Great Books for a New Year

This past semester I haven't had that much time to read for pleasure. I never realized how much I missed it until I downloaded some books to have while at home for break! Although I love the feel of real books, lately I have found connivence in using the kindle app on my iPad!

Below are some of the books I have downloaded and have been reading over the break that I have been recommended by friends and am now recommending to all of y'all!

1. Gone Girl or any of Gillian Flynn's mystery novels

I read Gone Girl this past summer and couldn't put it down. Parts of it are kind of crude but if you ignore that and instead just follow the story line then it is a really entertaining book! Right now I am reading her book, Sharp Objects, and it is another easy read for anyone who loves a mystery. If you aren't a fan of murder mysteries then these may not be the books for you but if you do enjoy novels of this sort then you will most likely enjoy her books!

2. Dash and Lily's Book of Dares

This was recommended to me by a friend at school and was such a cute quick and easy read! It is set at Christmas time in New York City (talk about perfection) and is written for young adults! It is kind of a romance but is super well written and entertaining!

3. The Book Thief

This is next on my list! I have heard so many awesome things about this book and can not wait to start it. I hear that the movie isn't quite as good as the book but that is to be expected. Regardless, I am excited!

4. Where'd You Go Bernadette

My aunt recommended this to me and this is another one I am hoping to read before heading back to school!

5. Divergent

I began listening to this on my drive home from Furman and am looking forward to listening to more of it soon! If you like the Hunger Games you will probably like this one! I was a bit skeptical at first but am excited to get through this series! PS, Divergent was made into a movie  that will be in theaters in March!

6. The Fault in Our Stars

I have heard that this book is really inspiring and is another that I am hoping to get through this before heading back to school!

What books have you been loving?

19!

Hooray, I am 19! Today is my first day in my last year as a teenager! Here is today filled with cake and sprinkles!

4th Annual Cookie Decorating Party Event Photos

Merry Christmas Eve! What you are about to see are loads of fun pictures from my cookie decorating party! It was so much fun and great to get together with my friends after being separated by a semester of college, I was also so excited that my roommate got to join in on the fun!

Merry Christmas!

4th Annual Christmas Cookie Party Preparations

Last Friday was my 4th annual Christmas Cookie Party and was the perfect time to get all of my friends back together for the holiday season.

The table was covered with tons of sugar cookies iced in royal icing along with any holiday sprinkles and candies you could imagine!

The "place cards" were everyones super fancy solo cups in either red or green with an alternating jolly straw! Between the cups were bags of icing that would surely be passed around the table!

Here is a better look at the center of the table, the amount of cookies I made was a bit outrageous but were definitely a hit!

What is a holiday party without tasty treats (besides all the cookies to be decorated)?

We had oreo truffles, reindeer nose pretzels, swiss cheese and bacon dip, chips and salsa, goat cheese, and mock champagne (frozen lemonade + ginger ale). 

Be on the lookout for tomorrows post with tons of photos from the party!

Walking In A Winter Wonderland

A few weekends ago a couple of my friends and I decided to get in the holiday spirit and enjoy some the Christmas-y things we can do while at school in Greenville, SC. We discovered a place called Roper Mountain Christmas Lights and drove over to enjoy them! It was cool because you could get out and walk through some of them and then hop in the car and enjoy a drive experiencing tons of Christmas lights!

We got out and explored (and snacked) first and then drove through the lights twice! Here are some of the pictures that were taken while there. The first few photos are a little weird and artistic because I forgot to change my camera's setting prior to our outing!

Nell and I enjoyed roasting marshmallows and making smores before adventuring through the lights!

And our wonderful photographer decided to take many close up photos of us enjoying our smores.

Literally, Walking in a winter wonderland!

What is an outing like this without an instagram worthy shot, here you can see the lighted tunnel archway and the fun trees and igloo.

My roommate and I (blonde one above, y'all probably all made that connection) surprised our friend Caroline (brunette on the right, that connection was probably made too) by having a good friend of hers from Clemson who she went on a mission trip with to Isreal come surprise her and join our adventure. She was ecstatic and we were glad to have a photographer!

Here is a photo of the four of us before heading through the driving portion!

The sign behind us said winter wonderland and there were funny signs like that all throughout the place! 

And what is a post like this without some bloopers? 

Phone or camera, which to look at?

Go figure that I am talking!

I promise this isn't a selfie, instead I was trying to claim my camera back however I was caught in the act.

My Outfit: Jeans (Banana Republic), Sweater (Forever 21), Vest (J.Crew), Scarf (local boutique), Bag (Longchamp, large, navy), Socks (J.Crew), Shoes (Bean Boots).

Nell's Outfit: Green Jeans (local boutique), Sweater (Gap), Vest (J.Crew), Boots (Bean Boots), Bag (Longchamp, medium, navy)

Caroline's Outfit: Black Jeans, Shirt (J.Crew), Vest (c/o my closet, Vineyard Vines), Plaid Scarf, Glasses (Kate Spade, woohoo for Caroline getting glasses and they look adorable on her)

Will's Outfit: NO IDEA

Have y'all done anything like this to put you in the holiday spirit?