My Favorite Stationary, Pens, Stickers and Planner and Hand Lettering Supplies

By bobbi
July 28, 2017
46 Comments

Yesterday I shared with you how I set up my Blessed Is She planner. This is part two with my favorite planning supplies. 🙂

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Whenever I write a post about planners, journals, snail mail, or lettering, etc, I always get messages and emails asking me about the supplies I use and where I bought them. To make it easier for you, I compiled a list of my favorite stationary supplies. Hopefully it will help you find a new favorite. 🙂

(NOTE: Revolution of Love is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. I purchased these items on my own and am sharing my honest opinion about them.)

Erasable Pens for My Planner

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When I write in my planner, I MUST be able to erase. I used to use pencil until I found these awesome erasable pens. I have three sizes:.

The thicker Pilot Frixion Colors Erasable Markers.

The thinner Pilot FriXion Pencil, 0.7mm Ballpoint Pen, 12 Colors Set. (Also available in the 24 pen set.)

The even thinner Pilot Frixion Ball Knock Retractable Gel Ink Pen, 0.5mm, 10 Colors Set.

(One note: It has been said that the ink of these pens disappear in extreme heat but the ink will reappear if book is placed in the freezer. I have never had an issue but I also don’t live in extreme heat.)

Colored Pens

These are my favorite regular thin pens. – Staedtler Color Pen Set, Set of 36 Assorted Colors

If you don’t need as many as 26, this 20 pack of Staedtler pens is nice and it comes with a cool plastic case that can stand.

Handlettering/Brush Lettering Pens

My favorite black drawing pens are Micron. I use this when I am practicing hand lettering.

These are my favorite for hand lettering with a brush pen in black ink. I use Tombow Fudenosuke Brush Pen 2 Pens Set. It comes with a hard and soft tip.

For colored ink, I use the Tombow Dual Brush Pens.

Handlettering Introductory Books

I’ve been wanting to improve (and learn more about) brush lettering so I’ve been using these books to practice.

Written by Hand: Techniques and Tips to Make Your Everyday Handwriting More Beautiful by Erica Tighe (Erica is the one that does all the beautiful hand lettering for Blessed Is She.

Creative Lettering and Beyond: Inspiring tips, techniques, and ideas for hand lettering your way to beautiful works of art (Creative…and Beyond)

Calligraphy & Hand Lettering Notepad: Beginner Practice Workbook & Introduction to Lettering & Calligraphy (Practice Makes Perfect Series)

If you don’t want to spend money on a book there are plenty of practice sheets to be found on Pinterest. I have also used these at Tombow.

Colored Pencils

Here are the colored pencils I use – Prisma Scholar Colored Pencils. Costco had this art set available. I haven’t seen them there anymore but found it on Amazon.

If you don’t need all the extras, you can buy just the pencils.

Pen/Pencil Cases

I’m (almost) embarrassed to tell you how many pencil pouches and cases I have! 😉 Here are a few of my favorites.

Weapons of Mass Creation Pouch – Love this. It’s available in three sizes. 🙂

Star Wars Tattoo Flash Nylon Pencil Case 8 x 4in – When I wrote my last planner post, this pencil pouch was sold out. I am adding the link anyway in case they get more or you find another Star Wars style you may like. (They were also sold out of the matching Star Wars backpack I bought but have since got those back in.)

YOUSHARES 120 Slots Pencil Case – I use the above Star Wars pouch for one set of erasable pens that stays with me and my planner in my purse. The other pens and pencils I keep in this larger case that stays at home. I bring it out when I have time to decorate my bullet journal or planner.

I use this smaller Designed for Arrangement pencil case as a little traveling pen/pencil holder when I need a variety of pens to take out of the house.

Magnetic Bookmarks/ Bookclips

London Magnetic Bookmarks – These little book magnets are cute ways to mark my pages. 🙂

Forest Friends Magnetic Bookmarks – I’m a sucker for cute forest friends.

janes_tiny_things_1

Photo credit: Jane’s Tiny Things

I also love all things Jane Austen so these Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy magnetic clips from Jane’s Tiny Things were a must! ( Note: I just ordered the Anne and Captain Wentworth version to go with them.) 🙂

I LOVE these Star Wars book markers. I change them around my planner to suit my mood. (Darth Vader hangs out by the Mondays. Han by the Fridays. 😉 ) You can find them at HappyHelloCo at Etsy.

Planner Accessories

Tiny Saints Charm – We have lots of these cute saint charms on backpacks and adding my patron saint (also patron of mothers) to my planner seemed appropriate. 🙂

lucky_duck_pen

Photo credit: LuckyDuckDesigns. – For my bullet journal, I purchased this pen holder from this great etsy shop. I love her holders and have a few designs but she often sells out so you’ll have to keep checking back. I also recently found this shop that sells journal pen holders. They are made of a thicker material that doesn’t lay as flat, but she has some cute designs.

Sticky Notes

These are the sticky notes I used for my planner dashboard.

Write It Down Shaped Sticky Notes: 175 Decorated Stickies

Monthly Sticker Subscriptions

I re-live my childhood by continuing my sticker collection. I use them to decorate my planner, bullet journal, snail mail and more. These are two monthly sticker subscriptions that I love.

Pipsticks – There are two different subscription packs: Kids and Adults Pro Club. The Classic Pro Club pack includes 15 sheets of stickers, 1 postcard and 1 quote card. Cost is $14.95. The Pro Club Petite pack includes 7 sheets of stickers and 1 mini quote card. Cost is $9.95.

Stickii Club – There are three different subscription packs for you to choose from: Cute/ Retro/ Pop. Each pack includes 5 or more sticker sheets, 1 bag of sticker flakes, and sometimes an extra stationery item. Cost is $10 a month.

Planner Stickers

You can pick up booklets of planner specific stickers at many places. I have found my best luck at Michael’s and the Target Dollar Bin. I also use stickers planner from Lara Casey and BohoBerry.

Washi Tape

Washi tape can be found at most stores that carry stationary, including Target. I usually wait until Michaels puts them on sale or clearance or use one of their weekly coupons. You can also order cute washi on Amazon.

Other favorites pictured in my planner photos.

Offer It Up mug by Rose Harrington Shop

This Choose to be Grateful mug from FawnlyPrints is my current fave.

I love my Blessed Is She rosary.

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Well, that was a look at many of my favorites! I have been collecting these over the years and many have been gifted to me by family and friends who know I love stationary items.

Stationary Birthday Box

Since my birthday is in a few of weeks, I want to share the birthday love and gift something to you! I have a Stationary Birthday Box that I will mail out to one of my blog readers/online friends.The box will include:

A beautiful canvas pencil pouch
A dotted notebook
Tiny Saints Blessed Mother charm
2 Tombow brush pens
1 black Staedtler pen
1 aqua Pilot FriXion erasable pen
3 rolls of washit tape
Package of decorated pencils
Binder clips
Sticky notepad
A sample of Disney Pixar mini sticky notes
2 magnetic book clips
Stickers

To enter, just leave a comment below and tell me what is your favorite stationary or planner accessory that you currently use or something new you want to try. I’ll choose a winner in two weeks (Aug 11) and mail the package in time for my b-day (18th.) Have fun and good luck!

UPDATE: The contest is over. Congrats to our winner Mary M. 🙂

PS – You can follow RoL on Bloglovin, Feedly or another news feed. If you are a social media fan like me, we can stay in touch through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, GoodReads, Letterboxd, or Spotify, 😉

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How I Use My Blessed Is She Liturgical Academic Planner 2017-2018

By bobbi
July 27, 2017
3 Comments

UPDATE: This post is about the 2018-2019 Academic Planner (Aug 18-July 2019.) That planner has sold out.

The new 2020-2021 Academic Planner (Aug 2020 – July 2021) is now available for pre-sale at a reduced price. Order your planner in the regular size or mini size in the Blessed Is She Shop: Planners. However, the information below is still useful for ideas of how you can use your planner.

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For as long as I can remember, I have been a paper lover – stationary, stickers, journal, planners, etc. One of my favorite times of the year was when I got to shop for new school supplies – bouquets of sharpened pencils. Sigh. 😉 Things haven’t changed so when the new Blessed Is She Liturgical Planner came out I was giddy with excitement. It is the perfect combination of beauty, organization and liturgical goodness!

The planner is beautiful just as it is and can be appreciated by those who like a clean, streamlined look with a touch of lovely hand lettering. However, it also endears itself to those who want to embellish their planner with washi tape, stickers or drawing. Whichever team you’re on, this planner is sure to please. 🙂

Currently, I use a bullet journal for lists and long term items but I use the Blessed Is She Planner for my day to day living and organizing. Since I am a fan of personalizing a planner to make it your own, I’ll share with you how I use and decorate mine. We’ll start at the beginning.

On the inside cover I made a planner dashboard. I have a photo of my hubby and kids, post its, and a holder for my magnetic book markers.

A new feature in this year’s planner is a pocket for papers, notes and things. I added some washi tape and stickers to decorate it.

On the other side I store stamps and a note card that I need to send out to a friend later this week.

Next comes the year at a glance and a list of holidays and holy days of obligation.

There is a Dates to Remember section and a compilation of some of the Blessed Is She team/writers‘ favorite prayers.

Also new this year, is the How to Pray the Rosary section.

Next we move to the first calendar view. Since this is the Academic version, it runs from Aug 2017 to July 2018. My life revolves around my kids’ school schedule so for me this is the new year, rather than January 1. As you can see, I love to add stickers and washi to my calendar. I also only use erasable pens, since I MUST be able to erase!

An awesome feature of the monthly view, is the listing of the saint of the month. For August it is St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross who happens to be my chosen saint of the year. 🙂 There is also a monthly prayer printed at the top of the page. This is a beautiful way for all of us in the BIS sisterhood to pray together for one another. The days of the week have the saint of the day and holy days of obligation are marked by golden squares. I love how this helps me incorporate the liturgical year into my day to day life!

Photo credit: Blessed Is She

If you aren’t a fan of decorating and are curious to see the calendar without embellishment, here is a sample.

The weekly overview has sections for To Do’s, a grocery list, meal planning, prayer intentions, weekly goals, call/email/follow up, as well as a large notes section. I divided my notes section into three more ares – more To Do’s, blog/writing, and a smaller notes section. My Elizabeth and Darcy magnetic book markers add some extra love to the page.

On Sundays I work on my weekly spread. I’ll do a brain dump and write down everything that is on my mind to get it out of head and onto the page. I put the important items in the main To Do column and the tasks that aren’t pressing in the secondary To Do list. Then I go over my tasks and assign then a day that I need to have them done. When Monday comes I know which items I need to focus on first before anything else.

For my meal planning, I first look in my fridge and freezer to see what items we need to eat before they expire. Then I look at my schedule that week and see which days I’ll have time to make a longer meal and which days I have appointments or swimming lessons in the late afternoon. I assign those days easier meals or plan to use the slow cooker. Once I’ve narrowed those things down, it is easier to figure out what to make and when.

In the prayer intention areas, I list those people who have asked for prayers. Here’s a tip that has helped me – when there is a prayer request on Facebook or Instagram and I promise to pray for the person, I take a screen shot of their request. Later in the evening before I say my night prayers, I look at the screenshots and write down the intentions. That way, I don’t forget!

Although, I like to use my Notes section for more lists, you can use that area for anything you’d like! For example, here I used it to write a short prayer. (Note: This and the next two photos are from the current January 2017 Planner notes page.)

Another idea would be to have a memories page with highlights of your week. You could add photos, ticket stubs, funny things you child or your roommate said to you or journal your thoughts.

Or you could also use that section to start a fun list such as movies you want to watch or books you’d like to read. You can add a magnetic book marker, paper clip or a book dart for quick reference and add to it throughout the year.

Next is the weekly schedule with daily time slots for appointments and tasks. I keep track of the places I need to be or work I have to do.

Each day has the liturgical feast day listed and it also has a section for tasks to complete that day; a tracker to check off if you’ve cared for your body, soul and mind; and a section to write something that you’re grateful for that day. On my monthly and weekly calendar I like to color code my items. I use purple for daily or regular activities, green for school, orange for my MIL, blue for medical appointments and red or pink for outings and parties.

In the back of the planner is a new added section – lined note pages for your own notes. Love that!

I hope you enjoyed this peak into my planner. I big thanks to Erica Tighe for all her hard work in designing this beauty!

Lastly, I always get emails and messages asking where I bought my planner supplies, so I made a separate post with a list of my favorite stationary/planner products and links of where to buy them. Plus, there is a fun giveaway! Check it out here – My Favorite Stationary, Pens, Stickers and Planner Supplies (& A Giveaway!)

Happy planning!

PPS – Disclaimer: “Revolution of Love.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.”

In other words, if you click on my affiliated links and make a purchase, I get a small compensation that goes towards keeping the blog online. Big hugs to those who click and help support the blog! xoxo 🙂

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Never Despairing and Being a Balm to the Soul

By bobbi
July 25, 2017
No Comments

The other night I wasn’t feeling well and I was awake at 3 AM dealing with a stomach bug. As I rested in bed in the wee hours of the night, unable to sleep, my mind kept thinking about the message I received that evening.

A number of people we know have been dealing with big crosses – serious health issues, miscarriage, job loss, marital problems – but when we found out that our friends Teresa and Nathan lost their four month old baby boy, who died in his sleep, I was shocked. This cannot be. I re-read the message thinking I got it wrong but before my eyes blurred with tears, I saw that it was true.

I had no words. I wanted to help ease their pain but there’s wasn’t much I could do at 3 in morning so I grabbed my rosary and started to pray. I knew they had a they had a strong faith in God but this would test them like nothing else ever has.

As I prayed for them, my mind went to this Scripture:

“But we hold this treasure in pots of earthenware, so that the immensity of the power is God’s and not our own. We are subjected to every kind of hardship, but never distressed; we see no way out but we never despair; we are pursued but never cut off; knocked down, but still have some life in us; always we carry with us in our body the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus, too, may be visible in our body.” (2 Corinthians 4:7-10)

I finally drifted off to sleep but that Scripture stayed with me the following day.

Well, imagine my surprise when I realized that not only was that Scripture in today’s reading, but I also happened to write today’s Blessed Is She devotion (a month ago) about this Scripture and it echoed the very thoughts I was having. I wrote in part:

“To someone outside the faith, this [trusting in God] must look ridiculous. When they [Christians] are put into situations that should cause them despair, they have hope. The First Reading speaks of this beautifully. . . Of course, it is easy to say that these words are beautiful and poetic when things are going well in life, but when you are in the thick of a storm, the last thing you want to do is feel hopeful.

However, this is where all our talk of faith, hope and trust are put to the test. When everything is falling apart, and we’re dealing with an array of mixed emotions—from anger to anguish—that’s when we need to throw ourselves into the Father’s arms and rely on His grace to pull us through. . . ”

(Read the rest of the devotion over at Blessed Is She.)

Praying for Teresa and Nathan during our family rosary.

I went on to speak about how the physical and spiritual support we give to those carrying a heavy cross can be “a balm to the soul.”

I think God is trying to drive that point home to me because I just read Nathan and Teresa’s latest update. They thanked the people who helped pay for Timmy’s funeral and who offered physical, emotional and spiritual support to them. They say in part:

“Words cannot express our gratitude. I have tried over and over again to find some way to say how much your gifts mean to us, but I just can’t. Beyond caring for us in a material way, the show of love has been a balm for our aching souls.”

Please remember Teresa and Nathan, especially tomorrow (Wed) when they will bury their baby boy. Lift them up in your prayers and help them get through this unimaginably sorrowful time.

Then look around your own life. Is there someone who is struggling? Is there a way you can reach out and help? Let the Spirit move you. Or perhaps, you are carrying a heavy cross yourself. Feel free to leave a comment below or message me on Facebook or Instagram with your prayer intention. I will pray for you this week that God will give you strength, peace, healing and resolution.

In the love of Christ,

How to Use Instagram’s Stories

By bobbi
July 19, 2017
13 Comments

Instagram has been a favorite of mine ever since I joined in 2012. Unlike other forms of social media, there is no (or very little) negativity on my feed or in the comments. There are just lovely photos of nature, home life and cute kid shots that make me smile.

When Snapchat started I gave that a try and it was fun to have a less formal outlet to share funny moments and random thoughts that would disappear from my feed in 24 hours. However, very few of my friends were active on Snapchat. So when Instagram started something similar (okay, exactly like it) with Instastories, I was eager to participate in hope that more friends would also.

I am pleased to say that Stories is a hit and many of my friends are active on it. However, there are still those who are reluctant because they feel intimidated and aren’t sure how to use it. I’m hoping this primer on how to use Instagram’s Stories will help ease them into it so I can see their lovely faces on my feed soon. 🙂

The Basics of How to Make a Story

Tap on the camera icon located at the top left hand of the home screen. OR Swipe right from the main screen.
In normal mode, tap the circle record/shoot button at the bottom of the screen to take a photo. Hold the circle button down to record a 15 seconds video. Keep an eye on your timing by watching the circle button. A red ring will surround it. Once the ring circles around the button, your time is up. Didn’t get it done in 15 seconds? Don’t worry. Just post a second, third and even fourth video continuing with your thought. No need to repeat what you already said. When a viewer watches your Stories, the videos will stream together.
To switch the camera to take a selfie, tap the flip camera icon (double circular arrow.) This will switch the camera to forward facing.
To adjust the lighting, click the flash icon.
You can also record with Live video, Boomerang, Rewind and Hands free. (More on that below.)
You can edit your photo or video with filters, text, stickers and drawings. (More on that below.)
When you are done, tape the + sign in a circle. This will add the story to your feed. You also have the option to Save to your camera roll or to tap “Next” to send to specific friends with or without adding it to your feed.
Once you’ve made your first story, it will appear in your friends Stories feed.

Other Recording Options

Live video – Use this option to record a live video broadcast. Tap “Live.” Your phone may say “testing connection.” Then it will countdown 3, 2, 1 and you are live. When you are done broadcasting, tap the share button to add the live video to your your story feed for 24 hours. Your friends/followers will know you have a live feed available with the Play button under your photo icon in the stories feed.
Boomerang – This mode shoots a short burst of photos and repeats the burst when played.
Rewind – Use this mode to post a video that plays backwards.
Handsfree – Use this to record a video without having to keep your finger on the record button. Again, the red ring with be your 15 seconds timer.

Using Face Filters

In camera mode, tap the flip camera icon if the camera is not facing you.
Tap the smiley face icon.
Scroll the options at the bottom of the screen to choose a filter. (Note: Face filters will appear on the faces closest to the camera.)
Once you find a filter you like, press/hold the record button. Post.

Tagging Someone in Your photo

To tag someone in your photo, simply type the @ symbol and their user name. If you follow that person or company, their icon will pop up. Tap on it to tag them. Now your viewers can click their tag to go to their profile.

Viewing Other People’s Stories Feed

Your Stories feed is at the top of the home page. Swipe left to scroll through everyone in your Stories feed.
Tap the person you want to watch or tap “Watch All.”
When watching a story you can skip to the their next story by tapping the right of the screen. You can re-watch their story by tapping the left of the screen.
To keep a story from moving to the next one (ie. so you can read a long text) hold your finger on the screen.
To comment on a person’s story, type in the “write a message” box. To send a photo or video response to their story, click the camera icon.
To skip to the next person on your feed, swipe left.

How to Make a Story Using Your Photo Library

I frequently wait to make a Story until later. This way I can enjoy the moment without having to constantly stop and edit and post a photo. Instead, I’ll snap photos or record video (keeping an eye on the camera timer to only record 15 seconds) and then later I’ll piece them all together for my Stories. Here’s how.

Open your Stories camera. Tap the lower left hand photo library icon. Here you will find your saved photos and video from the last 24 hours. Choose the one you want to post. (Note: the IG camera will crop a little off the left and right hand side of the photo.)

TIP: If you want to use a photo that was taken more than 24 hours ago, just take a screenshot of it. Open the screenshot (not the original) and crop out the parts you don’t want. Save. It will now be listed in your 24 hour library. Edit photo as usual and post.

How to Save, Delete and Change the Settings

Tap your photo icon in the Stories feed at the top of the home page. When your story comes up, tap the 3 dots icon on the bottom right corner. Here you have a choice to Delete, Save, Share a post (to your regular IG photo feed) or change your Story Settings (ie. who can see your stories and whether you want your stories automatically saved to your camera roll.)
When you save a story you have the option to save a single story or all the available stories as one video. I like to save my day’s stories in the evening before I go to bed.

How to Check Your Stats

You can also check to see how many and who has watched your stories. When viewing your story, click on the bottom of the feed where it ways “so and so and 50 others…” A screen will pop up and list all the people who viewed your story.
If you have a public feed and someone sketchy is watching your story, you can hide your Story from them by tapping the X. Or you can block them completely by clicking on their name and their profile will pop up. Tap the 3 dot icon at the top right corner. You’ll have various options, including blocking them completely.

Now that you know the basics, here are more details on how to edit your photos and videos.

How to Edit a Photo

Using Filters

Swipe (left or right) across your photo or video to change the filters such as color tone and black & white.

Using Stickers

Tap the sticker icon and scroll down to view your sticker options. IG frequently adds new stickers, especially for the holidays.
To view your recently used stickers, swipe right
Some stickers such as the day of the week and the time have different versions. It will say “tap for more” above those stickers.
The hashtag sticker can be customized by tapping it and adding your own hashtag. Options will pop up as you type. Viewers can tap the hashtag sticker and view other IG photos with the same hashtag. (Note: this also works with texted hashtags.)
Some stickers, such as the location and temperature, need to have the location services turned on. Location stickers will act like a hashtag. A viewer can tap on them and see a feed of IG photos taken at the same location.
If you want a sticker to stay on a certain spot of your photo, video or boomerang, you can pin it. Place the sticker where you want it then tap and hold. A pop up will ask of you want to pin it. Tap “pin.” Viola.

Adding Text

To add text to your photo or video, tap the text button (Aa) at the top right hand corner of the screen.
The text will automatically be in white. Tap a color to change it. Swipe left on the color palette to view more color options.
To add your text in a box, tap the A in a box icon at the top middle of the screen. Tap it once for a solid box. Tap it again for a transparent box.
To change the color of the text box, click a color on the color palette.
To change the size of your text, tap the resize button to the left of the color pallet. Slide the lever up for larger text and down for smaller.
To change the alignment, tap the alignment icon at the lop left hand of the screen. Choose left, right or center.

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Using the Drawing Tools

To add drawings or writing to your photo or video, tap the pen icon.
Choose a color on the color palette.
Change the size of the brush stroke by clicking the size icon to the left of the color palette. Toggle up for a broad line and down for a narrow line.
Choose your pen options at the top of your screen. Your options are paintbrush, marker, glowing highlighter, eraser and rainbow.
Tap the undo button (back arrow) at the top left of the screen to undo a drawing or stroke.
Once you are done, tap the check icon.

Using a canvas background

Sometimes you may want to add a text to a solid background and not a photo. Here’s how to make a blank canvas.

Take a photo of anything.
Tap the drawing icon.
Chose a color and tap it.
Place your finger on the photo and hold it there until it is filled with your chosen color.
Use text, stickers or drawing on your canvas.

6. You can use the erase button to reveal part of the photo behind the canvas color.

Well, I think that covers all the basics. Was there something I forgot? Let me know in the comments and I’ll add it to the list. 🙂

You can find me on Instagram @bobbi_rol. I hope to see you there too! Happy Instagramming. 🙂

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Book Reviews for 2017 (Part 2): April – June

By bobbi
July 11, 2017
2 Comments

I am doing the 2017 Modern Mrs. Darcy’s Reading Challenge (the “reading for fun” version) this year and I pledged on Goodreads to read 24 books in 2017. I am ahead of schedule with 20 books read so far. Here are the books I’ve read in April, May and June.

Lilac Girls

Author: Martha Hall Kelly
Length: 512 pages
Publisher: Ballantine Books (February 28, 2017)

Amazon Summary:

New York socialite Caroline Ferriday has her hands full with her post at the French consulate and a new love on the horizon. But Caroline’s world is forever changed when Hitler’s army invades Poland in September 1939—and then sets its sights on France. An ocean away from Caroline, Kasia Kuzmerick, a Polish teenager, senses her carefree youth disappearing as she is drawn deeper into her role as courier for the underground resistance movement. In a tense atmosphere of watchful eyes and suspecting neighbors, one false move can have dire consequences. For the ambitious young German doctor, Herta Oberheuser, an ad for a government medical position seems her ticket out of a desolate life. Once hired, though, she finds herself trapped in a male-dominated realm of Nazi secrets and power. The lives of these three women are set on a collision course when the unthinkable happens and Kasia is sent to Ravensbrück, the notorious Nazi concentration camp for women. Their stories cross continents—from New York to Paris, Germany, and Poland—as Caroline and Kasia strive to bring justice to those whom history has forgotten.

My Thoughts:

I have a love for novels set during WWII and I have to admit that sometimes the various storylines are very similar. I found Lilac Girls to be unique because it told the story from three different points of view. Kasia Kuzmerick is a Polish teenager working in the underground resistance movement. Herta Oberheuser is a young doctor that unexpectedly finds herself working in a secret medical project at Ravenport, a Nazi concentration camp for women. Caroline Ferriday is an actress and socialite who does what she can to help the people affects by the horrors of the war. Eventually their lives intertwine as the story unfolds.

The book was based on a true story. Caroline and Herta are real people, as well as the Ravenport staff named in the book. Kasia and her sister are based on two sisters who lived through the experiments conducted at Ravensbruck. I was vaguely familiar with the story behind this concentration camp but the book brought the details to life and I was shocked once again by the strength of the human spirit and it’s drive to survive. I also found Herta’s story fascinating because I don’t often read a story from the opposing point of view. I wish the author would have demonstrated how Herta’s attitude changed over the course of time – from being shocked by the duties she was expected to perform to believing that the medical experiments were for the greater good of Germany. That aside, I enjoyed Lilac Girls, even though it was not always an easy read. I rate it 4 out of 5 stars. (Parental warning: Some adult content but nothing graphic.)

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Farleigh Field

Author: Rhys Bowen
Length: 398 pages
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing (March 1, 2017)

Amazon Summary:

World War II comes to Farleigh Place, the ancestral home of Lord Westerham and his five daughters, when a soldier with a failed parachute falls to his death on the estate. After his uniform and possessions raise suspicions, MI5 operative and family friend Ben Cresswell is covertly tasked with determining if the man is a German spy. The assignment also offers Ben the chance to be near Lord Westerham’s middle daughter, Pamela, whom he furtively loves. But Pamela has her own secret: she has taken a job at Bletchley Park, the British code-breaking facility. As Ben follows a trail of spies and traitors, which may include another member of Pamela’s family, he discovers that some within the realm have an appalling, history-altering agenda. Can he, with Pamela’s help, stop them before England falls? Inspired by the events and people of World War II, writer Rhys Bowen crafts a sweeping and riveting saga of class, family, love, and betrayal.

My Thoughts:

This book was recently offered in the Kindle First program (which I love) so I was eager to read it. There was the drama of the war, a German spy, Downtonesque estates and a love triangle. All the things you want in a summer novel.

As I mentioned above, I love WWII novels and I usually place them in three categories. The “wow, that was amazing and I could not put that down!!” category (ie. The Nightingale) and the “that was a different take, I liked it!” category (ie. All the Light We Cannot See) and the “that was enjoyable; I’m glad I read it.” category. (ie. The Summer Before the War.) This book was the third category. It was fun and enjoyable. A pleasant read but not earth shattering. I give it 3 stars out of 5. (Parental warning: Some adult subject matter regarding sex but brief and not explicit.)

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The Fall of Lord Drayson

Author: Rachael Anderson
Length: 266 pages
Publisher: HEA Publishing (August 29, 2016)

Amazon Summary:

When Colin Cavendish, the new earl of Drayson, informs Lucy Beresford that she and her mother need to vacate the house they’ve called home for the past two years, Lucy is fit to be tied. They have no money, no relations they can turn to for help, and nowhere to go. How dare the earl break the promise his father had made to the Beresfords without so much as a twinge of conscience? Fate plays her hand when Lucy discovers the earl unconscious and injured in the middle of the road. When he awakens with no recollection of who he is, Lucy seizes the opportunity to teach the earl a much-needed lesson in humility and tells him that he is nothing more than a mere servant. Her servant, in fact. And thus begins the charming tale of a pompous lord and an impetuous young woman, caught together in a web so tangled that it begs the question: Will they ever get out?

My Thoughts:

Rachel Anderson is one of my favorite authors when I am in the mood for a lighthearted, clean romance (such as the Meet Your Match series.) I was eager to read her newer book The Fall of Lord Drayson. Although the book was enjoyable, I didn’t love it as much as her other books only because I really dislike plots where a character is keeping a secret from another character. All through the book I was stressing out because Lucy was keeping up this charade and the longer she kept lying, the more damage it caused. In the end it all worked out but I would have preferred a different route to the happy ending. That said, I did add her second book from this Tanglewood Series to my reading list – The Rise of Miss Notley. 🙂 I rate this 3 out of 5 stars.

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Everything, Everything

Author: Nicola Yoon
Length: 352 pages
Publisher: Ember; Reprint edition (March 7, 2017); Originally published by Delacorte Press (September 1, 2015)

Amazon Summary:

What if you couldn’t touch anything in the outside world? Never breathe in the fresh air, feel the sun warm your face . . . or kiss the boy next door? In Everything, Everything, Maddy is a girl who’s literally allergic to the outside world, and Olly is the boy who moves in next door . . . and becomes the greatest risk she’s ever taken.

My Thoughts:

I broke one of my movie rules by watching this movie before I had the chance to read the book. However, I made up for it by reading the book afterwards. The visuals in the book – the graphics and mini book reviews definitely added to the story. As YA books go, I really enjoyed this one and did not guess what the plot twist was. I am always a little bummed that the youth in these books can’t enjoy the innocence of young love without sleeping together but at least in this story she is an adult of 18 and not a 14 years old. As I mentioned in my movie review, parts of the Hawaiian trip seemed a little far fetched but it served its purpose in the story and helped Maddy find out the truth. All together it was a sweet story and I was rooting for both Maddy and Ollie. I rate this 4 out of 5 stars. (Parental warning: The book touches on topics such as serious illness, alcoholism, abuse and premarital sex but there is nothing graphic.)

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Talking As Fast As I Can

Author: Lauren Graham
Length: 224 pages
Publisher: Ballantine Books (November 29, 2016)

Amazon Summary:

In Talking as Fast as I Can, Lauren Graham hits pause for a moment and looks back on her life, sharing laugh-out-loud stories about growing up, starting out as an actress, and, years later, sitting in her trailer on the Parenthood set and asking herself, “Did you, um, make it?” She opens up about the challenges of being single in Hollywood (“Strangers were worried about me; that’s how long I was single!”), the time she was asked to audition her butt for a role, and her experience being a judge on Project Runway (“It’s like I had a fashion-induced blackout”).

In “What It Was Like, Part One,” Graham sits down for an epic Gilmore Girls marathon and reflects on being cast as the fast-talking Lorelai Gilmore. The essay “What It Was Like, Part Two” reveals how it felt to pick up the role again nine years later, and what doing so has meant to her. Some more things you will learn about Lauren: She once tried to go vegan just to bond with Ellen DeGeneres, she’s aware that meeting guys at awards shows has its pitfalls (“If you’re meeting someone for the first time after three hours of hair, makeup, and styling, you’ve already set the bar too high”), and she’s a card-carrying REI shopper (“My bungee cords now earn points!”).

Including photos and excerpts from the diary Graham kept during the filming of the recent Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life, this book is like a cozy night in, catching up with your best friend, laughing and swapping stories, and—of course—talking as fast as you can.

My Thoughts:

Although I own the book (which is great for viewing the accompanying photos), I also purchased the audio version because I really love listening to memoirs read by the author. Being a big fan of Gilmore Girls, this book was especially fun to read. There seems to be a lot of Lorelai in Lauren Graham and it makes me like her all the more. She is smart, funny and never short on stories to tell. The tone of the book may be a little quirky, part memoir, part tongue in check humor and part life lessons but I loved it all, especially her chapters about the Gilmore Girls as well as Old Lady Jackson. If you are a fan of Lauren or Gilmore Girls, I really recommend reading this book. The chapters on GG alone are worth this heart warming and fun read. I rate this 4 out of 5 stars.

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The Bridge Across the Ocean

Author: Susan Meissner
Length: 384 pages
Publisher: Berkley (March 14, 2017)

Amazon Summary:

February, 1946. World War Two is over, but the recovery from the most intimate of its horrors has only just begun for Annaliese Lange, a German ballerina desperate to escape her past, and Simone Deveraux, the wronged daughter of a French Résistance spy. Now the two women are joining hundreds of other European war brides aboard the renowned RMS Queen Mary to cross the Atlantic and be reunited with their American husbands. Their new lives in the United States brightly beckon until their tightly-held secrets are laid bare in their shared stateroom. When the voyage ends at New York Harbor, only one of them will disembark… Present day. Facing a crossroads in her own life, Brette Caslake visits the famously haunted Queen Mary at the request of an old friend. What she finds will set her on a course to solve a seventy-year-old tragedy that will draw her into the heartaches and triumphs of the courageous war brides—and will ultimately lead her to reconsider what she has to sacrifice to achieve her own deepest longings.

My Thoughts:

One of the categories of Modern Mrs. Darcy Reading Challenge is to choose a book by its cover. I saw this book on the bookshelf at Target and I knew this would be my pick. I loved the blues, the dress, the flowers and the ship. I was also intrigued by the Queen Mary aspect of the story since I remember visiting the ship as a little girl and being a little afraid that it was haunted. Imagine my surprise when I found out that this book dealt with the Queen Mary being haunted, literally. As in one of the main characters saw ghosts. At first I was a little turned off by this but I was so intrigued by the lives of the war brides, I couldn’t put the book down until I found out what happened to them. That part of the story I really loved. The ghostly apparitions were less enjoyable, mostly because the final explanation had me thinking, “Oooooookay.” So some parts I loved and some parts I could have skipped. I rate this 3 out of 5 stars.

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My Cousin Rachel

Author: Daphne De Maurier
Length: 400 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark; Mti edition (April 18, 2017); Originally published in 1951.

Amazon Summary:

Orphaned at an early age, Philip Ashley is raised by his benevolent older cousin, Ambrose. Resolutely single, Ambrose delights in Philip as his heir, a man who will love his grand home as much as he does himself. But the cosy world the two construct is shattered when Ambrose sets off on a trip to Florence. There he falls in love and marries – and there he dies suddenly. In almost no time at all, the new widow – Philip’s cousin Rachel – turns up in England. Despite himself, Philip is drawn to this beautiful, sophisticated, mysterious woman like a moth to the flame. And yet . . . might she have had a hand in Ambrose’s death?

My Thoughts:

I read this book at least two decades ago and the current movie made me want to read it again. Luckily, I did not remember most of it so it still seemed new to me. I loved De Maurier’s book Rebecca and this book has the same dark and mysterious intrigue where you aren’t quite sure who to trust. However, as much as I enjoyed the build up, I don’t think it was as good as Rebecca and the ending left me feeling a little underwhelmed. I rated it 3.75 stars out of 5. (Parental warning: There is some adult subject matter such as murder and obsession but nothing explicit.)

Note: When purchasing from Amazon, make sure you buy the unabridged version.

Other books I read from the library include:

Can You Keep A Secret by Sophie Kinsella (Kind of fun. Kind of not. Interesting, but improbable premise but I had to finish it to find out how it ended. Had language and secular worldview. 3 out of 5)
Wedding Night by Sophie Kinsella (I tried another book available in my library from Kinsella. I was hoping it would be better than the previous one I read. I was wrong. I could barely get through it. 2 out of 5 stars.)
The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks (I actually saw the movie first and enjoyed it more than the book, which was unusual for me.)

There are twelve categories in Modern Mrs. Darcy’s Reading Challenge so I’ve tried to read one category a month, along with my other reads. I have six categories down and six more to go!

What are you reading? What do you recommend?

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Revolution of Love

Do small things with great love.

Monthly Archives: July 2017

My Favorite Stationary, Pens, Stickers and Planner and Hand Lettering Supplies

Erasable Pens for My Planner

Colored Pens

Handlettering/Brush Lettering Pens

Handlettering Introductory Books

Colored Pencils

Pen/Pencil Cases

Magnetic Bookmarks/ Bookclips

Planner Accessories

Sticky Notes

Monthly Sticker Subscriptions

Washi Tape

Other favorites pictured in my planner photos.

How I Use My Blessed Is She Liturgical Academic Planner 2017-2018

Never Despairing and Being a Balm to the Soul

Book Reviews for 2017 (Part 2): April – June