rainy days

I realize I haven't posted in an absurdly long time...


"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain" - Vivian Greene

Today was a very rainy day! As nice as it would be to stay inside and watch a movie, I had a lot of things to do today!

Here's what makes the rainy days a little better...



Pucci Rain Boots - more fun and less common than Hunters. I get compliments on these boots without fail. every single time I wear them.




North Face rain coat - love the color!



Got this ring on vacation in the Dominican Republic with my mom. I wear it whenever it rains because it matches my rain jacket perfectly.

I also wear leggings every time it rains, because I hate how rain feels on denim, khaki, and corduroy. I also have a purple umbrella that matches my rain boots. :)


ab imo pectore,


Hannah

I heart books

"The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel must be intolerably stupid" - Northanger Abbey, Jane Austen

This quote is from a novel that would be on my "ideal bookshelf." I first read about Jane Mount's designs on Where the Style Things Are. I love this idea! Now you can literally decorate your room or home with books.

The books on my ideal bookshelf might not be sophisticated classics, but all of these books mean something to me. They made me nostalgic for my childhood, touched me unforgettably, or changed me irrevocably. I limited this list to ten, but it was tough.

Anne of Green Gables - L.M. Montgomery

Little House on the Prairie - Laura Ingalls Wilder

A Porcupine Named Fluffy - Helen Lester

Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen

Northanger Abbey - Jane Austen

The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro

The Giver - Lois Lowry

Atonement - Ian McEwan

My Sister's Keeper - Jodi Picoult

Harry Potter (not sure which...) - J.K. Rowling.

A complete list of one's favorite books is a clearer representation of them than any photograph. It exposes their values, likes, and view of the world. The authors describe their life, thoughts, and struggles better than they could themselves.

ab imo pectore,

Hannah

Harry Potter Thursday

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and there are so many things to be thankful for, but mostly I'm thankful for...

HARRY POTTER!

Just a joke. Sort of.

I am a huge Harry Potter fan, and have read all the books several times. Tonight, I'm going to my first every Harry Potter midnight premiere. The books are absolutely spellbinding (pun intended), and while the movies could not possibly live up to the books, they are also great.

My friends are dressing up, (one is going to be the golden snitch!) but I'm not sure if I'm dressing up yet. I am wearing my house colors to class Friday, which are blue and bronze for Ravenclaw. Maybe I'm a Hufflepuff, though? I'm not quite sure. (Note: I ended up dressing up as Luna, complete with dirigible plum earrings, and I went barely awake in Hufflepuff colors to class the next day.)

Here is the trailer for the Part I of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, just to get you even more excited for the movie:

I do not consider the Harry Potter series to be about magic. Yes, they go to wizarding school, play Quidditch, and preform magic, but all these things serve as a mere backdrop and are secondary to real story. The real duels are not fought and won with wands, but with the heart. It is the characters that choose love, friendship, and selflessness over magic who are the "good" characters and whose vision ultimately prevails. Lily Potter's love and selflessness ensure Harry's survival against Voldemort's killing curse. Also, in the end, Harry defeats Voldemort in a duel, despite Voldemort's stronger wand and more advanced magical skills, because of the sacrifices people have made for Harry and for 'Good'. Although the heros of the books make devastating mistakes and are deeply flawed, their hearts are in the right place. This quote is central to the idea that character is more powerful than magical prowess:

"It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities" - Albus Dumbledore in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

ab imo pectore,

Hannah

teenage dream

If you turned on the radio this summer, you are undoubtably familiar with Katy Perry's catchy song "Teenage Dream." I love remixes and acapella, so I thought I'd share these great covers with you!

This version is from Glee and is performed by the Dalton Academy Warblers (who are the Tufts University Beelzebubs in real life!) One of the 1093392 reasons to love Glee.

This cover is just one of the great covers by Boyce Avenue. Boyce Avenue changes some of the lyrics in this song, making it softer and more romantic. Katy Perry's version is fun and upbeat, but this version sounds so sincere and from the heart. Love it!

ab imo pectore,

Hannah

ellies!

Fun fact: I absolutely love elephants, or "ellies," as I call them. I just found out there is an elephant sanctuary an hour and a half away from school, and I want to go so badly! Actually, I just want a pet elephant so badly. Since neither of these is a possibility right now, I'll have to get my elephant fix some other way...

Jonathan Adler Utopia Elephant Mugs (Update: Got these as a birthday gift - thanks daddy!)

Jonathan Adler Elephant

An elephant necklace I have from J.Crew.

Even Louis Vuitton and Vogue love elephants. I'd much rather have the elephant than the blanket :)

P.S. Also, one type of elephant is called a "white elephant," but it's actually light pink!! I knew I liked elephants for a reason...

ab imo pectore,

Hannah

pandora

I'm up writing a sociology paper based on a breaching experiment I did, and I was thinking about how great music is to study to. When I get tired of my iTunes (I've listened to Speak Now so many times since it came out that some of the songs are already starting to creep into my 25 most played!) I turn on pandora.

Here are the three stations I've been listening to lately:

Glee Cast Radio - A good mix of songs from the show, show-tunes, and other good music

Carrie Underwood Radio - good modern country

A Fine Frenzy Radio - soft, melodic, sometimes sad music.

While these aren't necessary my favorite artists, the stations are great to listen to while doing work. They have the right amount of upbeat, but not get-up-and-dance upbeat. The lyrics are good and the music is relaxing. I've come across some really great music this way!

ab imo pectore,

Hannah

Lilly Love

Sorry for the lack of posting - I've been working on some fun posts, but this has been an extremely busy semester for me, and this week promises to be one of the most overwhelming yet. Starbucks Via is my new best friend.

Nothing like a little Lilly to brighten up this week.

Just got my new planner. I have to write down everything in this planner or I will never remember to do it. Besides, I feel so accomplished when I cross things out. I usually have sticky notes on top of all the things written on the actual pages. The colors and stickers are so fun in these agendas.

And I pre-ordered this new iPhone case, because my Lilly pen leaked all over my old pink one:

I love how they match each other! They also match everything school-related that I own...like my pink macbook pro, my pink Kate Spade book bag, pink Kate Spade pencil case and my pink Vera Bradley card/key holder. If only textbooks came in pink.

When I got my shipping confirmation for my Lilly agenda, the email said "Now you have something to look forward to." Well since hopefully I have more to look forward to than that, here's my weekly list. Everything has an exclamation point to get me extra excited. Nothing terribly interesting going on this week...

Monday - My first formal chapter as an initiated member of my sorority!

Tuesday - Tortellini Tuesday, my fave!

Wednesday - Early morning pancakes at Pancake Pantry with my friends before class. Maybe I'll see Taylor Swift!

Thursday - Turning in two major assignments is going to feel so good!

Friday - Catching up on Glee and Gossip Girl as usual, and movie night at the house! What's not to love about Friday?