Entre Nous.

Behind the Scenes

The month of June absolutely got away from me and I therefore didn't have time so coerce a subject to answer my "Behind the Scenes" interview questions; so you'll have to do with me.

Collects  malachite, lucite, coffee table books, candles

Admires  Diana Vreeland

Daydreams  about moving to Paris, and taking a road trip across country from San Diego to Savannah

Guilty Pleasure  US Weekly

Weekend Pursuits  sleeping in, coffee in bed with the current book on the nightstand, Sunday brunch, a matinee, antiquing or flea marketing, take out at home in front of anything on Bravo

Libation of Choice  champagne (with a splash of Chambord), mint juleps (but only when in the South), pimms cup (preferably in London, but this I’ll imbibe anywhere), margarita on the rocks (no salt for this girl)

Coffee or Tea  Both, depending on the time of day and my mood.

Blooms of Choice  Peonies please

Favorite Book  Light on the Island by Helene Glidden  

Where I’d Rather Be  Savannah or Paris, depending on the season.

Lipstick or Gloss of the Moment  Tom Ford’s Moroccan Rouge (which has sadly been discontinued and which causes me to scour eBay for tubes of the stuff).

Nail Polish Du Jour  Chanel's "Holiday", seems fitting.

Scent  Coco Chanel has been my signature scent for the past decade plus.

Style Icon Taylor Tomasi Hill

Can’t Leave the House Without  My iPhone

Pending Vacays  Cannon Beach, NYC, Savannah

Social Media of Choice  Instagram forever

There you have it, a little glimpse 'Behind the Scenes' of my life of late. 

Blogger Book Club (May & June) - Me Before You

"Me Before You", by Jojo Moyes, is a heartbreaking love story about a heavy subject. Especially in a season when one gravitates towards more saccharine reads, this novel was particularly thought provoking and weighed heavy on my heart.

Let me set the scene...

"Before Louisa met Will, her plans didn't reach beyond their tiny English town. Will, when he wasn't closing multimillion-dollar deals, blew off steam scaling mountains, leaping from planes, and enjoying exquisite women - until an accident left him paralyzed and seriously depressed. When his mother hires Lou to keep his spirits up, he meets her awkward overtures with caustic contempt, but she's tenacious and oddly endearing. Their fondness grows into something deeper, gaining urgency when she realizes his determination to end his life, and her efforts to convince him of its value throw her own bland ambitions into question. Plumbing morally complex depths with comedy and compassion, Jojo Moyes elevates the story of Lou and Will from what could have been a maudlin weepie into a tragic love story, with a catharsis that will wring out your heart and leave you feeling fearless." -Mari Malcolm

When Ali, of the blog In Jackie's Shoes, and I discussed "Me Before You" as an option for book one, I truly didn't know much about the premise. I was aware that it was a love story of sorts and that it was making all the "must read" lists of late. I'm thankful, in a way, that I didn't know the entire plot or I might have been less eager to jump into it. But I'm thrilled I did, it was a provocative story and does warrant the question, is love enough?

The novel ends in a lovely sendoff, with Louisa reading a letter from Will at a cafe in Paris. As I finished the book rather recently, the emotions are rather fresh. I am haunted by this book and think I will be for quite some time. Even when Will's life ending intention became part of the storyline, I kept telling myself that the book would end in my version of "happily". Alas, the book was more realistic, ending in a manner appropriate for a sentimental read. Perhaps that's the reason stories of this ilk stay with one, provoking contemplation and analyzation of ones beliefs. 

Do tell, what did you think?

Now, "Crazy Rich Asians" by Kevin Kwan is more of a quintessential summer read.

“There’s rich, there’s filthy rich, and then there’s crazy rich. . . . A Pride and Prejudice-like send-up.”
—People 

“An unputdownably funny, original, modern novel. . . . I actually couldn't put this book down to eat or to watch Downton Abbey.”
—Plum Sykes

To entice you into participating in July & August's read, Ali and I thought we'd lure you with a giveaway or two. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

So who is in?

Crushable

Gilbert Blythe will be my forever crush.

On the Road Again

In a little over a month another girls trip will be taking place and this time we're hitting the open road. My friends from Los Angeles (think girls trip to LA from February) are flying up to Seattle and we're jumping in a car and driving straight through to Cannon Beach, OR. We're spending 3, just what the doctor ordered, nights at a historic New England style boutique hotel, called (fittingly) The Cannon Beach Hotel.

If the rock in the background of both these photos seems familiar, it's because it played an integral role in the The Goonies.

On the Cannon Beach agenda: kite flying, beach combing, making s'mores, viewing The Goonies by the fireplace, sleeping in, horseback riding on the beach, ice cream cones, a cruiser bike ride, reading seaside.

Clearly I plan to get all the quintessential summer time activities out of the way in one fell swoop.

Why don't you...

 

l Sweatshirt & Balloons l

 ...just chill out. That's what I keep telling myself of late. What with an obscene amount of stress infiltrating my life these past few weeks, I need a chill pill. 

Luckily 'tis the season for getting my beach on, along with relishing every other splendid element summer has to offer. With the first official day of summer mere days away, it's time to compile my summer to do list. There will most definitely be trips to Savannah and NYC penciled into the agenda, along with perhaps a road trip with the girls to Cannon Beach. I always like to catch at least one out door movie this time of year. Then I'd like to host a summer soiree of sorts, out of doors, with the girlfriends. Beach read after beach read will be devoured, if not at the actual beach, then at least in the sunshine. I'd also like to decide on a signature cocktail for summer 2014 and imbibe pitchers of the stuff. There's my sisters wedding, in which I'm a bridesmaids, which is taking place in a mere 4.5 weeks. Then there's the thrill of sourcing new merchandise for Life Styled.

What are your plans for relishing summer?