How To Read More

I'm currently at 70 books on Goodreads! Before this year, the highest number of books I read was 35, which is great, but for me 70 is very impressive and the year isn't even over yet. So how did I double my reading in less than a year? I decided I was going to do the following six things at the beginning of the year (instead of putting the books under my pillow and hoping my brain absorbed the words through osmosis) and it turns out they work really, really well. 

HOW TO READ MORE:

ONE | Only pick books that really, truly interest you. 

Don't pick books that are best sellers or won a prize or think they make you look intelligent unless you really, really, really want to read it. Otherwise, you'll get halfway through and stop. If a book genuinely interests you, you'll want to read it and you'll think about reading it when you're not.

TWO | Read every chance you get. 

Have a few minutes in the morning? Read a few pages. Get a lunch hour? Read a chapter or two. Going to the bathroom? Bring a book with you. Stuck in traffic every day? Listen to an audiobook. Know you're going to be waiting for a friend at a coffee shop or waiting for the mechanic while he/she fixes your car? Stick a book in your bag. I personally like reading for a half hour right before bed. So calming.

THREE | Know which book you're going to read next. 

I like having an idea of which book I'll be reading next. I generally have an immediate to-read list of two or three picks and will choose one of those. Then I want to finish the book I'm reading so I can read the next one and on and on.  

FOUR | Stop reading that horrible book. 

You picked up a dud. It happens. Don't let it deter you from reading more. Throw that book out the window (a la Silver Linings Playbook) and pick up a book you've always wanted to read. That new awesome book is waiting for you. 

via GIPHY

FIVE | Re-read a book that brings you joy. 

Yep, it totally counts. If you love a book so much that you want to read it again, then why not?

SIX | Put your phone on airplane mode, turn off the TV, and grab some tea. 

Last resort is to cut yourself off from the world (Twitter and #bookstagram can wait an hour) and get some much-needed reading done. Curl up in your favorite spot, whether that's on your bed or the window seat at a Starbucks, pour a cup of your favorite drink, have snacks on hand, and crack open that book. 

Go forth and read!

How do you find more time to read? 

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Inspired By: Scream Queens

Who's been watching Scream Queens? It's a horror-comedy TV show focused on the members of the Kappa Kappa Tau sorority house, who are being terrorized by a red devil-clad killer. It's completely over-the-top and ridiculous and yet it's also hilarious and quite the fashion inspiration. 

Chanel

{Scream Queens}

Chanel (Emma Roberts) is the president of the Kappa house and she believes that only the best girls should be allowed into her sorority. She has minions that she calls by her own name and makes them match her always. 

Chanel is obsessed with pastels, so wear a pale blue dress, blue earrings, gold bracelets, a heart-shaped bag, and blue heels. Or for something with a more modern flair, put on a nude crop top, a lavender lace skirt, a pink necklace, and nude sandals. 

Grace

Grace (Skyler Samuels) is a legacy (her mother attended the sorority before her) and a Kappa house pledge, who wants to solve the mystery of who's murdering students. It turns out to be harder than she thought when her father shows up on campus to teach and keep an eye on her. 

For a modern-meets-70s vibe, put on a striped sweater, jeans, newsboy cap, and nude oxfords. Or wear a red sweater, wide leg jeans, cat watch, and nude booties. 

Zayday

Zayday (Keke Palmer) is streetwise, has a genius IQ, and is roommates with Grace. She challenges Chanel for presidency of Kappa to be the first black president. 

Zayday has a laid back and bohemian style, so throw on a eye print crop top, black necklace, pale blue pants, and blue Keds. Or put on an orange kimono, black lace tank top, printed navy pants, and printed flats. 

Hester

Hester (Lea Michele) is an awkward girl with scoliosis. She's a Kappa house pledge who is obsessed with Chanel and becomes one of her new minions and starts dressing like Chanel. 

Wear a geek-tastic outfit of a purple jacket, a cat tee, jeans, and polka dot sneakers. Or wear a Chanel-like outfit of a blue necklace, white dress, heart earrings, and nude heels. 

Have you been watching Scream Queens?

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Lusting: Brooches

I seem to have an obsession with collecting cute brooches lately and now have a fun little collection. I have a typewriter brooch, one shaped like the Mad Hatter, one like the Mad Hatter's hat, a rose, a bow, a mini Mindy Kaling, a ladybug, and a few owls. I wouldn't mind getting that cloud-shaped one and the Read More one.

Cute Brooches

Do you collect brooches?

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Outfit: Ombre Layers

Much like my sweater, the trees are a beautiful ombre at the moment. The leaves are shifting from green to yellow to orange and it's absolutely mesmerizing. Apparently, right now where I live it's the peak time for fall foliage, so I'm admiring the view while I can before the trees go bare. 

On a random note, last week I got myelf a Fitbit Charge in order to take control of my health and well-being. It monitors my sleep, steps, calories burned, minutes active, exercise, and more. On the app, you can add in what you've eaten, how much water you drank, and see how well you sleep (apparently, I'm a very restless sleeper). So far I really love it! Since 10k steps is a lot for me, my daily goal is 6k and I've hit that goal almost every day so far. So here's to healthy changes!

Jacket: Target | Cardigan: Modcloth | Shirt: old | Short Necklace: gift 

Long necklace: Bella's Boutique | Jeans: Hollister | Flats: Charming Charlie

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Watch | Read | Listen {November 2015}

Happy November! I'm in love with the Lunar Chronicles series by Marissa Meyer. The first in the series, Cinder, is one of my top favorites. I've been waiting all year for the final book, Winter, and it's finally coming out on November 10th! My heart is jumping up and down in excitement. I actually only have the first book, so I'm hoping to get the box set when it comes out. 

MOVIES

Spectre

A cryptic message from James Bond's (Daniel Craig) past sends him on a trail to a sinister organization. While M (Ralph Fiennes) battles political forces to keep the secret service alive, Bond peels back the layers of deceit to reveal the terrible truth behind Spectre. Also starring Ben Whishaw, Naomie Harris, and Christoph Waltz. {Watch the trailer.} It's a tradition to see the latest Bond movie with my brothers and dad, so I'm looking forward it. (November 6)

Man Up

Nancy (Lake Bell) is mistaken for Jack's (Simon Pegg) blind date under the Waterloo Station, but she decides to take fate into her own hands and go with it. What could possibly be wrong? It's an honest, heart-warming romantic comedy about taking chances. {Watch the trailer.} I freaking love Simon Pegg so much! (November 13)

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Pt 2

Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) realizes the stakes are no longer just for survival, so she teams up with her closest friends Peeta (Josh Hutcherson), Gale (Liam Hemsworth), and Finnick (Sam Claflin) for the ultimate mission. They leave District 13 to liberate the citizens of war-torn Panem and to assassinate President Snow (Donald Sutherland). {Watch the trailer.} YASSSS! (November 20)

The Good Dinosaur

What is the asteroid that forever changed life on Earth missed the planet and dinosaurs never became extinct? An Apatosaurus named Arlo makes an unlikely human friend and while traveling through a harsh and mysterious landscape, Arlo learns the power of confronting his fears. {Watch the trailer.} This looks so adorable! (November 25)

The Danish Girl

The remarkable love story of Lili Elbe (Eddie Redmayne) and Gerda Wegener (Alicia Vikander). Their marriage and work evolves as they navigate Lili's groundbreaking journey as a transgender pioneer. {Watch the trailer.} This looks absolutely incredible and I would be surprised if Redmayne isn't an Oscar contender. (November 27)

Other movies coming out:

• Brooklyn (Nov 6)
• Miss You Already (Nov 6)
• The Peanuts Movie (Nov 6)
• The 33 (Nov 13)
• The Funhouse Massacre (Nov 13)
• Carol (Nov 20)
• Secrets In Their Eyes (Nov 20)
• The Night Before (Nov 25)
• Janis (Nov 27)

BOOKS & MUSIC

• The Grownup by Gillian Flynn -- She is reading auras at Spiritual Palms when Susan Burke walks in. The unnamed narrator diagnoses beautiful, rich Susan as an unhappy woman eager to give her lovely life a drama injection. However, when the "psychic" visits the eerie Victorian home that has been the source of Susan’s terror and grief, she realizes she may not have to pretend to believe in ghosts anymore. (November 2)
• Winter by Marissa Meyer -- Winter despises her stepmother, Queen Levana. She isn’t as weak as Levana believes her to be and she’s been undermining her stepmother for years. Together with the cyborg mechanic, Cinder, and her allies, Winter might even have the power to launch a revolution and win a war that’s been raging for far too long. (November 10)
• The Strings of Frankie Presto by Mitch Albom -- The voice of Music narrates the tale of its most beloved disciple, young Frankie Presto, a war orphan raised by a blind music teacher in a small Spanish town. At nine years old, Frankie is sent to America in the bottom of a boat. His only possession is an old guitar and six precious strings. (November 10)
• November 9 by Colleen Hoover -- Fallon meets Ben, an aspiring novelist, the day before her scheduled cross-country move. Her eventful life becomes the creative inspiration Ben has always sought for his novel. Over time and amidst the various relationships, they continue to meet on the same date every year. Until one day Fallon becomes unsure if Ben has been telling her the truth or fabricating a perfect reality for the sake of the ultimate plot twist. (November 10)
• Soundless by Richelle Mead -- For as long as Fei can remember, there has been no sound in her village. Fei and her people are at the mercy of a zipline that carries food up the treacherous cliffs from a faraway kingdom. When villagers begin to lose their sight, deliveries shrink and many go hungry. Fei’s life is plunged into crisis, under threat of darkness and starvation, but soon Fei is awoken in the night by a searing noise, and sound becomes her weapon. (November 10)
• The Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes --  Shonda Rhimes was an expert at declining invitations. It was easy to say that she was too busy, but in truth, she was also afraid. Shonda’s introvert life revolved around burying herself in work. And then, Shonda’s sister muttered something that was both a wake-up and a call to arms: You never say yes to anything. Then Shonda, embraced the challenge: for one year, she would say YES to everything that scared her. (November 10)
• Strange Girl by Christopher Pike -- From the moment Fred meets Aja, he knows she’s different. She seems to radiate an unusual peace. Fred quickly finds himself falling in love with her. Then strange things begin to happen around Aja. Unfortunately, Fred is not the only one who notices Aja’s unique gifts. None of them truly understands the source of Aja’s precious abilities—or their devastating cost. (November 17)

Sara Bareilles' What's Inside: Songs From Waitress (Nov 6) | Ellie Goulding's Delirium (Nov 6)

Justin Bieber's Purpose (Nov 13) | One Directions' Made in the A.M. (Nov 13)

Adele's 25 (Nov 20)

P.S. -- Happy 26th birthday to my friend, Jackie, who I've known for 18 years!

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