Need Help With Reading for English Essays? I'm Your Girl.

After doing really, really well in my AP Language class last year, I figured I would share my tips for how to successfully read and annotate books for class so you can write essays from your analytical perspective. The key is that Sparknotes is your friend to understanding what is going on in the book, but NOT a crutch for analyzing it (but I do admit it is really helpful for getting my creative juices flowing). The best stuff (symbols, motifs, themes) you'll pull out of a book to use in class are the things that come from your own viewpoint and experiences.

Things you will need:
Said book and assignment
Highlighter(s) and pen/ pencil
Color Psychology, Mood, Symbolism and Associations: Color tells a lot about a story and its characters- all you have to do is figure out if its in the negative or positive spectrum.
Sparknotes
*******Post-It Flags*******: I used a different color to mark each character's annotations and it made essay-writing a breeze (it also thoroughly impressed my teacher sophomore year). You can also use them to mark really, really important sections and scenes.
Extra Credit: How To Read Literature Like a Professor (It explains what to look for and why in books.) Here's a good, basic run-down I found!

Archetypes
Common Allusions and References

Step 1) Read up on the book's characters. Find out their names and a little bit about who they are as people and in relation to each other. This helps to prevent you from getting lost in a sea of names early on.
Step 2) Read chapter, annotating as you go along- note settings (season, place, weather), symbols, characterization, and whatever else your teacher or professor wants you to note. Try to find common threads and imagery throughout the book.
Step 3) Read the Sparknotes chapter summary to make sure you have a grasp on what actually happened versus what you think did.
Step 4) Repeat steps 2 & 3 until you've finished the book.

Sparknotes is a good tool to get a feel for the book, and a great guide for essays, but make sure to use it to form your own opinion of the essay prompt.
I hoped this helped!

Outfit-Making Earrings

Pearls are beyond awesome, but sometimes you need to spice things up!

Celtic knots are said to be symbols of luck. Maybe these earrings will help you pass that first test! (But you should still study. Results not guaranteed.)

Monograms, of course!

Elephants are also said to be lucky... and cute.

These earrings from J. Crew are absolutely fabulous! 

Maybe its because all three of my names have French origin, but I love fleur-de-lis.

Earrings for those days when you're missing the beach.

These spade earrings are just plain cool. 

Even if you don't Roll Tide, you can't deny that houndstooth is chic.

Simple, but incredibly cute knot earrings.

More monograms! These might be my favorite.  

These remind of me of David Yurman, but at a much more reasonable price point!

What are your favorite fun earrings?

The Brown Riding Boot Dilemma

I'm on the hunt for brown riding boots. My mom was nice enough to buy me a pair of black Frye riding boots last October which are perfect in every way possible (especially with 20% off!)...
...except they're black. This is a problem solely (ha!) because I wear navy so much. I got a lot of wear out of my black riding boots, and I'm definitely not giving them up anytime soon, but it wouldn't hurt to have a brown pair in rotation to give my black ones a break considering how much I wore them last fall and winter, and since fall is almost here, I figured I'd share my favorites.

Brown Riding Boots by carolinerussell 

Frye Melissa Lace-Up Boot / Tory Burch Kiernan Boots / Frye Melissa Button Boot /  Tory Burch Brita Boots / Sam Edelman Perron Boots / Frye Melissa Logo Boot

Now to pick a pair... (My favorites are the Lace-Up Fryes and the Tory Burch Britas.)

What kind of riding boots are your favorite?

My Stationery Obsession

Okay, so maybe I'm waaaay ahead on this (though that's pretty normal for me) but I'm already thinking about thank you-notes and stationery for when graduation comes around. I've recently developed an obsession with it and oh my gosh.
I'll obviously need thank you notes for gifts, teachers and such, and I would love to have stationery for when I go off to college to be able to write notes to mail or stick in care packages to friends. Luckily there's a stationery store about five minutes away from me downtown, (but I try to avoid it because they sell Jon Hart products... I really, really like Jon Hart) so I'll be able to pick out some stationery there in the spring. But in the meantime...


I love the simplicity of the design paired with the fun colors of this monogrammed stationery from Nico and Lala.


Again, simplicity, but I love the twist of this stationery on the classic postage design in pink and green.


Pineapples are the sign of hospitality, so there really is no better way to send a note. (Or an invitation!)


I love the bright madras, its so fun!


Legitimately the cutest stationery ever. And it already has my name on it.


Or maybe this is the cutest stationery ever. Its very traditionally Lilly (-esque).


This stationery is a bit more masculine, but its very classic. I love the yellow and navy.

Although, come to think of it... I do need to write thank you note for Christmas and my birthday... ;)

Murfee Scarves

So, maybe paying $100+ for a scarf is a bit outrageous, but it is Lilly...


Leo Horoscope Scarf: I really love lions and pink and orange is such an adorable color combination that I think we can overlook that little detail that I'm actually an Aquarius.


Booze Cruise Scarf: I love the splash of orange against the navy and sky blue.


Tusk In Sun Scarf: I'm pretty surprised this isn't sold out yet, and if I had to pick one Murfee to get, it would probably be this one because: A) Elephants are adorable and B) Red (white) and blue. Sorry for Grand Ole Partying.

Recent Obsessions

Recent Obsessions by carolinerussell 

J. Crew Pineapple Skirt / C. Wonder Monogram Chevron Stationery / Boatman Geller Pink and Green Stationary  / Hospitality Charm from James Avery / Fornash Gold Cup Bangle / Fornash Elephant Bangle

Pineapples: I love the print of the J. Crew skirt. It makes me think of Pacific colonies in the early 1900's, and I love its symbolism.  

Badminton: My favorite (recreational) sport. I was introduced to the sport by friends of my parent's while we were visiting them in Chicago when I was ten and I recently have been dying to start playing again.

Stationary: I'm planning on devoting an entire post to this subject because that's how much I love it.  

Raspberry Popsicles:  My favorite after-dinner treat. 

Lilly Booze Cruise Maxi: So. Darn. Cute.

Fornash: I'm not a big jewelry wearer, especially costume jewelry, but I think Fornash is convincing me otherwise. I love their bangles and earrings! Very chic and very preppy.

Summer Wind's Blog: I'm really glad that I was able to find another blog that I adore! Her style is beyond perfect. 

Back To School

Back To School by carolinerussell 

Lilly Pulitzer Charlene Dress / Embroidered Vineyard Vines Skirt / J. Crew Cords / Topshop Ballerina Flat  / Fossil Watch / Vineyard Vines Ribbon Belt / High Cotton Ties Headband / Ralph Lauren Blue Oxford ,/ Ralph Lauren White Oxford  / J. Crew Factory Vest / Kiel James Patrick Belt / Ralph Lauren Rugby

I'm excited to go back to school so I can actually start wearing normal clothes again and I have so many outfit ideas in my head. I'm sick of norts and t-shirts! 

Media Picks

Not only is Ferris super hot, he's also incredibly clever, witty and cool, along with the rest of this movie. It is so choice. If you have the time, I highly recommend picking it up.


Clive Staples Lewis is brilliant and so is this entire series, end of story.


I picked this album and The House You're Building  up for $2 each at camp (!) and I'm very glad I did. Her 3rd album is actually dropping really soon, so I'm planning on listening to it once its on Spotify.
Track no. 4 6 7 and 9 because this album is too good to pick just one... but if I had to, I would click track number 9.

One of the missionaries at camp and I started talking about music and she told me about a website called Noise Trade. You can free and legally download albums, samplers, and EPs from lots of smaller artists. The best thing is that before you go to the album page (where you can listen to the entire album before agreeing to download it), it gives you more well-known artists for reference points of the musician's style when you hover over the album cover. As of right now, I currently have thirteen tabs open for different albums to download... oops. But the best things in life are generally free, right?

"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around every once in a while, you could miss it." -Ferris Bueller 

Etsy Favorites

Monogrammed Lilly Pocket Tee from memoandmom
Lilly, monograms, and they're reasonably priced at $22? It doesn't get much better than this!


Tea Party Bow from SplendidBee
I love tea, so I feel this is only natural.


Lilly Shift Dress Throw Blanket from shellylisser 


Grecian Leaf Headpiece from PompAndPlumage
I've been thinking about getting this for prom this spring.


Patrotic Monogrammed Crewneck from CEAmonogramsandgifts
This would be perfect for studying in the fall and winter, and it's actually pretty inexpensive.


Gold Monogrammed Necklace from Personalized Necklace
I've been going back and forth on how I feel about these necklaces, but I really, really like this one... and Prep In Your Step makes hers look so cute in her OOTD's.


Tartan Bow from allysaccessorydesign
I love all things tartan.

Band Camp OOTD's

OOTD's by carolinerussell 

Band camp started this week and being drum major is seriously the best, but I can't wrap my head around the fact that I'm a senior. Only 3 more weeks and then my last year of high school officially starts. I'm not sure how I feel about that.

Are you excited to go back to school?