Night Road

To continue with my summer book reviews, here’s my next pick…

Night Road is one of my favorite books from one of my favorite authors, Kristin Hannah, a NY Times Bestselling author, whom I’ve had the pleasure of meeting at a few book signings. The first novel of hers that I read was Firefly Lane (click here for my review), which was fantastic.  I quickly became hooked on her books and have read many more.  But I have to say that as the helicopter mom that I am, this book really touched my heart, because it was beautifully written.

Night Road by Kristin Hannah

Night Road, photo courtesy of Kristin Hannah

Night Road by Kristin Hannah (synopsis)

For eighteen years, Jude Farraday has put her children’s needs above her own, and it shows—her twins, Mia and Zach—are bright and happy teenagers. When Lexi Baill moves into their small, close knit community, no one is more welcoming than Jude. Lexi, a former foster child with a dark past, quickly becomes Mia’s best friend. Then Zach falls in love with Lexi and the three become inseparable.

Jude does everything to keep her kids on track for college and out of harm’s way. It has always been easy– until senior year of high school. Suddenly she is at a loss. Nothing feels safe anymore; every time her kids leave the house, she worries about them.

On a hot summer’s night her worst fears come true. One decision will change the course of their lives. In the blink of an eye, the Farraday family will be torn apart and Lexi will lose everything. In the years that follow, each must face the consequences of that single night and find a way to forget…or the courage to forgive.

Vivid, universal, and emotionally complex, Night Road raises profound questions about motherhood, identity, love, and forgiveness. It is a luminous, heartbreaking novel that captures both the exquisite pain of loss and the stunning power of hope. This is Kristin Hannah at her very best, telling an unforgettable story about the longing for family, the resilience of the human heart, and the courage it takes to forgive the people we love.

So, pickup a copy of Night Road or download it to your e-reader, and enjoy a great summer read.
Have you read any good books lately?  I love suggestions!

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What’s In My Carry-On?

With summer is full swing, and many of us getting ready to leave on vacation, I thought it would be the perfect time to come up with a quick list of what to pack in your carry-on.  First let me say that I always over pack, even after so many years of traveling, I just always feel as if I’m leaving something behind. And I’m also not the kind of person that likes to go shopping for toothpaste when I get to my destination…I want to spend all my time sightseeing and relaxing.  So naturally, packing my carry-on is very important to me.  Since most of the  flights I take average 9 hours, after a while, I start to feel a bit claustrophobic, so I need to feel comfortable and keep busy to make the time go by faster.  I also like to carry some snacks for all of us, as we sometimes forgo the plane meals, or fall asleep during the meal times.  Here are my carry-on must-haves:

Snacks for the flight...

Snacks for the flight…

I love to buy a large bottle of water at the airport and keep myself hydrated during the flight. Snacks like almonds, Cheerios and peanut butter are healthy and yummy.  We always pack gum too, as it helps with the ear popping during take-off and landing.  And of course, a little piece of chocolate never hurt anyone!

My carry-on essentials...

My carry-on essentials…

My husband always makes fun of me saying I carry a small CVS in my bag.  I always bring my travel document holder (which includes itineraries, boarding passes, emails from hotels and our passports), my iPad to watch movies, with of course a good set of Beats headphones, a good book and some cozy socks. But I also need to pack things like Advil for headaches (which I tend to suffer from), Visine for my eyes, which get very dry when I’m flying, some hand cream and a travel toothbrush.  If you’re wondering about the Afrin, I also get very congested sometimes.  And of course I never leave home without some hand wipes and my camera!

So, what are your carry-on must-haves?  I’d love to compare notes in case I’m forgetting something!

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Chairish Your Home…

I can’t really call myself a Mad Men fan, to be honest, I’ve never even watched the show (I know, I know)… So when Chairish (an online marketplace where people can buy and sell amazing used and vintage furniture and fashion accessories) contacted me and asked if I would make a style board using mid-century modern items from their site, I was surprised and excited to give it a chance.  After all, I do love some of the clean lines and designs of the traditional mid-century modern styles.

I was amazed as to how many choices Chairish has to offer.  If you’re feeling a bit lost when you first log on to their website, fear not.  Chairish allows you to narrow your search by style or location.

After browsing their website for a while I decided to have some fun and put together an inspiration board for my teenage daughter’s bedroom, with a touch of pink that I know she would just love. Mid-century modern is usually associated with browns and greens, but you can definitely mix it up with some color and I also chose to add a few gold accent pieces.  Take a look at the beautiful items I found:

chairish

  1. Mid Century Paul Mayen Habitat Floor Lamp; $1,400
  2. Sun Burst Large Gilt Wood Wall Mirror; $1,430
  3. Pure Love Painting by Linda Colletta; $600
  4. Hot Pink LSA Cylinder Vase; $160 and Tall Empoli Cased Glass Vase; $325
  5. Vintage Brass Elephant Bookends; $95 for the pair
  6. Mid-Century Campaign Style Desk Ivory ; $1,089
  7. Palm Leaf Hand-Crafted Waste Basket; $45
  8. Custom Tufted Square Ottoman 43″; $2,200
  9. Atomic Chair in Pink Floral Pattern; $809

One of my favorite pieces is the chair and my daughter loves elephants so I think she would really enjoy the bookends.  If you’re looking to redecorate some rooms in your house, or if you simply want to experiment with some different ideas and designs, I urge to visit www.chairish.com, and have some fun!

What do you think of mid-century modern look? What types of designs are your favorite?

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