Fashion and Happy Things! » Delias

Book Review: Bitter River

mana — Thu, 07 Nov 2013 09:00:11 +0000

This weeks book is Bitter River by Julia Keller. This book is about Bell Elkins and is the second in a series, but it’s thankfully one of those series where each book can stand on it’s own, and honestly I didn’t realize it was in a series until I was over halfway through the book and they mentioned something that seemed like they wouldn’t have said it unless it was in another book.

This book begins with the body of 16 year old Lucinda Trimble being found in her car in Bitter River. What starts out looking like an accident turns out to be murder and it’s up to Bell Elkins and Nick Fogelsong to find out who killed this young girl. But then a friend from Bell’s past shows up and terrible things start happening to her town. Is it her friends fault that these horrible things are happening in the small town of Acker’s Gap, or is it all just one big coincidence?

I absolutely adored this book. Honestly, I picked it up because of the cover. I walked past it twice, but it the cover kept catching my eye and I just had to pick it up and I’m so glad I did. I loved Bell, I loved the story and I adored the way it’s written. I’m definitely going to be picking up the first book A Killing In The Hills because I really ended up attached to the people in the town and I want to know more about them.

Final Verdict: if you like mystery novels and thrillers, then I fully recommend this book. Bitter River was absolutely one of my favorite books I’ve read this season.

I decided to base my outfit off the cover of this book. I don’t have a red coat, but I’ve been wanting one ever since I saw the one on the cover. So instead I wore:

Navy Blue Toggle Coat from Delias, Gap Legging Jeans, Hunter Huntress Boots in Green. My earrings are Kate Spade and my Hair tie is from Emi-Jay

This sunday’s outfit post will be what I was wearing underneath the coat.

Blogmas Day 6: Winterlicious Tag and bad news

mana — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 19:27:00 +0000

First I’ll get the bad news out of the way, well bad news for me anyway. My laptop is currently dead, the hard drive is dead, and the screen is cracked. It happened today by accident .

The good news is my husband is going to replace the screen and the hard drive so I’ll have it back in a week or two. The other good news is that my laptop is not the only computer in the house so Blogmas will continue as regularly scheduled.

And speaking of Regularly scheduled I wanted to kick off my series of Tag posts with the Winterlicious Tag. I filmed a video of this as well and when I get that up I’ll link it here.

1. What is your favorite Winter Nail Polish?
A. Lancome Noir Caviar, it’s a lovely grey color and the formulation is amazing. It lasted 6 days with no chips, which I’ve never had from a nail polish before.

2. What is your favorite winter lip product?
A. Fresh Sugar Rose Tinted Lip Balm, this is definitely my most used lip product. the one I have is from a Sephora Beauty Insider Birthday Gift, but I adore it.

3.Most worn winter clothing piece?
A. I don’t know if this really counts but my Duffle Coat from Delias, I hate being cold so a coat is definitely what I wear most. OR if that doesn’t count then leggings, because I totally wear them under my jeans for added warmth.

4. Most worn winter accessory?
A. My bobble hat from Super Dry, I got it as a present last Christmas and I adore it, it’s just so snuggly and warm

5. Favorite scent or winter candle?
A. Fireplace candle, you can get them anywhere from Walmart to Hallmark to Yankee Candle. Fun fact, I used to hate this scent because I’d forget it was burning and try to figure out what was on fire. Now I think it’s the coziest smell ever.

6. Favorite Winter Beverage.
A. Tea, hot tea all year round. Or Eggnog

7. Favorite Holiday Movie?
A. THE GRINCH. The original one, not the Jim Carey one, but the 30 minute animated one, I’ve watched it probably close to 200 or 300 times in my life (10 to 15 times a year, and I’m 26 years old)

8. Favorite Holiday Song?
A. Hilary Duff’s Sleigh Ride. I don’t know why that version but it’s the one that makes me the happiest.

9. Favorite Holiday Food/Treat
A. My Aunt’s Yogurt Pie

10. Favorite Holiday Decoration?
A. My Yes Virginia, There is a Santa Claus ornaments because they remind me of all the times we’ve taken our son to mail his Christmas Letters

11. Top of your Christmas Wishlist?
A. I covered this in a blog post already, and I’m sure you’re all tired of hearing it but the Original Short Gloss Hunter Rainboots in Pillar Box Red.

12. Plans for the Holidays?
Christmas Eve with my family and Christmas morning at home and Christmas Afternoon at my husband’s family’s house.

Winter Spotlight: The Duffle Coat

mana — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 21:10:00 +0000

Before I begin doing my gift guides, I first thought I would tell you guys about my favorite kind of coat for fall and winter.It’s the Duffle Coat. Duffle Coats are probably one of the most classic styles of coats next to the Pea Coat. I remember wanting one since I was a child and discovered that Paddington Bear wore one. So I’ve made a list of my favorites, I especially love the plaid lining that’s in most of these. They’re mostly found done by British designers but I did find a few that were easily accessible here in the States.

The first one is one that I actually own it’s the Duffle Coat from Delias. I have this in Navy Blue and it’s perfect, and at a really great price. The only thing I would change about it is it doesn’t have the plaid lining that I love in all the other one. Honestly I hate when coats have that satiny sort of lining, because if you’re just wearing a tee shirt and it’s cold out side then the lining is cold. But for $79.50, it’s really not a bad deal. Plus it’s nearly an exact copy of one of the Topshop Coats that Taylor Swift owns, the one that I feel in love with 2 years ago.

Next up is this Hooded Wool-Felt Duffle Coat from Burberry. This is sort of my dream coat. Really I love Burberry, I’m absolutely obsessed with it. It’s insanely expensive at $895, which makes me sad since that means I can’t possibly own this coat anytime soon. But I adore it. It’s got the classic Burberry check for the lining, and it’s a lovely gray that will go everything and is really the perfect winter coat.

Then there is the Navy Wool Buttermere Duffle Coat from Barbour. I really like this coat, but at $400+ usd I’d rather save for the Burberry. But it’s still a really nice coat, and it’s lined in the Barbour tartan fabric, which would make this a warm snuggly coat where you don’t have to worry about a cold lining.

There’s also this Gloverall Long Duffle Coat in Cranberry. This coat is knee length whereas the others hit at your hip or mid thigh. It’s definitely good if you want to stay warmer or are interested in a longer coat to go with dresses. I really like the color of this and the matching red check lining. It’s £295 and I don’t know if they ship to the states. Plus since they’re kinda the ones who did Duffle coats first, so Gloverall bears some looking into.

Now this next one from American Eagle is a men’s coat and it’s the AE Hooded Duffle Coat on sale right now for $130. This one has a lovely navy and red check lining and looks very snuggly. I had to throw in a coat for the guys, but honestly Duffle coats are gender neutral so the ladies could pull this one off as well.

Okay I sort of love Superdry almost as much as I love Burberry, and I would totally snatch their Classic Duffle Coat if I had the expendable cash, but unfortunately right now $330 is a bit out of my price range. They also have a men’s version of this that as far as I can tell only the lining is different. Hopefully they’ll have a Christmas or end of Winter sale, and I’ll be able to pick it up.

Finally is this Bound Seam Duffle Coat from Topshop. Taylor Swift also owns this coat. Is the fact that Taylor Swift has this coat a good reason to buy it, probably not. But the fact that it’s warm and cute are good reason to buy it. The lining is adorable and it’s perfect if you just turn the sleeves up a bit. and at $178 it seems like a perfectly reasonable price to pay for a coat you’ll probably wear for a few years.

If you need a coat now I recommend finding your favorite and snagging it, but if you’re like me and get a new coat every year, then if I were you, I’d do what I do and wait til they go on sale. At the end of Season, or buy in mid summer like I did with my Delias coat.

Honestly though I am getting a bit tired of the coat exchange and am going to start investing a bit more in my coats so I like them better and they’ll be warmer, because once it snows I’ll probably have to pull out my Kenneth Cole Reaction Down Coat which I have in the Mocha color. But even that one is a bit cold because of the lining. I think I’m going to start saving for a Superdry coat.

Duffle Coats by fashionandhappythings featuring burberry