her nose stuck in a book

one of my new years resolutions was to read more this year, and I'm finally getting around to following through with it. today I read a lot on the grass in my backyard while I was tanning. this weekend has been really hot and I actually went to the beach and stuff yesterday, which was wonderful.

The Help -Kathryn Stockett

I've read this one once or twice before, but it's one of my favorite books and I couldn't resist reading it again. I'm sure you've all heard of it, but it's in the early 60s about some black maids and the white women they work for. It's all full of controversy and references to good music and if you haven't read it, go out and get a copy right now, and watch the movie when you're done (the movie is as good as the book).

Fat Girl -Judith Moore

this is an autobiography, and it's beautifully and brutally honest. I'm still in the first few chapters, but I'm already fascinated by this young girl and her struggle with her weight and self image- which is something everyone can relate to on some level. Judith talks about what it was like to be "the fat girl" at school and everywhere she went, including her home with a cruel, petite mother. It's a very moving story, and though it is short, it's not a quick read.

Go Ask Alice

this is another one I've read before, and it's also one of my favorites. It's the published diary of a young girl, and it deals with all the struggles of being a teenager and being in love, as well as her dark downward spiral in the world of drugs. It's timeless and incredible. I can relate to so much of what she says, and it really puts into perspective how so many people have experienced situations like the anonymous writer has. The title comes from a line in the Jefferson Starship/Airplane song White Rabbit.

Catcher in the Rye -J.D. Salinger

the classic coming of age story of Holden Caulfield and all his many antics. to be completely honest, I don't like it all that much. I mean, it's super well known and I can't go through my life without having read it, and it has a lot of good points, but I'm not a big fan of Holden. he calls everyone a phony, but he's a pretty big phony himself. that said, it is very good writing and an interesting story, but it's hard to read a book when the narrator and main character is so particular.

anyway, that's what I'm reading right now/just finished reading/going to read soon.

with love,

Julia

cappuccinos and cloudy days

It's supposed to be spring, but the weather seems to disagree. Hopefully we'll have some sunshiny days soon, so I can start wearing all my spring-y clothes.

I can't believe how fast this year is going by! It feels like October was just last week, but it's already March! I don't want to wish away my time, but I also can't wait until it's time for beach days and summer fruits! 

I promise I'm going to get a lot better about posting a lot and I really appreciate all of you who've been checking out my blog & making me feel special. :)

with love,

Julia

happy st. patrick's day!

better late than never, right? (please excuse my messy wall) this is one of my favorite dresses to be honest ($7 at a thrift store!) I'm probably going to cheat and reuse it for Easter shh. It's a lot greener in person, and the cherries are hand embroidered. my curls have basically deflated, but my eyeliner game was hella strong.

here's some cute pictures from this summer that make me miss Ireland (and my long hair!)

 
I hope y'all have had a good full of irish music and food and leprechaun kisses.

with love,
Julia

getting to know me

Hello! I'm Julia and I'm new to blogspot. I'll be posting a couple hair tutorials this weekend and I'll hopefully get better at posting on a daily basis, but for now I thought I'd do one of those '25 questions about me' things, so here goes. :)

1. What is your middle name?
     my middle name is Aynsley, after the beautiful china that my parents used when they lived in Berlin.

2. What or who is your fashion inspiration?
     I remember watching Gidget and Grease and going to car shows all throughout my childhood, and I just fell in love with the 40s and 50s and 60s. One day I found a tutorial for victory rolls, and I bought my first ModCloth dress for my 8th grade graduation- and the rest is history. Grace Kelly, Marilyn Monroe, and the 40s Coca-Cola ad girls are who I look to for fashion and hair ideas. I also think that Kate is completely perfect in every way, and I wish I had her wardrobe!

3. What's your favorite drink?
     I drink way too much coffee and I love irish breakfast tea, and pink lemonade.

4. What's your favorite song at the moment?
      oh man I can't choose just one! My top 7 right now are probably:
Heartbeat -Buddy Holly
Standing in the Doorway -Bob Dylan
Jimmy Jimmy -Stray Cats
Don't Break the Needle -J Roddy Walston & the Business
Tutti Frutti -Little Richard
Julia -The Beatles (obviously)
Sheena is a Punk Rocker -The Ramones

5. What would you name your children?
     for a girl, I really like Tricia, Lily, Alice, Tilly, and Caroline. For a boy, Daniel or Johnny. (I like names that have songs about them)

6. Do you play any sports?
     I don't know if you would really call it a sport, but I've Irish danced for the past 7 or so years and I love it

7. What's your favorite book?
     The Help or Go Ask Alice

8. What's your favorite color?
     tiffany blue and grapefruit

9. What's your favorite animal?
     teacup pigs! When I'm rich, I'll get one and name it Chrysanthemum.

10. What's your favorite perfume?
     I wear vanilla bean noel, but I love love love Chanel perfume.

11. What's your favorite holiday?
     Christmas! There're so many sweaters to wear and I have dozens of amazing Christmas albums on vinyl.

12. What do you want to do with the rest of your life?
     I really want to maybe go to fashion school in San Francisco, or to beauty school. I also want to get at least one book published, and have a couple kids.

13. Have you been out of the country?
     I've been to Mexico and Dominican Republic, and this past summer I spent a month in Ireland and Paris. I would love to study abroad in either Paris or Dublin someday.

14. Do you speak any languages other than English?
     I took 9 years of Spanish, but I'm still terrible. I'm studying French right now, which is glorious.

15. Do you have any siblings?
     I have a 17 year old sister, Tessa, and a 10 year old sister, Maura.

16. Can you play any instruments?
     I play piano pretty well, and I can stumble out a couple songs on guitar and ukulele. Right now I'm working on learning to play the sax, which I'm pretty stoked about.

17. What's one regret you have?
     I'm a really mad at myself for never finding time to get into drama or theater. I love musicals, especially Grease, Les Mis, Hairspray, and Mamma Mia, and honestly, being in a musical would be the greatest experience I think.

18. Who's your favorite Beatle?
     I love George! He was the cutest one (before he grew the beard) and I made a cute little heart brooch with his face on it- I wear it every chance I get.

19. What's your favorite movie?
      my whole life revolves around movies, I can't pick just one! But I'll always love Pulp Fiction, Grease, Whip It, Sabrina (the original Audrey Hepburn one, not the remake), and Rocky Horror.

20.  What are your favorite TV shows?
     I don't watch a lot of TV, to be honest, but I love That 70s Show, Freaks and Geeks, I Love Lucy, Bewitched, and Gidget.

21. Are you religious?
     I'm a Satanist. I went to Catholic school for 9 years and my whole family is really Catholic, but I just really don't identify with any of the beliefs. I don't do any rituals or sacrifices, and I don't worship Satan. I just really feel that the Satanic teachings make a lot of sense, and go along with my lifestyle.

22. Do you collect anything?
     Typewriters! I use them whenever I can, and if there was a way to blog using a typewriter, I'd sign up in a heartbeat. My favorite is a 1954 tiffany blue Smith Corona- a birthday gift from my mom last year.
     I also collect records and VHS tapes. Tapes are SO cheap now and most of my favorite movies came out before the DVD era, so it works out. My dad has a magnificent record collection that I have free reign to, and there are so many great record stores all over LA that I don't want to miss out on.

23. How tall are you?
     5'2" and shrinking.

24. Do you have any pets?
     I have two nameless cats who I love very much. Usually I just call them Boy Kitty and Girl Kitty, but sometimes they go by Bag and Baguette.

25. What's your favorite food?
     grapefruits and tomato soup with grilled cheese


I think that wraps it up. Have a lovely day. :)

with love,
Julia