Awesome Autumn for Polyvore

My picks for the Fall Wardrobe Styling Contest on Polyvore....via SPPN. Fun stuff!

S is for School

Those dreaded words, even for one who chose education as a profession. It's a school night. Gah! Here we go....

R is for Review

As summer draws to a close, I've finished my massive reading list that commenced at the beginning of June. I love reading so much and rarely do it during the school year - but now I feel impelled to always have one "for fun" book on my nightstand in addition to professional/spiritual reading. Out of the 10 books I read this summer, these 3 were absolute delights and my favorites:

This was on the Times bestseller list for a while. I read several glowing reviews of it, including a couple that compared it to To Kill a Mockingbird. In my opinion, nothing could be on the same level as that. However, this book was fantastic. Fiction, but written from someone who grew up in the South in the 60s, the book details the lives of African-American women who are nannies for more privileged white children. It is chilling at times, but also warmly written. The civil rights movement is something that the South still feels repercussions of today, so I think it's wonderfully relevant.

I loved the movie The Blind Side, and the book was even better. It gave more insight into Michael Oher's story and just how much he had to overcome. It's also a sad commentary on our inner cities and how oppressive systematic racism can be in this country. I'm generally a little bit cynical of cheesy Hollywood endings, but this story was truly possible because of unselfish and loving people, and I'm all for that!

This book, while fiction, detailed a chapter of history I didn't know anything about - the English Channel Islands which were occupied by German soldiers during World War 2. Serious subject matter, but a quirky and whimsical love story told through letters.

Any suggestions for fall reading?

New Travel Wish: Dordogne, France

...specifically, for a photo retreat. Nicole Gerulat, a San Francisco-based photographer whose work I admire led this French photo retreat in early August. One of her students, Janie, has blogged about her fabulous adventures and shared her gorgeous photos:

we're off to france!

hopefully I'll be off someday too!

hipstamatic

Sometimes I wonder why I bother with film/old cameras when I can achieve the same vintage look I love with software...in this case, iPhone software. Is it really more "authentic" one way or the other? Once upon a time film was the most up to date, technologically forward thing...so if digital effects are now, why not use that to my advantage? But it is sooo fun to wait for film and see how it will turn out.....ah angst.

photos property/courtesy of the wonderful krisatomic

back to school

final summer meal with all-fresh, all-Michigan whitefish and new potatoes and sweet corn and zucchini from the farmers market....I'm now back to the grind in Saint Louis. But it's good. It can be home too. I'm embracing it. Living in the now.

Q is for Queen Anne's Lace

My favorite wildflower, such a sign of summer and fields and frolicking, but unfortunately a later summer bloom...means the end of summer is closer rather than further away....

P is for Parent Trap

The (original) Parent Trap is my all time, absolute, bar-none favorite movie. True Story: When I was younger and would have a friend over to my house for the first time, I inevitably asked then if they wanted to watch it. If they had seen it and liked it, good sign. If they hadn't seen it but gave it a whirl and liked it, I knew they were a kindred spirit. If not....

I especially love this movie in the summer because it reminds me of my 10+ summers at camp...sleepaway camps are sadly becoming a thing of the past, since sports camps, summer jobs, trips to Europe, and texting have taken over simpler pleasures for many. Earlier this summer Design Sponge featured The Parent Trap in their Living In series....the canoes and swiss army knives take me back for sure....

1,2,3, family

aunts and brothers and sisters and in-laws and bosom buds and so so many peeps here for the final days of summer - where did it all go? and why the hell is blogger being so annoying about uploading photos?

O is for Omitting

....which is exactly what I do to blog posts for 2 weeks when vacation gets busy. And my computer is being a brat about uploading photos, which is so sad because I have so many fun ones documenting life - impromptu smoothie runs, perfect sunsets, road trips, hazy lazy beach days, and other irresponsible things like raspberry pie for breakfast and copious amounts of hot fudge sauce. When people come on their vacay when you're in regular life......sometimes your routines all go down the tubes!