Books, Books, Books

Words have always been a source of peace for me. 

From the minute I could read, I've had a book in my hand and two more (at least) at home waiting to be cracked open.  The same goes for music. I appreciate great lyrics, whether "great" refers to witty or thought-provoking or both.. although forgive me for my love of sugary pop melodies on occasion. Maybe it's an introvert thing- getting lost in the words and thoughts of others- or maybe it's just a Sarah thing. Whatever it is, there's hardly anything that moves me like words. 

To that point, and the fact that Christmas is coming up, I wanted to share a few of my favorite books and a few that are on my "to-read" list...

Okay number one is the American Girl book... I can't remember which year I got this as a gift but it has got to be one of the best gifts I got as a kid. It has all the original Christmas stories in a single book. It embodies Christmas for me and will surely be something I read to my kids. If you don't own it, I'd highly recommend you make the purchase! 

Currently Reading: the Goldfinch

Next "To-Read": How to be Parisian Wherever You Are

Extended "To Read":

Anna Karenina

the Silkworm

The End of Fashion

The Gospel According to Coco Chanel

Lolita

The Woman I Wanted to Be

Decision Points

See? And my list will continue to grow. Some may find a long list overwhelming, but I find it calming and exciting to be able to look forward to hearing from so many authors and characters. There's nothing more enchanting that I long list of books and a very cold winter forecast forcing me to stay inside and read. 

Coffee Table Books: Anthropologie

In this age of paper vs. print, I still find a great stack of books 

the most welcoming sight

I don't really have a need for coffee table or "display" books. I actually don't have a need, let alone space, for any more books. My bookshelves in my room are full and I keep forgetting to ask my mom if I can expand my collection to the family bookshelves... plus that just makes me feel old and more grown up than I'd like to feel. Regardless, when a clothing store has display books out I feel more at home. I could honestly sit in J. Crew or Anthropologie for hours just flipping through the books scattered around. So, the past week when I was at the mall yet thoroughly out of money, I could justify standing in Anthropologie and flipping through the books while my mom and sister shopped around. And, what did I find? 

hundreds of dollars worth of awesome books... as always

Okay, maybe not hundredS. All of these could be purchased for less than $150... but they're all so intriguing! 

To the end of my wish list they go, 

for when I have an actual coffee table and a place to display them.

Take It Easy, Pick Up a Book

To me, chilly weather is the perfect weather for a cup of tea and a big stack

of books and magazines.

There's just something about the crisp air and a good story that's so inviting... making it a reasonable excuse for not doing homework helps, too. As always, I have a long list of books to read that grows faster than I can catch up. I currently have 32 books on my "To-Read" list and a growing stack of magazines, too! Being the list-maker that I am, I naturally have narrowed down my Fall Reading to a smaller, more manageable list. Making small goals like this gives me a perfect outside-of-homework activity that I can do between studying or classes and not feel like I'm being neglectful to my studies. Reading is good for you! It's also great motivation to study for however long and reward myself with a chapter... or 5 (it's a problem). If you're looking a for a good study-break read or just a fun book, here's my current narrowed-down list of books to read:

The Devil Wears Prada
Lauren Weisberger

Fun chick-lit that everyone knows or has heard of. I bought the book over the summer and finally have gotten around to reading it. As always, the book is better than the movie: so much more depth and emotion. And the in-book Miranda is much scarier.

Suite Francaise
Irene Nemirovsky
I ran across this book on one of my many hour-long trips to Barnes and Noble. I read the back, carried it around with me all around the store, walked towards the cashier, and realized that I didn't need to buy another book since I'm already reading two. But, the next book I buy will be this book about WWII and Nazi Occupation in Europe.

Outliers
Malcolm Gladwell
The questions brought up in this book are so intriguing.  I love books that make me think. This one considers stereotypes and how where you come from can determine your levels of success... crazy right? It looks like a relatively quick read, but I'm looking forward to it.

None of these books are really... fall-ish. When I think of fall books, for some reason I think of deep, intellectual reading. For some true fall reading, pick up some of the best Russian Literature of all time. Lolita and Anna Karenena are two that are on my reading list. Goldfinch has been getting rated the "Top Fall Reading Book" on Amazon and Goodreads... I don't really know what it's about but I've added it to my list for future enjoyment.

Whatever you're reading, grab a blanket & your favorite warm drink...
Take is Easy

Kate Spade New Arrivals

The New Arrivals on Kate Spade were made for me. 100%.

It channels my inner, bookworm self and I love it. 

You can check out the collection for yourself here, but these are the pieces I'm lusting over:

Cobble Hill Little Murphy

Age of Innocence Book Clutch

Rumer Dress

Multi Glitter Metro Grand

this comes with an interchangeable band... yes please.

Claremont Drive Marcella

big, brown, and leather. can't go wrong. 

What's on your wish list?

Top 5 iPhone Apps

With every iOS update comes a time to re-evaluate the apps on my phone.

It's a simple process- I go back through and think about the apps that I use on a daily basis and keep those. Any others, I delete. I don't worry about deleting them because Apple has made it so incredibly easy to hop on the App Store and re-download it in a pinch. And looking at a crowded home screen gives me anxiety, so delete-spree it is! 

So, here is my actual home screen post-cleanse. Yes, I only have one screen and I don't plan to get many more than that. The bottom row of apps houses my most commonly used apps, since they're easiest for my thumb to reach while cradling my phone in my hand. Anything involving typing or two hands I put in folders. It's really a very complex, thought out process. But it works and so I will accept that I might be crazy. Putting apps like Facebook and Twitter aside, I've narrowed my favorites down to a top 4 most frequented apps:

Flipboard gives you news you want in a simple, attractive format. I love that it allows me to bypass the humongous papers with lots of information that I don't want or need. The app compiles the types of news stories that I've chosen and it puts them in a magazine or flip-book format in which I can quickly read the articles, get what I need, and get done. If I want more information, I must only search a little harder. I find it extremely beneficial since I'm at college in what they call the "bubble". After only a couple of weeks at school I felt alienated from the current world, so I went on the hunt for a news app that would work to keep me updated without me having to search Google every morning for the headlines. Flipboard does a perfect job.

Pandora. It's been on my favorites list since the first day of having a smart phone. iOS7 tries to compete with the app with their iTunes Radio, but they don't quite get it. There are aspects of the Radio that I do like more than their Pandora counterparts, but Pandora is still winning out. I already have my stations and they know what I like. I also use Pandora on my computer and I have yet to update iTunes on my computer so it's still the universal music player for me. Spotify, on the other hand, has seen its final days on my phone.

Oyster is a tech startup that I am loving! I'm already reading the books and loving that I can pull up any book I want at any time. With the mornings being chillier, I've been taking the bus into campus and I love to get my seat and read a chapter or two. I can imagine that this app is going to get a lot of use from me, and at $9.95 a month I'd recommend it to anyone!

I use the Nike + Running app for... well, running. There's not much explanation needed other than the fact that it's changed so much in the last year and has become my #1 choice in running apps. I used to have 3 others but they were all deleted in this app. When it comes to workout gear, I'm a Nike girl all the way so I've been loving the challenges and developments they've made to the app.

Banking. So this isn't on my home page, but it is 100% necessary and used daily. I track my spending and saving here as well as budget for nights out, etc. I use the ELFCU app, just because that's the credit union I use. Most banks and unions have apps now and they're fantastic for checking your account on the go or cashing checks without waiting in line at the bank. 

Each person has their own group of apps that they love or use on a daily basis, and it's 100% dependent on your schedule and place in life. I'm not one of those people who is glued to my phone, but I like to have the technology right at my fingertips and it's extremely convenient to have everything organized and easy to find. If you're planning to "cleanse" your phone or home screen, one magnificent video I've run across shows you how to hide your apps- perfect for that Stocks app that you've never opened or the apps that you just don't want everyone getting into. They're still 100% accessible through your Spotlight Search, but don't have an actual icon. Perfect, right?

What are your favorite apps?

Apps to Love: Oyster

As I've talked about before, I'm not usually very relevant when it comes to iOS apps or anything like that. I have been loving Evernote, but I usually just stick to social networking and go to the internet for anything else. But, one tech startup has really caught my eve with their up-and-coming app.

Enter, Oyster.

It's a sort of Pandora or Nextflix, but for reading.

I know, it can't get much nerdier than that! But it's such an awesome idea. 

From what I understand, your ratings will give you feedback, as will social networking. You can browse books that you're interested in, read them, and then be right on to the next one! It sounds perfect to me! The only thing is I wonder how many books I could actually read in a month...

The price right now is $9.95 per month, which covers unlimited books. Whether it's worth it for you or not is completely up to your own reading habits. But, my thinking is that $9.95 is cheaper than almost any book, so even if you only read one it's worth it. And buying actual books costs me much more than $9.95... just sayin' ! And the fact that you can take the books with you anywhere that you take your phone is a huge plus, too!

The bad side of a tech startup is that Oyster isn't yet available on all platforms.

An iPad app is on it's way. But, Androids aren't yet supported. So there's a little setback there, but as the company grows and makes money I'm sure the support will come through!

If you're a nerd like me and love your books,

this may be your new favorite app! For the time being, only a certain amount of users are being permitted use to the app. You can visit the website here to see what it's all about.

What are you waiting for?

The world is your oyster- get reading!

Top 5: August 2013

It's crazy to think that today is the final day of August! 

I've been looking forward to this month of change for so long. College, new friends, new habits, so much has happened this month. It's all for the better, though. I think I've adjusted to independence and college life well! Recruitment is going great (bid night is Tuesday! eeee!), my roommate and I are a perfect match, I haven't ruined any laundry, and I've stayed on top of my studies. Not easy at all, but all this change has led to some favorites that I'd never expect to love. 

Let's re-cap my favorites of this month:

.............................................

5. Mio Energy

This stuff has been my life saver! I've been trying to drink more water, but just plain water doesn't do for me what coffee or tea does- I still drink both in my dorm room. When I'm out on campus, these mio bottles are really easy to carry around and add to my drinks. They make water a little more tasty, and I don't feel like I want to go to Starbucks when I have Peach Tea water. Yum!

via Instagram

4. Reading.

Okay I know I've said that I love to read before and you're probably thinking that this can't be a new favorite of mine. But, trust me, I've come to appreciate my books so much more these past weeks. They are the ultimate "unwind" material. They give me a break from the textbooks without feeling guilty, and I'm loving branching out and reading all different kinds of books.

via Instagram

3. Campus!

Purdue is seriously like a little town of it's own. Actually, it is. West Lafayette isn't really a very hoppin place if school isn't in session. It's definitely a college town.. but it feels like it's own little city. There are tall buildings, housing options, restaurants- the normal stuff you'd see on college campuses around the world. But then there's the Purdue stuff that makes it a little different. Because we have an Aeronautical Engineering major, we have our own Airport! We have no less than 5 beautiful fountains. And, my personal favorite, all of the malls around! Not the shopping kind, but the green, grassy, park-like malls. I love to sit under and tree and just imagine that I'm in Central Park.

2. Twitter

 As you may have noticed, this blog now has an anonymous and official "PurduePrep" writer. Well, along with that, there's a twitter. PurduePrep is no longer only on the internet. Keep up with my preppy life wherever you are by following @PurduePrep!

1. New Friends

Okay so I'm not the most... outgoing person. I'm not shy, but I'm an introvert. I enjoy time alone and don't really mind that I don't constantly have people around me. Usually. But, since I've moved to school, I've been trying to embrace the abundance of people. There are always kids to study with, workout with, go to the bookstore with, or just to sit with. The girls on my floor are awesome. My professors are approachable- I even went to lunch with one this past week! Recruitment has introduced me to new people and lots of girls, something I lacked at home.

College so far has been treating me well. While I'm sad to see summer go, having August over with allows me to breathe a sigh of relief. I made it through my first 3 weeks at school and I have so much to look forward to in September-

football, going home, and the coming of the best season!

Top 5: July 2013

It's crazy to think that, if I had't graduated last year, my summer would be over today.

July 31? That's insane! 

In the spirit of my summer not ending, here's my top 5 favorite aspects of July 2013

1. Traveling

I've been everywhere from a caribbean cruise to Tennessee to Cincinnati over the last month. I've had less than two weeks were I've actually been home. The thing is, I love living out of a suitcase! I think hotel beds are so comfortable. And I love exploring new places by going on runs. If I could make an income by traveling the world, I would do it in a heartbeat! What's even more fun is that now my friends and I are to the age where we're planning our own vacations and getaways! So fun!

2. Preparing for College

I've had lists a mile long and books full of coupons. Shopping for college has been something that I've looked forward to all summer. But, now that I'm in the midst of it, it's stressful! What if I don't get everything? Do I actually need some of this stuff? So many thoughts go through my head and I've been  a little on-edge lately. One of the weirdest things was coming "home" from vacation and packing up my childhood room. I came to the realization that this will be my temporary home.. kinda weird. 

3. Grey's Anatomy!

My mom and I started watching Grey's and we immediately fell in love! It's kindof a problem because we choose to watch tv rather than be outside... but we justify it because we won't be able to watch together when I'm gone. So I guess that makes it okay? :)

4. Reading

Is this anything new? But seriously, I've flown through 4 books already in just this month! I think it was all of the traveling time and just relaxing time that I've had. I'm nowhere close to catching up with my to-read list, but I'm loving every minute of getting consumed by the stories I'm reading. I'm currently reading Girls in White Dresses as part of the Lauren Conrad book club. But I've got a stack of books to take up to school with me and I just can't seem to stop ordering them on Amazon. I might have a problem.

5. Friends

I have spent more time with my friends these past few weeks than the whole rest of the summer combined, I think. Lots of bonfires and pool days, throw in some lunch or dinner dates and you basically have my past two weeks down. I know that people always say that keeping your high school friends is rare, but I can't imagine life without these kids. They're my rock. My foundation. Whether we beat the odds or not, I'm going to take full advantage of this time with them. 

I guess the common theme here is that I'm getting anxious for college. I'm so excited, but the changes and sad parts of moving away are starting to become more and more apparent. 

It's scary, but here's to a month of change!

Wishlist Wednesday: College Desk Edition

As lame as this sounds, I'm so excited to shop for my desk!

Just give me THIS.

Having a clean slate to work with is any neat-freak's dream! I get to organize however I want and decorate it for both looks and function. As I've stated before, I'm kinda on this lucite kick so don't be surprised when everything I want is lucite! 

Anyways, here's my wishlist for my desk:

1. Vertical File & File Folders

2. Glass Desk Pad (monogrammed?)

3. Lucite Monogrammed Pencil Holder

4. Book Ends

5. Inspiration board/ book

6. WWBWD Pencils

7. Plant (hydrangeas, please?)

8. Lamp

Kinda ridiculous for a college dorm, but I've been dreaming of having a desk for so long! I haven't had one for any of college and it's so hard to sit in the kitchen or on my bed to do my work; I had no set study place, which isn't good. So, while I have the chance, my desk is going to be beautiful!

For me, a desk is almost the most exciting part of moving into a dorm.

Summer Reading List

If you're anything like me, summer is super exciting because it allows for more time to sit down and read!

Naturally, I spend the weeks leading up to summer picking out which books were the top books on my "to read" list. I am really enjoying F. Scott Fitzgerald lately, so his books will come in here and there. But for beach or poolside reading, I was able to narrow it down to the first three books that I plan to read. 

I had heard of The Paris Wife on GoodReads and it sounded intriguing. Then, as I was grocery shopping with my mom one weekend, I saw that it was on sale! Not that the price has ever stopped me from purchasing a book... but I just couldn't turn it down! The content is right up my ally- it's about the life and love of Ernest Hemingway and Hadley. It looks to be a pretty interesting read so I'm excited to start it!

A Hundred Summers is a book that is coming out in June. I read about it in People's Summer Book Picks and it sounded interesting. It takes place in the '20s and is a story of luck, love, and wealth. Plus, it takes place during the summer and I'm a sucker for any kind of beach or summer love stories! 

It's totally like me to buy a book as a souvenir, so Portion of the Sea was an awesome find on spring break! We vacationed on Sanibel Island, and the author of this book lives there on the island. I'm not sure how great the writing will be or if the story will be any good, but the fact that it was written on Sanibel was enough to get me to buy.

I'm so looking forward to getting on a real vacation- away from the midwest- and indulge in these books!

What are you favorite summer reads?

The Bucket List

I've never really been one to make a list of things that I want to do or see...

I guess the one thing I'm a bit spontaneous about in my life is my planning. I know, it makes no sense. But I just pick something or someplace randomly and plan from there! 

Then I got to thinking: if I don't think about the things I want to do and see, I may never be organized enough to see them all!

Enter, the bucket list. I'm working on a more extensive one, but I've got a few things though up to start with (in no particular order)

1. Go on a ridiculous shopping spree after my first big paycheck

2. Spend a summer with friends at the beach

3. Take a winter trip to Switzerland

4. Go to the Kentucky Derby... and the Carolina Cup and the Breeder's Cup

5. Do a day in the life of Blair Waldorf and visit the NYC spots that she frequents

6. Move South!

7. Spend every weekend of one summer at a different amusement park

8. Buy an ungodly amount of books to put in my home library I will someday have

9. Cook a bunch of meals and hand them out to the homeless people in the city

10. Visit D.C. in the spring

11. Take a EuroTrip all over eastern Europe

12. Watch all the Harry Potter movies in a row

To be continued...

Guilty Pleasure: Nicholas Sparks

I'm a reader. 

If that wasn't obvious then I don't know what is.

And I love literature that covers great social and psychological questions. I love a book where you can tell that the author really worked to make the novel a thinker. I don't just read mindless novels. I like symbolism and the confrontation of questions that humans have wondered throughout time.

For example, my favorite authors are Fitzgerald and Hemingway, and I absolutely love the beginner of the women's movement: Jane Austen. But, sometimes I just want a fairy tale. I want mindless reading that fulfills fantasy and hope. That's when I look to Nicholas Sparks. 

The Longest Ride comes out in August

Yes, I know most of his books have similar basic plots and are predictable. I know that they aren't deep and don't really make the reader think or engage them in any pondering of human nature. But, for a beach read, Nicholas Sparks is perfect. For a mindless read, he's perfect. For when you just want to fall in love, pick up one of his books.

Nicholas Sparks novels are 100% a guilty pleasure of mine. I don't really like to admit that I read the books and I often criticize people if his books are the only ones they read. I mean, it's not real literature. He writes for money and movie deals, but sometimes you just need to live vicariously through someone else's love stories. Since his book are usually based in the South, they're especially good for the beach or any fantasy of being south and falling in love.

Yes, I'm ashamed of my love, but I'll keep on reading because I'm a hopeless romantic

Hey, It's Okay!

Sometimes I get this feeling that my habits aren't okay.

I'm too this, I'm too that. But, as I thought about it, I thought

"hey, It's okay"

and I made a list of the things that I do that others may think are crazy.

1. wear the same jeans two days in a row because they make you feel skinny... or make your butt look good

2. get Starbucks two times in one day

3. eat ice cream for lunch

4. skip a night with friends for a dinner and movie date by yourself

5. judge someone by the amount of monogrammed items they own (in this case, too much is never enough)

6. cry about the loss of an imaginary relationship while listening to sad country breakup songs

7. refuse to eat at a restaurant because they don't serve sweet tea

8. always want the beach, a good book, and your Ray Bans

9. enjoy a night spent with a good book more than a crazy night out   
10. Stay up all night finishing a book

Kinda crazy. Kinda weird. But, hey, it's okay!

Why? Because, 

they all make me, me.

Joy is Between the Pages

I'm not sure there's every been an online image that I've found more true. It seems like I am always wanting more books, more time to read, and new shelves to put all of my books on! I 100% attribute my love of reading to my parents and their diligence in reading to me every night. Once I got to the age where I was only enough to really comprehend but not yet read on my own, I chose the longest books for them to read to me! Robert the Rose Horse is one that I especially remember... 

I don't know where I'd be without my books! They've taken me around the world, through numerous cultures and lives, and into worlds that would never exist had the book not been written (ahem, Harry Potter!) New technology has enabled me to never be without a book. Whether paperback, on my Kindle, or in my Kindle app, I'm never far from a book. Goodreads and Amazon keep me constantly on my toes for the next book to read! ...One thing I really need to take more advantage of is my library card, because books get expensive! 

The thing is, I've always dreamed of having a "home office" where there are floor to ceiling bookcases filled and filled with all of the books I've read. If I borrow from a library, while more economic, I'll not have it for my library. But, I guess that's the same with using my Kindle. I don't know, I'll work on it! Saving money now will get me my dream library in the future. :)

I'm the nerd who goes to Starbucks to read. Or can spend hours in Barnes and Noble. Some say I'm weird... or "boring"! But I would't change my love for the world. It is so great and so educational.

If only there was a 25th hour in the day set aside specifically for reading. 

Keep up with my reading on Goodnreads!