August 2014: Recap + On My Shelves

August 2014: Recap + On My Shelves

• Sep 1, 2014

Adios, August! The month passed in a blur (as they always do, somehow) but was the perfect way to say goodbye to summer. I'll miss some things about it... but I'm thrilled about the return to scarves and boots!

1. Decorating Spree - Do you see those two chairs in the picture? I found those beauties for a great price, and it became the catalyst for some decorating updates around my house. My husband was totally on board for the changes, and I've loved seeing it all come together. There's more to do, but I'm off to a great start!

2. Finding Heir of Fire - Without a doubt, this was my most-anticipated book this year. I was so thrilled to get an ARC at BEA, but I was still anxiously awaiting the hardcover's release. You can imagine my excitement when I found it out a little early at the bookstore! Seriously, I can't begin to describe my love for this series.

3. Saturday in Athens - If you're from the South, you know that the beginning of fall heralds the return of college football. As a Georgia girl and UGA grad, I don't think anything compares to a Saturday in Athens between the hedges. I attended the first game of the season with a friend and loved cheering on the Dawgs!

4. Costume Drama Marathon - I can never resist a good costume drama (for proof, see here). So when I had a few weekends all to myself, I spent them re-watching a giant stack of my favorite movies. The clothing, the customs, the civility... I seriously cannot get enough. There's nothing more romantic than these kinds of stories.

Read 16 Books | Favorites:

Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins

Where She Went by Gayle Forman (re-read)

The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery (re-read)

Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine (re-read)

"Phones are distracting. The internet is distracting. The way he looked at you? 

He wasn't distracted. He was consumed."

Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins

"I am hard on myself. But isn't it better to be honest about these things before someone else can 

use them against you? Before someone else can break your heart? Isn't it better to break it yourself?"

Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins

[Most Popular]

Overall: The Facts About Non-Fiction

TTT: Top Ten Books I'm Not Sure I Want to Read

Review: The Nesting Place by Myquillyn Smith

Discussion/Feature: Consider This Classic: Judith Recommends

[Personal Favorite]

Overall: The Facts About Non-Fiction (I'd highlight a different post but it really was my favorite!)

TTT: Top Ten Books I'd Give to Reader Who Have Never Read Non-Fiction

Review: The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen

Discussion/Feature: So Obsessed With: Summer 2014 Edition

1. The Importance of the Unlikeable Heroine by Claire Legrand - Okay, this post is six months old... so maybe it shouldn't technically count. But I didn't find it until August and did bookmark after I randomly discovered it through a Twitter link so that I could read it again at home. I have so much love for this post - Claire perfectly articulates something I haven't thought much about before and now can't get out of my brain.

2. On Blog Events & Collaborations by Alexa @ Alexa Loves Books - Alexa and I have chatted offline about discussion post and blog events. I feel like I have an easier time writing discussion posts and very rarely venture into blog events and collaborations. She's more the opposite of me. She is basically THE QUEEN of events and collaborations. Seriously, follow her and you'll see! The things she plans are always so thought out, organized and fun to read. I loved getting this behind-the-scenes look at how the process works for her. Now, if only I could think of something we can do together...

3. Epic Summer Read-Along by Alexa @ Alexa Loves Books & Judith @ Paper Riot - It's only fitting to include this following Alexa's discussion post on blog events! This link will take you to Alexa's wrap-up, but it includes links for both of their post. I'm incredibly behind on both visiting blogs and commenting, so these ladies probably don't even know how much I've loved this event they've hosted. All of the posts were such perfection - and so creative, too! These girls had so many awesome posts packed into their two-week event!

4. Breaking Up With Features by Asti @ Oh! The Books - This post gave me so much for thought! I also really enjoyed Asti's initial post about Trying New Features, too. I think she's on the right track - if you have an idea, just try it! Worst case scenario? You break up with it... and that's really not a big deal. I also wanted to draw hearts around this sentence: "The funny thing about ideas is that anyone can have them." I could write a whole post about my thoughts on that excellent point!

Favorite Song, Pt. 1: "All About You" by Hilary Duff

For the first half of August, I could not stop listening to this song. I can't wait for a full album!

Favorite Song, Pt. 2: "Shake It Off" by Taylor Swift on 1989

I've always loved Taylor Swift (sorry not sorry), and she just keeps getting better! ADORE THIS SONG.

The Mindy Project, Season Two: When The Mindy Project first aired, I watched the pilot but wasn't crazy about it. I should have trusted Mindy and given it longer to win me over! I have fallen in love with the show and binge re-watched it as soon as the second season was out on DVD. Mindy is the bomb, but I truly love the entire cast!

Gifted: Signed copy of I Shall Be Near to You by Erin Lindsay McCabe (ahhh thanks Erin!) and a signed copy of One Plus One by Jojo Moyes (yayyy thanks Ellice!) 

My mom read this TTT post and surprised me with: Number the Stars by Lois Lowry, Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell, Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt, Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred Taylor, Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls, Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson, Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry, Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren and A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle 

Bargains Buy for Shelves: The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making, The Girl Who Fell Beneath Fairyland and Led the Revels There and The Girl Who Soared Over Fairyland and Cut the Moon in Two by Catherynne M. Valente and The Year of Shadows by Claire Legrand

Bought for Shelves: Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins, The Raven Boys and The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater, Silver Bay by Jojo Moyes and The Girl of Fire and Thorns Stories by Rae Carson

For Review: GI Bride: The Wartime Girls Who Crossed the Atlantic for Love by Duncan Barrett and Nuala Calvi

Bought for Kindle: Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater, Sinner by Maggie Stiefvater, The Burning Sky by Sherry Thomas