Add a Little Ornament Exchange to your Weekend...

I love Christmas traditions, and a few years ago I started one that is quickly becoming my favorite event of the Christmas season: an ornament exchange!  I simply gather a group of friends and we each bring an ornament (either store-bought or homemade).  We then draw names and exchange our ornaments.  I'll be honest--I LOVE watching each woman unwrap their ornament so we can oooh and aaah over it.  

Here are this year's ornaments:

They are all so cute!

I brought the ornament that is on the top row, third from the left.  It's store-bought (which is SO not me, but hey, I have two little boys at home that keep me busy!) and is a wire Christmas tree with jingle bell ornaments on the inside.  I received the large silver beaded snowflake ornament and it is going to match my tree perfectly!  This year's ladies really outdid themselves!

I love an ornament exchange more than the typical cookie exchanges because it gives you something to remember your friends and the changing Christmas seasons.  And who doesn't need a fun and creative girls' night out?!

So what Christmas traditions do you have?!  Ever been to an ornament exchange?  Tell me about it!

Add a Little Painting to your Weekend...and an OOTD

Hi, readers and fashionistas!  Well, the weekend is almost ever and Thanksgiving week is here!  I'm so excited to have this week to celebrate with my family!  But let me share a little bit from my weekend first...

One of my first pieces of "big girl" furniture that I bought on my own when I graduated college was a dining room table set.  And it's the same set that we use in our dining room today...but I'm kind of over it.  The wood finish on the tabletop was pretty weak--hot plates would often leave burn marks on top.  So we started using a tablecloth...and I hate tablecloths.  They're always uneven or need washed about every day.  With Christmas almost here, buying a whole new dining set wasn't really in the budget, so I decided to paint the table.

With the AWESOME advice of my cousin-in-law, Morgan, we bought chalk paint.  Specifically Annie Sloan paint.  Guys, if you are painting furniture, you HAVE to use Annie Sloan's chalk paint (not to be confused with chalkboard paint--it's called chalk paint because of its chalky feel).  This paint requires NO priming or prepping of the furniture.  And a little paint goes a long way!  Even though a quart of the paint is pretty pricey--about $38--it covers two tables plus a few chairs.  

You can't find Annie Sloan in a typical paint store, but it's sold in antique and small business shops.  You might have to do a little research to find it, but honestly, it is SO worth it (and my husband, who grew up painting with professionals, agrees!).

So here's how our table looks now:

And I LOVE it!  It has that shabby chic look and we haven't had any burn mark issues!

The chairs are going to disappear soon--hopefully with some great Cyber Monday sales!

So if you're a fan of painting furniture or adding some life back into some old pieces, you must check out Annie Sloan!

Ok, now on to an Outfit of the Day.  I've worn this outfit to work twice and both times received numerous compliments (from both co-workers and students).  And it's practically all from Target!  I love this outfit because it keeps me looking young and fresh but it meets all dress code standards.  Here it is:

• The skirt, which--let's be honest--is the center of attention of the outfit is a pink houndstooth print.  Hot pink.  I love it--and it's from Target!
• The black boyfriend tee and cami are also both from Target.
• The thick black belt is from Charlotte Russe, and a student told me that this outfit wouldn't nearly be as good without the belt.  It definitely brings the pieces together.
• Black tights (Target) and black heels (Madden Girl) keep the outfit professional.
• Simple accessories--a thick black bangle (a gift) and an initial pendant necklace (Linx & More) keep the outfit dainty but focused on the skirt.  I also wore stud earrings from Charlotte Russe.

So what do you think?  Would you wear this outfit to work?

I'll be back tomorrow with a review!  See you then!

*I am not associated with any of the companies or brands mentioned and purchased everything with my own money.

Add a Little Fandom to your Weekend...Meeting Ruta Sepetys!

I love Ruta Sepetys!  Like 5 stars on both of her books (Between Shades of Gray and Out of the Easy) for sure.  Even though I haven't read a lot of historical fiction in the last few years, she has reminded me how I used to love it.  Her books are so well-researched and I became completely invested in her characters.  She had me from page 1 in both books (pardon the sad reference to Jerry Maguire there!).

About a month ago I saw on Ruta's blog that she was going to be in Indiana.  Needless to say I was soooo excited.  Her schedule takes her all over the world but rarely to Indiana (for example, last week she was in Poland and next week she said she's going to France and Spain).  So I immediately called the library in charge of her visit and asked if I could attend (even though I live 2 hours away and was not a part of their county-wide reading initiative).  Thankfully they were super gracious and sent me tickets for my friend Lisa and me.

Hearing Ruta speak did NOT disappoint.  In fact, this was the BEST author presentation/experience I've ever had.  Most authors will speak on the surface to the audience because they aren't sure who has read their books.  But Ruta gave us all kinds of inside information about her books, research methods, and background.  I was engrossed the entire way through her presentation.  I even worked up the courage to ask her a question during the Q&A time at the end!  *I told her I was mad that she had spent 22 years in the music industry because that's 22 years of her books we totally missed out on...then I asked her to share a hint of her next book, which she totally did!

But even more exciting than hearing her speak was meeting her afterward at the signing table.  I said some cheesy things, like telling her that my heart was in her books the entire time I read them (which is soooo true!  I was so engrossed in the characters and story--but probably a little cheesy to say) and she was so gracious and appreciative that I shared with her.  But here came the most exciting part--

I had an image of my blog logo that I hoped Ruta would hold for a photo op (I think this would be a neat tradition to start with authors and sometimes I just find myself plain goofy in photos).  Here's how the conversation went (completely summarized from my memory of course, although I think it is completely ingrained in my brain now!):

Me: "So I have this blog called 'Stylish in the Stacks' where I review books and design outfits based on a character."
Ruta: "'Stylish in the Stacks?!'  I know that blog!"
Me: "No you don't."  This blog isn't that old and there's no way I would assume an author would know my blog.
Ruta: "Yes!  'Stylish in the Stacks!' I know that blog!
Me: Turning to my friend, Lisa, with my chin on the ground.  "Don't tease me, Ruta.  I'm too excited!"
Ruta: "Didn't you design an outfit for Maggie Stiefvater?"
Me: My heart falling.  "No, that wasn't me.  You must be thinking of someone else."
Ruta: "No I must be confused but I know your blog!  I was just talking with some authors about it the other day and we were saying that we want outfits designed off our books!"
Me: "Well I designed an outfit based on Dora from Out of the Easy."  I show her the outfit.
Ruta: "Oh my gosh!"  Standing up and exclaiming to the crowd.  "She has a blog called 'Stylish in the Stacks' and she designed an outfit for Dora!"
Me: I've never had a smile so wide or my heart beat so fast.  Well, I brought a logo from my blog and was hoping you'd take a photo with it.
Ruta: "Of course!  But YOU have to be in the picture too!  And I want one with my camera too!"  Digs in purse for her camera--you guys, she dug in her purse so she could take a photo with me!!!!

So we took a photo together:

And I tweeted soon thereafter about meeting Ruta and what a great night it was.  And when I got up at 2 a.m. to feed my baby and checked my computer, look what I found:

Ruta Sepetys ‏@RutaSepetys7 Nov

Highlight of the evening? Meeting @StylishStacks Thank you for driving to Kokomo! pic.twitter.com/riQjPD9Ges

You guys?!  She said the highlight of her evening was meeting me!!!!

What an awesome moment for me!  Getting to meet my author hero and speak with her--and I'm just going to assume that she really HAS seen my blog!

So who do you love?!  Tweet them!  Go to one of their events!  That's the great thing about social media today--we can connect with people in ways we couldn't in the past.

Add a Little Star Gazing to your Weekend...

Ok, WARNING: Cheesy post ahead.  And yet it's not cheesy--it's romantic, budget-friendly, thoughtful, and just what we needed this week.

Our lives have been SO busy lately!  October was crazy!  I went to Washington, D.C., Luke had a four-day work conference, I had a two-day work conference, we drove to North Carolina, and we celebrated Halloween.  Oh yeah and we're raising two active boys.  Needless to say Luke and I felt at times that we barely saw each other.

And let's be honest--dates can be expensive.  We don't have much family nearby (and we hate taking advantage of relatives!) so we get a babysitter for many of our dates.  Plus we love trying out new restaurants.

All of that to say that we really needed an inexpensive date, just the two of us.  So I decided to surprise Luke with a spontaneous, inexpensive date:

Stargazing!

Here's what I did:

• Set up two chairs in the yard with a comfy blanket.
• Made some "jazzed up" apple cider (apple cider boiled with cinnamon sticks, which was then topped with whipped cream and sprinkled with cinnamon)
• Put the boys to bed and waited to make sure they were in a deep sleep for the night (fortunately my boys are GREAT sleepers!)
• Brought Luke outside for the surprise!

Why was this date so great?  

• It was QUIET!  Just us and the stars, so we had time to just talk and relax.
• We could snuggle!  Who doesn't love being under the same blanket as their spouse?!
• It was the perfect mix of hot and cold.  It was a little chilly outside (although not windy, thank goodness!) and the hot apple cider balanced it perfectly.
• It was fun to look at the stars and try to find constellations.  We learned we're not the best of that, though...I thought I found the Little Dipper in three spots!
• It only cost us the price of the cider.  No babysitter, no expensive meal, no driving.
• It was creative and a surprise, which Luke totally appreciated.  And your spouse would, too!  The extra thought that you put into a date makes it special.

So go outside with your honey and gaze at the stars!  Bonus points if you put a blanket in the back of a pickup truck!

Add a Little Home Decor to your Saturday...

Last weekend I was honored to sing the national anthem with my sisters at my older sister's pinning ceremony--she was pinned as a Major in the Air Force...congrats, Alison!

Since the ceremony was in Washington, D.C. and I rarely get to see Alison's house (although I keep pretty up-to-date through her blog), I of course wanted to snoop at her home decor.  I love decorating and all things design, so it's always fun for me to see other people's homes.

I was definitely impressed by the decor that Alison has created to add to her home.  She is super busy working in the Air Force and being a mommy of two little ones (especially since her hubby is gone at school for the next 8 months) but still manages to have some fun adding decor to her house.  

Here were a few of my favorites:

 

I soooo want to make one of these for our house! It's a growth chart for the kiddos to track their constantly-growing bodies, made to look like a giant ruler.  You just need a plank, some stain, a good stencil, and some paint.  A chart like this is great if you know you'll move someday because you can just take it with you.

 Alison made her own marinades and displays them on the kitchen counter in ADORABLE pouring glasses (don't you just love the corks in the top?!).  She added some chalkboard sticker labels and chalkboard pens...so simple and lovely!

Alison loves thrift stores and is always finding cool pieces, like this Coca Cola crate.  She just turned it on its side to make a spice rack--so clever!

And I just had to throw this in because it was so cute!  Alison made a ton of quiche for the reception following her promotion ceremony, and she labeled the quiche varieties with scrabble letters.  Isn't that cute?!

So what fun decor have you added to your home or dinner party?

Add a Little Harry Potter to your Saturday...

Libraries have been finding a new vandalizing trend lately, and I found it so hilarious that I HAD to put it in our house.  And it all revolves around Harry Potter!  I am a huge Harry Potter fan (I am a proud Hufflepuff, thank you very much!) and thought this was a perfect way to incorporate the books into our house--it's subtle, clever, and sure to get a chuckle out of our Harry Potter-lovin' friends!

So here it is:

It's a sign on our toilet that directs the way to the Ministry of Magic!  *Wizards entered the Ministry of Magic through toilets, FYI.  

I wanted to incorporate some orange into the frame to match our shower curtain, so I just bought some orange sparkly paper at JoAnn's.  And I just printed out the phrase in one of my favorite fonts that I downloaded from dafont.com.

What do you think?  How are you Harry Potter-ing your house?

Add a Little Quinoa to your Saturday...

What beautiful weather we are having in Indiana!  I can tell that fall is almost here!  

Since I had my baby about three months ago, I've been focused on getting my body back in shape.  So this week I incorporated some quinoa into our diet.  I LOVE quinoa!  You've got to try it...it's a seed that feels like a grain/pasta/etc.  

Quinoa is like a blank slate because it can be combined with anything.  I chose a southwestern spin and this is what our dish looked like:

This was our main dish but could definitely be used as a side dish.

Here's the recipe:

Quinoa/water

1 can black beans

1 can corn

1 tomato, diced

1 avocado, diced

Cilantro

Juice from 1 lime

Salt/Pepper

1 Tbsp EVOO

3 splashes balsamic vinegar

The key to this dish is making the quinoa ahead of time so it has time to cool.  

• Prepare quinoa according to package directions.  Put in refrigerator for at least one hour.
• Add vegetables to quinoa.  
• In a separate bowl, combine cilantro, lime juice, salt, pepper, EVOO, and balsamic vinegar.  Toss with quinoa and vegetables.

I hope you enjoy this dish as much as we did!  A perfect end-of-summer dish that's also healthy!

Add a Little of The Hunger Games to your Saturday...

Today I'm starting a new feature called "Add a Little ... to your Saturday."  It's basically just a chance for me to show off something from my week, mostly book or fashion-related.  And of course, I'd love to hear what YOU'VE added to your Saturday, so leave a comment below!

Today, I'm adding some of The Hunger Games to my Saturday.  I have a special place in my heart for this series for two reasons--1. It was just a super-fun and action-packed read, and 2. I met Suzanne Collins and had my copy of The Hunger Games signed before it really hit the big time.

So while out on a jog a few days ago, I was happily surprised to come across this street sign:

I really loved the character Prim from The Hunger Games and was devastated when her fate came to be in the final book of the series (I seriously had to re-read that scene multiple times because I refused to believe it--Why, Suzanne, oh why?!).  Prim reminds me of my younger sister, Lauren.  I tried to watch out for Lauren as we were growing up, making sure she had someone to help her through (like middle school, having foot surgery, going to church camp, etc.).  Maybe all that help I gave her is why she became a school counselor?!  Ok, probably not.  But like Prim, Lauren is soft-spoken, sweet, and super-thin.  Now too bad I'm not as kick-butt as Katniss with a bow and arrow!

So what have you seen/done this week?  What's a part of your Saturday?  Let me know in the comments!

And tomorrow, I'm back for my first OOTD--outfit of the day.  It's what I'm calling my "September look."  See you then!