love, liana

about me

Hello there, & thank you for popping on over to my site! I'm Liana-a full-time management consultant with a passion for storytelling, creativity and lifelong learning. Writing has always been one of my greatest joys, and this blog is where I share my journey-both in life and in words.

I started this space in college as a way to document the everyday moments that shape us in our 20s. Over the years, it's evolved into a home for my thoughts, experiences, and reflections on growth, self-discovery, and chasing dreams. As an aspiring author with a love for fantasy and poetry, I hope to use this platform to chronicle my writing journey and refine my craft along the way.

On that note, I hope you stick around & enjoy your stay around my page. Your presence your thoughts - all are welcome here.

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snapshots of life

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an ode to my favorite person I didn't know I needed

I didn’t have a traditional senior year of university. That was something I didn’t expect to impact me as much as it did. I tend to cling to optimism, especially in uncertain times, although it can be unrealistic or even seen as a detachment style to others, I think it’s been a weapon I’ve been able to yield in troubling times. It’s difficult to siphon optimism purely on your own and for long periods of time at that. Thankfully, I didn’t need to - I had a sweet best friend of mine to rock the past two years with. Meet Amara - my sunshine, merp, lovey, partner in impulsivity, & more. I’ll tell you straight, I would not have gotten through the past two years of my life without her. We practically lived together my entire last year of school and have made INCREDIBLE memories to last a lifetime. She was my first friend to go on a trip with and my most recurrent travel buddy the summer after graduation. There’s so much I can write about lovey, and maybe someday I will, but for now - Amara, I love you so much. You shine in the darkest of rooms and you make your loved ones glow brighter than when you met them. You have taught me so much about passion, self love, bravery, and how to have your own back in a pressing world. Part of my soul will dim for a little when you move, but will never die. In any other world, I believe we would’ve always found each other. Thank you for being you and for sharing life with me. Love always, your meep <3

RED

side note: EASILY ONE OF MY FAVORITE SELFIES I’VE EVER TAKEN

When I started this blog, I struggled A LOT with loving who I was. I wasn’t kind to myself, and that hurts to write. But, God has truly transformed my life this year, and I can’t stop talking about it. New friendships, inner healing, newfound confidence, living the life He’s willed for me - all of it has helped me find a new glow. From burgundy, copper, pink, purple, and now red, I’ve changed my hair up quite a bit in the last year. I’ve chopped it countless of times, gotten bangs, the whole nine yards, I’ve done it this past year!! We all know that women LOVE to change up their hair after a major life change, and I’m no exception to that. This was the most “bold” color I’ve done (apart from pink cause I swear I looked like I came straight out of cartoon with that one hehe :3), and it felt so fitting to choose it. Red can mean a lot of things to different people, for me it’s a color which echoes boldness, taking up space, confidence, & the courage to move forward in whatever way that means to you for the time being. So here’s to new beginnings, relationships, love, life, & all the in-between!((:

the light of loyalty

If you’ve been subscribed to my blog for a bit or have been on my instagram, Julia is no stranger to you haha. Jules & I haven’t fully lived in the same state the past 4 years, and the longest period of time since then was when the world locked down (summer 2020 is still my favorite summer I’ve ever shared with her…mostly because it was our first one with each other almost every day). Julia has been my sister since we were 15 (…wow I feel so old reading that back to myself haha). She embodies some of the most valued traits you’d want in a best friend: patient, so unconditionally loving, thoughtful, goofy, adventurous, the BEST person at making sure everyone feels included, and so much more! But my favorite thing about Julia is her loyalty. Jules is the most loyal friend you could ever have, I know it rings true for me. I remember talking to my older brother about her on a car ride home, and we went on a tangent about the invaluable & sometimes overlooked quality of loyalty. Julia is someone I see being in my life forever. From countless facetime calls throughout college between classes, on walks, coffee runs, drives, etc, to coming over and laying on my bean bag in my room, discovering new coffee shops, trails, boba runs, and random drives, she’s always been my go-to person. Thank you for your years of friendship, Julia. Thank you for always being by my side c:

Bourbon (not-so) Blues

Beignets, blues, bayous - New Orleans had it all. It was the last trip of my summer, and the perfect way to wrap up my last bits of freedom before I started work in August. It was also my first trip with my best friend, Julia. We took a late flight and landed a wink after midnight. Just some general travel advice: if you’re taking a red-eye flight, make sure you know exactly where and how to get to your place of stay, especially if it’s an airbnb. We bunked in an apartment airbnb, but had quite an adventure finding it - we looped around two blocks, maybe three or four times, carrying our bulging backpacks on our backs and sweating up a storm from the turnarounds. But let me tell you, crashing on the bed the moment we got in was glorious! We explored the ins & outs of the city till no end - the botanical gardens, the French Quarter, Bourbon street, boutique shops, pubs & bars alike, museums - literally every square foot of the Jazz City, we touched. The trip gave me the closure I needed from all the ups & downs I experienced this summer - my nerves with starting my career - officially stepping into a life beyond college. New Orleans taught me about being present, that you can’t take life too seriously, that you need to dance to some live music in the French Quarter, that getting to know strangers in a city can make this big world feel small.

New Orleans, you were a good one.

& to my sweet friend, Julia - thanks for keeping life interesting <3

two mocha lattes - please & thank you

Throughout college, I've realized that some of my best conversations & closest relationships have been cultivated over a good cup of coffee. It may be silly to be writing about coffee, but let me just say that my best friendships have rooted from going to a coffee shop and chatting for hours on end. My coffee addiction started when I met my best friend, Julia. She definitely got me hooked, and now this cup of liquid joy has become a routine part of my day. In high school, I read "Writing on the Wall" by Tom Standage. In the book, Standage surfaces the earliest creations of coffeehouses and their communal contributions to society. These little holes in the wall were created to promote discussion and development of nuanced perspectives in various topics of conversation - politics, innovation, theatre, art, social justice, etc. I have found these coffeeshops to be a safe haven to continue these conversations today, and it makes my heart the slightest bit happy to feel connected to the historical intention of these little communal spaces.

a brotherhood for life

This past March, my friends & I attended our first LEAD conference alongside multiple chapters throughout the greater Texas region! We're part of the professional business fraternity, Delta Sigma Pi! I absolutely love our chapter and the networking/brotherhood experiences we've shared. I pledged with the fraternity during my first semester of college, and I’ve grown to love it more & more each semester. DSP is more than a professional business fraternity - it's given me a family with fellow brothers all over the world! Although we are living through uncertain times, I'm very grateful we were able to experience our 1st LEAD conference together before quarantine. I hope to attend another one in the near future! (pictured are my sweet friends Rahma, Amara (who’s also my wonderful little!!), & Ella)

'grow'ing through it

My best friend, Julia & I explored so many beautiful trails & cities this summer (a future post to come about our findings)! I brought my camera along for most of our little adventures, and I'm so happy to have caught some sweet moments on film. Spending this summer with Julia has taught me a great deal about being present and taking life as it comes. We've been best friends since our freshman year of high school, and we’ve found ourselves continuously reflecting on our memories over the past few years. One of my favorite moments from this summer was realizing the shift in nature of our conversations. Our perspectives have changed, and it's been a blessing having someone by my side to have been ‘grow’ing through all of it with. I'm going to miss her bunches when she heads back to her university, but I'm grateful to have had the past few months with my best friend <3

"why not grow?"

Seattle, Washington//August 2019 - my younger brother & I took a trip to visit our older brother in the evergreen state. It was easily one of my favorite trips I've ever taken. I've heard about Seattle summers and the perfect weather, but the stories don't do it justice. The 75 degree weather was such a nice break from the 100 degree weather I've reluctantly become accustomed to. Aside from the natural beauty of the state, I loved the urban art and the live music that filled the streets. I flew up to visit my older brother the moment I wrapped up my summer internship. After coming off months of working 8:30 am - 5 pm, I was ready for a break with my family. Summer 2019 pushed my limits in a professional essence, and by the end of the summer, I felt like a new person. My mindset had changed towards my academic & career goals. I had a newfound confidence. It was during those months that I felt the beginnings of my self-discovery journey. Even though quarantine life has prevented us from returning this summer, I still cherish the sweet adventures from those few weeks.

the moments we seem to forget

A common topic my friend Welton & I converse about, is the feeling of getting older. We're only 20/21 years old & have a whole life left to live, but we can't help but feel the pressures of adulthood pressing into our everyday lives. Where did all the time go - when our most frightening concern was finishing our 1+1 math homework, so we could go to the park & play. There's so much beauty in the world when looking through eyes of childlike wonder. Why is it that when we get older, our eyes become fixated on what's missing or what needs to be accomplished? In this pic, Welton & I went on a little hike a few months after quarantine life began. I hadn't seen him in about 2 months, and I was so excited to be reunited with one of my closest friends! After finishing up our finals from the spring semester, I noticed my mind rushing to think about the laundry list of things I needed to accomplish in the summer & my concern of not having time to breathe. Hanging out with Welton reminds me of the moments we seem to forget - the small pieces of time when peace rests amidst the storm. Yes, a global pandemic messed with everyone's life. Yes, summer plans have completely changed. Yes, things you were once certain about have become a blob of ambiguity. But in these moments, lies pockets of time when self-realizations sink in & all you can do is pause and just breathe.

going through the motions

There comes a point every semester when you feel like you're just going through the motions. You're not necessarily reflecting on the past, not actively looking towards the future, nor are you soaking in the present. You're simply existing where you are...minute by minute. most of us experience the motivational highs of starting a new project, an academic semester, a new job, etc., and most of us experience the slumps in between when our motivation to move forward is hanging by a thread. Motivation isn't enough to push us through because once our heart's flame begins to dwindle, our mind's gears halt, & our body's last push of energy becomes fully exhausted, we're left with nothing but to stop. In those moments, we lose the will to make moves. Throughout college, I've learned a few lessons about discipline - doing what needs to be done when every part of my being wants to stop. I think discipline is a self-propelled skill most of us don't get around to developing until the very moment we need it. I don't think we can ever master the art, but striving towards its continuous progression may bring us further than we naturally could've gone in the first place.

"I'll pick you up in 10"

This sweet girl is Jenn - my twin, pledge buddy, big sis...you know the drill. I met Jenn during my first semester of college! We were pledge buddies for the professional business fraternity, Delta Sigma Pi! Our friendship blossomed from a community service event! She graduated the following semester, but our friendship has only grown closer! She's like the big sis I never had(: Jenn & I both commuted to campus and, coincidentally, live 10 minutes away from each other. Our text messages last year were populated with "I'll pick you up in 10" or "I'm coming over soon!" Jenn, if you're reading this, I want to say thank you. Thank you for the countless hours of car rides, jam sessions, book talks, advice, BJ's pizookies, and coffee chats! Thank you for encouraging me to branch out of my comfort zone, especially since I was so shy last year (hehe). I couldn't have gone through my first year of college without you! <3