And in that moment, I swear we were infinite.

“So, this is my life. And I want you to know that I am both happy and sad and I'm still trying to figure out how that could be.” ‎The Perks of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky is my absolute favorite book. I read it for the first time during my Junior year of high school, and it’s just one of those books that you never want to put down. It is the one and only book I brought with me to college, and I find myself reading it quite often; it has become a piece of me. The book captures the anxieties of high school and life in general, and so many of the things that Charlie experiences are parallel to my own experiences. It's really about being alive and embracing every moment of life, despite any and all hardships. With every page, I come to a realization or conclusion about something new in my own life. This book inspires me, gives me hope, and makes me feel like I can conquer anything life throws at me. I think anyone who hasn’t read it is missing out on a huge part of life, seriously. Every single line is pure genius. “Even if we don't have the power to choose where we come from, we can still choose where we go from there.” Now that is a quote to live by. I could not possibly be more excited that this book is being made into a movie. And let's not forget that it basically has the best cast possible, starring Logan Lerman and Emma Watson. It's gonna be magical. Logan Lerman will make a perfect Charlie. I have honestly watched the trailer about 10 times in the past hour, and I can't get enough of it. It makes me wanna cry for some reason; not out of sadness, and not quite happiness, but a feeling I can't really put into words. I can't wait.

What is your favorite book and has it been made into a movie? If so, do you think the movie did the book justice?

xx Kristin

(Update: I have now watched The Perks of Being a Wallflower three times and it is hands down my favorite film ever. Stephen Chbosky did an unbelievable job of directing and producing it, and I definitely bawled my eyes out when I watched it in theaters for the first time. Everything was absolutely flawless, I can't even put it into words.)

Sparkles & Puppy Love

I truly believe that accessories have the power to completely change the look of an outfit, for better or for worse. It's amazing how a simple necklace can turn a casual dress into an elegant night-on-the-town look, or vice versa. My collection of necklaces is endlessly growing, and hopefully this Summer I'll find some must-have statement necklaces for those fancier evenings in life. You can never have too many necklaces. ;) As you may have noticed, the majority of my necklaces are black and gold, but lately I've been into coral, mint, and bright neon colors. Perhaps we'll be seeing more of those colors soon!

Sparkles are always in season. This "Midnight Rodeo" eyeshadow from my roommate's Urban Decay Book of Shadows IV is one of my favorites. Shimmery neutral colors are perfect for an eye-catching, glamorous look, and they truly go well with any eye color!

There's just something about the comfort of printed books that can never be replaced. I love the faint sound of the paper crinkling each time you flip the page. I love the unique smell of old books and yellowed pages. I love how the immensely sad and emotional books are stained with tears. I love the way the spine gets worn and the pages get dog-eared. And how over time, the cover starts to curl and the book no longer closes all the way. I love being able to put sticky notes on my favorite pages so I can go back and reread them over and over again. I love brushing my fingers along the spines of books on a shelf. I love curling up in bed with a good book, or finding a quiet corner of the library to read in. Everything in our society is being taken over by technology and digital media, but personally, I will always prefer to read from a tangible, printed book. Just outside the History department on campus, I discovered a desolate wooden table with stacks and stacks of books accompanied by a handwritten sign that read "FREE BOOKS". Of course I couldn't help but snap a few photos.

Each quarter during finals week, Cal Poly has puppies in the UU Plaza and at Dexter Lawn for students to play with. Earlier this morning, I stopped by to play with the puppies for the first time. I fell in love with an absolutely adorable little Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Gracie; it was love at first sight. She was so calm and loved all the attention. And the face she made when people scratched behind her ears was unbearably cute. I wish I could take her home with me. <3 Makes me miss Junior even more. Soon enough, baby boo. I'm coming home.

What is your favorite accessory that you own? And do you prefer printed books or e-books? 

xx Kristin