Every so often I find myself in a slump. I’m not bored, but I’m not motivated. I feel uninspired and the days feel repetitive. I’ve been feeling much this way recently. I can usually always bring a spark of inspiration back to my home by reading/listening to one of the books on this list. These books have inspired me in every way, from how I carry myself to how I approach my home. I hope that they can be a similar encouragement to you!
I have recently become completely fascinated by the French way of life. You will see that has been much inspired by this book list you are reading. I listened to Home Sweet Maison on audiobook recently and it really inspired me to change how I look at my home. To look at it as a place that tells my story. I loved the author’s reflection on her friend Jacquelyn’s home in particular.
I have listened to the Madam Chic series by Jennifer L. Scott multiple times. These books never cease to inspire me in my homemaking, my personal style, and the way I carry and present myself. Jennifer also has a YouTube channel where she shares chic tips regularly. These books will truly enrich your life and inspire your heart.
The Nesting Place by Myquillyn Smith is the perfect book for anyone that struggles to get inspired or motivated to create beauty within their home. This books teaches you how to create a beautiful home, no matter your situation or budget! Even renting! Myquillyn and I have very different home styles, yet I still found a treasure trove of inspiration to glean from in her book.
I know this was a short list, but these books have truly made a huge impact on my home and my heart. I hope that they will for you as well!❤️
I have been working my way through an old movie list, and while I still have many more to watch, I thought I would share some favorites with you! You should most definitely add these to your movie night list if you love old Hollywood, Audrey, Cary, Jimmy, and Marilyn.
Starting off with queen Audrey in Sabrina. This is my favorite Audrey movie. I have others that will be included on this list but Sabrina holds a warm fuzzy place in my heart. It follows a young girl who is tragically hung up on a rich play boy who will not even glance in her direction. That is until she moves to Paris, acquires lessons in etiquette and fashion, and returns a chic, cultured woman with a very fashionable wardrobe and gorgeous pixie hair cut. Sounds frustrating, right? But I promise you will love this movie! It’s a must watch, especially if you love Audrey Hepburn.
There is really nothing like an old movie to make you want to travel Europe. This is another classic Audrey film. She plays a European princess who manages to sneak out for a night in Rome where she can do whatever she likes. She is discovered by a reporter (Gregory Peck) who realizes he could turn a story that would highlight his career…but a little romance gets in the way. It’s a fabulous edition to your movie night list!
I promise this list is not all Audrey Hepburn movies. I am stopping at my top three Audrey films and Breakfast at Tiffany’s is definitely in my top three. Even if the story is a tad…questionable. Something about the will they or won’t they romance, the beautiful costuming, the music, and the romantic ending, it’s just a fabulous movie.
Available on Max
Moving away from the Audrey universe, Casablanca is a movie that I just recently watched and I’m telling you, I fell in love with this classic film. Tragedy and romance is the perfect combination for great cinema. I also did not realize how many famous movie quotes came from this movie. It is an absolute must watch!
Ah Barefoot in the Park. This 1967 comedy/romance is the perfect thing to watch on a rainy afternoon. It follows two newly weds that could not be more different. Corey reminded me a lot of myself as a young bride and I found myself laughing at her quirky, eccentric, and sometimes insecure personality. Also, Jane Fonda’s wardrobe is something to be envied.
This movie was the very first Marilyn Monroe film I ever watched. I don’t know why, but I was under the impression that she wasn’t a very good actress, but I was wrong! I loved her and Jane Russell in this musical comedy. This movie also has some of the most fabulous costumes I have ever seen. It is full of fun and humor!
Available on Max
Ever since I saw It’s a Wonderful Life, I have loved Jimmy Stewart! This film is an adorable love story between two pen pals that have never met in person. Once they do finally meet, they discover that they knew each other all along. I do not want to give away too much but I smiled throughout the entire movie!
Available on Prime
Another Jimmy Stewart film, this story follows a young lawyer and his new wife through their ups and downs. This movie had its stressful times, but there is something about it that I just love. It’s funny, it’s sad, it’s heartwarming…all the feelings. It’s definitely worth the watch!
Available on Prime
This was my first Grace Kelly film and I absolutely adore her. It is an Alfred Hitchcock film so there is an ongoing mystery throughout the movie. I love a good mystery! Once again, this movie will make you desperately want to travel to Europe! Everything, from the costumes, the scenery, the mystery, and the romance will make this movie a favorite contender.
I hope you have enjoyed this movie list and that maybe you have discovered some new films to add to your repertoire. I have more movie lists coming in the future!
I’ve been slowly working my way through my list of old movies and I have always loved the beautiful, fluffy curls of all the glamorous, old Hollywood starlets. In fact, I have been studying photographs of some of these actresses and taking note of both their makeup and hair. Today we are going to focus on the hair part…
Ava Gardner Elizabeth Taylor
I guess I should start this off my telling you a bit about my hair, because I do believe your hair type plays a large roll in rather or not these tips will work for you. I have naturally curly hair (pictured in it’s natural state below)
I recently chopped a good bit off of my hair, and then I went to the salon and the stylist thinned it out by adding tons of layers. In my experience with curly hair, layers work best for both curly and straight hair styles. It helps give you body and definition with your curls and also helps it not be so heavy.
For the purposes of this tutorial, I started out with freshly washed hair, and applied my products.
This is my product lineup. Fresh out of the shower, I squeezed the water out of my hair with a tshirt (to prevent frizz) I have a microfiber towel, but it has gone MIA, so a tshirt had to do. I combed out my hair with a wide tooth brush, then applied the L’Oréal Elvive Frizz killing serum. I use a generous amount and apply to the mid to ends of my hair. Then I use about a quarter size of leave in conditioner and work it through my hair likewise. If I am just going to let my hair go natural, I will use the Herbal Essence Curl Boosting Mousse. However, for this tutorial I used the Volume mousse because I wanted big hair! (This mousse was recommend by my friend Caitlin: Mrs Midwest, and it does help so much with volume!) I’m going to be using my Revlon Blow dryer brush, so I will also need a heat protectant.
I will section off my hair, spritzing each section with heat protectant before blow drying. NOTE: I am not looking for perfection. This is not to achieve the perfect blow out. This is meant to give me a great starting point for my curlers!
When I was finished blow drying, this was my result. If I were doing a straight hair style, I would fix it up with the straightener. But I want starlet curls, remember? And this next step ladies, is the secret to said curls….
Spoolies!! Created in the 1950’s, these are (IMO) the best way to get a heatless, vintage curl. I got mine from Amazon. You can find my set through this affiliate link
The technique is pretty straight forward. They are similar to a thread spool. Wrap your hair away from your face, around the spool and then fold the silicone down over the hair. I usually work from the top of my head towards the bottom. I usually use the smaller spoolies on the top, especially closest to the front.
NOTE: This will not work on wet hair. I’ve tried. I have done this without having a blowout, just working with my dry natural curls and it worked great. Also, working with my natural curls seems to keep the curls tighter for longer.
I sleep on this overnight. It’s not the best thing to sleep on, but it’s not too bad. I realize a lot of people use foam rollers but I swear every time I have used those, I end up looking like a poodle. The spoolies give a bigger, looser curl.
I take the curlers out in the morning, and take my fingers through my hair to loosen the curls and fluff them a bit.
Again, I feel that your success with this method will largely depend on your hair type, but they hold up great for me! If you decide to give this method a try, I would LOVE to see your result! You can tag me on Instagram @_sweetmagnolias_
If you are a new passerby, and have never seen my face before, hi! My name is Emily and I am a wife, a mother of two, and a homemaker residing in a small town in North Carolina. I’ve been online in some capacity since I was about fourteen years old when I started my first blog. That was back in the days of blogspot, music plug-ins, wallpapers, and what I wore Wednesday posts. I miss those days. Currently, I have a YouTube channel and an Instagram of the same name, Sweet Magnolias.
Rather you recognize me from my other outlets or you are brand new, I hope that you will find a warm welcome here. Lately I have found myself frustrated with the internet. It feels like all platforms have become tik tok 2.0. It feels like everything is lost in an endless doom scroll. There are so many voices telling you so many things. It can be really overwhelming. I feel like somewhere along the changing algorithms, the pressure to grow, and the push to crank out constant content, I have lost my passion and I’ve lost my voice. There are so many musings and thoughts that I would like to type out, but Instagram feels so loud. I’m not leaving Instagram, but I wanted a place to share my thoughts and photographs without the pressure to have it do well for the algorithm.
Photo: bekahleanne photography
This is my family. Aren’t they beautiful? This photo was taken last year so we need an updated one. The last six years have been an absolute whirlwind. We were married in 2016, had our first baby in 2019, and our second in 2021. Yes, our babies are very close in age! Fifteen months apart to be exact. Sometimes I still can’t believe we have two children. Occasionally I look at them and realize that it’s hard to remember a time before they existed. My little Cayde and Reese. They are beautiful, creative, hilarious little souls.
Photo: bekah Leanne photography
Then there is this guy. My sweet husband Brendan. He is my calm and steady hand to hold throughout the ups and downs of life. I’ve never met a man with such patience. We met at eleven years old and were a couple from seventh grade on up. We have grown up along side one another. I have watched him grow into such a wonderful man. He is the best father to our little ones and I could not have asked for a better spouse to walk through life with.
This introduction would not be complete without telling you that I am a child of the King. I was born into a Christian home and I was saved in my teens. I am an imperfect sinner and I fail daily, but I have been bought with a price and I desire to glorify the Lord with my life.
My greatest battle has always been my mind. I have faced many battles of the mind. At times it has felt very dark and isolating. My favorite scripture is Philippians 4:8..
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
If you have stuck it out to the end of this post, thank you for being here.❤️ This blog is for sharing the things that I love, thoughts that I have, and my journey of life as Emily, the woman, the wife, the mother, and the homemaker. I hope that maybe reading this blog will feel like sitting down and chatting with a friend over a warm cup of coffee.
Sweet Magnolias 