Beauty Tips at Your Fingertips: 365 Beauty & Style Tips from Parragon Books

Get glowing skin, perfect nails, tips on dressing well, and more in this guide packed with 365 beauty and style tips! Ideal for teens and tweens alike, this book unlocks a wealth of style secrets for girls! From finding the right hair color to choosing the pair of jeans that flatters you, this book of easy-to-follow tips will keep girls looking and feeling good 365 days a year. {Product provided for review/feature consideration}

Be Chic Literate: The Time Traveling Fashionista (On Board the Titanic)

The cover of the book is just the tip of the beautifully illustrated iceberg...

The Time Traveling Fashionista On Board the Titanic by Bianca Turetsky is one of those rare novels that appeals to both young adults (like my daughter Peyton) and grown ups (like me) alike. Between the engaging story and the lovely illustrations, not only is the book a definite page turner, it is one that you will want to look at over and over again! {Book sent for the purpose of review-but in full disclosure, Peyton had already read and was a huge fan of the series}

Wunderkind Reads: Muddypaws' New Friends

As much as my girls and I like to watch TV, we also all LOVE to read! I've shared books here before as part of my "Be Chic Literate" series, and now I would love to share some of the gems that my youngest daughters and I get to enjoy during our story time! 

Last night we read, Muddypaws' New Friends from Parragon Books. It's actually part of a series that tells the story of Ben and his best {puppy} friend Muddypaws.  {Book sent for review}

Wednesday Reads (Wunderkind Edition): Bunny Loves to Write

Parragon Books' Bunny Loves to Write by Peter Bently 

I'm very happy to say: as much as my girls and I like to watch TV, we also all LOVE to read! I've shared books here before as part of my "Be Chic Literate" series {and I have a few reviews coming up really soon!}, but I would love to start sharing some of the gems that my youngest daughters and I get to enjoy during our story time! {Book sent for consideration}

Today is National Running Day... So Get Off Your @$$ and Run!

Ok... so I'm a day late. This post was supposed to go up yesterday, but life and mommydom sort of got in the way...

I wish I could say that I love running. I know it is great for you, but ehhhh. Now that I'm focused on losing weight and being healthier, I'm really trying to give it a shot and become a runner {like my dad}, so I knew that I had to take the chance to review this hilariously titled book. 

Mindy Kaling: Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) (A Be Chic Literate Review)

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling

I love The Office {so sad that it's coming to an end TOMORROW} and I had heard so many great things about Mindy Kaling's book, Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns), so I was super stoked to read it. Here's the synopsis...

Over You by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus AKA: Be Chic Literate, Tween Edition!

This "Be Chic Literate" post is a little different, because instead of me reading the book and doing the review, I gave the book to my 12 year old daughter (a voracious reader). I figured that her take on this particular book would be more appropriate. I hope you enjoy!

The Runaway Princess by Hester Browne AKA: A Be Chic Literate Review

Between reading this, the return of Downton Abbey, and watching Mansfield Park, I've been hearing my thoughts in a British accent! After reading her "Little Lady" series, I've been a big fan of Hester Browne, and have looked forward to every new release from her since discovering her delightful way with words mixed her ability to tell fantastic stories in a very real life way.

Beneath the Glitter-AKA: Be Chic Literate

I'm a bit of a YouTube junkie and one of the first "beauty gurus" that I subscribed to was Elle Fowler, AKA AllThatGlitters21. She and her sister, Blair (JuicyStar07), have built quite an admirable empire, one of their most recent ventures has been a dip into the literary world. Beneath the Glitter is the sisterly duos first book (in what looks to be a series), and is loosely based on their lives. I won't give away the plot line, other than to say that the book deals with the relationship between two sisters as they try to build their business in LA, as well as their interactions with an entertaining cast of friends, pets, and love interests. I tried to keep my expectations low, and truth be told, it took me about 75 pages (and a week and half) to truly get into the book. But once I did get into it, I really got into it and literally couldn't put it down. Once I felt immersed in  the world of the fictional London sisters, I finished the last two thirds of the book in a day and a half (no easy feat for someone with daughters as demanding and talkative as mine). 

I think part of what made Beneath the Glitter entertaining was trying to ascertain how much of the London sisters and their fictional lives was based on the real lives of the Fowler sisters. But outside of that, the story was truly entertaining, even if slightly predictable. There's a bit of a cliffhanger at the end, which serves as the perfect segue to the sister's second book, due out in the summer of 2013. I'm not ashamed to admit, I'm seriously looking forward to seeing what's happening next. Until next time...

Be Chic Literate: Dressing Marilyn (A Book Review)

One of my style inspirations is Marilyn Monroe. To me, she embodies ultimate glamour and femininity. This August actually marks 50 years since her death (there will even be a special memorial for her in Los Angeles). Ever on the look out for good chic lit, I jumped at the chance to preview the new book Dressing Marilyn, by Andrew Hansford with Karen Homer, about the man that styled Marilyn throughout her career, William Travilla. 

About the Book

William Travilla is one of the best costume designers of all time and Marilyn Monroe his most famous client. Dressing Marilyn: How a Hollywood Icon Was Styled by William Travilla focuses on the striking dresses that Travilla designed for Marilyn, from his early work on the thrillerDon't Bother to Knock and the gorgeous pink dress in which Marilyn sang “Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend” to the legendary white dress from The Seven Year Itch, which arguably contributed to the collapse of Marilyn's marriage to Joe DiMaggio. Featuring Travilla's original sketches, rare costume test shots, dress patterns, photographs of Marilyn wearing the dresses, plus exclusive and never-before-seen extracts from interviews with Travilla, this book offers a fresh insight into the golden age of Hollywood.

About the Author

Andrew Hansford has been involved in fashion for many years, having worked as a model and established his own business in the beauty industry. However, his life changed dramatically in 2007 when, after a phone call from a friend, a box of dresses designed by William Travilla for the screen legend Marilyn Monroe arrived on his doorstep. Since then, Andrew has worked with the Travilla Estate to help Travilla regain the renown he deserves. Andrew now manages Travilla's archive and has been responsible for six exhibitions showcasing Travilla's stunning work.

This book is the perfect gift for any Marilyn Monroe fan or even those simply interested in old Hollywood glamour and fashion. It is a beautiful book, full of pictures both familiar and new of the fabulous designs of Mr. Travilla. It is truly one of those rare books that can be enjoyed over and over again and is the perfect conversation starter as a coffee table book. Even the hubby was impressed with how beautifully the book is put together and my 12 year old daughter is often thumbing through its pages. 

Dressing Marilyn: How a Hollywood Icon Was Styled by William Travilla is now available at many fine retailers, such as Amazon and Target.com. 

Ciao, XxO

Q

PS-This book was sent for review by the publisher or PR. I was not paid for this review and all opinions stated are 100% honest and my own. This post does contain affiliate links-if you choose to click on a link AND make a purchase, I will receive a small commission :)