60 Books to Read!

I am constantly asking for book recommendations from my Instagram followers over @ladyandredstyle but then when I finish one book, I forget the list of the others! So I guess this list is for all of us and if you know me.....I am a total list maker because I LOVE crossing things off like it is some sort of major accomplishment! I think I made a list once that said, "make a list" 😂

I just finished The Wife Between Us and the title does not even begin to describe it! I actually really enjoyed it and read in 2 days....I definitely recommend it!

Books to Read:

1.) Girl Wash your Face- Rachel Hollis

2.) One True Loves- Taylor Jenkins Reid

3.) The Nightingale- Kristin Hannah

4.) The Great Alone-Kristin Hannah

5.) Small Great Things- Jodi Picoult 

6.) The Zoo Keeper's Wife- Diane Ackerman

7.) After Anna- Lisa Scottoline 

8.) The Masterpiece- Francine Rivers

9.) Luckiest Girl Alive- Jessica Knoll 

10.) The Thousandth Floor- Katherine McGee

11.) Crazy Rich Asians- Kevin Kwan

12.) Sharp Objects- Gillian Flynn

13.) The Missing Ones- Patricia Gibney

14.) The Lost Child- Ann Troup

15.) Not That I Could Tell- Jessica Strawser

16.) Then She was Gone- Lisa Jewell

17.) The Girl Without a Name- Sandra Block

18.) The Shining- Stephen King

19.) The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo- Taylor Jenkins Reid

20.) White Girl Problems- Babe Walker

21.) What Alice Forgot- Liane Moriarty

22.) Behind her Eyes- Sarah Pinborough

23.) The Girl you Lost- Kathryn Croft

24.) The Dollhouse- Fiona Davis

25.) The Other Typist- Suzanne Rindell

26.) The Invaders- Karolina Waclawiak

27.) The Family Fang- Kevin Wilson

28.) Fractured- Karin Slaughter

29.) The Nest- Jon Klassen

30.) A Little Life- Hanya Yanagihara

31.) One of us is Lying- Karen M. McManus

32.) All the Missing Girls- Megan Miranda

33.) The Light we Lost- Jill Santopolo

34.) The Moonstone- Wilkie Collins

35.) Little Fires Everywhere- Celeste Ng

36.) Sing ,Unburied, Sing- Jesmyn Ward

37.) The Last Mrs. Parish- Liv Constantine

38.) Every Last Lie- Mary Kubica

39.) The Dry-Jane Harper

40.) Beartown- Fredrik Backman

41.) The Immortalists- Chloe Benjamin

42.) Home Fire- Kamila Shamsie

43.) A Stranger in the House- Shari Lapena

44.) Legacy of Spies- John Le Carré

45.) An American Marriage- Tayari Jones

46.) The Singles Game- Lauren Weisberger

47.) The Wife Between Us- Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen

48.) The Light Between Oceans- M.L. Stedman

49.) The Hate you Give- Angie Thomas

50.) Manhattan Beach- Jennifer Egan

51.) Escape Artist- Brad Meltzer

52.) Ready Player One- Ernest Cline

53.) Bonfire- Krysten Ritter

54.) The Woman in the Window- A.J. Finn

55.) My (not so) Perfect Life- Sophie Kinsella

56.) All the Ugly and Wonderful Things- Bryn Greenwood

57.) The Breakdown- B.A. Paris

58.) Don't Let Go- Harlan Coben

59.) Trust No One- Paul Cleave

60.) Stay with Me- Sandra Rodriguez Barron
 

Carry On Everytime-A Must Read!

Believe it people. This princess only packs in a carry on for EVERY vacation, from 4 quick days in Mexico to 11 days train hopping in Italy! No lost luggage, no fees, and no waiting at baggage claim. I just walk right on by everyone scratching their head, hands on hips waiting, and trying to figure out which luggage belongs to them on the big conveyer belt. Yes, it can be a hassel trying to find that perfect spot above your seat for your luggage but if there is no more room they will check it for free. So with a rolling bag and a large shoulder bag to fit under my seat, we are ready to go! But packing for our upcoming trip was seriously a challenge and I was excited to tackle it. Pack for me and my baby in 1 lonely carry on and 1 shoulder bag. Don't ever challenge or doubt me, I will prove you wrong :) So this post is with baby things, whatever room she takes up, just think you have that much more space if you are traveling alone. I have a cheap bag from Khols and it seriously is the best, good pockets, expands, and it has been many places. I can't part with my dirty old bag...yet!1.) Pack clothes and shoes in the same color palate or neutrals. Try to pick outfits and shoes you can wear with just about every outfit. 2.) Pack sample size items and travel items such as perfume samples, toothpaste from the dentist, small deodorant and such. I take small shampoos, my toothbrush, and travel toothpaste and leave it there. (Of course remember if you carry on it can only be 3.0 ounces anyways.) Who wants to take your dirty toothbrush home and most of the time I use up my shampoo/conditioner. You can bring the bottles home because you have room and reuse them if you would like, but at .99, I buy new! 3.) Go light. Like makeup, jewelery, and hair accessories. Bring things you can mix and match. You do not need every color eyeshadow you own or every necklace, you should bring a color or piece that matches all outfits. 4.) Start with a good list. See previous Blog post for my Vacation Packing List. I love a list...for everything :) 5.) Condense. Majority of you probably have an iPad or some gadget, so use it wisely. Upload movies, games, newspapers, magazines, and books all on one source for more room in your carry on bag. If you don't want to buy books and magazines, borrow them from your local library using Wilbor.lib.overdrive.com/. Simple. My make-up bag inside my luggage has all essentials that are not liquids. Duh. *see Vacation Packing List blog post

</a Most people find it hard to take only 1 ziplock bag full of their stuff but here I have a few tips for you. Here's mine (with baby): Neutrogena sunscreen (my fav), California Baby sunscreen, shampoo, condtioner, hairspray, 3 perfume samples, lotion ( The Body Shop has awesome travel size body butter in tons of scents), toothpaste, 2 sample size Johnson & Johnson shampoo/body wash combo, baby lotion, and baby Tylenol. * Pack this near the top of your luggage for easy access when going through security. Nobody wants to wait for you to dig it out while your underwear is flying out in the process.

Now let's talk your carry on bag/purse. This should fit under the seat in front of you. If I am not taking my baby, I throw my purse into the bag, but for this trip I am not taking an actual purse. I put things in this bag to keep me busy, full, clean, and organized. Kleenex, hand sanitizer, passports, wallet with id's, credit cards, money, sunglasses, hat (if I am taking one), snacks, iPad, camera, and slippers for when my feet get cold :). This trip I am adding a baby "bag" that I put in my blog post, My Baby Must Haves. Life saver, and it's cute. In this bag for my baby is: extra outfit, teether toy, book, sunnies, wipes, 4 diapers, rice cereal (I poured it into a milk storage bag, folded it over and put it inside a Gerber bowl with lid), spoon, bib, paci, comb, 2 formula packets, bottle, and a blankie. Note: I do not have my electronics in my bag yet in the photo because I use them daily...okay, hourly :)

Here is what I am packing for myself, 5 days to Mexico, all inclusive. We go to the Riu Palace often and so there is no need for us to venture out on excursions. 1.) White/Navy striped maxi dress

</a 2.) Tunic and white shorts. My tunic matches my baby's dress :)

</a 3.) White wrap top with skinny jean/capris or wear with khaki shorts from another outfit. 4.) Pink dress

5.) Khaki shorts and t-shirt

6.) My outfit for the plane is comfy linen pants, easy tank for nursing my baby and wear one of my cardigans.

Shoes I am taking are a flip flop, sandal, and a wedge. All the same color family. Each pair works with every outfit and I am taking 2 cardigans because I am a grandma in disguise, I get cold. Don't forget the essentials, bras and undies.

Now for my darling child. Yes, it was hard not to pack extra because every outfit looks cute on her! I used a Pinterest idea and packed her things in Ziploc bags, then I manually ( with my own mouth) sucked the excess air out of the bag to condense it down. Who needs those vacuum sealed bags anyways when I have the biggest mouth?? Haha Each number refers to each ZipLoc bag. 1.) 2 blankies, 3 pairs socks, 2 pj's, 3 bibs, and 1 onsie 2.) Rash gaurd (aka swimsuit), yellow dress with bloomers, hair bow, coverup, and foot sandals. 3.) Cream hat, cover up, rash gaurd, foot sandals, and pink dress with bloomers 4.) Flamingo shirt with ruffle bottoms, hair bow, pink hat, and rash gaurd 5.) Dress with bloomers, white hat, rash gaurd, cover up, blue hat, and hair bow. I am taking 2 re-usable swim diapers and 25 regular diapers with me as well. Who knew it was so hard to get baby sized disposable swim diapers?! Call me crazy but I am also taking a blow up pool canopy floatie.

So start with a list, colors you want to wear, and go from there. For example, in Italy, I took comfy walking shoes and 2 pairs of boots, brown and black boots. Wear one pair of boots on the plane to make more space in your carry on. I am also notorious for making a graph of the days I am there for mixing & matching outfits. Whatever works for you do it, but take the challenge and pack in a carry on, the airline will love you for it! HaHa Happy Travels! *After we go on our vacation I will make sure and report back with you on what worked and what didn't work when traveling with a baby. To be continued....

Vacation Packing List

If you don't know me, I make a list for everything, even for just 3 items at the grocery store. Now with having a baby, I swear I can't remember anything for the life of me....until I get home. Annoying. With vacation on my mind, I decided to share my go-to packing list for every vacation. Depending on the location, I add/remove a few items. I print this off of my computer, saved in my email for each vacation, and check it off as I go.*I make a pouch in my purse/bag with my meds, chapstick, mini nail file, band aids, hair tie/bobby pin, hand lotion, perfume sample, and feminine products. ( exclude perfume if flying)

Bathroom 🛁🚿 Shamp/conditioner Razor  Face cream Lotion Chapstick Nail file Makeup Flat iron Curling iron Hair dryer Bobby pins-hair ties-headbands Toothbrush & paste Brush/comb Nail polish Perfume Contacts/glasses Sunscreen Deodorant  Tampons Meds: Motrin, BC, Tums, band aids Clothing👗 Dresses Shorts Shirts Tanks/Tees Sandals/shoes Slippers Flip flops Bras-strapless & sports bra Running gear: shoes, tanks, shorts Underwear Pjs Jewelry-watch-necklace-earrings Socks Swim suits Coverups Hats Sunglasses Scarf Belt Stuff👜 Ipad Phone Chargers Books-magazines Passport Itenirary Money ID & Credit card Snacks Water bottle Mints/gum Beach towel Neck pillow Ipod & ear buds/headphones Camera-chargers Beach bag MIO for drinks Arrange dog sitter Have neighbor get mail Stop paper delivery Turn down heat/air Set light timers Movies on ipad Kindle & charger

Let me know if I am missing one of your "essentials"! Happy Travels.

And the Grammy goes to....

The Grammy should go to me. I have subjected my loved ones for years to my awesome vocal abilities and still have not received an award, and now with a baby, I just sing that much more! I agree I may not sound perfect or know everything about music, but I am the most dedicated when it comes to my daily performances. My taste of music has evolved from just liking a beat to actually respecting and hearing the lyrics. It is crazy how healing music can be, even when the artist has no idea what you are going through. It's like a 3 minute therapy session :) So who will be watching along with me tonight? In honor of the biggest night in music, I decided to put a few of my favorite tunes in a list for you to enjoy. This was impossible for me to pick just 15 songs, so I will make it my "music" category and keep on sharing the tunes until I run out, which will be never! I love an extreme mix from Christian to Rap. How that works, I'm not sure, but to me, music is art. A quote from the movie Into the Wild states that "Happiness is only real when shared." So one thing that makes me happy is music and if not a single one of these songs can't make you smile, tap you foot or bob your head happy....I got nothing for ya!

In no specific order or genre:

1.) Charlie Mars- Listen to the Darkside 2.) The Damnwells- I am a Leaver 3.) Jack Johnson- Banana Pancakes 4.) Dave Mathews Band- Stay or leave 5.) Nelly- Air Force Ones 6.) Brendan James- Green 7.) Citizen Cope- If There's Love 8.) The Nadas- Dodged a Bullet 9.) Carrie Rodriguez- She Ain't Me 10.) Trevor Hall- Other Ways 11.) David Gray- This Years Love 12.) John Legend- All of Me 13.) George Strait- Run 14.) Grace Potter & The Nocturnals- Stars 15.) Jay-Z ft Mr. Hudson- Young Forever