My Reading List :: Life

I always read more in the winter. I think it's a natural tendency most of us experience given the appeal of keeping cozy with a soft blanket and a warm fire. My most recently completed piece of literature is Annie Leibovitz At Work and it. was. awesome. The book is an extremely easy read and I think I read its entirety in only a few hours. I've always admired Annie's work and this self-narrated novel allowed me, if only for a day, to catch a small glimpse of her thought process {which in a word is genius}.

A few of my other recent favs include all three books in The Starcatchers series and A Tale of Two Cities {remember this post?!}. You should know I'm somewhat childish and my level of reading may not be up to par with the majority. I wouldn't recommend taking my advice without careful consideration as it's not unusual for me to search the young adult section for new prey.

Happy weekend and happy reading!

Michelle

The South :: My Favorite Things

We're headed to Charleston for the long weekend and I couldn't be more thrilled to explore this true Southern staple of a city. I've been feeling this sense of urgency to make the most of our limited time left in the South and as such I've made it a goal of mine to learn how to cook okra, tie big bows, and fry everything. In honor of our upcoming getaway, I thought it would be the perfect time for a blog post on my favorite things Southern Edition. Happy readin', Y'all.

1. Brown leather riding boots top this list. They're the epitome of I can wear these with anything and make this a nice outfit boots.

2. SEC football. While I'll always be partial to the PAC 10 {which I realize sounds ridiculous to most of you}, football here is an entirely different {wonderful} world. Camping out to reserve a tailgating spot, wearing dresses to the game, eating more food than I'm used to seeing on Thanksgiving - these people know how it's done. And I like it.

3. Antiques. Technically, I'm easily pleased and anything old will do. I'm in awe of the fact that this place had cities three hundred years before the West had states. I will never grow tired of the fact that in the South I can buy a house built the same year people in wagons set out for Oregon. Fo real.

4. Bow ties. Sigh. I want a million of them. And I want Colton to wear a different print for breakfast, lunch, and dinner supper.

5. Peonies. I've finally made it to a place I only believed existed in my dreams. A place where peonies are in every bride's bouquet, every house's garden, and every dinner's table. This is bliss {and I just successfully personified 'house' and 'dinner'}.

6. People wear pearls to the grocery store here. And for good reason, too. It's impossible to not feel fancy when sporting a strand of freshwater jewels. I'm definitely a supporter.

7. The overabundance of overtly preppy dresses make my heart happy. And reveal the inner girlishness I sometimes forget I'm stifling.

8. I'm admittedly embarrassed fried chicken made it to the list. The side of me that genuinely loves all foods promising to take at least one year off my life is a side of me I try to shove in a box and hide in a dark, musty attic. Still at times, the weekend ahead for instance,  the dive-bar-wings-loving, southern-fried-chicken-eating, sweet-potato-pie-needing side wins and I willingly hand over years of my life to have just one taste of reeeal shrimp gumbo. I'm weak, I know.

On that note if you have any recommendations as to where we should eat, stay, play, or visit in Charleston, please let me know. True to form we have no plans other than finding the locals' favorite food joints and walking the {old} streets with coffee in hand.

Happy Weekend!

Michelle

The Winter Essentials :: My Favorite Things

As it would turn out, I find an odd sort of satisfaction from making lists. Lists of things to do, places to see, people to meet, letters to write, movies to see. Even making lists of lists to write can make my darkest day bright. Given an entire day to list make, I'd only be able to formulate one quarter of the lists prepared in my mind. Which is exactly why I've decided to start sharing a few compilations of my favorite things with all ya'll {I'm trying to learn how to speak Southern. To date I've only mastered the use of ya'll}. With the recent chill in the air and the new sweaters from Santa we've all started to don, I've put together a list of winter essentials - the must-haves to make it through a three month span of cold weather and gray skies.

1. A brightly colored scarf to keep the neck region warm and to ward off many a gloomy day.

2. Big, warm, thick socks {the uglier the better}.

3. Corduroy pants. A slim fit provides for the most comfortable couch cozying.

4. A faux fur vest {to sport your style while cuddling in front of the hearth}.

5. Cashmere hand-warmers - fashion forward yet functional.

6. Drinking mugs large enough to dwarf your hands {and big enough to wrap ten chilly fingers around}.

7. Hot buttered rum {no explanation required}.

8. The Arc'teryx Alpha jacket. The slim cut will show off your wintry curves {be proud} while the Gore-Tex shell will be sure to keep even the sneakiest of snowflakes from getting in.

9. The classics. Any {good} book accompanied by numbers two, six, and seven will make the most wintry of afternoons a sheer delight.

Welcome to January and happy cuddling!

Michelle