LEARNING TO KNIT

 MY MOTHER'S HANDS

LEARNING TO KNIT

  

Our hands are so different. My mothers and mine. Hers are broad and strong and mine are slim and long. I have always loved my mother’s hands. 

Our Top 10 Most Popular Posts

All of 2016 we are celebrating ten years as a book club (yay!) so each month I've decided to highlight some of our best moments, blog posts, photos, books and memories.
We found our top 10 most popular posts and compiled them all for your viewing pleasure.
First up...

10 things I've learned running a book club

This year marks the 10 year anniversary of my book club and to celebrate I'll be writing a post every month about our 10 favorite books, 10 favorite recipes, 10 favorite book characters etc. I can't wait to spend the year reminiscing about our book club journey!
And with that, let's begin by hearing about the 10 things that I've learned running a book club.

Spring Cleaning: 5 Tips to Feng Shui Your Home

It's that time of year again! SPRING has arrived. Birds are chirping, flowers are blooming and outside it smells like fresh-cut grass. It's also the time of year that everyone's thinking about Spring Cleaning. But at Delicious Reads, we like to put a fun spin on everything. Why just Spring Clean when you can bring a little Feng Shui into your home?

NATIONAL READ A BOOK DAY

NATIONAL READ A BOOK DAY!

On August 9th we celebrated National Book Lovers Day but today on September 6th, we celebrate National Read A Book Day which is basically CHRISTMAS for book lovers who want to spend a day reading!

These two days are very similar in nature . The difference would be that today is about everyone, book lovers and non book lovers alike to find a book they would enjoy, find a nice, quiet and relaxing spot and read for a while.

Delicious Reads Asks: What's Your Personality Type??

Do you know your personality type? Do you know how it affects your relationships? How about in your day to day home life or work situation? Until recently, it had been years since I'd taken a personality test. Back in high school I took the Color Code Test and learned to peg the way I would react in certain situation and discovered why I make decision the way I do. It was so interesting to me that once I could identify someone's personality, I could understand where they were coming from and even predict with pretty decent accuracy how they would behave in a given situation.

The DRG . . . Featuring Our Very Own Five Lifestyle Bloggers!!

What's the DRG you ask? Well that's a very good question! DRG stands for 

Delicious Reads Gossip

Bright Night Event 2015

Photo  by Mckenzie

Bright Night Event May 7th, 2015

I had the pleasure of attending the Bright Night Event on May 7th this year at the Sleepy Ridge Golf Course. Kelly had been to their events before and said she thought I would have a ton of fun coming so she talked me into it. (But really it wasn't that hard to talk me into it.) I had been hearing such great things about their events and couldn't wait to check it out.They had a great line up of speakers and a fun dance party at the end. 

Modify Ink Review- Custom art for your home

When I went to the Build Your Blog Conference back in February, I met Rachel, the creator and genius behind  Modify Ink. I was immediately drawn to their booth (as was every other women at the conference) by their unique concept and by their colorful art display that had us all flocking to look at their posters like hummingbirds to sugar water!

I needed to know more!

A Tribute to Gilbert Blythe

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Dear Gilbert,

Before I could even read, I often found my mom lying in her bed late at night reading Anne of Green Gables. I remember the dictionary she kept on her night table because the author, Lucy Maud Montgomery, had an extensive vocabulary. What I didn't know at the time, was that those books would be made into a television film adaption in 1985. What I also didn't know was that you would enter my life and I would never be the same.

The 2015 Book March Madness Winner is...

We started with 32 of the best books of 2014 and after a couple of weeks 

of match ups and voting we finally have our winner. 

May I present to you the 

March Book Madness is....

March Book Madness {Selection Sunday}

Are you ready for....
March {Book} Madness?!
Watch our hilarious video below to learn what books will be pitted against each other and how you can play along!

5 things I Learned at the Build Your Blog Conference 2015

I blogged about my excitement and expectations for BYBC last month and decided it was high time I wrote a follow up post relaying what I learned, what I loved, what I'd do different and what I wore.

The Build Your Blog Conference is pretty big, like 600+ bloggers BIG but it never felt overwhelming to me. Instead I saw hundreds of smiling energetic faces all eager to learn how to create better content, reach bigger audiences, meet new friends and to learn how make more money blogging.

Book Club Gossip: 4th Day Hair

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I am a casual reader, don't misunderstand - I love a great book, but it has to be great. I don't read everything. Sometimes I show up at book club, having not read the book. Even then, there is always something to gain. I have been so surprised by all the "life changing" things I have learned in book club that didn't come from a book. The main reason many of us participate in book clubs is so that we can have a girls night, plan a party, and chit chat about everything but the book...until that more structured moment of discussion, right?

5 Tips to Make Your 2015 Resolutions Stick

Remember last year when you wanted to own 2014 like a boss? Remember how you swore that this would be your year as you stared down that Times Square Ball like it held everything you’d ever wanted? 

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You had great intentions to be the kind of girl who showed up to the 5 a.m. spin class, the kind of girl that made sound life choices, avoided debt, climbed the corporate ladder and/or made being a wife/mommy look like a breeze. You would take life for a ride, show up with your killer outfit, fresh makeup and a sassy smile, knowing that the Most Interesting Man Alive ain’t got nothing on you. 

And then . . . 2014 kicked your butt.

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It’s ok. Because 2014 has been thrown down. Now it’s 2015, and on New Year’s Eve you stared at the Ball Drop with hopeful eyes and a stiff upper lip (red and sultry after our Beauty Products Exchange with all the best kept beauty secrets of 2014) and you said…

“2015… I’m comin for ya!”

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And since the Delicious Reads Gang loves nothing more than a challenge to accept...

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Here’s a list of 5 Ways to Make those New Years Res’ STICK  . . .

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KEEP IT SIMPLE—Sometimes you want to do waaaayy too much, girlfriend. This can lead to a mid-January-depression-tailspin. Yes, I know you’ve been wanting to conquer the world, but let’s take it a chunk at a time, shall we? Keep It Simple. Come up with 5-10 attainable goals and work on them like a ninja until you have them beat. Then you can move on to another round of goals. Who says January is the only time to make a list of goals to conquer?

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WRITE IT DOWN—All the stats say that your road to success is a ba-jillion times more likely to succeed if you do this one simple thing. Writing it down makes it concrete and tangible. It forces you to own your goals and it keep your eye on the prize when you would rather do anything other than be productive.

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SHOW IT OFF—Put your list somewhere prominent. Since you’re only focusing on 5-10 things, you should be able to figure out a fun way to display it that’s not overwhelming. You could just make a quick list on some fun paper, you could have it as your screensaver on all your devices, or you could make a Vision Board if you are more into pictures vs. lists.

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JOIN FORCES—Everyone needs a partner in crime. If you are bound and determined to be that 5a.m. spin class girl (here’s a virtual high five for you because if my toddler is sleeping and my house isn’t on fire, I’m sleeping at 5 a.m.) then FOR THE LOVE, find a buddy to show up with you or send you threatening texts if it’s 4:47 and you haven’t pulled yourself out of bed. Having a partner in crime will motivate you like nothing else.

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SOCIAL MEDIA—Jump on that social media train. #Hashtag your #2015goals, your struggles and share your successes. It’s so much easier to keep going strong with your peeps to back you up. Plus it’s an extra motivator if you know someone might ask you how you’re doing with your goals.

And that’s it. It’s not as hard as we made it in 2014. The future is bright. 2015 is begging for some awesomeness and YOU, my friend, are going to deliver. Let's do this. 

2015 . . .  We're coming for ya!!

Your Writerly Ranter,

Brooke

Stocking Stuffers: Beauty Roundup

At our December book club we had a bit of holiday fun with a "Favorites" gift exchange. The theme for our exchange this year was BEAUTY. Everyone wrapped their gift and put a card with a short clue or description of what was in the package. We couldn't open the package unless we could guess who it was from, it was really hard but fun to learn so much about each other! Once the gift was opened, it entered the white elephant exchange where the gift could be stolen up to 2 times before it was safe. It was really fun!! 

Here is a round up of some of our favorite items collectively. We thought we would pass these along in case you are looking for some of our favorite things as stocking-stuffer ideas!

Coast Scents Eye Pallete $20 This is for your MAC fix, when you don't want to spend quite that much. 

Bahama Mama Bronzer $18 Bahama Mama is a matte bronzer and also doubles as the perfect contour powder and matte brown eye shadow. Yes, this tropical beauty keeps busy! Creates the look of beautifully tanned skin without any orange undertones for a fresh-off-the-beach glow.

Real Techniques Contour Brush $6 Great brush for applying the Bahama Mama bronzer to contour in conjunction with the Real Techniques Blush Brush $8 for your cheeks.

Buxom lip plumping gloss $12 This is the item I received, I LOVE it!! Most lipsticks and chapsticks make my lips dry, but this product is wonderful. 

Victoria Secret Lip gloss 4 for $20 The girls love this for all the shiny fun shades. 

Seche Vite top coat nail polish $4 It was quite a hit at our retreat. This top coat can make any regular nail polish last up to a week. I rarely paint my nails because they don't last while doing dishes, playing in the sand, and bathing kids. This top coat lasted on my nails for more than 6 days! 

Burts Bees chapstick $3 This is the very best lip moisturizer (other than Bag Balm) and it makes your lips feel so nice and fresh with the subtle peppermint flavor. 

Aquaphor hand lotion $5 For a very good night time hand cream, this one does it. I say night because it is thick and takes a while to soak in. 

Trader Joes hand lotion $6 A great staple hand lotion to keep by every sink in the house, in your purse and the glove box in your car. 

Loreal Voluminous Lashes mascara $6 Some say the green and pink bottle is the best, but we feel this is the best. 

Candy Cane chapstick $3 It only comes around once a year, so stock up. It is a favorite to add a festive feel to any gift or stocking. 

ULTA Brow kit $12 Become your very own Brow Expert with this all in one pocket sized brow kit. The kit contains two brow powders, one tinted wax and a double ended applicator. Use the precise slanted tip applicator end for the powders; use the shades individually or combine the two to find your perfect customized shade. Once brows are filled in and defined, use the round shaped applicator end to smooth the tinted wax over the brows to set any stubborn hairs. In just a few quick steps, you've become the expert curator of your own dream brows!

Caboodle Organizer $30 This item was stolen several times in our exchange. Who doesn't love to organize and find a place for all your beauty products?

Catwalk Root Boost $15 For fine or thin hair, root boost sure helps give hair some nice lift. 

Demi Whispies Eyelashes $17 in black (no question) For that friend that loves to add a little detail that makes those eyes pop!

This is the gift card that each gal filled out and attached to her anonymous gift.

Happy shopping! Leave a comment and let us know your favorite beauty staples. 

Elizabeth

Mockingjay Photo Shoot: Capitol Look {Part 2 }

PANEM TODAY,

PANEM TOMORROW,

PANEM FOREVER.

The Capitol of Panem is a technologically advanced, utopian city where the nation's most wealthy and powerful live. 

An outrageous sense of style and fashion are very important to the wealthy citizens of the Capitol. It is common for them to tattoo and dye their bodies in extravagant bright colors, as well as undergo plastic surgery to alter their appearances.  Capitol residents frequently wear wigs in a multitude of colors.

Here is our interpretation of a girl from the Capitol...

District citizens view the people of the Capitol as alien, but here at Delicious Reads we LOVE them because they set our imaginations on fire!

I have a story for this Capital Gal. May I share it? Oh thank you! lol 

This is a girl that came from the slums of the capital. A girl that wanted to fit in with the ritzy, over styled, zany Capital crowd. The women that would walk around in a "half in reality" kind of way. Not a care in the world, no wrinkles from stress. No matter what she did, she didn't seem to be quite right. She didn't say the right thing, do the right thing, love the same things or wear anything that came close to the women she so desperately wanted to be.
She began to watch closely to see where these women went to get their hair done, where they received their injections for face mutations and mood alterations and where they went to shop for clothing. After a few months, she finally had it! A long list of the places she too would visit. The shop keepers were only to happy to hear about her desire for change. She was so eager in the makeup shop that the woman called her a tigress and proceeded to add various tiger like stripe marks. Her contouring was injected into the hollows of her cheeks which resulted in bruising (hence the purples and pinks), but she didn't care, she was on her way! They permanently removed her brows and gave her markings that would make her unique...just like the rest of the crowd. She went and had her hair done where they spent hours concocting the most delicious colors and curls. The dress maker constructed the glitz and glamour she had been hoping for.
The last and most important shop she entered would seal her fate. A woman sat on a lone chair, surrounded by bottles and bottles of brightly colored liquids. The air was thick as all the different perfumes mixed from each container and hung like a cloud above the woman's head. She giggled every now and then which unsettled our capital hopeful but not enough to back down. She had come this far and was determined to finish. The woman held out a wine glass full of a blue liquid that she promised would make all of her dreams come true. As long as she had a ready supply, she would not only fit in (since everyone else drank fluids from this shop) but she would no longer worry about anything. Nothing.
She drank.
The cool liquid quickly became warm as it slid down her throat and coated her insides like thick maple syrup. Slowly, her cares left. But with them left her passion, her ideals, her happiness at seeing the sunset, her life. She was as light as a cloud, giggling over silliness. She walked differently, spoke differently and felt differently about everything. She finally fit in and the drones all around her welcomed her with open arms and mutilated faces. It was worth it right? To lose herself completely? She fit in.

Did you like it? That, my friends was a long winded story I had as I thought about making up our amazingly talented model Angie (who should be rocking ANTM btw). I used Kryolan brand prosthetic adhesive to erase Angie's brows (amazing tutorial here) then used face paint to create her new pink and white tiger-esque brows. I used MAC's "Fig 1" "Carbon" and "Passionate" to create the contouring. Two sets of Halloween lashes were used. Purple for the ridiculous element and black to bring some depth. Angie had a makeup palette that had butterflies on it. We clipped them off, thinking our capital girl could have had a fascination for them. Some she trapped in the netting of her skirt, some in her hair and because of the effects of the liquid she drinks one even stuck to the skin of her face (I used spirit gum). 

CREDIT:

Photography: Summer Nicole Photo

Makeup: Jen with Classy Cosmetics

Styling: Jacque with Looks for Lovlies

Model: Angie Terburg

Hope you enjoy!

Mockingjay Photo Shoot: Katniss {Part 1}

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Having read Mockingjay for our book club, I know that there are going to be many twists and turns in this exciting, and sometimes heartbreaking movie. It will be interesting to watch as one of our favorite stories jumps off the pages of the novel and onto the screen for all to see.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 opens in U.S. theaters on November 21st, 2014.

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BEHOLD...

KATNISS EVERDEEN 

This classic Katniss look was styled by the fabulous Jacque with Looks For Lovlies. Jacque is amazing at going into anyone's closet and coming out with an outfit you wish you would have thought to put together yourself! 

Jacque: To create this look I knew I wanted everything to be simple, classic and chic. I started with dark denim and a simple fitted black tee. Then I layered the outfit with a leather jacket via Guess and a silver feather necklace to mimic the Mockingjay symbol. The high leather boots help to keep the look fashion forward and simple while still looking chic.You can shop this look at the bottom of this post.

One of our book club members, Angie (who will be featured in our Mockingjay photo shoot part II tomorrow) created a side braid with more visual interest by adding a second braid that wrapped in the back. 

Jen, from Classy Cosmetics, wanted to be loyal to the character by truly only enhancing Jennie's beauty. (yes that is the models real name, such twinners!)

 Because these two bare a striking resemblance, not much had to be done. She warmed up Jennie's skin by using Loreal True Match in a shade slightly darker than her natural color. Warm toned bronzer, apricot blush and warm browns eyeshadow with minimal mascara finished up this Hunger Games look. 

Check back TOMORROW to see part II of our our Mockingjay photo shoot where we visit the Capitol!

Shop This Look

CREDIT:

Makeup by Jen with CLASSY COSMETICS

Styling by Jacque with  LOOKS FOR LOVLIES
Photography by SUMMER NICOLE PHOTO

Hair styled by Angie