moms and music

at work today, when this 4 Non Blondes song came on the radio, my boss got super excited and turned the volume up (which never happens). i got quite a kick out of this, as my boss is a 30-something-year-old male, and this song primarily reminds me of my mom, as i first heard it on a mix tape that my aunt Maria made her.

more songs that remind me of my mom every time i hear them.

Mercedes Benz - Janis Joplin
i absolutely hated this song, which she would play over and over. i actually like it now. go figure.

Radar Love - Golden Earring
this was my mom's song for some boy she liked but never dated in high school, i believe.

Rebel Yell - Billy Idol

there are many billy idol songs i adore, but this was definitely my mom's fave.

Fire and Rain - James Taylor
such a sad song, but i love it.

All My Loving - The Beatles
she used to sing this to me and for some reason i always thought she made it up. turns out The Beatles made it up (: i also thought she made up "i can see clearly now the rain is gone..."

If I Were a Carpenter - Johnny Cash and June Carter
another song i used to hate. i wasn't a huge fan of June Carter's voice but i got a kick out of my mom trying to imitate her.

Where Have All the Flowers Gone 

this is another song i remember her singing all the time, and that i'll probably sing to my kids someday.

these are just a few of the songs that my mom introduced me to and that i probably would not like if it wasn't for her. what songs remind you of your mom? or dad?

& the livin's easy

as summer is coming to an end, i've been thinking about the little things that make summer... well, summer.

1) reading. obviously.

2) being lazy. it's much more acceptable in the summer.
   

these are meant for children, but they'd be perfect for reading. if only i had a porch. or a backyard with shade. 

3) the farmers market. i just love all the fresh produce and herbs.

tomatoes are my favorite thing to buy at the farmers market. so much better than the ones at the store.

i bought this lemon basil plant at the market and it just makes me so happy.

4) bright colors.

i like to have my toes painted always, but in the winter i prefer darker colors and brighter colors in the summer.

haute as hello

i love these bright makeup ideas from real simple, especially the red lips with yellow eyes. it's a bit daring for me though, the brown lips with purple eyes is more up my alley.

5) pulling my hair back. it gets way too hot here to have my hair down during the day. i'm constantly on the lookout for cute ideas, as ponytails grow old fast.

messy bun tutorial here. (LOVE this blog, btw)

side braid. i don't have this much hair, but i like the look.

braid/bun combo, hmm? this would take definitely take some practice.

 

in the summertime when the weather is high...

it's the perfect time to wear dresses! i love wearing dresses in the summer because

a) it's an entire outfit pretty much preassembled for you
b) they're airy, which is a necessity in this Las Cruces heat
c) they're cute and you can find a dress to flatter any body type!

here are some of my favorite summer dresses this year:

via modcloth. my favorite online site to window shop! i love the girlishness of this dress.

i can't remember where i found this, but the color and lace give this dress a soft, dreamy feel.

this one is from topshop. i love the polka dot/t-shirt dress combo.

these next 3 are from forever21, and are a little more in my price range.

i love the floral print and cutout back.

i'm really digging lace this year, and i love the softness of this dress as well. 

i'm always drawn to cream and white clothing. this dress brings mind the 20s.

from pitaya. lace, again, and i absolutely love the combination of navy blue and bright yellow.

these 2 are from Betsey Johnson, which means i absolutely cannot afford them, but hey, a girl can dream, can't she?

the sweetness of the petit flower pattern paired with the edginess of the hook-eyelet closure is irresistible.

i love the simplicity and button-up front.

via Ruche. the lace peeking out at the bottom just kills me. navy blue is another color i always stray towards.

summer reading list

one of the most exciting things about graduating is having time to read what i want to read. during school i was so overwhelmed with reading material for class i simply had no time to read for pleasure. i did manage to get through a couple short story collections by reading one every night before bed.

for graduation, i was excited to receive a barnes and noble gift card and an amazon.com gift card that contributed greatly to my book collection. now that summer is almost over, i'm sad to say i haven't read as much as i anticipated i would. i have read a couple of really great books and still have a stack i'm working on. here is my list! (keep in mind this does not include the books circulating among my family - i have at least four more waiting after this. at least.)

What You See in the Dark
i ordered this book because it is a thriller set against the making of Psycho, which intrigued me. the writing style was unique and i loved it, as did my dad.
Liars and Saints
i think amazon recommended this one based on other books i was looking at. a beautifully written and captivating story about the dynamics of family.
City Boy
one of my good friends is a big fan of Jean Thompson, so i thought i'd read something by her. this one is next on my list.
American Rose: A Nation Laid Bare: The Life and Times of Gypsy Rose Lee
i read about this in a magazine and i just had to find it. it's the true story of a burlesque dancer during the great depression. a friend borrowed it from me already and she absolutely loved it.
The Unknown Errors of Our Lives
my mom bought this for me at the border book festival back in April and i just haven't gotten to it yet. it's a short story collection and from the title alone it looks intriguing.
Tender at the Bone
a food memoir by Ruth Reichl. 'nough said.
What Was the Hipster?
this book was put out by n+1, a thrice-yearly print journal that i subscribe to.
On the Road
an autobiographical novel by Jack Kerouac, one of the fathers of the beat movement.
Self-Help
another book of short stories, recommended, again, by amazon.

"a room without books is like a body without a soul."

                                                                    -Cicero

advice

my dad is a truly extraordinary man. i'm sure he's given me lots of advice over the years but this is one quote that has always stuck with me. he told me this after my first boyfriend broke up with me.

"Our lives are not determined by what happens to us but by how we react to what happens, not by what life brings to us, but by the attitude we bring to life. A positive attitude causes a chain reaction of positive thoughts, events, and outcomes. It is a catalyst, a spark that creates extraordinary results. "
-Anon