Revisiting Classics

With the new school year upon us I thought I would take us back to high school English and the reading lists that haunted your dreams, weekends, and summer vacations. Now that I am older I have a new appreciation for some of these books that we were supposed to understand at the time (aka when we were 16.. I don't think so)

Here are some of my favorite class reads that I highly recommend that you revisit!

The Color Purple

Fahrenheit 451

Lord of the Flies

The Catcher in the Rye

Romeo and Juliette

Pride and Prejudice

1984

To Kill A Mockingbird

The Great Gatsby

I have re-read some of these recently and it's truly amazing how much your perspective can change in 8 years!

-A

Reading Celebrity Style

I was recently reading my December issue of InStyle (I know a little late) and I read that both Cameron Diaz and Drew Barymore have new books. Cameron's is a book all about the body, eating healthy, and the real science behind staying fit. It seems like a great read - perfect timing too as many people have New Year's Resolutions that they might be now slacking on and want to start up again! Drew's is a photography book in which she finds hearts in un-expected places. These both sound like such fun books and I will definitely be checking them out!

When I read this article I thought about all of my other favorite books written by some celebrities and I thought I would share them with all of you and to hopefully to inspire some reading this Spring!

The Honest Life - Jessica Alba. This book is all about living organically and pestisite-free! She has everything from what ingredients should or should not be in your shampoo to what fruits you need to purchase organically. It has given me a whole new outlook when shopping! Plus is has adorable pictures of her whole family and easy-going lifestyle. 

Celebrate - Pippa Middleton. Pippa’s fabulous book is all about what she does best - party plan! She gives you great tips for different parties during each season. From children’s parties to a Scottish style highland tea, she covers everything from food to serve to decorations and color themes. 

Tim Gunn's Fashion Bible - Tim Gunn. As a huge Project Runway fan I think that automatically means that I am a big Tim Gunn fan. His book covers all things fashion and it isn't your typical “don’t wear this, wear this instead” book. It truly discusses the history of each item that he covers. 

Decoded - Jay-Z. I am a huge Jay-Z fan and this book does not disappoint. It is a great one to have on any coffee table as it has a very interesting cover and great stores inside. It covers his time growing up and rise to fame, while dissecting his song lyrics along the way. 

Style and Beauty - Lauren Conrad. I love love love Lauren Conrad’s books almost as much as I love her. It is the perfect go-to guide for everything. Lauren goes through the basics of fashion and beauty in an all comprehensive guide for any girl. 

-A

These Are A Few Of My Favorite Blogs

Hello bloggers and readers! Since we started this blog we have found ourselves really becoming avid blog readers. We like to check them pretty regularly, comment on posts, and gain inspiration. We decided to put together a little list of our favorite blogs for you to look over and read!

First up are Ashley's go-to blogs. Fashion, food, and lifestyle! I love anything that is fun to look at - and these definitely fall under that category. These lovely ladies inspire everything from get-togethers with friends, the way I style my outfits, or some new-beauty trends. 

Blog reading + coffee + inspiration notebook

Fashion

The Fashion Canvas - great patterns, easy to read, inventive outfits

The Sweetest Thing - amazing beauty tutorials, bright colors, preppy-modern style

Little Miss Fearless - simple and classic with a twist

A Spoonful of Style - lots of fabulous pops of color, streamlined outfits, relatable content

Kendi Everyday - chic, bold, and fashionable. Blogger and boutique owner has a great eye for style

Lifestyle

Cupcakes and Cashmere - the perfect mix of outfits, great recipes, and great tips about life

A Beautiful Mess - two sisters each with their own style, great home decor, food, crafts, and fashion

Lauren Conrad - My role model. Everything from workouts, to parties, to fashion, and everything in-between.

Food

Iowa Girl Eats - simple meals that are absolutely delish, fresh ingredients, and recreations of classics.

Noble Pig - the perfect blog to look at when you want to impress your family with your cooking skills



In addition to theses blogs, I love reading countless others. Photography and travel are becoming two of my new favorites. I also have truly enjoyed reading all of our new followers blogs. There is such a fun community out there and I can't wait to become more of a part of it! What are some of your favorite blogs? Let us know in the comments section. Additionally, make sure to follow us on Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram for updates on blog posts, fun activities, and much more coming in 2014!

-A