The GVL Girl

My Top GVL Coffee Spots

Thursday, December 3, 2020

If you follow me on instagram, @thegvlgirl, you know I post a lot of coffee. 🙈 (I'm a student, so I guess it's kind of necessary!) Where do I go for an afternoon coffee and some studying? Here are my three fav places atm for the best coffee in gvl!

#1: The Village Grind

Best for . . . an inspiring location

Atmosphere: 😍😍😍😍😍 FIVE HEART EYES (my favorite haha, can you tell?)

Coffee: They have the. best. syrups. (So richly-flavored!) In addition to their atmosphere being my favorite, their coffee is, too!

Work/Studying: It depends on the time of day, but the seating can be filled up pretty quickly! It is the most inspiring place to get work done if you can grab a seat, though!

I'd suggest: The lavender latte

A close 2nd: Methodical Coffee

Best for . . . coffee and breakfast

Atmosphere: So aesthetic (also their tile floor is gorgeous 😍)

Coffee: They have a limited-ish menu, but whatever they do, they do really well. (Also, THE BAKED GOODS are wonderful!)

Work/Studying: Great, although there isn't always an open seat during busy hours. (There are three locations, though, so that's super convenient.)

I'd suggest: The Tres Leches

A tie for 2nd: Scändi Tiny

Best for . . . a quiet Saturday

Atmosphere: Chill & lowkey

Coffee: Dependable and worth the price, although I'm hoping they diversify their flavor options soon.

Work/Studying: Not a ton of indoor seating, but a lot of outdoor seating for nice days!

I'd suggest: An oat milk latte

Traveling (Vicariously)

Wednesday, July 8, 2020

I want to travel soooo badly right now. If only time, money, and Corona (that obvious elephant in the room 😝) weren't standing in the way! If you could travel anywhere today, where would you go?

I've collected the following movies, series, and podcast through which my traveler self is living vicariously atm. (There are so many other amazinggg travel destinations for which I don't have any favorite books or movies, so pls share any recommendations you may have!)

Italy

Roman Holiday

Give me any movie with Audrey Hepburn and Europe! This is such a classic and I love the carefree, adventurous vibes I get anytime I watch it!

Rom Com Pods

Okay, the world needs more podcasts like this! I love the fact that this podcast is literally like watching a rom com but in a half-hour! It's the perfect thing to listen to while getting random errands done at the end of a work day. Listen here. (fyi it can be a little PG-13 sometimes.)

France

Blind Date

This French movie Un peu, beaucoup, aveuglément (in English as Blind Date on Netflix) is charming and adorable. There are some stunning scenes in Paris, of course! 😍

Alice in Paris

I just discovered this series on Amazon Prime, and each short episode (1 minute long!) feels like a short stroll in Paris. There's a heavy emphasis on food, which I adore. You can also watch the two seasons on Tastemade here!

United Kingdom

Notting Hill

I know this is a classic rom com, but I had never seen it before a few days ago! I love the genuinely with which this story is told. And the travel bookshop is a place I would totally visit irl!!

Columbia Museum of Art or Bust

Saturday, July 4, 2020

Spent yesterday at the Columbia Museum of Art. Some absolutely gorgeous pieces have their home there!

Also, make sure to check out Indah Coffee Company while in the area!

The source of the joke in the title ;)

Pompeia Plotina, Wife of Emperor Trajan, Harriet Goodhue Hosmer

Interestingly, Plotina played a critical role as a woman in her time, "advocat[ing] for education, fair taxation, and tolerance within the Roman Empire."

Roses in a Green Vase, Charles Ethan Porter

Untitled Landscape, Wilson Henry Irvine

Autumn Landscape, Thomas Doughty

A Rainy Day, Hans Burkhardt

Cape Ann, Anthony Thieme

Les Iles Borromées (Borromean Islands), Henri (Eugéne Augustin) Le Sidaner

Book of Hours, Anonymous

Red Rectangle, Oskar Fischinger

Asheville, NC

Wednesday, July 1, 2020

The last time I was in Asheville, I spent most of the time near Biltmore Village or hiking. I was pleasantly surprised by all of the charming new places we discovered on this day trip!

The prettiest architecture? The Omni Grove Park Inn & Grove Arcade

The prettiest views? Everywhere 😍

I'm Baaack!

Sunday, June 21, 2020

I haven't posted here since August 🙈, but I'm back in gvl now and have much more free time for adventures in the area! I'll try to be posting more this summer!!

Photo from Bald Rock yesterday evening ✨

3 Views, 1 Day

Saturday, August 24, 2019

On July 1 (I know, that was soo long ago 😅), two of my coworkers and I headed out after work to Caesar's Head, DuPont Forest, and Bald Rock. Here are the photos (not shown is our 10:45 p.m.* trip to a grocery store for popcorn because why not 🤷‍♀️):

*I know the specific time bc they left me a nice selfie from the grocery store (that I won't share here 😂)

Northern Michigan

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

I still have a couple of SC hikes to share (what’s the blogging equivalent of #latergram? 😂). But for now, I’m going to share a couple of my favorites from my family’s vacation to northern Michigan.

At Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, we hiked Pyramid Point trail—and then another, more difficult trail (I’m not sure the name, all I know is that we climbed a dune!).

The view from the top of the dune was 10/10 worth the climb. Plus, up there, we met some Germans visiting Sleeping Bear, which was a cool coincidence.

Sorry for so many wildflower photos, they are just the prettiest! 😁

Coastal (in Glen Lake) was the most adorable little shop with the best goods for the lake life—complete with a vv Glen Lake sweatshirt:

We ate dinner at the Cherry Hut, which has been around since 1922. Pro tip: Their Cherry Ade is so fresh after a day of hiking.

On our last day up north, we went to L’Chayim in Frankfort. (I've been wanting to try this little Jewish deli forever!) The wait was worth it--their chicken gyro was to die for!

Thanks to Northern Michigan for the best summer memories. 💙