words i love: one day

I do not know what it is about reading lately, but I am completely addicted. With every word, character and author I meet. Maybe it is because for the first time in a LONG time, I have been able to enjoy it guilt-free without feeling like I have a million other things to do. Oh the joys of winter time and taking it slow. This brings me to another fantastic book review and suggestion. Thanks to my dear friend, Martha, I had One Day put on hold at the library. (Yes, I still get books at the library, and I LOVE it! It reminds me of my childhood days when my mother would take my younger brother, Shalin, and I to the public library every week. It was one of my favorite outings that we shared every week!)

David Nicholls creatively spins a story of two people, Dexter and Emma, who graduate from college and begin to experience life through its ups and downs. Everything from weddings, careers, families and life's important lessons. However, each chapter consist of the same day, just a different year. The particular day holds much significance for both Dexter and Emma that you learn at the end. I'm not sure if it was that the book was based in London or that Emma finds who she truly is through many obstacles or that Dex is just outright hilarious or that Emma lives out a dream I absolutely adore, but I fell in love with every word, character and the author's creative style of writing!



Please do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of this book. Then, curl up on the couch with a hot cup of cocoa or a glass of wine and enjoy the read guilt-free getting lost in London!

Happy Monday!

words i love: something blue

I hope everyone had a wonderful and VERY Merry Christmas! It has been quite crazy these past two weeks. Bryan and I somehow managed to finish Christmas shopping, pack and fly out to NYC for a little weekend-before-Christmas getaway (which was amazing...a post will be coming soon!), come home, unpack from NYC, work for two days, repack for home and spend Christmas with our families. If you are anything like me, you probably got tired from reading that sentence! Needless to say, sweet hubby and I are wiped and ready for a long weekend at home with not too many plans other than to watch movies, read, sleep-in and spend NYE with our best friends!

Aside from the busy month we have had, I have truly enjoyed squeezing in some books that have been on my reading wish list for quite a few months. It's that time of the year where things start to slow down, and I can recharge all of my creativity for the new year. One way I recharge is by getting lost in stories and in words! Which leads me into introducing one of my MOST favorite books I have read in a LONG time. Let me start by introducing the VERY talented author, Emily Giffin. Emily's story is one in which I can relate to on so many levels. She was a lawyer in NYC who spent four years as a lawyer only to realize that her dream was not to be in a suit and working on dispositions all day. In the meantime, she worked hard to pay off her law school loans and wrote for fun in her free time. After four years of being a lawyer, she took a leap of faith and the best and biggest risk and quit her job to move to London where she wrote for one year. And, that is where Something Borrowed was born. Today, she is an international bestselling author who has two of her books going into Hollywood production and manages to juggle book tours, movie set visits, being a wife and a mother to twin boys and a little girl! Her story is one that is very dear to my heart. That and all I can dream about is moving to London to write a book (which is on the Bucket List!). On to the book...



Something Blue is a sequel to Something Borrowed. It is a fiction-based book, in which the story is told through Darcy's character from Something Borrowed this time. I am not sure when and where it happened, but I instantly fell in love with the characters and the story Emily created. There were twists all throughout the book, and the ending is one, which I re-read three different times. With happy tears. Yes, you read right...tears! I have even contemplated reading the book again for a second time if that tells you anything about how much I enjoyed it. And, when you are done, and if you love it is as much as I do, then you will probably want to reach into the book and hug Ethan because he was my absolute favorite character and one who stole a piece of my heart. Maybe because his character reminds me of Bryan. This is one of those books you will want to grab a warm blanket, a cup of hot chocolate (or wine!), your favorite, cozy spot in your home and this book because you will not move until you are done with the entire book! So, enjoy!!!

Now, if only I could get myself to stop procrastinating and tackle my to-do list today without getting lost in yet another book...Happy Tuesday!!!

words i love: the wednesday sisters

It's about following dreams. it's about five women who were strangers to one another. And, somehow they became each other's confidant, support system and best friend. I went into reading The Wednesday Sisters not knowing that I would laugh outloud, I would cry and I would feel so inspired. It gave me a sense of what it was like for women to pursue their passions in the 60s. Most of all, this book is for the dreamer. Who dreams those oh so wonderful, big dreams. This is definitely a good read, and I promise it will not disappoint. Not one bit.



Happy Tuesday!

words i love: dane+being unique

Who am I? Often times we ask ourselves this very simple question. However, if you dig beneath the surface, you know it is not a simple question. It is actually layers upon layers deep. It is that same question I ask myself from time to time. Yes, it helps me stay in tune to the person I am, but it also tests me. In ways that I can not understand. Kind of deep for a Monday, right?

One particular lesson I am learning in my personal and professional life is how I need to focus on my strengths rather than fine tuning my flaws. And, this lesson I speak of, came from an author, photographer and person I admire in the photography industry. A lot. Dane Sanders is someone who at 31 decided to follow his passion and his heart at being an artist rather than a professor at a university in Santa Barbara. While married and having little ones at home. Yet, he did not turn into a well-known photographer overnight. He actually did not do much other than be his own, unique self. And, this "being his own, unique self" is what got him to where he is today.



This concept of being unique and successful at whatever it is you do in life whether that be photography, being a doctor or a teacher is well-written in his book, Fast Track Photographer. It is not only a great read for new wedding and portrait photographers, but it is great read if you are a small business owner. (The business nerd in me LOVES reading books like this!) To say the least, this book helped me understand how important it is to be you and stay true to that person. Sure, you have flaws, but use your strengths instead. The more real you are to people, the more people will respect you. And, if you do that and mix in a bit of business knowledge he gives you, then you have the same chance he did to succeed!

I think this was the fastest book I have read in the past few months. Every second I had free whether it was waiting for Bryan to put on his workout shoes or walking to the mailbox, I had my head in this book. That is how much I loved it. Shout out to Katelyn James (now Mrs. Alsop), a new and very talented friend, for recommending this book! I have more fabulous must reads heading this way, so be on the look out!

Happy Monday!!! Stay tune for this week. There are going to be some cute, cute kids and families hitting the blog! And, of course, some gorgeous fall color in the mix of things.