Books, Pups, and Stilettos

InstaWeek!

I enjoyed doing this last week, so here we go again. My week in Instagrams!

Snuggling with my Sophie

Kisses from Izzers

My mama's earrings

So, it snowed.

Little Starbucks Snowman brightened my day

Sweet cupcakes at a baby shower.

A Drowned Maiden's Hair - A Review

Maud Flynn is known at the orphanage for her impertinence, so when the charming Miss Hyacinth and her sister choose Maud to take home with them, the girl is as baffled as anyone. It seems the sisters need Maud to help stage elaborate séances for bereaved, wealthy patrons. As Maud is drawn deeper into the deception, playing her role as a "secret child," she is torn between her need to please and her growing conscience — until a shocking betrayal makes clear just how heartless her so-called guardians are. Filled with tantalizing details of turn-of-the-century spiritualism and page-turning suspense, this lively historical novel features a winning heroine whom readers will not soon forget.

I have talked to a couple people about this book and they definitely gave it some mixed reviews. The reason I read it is that it was a 99 cent download for my Kindle that looked rather intriguing. It is definitely a dark story - not dark like witchcrafty or occult - dark as in gloomy. The main character, Maud, is a girl who was left at an orphanage, even when her siblings were adopted together. She's not especially charming or pretty or obedient. She finally gets adopted by 3 sisters who wish to use her as "secret child" to help with their seances, so no one can know she was adopted and has to spend all of her time cooped up with only a deaf maid for company.

Now, I will say, I really liked the book. I thought it was well-written and I enjoyed the rather sad, gloomy story line. I must have been in just the right mood for this book to strike a chord with me. I liked and at the same time was annoyed by Maud, but then again, she was a rule-breaker and I just can't relate to that (I am square to a fault). I was very endeared by her relationship with Muffet (the maid who was deaf) and the authentic love that developed between the two of them. I was also extremely appalled by the sisters. Appalled.

It did make me sad to think about the sisters taking advantage of people in their times of grief and how that applies to modern-day society as well. "Mediums" and "spiritualists" are often-time crooks and I do think that they delude themselves to a point that they believe they are helping the bereaved. Anyway, I digress.

I felt like the book had a redeeming ending and enjoyed it overall. I was a little confused in the beginning when Maud's brother randomly shows up, as he doesn't appear again, but I think the author wanted to show just how sad and pitiful Maud's situation was.

All in all, worth 99 cents for sure.

Anyone else out there read this book? Thoughts?

A Week in Review - via Instagram

So, I think I am a little late jumping on the instagram band wagon - but I think I'm in love. I thought it would be fun to look back on my week via these fun little photos, so here is my first week on Instagram!

Purdy valentine flowers from my sweetie

Hilarious fortune from a chinese-food lunch with my co-workers

Re-doing the living room... again.

Being silly and showing of my new scarf

Sleepy Izzie

Sleepy Sophers

Grammy's Worst Dressed

This is a trimmed down list of the most busted looks I could find (and trust me - there was no lack of busted looks)!

Adam Levine's g/f. I mean really - you couldn't have worn a whole dress? gross.

Bonnie McKee - looks like she needs to shave the muppet hair out of her pits.

Cyndi Lauper. So, your goth now?

Fergie - I see London, I see France - I see Fergie's underpants!

The Guettas - they must be meant for one another if they both have this bad of taste

Jamie Grace. Mullet skirt - check. Cowboy boots - check. Asian-inspired top - check. confused - for sure.

Robyn - I have NO words. this is just horrendous!

Snooki - looking worse than usual.

Taraji P. Hensen. It's like she couldn't decide between fierce and ladylike so she just combined them.

Sascha Gradavia. This is the most unfortunate and confusing look of all. Masterpiece of a dress - then there's that terminator arm - which is supposed to be a statement against war - because that makes sense

So who would you vote Worst Dressed???

Grammy Fashion

Sadly, I did not get to watch the Grammy's on Sunday and attempted to watch them on hulu, but they weren't up so I am just going on photos I have gleaned online.
Oh man - so many people looked a hot mess at the Grammy's. I had to stop saving pictures and tried to not to include people that I didn't know. But whoa - get ready for a fashion bonanza. Starting out with the Best Dressed:

Corinne Bailey Rae - I felt like she captured the fun spirit of the Grammy's and still looked classy

Jane Seymour - No idea why she was there, but dang, looking good lady

John Legend and Chrissy Teigan - hottest couple on the red carpet

Kelly Osborne. Great dress - hair - meh at least its purple and not grey

Kelly Rowland - love, love, love her whole look

Paris Hilton - it pains me that she's on my best dressed list.

Rebecca Black - not sure why she got invited to the Grammy's but she looks downright adorable

And of course - Sophie Grace and Rosie! Those girls rock a tutu!!

And here a few looks I thought were only so-so:

Adele - love. love. love her dress. I'm just not digging the styling of her hair and make-up

Jessie J. She looks like a disco ball. Can't decide if that's a good thing or a bad thing

Malin Ackerman. I think I like it.. maybe...

Taylor Swift. I like that she is departing from her normal look, but I am not sure this was the direction to go

Carrie Underwood - a bit matronly, but the back might save it

see - sexy back.

Gwyneth Paltrow - again, not sure why she was at the Grammys, but I think I like her dress.

Katy Perry - her hair matches her dress. hmm.

What are your thoughts? Who's your fav?

Stay tuned for Worst Dressed tomorrow!!!!

It's the Little Things (4)

Hi ya'll -
This week has been a rough one. I have been sick, have many sick residents at work, and have had a hard time focusing on just about everything. I didn't think there would be a lot that I could contribute to a "Little Things" post until I actually started to think about it. There have actually been some lovely little things that have gotten me through this week. I don't have pics for all of them, but hey, refer above to see how awesome I was feeling this week. lol

Some new living room love. The first one is a new painting I have for the mantle and the second is a close-up of some new pillows. Hopefully I will be able to get it all together soon and I can reveal a pretty finished product. For now though, I am just excited to see some color in my living room!

My sweet, sweet Sophie. This pup didn't leave my side the whole time I was at home sick. She was basically on top of me at all times. I felt loved. My hubs also got me gaterade, ginger ale, and chicken soup on his way home from work and came home early to take care of me. Sometimes its not so bad to be sick.

I have also needed some more pink in my life lately, so I blew my February clothing budget on some online shopping. I got the above cardigan at Maurices. I also got 2 from Old Navy - in cobalt and raspberry - and a hot pink belt from the Gap. Annnnnnd:

This pretty scarf from The Pleated Poppy. I am all set for Valentine's Day!

And a couple guilty pleasure TV shows got me through the rest of my time at home:

Vampire Diaries

Big Bang Theory

SAG Worst Dressed

And here is my favorite part - to pick out the celebs who are the "fash-holes" (ala Joan Rivers!). I am probably a terrible person to enjoy seeing celebrities look bad, because they are people too... kinda... Eh - enough moral mumbo jumbo for now. Here are the celebs who I think crashed and burned on the red carpet of the SAGs. Apparently money doesn't buy taste: