hey, i’m alyssa.
Welcome to alyssa’s little wonders, a collection of little moments, little insights and little observations.
This blog started as an Instagram page, a little gallery of nature photos, travel shots and simple, mindful captions that captured some of my quiet thoughts.
We tend to focus on the big moments in life — calendar events, personal milestones, holidays and big trips. But when’s the last time you stopped to appreciate all the little happenings in between?
Have you ever taken an afternoon walk through your local park — without headphones — and stopped to notice something you’ve never seen before, like a new patch of flowers, the shape of the sun filtering through the leaves, or the little grasshoppers springing away from your feet with each step? Have you ever paused from snapping photos in a foreign city to pick out the individual colors, scents and sounds around you instead, or to catch the details hidden in plain sight? The little stones inlaid on a patch of sidewalk, the cobbled side street or corner cafe no one else stops in, even the reflection of the unfamiliar skyline in a shop window — it’s these little things that bring wonder into the everyday experience, whether you're living your typical routine or exploring something and somewhere entirely new.
When I traveled for the first time, I realized how big of a difference these little moments make, and I started to see them at home, too. Seeking them out made me see more mindfully, live more slowly, and think more deeply. I wanted to collect those thoughts, to capture some of the small beauties I saw around me every day — and maybe help someone else see them, too.
The world is big, social media is busy, and the truth is, we don’t always want to stop and be still. We are stressed, distracted, disappointed, overstimulated — but life exists in the spaces between those distractions, in the little moments we often miss. Sometimes it’s hard to find meaning in the big picture, but that’s why I like to look closer.
This blog focuses on the little wonders that wait in everyday explorations, and the little thoughts that come with them — whether I’m wandering to new places, walking familiar paths, or just wondering what it all means from my corner of the world.
I hope it helps you savor the small things.
I’m a writer, artist and daydreamer who loves murder mysteries, nature walks, painting and potted plants. When I’m not reading, writing or creating, I’m probably planning my next international exploration.
My current projects include completing my Master’s degree, experimenting with watercolors and (slowly) composing short fiction.
*All photographs, artwork and writing on this website are original.