loving >> week 168

Happy Friday, friends!No need to stall today; the weekend’s almost here, and I have a Love List set and ready to go! Here’s what I’ve been loving lately, and then let’s chat: how was your week?

1 ♥ The Complete Book of Chalk Lettering Valerie McKeehan has become synonymous with the art of chalkboard lettering. A self-taught artist and entrepreneur, Valerie has had continual success since she opened her online boutique in 2012, and it’s no surprise: she applies her signature touch of whimsy to each piece of artwork she sells. After months of following – or, better said, obsessing over – her work, I was delighted to discover that she was sharing her tips and techniques in a book, and I was even more excited to find it in my hands at Christmas time! The Complete Book of Chalk Lettering is everything a lettering-lover could desire; not only does it include various examples of Valerie’s own prints, it also has step-by-step tutorials on how to create chalkboard art for any occasion. Along with my new chalk markers, this guide will have me lettering left and right over the next few months.

2 ♥ The Fifth Wave The dystopian genre exploded in popularity in the literary scene several years ago, no doubt because of the success of such novels like The Hunger Games and Divergent, so it was only a matter of time until the postapocalyptic stories hit Hollywood as well. I won’t lie, I’ve grown somewhat weary of these movies – I’ve heard of one too many poor film adaptations to feel otherwise – but not even my hesitation could stop me from seeing The Fifth Wave, based after Rick Yancey’s novel of the same name. The story is somewhat odd {from the film’s IMDB page: “Four waves of increasingly deadly alien attacks have left most of Earth decimated. Cassie is on the run, desperately trying to save her younger brother”}, but the star-studded cast, including Chloë Grace Moretz as the lead, has me feeling optimistic. It only just released in theaters today, so I’m crossing my fingers I will be able to see it sometime soon!

3 ♥ Kate Spade x Beyond Yoga Yoga, in addition to reading and baking, is one of my favorite ways to decompress; I’ve been practicing it for over five years now, and attending a class never fails to leave me feeling energized and refreshed. Of course, what you wear to yoga does not matter so long as it allows you to move freely, but the style-conscious part of me adores the pieces in Kate Spades’ recent collaboration with Beyond Yoga. I’m just as big of a Kate Spade fanatic as I am of yoga, so in my mind, this athletic wear was a match made in heaven. The only thing that is a bummer? The prices are too high for my current budget. In other words, I won’t be sporting this striped bow zip-up anytime soon, but, then again, I’ve never known online browsing to hurt anyone :) Do you like anything from the collection?

{a still from Quantico}

4 ♥ New Television Obsessions When it comes to TV, I’m usually not one to binge watch. With the structure of my schedule after school and on the weekends, I’m better situated to weekly viewings of my favorite shows – think Downton Abbey on Sundays to start my week off right, Brooklyn Nine-Nine on Tuesdays for mid-week laughs, and an Elementary episode when I have a free evening. However, at the urging of a classmate and due to my own interest, I began both Quantico and How to Get Away with Murder this past weekend, and fly through them I have! Just as I love a good mystery novel, I’ve yet to find a spy, thriller, or crime show I haven’t like, so my enjoyment of the two programs was a no-brainer. My hope is to finish what episodes have aired by the end of the month, but at this rate, I don’t think that will be an issue; I’ll be caught up on the lives of Annalise and Alex in no time.

5 ♥ Selena Gomez’s Revival Finally, I’m late to the Selena Gomez lovefest, I know, but in all truth, I simply can’t get enough of her latest hits. Revival, her second studio album, came out this past October, but if the frequency that I’ve been playing “Same Old Love” and “Me and My Girls” are any indication, I wouldn’t be surprised if this becomes one of my favorite albums of 2016. Selena has had an admirable career, and I think she’s transitioned from her pop-princess appearance {no shame, though, I still consider Wizards of Waverly Place a Disney classic} to a more mature and electric style seamlessly. What music has begun your year?

Have a terrific weekend!
Bella