this week's clicks.

get your week off to a colorful start...

SWOON.

Up to Date Interiors

• Kathy's global-inspired holiday home decor feels fresh.
• A fresh blue Christmas home tour from Lilypad Cottage.
• Cozy Christmas e-shoot inspiration from Style Me Pretty.
• An attic turned cozy guest room with Wes Anderson vibes.

SMILE.

• Desktops: Mospens Studio, Oh So Lovely, Pop Goes the Reader.
• Apt. Therapy's tips for (actually awesome) holiday gift baskets.
• Loved this story about preschool besties who say they're twins.
• Excited to take my mama to see The Greatest Showman soon.

FLASHBACK.

• 2015: my treat yourself wish list, decoupaged world map ornaments, and a mini home tour featuring a glam woodland tree.
• 2014: my holiday home tour.
• 2013: my favorite account of Christmas, wrote to Santa, showed off my chalkboard ornaments and shared a holiday home tour.
• 2012: a Sunday Social all about favorites, gave a holiday home tour and ideas for displaying cards, and rounded up my blog loves and my own most popular posts of 2012.  I also shared my December in Instagram.
• 2011: my favorite things in our home. 

this week's clicks [treat love like you're jumping off a rope swing]

get your week off to a colorful start...

How are y'all doing? I'm still recovering from camp and took it slow all weekend (highlight: a trip to the Roanoke Valley's newest brewery). This week's clicks include flowers for days, dresses for all of your summer occasions, and the history of a Southern classic. Coming to the blog later this week, I've got a great new Pinspiration post and reviews of some recent entertainment faves. As always, shoot me an e-mail about what's new and awesome in your life - I'd love to chat!

LISTEN.

• Summer is always when I listen to country music the most, and I'm currently in love with the new track from local boys Old Dominion (two of the band's members are from Roanoke). Also, a country music video with video game references and bloopers? What a time to be alive.

SWOON.

Amy Arrington via Elizabeth Anne Designs

• A pretty Georgia garden wedding with a bright color palette.
• A builder-grade bathroom gets some rustic-industrial TLC.
• PureWow rounded up fifty summer wedding guest dresses...
• and from A Practical Wedding, classy bridal shower dresses.

SMILE.

• Dress up your tech: Kelly Sugar, May Designs, Roost.
• Le Tour de France begins July 1st - here's your primer.
• I want this bohemian edible flower salad from Brit + Co.
• Love Garden and Gun's oral history of Steel Magnolias:

"I had the voices of the women I grew up with. It takes your breath away how quick they are. It’s the kind of humor that would sear through treacle."

FLASHBACK.

• 2016: a visit to the art museum.
• 2015: gingham and aqua picks, camp Pinspiration, and favorite fictional wardrobes.
• 2014: weird faves, cute and easy washi tape home decor for Independence Day.
• 2013: patriotic fashion + entertaining, side dishes, the Color Run, and summer in IG.
• 2012: summer in the country, poolside essentials, and a special 4th birthday.  
• 2011: pre-wedding crunch time - dyed wedding shoes and Etsy garters, my veil and jewelry, and our menu, inspired by our favorite Southern comfort food.

clicks of note: i'm feelin' 32...

get your week off to a colorful start...

How are you all doing this week? Today just so happens to be my 32nd birthday and the first official day of summer break. This weekend we visited a favorite brewery and food truck, visited Roanoke's new Mellow Mushroom, and went to see a Beatles tribute band perform in the park. Today I'll be celebrating my birthday with my Bible study, and tomorrow we're going line dancing! This summer, it's time to stop being jealous of other people's lives on Instagram and really get out there and live my own.

SWOON.

Landon Jacob Photography via Southern Weddings

• From SW, a colorful and fun Magnolia Plantation wedding.
• Found Rentals' perfect midcentury modern wedding shoot.
• This Tuscany wedding from Ruffled is what dreams are made of.
• A sweet San Francisco e-sesh for a dancer and musician.

SMILE.

• The Love Actually short sequel has arrived in the U.S.!
• A blueberry peach chia bowl (How Sweet Eats) looks yummy.
• "Astrology Is Fake, But Brad Pitt Got Owned By A Gemini."
• Little girls are better at designing superheroes than... anyone.

FLASHBACK.

• 2016: olive chinos styled two ways.
• 2015: My 80's birthday inspiration board.
• 2014: the #1 hit songs from my birthday every year, spring blog loves, and spring in IG.
• 2013: May entertainment faves.
• 2011: memorial day party inspiration, my "venue twins," and our invitations.

pinspiration: summer's around the corner

With Wednesday being the last day of school for students, Friday being the last for teachers, and Memorial Day, the unofficial beginning of summer, kicking off next week, I'm channeling some serious summer vibes this week on my Pinterest boards. Also this week - the made-for-television remake of Dirty Dancing. Are you planning to watch? The original, filmed in Virginia at Mountain Lake, is one of my all-time favorite movies and I don't think it can ever be topped! Whatever your plans for this week, make it a bright and colorful one.

Here's what I'm listening to this week while packing up my classroom and thinking ahead to summer fun, rest, and relaxation:

style: favorite 2017 golden globes looks

It's become something of a tradition for me to do a post-award show fashion round-up. I'm no expert, of course, just a regular girl who loves pretty dresses and trying to spot trends. There were definitely some common themes at the Golden Globes this Sunday that can inspire our own spring looks, as well as some fresh looks the likes of wish we haven't seen gracing the red carpet in the last few years. [Image Sources]

The Cutest

The cast of Stranger Things, obviously! Millie Bobby Brown, who plays Eleven on the show, is twelve years old and classier than I have ever been, and I just want to squeeze the little dudes. Their rap/Barb tribute in the show's opener was EVERYTHING.

My Favorite Looks

I'm probably being super predictable with my picks, but I think the two most elegant looks at the Globes took the cake. Emma Stone's star-spangled blush pink Valentino gown was the stuff my fashion dreams are made of, and I've got the Pinterest boards to prove it. I also thought Michelle Williams looked fantastic in her off-the-shoulder lace Louis Vuitton gown. Chokers are a big trend right now and both ladies put their own spin on it.

Honorable Mentions

Plunging necklines were popular on the awards show red carpets last year, and were even more of a Thing this year, with stars like Kristen Bell and Jessica Biel pushing the limits of Hollywood Fashion Tape. My favorite takes on the trend came from Mandy Moore, whose navy dress included a glamorous cape, and Gone Girl's Emily Ratajkowski, who also slayed in the hair and makeup department.

The Hollywood Princesses

Lily Collins could wear a garbage bag and look gorgeous, and her embellished Zuhair Murad Couture dress in a dusty rose hue was one of the most popular looks of the night. I have to admit that I'm not a fan of the ruffle on the train, but the gown looked amazing when she spun around on the red carpet. Hailee Steinfeld was also giving off Disney vibes in lavender Vera Wang cut in a trendy cold-shoulder style. Both starlets kept their hair sleek, brows and lips bold, and wore pastel eye makeup to match their gowns (Lily's was actually lip liner and blush, according to E!)

Color Trend: Primrose Yellow

One of Pantone's color trends for this spring, there was a LOT of primrose yellow on the red carpet! Viola Davis shone in bright yellow, Natalie Portman channeled Jackie O, Reese Witherspoon looked every bit the movie star in Versace, and the embroidery on Busy Philipps' black gown was a fun, folk art inspired touch that suited her bohemian style.

The Living Sculptures

Outlander's Caitriona Balfe's Delpozo dress was one of my favorites of the night because it was so unique (maybe a nod to all of her character Claire's amazing dresses in Paris?). I suppose we should expect nothing less from a supermodel, but I thought Naomi Campbell looked especially awesome in metallic lilac Versace.

Yaass!

Sorry for the cheesy category title, but "outfits I love because they are totally true to the personalities of the women wearing them" was too long. I absolutely love Janelle Monae, and her Armani Privé dress was true to her black and white signature style, and her recent string of crafty hairstyles continues with a pearl-pinned beehive. It made me happy, but I'm having a hard time finding a picture of her smiling, so I'm wondering if it was horribly uncomfortable. On the other hand, Evan Rachel Wood looked super comfortable and confident in her Marlene Dietrich inspired Joseph Altuzarra tuxedo. I loved the reason she gave for wearing it - on the red carpet, she explained that she's been to the Golden Globes six times in dresses and wanted to make sure young girls know they don't have to wear dresses if they don't want to.

What was your favorite red carpet look at this year's Golden Globes? 

Are you an awards show addict like me?

If you'd like to add any of these images to your Pinterest boards or blog, please visit my Pinterest board and pin/save from the original source. Thanks!

this week's clicks: happy labor day!

get your week off to a colorful start...
LISTEN.

• Yes, this is totally an extended Lincoln commercial, but I love Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, and I don't hate the parting shot of Matthew McConaughey.

SWOON.

• A California wedding with a whimsical Southern style.
• Looks so pretty - a honeysuckle champagne cocktail!
• Loving this classy wedding at Richmond's Quirk Hotel.
• Lovely portraits of Barack and Michelle Obama (goals).

SMILE.

• Desktops: Lime Ricki, By Dawn Nicole, Flipsnack.
• From Domaine: films to watch at each career stage.
• Jeff Bridges is one of my faves - enjoyed this interview.
• Geek girls: MAC's Star Trek inspired makeup line (!!!)

FLASHBACK.

• 2014: my late summer in entertainment, shared a Sunday Social all about my favorites,
• 2013: graphic black and white pieces for fall and inspiration for a Jane Austen inspired garden wedding, recapped my summer in entertainment, and blurbed the fall 2013 shows I was looking forward to.
• 2012: our wedding's thrifted touches, rounded up modern terrariums from around the web and more geometric accessories, and joined an Instagram challenge for book lovers. 
• 2011: our wedding's handcrafted details, a peek at the girls getting ready at the salon, and what the guys were up to.

#5FandomFriday: Make-Up Friday - 5 Characters I'd Name My Kids After

5 Fandom Friday is a weekly prompt challenge for female geek bloggers hosted by The Nerdy Girlie and Super Space Chick. You can learn more about the Female Geek Bloggers group here. This week, I'm catching up with a #5FandomFriday prompt I missed: characters I'd name my (future) kids after.

1. Emma - I've fallen in love with Once Upon a Time over the past couple of years, and while my favorite character was originally Mary Margaret, her daughter Emma Swan has taken first place in my heart. First of all, Jennifer Morrison is beautiful and a wonderful actress who deserves to win all the awards. Emma Swan is tough, clever, and fiercely protective of those she loves, and those are all qualities I would be proud to see in my future daughter. She also shares her name with my favorite Jane Austen novel.

2. Luna - One of my favorite Harry Potter characters by far is dreamy Ravenclaw, Luna Lovegood. Even though she's suffered horrible tragedy followed by being the object of bullying in school, Luna remains sweet, kind, and always willing to help. She is humble and hardworking. In the books, I love the grounding effect she has on Harry, and the way he values her advice and spirit and chooses to be her friend no matter what others may think.

3. Claire - I love escaping into history and romance through the Outlander books, and Claire Randall/Beauchamp/Fraser is one of my favorite narrators of all time. Raised to be strong and confident, she served as a field nurse during World War II, endured all sorts of hardships in 18th century Scotland and France, because a successful doctor in America, and showed herself to be stubborn and brave throughout it all. She's sassy and intelligent and I absolutely adore her.

4. Carter - Carter is basically the best name ever for a baby geek - there's John Carter of Mars, SHIELD director Peggy Carter, and, for country music geeks like me, the Carter family from Virginia. But my first beloved Carter was Dr. John Carter, played by Noah Wyle on E.R. Oh, how I loved that man despite his many flaws. He was patient, kind, and devoted to saving the world in order to fight his inner demons.

5. Sawyer - I love a rogue - think Han Solo, Mal Reynolds, and Killian Jones - and one of my all time favorites is James "Sawyer" Ford from LOST. Even though he did some despicable things, I was rooting for him and the knight in shining armor I knew he could become throughout all the dark and twisty seasons of that crazy show.

lately in entertainment.

lately in entertainment - summer 2016

movies.

Finding Dory - One of my former students invited me and two of her other favorite teachers for a movie date, and we had a great time at Finding Dory. If you've seen the trailer, you know it's about Dory's search for the parents she barely remembers - and the closer she gets to them, the clearer her memories become. The flashbacks with baby Dory are pretty much the cutest thing ever. The teacher in me really loved that Dory's parents are portrayed as being supportive of their daughter's desire for independence and find accomodations for her short-term memory loss. This sequel features some of the best characters from the first movie, like Crush the turtle and Mr. Ray, and introduces new characters like grumpy octopus Hank, voiced by Ed O'Neill, and Dory's childhood friend Destiny the whale. Parts of the movie seemed like they would be very intensely scary or sad for children, and there was real suspense about whether Dory's quest would be successful. Just like the first movie, the animation was gorgeous and colorful. We all enjoyed Finding Dory, laughed out loud a lot (especially at the crazy ending), and our resident science teacher approved of the marine biology elements!

Ghostbusters - Both Mr. Q and I were really excited about this one - the original Ghostbusters movies are some of his all-time favorites, and I was pumped about some of my favorite female comedians (and my favorite Hemsworth) being in the cast. We were also both really dismayed to see all the hate that was directed toward the movie online before it even came out, despite that fact that Dan Aykroyd was an executive producer, original Ghostbusters director Ivan Reitman was also a producer, and the original cast and new cast have made numerous appearances together talking about how much they love both the original and new movies! At first, I was curious about the new Ghostbusters being a reboot instead of a sequel, but I liked that the female team aren't carbon copies of the original male characters and that the story was unique. Kristen Wiig is Erin, the uptight nerd who has given up her paranormal interests to pursue her dream of being a physics professor. Erin loses her chance at tenure when her department finds out that she wrote a book about ghosts with her best friend, Abby (Melissa McCarthy). She tracks down Abby, who's working at a for-profit college that has forgotten she exists, alongside nuclear engineer Jillian Holtzmann (Kate McKinnon). When they help subway worker Patty (Leslie Jones) track down a ghost in her line, she decides to join their team and lend her knowledge of New York City's history.

The plot of Ghostbusters does have some weak points: the villain is basically Syndrome from The Incredibles and there's no sense that he won't be defeated, I thought Erin and Abby's friendship should have had some tension after Erin had turned away for so many years, and most of the best jokes really were given away in the trailer. In some of the reviews I've read, the reviewers have complained that Kate McKinnon's Holtzmann is over-the-top or distracting, and/or that Leslie Jones' Patty is stereotypical. I think it all comes down to whether or not you've watched these ladies on SNL - Mr. Q and I love these actresses and felt like their characters and performances were in keeping with their styles of comedy. If you saw the trailer, you saw the scene where Holtzmann licks her proton gun. Right after that, she runs into battle with ghosts - and I realized that I was tearing up a little because I was getting to see a woman in a movie be: a.) a scientist  b.) an action hero  c.) not in any kind of romantic entanglement. I thought of all the men who say the female Ghostbusters "ruined their childhood," and how in my childhood I never got to see someone of my gender be those three things at the same time on a movie screen. Then I thought of the whole van-load of little boys in the row behind me and how much they were loving the movie. I really loved the cameos from the original Ghostbusters cast, which were a reminder that this movie was a tribute to our childhood favorite, not a replacement. For anyone interested in seeing this one, I recommend staying until after the credits roll.


books.

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes - I wanted to read this novel after seeing the previews for the film version, added myself to the waiting list for my library's ebook copy, and read the book in one sitting when it finally became mine. Three things: 1. It's beautifully written.  2. The main characters are adorable and complex.  3. It broke my heart into a million tiny pieces. The main character, Louisa, has low expectations for herself and is content with the safety and routine of living with her parents and single-mom sister in the town she grew up in. When she loses her comfortable cafe job, she becomes a caretaker for a paralyzed man named Will, who is bitter and angry because he has lost his active, jet-setting life. While Lou is determined is to help Will find reasons to want to live, he surprises her by encouraging her to examine whether she is fulfilled in her own life.

television.

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt - I was so, so happy when Kimmy came back for a second season! Tina Fey, Robert Carlock, and the rest of the writing team are really on point creating ridiculous characters that are still sympathetic. This season, we had Jacqueline visiting her parents and trying to reclaim her Native American culture, Titus falling in love, Lillian fighting gentrification. Guest stars included Anna Camp as Jacqueline's super-competitive WASP rival (basically her character from Pitch Perfect cranked to eleven), and Tina Fey as Kimmy's drunk Uber fare turned therapist. There were jokes about AirBnB, Uber, ADHD medication, Columbia House, the Washington Redskins, creepy show tunes. I just think of the phrase "stoop crone" and start laughing now.

Chelsea - I'm enjoying Chelsea Handler's new late night talk show for Netflix. She says in the first episode that she's getting to do the kind of show she's always wanted to, and it's interesting to see Chelsea and the stars she interviews discuss actual important issues instead of regular celebrity gossip, and she brings less well-known people involved with the issues onto the show as well - it reminds me more of The Daily Show than Chelsea Lately. It's a refreshing change of pace. 

Orange is the New Black - I didn't even try to pace myself with this season of OitNB - I binged! This season picks up right where Season 3 left off, and begins with the fallout of all the new inmates that have come to live at Litchfield now that it's a for-profit prison, including celebrity chef Judy King (when the real Piper Chapman was in prison, the inmates hoped Martha Stewart would spend her time at their facility). The racial hierarchy and tenuous relationships take center stage this season: Cindy distrusts her new roommate, who is Muslim; the Dominican women face off against Piper's underground business and the power-tripping prison guards; Brook makes completely off-base assumptions about Poussey's background; Piper almost-accidentally allies herself with white supremacists. Piper herself is less of a focus this season, which was fine by me - she had become such a horrible human being by the end of Season 3 that as a viewer I needed the time away! For me, the most compelling moments of this season featured supporting characters - Sophia and Nicky in maximum security, and Lolly and Blanca's background stories. When the tension that had been building all season finally broke in the last two episodes, it was heartbreaking - and the seemingly inevitable cliffhanger ending leaves me waiting impatiently for Season 5.

Potter Month: House Pride!

5 Fandom Friday is a weekly prompt challenge for female geek bloggers hosted by The Nerdy Girlie and Super Space Chick. You can learn more about the Female Geek Bloggers group here, join in on our Instagram photo challenge for July. This month, we're doing things a little differently and zooming in on one fandom (which just happens to be the most amazing universe to be a fan of) for Harry Potter Month! 

The first person I ever met for whom Harry Potter was as real and as magical as it is for me was my first-year dorm neighbor, Tiff. One of our hobbies in college was sorting everyone we knew into their Hogwarts houses. She's definitely a Ravenclaw, and when she declared me a Hufflepuff I knew she was right. Hufflepuff tends to be overlooked in the Harry Potter fandom, but I love my house, and today I want to share my pride for my Hogwarts house and my thoughts on my new Ilvermorny sorting.

In the first Sorting ceremony Harry attends, the Sorting Hat tells students, "You might belong in Hufflepuff, / Where they are just and loyal, / Those patient Hufflepuffs are true / And unafraid of toil." That last line is what makes me a true Hufflepuff instead of a Ravenclaw like many of my friends. While I value knowledge and learning, and do my best to impart that value to my students, I don't consider myself naturally intellectual - instead, I'm naturally curious and hard-working. In high school, I applied to a magnet school for math and science not because they were my best subjects, but because I'm stubborn (long story for another day). It was definitely my ability to work hard and stay determined that my teachers saw and valued, and that kept me from getting kicked out of that program when my grades dropped! There's a lot of talk in the world of education now about teaching students to have a growth mindset - a very Hufflepuff concept indeed. Say what you will about Hufflepuff, we're the house of egalitarian and generous Helga Hufflepuff, industrious Pomona Sprout, fiercely loyal and protective Nymphadora Tonks. Hufflepuffs Susan Bones, Justin Finch-Fletchley, Ernie Macmillan, and future Mrs. Neville Longbottom, Hannah Abbott joined Dumbledore's Army and most likely fought in the Battle of Hogwarts because not fighting for their school, for their friends, and for what was right didn't even enter their minds. Teddy Lupin was chosen as Hufflepuff Head Boy during his years at Hogwarts. Strong and smart Cedric Diggory, the young man who represented the very best Hogwarts had to offer, was a Hufflepuff. So was Newt Scamander, who I can't wait to see Eddie Redmayne play in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

When I read the description of the houses for the American wizarding school, Ilvermorny (and once I'd gotten over the fact that everything about Ilvermorny is still crazy British and the ridiculous notion that there would only be one official Wizarding school in the U.S.*), I was fairly certain I knew where I'd end up. The houses are Horned Serpent, Wampus, Pukwudgie, and Thunderbird. Instead of representing valued traits, the houses represent aspects of the perfect wizard - the mind, the body, the heart, and the soul. Horned Serpent favors scholars, Wampus warriors, Thunderbird adventurers, and Pukwudgie healers. Based on this information, Pukwudgie was sounding like the Hufflepuff analog. Whereas my answers to my original Pottermore sorting quiz years ago were probably colored by my deep-down knowledge that I am a Hufflepuff, this time I just answered as honestly as possible, and the only question that really stumped me was the one about the fears, because all of those concepts were terrifying. I'd be a Pukwudgie. I'd be the heart, right? Well...

Thankfully, I'm not the only one who initially had an existential crisis over her Ilvermorny sorting! J.K. Rowling herself says on Twitter that there's no equivalence between Hogwarts and Ilvermorny houses, and data from Hogwarts Running Club Members shows that people are getting sorted all over the place.

Then, I saw this on Tumblr and harps played and angels sang:

One of my favorite quotes that I discovered right around the time I was applying to colleges is from Bernard of Clairvaux: “There are those who seek knowledge for the sake of knowledge; that is Curiosity. There are those who seek knowledge to be known by others; that is Vanity. There are those who seek knowledge in order to serve; that is Love.”

I spent my youth seeking knowledge in order to serve others. I spend my adulthood serving others in order to share knowledge. I'm proud to be a Hufflepuff Thunderbird.

* There's just no way most Southern wizarding families sent their kids up North to be educated from the 1800's well through the 1960's. Why doesn't the wizarding world recognize the very old, very large plantation-turned-school that definitely exists in or around New Orleans and probably teaches voodoo? What scandal happened there? On that note, have you seen Lena's Wizarding Schools Around the World series?