, and if you asked me 5 years ago to do this, I would have had to be dragged out of the house to do it. But now, I love putting on a good podcast or audiobook and gardening, even weeding is therapeutic. 

The smell of blooming flowers, sun shining on your face, and going on long walks is just amazing. I love spring. I could talk about it forever, but will spare you from any more rambling my dear readers. I hope spring has sprung where you are and you can enjoy the best season!! 

Xoxo,

Ava Lillie 

(pictures from last spring when I visited my freshman year roommate in DC😇)

Fav shows

Hi friends! Here are my favorite shows at the moment! I am a big fan of reality tv, watching dramatic people fall in love, sitcoms, and old abc shows from the 2010s. 

• Pretty Little Liars 
• Mindy Project
• New Girl
• The Bachelor/ Bachelorette/ bip
• Survivor 
• Amazing Race
• Switched at Birth
• Love is Blind 

Give me any show recs in the comments plz! Have a good week :) 

Xoxo, 

Ava Lillie 

To my roommate:

Dear Kenly, kenners, kiwi, froomie, & my bestie, 

Thank goodness you replied to my last-minute Instagram DM to be my roommate. I could not imagine my life without you. Freshman year was full of ups and downs, but definitely more ups, all thanks to you. 

I seriously wouldn’t want to live in a shoebox with anyone else, and often I wish I could wake up next to you in Gooch 312. First laying in bed scrolling on Instagram reels just to send them to each other, playing 7 Pm while we get ready, wearing each other’s clothes to complete our outfits, eating an omelet and sharing a fruit bowl, and walking to the library or class listening to weird music like Hamilton. I love doing life with you. I cannot wait to keep doing life with you (hopefully geographically closer soon, that's my bad) and become crazy cat ladies. 

I know that if I ever need anyone, you are my go-to person. You are the most supportive person out there. You put everyone before yourself and care so deeply for the people you love. I admire you. You are so smart, strong, fierce af, gorgeous, and littttyyy. I am so lucky to know you. 

I miss you every day. Doing random tasks, getting bevies, going on walks, debriefing, and even sitting in silence on my bed is not the same without you by my side. If I need someone to tell me the truth if my outfit is ugly or too pink, only you will, and if I need to tell you a tmi i know you will always answer my call. I hope you know how wonderful you are and what a profound impact on my life you have made. You will always be the Ken to my barbie, my partner in crime, and hold a special place in my heart. Thanks for supporting me through it all, I love you always. 

Xoxo, 

Ava Lillie

Yoga

 Hi friends! 

I recently went into yoga a few months ago and it has been life-changing. My older sister has always told me to try it and I’m so glad I did. 

It’s the perfect mix of a workout and mindfulness. I’m sweaty but not dripping (unless it’s hot yoga). I go most mornings and on the weekends to my fav classes. My favorite style is vinyasa flow, and when I am tired I like hatha. Basically, the difference is vinyasa is a more active class with movement linked to breath, whereas hatha is slower poses and more focused on alignment and stretching.

The community at my yoga studio is welcoming and warm. I have a few friendly faces I will put my mat next to and chat with after class. Last week a yoga friend brought muffins after class! It was so nice. 

My favorite yoga teacher always has a 75-minute class on Saturday and Sunday mornings, she has the best energy, playlist, and flows in her classes. It is fun to work on headstands, splits, and poses. I (almost!) have a headstand.

I love yoga and am fortunate to have access to an awesome studio. When I don’t have time for a whole class, I often look at YouTube videos and use those. They are a great way to try yoga with very low stakes. And if it's not your thing, that is okay too. Any way to move your body is good for you! It doesn’t need to be a traditional workout, it could simply be a walk from the train to your house. 

Hope you all are having a good week. 

Xoxo, 

Ava Lillie

(a picture from my yoga studio, I have slowly built up the confidence to go in the second row)

Growing up

Hi friends!

Good morning, afternoon, night, & thanks for stopping by :)

I have been thinking a lot about change and growing up. Currently queuing 'Landslide' to dramatically bawl my eyes out on the train while I write this. Growing up is hard. First, it is your oldest sister moving away to college, splitting your shared clothes, and begging her to come home on weekends. Then your other sister moves away, there are no more game nights, and it is just my parents and I. Family dinners of 5 turned into dinners for 3, the house is always quiet, and I long for nights fighting over what to watch on tv. Then it came my time to move away, and I never fully thought about what it would be like and how hard it would truly be. 

No one writes guidelines on 'how to grow up', explaining the sadness of no longer sharing breakfast with your sisters, carpooling with your best friend to school, seeing your high school friends in the hallways, driving down familiar streets of your neighborhood, and coming home to a parent cooking dinner. These small daily moments I think about when I now do many of these tasks alone, wishing for the company of my closest loved ones. I have made new friends, and surrounded myself with people I can do these mundane tasks with, but there holds a special place in my heart for the people I did it with first. 

I will always cherish my childhood and maintain my relationships that shaped me into the person I am today. Reminiscing, laughing over old stories, and re-hashing the same drama will always be fun. My hometown will always hold a special place in my heart: it is filled with stores I shopped at for hours in middle school, restaurants I went on awkward first dates, and parks my sisters and I choreographed gymnastics routines in. 

Even though growing up is hard, I am grateful to have a foundation of love to grow from. New beginnings and change are opportunities to learn new things and meet new people. "When in doubt, zoom out." There is a life beyond my life situation."  Christine Owen's art always reminds me there is a world way bigger than me. Her art grounds me in the present, encourages me to take change one step at a time, and makes growing up look a little less scary. 

Hope you all resonated with my thoughts and remember to stay in touch with your long- distance loved ones.

Xoxo,

Ava Lillie

Fav movies

Hi my dear readers!! 

Today's favorite is my fav movies, a small list because up until a year ago I was weird and didn't really like movies. Well, I am still weird. But at least I watch movies now. At last, here's my list!

• How to lose a guy in 10 days (classic, love it, I want her yellow dress)
• The hunger games movies (specifically catching fire and the new one) Also.... many people and strangers have told me I look like jennifer lawrence when she is Katniss... biggest compliment of my life💅 
• Twilight movies ( team Jacob, always.)
• Anyone but you (I am in love with glen powell) 
• Trolls 
• Top gun maverick (zaddy miles teller)
• Descendants (so. good.) 

Plz comment movie recs! I like anything, but especially love rom-coms, hot actors, and cutie wholesome movies.

Xoxo, 

Ava Lillie 

To my mom:

Dear Mom, ruffy, & my bestie, 

Thank you does not encapsulate my gratitude for you!!!!!! You are the most wonderful mom and person I have ever met. Thoughtful, creative, loving, beautiful, strong, and overall an amazing human being. I would not be in this world without you & I would not be the person I am today without you!!

I am forever grateful to have been raised by and cared for by the most wonderful mother. From momma-kitty play dates, to watching bad reality TV, and all our 'together time', I have grown increasingly grateful for you as I grow up. 

You inspire me to be the best woman I can be & challenge me to persevere. I will always look up to you and strive to be just a little glimpse of how awesome you are. Thank you for surrounding me with strong women role models like grandma and your best friends to remind me how empowering it is to be a woman (above is a picture of my mom and grandma)

And for my reading friends, remember, this is our moms/ dads/guardians first time doing this life too, so give them some grace and gratitude today & always. 

I love you to the moon & back Mom!!

Xoxo,

Ava Lillie 

Building mindfulness into habits

Hi friends!!

Happy day! I hope your day is going well, and if it’s not, take some time to care for yourself tonight! Sending strength & love <3

I have recently been focusing on building routines, and in this, trying to build healthy habits. Doing things such as daily gratitude, positive affirmations, and meditations are hard to commit to. 

One of my therapists suggested attaching a habit to a task. So for example, when I brush my teeth before bed, I say three things that I’m grateful for. While I’m brushing my teeth I normally don’t even remember what I think about. Now, it’s an intentional time to practice daily gratitude that doesn’t require any extra steps or time. 

While getting ready in the morning, I have a mirror with sticky notes of affirmations. Every morning (if I’m not running late) I try to add a sticky note. It can be about my physical appearance, internal traits, my personality, or whatever I feel! This encourages me to start the day with a positive mindset. Then I can look at these notes whenever I need, and there is an abundance of personal affirmations on my mirror in case I can’t think of anything at that moment. 

I listen to a meditation before bed, and I am working on adding meditation when I wake up or little moments throughout the day, but it’s a work in progress which is okay!!! 

These are just a few easy ideas to add to your daily routine to incorporate mindful habits! Also, I am not certified in anything or saying you all should do this, or that it has cured my mental health problems. I am just speaking from experience with many therapists and what helps me! Have a wonderful rest of your day my dear readers. 

Xoxo, 

Ava Lillie

(Art from Christine Owens, illustrating the power of a thought)

Fav flowers

Hey friends! 

Here's another list of favs for y'all. I garden over the summer (don't worry, I'll have a post dedicated to gardening coming soon). There are almost too many to just make a small list, but here's a few of the best💐🌸🌻👩🏻‍🌾

• Daffodil
• Magnolia
• Cherry blossom 
• Tulips 
• Snow on the mountain
• Snapdragons 
• Peonies 
• Lillies of the valley 
• Angelonia 
• Purple vinca 
• Topaz rose
• Bougainvillea
• Poppy 

That's just a few of many beautiful flowers :) Here's a picture of my peonies blooming last summer! I am so excited for the spring weather. Yay. 

Xoxo,
Ava Lillie

Froyo has my heart

Hi readers!

Froyo is probably the best thing in the whole wide world. So many flavors, toppings, syrups, and cereals. So many different combinations. Can be fruity or chocolate or vanilla whatever your heart desires!!!!! 

It’s just so good. What not to like. Well, I am a wee bit dairy-free so it does hurt the stomach, but well worth it. 

My appreciation for froyo grew during my junior year of high school in Covid. With nothing to do, my friends and I would wear masks and drive with the windows down to get froyo. So fun. Then senior year, we found our fav froyo place in the city and would make frequent trips there. Car ride karaoke, a car meant for 6 fitting 9, filling froyo bowls too high, playing board games, and chatting. It was so much fun. 

I love froyo and all my wonderful memories attached to such a delicious sweet treat. Go get yourself froyo or a sweet treat dear readers, treat yourself!!!

Xoxo, 
Ava Lillie💋

Why I love Valentine’s Day

Hi hi luvies!

I might need multiple posts dedicated to Valentine’s Day because I luv it SO much. A day celebrating love!!! Everyone wears pink & red, gets their partners & friends flowers, makes cutie cards, and love is really in the air! I even love Valentine’s Day single, honestly more than when I was in a relationship, because there are so many fun valentines things to do. Wine night to painting to binging rom cons, it’s so fun. I just luv love day!

I am lucky to have grown up with a lot of love in my household, and on Valentine’s Day my mom would always make us handmade valentines (shout-out mom, go read my love letter to her, ily Ruthie). This started my love for valentines day early. I loved making valentines for my classes in elementary school and still make them for my friends now💌 Crafting is so fun! 

Valentine’s Day is without a doubt my favorite holiday. It is definitely an overlooked and often hated on day, which is understandable as it can bring up mixed emotions. I love Valentine’s Day because everyone can celebrate it, no matter what religious background. 

I luv love day!!! Pink day!! Yay love. It is so awesome. It is so nice to be loved and to be loved is to be known. How nice it is to be known, seen, and valued. Go tell someone you care about you love them and always check in with your loved ones🫶

Xoxo,

Ava Lillie

To my bestfriend:

 Dear Ashby,

Hi bestie! Wow! Over 10 years of friendship?? That’s almost half of our lives, wowza. We met on our local swim team around age 6, but did not become real friends until about age 8 when we were on the ‘A relay team.’ What a banger of a team we were, that was epic. 

My childhood is filled with memories of us biking around our neighborhood, millions of swim practices racing next to you & spending so long in the locker room after, summer days going to the pool twice in one day, going to Starbucks for drinks way too big that we never finish, buying skin products at ulta that would make me break out into a full body rash, and sitting on my couch annoying my sisters. You were the best person to grow up with. I always wanted to be a twin, and the universe made you my built-in twin. 

I wholeheartedly believe in soulmates. But, I think that everyone can have multiple soulmates, romantic and friendship ones too. I believe that we are soulmates. There is no one I could spend that much time with and never get sick of. Time does really fly when you are having fun! (Sorry this is so cheesy readers) Hanging out with you energizes me instead of draining my social battery, and we just get along swimmingly. (hehe get it, because we were on swim team together) There could really be no me, without you. Ava and Ashby 4ever #dynamicduo

You have played a crucial part in shaping who I am today, and I am forever grateful to have grown up with such strong, smart, passionate, gorgeous, and all-around amazing women. You constantly amaze me in your academics #compscibaddie and meaningful relationships, and shine a bright light on everyone who gets the chance to meet you. I am so excited to keep doing this life together: living together in our 20s, getting girl boss jobs, being bridesmaids in each other’s weddings, raising our cutie babies together and forcing them to be besties, and growing old together. 

I love you x 10000 Ashby!! Thanks for being my BFF💖💝

Xoxo,

Ava Lillie

Sunshine!!!

Hi friends! The sun is shining on this beautiful Sunday and I thought I would dedicate a post to sunshine. 

There is simply nothing better than sunshine. In any season it is perfect. In the summer, when the sun shines and you can tan, swim in the lake, or go on a run. In the fall, when the sun shines through the leaves turning orange and red. In the winter, when the sun shines on a cold snowy day, making your bundled face warm. In the spring, (my fav szn) when the sun shines and the weather is getting nicer and the flowers are starting to bloom😇💐🌼!!

Sunshine is just the best. I hope the sun shines soon wherever you are!☀️

Xoxo,

Ava Lillie

A little about my music taste

 Hi friends!

The phrase ~music taste~ is kinda annoying, but idk what else to call it. Music preferences? Someone comment a better idea for me plz. 

I have a funny journey with music, as I used to not listen to music at all. It just wasn’t my thing. When people would ask about my music taste, if I knew them well, I’d just kinda say I don’t listen to music. This concept baffles people, and now that I appreciate music, it baffles me too. Growing up in a house with two older sisters, there was always some noise. Whether it was Ella practicing electric guitar, or Claire practicing her gymnastic floor routine music, or the radio had the news or a cubs game on, our house was filled with noise. I think I used to not listen to music because I enjoyed the silence. While most people play music in the car or while doing tasks, I liked this as quiet time to think and just exist, with no background noise. I would even drive in silence. My mom does this often too, driving in silence to focus on the conversation with the passengers, so I think that’s where I get it from. 

In high school, I was often around friends who played music, so I started to understand the social aspects of music and enjoyed listening to it. Don’t get me wrong, I still love my silent time, but now I understand how powerful and awesome music is. So although late to the music game, I have slowly developed my music taste into a unique blend of my family members' and friends' music tastes, and what I like too. 

My favorite artists are Maggie Rogers, Zach Bryan, Noah Kahan, Kacey Musgraves,  Lizzie McAlpine, Faye Webster, and Suki Waterhouse. I ofc like Taylor swift, but not in a crazy way lol (but I am an og fan, I went to her reputation tour). My mom and I love listening to Jason Mraz, the Chicks, and Sara Bareilles. My sister and I love Phoebe Bridgers, Boy Genius, Clairo, HAIM, and Big Thief.  I saw Noah Kahan and Hosier at a music festival in Richmond that was AMAZING. To make you all feel better and less jelly, rest assured it was hot af and I was sweating the whole time, but very much worth it. I am looking forward to seeing my queen Maggie Rogers in the summer AND the goddess Kacey Musgraves in the fall, wow did I get lucky with my presale codes. 

So this is a lot of artists, sorry!! I couldn’t pick just a few, my music genres have a wide range from country, folk, sad, and pop. I only can listen to sad music in the winter tho! And summer is def more for country. Follow me on spotify (if you want 2), I have been making more playlists recently, here is a link to my profile: Avalillie spotify

Let me know what your music ‘taste’ is in the comments! 

Xoxo,

Ava Lillie

My night time routine

 Hi luvies!!

I’m back with a nighttime routine, since I gave y’all a morning routine, I know you are dying to see my nighttime routine. It kinda varies whether I go to morning or night yoga class, and how late I get home from class, but here’s a usual routine:

1. Make a cup of tea 

2. Pack my backpack and plug in computer 

3. Put on a YouTube video or music 

4. Shower, or wash my face and brush my teeth 

5. Noting here to tongue scrap- LIFECHANGING. My mouth has never felt cleaner after this. It’s amazing. Here is the link bestiez: Amazon tongue scrapper

6. Light a candle or spray essential oil thang 

7. Plug my phone in away from my bed

8. Turn on my red light with my lovely alarm clock & make sure my alarms are set for the morn

9. Read my book

10. Turn off the lights

11. Get comfy with my target weighted stuffy & lavender eye mask

12. Ask my Alexa to play my calm app meditation ‘drifting off with gratitidue’

13. Have a wonderful & restful night sleep (normally with wack dreams)!!

That’s my routine!! This made it seem longer than it really is, it’s around 20 minutes. Thanks for reading!

Xoxo,

Ava Lillie