Pinspiration: Cozy Romantic Style

What I'm loving right now...

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literary junkies - february 2016

Here are this month's questions:

1. What are you reading right now? Tell us about it.

I just finished the Welcome to Night Vale novel by Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor. I'd listened to a few episodes of the podcast a while back after seeing some of Celeste's doodles inspired by the show and wondering who Cecil and Carlos were and why Tumblr was so obsessed with them! I didn't get obsessed with it, but I appreciated the weird, Lovecraftian surrealism - probably my favorite Night Vale offshoot is their Twitter account, actually. I didn't know about the book until a few of my fellow Female Geek Bloggers mentioned it, and then saw it under my library's new eBook releases. Just as the podcast took me a few episodes to appreciate, it took me a few chapters to get into the book, which focuses on two mysteriously connected characters, perpetually 19-year-old pawn shop owner Jackie and single mom (to a shapeshifting teenage boy) Diane. They live in the utterly weird desert town "where the sun is hot, the moon is beautiful, and mysterious lights pass overhead while we all pretend to sleep." The book's mystery begins when a bland-looking man in a tan jacket gives Jackie a piece of paper she can't put down, and a similarly forgettable man goes missing from Diane's office (Evan? Ethan? Everett? What was that guy's name again?). The trouble with living in Night Vale is knowing when something weird is actually weird enough to be worried about.

2. Have you ever read a book that made you want to immediately travel to that destination?

Nothing comes to mind automatically, but in college I desperately wanted to move to New York and I think it was because I was reading large quantities of "chick lit," like The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing, where the main characters were usually in low-level publishing jobs in the city.

3. What is your ideal reading spot? (Ex. Reading nook in a library, in bed, in a hammock on the beach, etc)

I guess I should say my zebra chair in my classroom, because I love reading to my kiddos every chance I get, but I can't lie, my end of the sofa is indented lower than Mr. Q's because it's the perfect cozy spot to read, usually early in the morning or late at night. However, my all-time favorite reading spot anywhere in the world is the McGregor Room in Alderman Library at UVa - the closest I'll ever get to the Gryffindor Common Room. I also spent a lot of time lying on the grass with a book in the Ampitheatre on sunny days when I was in college. As a tween reader, it was this spot at my local public library.

4. If you wrote a memoir, what would the title be?

I can't even think of a new name for this blog, but I think my memoir would need to be called 30 Going on 13 because teaching middle school is the biggest part of my life, I love puns, and my students are my heart and soul (and best source of funny stories and quotes like, "School food is for hobos.")

5. One of our great literary giants has recently passed, author of To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee. Did you read the book? Thoughts/opinions. What about Go Set a Watchman? 

I have a cat named Scout; what do you think? TKAM was required reading in 10th grade advanced English at my school, and even though most of my classmates were overwhelmed by the length and serious subject matter, I got hooked (it helped that my mom had already shown me the movie!). I can still remember my teacher describing it as a "perfect book" and explaining that she meant that there wasn't a single word or phrase in the novel that didn't need to be there. Since then, I've always tried to remember that good writing should be succinct. I did read Go Set a Watchman, and while I wasn't blown away by it in a literary sense I could really relate to Scout's struggle - when you grow up, how do you continue to love your family members once you see that they are flawed?

What have you been reading lately? Come link up with us at 

Pink Heels Pink Truck and Life with a Side of Coffee!

this week's clicks: let's start carving our own path...

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

• Though the video there says "Imaginary Friend," this band is actually called Imaginary Future and their song "Love is Beginning" is from the album Sunlight, which is full of lovely tracks.

SWOON.

Jamee Photography via Wedding Chicks

• Wedding Chicks features a vintage-meets-rustic ranch wedding.
• Apartment Therapy features a cozy Oregon family home tour.
• Bliss at Home's AMAZING chic gold kitchen transformation.
• From Bridal Musings, a simple hometown wedding... in Hawaii.

SMILE.

• Desktops: Cross Cards, Kate Spade, Pop Goes the Reader.
• Oscar ballots from Almost Makes Perfect and Lia Griffith.
• These preserved flower rings are fit for a princess.
• Supermodels as superheroes, via Pret-a-Reporter.

FLASHBACK.

• Last year, I reviewed  a lovely scarf from MoonCats, shared my favorite Oscar looks and an Oscar-inspired outfit for the PMT Style Challenge, rounded up my fave pins, and spotlighted my 2015 blog loves.
• Two years ago, I rounded up my blog loves and shared my fave Oscar fashion, hair, makeup, and accessories.
• Three years ago I featured my fave Oscar looks, easy cupcake decorating inspired by Gold Rush, City Hall wedding inspiration, and my winter in Instagram.
• Four years ago I shared inspiration for a feminine winter wedding.
• Five years ago I featured my favorite folk and classical instrumentals for weddings.

sunday simplicity.

Kristina Curtis via Style Me Pretty

“There is a very real relationship, both 
quantitatively and qualitatively, between what you 
contribute and what you get out of this world.”

― Oscar Hammerstein II

valentine's book tag.

Book tags are by far one of my favorite solutions to blogger writing block. When Ashlee from Her Geekery posted her answers to this tag, I knew I had to get on board, even though we're a little past V-Day now.

Standalone Book I Love

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater - Maggie is my favorite YA fantasy author, and in The Scorpio Races she takes the Celtic myth of the water horse and creates a tiny, magical world: the island of Thisby, where brave and foolish men race the dangerous creatures each November. The main character, Puck, is a tomboy who dreams of racing and hopes to hold her family together.

Dystopian Book I Love

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld - I fell in love with this series while I was still in college and I'm still amazed that it's not more popular. In the society where Tally lives, teenagers receive plastic surgery that makes them perfect and beautiful - but not everyone is on board with the procedure or the society's ideals. I loved that the series is really about Tally's relationships with her friends and how those ties are challenged as teenagers develop their own interests and passions and try to create an "image" for themselves in an world that is obsessed with appearances. I also enjoyed the standalone book Extras, which complements the series and serves as a commentary on our social media addicted society.

A Book That I Love But No One Else Talks About 

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi - This YA science fiction series is romantic and creative - Aria, a girl from the most technologically advanced part of society, where life is lived basically in virtual reality and people are protected from the elements, must brave the wilderness to find her missing mother. She meets and falls in love with Peregrine, who lives in a tribal society "Dwellers" like Aria consider savage. The worldbuilding, and the romance between Aria and Perry, are so compelling, and this series deserves just as much acclaim and fame as The Hunger Games and Divergent.

My Favorite Book Couple

Jamie and Claire from Outlander by Diana Gabaldon - I don't think I'll ever get tired of gushing about the Outlander series or my darling Mr. and Mrs. Fraser. These two are completely protective of and devoted to each other, and they don't hesitate to put each other in their place when needed. 

They have an electric love that spans time and distance, from the Scottish highlands to the royal court of Paris, and a romance that is both tender and passionate. Diana Gabaldon is one of few authors that can get me to read 800+ pages at a time, and I keep coming back for more.

A Book That Other People Love But I Haven’t Gotten Around To Reading

Nimona by Noelle Stevenson - I added this book to my to-be-read list after listening to Kristin from My Life as a Teacup's review on her YouTube channel. Just based on the cover art alone, it looks awesome, and the fact that it's about a supervillain's sidekick is so creative and unique - as much as I love swords and sorcery, I always enjoy sarcastic takes on the genre. I suppose until I do finally get my hands on the book, I should check out the original webcomic by Noelle Stevenson.

A Book with Red on the Cover

The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing by Melissa Bank - One of my all-time favorites, I discovered this bildungsroman, in the form of a collection of short stories, when I was in college, and the timing was perfect because I identified so much with a lot of what the main character, Jane, was going through. In the book, she deals with childhood friendships, changing relationships with her parents and brother, her first career in publishing, and several relationships. Bank's writing style is simple and funny, and Jane's voice came through as if the book was a memoir.

A Book with Pink on the Cover

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling - The book of essays that officially made me want to be Mindy Kaling's best friend. From her lack of athletic ability, to her move to New York, to "types of women in romantic comedies who are not real," to Irish exits, I laughed out loud so many times while reading this one The fact that I cannot currently call Mindy Kaling from my bathtub and share stories and giggles with her proves that we live in a fundamentally unjust world.

You Were Given A Box Of Chocolate, What Fictional Boyfriend Would Have Given Them To You?

Carswell Thorne from the Lunar Chronicles series by Marissa Meyer - Although the chocolates would probably be stolen and Captain Thorne would surely have some sort of ulterior motive in giving them to me, how can anyone resist a character who is basically a younger, sassier version of Malcolm Reynolds?

You Are In The Book Store, All Of A Sudden You Get Shot With An Arrow By Cupid. What New Release Will You Love? 

Nicole Burstein's Othergirl - this book came out in 2015 and sounds adorable. From Goodreads: "Louise and Erica have been best friends since forever. They're closer than sisters and depend on each other for almost everything. Just one problem: Erica has superpowers. When Erica isn't doing loop-the-loops in the sky or burning things with her heat pulse powers, she needs Louise to hold her non-super life together. After all, the girls still have homework, parents and boys to figure out. But being a superhero's BFF is not easy, especially as trouble has a way of seeking them out. Soon Louise discovers that Erica might be able to survive explosions and fly faster than a speeding bullet, but she can't win every fight by herself. Life isn't a comic book - it's even crazier than that."

who to follow on instagram.

Instagram has been my favorite form of social media for several years running and I don't see that changing any time soon. Here are the feeds I'm loving right now...

aburstofbeautiful | mistyonpointe

aburstofbeautiful - Blogger Alicia shares shots of her lovely home which is decorated in cozy modern farmhouse style, including her perfect kitchen, sweet vignettes, and the occasional puppy or kitty photobomb.

mistyonpointe - I studied ballet for eleven years, and have loved seeing ABT's first African-American principal dancer become a celebrity - I've also seen a few of my own students inspired by her story. She is grace, beauty, and strength personified.

octoberjuneblog | mscraftberrybush

octoberjuneblog - blogs about branding, and her Instagram feed features consistently simple, pretty peeks at her everyday life and casual-chic fashion; I love that she includes her geeky side as well - she's an unabashed Harry Potter and X-Files fan.

mscraftberrybush - Blogger Lucy is a talented artist and decorator, and her feed features pretty vignettes from around her home, watercolors and other works in progress, and fun shots of her family's dog, Brody!

kaisafit | palmtreesandtaxis

kaisafit - Kaisa Keranen has an M.S. in Exercise Science and her feed is always happy and upbeat - even when she has a broken leg. I've gotten some good ideas from her workout videos. Her pictures are a great source of gym style inspiration, too!

palmtreesandtaxis - East coast college student and fashion blogger Claire's Instagram feed has such a fun aesthetic - ocean waves, neon signs, and palm trees even in the dead of winter, alongside fashion and travel photos.

Previously recommended: 

abeachcottage, agirlastyle, anacvitanovic, annariflebond, apartment_34,  blaireadiebee, brahmino, brightbazaar, carmenmariez, cozystylishchic, eastandblog, elsiecake, frassyaudrey, fresh_exchange, glitterguide, heatherbullard, housesevenblog, humansofny, hungryeditor, jane_lilly, justinchung, justinslens , kattanita, kirstenalana, kissmyspatula, labellemel31, lifeonvirginiastreet, livvylandblog, lizlovegrowswild, mattcrump, missmustardseed, monikahibbs, moodygirlinstyle, nellahelsinki, ohjoystudio, oliviaraejames, quiteheatherly, rachelroams, roomsforrent,shannonkirsten,  sugarandcloth, snippetandink, stylishpetite, takinyerphoto, taylorsterling, thelandmarkproject, thepinkdiary, thisisglamorous, thislittlestreet, tifforelie, tinyatlasquarterly, trentonmichael,  waitingonmartha, witanddelight_

Are you on Instagram?  I'd love to follow you!

Leave your username in a comment to this post -

(you can follow me here). 

style: favorite 2016 GRAMMY's looks.

The 2016 award season continued last night with one of the classiest GRAMMY Awards ceremonies in recent memory - Kendrick Lamar's cerebral performance will be analyzed for the next week,  Lady Gaga's tribute to the late David Bowie was spot on, and the live performance by the cast of Hamilton was a treat. Celebrities in attendance even seemed pretty pumped about getting glitter-bombed by Taylor Swift. Fashion-wise, where the GRAMMY Awards are an opportunity to have fun with red carpet fashion that sometimes leads to celebrities going a little crazy, the attendees, presenters, and performers seemed to have an understanding that the two themes for the night's dress code were "streamlined" and "sparkling." Image sources can be found here on my Pinterest.

In my opinion, the two classiest looks of the night were expectant mother Chrissy Tiegen's white gown, glittering cape, and miniaudiere purse, and Anna Kendrick's black gown with sheer panels - elegant, simple, and perfect for a presenter.

My favorite looks of the night were elegant gowns with personality - both of these are works of art. Kacey Musgraves' ombre Armani Prive ballgown suits her colorful personality and I like that she kept the rest of her look simple. I wasn't sure who Lianne La Havas was (she's a British folk singer), but her  chartreuse gown (with pockets!) looked worthy of the Met Gala paired with her slightly bohemian updo.

Demi Lovato clearly had a formula for her red carpet and performance looks: suit jacket + no shirt + statement jewelry. Paired with a black manicure, she looked fierce onstage and off, like a sexy Bond villain.

While I do not like to body-shame other women for any reason, my concern that Taylor Swift might need a little more fat in her diet kept me from being able to totally get on board with her '90s throwback tube top and open skirt, but I loved her Anna Wintour bob, tangerine lipstick, and multicolored choker necklace. 

As far as my favorite performance outfits of the night, aside from Demi's suit, I loved Adele's intricately detailed deep red gown and matching manicure, and adored Brittany Howard's ivory dress, cape, and statement earrings. She's a rock goddess and the fabulous look was a nice departure from her usual retro florals.

What were your favorite moments and looks 

from this year's GRAMMY Awards?

this week's clicks: we can be the only ones that know.

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

• Singer-songwriter Inzi has the sweetest voice that is providing the perfect soundtrack to watch snowflakes fall outside my window this morning - I think fans of Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson will like her music.

SWOON.

Julie Paisley Photography via Style Me Pretty

• Prettiness abounds in this organic modern SMP wedding.
• Printable watercolor shower invites from Lia Griffith.
• Wedding Chicks features romantic El Chorro nuptuals.
• This bride chose her Nana to be one of her bridesmaids!

SMILE.

• Desktops: Cardstore, Flipsnack, Mospens, Giants+Pilgrims.
• Made me laugh: the 25 most depressing nail polish names.
• Joie's adorably geeky workout outfit ideas and playlists.
• Kalyn's tips for fighting the winter blues.

FLASHBACK.

• Last year I reviewed my second Stitch Fix, and shared my February faves.
• Two years ago, I had Olympic fever and rounded up Sochi and Team USA inspired wardrobe picks.
• Three years ago I shared Cinderella-inspired wedding ideas, rounded up Oscar Party tips, and shared my February blog loves.
• Four years ago I shared pink Sunday Simplicity and snapshots from my weekend.
• Five years ago I shared inspo for our wedding in textures, recapped V-Day as an engaged couple, practiced flower arranging, and shared contemporary instrumental music for weddings.