Girls who inspire: Alison of long distance loving

So excited to share one of my favorite girls, Alison of Long Distance Loving + my fellow Sun Savvy girl. We "met" when I shared this story, she shared her story with me + we started emailing. Then the phone calls + texts started. Shortly after {I think within a week?} Sun Savvy was born. If you don't already know Alison, I promise that you will love her!

name & age:
 I'm Alison--that's the a in {av}!--and I'm 26.

hometown: 
Seymour, Indiana

current home: 
Providence, Rhode Island {via Washington, DC}

meaning behind my blog name:
The name {long distance loving} stems from the years my husband {cv} and I spent long distance. Beyond that reference, it also points to how I often must love fashion {and other things} from afar since my current budget doesn't allow for too much extravagance ;)

current job: 
I work in sales and use my American Studies degree to entertain people in conversation. ;)

dream job: 
I'm still trying to figure this out! I love helping with people, being creative, and solving problems, so if anyone has any ideas on careers--I'm all ears ;) I do think I could be very happy back in the collegiate atmosphere in student affairs or as an event planner in some shape or style. And if I could help support our family through blogging or writing, I would in an absolute heartbeat.

if i could travel anywhere...: 
I would road trip across the United States! I love exploring America and even wrote my senior thesis at Georgetown on the interstate and highway system. {I'm a dork!} Outside of the United States, I'm dying to visit Thailand and Greece.
 
something unique about me: 
I was born tongue-tied. They discovered it right after I was born and they did a quick snip-snip. Thankfully, it didn't impair my speech and most people would now consider me a chatterbox.

i like to:
 run, keep up with {or visit!} friends, read, have a good glass of wine, travel, get crafty, take photos, see concerts, and go on miscellaneous adventures with {cv}.
 
i watch: 
less TV now than I did last year, but I still watch too much. These days, I love Modern Family, Glee, Gossip Girl, and Pretty Little Liars {my guilty teenage pleasure!}. Old favorites include Friday Night Lights and West Wing.
 
listening to: 
an eclectic mix of John Mayer, Billy Joel, Zac Brown Band, David Gray, the Beatles, James Taylor, Keith Urban, Hall & Oates, Gabe Dixon Band, and my hometown boy, John Mellencamp
 
crushing on:
 rose gold, fun cocktail rings, and anything cobalt blue

5 things that inspire me: 
 The things I find which inspire me are all places. Those places {and times} include my childhood in Indiana, my years in Washington, my summer in France, {cv}'s years in North Carolina, and our years together in New England. Places intrinsically play a very large role in the esthetic I now call my own.

favorite nail polish: 
You Don't Know Jacques! by OPI or Ballet Slippers by Essie {I'm pretty basic!}

favorite perfume: 
Lola by Marc Jacobs

what inspired you to start fridays fancies?
 I love fashion and wanted to be able to create outfits without worrying about a budget. Friday's Fancies allows me to do that--and having other people dream along with me is such a treat. I've saved money and broadened my fashion horizons all at the same time. I'm continuously honored to see bloggers from around the world create their own Friday's Fancies. It is, without a doubt, my favorite post of the week.

what is your favorite thing about blogging?
 I simply cannot believe the incredible community which exists in the blogging world. I only wish I would have known about it sooner! As much as I love creating posts, I adore chatting or meeting fellow bloggers and creating real life connections.

if you could live anywhere, where would you want to live? 
I would be thrilled to call any of these places home: Charlotte, Chicago, Charleston, Paris, or Washington. Truth be told, I'll be happy wherever we land...I'm just excited to continue our adventure!

favorite {online} shops:
 For browsing, I always enjoy net-a-porter and Anthropologie. For actual purchases, I end up doing much of my shopping at J.Crew, Kate Spade, and Nordstrom, since I'm not always able to get out to visit the actual stores. I also do a fair amount of shopping on Gilt Groupe and Rue La La. I would venture to say 85% of my shopping is actually done online--I like getting packages ;)

who or what inspires your style? 
After living in DC for six years, I know the preppy sensibility which abounds in Washington will always be a part of me. I aim to look put together without trying too hard, which I think Rachel Bilson and Olivia Palermo do so well. I love the lines of the '50s and '60s, where fashion was about looking elegant and polished.

For more inspiration from Alison, visit Long Distance Loving.