Last week Paloma, one of my most favorite bloggers, wrote a post that I just really loved. Essentially, she compiled a list of things that she has been obsessing over during the month of July and shared them! And since imitation is the highest form of flattery, I've decided to do the same here. I'm going to make it a part of the "On My Mind" series - because these are the items that have been on my mind this month:

TV Shows: I know I am late to this party, but I LOVE Ducky Dynasty. It's just good, clean fun/hilariousness. Added bonus- it's one that C and I can actually agree on!

Song: Really loving "Blurred Lines" by Robin Thicke. Makes me want to groooooove. As does "Beautiful" by Mariah Carey. That lady has STILL got it going on.

Instagrammer: You just need follow @valerie_aya. A sampling:

Pinterest User: I really don't remember how I found this pinner, but I am super glad I did because I re-pin from her ALOT.

here.

Blog:  I am again late to the party, because I just started following Bryn Alexandra. Especially love that she has Oklahoma ties! But she also has really refined taste and is a very talented designer. I've loved seeing the progression of her own home. She chooses things very thoughtfully and takes her time in pulling rooms together. I respect that, as it is so easy to want to get it all done at once.

Inspiring Designer: I've followed Chicago designer Summer Thornton for a while, but a few months back this project was added to her portfolio. I'm still absolutely loving it.

Blessing: Pretty much every day, the Hubs and I talk about how blessed we feel to be back in Tulsa. It's hard for us to put into words, but we just feel better here. It brings an amazing sense of comfort knowing how close so many loved ones are. While St. Louis was an adventure--- we are glad to be back!

 Bag: My incredibly generous sister in law came to visit a few weeks back and got herself a new bag while she was here. Soooooo she left her Speedy for me to borrow for a bit. I definitely don't hate it! Just so you don't get confused, this isn't a picture of me :)

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Color: In my own home, I've been sticking to neutrals with pops of red, navy and green. So obviously, this picture makes me happy.

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Inspiring Quote: Agree!

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Drink: Moscow Mules are such a yummy, summery drink. And Valkyrie makes a darn good one. Tulsans- take note. Honorable mention- Cupcake's prosecco. 

Book: Ok. As I've said before, the only place I have an addictive personality is books. For months, my bestie has been telling me to get started on the Mortal Instruments series. Well, I'm through the first one and all I have to say is woah. Suuuuuuuuper into it. Read. it.(even though I am slightly embarrassed by the cover.... it's awesome. promise!)

Triumph: Getting my business going has been really rewarding. Anytime I get an email in my business inbox- my heart jumps! I hope to not ever lose that feeling. It's fun. 

Go-To Outfit: Not going to lie, this outfit has kind of been on repeat.......

Accessory: My fabulous friend from Houston happens to be a Stella and Dot stylist, and she was nice enough to send me the Jolie necklace. I have been reaching for it all the time! Outfit posts to come, but I do love it paired with hot pink:

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Trips being planned: We are winding down summer wedding season, but are still looking forward to the last one of 2013- my sister's wedding in Guatemala in December! I went last May, but am excited to go back again for this event. I am already getting emo about the whole thing. This is the reception site. Gorgeous, right?

Thanks Paloma for dreaming up such a fun series! So tell me - what's been on your mind this month?

Catching my eye lately

Haven't been blogging as regularly as I usually do. Sorry? IDK. I usually just blog when I feel like it and I haven't really felt like it lately.... AND blogger has been totally ticking me off. My posts don't update to BlogLovin/Reader anymore... Don't know why. Can't figure it out. Ugh.

Anyway!!! I thought today I would just share some things that have been catching my eye lately.....

2013 is the year of the wedding in the Davis household (count is up to 6 so far). And I've been brainstorming about my Bestie's Bachelorette party. Thinking these invitations need to be included. I went to a SUPER fun Bach party last weekend. Loooove me some girl time :)

Do I need this jacket? I think maybe yes.

Super excited to read this book. My girlfriend told me its like Downton... which has has been missing from my life for way too long. I'm on the wait list at the Library. Who knew the Library was cool enough to have a wait list??

 When we move and have the right bedroom, I plan to DIY a headboard like this one.

 Want this nail polish. Called- Bobbing for Baubles. Perfect!

Football season is starting THIS WEEKEND. I am headed to good ole Stillwater, OK (aka my favorite town in the universe) and have been thinking about game day outfits for quite some time. Liking this look alot for when cooler weather rolls around. Sweater + jest (that's jean plus vest) = super comfy and cute.

Thinking about making this snack. But also thinking eating 20 of them (which I probably would) would make them a little less 'healthy'.

I just really like this pattern combo.

And last but DEFINITELY not least- this post totally moved me. Thankful for Jen's bravery in sharing her story and thankful for a God who provides true freedom.

 That's pretty much it. Hope you all are having a great week! Thoughts and prayers to everyone affected by the hurricane!

Carole Radziwill Style

So its no secret that I love reality television, and the Real Housewives (of any city) is a must watch for me. Carole Radziwill from RHONY is my new fav. -- I love her attitude, outlook on life and her STYLE. Seriously, girl has got it going on. If you don't know about Carole, read up on her here. Super interesting woman. Princess? Check. Outstanding journalism career? Check. Bestselling author? Check. GREAT HAIR? Check. What's not to love?

Let's look at some of her fab fashion choices.

Did I mention she is 48? OWN. IT. She looks amazing.

I just love her look- super downtown, cool girl which definitely sets her apart from the rest of the RHONY cast.

And see below- love the letterman jacket!!

She loves her animal print- girl after my own heart! I wish I could find a pic of this whole outfit- super skinnies and booties- she is just the cutest!

Just a few more.

And I'll leave you with this one. Hottie.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.10.

I am also reading Carole's book "What Remains." She is just as great a writer as she is dresser. I'm already looking forward to her next one. AND she has officially been added to my list of style icons.

Do you agree?

Thankful Thursdays: a good book

I've said it before and I'll say it again.... there is NOTHING better than a good book. I'm getting into a new series I really like, so I'm feeling especially thankful for books as of late. Such a great way to escape the madness of the real world, and definitely cheaper than a real vacation :)

While it is really hard to pare down the list, here are some of my absolute favs:

So, what are you thankful for today? Thanks for stopping by!

PS- Want to see who else participates in an attitude of gratitude each Thursday? Check out it out here!

Book Review- Divergent

I can't believe I have only done 1 book review on the ole blog. That just seems weird because I am kind of an avid reader. It's pretty much one of my most favorite things.

What? You don't read like this? Here.

Anyway! A while back, I read a book that I really enjoyed. I was coming down off of a high from re-reading the Hunger Games (in anticipation of the movie!!!!) and had been disappointed that I couldn't find something that I liked as much as the HG series.

Enter Divergent! (by Veronica Roth)

Here.

I really liked this book. It was one of those that I finished in 3 nights because I just HAD to see what happened next.

Synopsis: In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves… or it might destroy her.

If you liked the Hunger Games, I bet you will really like Divergent. It has the same 'what happens when our current civilisation ends' kind of thing. I also really like that the main character is a female, and a strong female at that. The reading level might even be younger than HG... but that doesn't really matter to me. It was a super easy read.

I am anxiously awaiting the sequel to Divergent, Insurgent, which comes out on May 1!

Let me know if you read Divergent what you think! I love talking books :)

Thankful Thursdays: The Library

Call me old fashioned but I love public libraries. Each time I move to a new city one of the first things I do is get a library card, because I always have a reading list that is a mile long :)

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What's not to love? You get to read a book before you decide if you want to commit to buying, it's kinda like book dating!  (sidenote- I am not a Kindle person just yet... I think I will always love having 'real' books on my shelves).

Not to mention, there is always excellent people watching.... we are talking right up there with malls and airports. AND you pay taxes for services like the library. And I am alllllllllllll about getting my money's worth!

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Here.

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I am especially thankful for libraries today because I am so excited to delve into my newest    check-out that I picked up yesterday: America's Queen, The Life of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis (thanks for the suggestion Val!)

Now that I have rambled on and on... what are you thankful for today?

xoxo, Emily

Katniss has been cast!!!

According to ology.com, Winter's Bone actress Jennifer Lawrence has been cast to play Katniss Everdeen in the film version of the Hunger Games.

Since I literally just read this... I don't know how I feel about it yet. I mean, Katniss is suppose to be dark haired (I understand hair can be dyed) with grey eyes and olive skin... having trouble picturing since this was Jennifer Lawrence at the Academy Awards this year...

A hottie, for sure. Just not exactly what I pictured for Katniss. BUT, Jennifer must be an amazing actress to be nominated for an Oscar at such a young age. I am SO looking forward to seeing the movie when it comes out on March 23, 2012. Yes, my 26th birthday will be celebrated seeing the Hunger Games. And no, I am not ashamed of that.

xoxo, Emily

Book review- The Hunger Games

If you know me well, you know that I DIE for a good book. It’s like my kryptonite. If I am reading a good book, I get on what I call a book high. This consists of me shutting out everything in my life to focus on reading. You know, reading before work as I am getting ready, reading at lunch, reading when I get home (and not paying attention to my husband- love ya babe!), reading at night until I can't keep my eyes open. The usual, right?

Some would say I have an addictive personality. I say….only when it comes to great books. Call me a weirdo if you like. But if you do, I would say you have never read #1 Twilight or #2 THE HUNGER GAMES. The latter series is my current obsession.

I must say thank you to one of my best friends, Kacey, who turned me on to the series. When she told me what it was about, I was skeptical. The run down goes something like this: Written by Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games is set in a post-apocalyptic world in the country of Panem which used to be North America. The heroine of the book is Katniss Everdeen. She lives in a world where a powerful government called the Capitol holds power and greatly abuses the citizens of the 12 Districts. In the book, the Hunger Games are an annual televised event where the Capitol chooses one boy and one girl from each district to fight to the death. The Hunger Games exist to show citizens that even children are not beyond the reach of the Capitol's power.

That’s the Wikipedia version. My version to people has just been, (in a very excited and slightly shrill voice) “Well, it’s about the future, and this girl named Katniss, and she has to fight in something called the Hunger Games where people kill each other and you just HAVE to read it. It’s SOOOO good!!”

And you do have to read it. It is SO good. Since it is a series of three books, #1 The Hunger Games, #2 Catching Fire and #3 Mockingjay, I have been able to extend my fix, if you will.

Katniss is an amazing character. I equate her to be just a little bit like Bella from Twilight, but SO much more likeable. She is strong, smart and relatable. And the world she lives in is very interesting for people of our generation to read about. Learning about the citizens in the Capitol, it is interesting to think if present-day Americans could suffer a similar fate… giving up their power to a government who had subdued them with excess. I’m not going to get too political here; it’s just an interesting theme to follow in the book.

But even as important as that story line is, is the story line that happens between Peeta/Katniss/Gale. It is very much a Team Edward- Team Jacob dynamic.

All in all, you just have to read it. It’s SO good!! AND they are making it into a movie- it will come out on March 23, 2012. Can’t flipping wait!!!

Happy Friday everyone!

Xoxo, Emily

PS- Yes, I am putting the "Stuff that really matters" label on this post. Judge if you will.