Hello there. I am fully ready for summer with my red swimsuit, favorite pool towels and homemade margarita mix.
This weekend is really special for me because Collin and his whole family are coming to stay with us. After working together on ABM projects for almost six years, we became really close friends.
1. Just picked up this book and I’m so excited to read it!! My summer reading list is growing and growing. I would love to hear your summer reading suggestions!
The main categories I am into are fantasy, dystopian, and realistic fiction (but open to pretty much anything if you LOVE it). Also, I like sad stories.
2. Our daughter is turning 7 next month (I know, I know) and she asked for a DOLLY PARTON-themed birthday. If you have any cute ideas I’d love to hear. So far, the only thing I’ve done is buy this cookie cutter. (OPE!)
3. I got this phone case and it’s super cute and arrived really fast.
4. Obsessed with this simple grid pattern moroccan rug.
5. The next dress on my shopping list.
6. I’m very jealous of Emma’s puzzle table.
7. When I redecorate my kids room (well, one of them has never been decorated, so it’s not really a “re”), I want to go more unique next time. Loving this Etsy rug!
8. Love love love this unique take on a classic children’s story. My kids love it, too.
9. The best shows I’ve seen so far in 2022 were Station Eleven and Severance. What have you liked lately?
10. Here’s a link to the green dress I’m wearing in the photo above. It has a low back, so I wear it with no bra and these Nippies (they work great and last a long time).
Because I know someone will ask, my fireplace tile is the color Rosemary from Fireclay Tile and the paint color is Meadow Sage by Sherwin Williams.
Hope you had a joyful weekend! xx- Elsie
P.S. Here’s a link to last week’s 10 Things Sunday in case you missed it!
Have you read “Famous Adopted People”? It’s realistic fiction, but kind of surreal/a little adventure-y. The main character is a Korean-American adoptee. So so good!
Love the Dolly themed idea, so cute! It’s not technically in that genre of books, but since you’ve recently found your love for them (as I have), I think you will LOVE The Lost and Found Bookstore! Have a great day : )
I’m reading Fight Like Hell: The Untold Story of American Labor by Kim Kelly
Don’t let the title fool you into boredom.
This is a beautifully told story of the sacrifices and struggles of badass working-class heroes; a guaranteed “glad I read that.”
I would get one of these cute mini pink guitars by Loog for the Dolly party!
I LOVE that your daughter loves Dolly Parton!! If you’re looking for a poster or art piece to display during the party, I actually just painted a Dolly Parton painting in all pinks (!). My niece is a big fan and she requested it for her HS graduation, so the original is going to her, but I have prints for sale on my website if you want to take a look! https://www.coreymoortgat.com/store-1
I am reading Hag Seed by Margaret Atwood. It’s a retelling of The Tempest by William Shakespeare. I am loving it so far! Ooo a Dolly Parton Birthday Party. That sounds so fun! I can’t wait to see what you come up with.
Maureen | www.littlemisscasual.com
Fantasy + sad (mostly more wistful/poignant but with heartbreaking aspects) makes me think you’d love Gut Gavriel Kay. I’ve read all his books except the one that came out last week and they’re all excellent. His Fionavar trilogy is high fantasy, while most of his others are based on real world history with a turn to the fantastic. Tigana is kind of in between, being sort of based on medieval Italian city states but more its own story. I think my favourite one is The Lions of Al Rassan, but A Song for Arbonne might also be a good first one for you with the music connection, or his two books set in a slightly magical/fantastic version of Tang dynasty (~800 CE) and Song dynasty (~1200 CE) China, _Under Heaven_ and _River of Stars_. Anyway, I love all the books and hope if you try one out that you do too.
Argh, autocorrect: the author’s name is Guy Gavriel Kay not Gut!
I’m loving The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles. Don’t let the length deter you, It’s an easy read,
Happy Birthday to Nova! What a sweet party that’s going to be! Dolly’s working with Duncan-Hines atm to offer both a banana and a coconut flavor cake mix. Perhaps those flavors might work within your dietary restrictions somehow, even if the mixes don’t? Dolly also loves her butterflies, so definitely decorate with paper ones, or perhaps growing live, then releasing butterflies at the party might be fun? What are Nova’s interests? Perhaps Dolly lip synch, karaoke, or dance contests? Might have crafty guests decorate a quilt block with marker or fabric paint, to be assembled later as a memento of the party? Whatever you choose, good luck, and happy planning!
You might like Orwell’s classic “1984” (if you haven’t read it already) as well as the Circle Series by Ted Dekker.
Nova, a girl after my heart. Dolly’s love for potatoes is legendary, “Potato, potato, potato! I never met a spud I didn’t like.” Good excuse for a big spread of chips 🙂
Hi Elsie, if you’re looking for dystopia books, I highly recommend the Shatter Me series by Tahereh Mafi. It’s AMAZING-dystopia with a little bit of fantasy thrown in. The writing itself is breathtaking, and the story is a page turner.
Amazing birthday theme!!! Dolly is the best.
My daughter asked for a Dolly Parton themed birthday last year! I had the most fun planning it. I did gingham pink table cloths, purple lace place mats, bandana napkins, posters of her everywhere – balloons (guitars, butterflies, cowgirl hats). Jeni’s had the Dolly Parton ice cream then and I had custom dolly cookies made. It was honestly, my finest work.
Oh my goodness, just a great birthday party theme! If I were planning a kids’ Dolly Parton birthday, I’d lean in hard to some of her most epic costume choices for décor: 1. Lots of fringe! Metallic fringe garlands are inexpensive and VERY Dolly. 2. Gingham. Dolly has been known to rock a gingham print, and it can come in any color (though Dolly loves her pink!). 3. Cowgirl hats. Oriental Trading Co. has 12 packs of colorful cowgirl/boy hats for about $40 https://www.orientaltrading.com/kids-colorful-cowboy-hats-12-pc–a2-13768287.fltr?categoryId=551197+2584 ….and 4. Guitars! Cookie cutters, string lights, even a little craft project – have the kids decorate and bedazzle their own little wooden guitar shape: https://24hourcrafts.com/products/unfinished-wooden-acoustic-guitar-craft-up-to-24-diy
Have so much fun! Nova will love it!