book list

So if there is one thing about me I wish I could change it would be my pinterest addiction. Oh, and my shopping obsession.  But mainly my pinterest addiction.  I can spend hours on that site day dreaming about my one day (extremely well decorated) home, pining over fashions that this girl can't afford, and salivating over drool worthy recipes that, let's face it, I have neither the talent nor kitchen ware to prepare.

However, I did come across one pin today that caught my eye-- and in a good way!  The name of the pin is A Quarter Life Crisis Girl's Reading List.  I am constantly looking for new books- but since I got my kindle fire, have stopped purchasing hard back copies- which makes me sad because classic books are perfectly beautiful ways to decorate the molding on the back of one's long dressing table (not that I am trying or anything... ;) )

So, without further ado, here is the list, and I will be adding a few of my own suggestions to do-- my hope is to read them all within the next year.

1. Confessions of a Shopaholic – Sophie Kinsella (Great literature? Probs not. But I figured I should start with something fun and light!)

2. Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen (My favorite book of all time. Done and done!)

3. Girls in White Dresses – Jennifer Close (Friendship! Early adulthood! That feeling that everyone is getting married but us! A winning combination for this single lady.)

4. The Girl’s Guide to Hunting and Fishing -Melissa Bank (Contrary to the title, this book is actually fiction and I’m going to give it a chance.)

5. Bitches on a Budget: Sage Advice for Surviving Tough Times in Style – Rosalyn Hoffman (If you’re anything like me, you’re broke and you consider the word “sale” to be the most beautiful in the English language. Thus,  a mandatory read.)

6. What I Know Now: Letters to My Younger Self – Ellyn Spragins (Guys, older people know stuff. I know, I know, I didn’t believe it at first either, but they really do, so this book may end up being invaluable.)

7. The Joy Luck Club – Amy Tan (This one I definitely was assigned in high school so I figured it’s about time.)

8. What Did I Do Wrong? – Liz Pryor (Sometimes friendships end and we don’t know why, so someone wrote and entire book about it!)

9.  20-Something, 20-Everything: A Quarter-life Woman’s Guide to Balance and Direction – Christine Hassler (I’m so excited about this one. I’ve read the first chapter so far and it’s hitting every nail on the head. It’s even got exercises to help you figure out what makes you you, what you want, and how to get it.)

10. Single: The Art of Being Satisfied, Fulfilled, and Independent - Judy Ford (Because we should all feel great about ourselves when we’re single and that’s hard to do sometimes.)

11. The Awakening – Kate Chopin (Full disclosure: I’ve read this one about a thousand times and adore it, but haven’t read it in forever so it’s getting stuck on here.)

12. Daughters of the North – Sarah Hall (Dystopian feminist lit? Sign me up.)

13. Gone Girl – Gillian Flynn (I LOVE psychological thrillers, and the fact that I’ve seen this one on other people’s Pinterest boards + being one of Amazon’s Best Books of the Month from June = IMA READ THAT.)

14. Gone With the Wind – Margaret Mitchell (This should be on EVERY Southern girl’s reading list. I personally have a theory that all girls are either a Scarlett or a Melanie-- I've read this a billi times too.. ) Also to add, Scarlett-little read sequel to this southernluv tale. Also, Rhett Butler's People- GWTW thru Rhett's eyes- suriously?!?!

15. The Unbearable Lightness of Being – Milan Kundera (Recommended by a friend).

16. The Portable Dorothy Parker – Dorothy Parker (Rory Gilmore talked about this a lot, so of course I’ve decided it needs to be read.)

17. The Handmaid’s Tale – Margaret Atwood (I keep hearing that this is a classic book for ladies to read, so put it on your list, too!)

18. The Edible Woman – Margaret Atwood

19. A Place of Yes: 10 Rules for Getting Everything You Want Out of Life - Bethenny Frankel (I started this when it first came out and never had time to finish. I shamelessly adore Bethenny Frankel, esp since my sorority sis is her personal assistant now- jeal.)

20. The Secret Life of Bees – Sue Monk Kidd (Loved the movie, was assigned the book in high school, but never finished it- whoops.)

21. Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) - Mindy Kaling (This woman is hilarious. I will read anything she writes.)

22. Bossypants – Tina Fey (See #21.)

23. Let’s Pretend This Never Happened (A Mostly True Memoir) – Jenny Lawson (Thanks, Amazon’s “Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought…” section!)

24. Me Talk Pretty One Day – David Sedaris (Another of my all-time favorites that I’m going to re-read.) Also to add, Not Tonight Honey, Wait til I'm a size 6. Lolz and accurate

25. Night - Elie Wiesel (First read this when I was about ten. I feel like I’ll appreciate it more now.)

26. Heartburn – Nora Ephron (Is it ridiculous that I’ve never read anything of hers?)

27. The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath (because everyone should spend some time in a crazy lady’s head.)

28. Are You There, Vodka? It’s Me, Chelsea – Chelsea Handler (Another hilarious woman I’ll read anything by.)

29. Mother Night – Kurt Vonnegut (#24 started as something a cute boy recommended to me, and now it’s one of my favorites, so I’ll give it a fair shot.)

30. The Rise of Enlightened Sexism: How Pop Culture Took Us from Girl Power to Girls Gone Wild – Susan Douglas (a commenter named Kassie recommended this and it looks super solid–definitely something any quarter-life crisis-er should pick up. Thanks Kassie!)

Can't wait to get started!!

xx, L

you are free to be happy

The title of this post is my new favorite quote... "you are free to be happy", or, "you are free to be, Happy"...

So enough of my writing about Happy dying, I am learning to move on and am beginning to be able to even think about her without breaking down.  So many wonderful memories that will absolutely last me a lifetime.  I do, however, have one more anecdote to share pertaining to my lovely grandmother and the countless gifts and memories she left me.

All summer long I drove back and forth from Charleston to Gastonia to help care for and be with my family.  One weekend, as I was packing to leave for my parents home, my father called me and told me not to come.  He told me that he was confident that Happy would be adamant that I actually stay in Charleston and enjoy some of my summer.  This was during the time when Happy was rallying at Covenant Village, and so after some heavy duty convincing on his part and letting me talk on the phone to her, I reluctantly agreed to stay in town.

On a wild goose chase to see some guy she liked at that moment, my roommate decided we would go a bar that we both hate.  Said boy preceded to completely ignore my roommate, and so we decided to have a stand off and talk to as many people as possible.  The night was a blur and I got pretty drunk, but when drunk I am chatty Leigh so I had no problem talking to whomever.

That was the night that I met D.  While I dont necesaarily remember it all, I do have record that we both sent some pretty playful witty messages back and forth that night, and he asked me to have drinks later in the week.  Apparently I made a good impression, because he asked me the next day when we could hang out.

The day before we were to meet up, however; was the night doctors told my family that Happy would not make it through the night.  Doctors told my parents she would be gone within an hour, and there was no way I could make it home in time.  I stayed put, and all night prayed that she would go smoothly.  I tried to tell her from 300 miles away that I loved her and would always remember her and would see her again.  Poised to take off the next morning for Gastonia, of course, she ate a half cup of yogurt and rallied, and so instead of going home, I stayed in town and carried on with plans to meet up with new boy.

We did, and we hit it off.  It's weird to say, but if he were a girl he and I would be best friends...I could tell this after 30 minutes of talking to him.  We talked about everything... and I had so much fun despite his weird friends and my roommate hating the life out of me for dragging her along as moral support.  Since that night, we talked pretty much daily, and I can honestly say that he made me feel more comfortable than anyone I've ever met.

Two days later, Happy died.  I felt relief and pain, and my roommate held me while I cried after I found out.  I went home and we buried her, told her good bye, and then I came back to Charleston after a few days.  The entire time I was away, D messaged me, constantly asking how I was and how my family was holding up.  It was so helpful to have someone to talk to that made me happy during this time.  Someone to distract me.

When I back to Charlesotn, my roommate asked me how things were going with this new guy.  I told her how he kept me fairly grounded while I was at home for the funeral., and how I felt like I'd known him for years and years even though it had only been days.

K lit up and then said something so poignant that has absolutely stuck with me "You know how your grandmother was so adamant about you finding someone?  In a way, it is like she hung on long enough for you to meet someone who made you feel that way...It's almost like she wanted you to meet him......"