literary junkies - june update

1. What are you reading? Tell us about it!

I just started Part 2 of Gillian Flynn's Gone Girl, and let me just say, this book is insane.  I can't exactly say that I like it - the main characters are not good people - but it's written in such an interesting way that I feel like I owe it to myself to read the whole thing.

2. Library or bookstore?

My mom taught me to love the library at an early age, signing me up for the summer reading program at our local branch every year and taking me to get new books every week since the school library didn't let me get as many as I wanted!  In my childhood hometown, our library has gone through three different buildings in my lifetime, getting bigger and bigger with each upgrade.  In my new town, we have a really nice downtown library that Mr. Q and I both belong to, but I'm super spoiled to be a YA lover who works in a middle school - my classroom is right beside the library and the secretary lets me know when a new book I'll like has arrived!

3. What book(s) have you read and re-read several times?

I've read all of the Harry Potter books and all of Jane Austen's novels several times, I read Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, and Macbeth in both high school and college, and I've read The Outsiders about 46 times now since I teach it as a class novel!

4. What is the first book that made you fall in love with reading?

Oddly enough I can still remember the first book I was able to decode as a toddler - it was a Little Golden Book about Donald Duck and his nephews.  I don't remember why I liked it so much, but my parents had read it to me so many times that I memorized the text, then started to match the words I knew to the letters on the page.  I was super proud of myself and wanted to "read" the book to everyone I saw.  The first books I remember loving in elementary school were the Henry and Mudge series - I used to pretend that I was Henry and my dog was Mudge, and I'd reenact their adventures.

5. Who's your favorite author? Tell us so we can binge-read!

This is a crazy hard question!  If it's binge-reading you're in the mood for, I consider Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series the literary equivalent of Pringles.  In terms of an author who I actually want to be real life friends with, YA fantasy author Maggie Stiefvater has an amazing way with words (I use her book The Scorpio Races to teach my students about figurative language) and is very kind in person - I met her at an English teacher's conference. My favorite book of hers is The Raven Boys.

clicks of note: light me up like a bottle rocket...

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

• Gloriana's "Wild at Heart" is one of my favorite summer songs - I can't resist that chorus.  I'll be linking up with Musical Mondays at My So-Called Chaos.

SWOON.

Natalie Franke Photography via Style Me Pretty

• I'm really into blue and gold right now, so I loved Design Improvised's bedroom.
• Ruffled features an elegant Old World wedding that was also a 30th birthday party!
• Southern Weddings features a classic wedding in Asheville - love the bride's dress.
• Loving everything about this glam nautical inspiration shoot from Style Me Pretty.

SMILE.

• This whalecome mat from At Home In Love is the cutest DIY!
• Floral monogram = easy way to add some color to your decor.
• This week's Summer Style Soiree is inspired by Jackie Kennedy.
• Would you wear these new Star Wars themed Vans sneakers?

FLASHBACK.

• Last year, I joined Bloglovin' and featured a sunny yellow Sunday Simplicity.
• Two years ago I put together an Instagram round-up from my small town life, inspiration for a library-themed wedding, and Scottish wedding ideas inspired by Brave.  
• Three years ago, I shared our plans for a sparkler send-off and reception sweetheart table.

sunday social: summer 4's

My phone's wallpaper is from Eine Kleine Design Studio

1. 4 favorite phone apps

• Instagram (basically my journal these days)
• Facebook Messenger (better than texting, I think)
• Snapchat (my friends are ridiculous)
• Pandora (love having streaming music everywhere)

2. 4 favorite Summer TV shows

• So You Think You Can Dance - let's get this hot tamale train started.  I'm so ready for auditions to be over so I can pick some favorite dancers and start voting!
• Master Chef - I loved the last two winners, Christine Ha and Luca Manfe, and I love that Master Chef is a show in which typically the mean, cutthroat contestants do not do well because teamwork is a requirement on most of the challenges.  It's nice to see Gordon Ramsay's softer side, and Joe and Graham, the other judges, are cool too.  The show inspires me to try more creative recipes during my summer break!
• Night Shift - I was borderline obsessed with ER and Chicago Hope back in the day, and this new show reminds me of those.  Remember the season of ER where Carter was on drugs?  Night Shift is that crazy all the time.  It's about the emergency department at San Antonio Memorial, which is in danger of closing due to budget issues, and where a lot of the doctors have served in the military.  There is a LOT of drama, unusual medical issues like multiple personality disorder and a hunter getting his hand bitten off by a boar, and the characters are multifaceted.
• Switched at Birth - Love me some ABC Family.

3. 4 things you would NEVER do

• Bungee jump.  Nope nope nope.
• Teach math.  I learned during my student teaching that I can't explain math.
• Hot yoga.  I love yoga but that just sounds awful.
• Wear a tube top.  My tube top days are over.

4. 4 items you carry with you no matter what

• My glasses/sunglasses
• My phone
• Glucose tablets
• A pen

5. 4 blogs we should follow

• Unabashedly Me - Micah's one of my best friends in the blogging world.  Her lifestyle blog is funny, honest, and always interesting.
• From L.A. to LA - Shoshanah is another great friend.  Hers is also a lifestyle blog and she just revealed some big news - she and "the boy" are expecting their first baby!
• Oh Joy! - Pretty much my blogging idol.  Everything she posts is fun, colorful, and inspiring.
• Rachel Held Evans - Rachel's book A Year of Biblical Womanhood is amazing and her blog makes me think.  She writes about all things controversial within the evangelical Christian community.  My favorite posts are her weekly round-ups of interesting links.

sunday simplicity

Astrid Photography via Eat Live Run

Simple Ways to be Classy

Mr. Q paid me a great complement the other day without realizing how much it meant to me. I came home from work, wearing my big sunglasses and an a-line dress, and the first thing out of his mouth was, "You look like Jackie Kennedy."  I don't think he realized that Jacqueline is one of my idols - yes, her style was awesome, but there's a lot more to it than that.  She exuded class and ladylike behavior.  That got me thinking - what, exactly, does it mean to be a classy lady in the modern age?  I came up with five sure fire ways to maintain class in your personal and work life.

1. Admit mistakes, apologize, and make it right.

Being able to admit when you are wrong - to your husband, your friends, your coworkers, and even your superiors, can be difficult.  Admitting mistakes isn't a sign of weakness - it's a sign of wisdom and responsibility.  Being able to acknowledge that you were in the wrong about something shows the people in your life that you think about the consequences of your actions and that you care about how your deeds affect - and hurt - others.  And it's not enough to just admit that you messed up - it's also important to let those you've wronged know that you are sorry, and that you are taking steps to make things right.


2. Be kind and polite - even when people aren't being kind to you.

One of the biggest things I've learned at work and in my personal life this year is not to take things too personally.  If the father of one of my students sounds irritated on the phone, for instance, it doesn't necessarily mean he doesn't like me - it could be that he is annoyed that his son has been acting up in class for five or six years, that he and his wife are having problems at home, or that his boss is scowling at him for being on the phone during work. Me getting defensive and letting an attitude come through in my voice isn't going to make any of those situations better.  Likewise, I recently spent time agonizing over why Mr. Q was upset with me - I was positive he was because he'd been quiet and tense all morning - only to find out that he had a sinus infection and was just trying to get through a busy day when what he really wanted was to go back to bed.  Bottom line: get over yourself, think about whether there might be something else going on, and be as kind as you can.  It will be remembered.


3. Be a good guest.

This spring, when my friend Becky came to visit and do the Color Run with me, I was really struck by what a good guest she was.  I've stayed at her home many times and knew what a good hostess she is, so I shouldn't have been surprised.  She called on her way to let me know exactly when she would arrive.  After our race, she bought me lunch - which was not necessary, but absolutely classy!  When she left, the guest room somehow looked even cleaner than it had before she slept in it.



4. Dress for the occasion.

I heard a quotation about this from a very unexpected source: Nicki Minaj!  She appeared on Live! with Kelly and Michael recently, and when Kelly complimented her ladylike dress, she said, "I always dress to match the woman of the house."  Wearing appropriate clothing for certain places and occasions is a sign of courtesy and good manners.  If Nicki Minaj can do it, so can you.  That means respecting traditions like not wearing red or white to a wedding, wearing dark colors to funerals, and dressing professionally for job interviews.  Over time, I've also come to see dressing modestly as a way to show respect to those around me, particularly children and the elderly.

5. Send get well, sympathy, and thank you cards.

In the age of Facebook, it's easy to send a brief message to someone who is ill, grieving, or who has done something kind for you, but I don't think a digital message will ever replace a heartfelt note, in your own handwriting, on actual paper.  A lot of people might think it's old-fashioned, but knowing that someone took the time to write a card always means a lot to me. I've started keeping a box of basic thank you cards in my desk at work so I can quickly acknowledge when someone does something special for me.

What actions and behaviors do you consider classy?  Who is the classiest person you know, and what makes him or her stand out?

Book Review: Bluebonnet Bride by Colleen Coble

My summer reading list is always heavy on historical fiction - I love the opportunity to travel vicariously to new places and to other time periods!  I recently finished Bluebonnet Bride, a sweet novella by Christian writer Colleen Coble set in Texas in 1907.  Since several of my favorite stories begin with adventuresome women arriving in the West on trains, I was instantly sucked in.  Elli Korpela has come to America from Finland as a mail order bride in order to escape a forced engagement to a greedy neighbor. Her handsome new husband Nathan has been working to support his family since he was a teenager and has had no time for courting, and wants a woman's help raising his four-year-old orphaned niece Hannah. 

After a picturesque wedding at Nathan's friends' mansion, Butterfly Palace, they return to a charming little house, but their newfound domestic bliss is quickly cut short when Elli is attacked by a nighttime intruder. As they begin to investigate the attack, Nathan and Elli aren't sure if the intruder was a striking worker from the granite quarry where Nathan is foreman, or someone working for Elli's former fiance - who she suspects killed her wealthy father. 

The story's central mystery - what is the intruder looking for? - was interesting enough to hold my attention, and while the intruder's identity was a surprise, the threat never seemed truly frightening.  Additionally, the subplot about labor problems at the quarry is never really resolved. 

As a novella, Bluebonnet Bride has lace space for character development than a longer work. Elli is devoted to Hannah even though to readers, the little girl is a flat porcelain doll of a character.  Elli and Nathan are more dynamic, and their romance is Hallmark-style perfection: even though they're both attracted to each other at first sight, Nathan remains respectful, considerate, and keeps his distance.  Elli falls in love with his devotion to Hannah and his protective nature toward her, and he falls in love with her spirit and determination. Their belief that God has brought them together gives them both a sense of security in their new relationship.  The romance is chaste enough that I would feel perfectly comfortable recommending this book to a younger reader.  The story is an easy read, and a great temporary escape from modern life.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Linking Up:

Wake Up Wednesday at A Peek Into My Paradise

inspiration for a craftsman-style summer camp wedding

Longtime readers of the blog already know that summer camp is a huge part of my life.  I started attending a local 4-H summer camp when I was in elementary school, became a counselor in high school, and worked on camp staff for three years in college.  Next week, I'll be back at the place I consider my home away from home, serving as an adult volunteer. Like many summer camps, my camp also serves as a venue for weddings and other special events.  Hosting weddings not only provides the camp with some additional income (always a plus!), it gives people who didn't attend camp as a child a chance to experience a truly magical place.  For the bride and groom, a summer camp wedding can be an opportunity to tie childhood nostalgia into one of life's milestones, and to create a sense of community and fun among special wedding guests.

Nesting Project Weddings on Etsy offers several Craftsman and Art Nouveau inspired designs, whether you're planning a wedding in the Rockies or the Appalachians.  This particular save the date design, inspired by the Rocky Mountains, is the inspiration for the rest of today's post.  A Craftsman theme and a calming mountain-inspired color palette would be amazing in a summer camp, state park, or other rustic setting.

Love is a Big Deal via Green Wedding Shoes | The Weaver House via Green Wedding Shoes

While the sign on the left is a permanent fixture at Camp Wandawega in 

Wisconsin, a DIY version would add a touch of summer camp to any rustic 

wedding site.  I love the idea of styling that incorporates traditional camp 

arts and crafts and nature hike items - pinecones, anyone? - in beautiful 

ways, like this boutonniere from a wedding held at Camp Lane in Oregon.

Emily Steffen took this photo at Camp Kenwood in Wisconsin.  The bride's beautiful feather hair fascinator is perfectly in keeping with the 1920's vibe of a Craftsman inspired wedding.

Redfield Photography via Green Wedding Shoes| Elizabeth Messina via Green Wedding Shoes

This adorable little guest photo is from a wedding held at a Pennsylvania Boy Scout camp.

FritzPhoto

Emily Steffen

Whitney Martin Photography via Bridal Musings

One of the biggest perks of a summer camp wedding is the opportunity to put a romantic spin on traditional camp activities, like this groom arriving by canoe.  When I think about the canoeing and kayaking cove at my summer camp, I automatically hear the sounds of splashing paddles and children's laughter, but I can also picture my dear friends leaving their wedding ceremony by boat from our camp fishing dock!

Carly Bish Photography via Green Wedding Shoes | Hitched in the Hood

Emily Steffen

Shawn Connell and Glen Allsop of Christian Oth Studio via Brides

Let's Frolic Together via 100 Layer Cake

Matt Edge Wedding Photography via Tahoe Unveiled

Summer Color: Mint and Gray

For me, summer break is a time to break free from routines, start new healthy habits, and explore.  Next week, I'll be heading off to volunteer at summer camp, but this week is all mine.  I'll be spending time with some of my best friends, doing some cleaning and organizing here at home, and planning the rest of my summer adventures.  These mint and gray pieces really complement my attitude this week!

View this set on Polyvore

1. Lucky Brand flats from Belk  2. ASOS sandals 
3. The Lion and the Lark adventure print from Etsy  
4. White tea and mint travel candle from Bliss Home and Design
5. Express triangle bracelet  6. Zazzle chevron pillow  
7. The Lion and the Lark arrow printable from Etsy 
 8. Enelle chevron earrings from Wolf and Badger
9. Vintage clock from Etsy  10. Forever 21 nail color in Seafoam  
11. Sonia Kashuk nail color in "Breakfast at Tiffany's" from Target 
12. New Balance sneakers from Athleta

Linking Up:
Casual Friday at Two Thirty-Five Designs
Manic Monday at More Pieces of Me and The Daily Express
Passion 4 Fashion at Rachel the Hat
Style Sessions at Style Elixir

Three-Fer Thursday at Perfectly Coutured