Add this to your summer reading list

It's officially summer, hell yeah! One of my favorite parts of summer is getting to sit outside, enjoying the summer breeze, and reading a good book. If you haven't started a summer reading list I advise you do so pronto! Better yet, I have the first book you can add to your list.

Home is Where Your Boots Are by Kalan Chapman Lloyd (2011)

I’ll be honest, I was hesitant when I started this book because I’m not a big fan of the typical “chick-lit” genre. However, I was pleasantly surprised that not only was it far from one of those types of novels, but the writing itself didn’t reflect on that genre either. The narrative style comes across naturally and also humorous at times, which is just the kind of book you’d want to read during care-free summer days. 

Home is Where Your Boots Are is part mystery with some romance involved, but it’s also a story about dealing with big changes in your life, making the best with what we have and, of course, having the help of your family and friends throughout it all (something I can very much relate to right now!) One of my favorite aspects of the book is that it’s set in a small town in the South. I love reading books set in the South because I love reading about small town charm. 

While yes, this book appears to be the typical “girl moves back home and re-visits her past, including past lovers” type of scenario, there is so much more to that. The mystery in the book is enough to keep you on your toes and it’s one of those books that you won’t want to put down. It’s also an easy read, which I find perfect for summer reading lists. 

Kalan has turned this into a series, so Home is Where Your Boots Are is only the first in more to come. In fact, the second installment of the series, These Boots Are Made for Butt-Kickin', just came out this month! To get yourself a copy of either novel click here or here. To check out more information about the author or the books themselves, head over to Kalan's website.

To read more of my book reviews click here!

It's almost time for back-to-school jean shopping!

This post brought to you by Hollister Co. All opinions are 100% mine.

Okay, so maybe there's still about a month left before you even consider wearing jeans again, but I'm already excited to do my usual "back to school" shopping (even though I'm no longer in school...) Part of that shopping spree always includes a new pair of jeans (or maybe two, or three..) Jean shopping has always been really hard for me. It's hard to find your perfect fit. You want your jeans to make you look and feel fabulous, of course!

I'm excited to be offering my readers this Hollister coupon for any jeans in store for $20! First of all, a pair of jeans for $20 is rare these days, especially a good pair of jeans. All of the Hollister jeans I've ever owned lasted me a long time and some of my favorite jeans have been Hollister brand. They have a wide range of options for your jean shopping needs. Not only do they have every type of wash (from super washed out light to rich dark rinses) but they also have several fits (whether you feel like being laidback with The Boyfriend fit or you want to show off those curves with the Super Skinny.)
Personally, my favorite is the Skinny fit. I like that it's still a skinny style jean but it's not too tight. It's basically my "in-between" jean. Here's an example of what my perfect "back to school" outfit would look like, including Hollister jeans!

Check out Hollister Co to take a look at all the options they have to offer!

Make sure to Follow @HollisterCo on Twitter and Follow @HollisterCo on Instagram for the latest styles and deals!

Teva Original Sandal: An Awesome Summer Shoe!

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Teva. All opinions are 100% mine.

Summer is fast approaching (hooray!) and with summer comes lots of fun outdoor activities. Some of my favorite summer activities are music festivals. I love discovering new music and gathering outside with crowds of people just having a good time. As tempting as it is to want to dress “super cute” for these events, you also have to make sure you’re comfortable because these festivals tend to drag on for the entire day—and you’ll be on your feet the majority of it. So, naturally, you need some comfortable wear for your feet. Of course, you also want to stay stylish! That’s where Teva Original Sandals come in.

Although these sandals have actually been around for quite some time (1984!) I’m only recently learning about them, which is exciting because they are the type of shoe I'm looking for this summer. Their original sandals come in a variety of colors so you’re getting the “cuteness” factor in there, but also comfort, which is the most important part when choosing your summer shoes. They are not only great for music festivals, but other summer activities—some being amusement park trips, sight seeing in your favorite city, taking the kids to the pool and park all day (shout out to my fellow nannies and moms!) and the list goes on. 

Looking through the different color options they offer for their Original Sandal, I had a hard time choosing what my favorite was. Finally, I went with the Peaks Teal because I love the pattern and feel they can easily match a lot of my wardrobe (but the white ones were a close second!)

You can tell just by looking at their design on Teva’s website—these shoes are made to last. Which is so important when choosing your favorite summer shoes. I can’t even begin to tell you how many times I’ve broken a cheap flip flop and had to walk around sliding my foot around for hours! Teva Original Sandals can be purchased from their website but are also available at Zappos.

Teva is the official footwear for the Bonnaroo Music Festival, which is great because for a festival with such a great line-up, people will definitely be needing good footwear to make it through that weekend! If you’re planning on attending Bonnaroo, or any music festival this summer, here are some of my tips for making the most of your time and having the best experience:

1. Dress comfortably. Obviously, this includes comfortable shoes (and may just be the most important factor!) but it also includes dressing appropriately for the weather that day, so make sure you check the weather beforehand. 

2. Plan ahead for the day. It’s always good to have a plan when attending such events. You want to make sure you’re prepared and ready to go, so make sure to check what times your favorite performers are playing!

3. Have your phone fully charged before heading out. You want this for several reasons. First of all, if you’re going to be with a group—you don’t want your phone to die and suddenly you’re in the middle of a huge festival by yourself with no clue about your friends’ whereabouts. Secondly, your phone is the perfect tool for picture taking! Of course, you should experience the festival without being on your phone the whole time, but taking a few pictures to remember the day won’t hurt anyone.

You can find even more tips by checking out #Ready2Roo on Twitter or visiting The Fountain!

What are some of your tips or tricks for music festivals?

Sponsored Post: 4 Inseparable Colors in 1 Pen

This post brought to you by BIC 4-Color pen. All opinions are 100% mine.

Do any of you remember using those pens back when you were a kid that had like 3 or 4 different colors in one, and you thought it was the coolest thing ever? Well, they're back! BIC® has come up with a 4 Inseparable Colors in 1 Pen and it's about time somebody brought this kind of pen back in style. I only wish it had been around the last four years while I was still in school, because it would have been the best tool ever for note taking and making study guides! I always carried about a hundred pens in my backpack (different colors) because I liked color coding things. Also, sometimes it's just fun to switch up the color you're writing in. Now, with the BIC® 4-Color™ pen, you only have to carry one pen around and still have the option of four different colors to use, all depending on what you're writing! I purchased my BIC® 4-Color™ pen at Staples, but they're also available through Amazon. You can get them in these cool metallic styles, too! 

Even though I'm done with college and all that intense note taking and studying, I still find this pen extremely useful. As a blogger, I'm constantly writing down ideas and color coding things to make it easier to stay organized. It's great that I can carry around just one pen and still have four colors to choose from. It's also convenient to carry around in your purse/bag!

The pen has four distinct colors (black, blue, red and green.) BIC® created a personality to go along with each of these colors. Blue seems to rule everything, he's the boss and everyone loves him (according to him, anyway.) Black just wishes he could be as good as Blue and hopes one day he can be number one, if he could only figure out how. Red likes correcting everyone and is quite the perfectionist. Green likes food, a lot. He loves taking pictures of his meals and then posting them on all his social media accounts (yeah, he's one of those.) I'd say I'm more like Red. I like being organized and making sure no mistakes are made! Check out these videos BIC® created to show off not only what each color's personality is like, but how they interact with one another as well. I definitely got a chuckle out of them. 

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If you want to learn more about the BIC® 4-Color™ pen, follow along on Facebook and Twitter!