Coffee time, Fashion

A slow end of winter

Hello loves! I am such in a good mood today, it’s the first weekend of warm sun after so many cold and cloudy weeks. I have been positively affected by the sun and the days getting longer. Also, there is finally no curfew any more here where I am living, so it is possible to visit one person for dinner, which makes evenings more enjoyable, although we are still staying at home. I am so looking forward to spring, and I feel very energized by the warmer days that are coming.

The restrictions due to the corona pandemic have been challenging for all of us, but I want to think positive and hope that life will slowly go back to normal in the upcoming months. Normality has become “special” after all this time, and I know we are all craving for the moment when meeting with many people and travelling will be possible again. I am aware of what it means to be far away from the people that we love and not being able to go back home. I used to go back to Italy, my home country, at least three times per year, but now the possibility to go there seems more like a mirage. Enjoying the atmosphere there and meeting with family and friends is something which I really miss at the moment, but I really try to make the best out of the time that I have and to enrich myself daily.

Taking walks is something I always appreciated. I love to wander around cities or to walk in nature. Especially in summer, I love to take long walks on the sea shore while chatting with a friend. In winter, I struggle more to go out due to the low temperatures (which I can’t get used to!). Although I was freezing, last weekend I decided to enjoy the sun that I haven’t seen for weeks here. These photos were shot when it was -10° C, but I was equipped with warm clothes and a thermos containing a hot tea.

I bought this precious winter jacket in a shop near Rome two winters ago, and I am absolutely obsessed with it. It is cinched in the waist, it fits perfectly my body type and I picked it in this dark purple satin color, a great alternative to a classic black. I paired it with a nude pink scarf and black gloves. I opted for a practical black nylon bag with some Prada Re-edition 2000 vibes to complete the look.

Another activity that I recently rediscovered is reading. Books are my escape from reality and an alternative way to stay off the screen. I love getting lost in the pages, living the life of different characters, imagining cities, eras and scenarios. I am currently reading Breakfast at Tiffany’s, one of the classics which was still a miss in my reads.

Online Pilates and sports in general are also a great way to give ourselves a break from our thoughts. I always tried to do sports constantly, but I have to admit that I failed so many times. Especially in winter when it is cold I just wanted to lay in my lounge wear all the time. This year something has changed. After all this time sitting at home, I felt more motivated in working out, and I am encouraged by my friends, with whom I exchange workout videos. Sharing with them my workouts and my impressions really boosted my motivation, and now I work out two to three times a week.

These small activities cannot replace our normal lives, but they can help to go through these slow months which I think we still have ahead. It is important to focus on the small things which make us smile in mentally challenging times and also to accept that some days can be melancholic. Brighter days will come for all of us, and we will enjoy them more than ever.

Smiling to all of you, I wish you a nice week!

Valentina

Scarf – H&M, Gloves – Coccinelle, Bag – Pull&Bear, Jacket – Elle&Ci