Encased

{open spaces - domino}

One of my recent weekend projects has revolved around finding a home for our extensive (and growing) collection of books. I settled upon two identical white bookshelves framing our fireplace so as to have a built-in look. This coming weekend will be the real challenge, however, as I try to organize the shelves and create unique snapshots of our adventures and travels. The rooms below have key characteristics that I'm using as inspiration for our home.

{painted background - source unknown}

{color coded + jars}

{shades of grwy}

xoxo

copyright Hiking in Stilettos

On the Look Out

 {My favorite paleo breakfast - eggs with zucchini, squash, and cauliflower}

Now that I am done with the didactic portion of the school year, I finally have time to try out some new recipes. That being said, I'm on the look out for some new cookbooks! I have my favorite stand-bys such as Ina Garten and Gena Knox in my kitchen already, but I'd really like to find a good raw food and/or paleo cookbook. I've been perusing around this site and this one for recipes, but I love the feeling of creating a meal while reading through a recipe book. Call me old fashioned.

So... any suggestions?

xoxo

copyright Hiking in Stilettos

A Few Things

You should....

read this book by David Platt

get a juicer and add some citrus to your life

try this Lara bar {or any of the others, really}

Happy Thursday.

xoxo

copyright Hiking in Stilettos

all images taken with iPhone Instagram

Bookstore Dates

I love getting all dolled up and spending a night on the town as much as the next girl, but sometimes all you need is a quiet little afternoon together... a scrumptious lunch in the sun and a couple hours perusing through a bookstore.

As much as I love the local bakeries & delis in our small town, they are all closed on Sundays, and ooh, Panera has some scrumptious salads!


We walked out of the store with a few selections, I purchased the next book in Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series, Drums of Autumn. Husband walked away with Comrade J, the {true} story of an American spy in Russia at the end of the Cold War.

The quiet environment, the therapeutic sound of softly turning pages, the smell of freshly roasting coffee, a shared love of books and knowledge... all of these things make bookstore dates soothing to my soul.

xoxo

copyright Hiking in Stilettos

weekend{ing}

The weekend forecast for my part of the world is sunny and warm. Here is how I plan to spend my days:

1. A trip to A Capella Books in Little Five Points....

image credit

followed by a trip here {because we'll be in the area and they have the best hummus!}image credit


2. Picking blueberries from a local organic farm....
image credit

in order to try my hand at homemade blueberry scones!
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stay tuned for the {low-fat} recipe and the outcome!

3. Perusing a few antique stores...
image credit


4. Attempting a few DIY projects around the house...
including a patio revamp...image credit

Now it's your turn! What are your plans for this lovely summer weekend?

copyright Hiking in Stilettos

Summer Reading

Among my favorite things about summer months are the lack of schoolwork and the endless amount of sunshine that call me towards libraries and bookstores to no end. I will often read through an entire novel in a matter of a day or two simply because I don't wish to put it down. I think it's a bit of an addiction, actually, but I figure there are vices much worse than literature. Here's my shortlist of summer reading thus far:

recommended by the lovely Jessie of The Lucky Stone

recommended by my girl, SmockandBustle

What is on your reading list, my lovelies? I can't wait for your suggestions!

copyright Hiking in Stilettos

images courtesy of Amazon.com

Stephenie Meyer

For the last few months I have been in a bit of a book rut. I go through phases where I just can't find anything captivating enough to merit my attention. When I checked in on homemade grits the other day, however, my luck drastically changed. Inspired by the post on the "Twilight" series by Stephenie Meyer, I drove to my local Target to pick up my copy of the first book in the series.

"About three things I was absolutely positive. 

First, Edward was a vampire. 

Second, there was a part of him -- and I didn't know how dominant that part might be -- that thirsted for my blood.

And third, I was unconditionally and irrevocably in love with him."

The back cover grabbed my attention with the snippet above, so I read the preface standing in the store and immediately made my way to check out.  By the next day, I was finished with the book and am now about to head back to Tarjay for the next book in the series. The fluidity of Meyers' writing and her ability to create images so real that you feel like the character of the story have made her one of my new favorite authors. Call me a sci-fi nerd, but I am definitely in love with "Twilight" and plan to read the remaining books in the series, "New Moon," "Eclipse," and "Breaking Dawn." The final book "Breaking Dawn" is due to be released on August 2nd which gives me just enough time to catch up.  So, if you are looking for a good book to get lost in and aren't deterred by the vampire references, I would definitely suggest "Twilight." 

images courtesy of StephenieMeyer.com