living room decorating

An Update On My DIY Tufting Technique!

Remember this cute little <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2011/11/sponsored-post-how-to-upholster-framed.html" target="_blank">magenta velvet headboard</a> I made for the girls' room when we lived in the loft? I finally got around to tufting the matching twin headboard before the Domino shoot so we could make the headboards the sides of a daybed for the playroom.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 19.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/19.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 39.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/39.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 22.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/22.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />Like I've mentioned a million times before, we were in such a hurry to get everything done. In an attempt to make this project go a little faster (tufting isn't all that hard... but it can be time consuming), I realized that I could completely bypass the whole threading-a-button-through-the-headboard-holes thing by just carefully screwing a wide-headed screw down in through the hole I had made in the foam.<br /><br /><a name="more"></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5615.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/IMG_5615.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>The only potentially tricky part is making sure you're putting the screw in the exact right place. I ended up screwing in pilot holes before hand, so I all had to do was find the pilot hole (blindly) with the point of my screw before using the drill to put in the screw.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5621.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/IMG_5621.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />It's important to use screws that aren't too long (unless you wont see the back at all) and that have a wide enough head to hold back all the fabric from the tuft. I used a little bit of high-loft batting and linen in the same magenta color to back the headboard and cover any of the screw holes.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 21.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/21.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />This little trick saved me literally hours of labor time! And it looks great! I just used fabritac to glue in the buttons into the tufts and I think now it would be hard for even me to tell which headboard was the one I spent more time on! :)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 20.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/20.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 23.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/23.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />Oh! I also wanted to mention another little tufting trick I discovered a week or two ago. My sister, Ali, is about to have a sweet baby girl (yay!!) and she wanted to redo her bedroom before the baby came. We made a tufted headboard and the velvet we were using was a little thick and it was getting tricky to make the fabric not look too lumpy. I cut deep grooves into the foam and that made a little pocket for the fabric to sit into AND it made it super, super easy to get the diamond shape perfect and nearly wrinkle-free every single time.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5882.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/IMG_5882.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5885.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/IMG_5885.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Just a few little tips in case you're hoping to tackle a tufting project soon! :)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 24.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/24.jpg" /></div>

An Update On My DIY Tufting Technique!

Remember this cute little magenta velvet headboard I made for the girls' room when we lived in the loft? I finally got around to tuftin...

8:48 AM

One Ottoman, Three Ways

One Ottoman, Three Ways

I feel like I can't leave Target without buying a pouf or an ottoman or a basket or some other adorable item that is practically imposs...

3:00 AM

The (Mostly Done!) Kitchen

<center></center>If you've been following along, you know we've gone back and forth a lot on what to do with this kitchen. Here are the posts, in case you're in need of a catch up:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_0591.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda015/DSC_0591.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br /><a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2013/06/valley-house-tour-kitchen.html" target="_blank">Kitchen Tour</a> (right after we closed on the house)<br /><a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2013/07/getting-inspired-open-shelves-in-kitchen.html" target="_blank">Open Shelving Inspiration</a> (before I decided on the single shelf look)<br /><a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2013/08/making-plans-for-kitchen-with-keepcom.html" target="_blank">The Rough Initial Plans</a> (only about 50% of this ended up happening!)<br /><a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2014/02/lighter-brighter-kitchen-and-new-dining.html" target="_blank">After painting out the floors and the brick range surround</a><br /><a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2014/06/kitchen-mini-reno-cabinets.html" target="_blank">A big recap of thoughts and plans and details on the Shaker-style cabinet DIY</a><br /><a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2014/06/black-concrete-countertops.html" target="_blank">Black concrete counters DIY and single shelf inspiration</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 58.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda015/58.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />I finally decided though that we would just work with the existing layout and cabinets and use my favorite <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2013/07/diy-concrete-countertops.html" target="_blank">concrete overlay technique</a> to make this kitchen work for us until we can do a big upgrade.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 51.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda015/51.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />I'm still hoping for a full kitchen reno sometime down the road, but at least for now, the space feels clean and bright! DIY wins again! :) Here's a little more on what we ended up doing and where I bought everything...<br /><a name="more"></a><br />One of the splurges of the reno was <a href="http://www.signaturehardware.com/kitchen/kitchen-sinks/30-risinger-fireclay-farmhouse-sink-smooth-apron-180964.html" target="_blank">this farmhouse sink</a> from Signature Hardware. We had some sort of funny dimensions to work with and this one was the least expensive of the options that would fit right. I love the clean lines! I also bought the faucet from Signature Hardware and had a local plating company (Papago Plating) strip off the lacquer finish. I love it.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 54.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda015/54.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />The black concrete counters are holding up really well and I love the dramatic look. The waterfall edge is so pretty, and I think with the creamy white cabinet color and the lighter gray on the floors (Ben Moore's Galveston Gray), the black is not too dark for the space.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 61.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda015/61.jpg" /></div><br />My favorite part though is the little shelf we built with pine boards that I covered in concrete too. I hung them with simple black gloss brackets from Home Deport with brass screws. I wanted the brackets to just sort of go away, which they do! The shelves are super sturdy though too. We have all sorts of heavy things on top (tons of plates on one side and a 20-lb cactus planter on the other!) and it's sturdy as can be.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 52.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda015/52.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 56.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda015/56.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>You can see in this photo too that we beefed up the trim on the doors and added trim to the windows (there was nothing there before). I LOVE how the trim addition completely changed the space!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo dDSC_0595-1.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda015/dDSC_0595-1.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">We made a few changes to the lighting too. Just getting those super frilly and outdated pieces out was a huge improvement! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo dDSC_0611.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda015/dDSC_0611.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We took down the too-low ceiling fan and the chandelier over the table area and replaced them with <a href="http://instagram.com/p/X2nlpOQWxb/?modal=true" target="_blank">two of these lanterns</a> I picked up for a song in New Jersey before we moved. I painted the pink parts white and sprayed the sleeves gold.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_4785.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda015/IMG_4785.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 55.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda015/55.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I think a little white paint and round bulbs can make any fixture prettier! :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 57.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda015/57.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I got three of these <a href="http://www.cedarandmoss.com/lighting/tilt-cone" target="_blank">brass tilt cone sconces from Cedar and Moss</a>. They are <i>beautiful. </i> I really love them and think they are a steal for the price!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 53.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda015/53.jpg" style="text-align: left;" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">One of my favorite little details of the space ended up being the cabinet hardware! I really wanted something a little different. I searched high and low and finally, finally stumbled on these white <a href="http://store.restoration.com/depression-era-glass-bin-pull-four-colors-2d/dp/103591" target="_blank">milk glass bin pulls</a>. They are so perfect. They just sort of glow! We used brass screws to install them to the drawer fronts, so brass accent is there, but it's subtle.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 63.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda015/63.jpg" /></div><br /></div><center></center><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 66.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda015/66.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 54.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda015/54.jpg" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">It's (clearly) not perfect. We did this project fast and furious, but the improvement to me is huge. We are loving it and are so happy we could make the room work for us for as long as it takes to save up for the kitchen of our dreams. :)</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div>

The (Mostly Done!) Kitchen

If you've been following along, you know we've gone back and forth a lot on what to do with this kitchen. Here are the posts, in cas...

10:53 AM

Living room decoration

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Living room decoration
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Luxury living room decoration The living room decoration is the most 
responsible task in the choice of home decoration. This is the place, 
where guests are welcomed. It’s the household’s visiting card. That’s 
why its decoration is an requisite interior element, which speaks for 
the household masters’ aesthetic taste. Living room with shelves </div>
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 Modern living room with shelves The most important circumstance is 
that the room is not overcrowded with various belongings. The 
appropriately chosen decoration captures the eye and is remembered. It’s
 best of the decoration objects are of one and the same style. If the 
home masters love journeys and have a collection of arts pieces, it can 
be exhibited in the living room. For this purpose, a special chest of 
drawers has to be manufactured or specific places, such as the sets of 
shelves or cupboard shelves can be thematically arranged. An innovative 
decision is to place them on the floor, where they will fit in with the 
rest of the furniture in a rather unique way.</div>
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Minimalist living room with sofa and painting Works of art, such as 
paintings, tapestries, or other wall decoration should be arranged in 
such a way, that it suits the rest of the furnishing in terms of style. 
Classic elements for this room are flower vases and a clock, often used 
as a centre piece. There is a great variety of ornamental elements, but 
the goal should be originality. Valuable antique elements of this kind 
are an great addition to the decoration in the living room. Curtains for
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Luxury curtains for living room Pendant light fittings can turn into 
an artistic part of the room’s decoration. LED systems can be built in 
the floor or ceiling, since they are extremely thin. Different forms can
 be chosen – square or circular. Some, or all of them, can vary in 
colour range by gradating into a rainbow pattern, making the place very 
attractive.Parts of the decoration are certain furnishing elements – 
cushions, drapes, ornaments on the curtains. They should be simplistic, 
preferably in one nuance, so that the colour pandemonium would be 
avoided. Living room with minimalist interior
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 Luxury living room with minimalist interior If the style in the room
 is minimalistic, with few decoration elements, relief wall decorations 
are a good option, which would attract the eyes upwards, making the 
place seem vast and majestic. A finishing element of this type of 
decoration would be a crystal chandelier.The carpet or a few small rugs 
can be used as decoration under or next to every piece of furniture – 
the living room table, the cupboard, the sofa. Decorative elements’ 
presence in the living room makes it an inspiring place for the 
household masters. Boyan Angelov Home Decoration living room decoration 
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Living room decoration

Living room decoration Luxury living room decoration The living room decoration is the most responsible task in the choi...

5:28 PM

The Most Incredibly Affordable Outdoor Barn Lights!

<center></center>I really wanted some chalky black outdoor barn lights for the back porch and around the rest of the house. I was going to have to order about ten lights, so paying $200 each or whatever was not going to happen!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><center></center></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEiWBiEn9F2zppB_xVeng5RlHSJbc5dkY7vZIWULTlRVGjuahjO9fx47MbH2Pdonqk6HaMychASMBa4LHq2eOFpKNBnIvx3yWshuCaO3ydf-8W9OHYOL0CYZ104L-MytttxDf6VFrBV93LwAEr9YXQSnUiu98taMRU31G8hauEaCzyFcHxFAEtTSvPIaIts=" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt=" photo 31XFUCyqtpL.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/31XFUCyqtpL.jpg" /></a></div><br />It looks like the price moves around a bit (I think shipping is free now), but I found <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0009J1I12/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0009J1I12&linkCode=as2&tag=littgreenote-20&linkId=ZL65L654ZFADPM5X" target="_blank">these American Fluor Barn Lights</a> on Amazon last month for only $35 each!! I was a little nervous they would look and feel cheap, but they are the real deal barn lights! Nothing fancy and built to last! Apparently you can get them at feed and tack stores for something like $25! I've heard Menard's has them for a similar price too.<br /><div><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 3.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/3.jpg" /></div><br />The parts are incredibly well-made and beautiful. The inside of the shade is white porcelain and the outside is galvanized metal, so you'll probably want to paint the outside like I did, but it's super easy. I just put the shades face down on a drop cloth and sprayed the outsides with Rustoleum's flat black enamel. No tape necessary! I actually like that I wasn't paying for an exterior finish that I would have wanted to change anyway. The perfect base for a DIYer!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 2.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/2.jpg" /></div><br />Do you have any favorite barn light sources? These were far and away the best deal I found, especially with such a large shade (14"!!).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5747.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/IMG_5747.jpg" /></div><br />

The Most Incredibly Affordable Outdoor Barn Lights!

I really wanted some chalky black outdoor barn lights for the back porch and around the rest of the house. I was going to have to order abou...

7:53 AM

Summer Reading List

<span style="font-family: inherit;">I have two big trips coming up and I always like to have a couple of new books on hand before heading to the airport (which is exactly how you get an unruly book collection that <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2013/01/making-billy-bookshelves-look-like_7.html" target="_blank">looks like this</a>). I will always end up buying my favorites, but I've started e-reading lately and I'm so happy with how convenient it is!</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img alt=" photo ScreenShot2014-07-28at124316PM.png" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda017/ScreenShot2014-07-28at124316PM.png" style="text-align: start;" /></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />Have you heard of <a href="http://9nl.es/ozoi" target="_blank">Oyster</a>? It's like Netflix for eBooks! For $9.95 a month you have access to <i>unlimited</i> books from their library of over 500,000 titles! Which means you can give up or put aside a book that's not quite right for you or for your mood and easily move on to another book. You can read on your iPad, iPhone, Android, Kindle Fire, Nook HD and computer.</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">They are offering a <a href="http://9nl.es/2sex" target="_blank">free 30-day trial subscription here</a> and I started mine last week. I LOVE it. I'm totally hooked!</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img alt=" photo ScreenShot2014-07-28at124500PM.png" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda017/ScreenShot2014-07-28at124500PM.png" style="text-align: start;" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Also, it's so silly how much I care about this sort of thing, but I really love that they give you a ton of different page and font options. I like the Penguin-style page above for day reading and the black background for easy-on-the-eyes night reading.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img alt=" photo ScreenShot2014-07-28at124445PM.png" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda017/ScreenShot2014-07-28at124445PM.png" style="text-align: start;" /></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />One of my upcoming trips is to New York for work. I'll be staying in Brooklyn for most of the trip, which means some long subway rides. The great thing about Oyster is they let me keep TEN FULL BOOKS in my reader library at once - so no wifi, no problem! Can you tell I'm geeking out? </span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">We're all a bunch of book nerds over here, so I asked Kate and Heather to give me their summer reading lists to share too. Most of these are books we haven't read yet and we'd love your feedback if you have! </span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />Here's my list:</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img alt=" photo Jenny.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda017/Jenny.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><a href="http://9nl.es/it0i" target="_blank">Beautiful Ruins</a></i> - This one looks like a fun, light read. One complaint I've heard is there are too many characters and setting shifts, but I think that might make it an easy book to pop in and out of, in between sessions with my historical floor plans and Eggers (see below).</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><a href="http://9nl.es/z70l" target="_blank">The Alchemist</a></i> - Supposedly a very quick, sweet and simple read that leaves you thinking and inspired. I can get behind a book like that.</span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><a href="http://9nl.es/7xk8" target="_blank">A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius</a></i> - I read, and loved, Dave Eggers' <i>What is the What,</i> but held off on this one because I've heard mixed reviews from friends - they either loved it or hated it. I think I'm ready to tackle it now though. Have you read this book?</span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><a href="http://9nl.es/7wc7" target="_blank">Paris Mansions and Apartments, 1893</a></i> - I had heard this book was a good one and I flipped through it once in a book store and it looked <i>amazing. </i>Seems like a must for any one who gets a kick out of architecture, history and Paris. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><a href="http://9nl.es/rj0q" target="_blank">The Midwife of Venice</a></i> - I was sick last winter and watched an episode of <i>Call the Midwife</i> on Netflix, desperate for distraction. I ended up watching two season's worth of episodes! Ha! I have no idea what this book is about, but it has good reviews and it's a period piece about a midwife, so I think my chances are good.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><a href="http://9nl.es/yyyi" target="_blank">Once A Runner</a></i> - I've heard this one described as the Bible of serious running. I am not a hardcore runner now, but I once was, and I truly loved it. Sometimes I read Marathon training books just for fun, so I think this one could be a winner for me.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Heather's List:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo Heather.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda017/Heather.jpg" /></div></span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><a href="http://9nl.es/crl9" target="_blank">The Cost of Lunch, Etc.</a> - </i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">I have a weakness for short stories, and I find myself being pulled to stories about women who are trying to wrestle with their inner demons. These stories look like they're going to deliver.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><a href="http://9nl.es/k3nu" target="_blank">The Sisters Brothers</a> - </i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Confession, while I have been seeing this book in several bookstores and the reviews seem very positive, the thing that makes me most curious to read it is that the author's last name is DeWitt. We're almost certainly not related, but I'm excited to see if it lives up to the family name ;) </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><a href="http://9nl.es/io00" target="_blank">Telegraph Avenue</a> - </i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Michael Chabon is, without a doubt, in the top tier of my favorite authors. I've read a few of his other books, so I've excited to read this one. I'm pretty confident that I'll like it. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><a href="http://9nl.es/p5dd" target="_blank">It Chooses You</a> - </i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Miranda July is one of the most brilliant artists of today! I love her movies, and I've read one or two of her short stories before, so I'm very excited to get more of her.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><a href="http://9nl.es/g7pz" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></a></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><a href="http://9nl.es/g7pz" target="_blank">The Girl with the Golden Eyes</a> - </i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">I've heard many great things about Balzac. I'm really looking forward to reading this book! </span></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Kate's List:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img alt=" photo Kate.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda017/Kate.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><a href="http://9nl.es/60c1" target="_blank">Little Bee</a> - </i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">A few years ago it seemed like every book club was reading this, yet somehow I missed it. I started to read reviews and they are surprisingly vague because of a supposed pivotal plot twist and the reviewers "don't want to give too much away". I'm interested!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><a href="http://9nl.es/3ysr" target="_blank">The Light Between Oceans</a> - </i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">I cannot wait to read this book (it's next on my list!) I read a quick excerpt before putting it on my read list and it was so beautifully written that I'm finding myself rushing through my current book so I can start this one! </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><a href="http://9nl.es/8pqu" target="_blank">The Collected Stories of Heinrich Boll</a> - </i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"These diverse, psychologically rich, and morally profound stories explore the consequences of war on individuals and on an entire culture." This book jumped out at me and immediately went to my reading list, I'm a sucker for powerful short stories. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><a href="http://9nl.es/7650" target="_blank">The Geography of Thought</a> - </i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">I read this book back in a college psych class and it's interesting revelations have stayed with me for years so when I saw it on the list I knew I wanted to read it again. It's essentially a look into the differences between eastern and western culture- perception of time, healing, social interactions, medicine, and relationships.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><a href="http://9nl.es/yzn7" target="_blank">The House of Mirth</a> - </i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">My sister has been telling me to read this book for years, turn of the century in New York and high society life, I'm wondering what took me so long. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><a href="http://9nl.es/tfp3" target="_blank">My Antonia</a> - </i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">This is the first book I recommend to people. It will forever remain a favorite of mine. Willa Cather writes so beautifully about the simplicity of friendship, and so strikingly about the potential of life. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><a href="http://9nl.es/5oef" target="_blank">Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close</a> - </i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">I read this book a few years ago and it's still one I think about often. Set around the heartbreak of 9/11, the narrator, a 9 year old, self-proclaimed pacifist, is a quirky, tambourine playing wise guy. This book is powerful, poignant, and emotional. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><a href="http://9nl.es/ssu0" target="_blank">The Man Who Would Be King</a> - </i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">A collection on my reading list, short stories written by the winner of the Nobel Prize for literature. So I mean, it's gotta be good. </span></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">_____</span></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br /><div><center></center></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Alright friends, dish! What's on your summer reading list? Also, have you tried Oyster? Here's a list of their <a href="http://9nl.es/gl5z" target="_blank">most popular titles</a>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><i>This post was brought to you by <a href="http://9nl.es/ozoi" target="_blank">Oyster Books</a>. Don't forget to sign up for your <a href="http://9nl.es/2sex" target="_blank">free 30-day trial!</a>! Thank you for supporting LGN sponsors!</i></span></div><div></div>

Summer Reading List

I have two big trips coming up and I always like to have a couple of new books on hand before heading to the airport (which is exactly how y...