Good Reads: The Deep Blue Sea for Beginners by Luann Rice

Goodreads Synopsis:
A legendary island steeped in the mystery and wisdom of centuries…
A runaway heiress learning to trust life, and love… 
A mother and daughter, separated for years, searching for a way to face the future together…

Years ago, Lyra Davis left behind a world of wealth and privilege and the people she loved most in the world, unable to reconcile the expectations of her celebrated family with the longings of her own wild heart. Now she lives quietly among a community of expatriates on the isle of Capri, slowly, carefully learning to live fully for the first time, flourishing in the friendship of a singular man who recognizes in her a kindred spirit. 

Granddaughter of the reigning doyenne of Newport, Rhode Island, wise beyond her sixteen years, Pell Davis is poised to take her place at the pinnacle of society. Yet she and her young sister still long for the mother who ran away from them when they were children so that they could be raised by the father they adored.  Pell knows that Lyra felt she loved them best by leaving. But with her father now dead and her sister veering dangerously into fantasy, she will travel across an ocean to find the mother she remembers and the deeper truths they all need so desperately….

My Thoughts:



The Deep Blue Sea For Beginners takes secondary characters from Luann Rice's The Geometry of Sisters and expands on their stories. It follows sixteen year old Pell Davis on her journey to the Italian island of Capri as she tries to reconnect with her estranged mother and bring her back home. The novel also introduces a new cast of characters that intertwine in the lives of Pell and Lyra. I especially like Rafe, a trouble young man with a past. This book goes into great detail about the island of Capri, to a point where the description of the island takes away from the plot and the beautiful story that it was. I got so tired of reading the detailed description of Capri I started to skim in order to get back to the actual story. Had it not been for this, it would have gotten another star. I feel that if the author had spent more time on the plot and less time on the descriptive passages about Capri it would have been a more meaningful read. Overall, it was still a good book and readable.


Book Exchange + Monday Funday

Happy Monday! I have an awesome opportunity for book lovers this morning!


I joined a book exchange with my cousin and it's kind of a chain thing we're you'll send and receive books to/from others involved. It's open to anyone, anywhere. I see it as a great opportunity to try out books I wouldn't have thought to buy for myself. If you are interested, make sure to comment below and I'll get you hooked up! 

The more people I get involved in the exchange means the more books everyone will receive. The best part is that you can send loved/used books. By recycling what you already have, this exchange can be very low in cost (just the postage)!

We more yard work this weekend and it's really coming along! I think we've got everything ripped out. I'm hoping next weekend we can lay the new edging and possibly plant some new grass. After that we can do new plants and the stone! YAY!



I've also started to work on improvements inside of our home too. I've wanted to work on the living room for a long time now. It's all beige and brown and so BORING.  First, I wanted to paint the walls gray, but wasn't sure if that would be OK with tan furniture. So, then I decided on yellow because it will compliment the blue in the adjoining room. Got different samples of yellow, but them on the wall and Nick hates them. And then he suggested gray....

Purchased a few things including:

This table for the entryway. The wall it's displayed against is pretty much the exact size of the wall in my house I'll put it against!

These pillows. I figure if we're doing gray walls, I can pull in blue with the pillows.

I plan on getting this really cool world map for the dining room, so I bought this pillow to pull in the theme to the living room.


Have a great week all!

Friday Ramblings 4.22.15

Happy Friday.

I wish I were my usual jovial self today, but I'm just not. My very close friend is 17 weeks along and is facing some serious complications in her pregnancy. I want to respect her privacy, as this is a public forum, but I know she would appreciate prayers for little Avery.



Other things for Friday:

Something exciting (esp for book lovers!) ....

I joined a book exchange with my cousin and it's kind of a chain thing we're you'll send and receive books to/from others involved. It's open to anyone, anywhere. I see it as a great opportunity to try out books I wouldn't have thought to buy for myself. If you are interested, make sure to comment below and I'll get you hooked up!

Even more things for Friday:



#Goals 

Lipstick 101: Choosing the Right Shade

Choosing the right shade of lipstick is easier than you think! It all lies in your skin tone.


//Very Fair Skin//


Choose cool-toned shade like magenta or ruby red. These look flattering against a pinkish complexion and won't overwhelm the faired skinned lady.
A Cute Angle's Product Pick: Mac Flat Out Fabulous

A Cute Angle's Product Pick: Mac Ruby Woo


//Light Skin//

 Stay away from warm colors as they can wash you out. Go for a blue based tangerine or a pinky red which make the skin looks warm and rosy. 

A Cute Angle's Product Pick: Sephora Pantone Color Universe Tangerine Tango Creme
A Cute Angle's Product Pick: Maybelline Non Stop Red


//Olive Skin//

Go for sunset hues like fiery orange and vibrant coral. These colors work bet with the skin's natural warmth and with highlight golden tones.

A Cute Angle's Product Pick: NARS Heat Wave


A Cute Angle's Product Pick: Revlon Kiss Me Coral

//Light Brown Skin//


Go with violet! Rich poppy red also tones down the skin's natural yellow tones.

A Cute Angle's Product Pick: L'Oreal Paris Rich Caresse Lipstick in Violet Chiffon


A Cute Angle's Product List: tarte Amazonian Butter Lipstick in Poppy

//Dark Skin//


Any vivid, saturated color will look good. Try a candy apple red or dark fuchsias.

A Cute Angle's Product Pick: Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in Candy Apple

A Cute Angle's Product Pick: YSL Rogue Pur Couture Pure Colour Satiny Radiance in Fuchsia





Monday Madness 4.18.16

Another week down and another one starting up! Weekends are so much better when the weather is better.

I took a personal day on Friday, but ended up job shadowing at the pulmonary office I was offered a job with for half a day. Last week I found out that they had offered the position at the OB/GYN/Family Med office to someone else. It was a totally bummer because I really wanted that position. Anyway...

After the job shadow I went and had lunch with Nick. I love seeing him during the day. It makes me so happy! After, I hit the gym and headed up. Scout and I went out on the deck and did some reading.

attempted Scout selfie

On Saturday I slept in and then headed to the salon for a cut and some low lights. Once I got home Nick and I went to town on the landscaping. As I mentioned in previous posts, we've been overhauling our entire yard, front and back. I feel like we got a lot accomplished!



The hedges are going next!



Nick didn't think I could get this birdhouse of the ground with my bare hands. I showed him I sure as hell could! #WonderWoman



Nick worked so hard in the yard I made him dinner! After dinner we treated ourselves to ice cream - our very first trip to What's the Scoop of the season! We can literally walk to this ice cream place from our house. 





Scout was outside with us all day. He was pooped!


Sunday was a Mommy and Scout day! Nick left early in the morning for a 7+ hour motorcycle ride with his friend up to Northern Michigan and back down.



Happy Monday!

5 Royally Amazing Fashion Statements

HRH Prince William and HRH Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge have been a tour of India and Bhutan this past week. Today I'm featuring five of The Duchess' royally amazing ensembles.

//1// Lunch with the Prime Minister


Dress: Temperley London 'Desdemona'
Shoes: 'Fern' by LK Bennett
Earrings: Green Tourmaline and Green Amethyst Oval Drop Earrings by Kiki McDonough
Clutch: LK Bennett 'Natalie'

//2//Kaziranga National Park


Bottoms: Zara Mid Rise Biker
Top: RM Williams
Scarf: Flora Garments Indian Embroidered Stole
Shoes: 'Bala' moccasins by Sebago 
Earrings: Citrine Drop Earrings by Kiki McDonough

//3// Private Dinner with the King and Queen of Bhutan


Dress: Tory Burch
Shaw: John Lewis Modal Wrap
Shoes: Gianvito Rossi


//4// Departure from India




Dress: 'Chrissy' by Tory Burch


//5// Arrival in Bhutan


Coat Dress: Emilia Wickstead
Shoes: LK Bennett 'Fern'
Clutch: LK Bennett 'Natalie'





What's Hap'pinning' Wednesday: Quotes

I'm needing some comfort today. Hope you find inspiration in these.












Monday Madness 4.11.16

Hi and happy Monday. I hope everyone had a enjoyable weekend and are ready to make Monday your bitch.


So I had a fairly productive weekend. It started by doing even more shopping for active wear on Friday after work. I got some really cute stuff at Marshall's (and at great prices!).


 I got up at 8am on both Saturday and Sunday and headed to the gym. On Saturday I played some tennis and swam, and on Sunday met with a personal trainer. He put together this really awesome and doable program to set me towards my goal of toning up.

This weekend was also productive with grocery shopping, laundry, and chores. #Adulting

So, the weather is still pretty shitty here in Michigan. It snowed multiple times last week and all weekend. There could be a high of 60 at the end of the week, but I'll believe it when I see it.


Yesterday was National Siblings Day! I don't know if my brother and sister realize how much they mean to me. They are a huge part of my heart and soul I don't get see my brother and sister often because Nick and I live in Michigan and they are back in Pennsylvania, and sometimes that can be really sad. I figured in honor of our sibling bond I'd share some fun photos of us in the past.

I'm the blondie.





I talked a little bit last week about transitioning to a different office within my company, and that I've had two interviews. I got an offer from a pulmonary office and today I have second interview with an OB/Gyn office. I really want this job at the OB office. I'd actually work 3 days for a Family Medicine NP, 1 day with a Gyn NP, and 1 day doing phone triage. I think with this job I'll be able to use all my skills. Love variety! Say a prayer or put good karma out into the universe for me today everyone!

To end the weekend I had some time cuddling with Scout of the couch and watching Long Lost Family and Bar Rescue.