Reading List

I really want to do more "fun reading".  I am studying literature, and the reading I have to do for school can be overwhelming at times, and barely leaves room for books that aren't part of a reading list. So I figured that putting together my own reading list, might just be the extra motivation I need. 

This is, however, still  supposed to be a fun thing, so I'm not going to be too ambitious. I chose

 four titles (some by recomendation), that I plan to finish by the end of my break in April: 

 Everything's Eventual // I adore Stephen King, and nothing beats an eerie (or gruesome) short story before bed.

Pink Smog // I've been dying to read this prequel to the whisical Weetzie Bat series, which happens to be my favorite book series of all time.

The Yonahlossee Riding Camp For Girls // Judging by the title I would have never considered this, but  someone who knows my taste rather well recomended this to me, and after reding several reviews I found myself rather intrigued by this scadalous coming of age story.

Mastermind // It's a book that explains how to think like Sherlock Holmes. I have a feeling that this might become a permanent companion.

 

What's on your reading List?

Peace, Love, and Sparkles

Laura

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter! I hope you're all having a great day, and are able to find all those Easter Eggs (you do not want to stumble across one on Christmas, trust me...)

source

Take one...

source

...and one of those.


And if you happen to be a Sherlock fan, and are in need for some Easter fluff,
then follow this link.

Peace, Love, and Fluffy Tails,

Laura

Hump Day Homework: Happy Birthday Mr. Holmes

It's never too late for a Birthday party, so even though the greatest Detective of all time celebrated his on Sunday, it's the perfect excuse for a Sherlock Holmes inspired Hump Day Homework:

Watch:  Young Sherlock Holmes (1985)

This is one of the more...let's say adventurous...interpretations.  But as any Spielberg movie from the 80's it's an epic two hour adventure. Think Goonies, but in Victorian London, with a rather dashing Moriarty, and a teenage Detective who has more to worry about than just the case - this Sherlock has a girlfriend.

Read: The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

read me

Admittedly not the most original choice, but you can't go wrong with the classics.

Listen To: Sherlock Series 1&2 Soundtracks

listen to me

The score of the show is just as fantastic as the show itself. If you enjoy classical music with a modern edge (or just want to relive the episodes) then the Sherlock soundtracks are perfect for you.

Peace, Love, and Sparkles

Laura

Day 5: Hump Day Homework "Christmas Stories"

It's time for your weekly Hump Day Homework (Christmas edition): 

Watch: Christmas Every Day (1996)

This is the one that started it all! Started what? The ABC Family (back then known as the Family Channel) Christmas Movies! Yes that's right, this Christmassy homage to Groundhog Day, that starred the oh so dreamy Erik von Detten as a frustrated teenager reliving Christmas day over and over again, was the first of many awesome made for TV Christmas movies. And that alone is reason enough to check it out.

Listen To: Tis The Season to be Fearless

listen to me

This is hands down the coolest Christmas album I own. And it's perfect for those wanting something a little deeper (and louder) than roasting chestnuts. Highlights: Breathe Carolina's Mile High Christmas and The Maine's Ho Ho Hopefully.

Read: Christmas Fanfiction

  

Shameless self promotion, but my own Christmas Stories actually go quite well with this week's theme. So check them out if you're a Psych, Castle, or Sherlock fan. 

Peace, Love and Mistletoe

Laura

D.I.Y: And I would have gotten away with it...

...if it hadn't been for all these amazing detectives, and their lovely sidekicks.  

It's no secret that I have a little thing for detective costumes. Throwing on a trench coat or deer stalker is always a great last minute option, but if you have a little more time on your hand, why don't you try one of these this Halloween:

Product List

1) Sherlock Holmes:  Deer stalker, cape, tweed shorts,  oxfords - done, and the shorts give the old-timy British look a sexy edge. And if that's not enough, how about dressing up as Irene Adler, the BBC version, that's one way to be the center of attention at any Halloween party. 

2) Daphne Blake (yes I do know the last names of all Scooby Doo characters...): The most important part of a Daphne costume is  good  red wig, 'cause dying your hair ginger for a Halloween costume is a stupid idea, trust me on this, I would know.  Once you have the wig, all you need is a purple dress, shoes, and headband, a green scarf, and you're good to go.  But don't get yourself kidnapped!

3) The girls of the Maltese Falcon: This look isn't really  inspired by a specific character, but I have to admit that it is how I always pictured Effie (I know it's a little glamorous, but hey it's Halloween...) So if you want to solve crimes at Spade's side then this is finally the time for the trench, add a cloche cap, some T-Strap heels and remember: You're a damned good man, sister.

Peace, Love and Pumpkins
Laura

O.O.T.D: Elementary part 2

I didn't post a proper outfit of the day in a while, and surprise surprise I went for something detectivy today.  So channeling my inner Sherlock, Nancy Drew and obviously Pretty Little Liars' Spencer Hastings  I came up with this ensemble:

Click on the picture to see where to get everything

This isn't an exact representation of my outfit, as my Burberry flats are brown, and my shirt was all horses instead of birds. But I simply like the bird shirt better, and really really really want it, but it's still sold out in my size, but being the fashion detective that I am I'm sure there's a way...

Peace, Love, and Sunshine
Laura

Geeking Out: Elementary

...an almost completely unbiased review.

First things first, I would lie if I said that I wasn't biased towards this show. I did and always will favor the BBC version, but that being said it is simply unfair to compare a BBC drama to a CBS show (Honestly though, Johnny Lee Miller playing a 21st century Holmes,  it's like CBS was asking for it...).  This does, however, by no means  mean that I am one of those Elementary haters, as far as I am  concerned the more the merrier. Heck, I even watched  that show with the terrier in the deerstalker...

Picture Credit

A 21st century Holmes...  nothing new, but this one lives in New York, and Watson happens to be a woman - So there's a new angle for you. And I do LOVE this Holmes! Miller portrays the consulting Detective as a modern version of the eccentric addict that we got to know in many of the stories. With his tattoos, shabby clothes, and that amazing bad boy charm, he could not be further away from Cumberbatch and his Spencer Hart clad crime solving machine - Both are so different and both are so Holmes. 

However, I sometimes found myself wishing that Miller would tone the crazy down just a little. Imagine Cumberbatch at his worst (i.e. the infamous "I don't have friends" scene)  multiply it by ten, and that's the level of agitation that Miller seems to be on during 85% of the episode.  At some point I got so irritated that I failed to pay attention to anything but him. Let's just say that the case itself was a little lost on me. 

There was something that made up for it though, all those little nods to Conan Doyle's Stories. I am just gonna say bees and opera - and that everything else was suddenly forgiven.  

One thing that a couple of insects won't make up for, however,  is the general look of the show.  It is too early to judge it. Pilots often look cheap, but if they don't step it up a little I might not be all that interested in the rest of the season. We have this amazing  eccentric detective,  give him  the set he deserves! Because what I saw made Law and Order look exciting...

As far as Watson is concerned the jury is still out  on Lucy Liu. I still have a little trouble to wrap my head around the fact that this Watson has no military background. Dropping something that is such a big part of a character (and the stories)  is risky, but we'll have to see more to make a final judgement...

Good: Miller, the bees, the opera, and the score (I read bad things but I loved the fiddle!)

Okay:  The writing, the fact that I barely remember the case makes me wonder if it was because Holmes distracted me or because it was not that interesting in the first place. 

Bad: The set, the only location I really felt was the pub which was featured for the eternity of 2 whole minutes...

All in all, Elementary isn't the best Holmes, but Miller is a great Holmes - and BBC Sherlock fans, remember if these two can still be best friends, we can give Elementary a chance.

Picture Credit

Peace, Love, and Sunshine
Laura

Graduation Haul: Burberry & Ralph Lauren Home

To celebrate my graduation and those epic grades (yeah, still gloating and I'm not gonna apologize or stop anytime soon), my mom took me on a spontaneous shopping trip to Burberry.  

The main purpose of that trip was a pair of chocolate brown flats. And after lusting for them the entire summer I can finally call them mine: 

But then my eyes caught something else,  something navy,  piraty, and 50% cashmere...something that I really couldn't just walk by...

The moment  I put it on I knew that this could go  two ways: 1) It would come home with me or 2) I would have to stay at the store forever, because there was no way I would ever take this off again (the air conditioning and Britishness of the store made me forget that it's still summer).  And thanks to my mom it was  number 1 (Thank god, or otherwise this would have ended with me cleaning out my bank account for a coat...and I would have.)  

xxx

Another stop was made at Ralph Lauren Home, which - as surprising as that is - I've never been to. I wasn't a huge fan of the women's collection, however (everything was either baby pink or blue which just aren't my colors, not even for sleepwear).  But the men's pieces  are to die for!  And since I'm tall , and like baggy PJs the men's pajama pants fit just perfectly.  I got  forest green  ones, with horsies all over, and a gorgeous salmon robe from the kid's section. 

xoxo

xoxo

Also, how to they keep people from taking naps in those gorgeous king size beds at the store? That was so tempting...

xoxo

Peace, Love and Sunshine

Laura

Geeking Out: Dorian Grace

Thanks to the wonderful Wearsherlock  (seriously I am obsessed with this blog!) I found the equally wonderful Etsy Shop Dorian Grace, which sells "soaps and scents for Victorians, Steampunks, and Bibliophiles" (in other words: Sherlock fangirls like me).

Those of you who know me, are aware that I am usually not very interested in bath or beauty products unless it's a limited edition Chanel varnish, but when I saw that this store had a Sherlock Holmes inspired lip balm, I just had to get it.  

And turns out that it isn't just a fun gimmick, the 221Bee Lip Balm is absolutely divine!  

It is a Sussex honey flavored lip balm made with Natural Beeswax and Food-Grade Oil, that feels super silky, and tastes amazing. The only downside is that  I've been craving  Honey Loops ever since I applied it, and breakfast time is like 20 hours away. Oh well...

The best, however, was that the lip balm came with a sample sized soap (which is actually pretty big), a handwritten thank you note, and a coupon code for my next order (which I will place soon!), an incredible amount of effort for a order that was under $4 - Thank you! 

 

Peace, Love and Sunshine

Laura

Dorian Grace on Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/doriangracesoap

..and Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dorian-Grace/175338645865337?ref=hnav

T.G.I.F.

Those of you who follow me on Twitter know that I spent the last 3 weeks working on an insanly tedious Neuro-Linguistics paper...but I finished it last night (and it is awesome!).

...Obviously this called for celebration...and shopping, so here's my "Yay-My-Paper-is-Done-Friday" in pictures:  

I started with the shopping, and found an awesome Hugo Boss silk dress  at my favorite thrift store (40 bucks, tags still on). After that I went straight to Burberry. I promised myself a new coat for  finishing the paper, and ended up with this fantastic spring raincoat.  The afternoon portion of the day was spend with the most relaxing thing in the world: 

Painting - and here's the result:  

It's inspired by a drawing I saw on Twitter, and will probably go into the hallway or my closet...I'll keep you updated. 

After a colorful dinner, it was time for some iPad crime fighting in victorian London (wearing my very awesome David and Goliath lounge pants - cause that's how I roll).

...And just because this post still doesn't do justice to my mood today I dare you to listen to THIS while looking at a picture of Benedict Cumberbatch holding a plastic lamb:

Peace, Love and Sunshine

Laura (select comment as: Name/URL - and double check to make sure your comment shows up - sometimes you have to try twice!)

Walking in the Rain...

One of my favorite ways to spend a Sunday afternoon is taking a walk with a good audio book - and the worse the weather the better.  I like to say that there is no bad weather, only bad clothing, so I put together a few rainy day outfits that go with my favorite audio books.  

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1) Sherlock Holmes - The Rediscovered Railway Mysteries

TV Sherlock telling stories about victorian Sherlock as Watson? I don't need to explain why I like this, do I?  As for the outfit, go with muted colors, a classic trench jacket, some high wellies, top it of with a cool hat, and you'll feel like you're solving the case alongside  Holmes and Watson. 

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2) Casanova - The Venetian Years 

"Read by Benedict Cumberbatch" should be all you need to know, but all kidding aside, it's quite amazing (and hot). Wear a comfy sweater dress under a military trench, and pair it with classic riding boots, and floral or lace tights to make the look more romantic. 

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3) Nancy Drew 

I know they're for kids, but so fun and relaxing - I'll never be too old for them. To get the Nancy Drew look, go with pastel skinny jeans, a cozy sweater, cute wellies (the bows are a must), a parka, and - because Nancy is always prepared for everything -  an umbrella (choose a striped or plaid one - the preppier the better).

So what is your favorite way to spend a rainy Sunday afternoon?  Let me know, comment below!

Peace, Love and Sunshine Thunderstorms
Laura (select comment as: Name/URL - and double check to make sure your comment shows up - sometimes you have to try twice!)