Sportin' sporty stripes

Happy Happy Spring!

The sunlight has changed, days are growing longer and my spirits are lifting higher!

I recently bought this top from J. Crew and I think it's already one of my favorite pieces.

It's made from a crepe material making it quite warm for these sunny yet a little chilly days.

I wore it with a pair of navy J. Crew minnie pants but I'm also envisioning it with white shorts, or a blush skirt. 

The beginning of spring always makes me happy—and eager to break out my Jack Rogers.

It's a mix of anticipation for a 65 degree-shorts-worthy day and green sprouts on the trees.

The many local ice cream shops opening days and the boys throwing a baseball on the front lawn.

I love spring—the atmosphere, changing scenery, and not to mention the fashion of course!

What's your favorite part of the springtime?

-Alex

Viva el Peru

Flying into Lima

Maca de coca made from coca leaves

My little street—avenue Baja

inside Saint Dominic chapel

Some of the students at the school

Downtown Cusco

Salt baths 

Enroute to Machu Picchu 

Home sweet home.

As good as it is to be back in the USA, I already miss Peru.

I had the trip of a lifetime and I'm still on cloud nine.

Trying to choose which pictures to share was very tough—especially since I took around 1,000 pictures...literally.

The green mountains, scattered clouds and Machu Picchu are all things I will never forget, but most of all I fell in love with the people in Peru.

I worked at a school every morning and the children everyday never failed to make me laugh and smile despite our language barrier. I also went to an orphanage in another town, Oropesa. 

The boys there transformed me—they made me realize that happiness is not found in physical things. Even with the little that they had, they were glimmers of joy, hope and happiness because they lived by this verse inscribed on their building, "Hebroes (Hebrews) 12:1"

"Since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us"

Those 16 boys and 4 girls—more than half of them about half my age—set and example for me. They amazed me with their spirit and kindness and forever have left an impression on my heart. 

 I want to transform their lives just as they unintentionally did to mine—Peru is not just another stamp in my passport, or country on the map.

It's rather a place where the people are still filled with joy even through hardship, and that is what transformed me.

Counting down to gold

Here we go...only 24 hours left to go!

My excitement is building up like a Thanksgiving plate moving through a buffet line.

Or like a J. Crew shopping bad when there is a 40% off sale and cute shoes needed to be bought.

The hour is coming closer and closer for me departing to Peru.

This is my last post until I return home March 18th—believe me when I say I will have hundreds of pictures that I will be itching to share with you guys.

If you are already on spring break, then I hope you are having a blast! 

If you were just let free off the reins of mid-terms and research papers then cheers—enjoy and have a wonderful break!

Until next time,

-Alex

Past the gray

We're in the final count down.

Only 3 more days until Peru!

It is safe to say this week is flying by, and it's been hard for me to slow down.

I realize I need to spend just 10 minutes to step away from the packing, the to-do lists, the emails, and sit down to write about what I want to achieve while on this mission trip.

I came across the saying above a long time ago (during one of my long-lived escapades on Pinterest) and fell in love with it.

I believe we are to live life with a purpose, with a motive—than compared to the habitual patterns and acts we make into our normal routine.

One verse I will be taking with me as I travel to Peru and go through my day is James 4:15,

"If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that"

This is my intent—to live as the Lord's will wants me to.

As I take on Peru next week I am going to try my best to keep my intent in the forefront of my mind—and I encourage you all to try it with me.

-Alex 

One year older

My apologies for the lengthy post ahead of time but after a weekend full of Birthday festivities, I just have to share.

I had such a lovely weekend celebrating my birthday with my parents and also my Friar family at school. 

A day full of beautifully wrapped gifts, glitter, whole foods, macaroons and birthday crowns is just my kind of idea of a birthday party. 

This year I got the most wonderful birthday gift I could ask for—I am traveling for spring break (only three more days!) on a mission trip to Peru. 

I will be working at a school for the week in a shanty town teaching children in different subjects. I also will be traveling to an orphanage to spend time with children that we have been writing letters to. 

I cannot wait to come back and share my pictures with you all. Please pray for safety and be patient for my next post since I will not be back in the states until March 18th!

-Alex