Summer Must Reads

I am a book devourer! I absolutely adore reading and really think I should just get paid to lay on my couch all day with my beagle boy and read book after book after book. But, alas, I cannot so I just use up a good chunk of my free time reading. There are some books, though, that I just have to read in the summer time. To me these books just conjure lazy summer days and nights lounging around on a beach or in a cozy backyard. They also have an overall air of freedom that greatly appeals to me and summer has always been a symbol of freedom for me. Here are my must reads for the summer months (all pictures will be linky to where you can buy)!

The Shopaholic Series by Sophie Kinsella

I adore Sophie Kinsella’s novels. I have read all of them but the Shopaholic series is by far my favorite. I completely identify with Rebecca and completely swoon over Luke with her (seriously why can’t I find a man like that!?). These are quick and easy reads that will have you cracking up and feeling just as embarrassed as Rebecca is (or at least as she should be!).

A Bend in the Road by Nicholas Sparks

My favorite Nicholas Sparks novel! I have read this book soooo many times that my copy is starting to fall apart and I should probably invest in a new one. This is one of those books that feels like it’s been imprinted on my soul (deep I know). I cry over this book each and every time and force others to read it too. Literally, I have shoved this book in my friends hands and made them read it (they always end up loving it too). This I desperately hope they one day turn into a movie, yet at the same time I fear when they do because I know they’ll cast all of the wrong people (like the HORRIBLE choice of Julianne Hough for Save Haven!) and will ruin my favorite story, but I still want the movie!

The Rescue by Nicholas Sparks

Another great Nicholas Sparks novel (really you can’t go wrong with any of his..). This one isn’t as soul imprinting as A Bend in the Road but I still love it. The Rescue is like a comfort book (kind of like comfort food only not edible) in that you know exactly what to expect and it never disappoints.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Oh Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy! I love them and so want to go adventuring through Pemberley! Now, for whatever reason I have only read Pride and Prejudice straight through a few times. I guess I view this novel like a really rich dessert (two food references in one posting, maybe I need a snack!) -- I only want to devour a little bit at a time, so naturally it takes me almost all summer to read it but I enjoy every little minute I spend with the crazy Bennett family!

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

I remember the first time I read this book...it was love at first paragraph. I can read this novel in a day and Atticus Finch is my hero. That’s all I’ll say.

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Yes, I know, everyone is probably a bit Gatsby-ed out but I still love it (and if you do too feel free to check out my Gatsby Inspiration post here. I’m not sure what grips me about this novel but I just adore it, and I’ll admit I have a literary crush on Mr. Fitzgerald... If you haven’t read this one you absolutely must, but I’ll warn you, you’ll either love it or hate it, from what I’ve noticed there is NO middle ground when it comes to Gatsby.

There are my selections for summer must reads, have you read any of these. What are the ones that you absolutely love and visit over and over again?

Feeling a Little Pink

News flash my favorite color is pink! I remember being 5 years old and insisting that I wear a head to toe pink outfit on the my first day of Kindergarten. Thankfully my mom intervened and I looked adorable in a new dress but I still think that the all pink would have made a lasting statement. ANYWAY this post will be just a random hodgepodge of some of my favorite pink items (all pictures will be linky to where you can buy).

So naturally I could go on and on but I feel like I need to reign myself in! For some more “pinkspiration” check out my Pink pinboard here!

The Little Yellow Dress

Hey All! It is officially summer (YAY!) and that means it’s time to break out all of those comfy cute summer dresses (and flip-flops, one must never forget the flip-flops!) One dress I have been CRAVING this year is a little yellow dress! I don’t own one (yet) because I’ve always been terrified of the color yellow. I am fair skinned and can sometimes have slight yellow undertones when wearing certain colors (thanks to my dad’s Middle Eastern heritage for that) so I’ve always avoided yellow in fear of looking like I have jaundice! However, lately there has been a HUGE number of celebrities rocking the bright summery hue and I now I just really really need a dress of my own!

Here are a few of my fave celebrity looks (all pictures will link back to the site where I found them!)

Now I know technically Lea’s isn’t a dress but I still think it’s adorable and a yellow skirt is also a nice way to try the yellow trend without feeling overwhelmed by the color don’t ya think?

Can we all just agree that Lauren Conrad may just be the embodiment of the color yellow? She always looks like she just lives in a perpetual state of summer and that yellow dress is perfect for the summer wedding season!

Blake Lively is another celebrity who looks like she just lives in a perpetual state of summer isn't she? I adore this dress because it looks like it can be worn just about anywhere.

And now that we are all inspired here are my choices for a potential yellow dress. Now remember that all of these are plus size dresses due to the fact that I myself am a plus size girl and once again all pictures will link back to the site where you can purchase:

Those are my top three for sure! I haven’t quite decided which one I’m going for (if not all three!) but once I figure it out I will update and try to get some picture in it (I am terrible at self portraits!). What are all of your opinions on the whole yellow dress trend? Do you love it, hate it, or could you honestly care less?? Also for more gorgeous yellow inspiration please feel free to check out my Little Yellow Dress pin board here!

Kelly Osbourne Inspired Nail Art!!

I absolutely ADORE Kelly Osbourne. Ever since I saw her on The Osbournes back in the day I have always liked her and totally think we could be best friends...just saying. ANYWAY, when I saw her on the cover of this months Cosmopolitan I had to buy it and knew I needed to do something very Kelly-esque. I would have loved to dye my hair lavender but unfortunately I have a feeling it wouldn't look appropriate on a preschool teacher..but maybe next crazy hair day. I did however fall in love with the blouse that Kelly was wearing on the cover and how there were some random green polka-dots strewn throughout the mainly blue polka-dotted shirt. And, since my nails were in need of a painting I thought -- NAIL ART!!

So without further ado here is my nail art tutorial (please excuse the raggedy nails and less then perfectness -- I am not a professional -- obviously):


Gather Polishes/Materials:

I used (from left): Butter London Nail Foundation Flawless Basecoat, Seche Vite Top Coat, OPI ChipSkip, OPI You're Such A Budapest, SinfulColors Snow Me White, Essie Mojito Madness, and Sephora by OPI Slushied (this was from the Glee collection which you can no longer get, but any blue will work!)
You will also need a dotting tool or a straightened out bobby pin

Apply ChipSkip

Confession Time: I have had this for a long time (I got it for free in a special) but never quite understood how to use it until I finally read a review on it. You apply it first and it slightly dehydrates your nail so that polish adheres better.
This step is also not necessary but it does help.

Apply Basecoat

Apply White and Lavender Polish

I only applied one coat of Snow Me White and that was good enough, I did however have to go back and apply a second coat of You're Such A Budapest as it was really sheer. 

Apply Blue and Green Polka-Dots

I did not have a dotting tool so I just straightened out a bobby pin. I poured a little blue and green on to the back of a flyer and then started dotting to my hearts content only applying one green dot per nail. I left the lavender nail alone. 

Apply Topcoat

And You're Done! Now go off and show everyone your adorable new fingernails! 

I hope you all enjoyed this quick and easy tutorial. If you try it let me know and send me pictures on Twitter (@lilannietweets) and Instagram (@anniedannie)!!

Gatsby Inspiration

Oh why thank you Leo! Er..I mean Mr. Gatsby

Original photo

I know. I know. I'm a little late to the Gatsby party, but to be fair I've been a little busy (this last semester was BRUTAL!!) Anyway, I absolutely love The Great Gatsby and admittedly have a little literary crush on one F. Scott Fitzgerald, so I thought I would compile a little list of some of my favorite "Gatsbyish" items. 

**Side note: if you haven't seen it I totally recommend Midnight in Paris a movie by Woody Allen, in which the INCREDIBLY good looking Tom Hiddleston portrays F. Scott Fitzgerald -- seriously made me fall in love with Fitzgerald even more**

Beauty

There is an amazing range of hair ideas and makeup ideas that are so 1920s inspired that it was hard to narrow down my list to just a few favorites. 

I absolutely adore all of the retro ruby red lip looks such as this: 

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But alas, ruby red lips are not met for me... I can, however, pull off the more neutral everyday inspired looks such as this: 

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Nails

Personally I think one of the easiest ways to rock the Gatsby trend is to take it your fingernails (or toenails if you heart desires). Pinterest has GOBS of nail ideas that range from really intricate designs such as this: 

My pin doesn't link to the original website for this picture -- SORRY!!

To really simple (the ones that I would be able to pull off on my own) like this: 

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Accessories

So the majority of my favorite Gatsby inspired accessories are shoes...BUT there are some other really great accessories out there too. Here are a couple of my favorites:

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Clothing

I really think I was meant to be born in the 1920s..I mean really the fashion was just so....adorable! Some of the inspired clothing ranges from very literal like this:

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to everyday wear like this:

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The final inspired set is Weddings(!!), now I am not getting married (or anywhere close to walking down the aisle) but if I was to get married soon I could totally see myself having a Gatsby inspired wedding. Because, well the whole princessy ball gown thing isn't really me. Here are a couple of my faves:

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These are just a few of my favorite Gatsby Inspired things, you can see even more on my Pinterest Board here. And leave me comments below! What is your favorite era? Did you see The Great Gatsby? Did you love it or hate it? What were you thoughts of Leo as Gatsby himself (I thought he was BORN for the role personally)?  Let me know!!