april wishlist

love & other disasters | cuss yeah necklace | meow t-shirt 

hufflepuff quidditch t-shirt | harry potter book set | green purse

book cover matchboxes | apple of my eye sweater | meow sweet meow

I've been having some major wishlist itches this week. I've long admired these adorable matchboxes that feature various book covers on them, and recently I've been hoping this sweater from Ruche goes on sale - I love the orange "you are the apple of my eye" with the matching stripes on the sleeves.

If you've never seen Love And Other Disasters, it's seriously a very underrated Brittany Murphy movie. I always loved her and I'm eager to add this one to my collection. It's quirky and funny and sweet. The "Cuss Yeah" necklace is especially endearing for any Fantastic Mr. Fox fan, which I certainly am.

Probably the biggest and most earnest wishlist item is the special edition Harry Potter series book set. This set came out in 2013, and while it's currently unavailable, I'm dying to have it. The art is just beautiful. Take a look at the set on Amazon, which includes photos of every book. They're completely magical. Sigh.

What's on your wishlist lately?

featured artist: theater clouds

flight // an unexpected journey

Have you ever experienced that deep-set melancholy that nestles in your being when you witness something beautiful? It's not a truly sad feeling, really, but it isn't quite happy, either. It's just a nebulous feeling of appreciation and wonder when something moves or stuns you. It's a whisper to the soul. It can take your breath away and resurrect old memories. 

That's how I feel about the stars sometimes, when I stare too long at the freckled night sky and get that wandering, longing sweep of emotion. It's how I feel about the Ever After soundtrack, and it's how I feel about this entrancing artwork by Theater Clouds on Etsy. 

close your eyes and i'll take you to the moon... // endless everchanging clouds
take me where i want to go... // two families // mountains in the sea

Everything you see in these images is paper. The creator, Elly MacKay, delicately paints yupo paper and then cuts and designs intricate layers in a kind of miniature theater. She uses mirrors and tissue paper to achieve the dreamlike horizons and filters, and then she plays with light and perspective to photograph her incredible creations. These little paper 3-D worlds are so entrancing, I could stare at them for hours. They stir the imagination into wild action. It's so hard to pick a favorite, but I can imagine designing a child's nursery around them and creating the perfect space for vivid dreams and adventures.

Other than simply saying that they're amazing (which they are), it's hard to pinpoint exactly what it is about them that I love so much. Their color palettes are lovely, and the way they softly glow with light is so enveloping. I think the heart of my admiration comes from her ability to capture the essence of childhood daydreams and that irreplaceable kinship between siblings. I love the scenes she creates with little brothers and sisters, experiencing the world the way only little kids can. They're beautiful pictures and they feel real because of that inner spirit.

Feel free to check out her Etsy shop, her blog and her website to see more.

In the last few years she has also illustrated several children's books, including If You Hold a Seed, Shadow Chasers, Fall Leaves (see photos excerpts below), and the upcoming Butterfly Park. 

You should also definitely take a look at her new edition of the Anne of Green Gables books. I couldn't imagine a better series to apply these magical images to!

anne of green gables series // fall stays // leaves leave

my funny valentine

One of my favorite things to do is shop around the internet for the best possible gifts for people. I love haunting Etsy and trolling around online boutiques, adding things to my wishlists for later use. Sometimes the things end up being on my personal wishlist, but I'm equally excited to find superb presents for my favorite people in life.

I recently went down that rabbit hole of window-shopping, as it were, and decided to share a few of my finds with you in honor of Valentine's Day coming up! The less conventional the better, in my opinion. I adore thoughtful, quirky presents that supersede the norm. Flowers and chocolates are always welcome, of course, but if you're looking to really find something unique and special this February to celebrate the month of love, I'd start here:

Matchboxes // Harry Potter Sweatshirt // Embroidered Bouquet Necklace
Lunar Phase Necklace // Heart Clip // Irresistible Card // Swedish Magnets
Cameo Pendant // Molasses Print // Old Book Candle // Floral Dress
Fantastic Mr. Fox Card // Bee Knuckle Ring // Cat Lady Tattoos // Heart Dress

I shop for clothes way too often, but it always takes me pleasantly by surprise when someone buys clothes for me. I love being fashionally thought of, so if someone were to give me a Valentine gift bag that included a colorful Harry Potter sweatshirt, I'd basically be bonded to them for life.

Adorable magnets, sweet prints, funny cards, temporary cat tattoos, heart-related accessories...you just can't go wrong with those things.

Perhaps my favorite things on this entire list are:

1. The "Old Books" scented candle because yes, please. This Etsy shop, Frostbeard, has some of the best candles I've ever seen in my life (including scents like Sherlock's Study, Cliffs of Insanity, The Shire...).   
2. Book Cover Matchboxes. Forget just Valentine's Day, friends, this is the perfect gift for any occasion. Think bridesmaid gifts, book club favors, birthdays...the event opportunities are endless, and Matchmakers has the matches for them all. 
3. The Lunar Phase Necklace. Lorena of the Etsy shop Gemagenta has a gorgeous collection of fine jewelry, but her Lunar Phase collection is (quite literally) out of this world. You tell her a specific date (your date of birth? your wedding anniversary?) and she looks up the lunar phase on that exact date in time and crafts the moon from that day for you to wear. Necklace, ring, bracelet...your choice! They're gorgeous. 

It's hard to believe that January is already coming to a close, but February is tapping on the door and has me thinking of bright bouquets and pretty trinkets. What are your favorite places to find special gifts for the people you love? What are your favorite entries above?

Happy Friday!

Xoxo

words

by: hello quiet tiger on etsy

by: the black apple on etsy

by: mae chevrette on etsy

by: amanda catherine on etsy

by: honey and the hive on etsy

by: amanda catherine on etsy

by: emily mcdowell on etsy

by: live love studio on etsy

by: meera lee on etsy

by: mae chevrette on etsy

by: honey and the hive on etsy

literary

I've been contemplating finally starting a book club lately.

I've shared my thoughts and given advice on starting a book club on the blog before, but I think I've been hesitant to actually begin one here because I've been waiting to settle into a routine. Now that I have a full-time job and we're feeling more settled (and my husband takes part 1 of the bar exam TOMORROW -- where has the summer gone!?) I've been thinking a lot more about it.
Where would we meet? Who should I invite? What should we read?

I think quite secretly another reason why I hesitate to start my own is because I miss my book club in Virginia. It was my first and only book club ever, so part of me is pretty nervous to try and replace that presence in my life. It's hard not to compare. I think I'm going to have to just try it out and maybe mix things up a little, try a fresh new take on things. Make it our own, allowing the new group to dictate the growth and change as we go along.

This book necklace always makes me think of book club, because I bought it from a local Lynchburg artisan downtown at a craft market. It's the best book necklace I've come across, made from real leather and paper. Each one is completely unique. I had seen her at several craft markets during our time in Virginia and have been really hoping she would update her Etsy shop and list some items there! To my delight, she has! She even has more book necklaces listed. I absolutely love the variances in style and texture.

Check out her shop, Barefoot Pathways!
I'm thrilled to add that she has provided a special coupon code just for you!
Just enter voguishatbest10 to receive 10% off anything in her shop!

It honestly takes a great deal of self-restraint not to buy a whole library's worth of those tiny book necklaces. She has other handmade jewelry as well, and is so sweet and talented.

Top: gifted, Skirt: Primark in London, Shoes: Marshall's
Necklace: Barefoot Pathways on Etsy

During one of my last book club meetings we had a fantastic discussion about books (imagine that).
One of the girls, Allison, presented us with a list of questions to ponder and I loved hearing everyone's different answers. I'd love to hear yours, too!

1. What book would you choose to have completely memorized?
2. What book would you embody, if you could be a book on a shelf?
3. What book would you recommend to absolutely everyone?
4. What book would you burn/banish to a desert island?

We all went back and forth, and it took us all a very long time to answer with any sort of finality.
I think my answers will change constantly, but while sitting there these were my answers:

1. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
2. The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle
3. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
4. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling

I obviously love Harry Potter, but that 5th book is a plague (but I won't get into that Sirius stuff again).

I could also put Lord of the Flies or Bridge to Terabithia on that #4...
But instead of contemplating more of my answers, let's hear yours!
Comment below! Let the discussions begin.

the night that changed america

banner
"friends" print
submarine tea infuser
iphone case
t-shirt
coffee mug
necklace
"the love" print
minimalist print set

On Sunday night, CBS aired a special called "The Night That Changed America". It was a feature celebrating the 50th anniversary of the first US appearance by The Beatles, on the Ed Sullivan show.
Dusty and I watched it with another couple at our place, and I was so moved by it.
What an incredible legacy.

The Beatles have long been my favorite band, thanks to the ever-present oldies influence of my dad and his love for music. Paul is my favorite Beatle, although now that I think about it, that's probably because he was always my dad's favorite. I don't mind inheriting something like that - a legacy of love for game-changing music. Beatlemania. 

Throughout the evening I laughed and I cried, and I remembered anew all the wonderful years of Beatles music in my life.
I put a little collection together of Beatles-inspired art and accessories above, because they were and always will be the young adorable Brits that came and changed American music (and American hearts) forever.

I actually own "the love" print above by Mae Chevrette, and it's one of my favorite things that hangs on our walls. I have several of her prints, and I'd highly recommend her art!

If you didn't get a chance to watch the special (what, are you crazy?) you're in luck! They're re-airing it TONIGHT at 8:30/7:30c. It'll be worth it to tune in for some Beatles history (and adorable throwback videos/photos) and especially for the musical guests, my favorites being Ed Sheeran with "In My Life" and John Legend/Alicia Keys with "Let It Be". I also loved Dave Grohl, Maroon 5, Imagine Dragons, and, of course, the living Beatles themselves -- Paul and Ringo, who still have such a tangible love for music and performance.

You won't want to miss it.

lady librarian

I work in a library.

Have I mentioned that?

It's a lovely job, really, although for the last two years I have worked in an office that is closer to resembling a closet than an actual workplace. 

Until now!

Over the past few weeks we have been settling into the brand new library building on campus.

It's absolutely stunning, and I have to say it has been rather thrilling being a part of the process. A small part, but a part nonetheless!

Before the official grand opening, Dusty and I wandered around the library after work one evening, taking in the peace and quiet before the onslaught of students in the upcoming days.
As you can see, there's a plethora of windows and it's a rather magnificent structure.
And there's a Starbucks.
Which is the only reason why I'm here.

Top: Old Navy, Jeans: Forever21, Boots: Zulily
Sweater/Vest: Gifted, Necklace: Inspired Tales on Etsy

This necklace was a completely unexpected gift from a friend of mine who owns an Etsy shop out of Canada. She's so creative and I always love seeing what she comes up with. 

She makes these little creature figurines using polymer clay for necklaces and other things (how cute is this Hedwig brooch?)

She does custom orders, and I had talked last year about how fun it would be to get a little necklace done of our two kittens, Luna and Eva.

She made it without telling me and sent it to me for Christmas!

It was such a sweet gift and she did such adorable detail on the little figurines. I would highly recommend her stuff, I love everything I've ever gotten from her (like this, this, these, all this, these, and this "i heart tea" mini painting!)

The bottom line is, I'm a cat lady, I work in a library, and I'm currently looking to buy a cozy cottage in the woods where I can wear shawls and make pottery and homemade stews.

a little glitz

Happy New Year!

For me, celebrating each new year holds extra special significance. My husband and I were married on 1-1-11, and that glitter-filled sparkling evening of New Year's Eve doubles as an anniversary party for us. 

I treasure the memories of my wedding week, having our wedding party and all of our family in town, gathering together the night before the wedding with great food and cheer. I wore a shirt that declared: "Start the new year with me!"

I absolutely loved everything about that night and the following day.

It's also special because I grew up with New Year's Eve being a special night. It happily extended from the Christmas holiday week and rolled over into sparkling cider, creme brulee, bonfires and fireworks, with family and friends all celebrating in the backyard desert of my parent's house.

It's probably my favorite holiday of the year. 

Bangles: Kate Spade, Polish: OPI (glitzerland + when monkeys fly!), Knuckle Ring (shop!): Sweet Peeps on Etsy

This year was the first year ever that I spent away from my parent's house. We stayed here in Virginia, and I don't think I've ever ached for the Arizona desert so badly. The crisp air, the sky at sunset, the crackle of the bonfire. We were very fortunate that some of our friends (who share our festive anniversary, they were married on Dec. 31st!) wanted to spend the night with us, because otherwise we would have been very sad human beings, probably resigned to spending NYE in our pajamas watching Friends. 

(Alright, so that doesn't really sound like the worst thing ever.)

Having a place to be and a party to have gave me a reason to glitz up my nails, wear something sparkly, dab some glitter on my eyelids and pop confetti poppers. It was worth it to resist the pajamas in order to properly celebrate 2014, our very last (half) year in Lynchburg, Virginia.

P.S. A little Insta-look at our fabulous NYE!