Meet Larissa | Travel Content Creator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Larissa and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Larissa, any advice for those thinking about whether to keep going or to give up?
Life with Larissa was launched in 2015, based on a friend’s recommendation to share my travels with family and friends. Later I got introduced into the blogging and influencer world. It can definitely be overwhelming when you start comparing yourself to people who have been doing it for years or even doing it for a couple of months and growing exponentially faster than you. At the end of the day, I remind myself of all the connections I’ve made around the world that I otherwise wouldn’t have had the opportunity to make. I remind myself of the personal messages I’ve received asking for recommendations or sharing thanks for something I posted. I remind myself that I genuinely enjoy posting about my travels – to help others and as a way to document for my memories. And that’s what makes it worth it in the end!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I was born in Haiti, and moved to the United States at a very young age. Travel definitely was not at the forefront of my parents’ minds when they immigrated, trying to make a new life for their family. In time, however, I fell in love with travel. It’s amazing to me how there’s so much to see, learn, and experience throughout the world; how we’re all so different, yet so similar at the same time.

I’m definitely the oddball of the family, making travel a priority but I’m blessed that my family loves it for me. When I was younger, they would financially support my endeavors to make those dreams turn into realities.

Since starting my blog, it hasn’t been easy! I work a 9-5 job and trying to balance everything can be pretty difficult at times. But I remind myself of the reason I started, the reason I keep on going, and it gives me a new re-energized feeling to keep pushing! I’ve learned it’s important to ground myself in my “why” as there are days when things when I feel discouraged. I’ve learned to accept and embrace support when it’s given. And I’ve learned to have fun along the way because it’s for me, it’s not worth without the fun!

When people think Life with Larissa, I want them to think “if she can do it, so can I!” I’m an awkward child of immigrants who had to figure out a lot of stuff on her own. When I travel, things definitely go awry, even when doing day trips in Georgia haha. I want to showcase you can be uncertain, you can be scared, you can have no idea what you’re even doing but still end up doing the thing because it’s something that brings you joy. I also want people to take away leading with kindness and laughing along the way. Life is too short to navigate without either!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I always love showcasing fun and unique spots throughout metro Atlanta and the surrounding areas! I actually have a segment on my page called ‘Make Larissa Do Things’ where my community votes on where they would like us to go within Georgia. Places I would bring my best friend include the following:

For Breakfast/Brunch:
> Atlanta Breakfast Club
> The Real Milk and Honey
> Garden Parc
> South City Kitchen Midtown
> Cultivate Food and Coffee

For Lunch/Dinner:
> Bartaco
> True Food Kitchen
> The Vortex
> The Ginger Room (High Tea)

For Dessert:
> Sweetreats
> The Yard Milkshake Bar

Things to Do:
> Georgia Aquarium
> Coca-Cola Factory
> Tallulah Gorge State Park (Gorge Floor Access to Sliding Rock)
> Revery VR Bar
> ATL Botanical Gardens
> Ponce / The Beltline
> The Bamboo Forest (East Palisades Trail)

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to give a shoutout to my friend Courtney who was the one who encouraged me to start Life with Larissa way back when. And I also want to give a shoutout to all my friends and family who encourage and support my journey. It’s not always the easy, and it comes with a lot of self-doubt and self-consciousness; however, I greatly appreciate every word of encouragement and every piece of engagement.

Website: www.lifewithlarissa.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/life_w_larissa

Facebook: www.facebook.com/lifewithlarissa

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/user_details?userid=s1oCrZwYEtaNwLdLBfczAA

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCf_gxeXocxV_4zsQH5x2klg