Local Digs

My family surprised me this morning by plotting a spontaneous early breakfast run. At 5 till 7, I woke up, and we were out the door by 7:15.
Mom, Dad, and I went to Puckett's Grocery in Downtown Franklin. A hometown favorite beloved by locals and visitors (and us!), they boast excellent breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and best of all, coffee.
This morning, I had the Early Riser: two eggs over medium, bacon, cheese grits, and a biscuit.

I've had the joy of taking my friends here, too. They all love it and tell me to enjoy *insert food item here* for them whenever I tell them that I'm there. I look forward to bringing them back when they come visit. :)

Whenever you find a favorite place in your hometown where you like to eat, savor it, because no matter where you wander off to, your hometown favorites will always be there to bring you back to and remind you of your roots.

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Pre-Trip Excitement - Italy!

One week from today, I'm flying to Italy!

I'm so thrilled. I've been wanting to go since my mom went back when I was a freshman in high school (eight years ago...whoa) and now, I'm getting to go with family and friends, and I couldn't be more excited.

I'm planning on doing posts on what I'm packing in both my suitcase and carry-on bags, as well as what cosmetics I'm bringing. But for now, I want to tell you what I'm most excited about seeing in Italy.

1. The Colosseum

Via Pinterest

I love huge buildings and ruins. I was floored two years ago when I saw the Cologne Cathedral in Cologne, Germany, so I'm excited that the Colosseum is one of the first things I will get to see. I know I'll have to use my imagination while I'm there, since so much of it is missing, but it will still be cool to check out something so famous and iconic in Rome.

2. Venice (In General)

Via Pinterest

My mom described Venice as "magical." Based on that description - and photos I've seen - I absolutely can't wait to see the city whose roads are canals.

3. The Trevi Fountain

Via Pinterest

I'm really, really looking forward to throwing a coin and making a wish into this famous fountain in Rome. They say if you throw a coin over your right shoulder, you are guaranteed to return to the city. And I imagine that I'll be wanting to make a return trip.

4. Capri

Via Pinterest

Goodness, this island looks amazing. I'm happy that this is one of the stops on our tour, and that we'll get to cruise around the island. I'm looking forward to taking this place in, because this place looks like the perfect setting for a movie (romantic comedy, perhaps?).

5. The Leaning Tower of Pisa

Via Pinterest

Okay, I'm a tourist. We have a free day in Florence, and our group opted for the two hour drive out to this monument. So, you can bet I'm going to be taking a ton of pictures of this tower (it looks huge!). I want to do something creative with the "I'm holding the tower up" photo pose that so many people take.

Long story short, I'm really, really excited for this trip. Hard to believe that it's all happening in seven days!

Thoughts on Pages #01: The Ocean at the End of the Lane

Via Goodreads

Hey, reader! Welcome to the very first book review I've written for this blog! :)

I enjoy reading, and I am so thrilled that I get to read for pleasure now that I've graduated from college. Also, I'm excited to read more, because it'll help me with my dream of becoming a bestselling author and such. 

So I had picked Neil Gaiman's The Ocean at the End of the Lane up last summer, but never got the chance to fully read and soak it all in.

Boy, am I so glad that I picked this back up.

Storyline

The premise of this book revolves around an unnamed protagonist who is in town for a funeral. Without thinking, he makes a turn onto a lane, where he spent the majority of his childhood. He finds himself at a house at the end of a lane, where a very special fishing pond sits at its end. At this house, an old woman lives - presumably the mother of his childhood friend Lettie, who has moved away to Australia - and at that point, he remembers everything from when he was seven years old. It's from there that the story begins, as our protagonist recalls his memories and we get to experience them.

Characters

The protagonist is phenomenally written. There are points where I knew that I was reading from a child's perspective, and it made the crucial moments of the plot - especially the climaxes - feel much more real. Several moments tugged at my heartstrings, just because I'd gotten to know the character and felt for him when he was happy, sad, scared, or angry.

The protagonist's family was excellently written, but I didn't really care for them after a certain event happens with one of the villains. 

The Hempstock ladies are phenomenal. It was hard to grasp their lore and backstory, but once I did, I was blown away. I was always so happy when one of them would help or rescue the protagonist in various situations.

The villains in the story are creepy and incredibly fascinating. I disliked Ursula Monkton the most (when you read the book, you'll understand why; her being in the book makes this novel "adult"). I disliked the Hunger Birds less, but they were still creepy. Creepy in this sense is a good thing - I always think villains should be villains if there's a battle between good and evil involved, and in this book, there is.

Setting

The story takes place in Sussex, England. The contrast between the protagonist's family home and the Hempstock farm is excellent, just for the sake of showing how ordinary his home life had been, and how his visits to the Hempstocks not only help his life become more exciting, but also help him when ordinary life becomes unexpectedly scary.

The fantasy aspect of the setting - mainly, the Hempstock's farm and the titular Ocean at the end of the lane, along with all the magic involved - is incredible. You need to read the magical/fantastic parts carefully to really understand what's going on, but the fact that the lore is so thorough really adds magic to the story.

My Thoughts

I think it's safe to say that I loved this book. I loved Gaiman's Stardust, so I had a feeling this book would be phenomenal. I'm excited to check out even more of his work (I have my eye on Neverwhere in the future).

Overall, I give this book 5 adorable black kittens out of 5. The book tugged at my emotions and had me invested in both characters and plot, and I loved it.

If you have any book recommendations for me, let me know! I love YA and adult fiction, especially fantasy.

How I Style Statement Necklaces

Lately, I've been really loving statement jewelry, necklaces in particular. There's just something about a fabulous necklace that makes me feel put-together, even when it's the only piece of jewelry I'm wearing on a given day.

I've always liked them, but I really started wearing them in my last semester of college, when I was working for the radio station. I would go into the station to record newscasts, and when I would edit, I couldn't wear earrings because of the way the headphones would press my ears and scratch me. Plus, I would do these newscasts 2-3 times a week and be out the door at 7:30 AM to walk from my dorm room to the station each time. So, because of that, I would reach for necklaces for comfort and ease's sake, and I've been loving them ever since.

FOREVER 21 Fancy Floral & Rhinestone Necklace (see more fancy necklaces)

I recently purchased this necklace. It was situated in the back of one of the sections of Forever 21, and I was immediately drawn to the color. It's a brilliant candy pink in person.

So now you're probably wondering, "How would I style this?"

Option #1: Daytime/Casual

Styling Statement Necklaces: Daytime/Casual by savannahinwonderland featuring skinny jeans

This is probably the easiest way I can think of to wear statement jewelry, and you will most likely be able to find similar pieces in your own wardrobe. I'd pair a shirt in a solid color (black and white go with everything...yay neutrals!) with darker jeans (or lighter if you prefer). I threw in some black flats, just because they're a color I wear the most in shoes, and a purse. You can mix and match colors with any of these items, but if you stick with neutrals, the necklace will stand out more.

This outfit also works for travel. If you only bring a few accessories, I suggest statement necklaces, just because of the way that they can change up and pull together outfits.

Option #2: Cooler Weather

Styling Statement Necklaces: Cooler Weather by savannahinwonderland featuring Forever 21

This is the outfit combination I basically lived in while I was in college and working for the radio. My walk to the radio station would usually be in cooler weather, and given that it would be 6:30 when I would wake up to do newscasts, I leaned towards comfort. I would switch up the tops and shoes depending on weather, and it worked for both my radio and class throughout the day.

Now that I'm out of school, I can wear this outfit combination on weekends and casual days, and I can now swap out a heavy backpack for whatever purse I'm carrying.

Option #3: Dressing Up

Styling Statement Necklaces: Dressing Up by savannahinwonderland featuring a rhinestone chain necklace

This is an excellent option for dressier occasions. In fact, I wore a combination similar to this for my own college graduation; I didn't even wear earrings, as my necklace, dress, and shoes I was wearing were all that I needed.

Basically, you can use your necklace to pull whatever colors are in your dress, or contrast them. The necklace pictured can also work with yellow, green, mint, royal blue, lavender, or any neutrals. Add whatever shoes and bag that you like, and I threw in a lipstick in a similar color to really pull this look together.

Do you like statement necklaces? How do you wear them?

The Lip Product Tag

Hello hello!

So I think it's high time for a tag post and a makeup post, and I say we combine the two today. I discovered the "Lip Product Addict Tag" via YouTube, and I thought it would be really fun to adapt to this blog. I typically gravitate towards lipstick, lip gloss, and the like if I'm looking for a specific makeup product, so I figured it would be a good fit.

So, cue the graphic headline and let's get started! :)

1. What's your favorite lip balm/treatment?

Eos Lipsalve Blueberry Acai (see more lip care)

Right now, the one I reach for the most are the EOS lip balms. I like the fruity ones best, and would really love to try the blueberry one (pictured here). I read that they're pretty popular in Canada.

2. Best eye-catching red?

Lip Stain in Red Velvet (see more matte lip stains)

Easy. Lime Crime Cosmetics' Velvetine in Red Velvet is the greatest red I have ever tried. It's matte, it's long-lasting, it's rich, and it makes me feel like a 1940's movie star. The other shades I've tried are fantastic as well.

Via Google 

A close second is Rimmel London's Show-Off (Or Apocalips if you're outside the States) Lacquer in Big Bang. It's similar to the Velvetines, but not as matte and not nearly as long-lasting, but it does last a long time and looks excellent on.

Lime Crime Lipstick (see more Lime Crime)

And a close third is Lime Crime's lipstick in Retrofuturist. It's a shade of candy apple red that I absolutely adore. I did a review on some of the Lime Crime lipsticks (including Retrofuturist), which you can find here.

3. Best luxury lip product? Best drugstore?
The best luxury lip product in my opinion has to be, again, the Lime Crime Velvetines. I own the shades Red Velvet, Pink Velvet, and Suedeberry. I wore them to class while in college, and I've worn them some for dressier occasions.

Via Amazon

It's really hard to pick a favorite drugstore lip product, but I think the ones I keep coming back to are the Maybelline Babylips tinted lip balms. I especially love the neons because the color payoff is excellent. The only version of these I don't like are the Dr. Rescue variety due to an allergic reaction I had to them, but otherwise, I think these are great.

4. Best MAC lipstick?

I used to wear MAC in high school, back when it was the brand that pretty much every YouTube Beauty Guru vlogged and raved about. I don't wear MAC as much anymore, but I do have a favorite lipstick of theirs.

Impassioned is the color that I wore to my junior prom. It's a rich coral pink that brings back happy memories of the perfect dress I sought for and the delight of experiencing wearing a ballgown for the first time with my close friends.

5. The most disappointing?

Nars Lip Gloss (see more lips makeup)

I've never owned these, but I'm not the biggest fan of NARS lipglosses, mainly for one thing: I'm not the biggest fan of their scent.

This is probably just a relative thing, but I'm pretty particular about the scents of my lip products. I guess it's because they're my lips, and that I have the potential of tasting whatever I apply? I don't know, but regardless, I really do wish I liked these.

EDIT: I heard that NARS changed the formula of these and that they don't have a scent anymore. I may look into these again.

6. Liner - yes or no?
I don't use liner. Don't get me wrong, I love the chubby lip pencils that have come out recently. However, I prefer as little maintenance as possible when it comes to not only applying lipcolor, but touching up throughout the day. (Watch that change in the future)

7. Best gloss?

NYX Lipstick (see more lip gloss makeup)

I have been recently loving NYX's Butter Glosses. They are just the right pigment, just the right opacity, and just the right texture. Not to mention their color selection is fabulous for this season!

8. Something extra!

Via Amazon

Okay, I love these. I first saw these on Tumblr (I think?), and then rediscovered them at Urban Outfitters. They're sheer lip glosses, and they're great quality, so they are great products themselves along with their fabulous packaging.

Basically, if it looks like a bunny, I go for it. It's icing on the cake when I love what the packaging houses.

If you want to watch the videos where I got this tag from, check out here and here. :)