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Putting together puzzles can be a fun way of spending time together as a family this holiday season.

#LTKGiftGuide #LTKFindsUnder50 #LTKCyberWeek

Putting together puzzles can be a fun way of spending time together as a family this holiday season. LTKGiftGuide LTKFindsUnder50 LTKCyberWeek

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All things Agatha Christie have become an interest for both my mom and I. It all started several years back when we started watching Poirot episodes on PBS. I believe it was around the same time that the Downton Abbey series first premiered. We enjoyed watching David Suchet as Poirot (who still represents the character the very best in my opinion) as he exercised his little grey cells to their fullest potential to solve crimes.

Recently, however, our interest has expanded to reading and learning more about Agatha Christie herself (including the time that she disappeared for in December 1926. According to reports, she disappeared on December 3 and was found on December 14 at a hotel in Harrogate, Yorkshire, where she was staying under an assumed name, “Mrs. Tressa Neele”.

In addition to learning more about Agatha Christie we’ve explored her other works featuring Miss Marple and have put together three challenging puzzles with the most interesting ‘maps’ which include facts about different items that are found throughout the scene displayed in the puzzle. So far we’ve put together ‘The World of Agatha Christie’, ‘The World of Poirot’, ‘The World of Miss Marple’ and ‘Murder on the Orient Express’.

For this gift guide, I found various other items for the true Agatha Christie enthusiast in your life.

#LTKHoliday #LTKCyberWeek #LTKGiftGuide

Puzzles can be a great way to keep your mind active, whether you are like 4 and nearly 6 like my nieces, or well into your senior years. One of the hobbies (along with gardening obviously, and reading, which has always been a hobby) my mom and I have gotten into more and more over the past few years is puzzles… or puzzling as we call it.

If you’ve ever put a puzzle together, you know that it can be equal parts fun, frustrating, and addictive. When we’re working on a puzzle, I often find myself taking a study break and going down to the dining room table (where we put together all our puzzles) and putting a few pieces together. It can be so thrilling when piece after piece just fit together almost as if by magic.

Everyone has their strengths when it comes to puzzles, whether it’s putting the borders together, finding different parts of the puzzle, or setting them aside for when it’s time to incorporate them into the puzzle. Some like to follow the ‘map’ as my youngest niece, Charlotte, likes to call it. Others find like colors and go from there.

No matter how you put your puzzles together, there’s always a true sense of accomplishment when you put that final piece in.

#LTKHome #LTKHoliday #LTKGiftGuide

I’m being a little more intentional/niche with my gift guides this holiday season. Given my love of ALL THINGS SNOOPY, and it’s the 75th anniversary of Peanuts this year, making my first gift guide about Snoopy and the Peanuts gang should start things off.

The Peanuts Bracelet from BaubleBar makes a fun little accessory for those who love adding a pop of fun to their look. This bracelet has been around for a little while, but the second pick on the list, the Peanuts socks from Bombas is a recent collaboration. I’m determined not to miss out on the socks in green as the white socks have already sold out in my size.

The Berkshire Blanket Co. blanket is the most beautiful shade of pink, a find from Amazon. It’s literally half of the price it would be if you bought it directly. It is unbelievably soft, so of course, Gracie (my cat) immediately stole it the moment it arrived. It is now more or less her blanket that she lets me borrow sometimes.

For those of you who have been following along, you’ll know that Williams Sonoma did a Halloween collection of Peanuts last year. I picked up the serving bowl for our annual ‘movie night’ to watch It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown with my nieces. This year, they’ve added some beautiful pieces for the holiday season, including a Snoopy Cookie Jar and a Snoopy mug that are simply adorable.

There is a Clue and Monopoly game featuring the Peanuts crew, but I really love the idea of a Peanuts Clue game. It’s available from a few places, including Urban Outfitters and Amazon.

Last of all, we have the Peanuts Collection Book. This is a must-have for any true lover of all things Snoopy and Peanuts.

#LTKHoliday #LTKstorytime #LTKGiftGuide

After losing her parents six years ago, Cinnamon Scott feels like she’s become stuck. Instead of writing, she copes with her parents’ deaths with an endless string of men and parties she’ll never remember. When her older sister Rosemary calls her to come to London (she’s expecting twins and put on bed rest), Cinnamon rushes to her sister’s side at The Savoy, where she’s staying while her new London home is being renovated.

With little to occupy her evenings, she discovers the famed American Bar, where the late shift bartender tells her the story of Ada Coleman, the true genius behind the cocktail recipes in the well-known handbook released by the hotel a century ago. Wondering why Ada’s name is not listed anywhere in the book, she’s determined to learn the true story of what happened to her and why she seems to have been lost to history.

Read the Q&A with @brisacarleton via the link in bio!

#newrelease #newbooks #book #bookworm #bookstagrammer #author #authorqanda #theavidpenreads

While I wore this beautiful wrap from Amazon for part of my Halloween costume, it’s a perfect everyday piece.

It’s all about Harry Potter @rockhillpediatrics today. @ranyachakra as Harry Potter and @theavidpen as Fleur Delacour.

#potter #potterheads #harrypotter #harrypotterworld #pediatric #happyhalloween

Loved this when I saw it at a bookstore in Hickory and can’t believe I found it on Anthropologie!

#LTKHome #LTKSeasonal

Planning on going on vacation with this family sometime in the next 2 months? This list of monthly recommendations, all of which are coming out this June, are some serious contenders for your book wishlist.

First things first, I like to include a few shout-outs about new releases that I haven’t had a chance to read yet in each book round-up, so I hope you’ll check those out along with the three books I had a chance to read this month. I try to make it through four books a month, but while working full-time and being in nursing school, I don’t have quite as much time to read as I did.

Next, I’m excited to announce that two of the authors from this month’s list will be doing Q&As here on the blog next month: Georgia Stone and Gloria Chao. Two authors I’m very glad to have had the chance to discover for the first time this month.

Keep reading to see the reviews and my ratings for this month’s must-read books.

#books #upcoming #newreleasebooks #booksbooksbooks #bookish #bookstagrammer

Currently reading, Such Good People by @amyblumenfeldauthor releasing in July.

#books #booksbooksbooks #bookstagrammer #newrelease #TheAvidPenReads

Just in time for Bastille Day, comes the untold story of Eugénie de Montijo, a 19th-century woman who was instrumental in advancing women’s rights in France. While many thought of her as purely the wife of Emperor Napoleon III, she was so much more than that. The incredibly well-researched biography, co-written by Petie Kladstrub and Evelyne Resnick, is a must-read for anyone interested in French history, the fight for women’s rights, or fellow Francophiles.

Do you have to enjoy the book while eating macarons? Perhaps not, but I know that made me savor the book even more. Happy Bastille Day!

#bastilleday🇫🇷 #bastille #womeninhistory #women #womensrights #french #france #TheAvidPenReads

I’m so excited to announce a giveaway of Sara Ackerman’s latest book, The Guest in Room 120.

If you love books set in dual timelines, you are going to love this one!

To enter:

❤️ the photo

Follow @theavidpen Instagram and on Substack. (You can sign up for my free newsletter via the link in bio!)

Once you’ve followed via both channels, comment done and tag someone you think might like to enter too.

Important: Not affiliated with Instagram in any way. Must be in the US to enter. You will be contacted via DM from this page only. Ends 9/21

#bookstagrammer #newrelease #booksbooksbooks #giveaway #bookgiveaway #bookgirl #bookgram

Always obsessing about my Natalie’s from @sarahflint_nyc no matter the season. Available in several color options, this is a shoe that will never go out of style.

#inmyflints #sarahflint #theavidpenstyle #styletips #classic #feminine

Summers not over yet, pick up a pair of the perfect sandal for summer from Sarah Flint.

#LTKShoeCrush #LTKSeasonal #LTKStyleTip

Just in case you needed a little reminder to check out the post about this delicious charcuterie board I shared about on the blog last week.

Head over to theavidpen.com and don’t forget to sign up for the free Substack
newsletter!

#theavidpeneats #delish #foodiesofinstagram #foodiesofinsta #yum

#LTKHome #LTKSeasonal

Love a good murder mystery full of tropes? You’ll want to check this one out! Q&A on theavidpen.com

#LTKHome

I am obsessed with this classic tote. Work or errands, it doesn’t matter, this bag adds that a bit of polish to your look.

#LTKItBag #LTKWorkwear #LTKStyleTip

Need a quick pick me up in the afternoon? Pop watermelon chunks in the freezer at lunch and my mid afternoon you can just add them to your blender and blend them up! Fast and delicious!

#LTKHome #LTKSeasonal #LTKParties

The Natalie is the perfect option whether you’re headed into the office, to college, or just to run errands with a pair of jeans and the your favorite striped top.

#LTKWorkwear #LTKStyleTip #LTKShoeCrush

Here is the official cover reveal for @andepliegowrites next novel releasing in 2026. Pre-order now… if you dare.

“A bookseller must escape the infamously haunted library that holds her darkest secrets, but with a murderer in her tour group, escaping alive is not as simple as it seems, in this twisty locked-room thriller from bestselling author of You Are Fatally Invited.

He’s trying to dig up the skeletons in her closet. She’ll do anything to keep them buried.

Aria Stokes is finally feeling settled—she lives in a tiny New York apartment, works as a bookseller at a local shop, and has even taken a leap of faith in love by indulging her attraction to bookstore regular Jasper. And he seems to already know her so well.

As a Valentine’s Day surprise, Jasper gets the two of them tickets to an exclusive, after-dark tour of the Daedalus Library—the grandiose establishment famed for its immersive genre-based reading rooms and, more notoriously, its rumored hauntings. While Aria normally loves all things ghastly, this place holds more dark secrets than she’d prefer Jasper to know. Like that the last time she was here, she left a body behind.

But when the automatic-door entry malfunctions and Aria, Jasper, and the five other people in their tour group become trapped in the library, they are forced to venture through the storied rooms and hidden passageways of the Daedalus in search of escape . . . and Aria quite literally has nowhere to hide from the shadows of her past. Then the group learns there’s a murderer in their midst.

Now, as she tries to break out of the library’s intricate reading rooms, Aria has to decide who she can trust—and what secrets are best kept buried—if she wants to make it out alive.”

#andepliego #andepliegoauthor #coverreveals #bookstagrammer #bookish #theavidpenreads

If you are looking for a must read book, The Art of Vanishing is it!

#LTKHome

As summer comes to an end next month (can you believe it?) I decided to put together a little guide of some of favorite things.

During the summer it’s nice to beat the heat with quick day trips to the mountains (with both Blowing Rock/Boone and Asheville are only a few hours away) or planning a last minute weekend getaway.

You can also just as easily enjoy some time at home or do a staycation at one of your favorite area spots. We have so many beautiful gardens and hidden parks nearby where you can spend a few hours relaxing on a bench or a swing…
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Read the post over on theavidpen.com
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#LTKStyleTip #LTKSeasonal

Whether you enjoy books where a murder is solved (The Body Next Door) or have ever wondered if there was a way to go back or forward in time to solve your classmates mysterious death (The Midnight Club). Fly halfway across the world to trace the history of your heirloom engagement ring (The Heirloom) or follow your mothers last wishes with a one way trip to Paris (The Paris Novel). Join Emma Makepeace a.k.a the female equivalent of James Bond on her next mission in (The Trap) or take a fantastical romp through history in the 2016 novel (My Lady Jane), this months list of reads will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat.

#LTKBacktoSchool #LTKSeasonal

This bag from JCrew is even more perfect in person. Can’t wait to start styling it for spring and summer.

#LTKstyletip #LTKsalealert #LTKtravel

If you have a healthcare hero in your life (or work in healthcare yourself) getting a gift that you can use in your day-to-day life is always helpful. From an ’emotional support’ water bottle, the perfect pen for charting, notebooks that fit easily in your pocket when you’re learning a new process (or need to jot down orders in a hurry), and more, this list has something for your favorite healthcare hero.

#LTKGiftGuide #LTKHoliday #LTKSeasonal

As a lifelong homebody, it seemed only fitting to create a cozy gift edit centered around the fact that I love spending time at home. There are so many essentials to creating a cozy vibe, especially during the holiday season. The Balance leggings from Haven Well Within come highly recommended, and I love the idea of pairing them with a tank and a cozy sweater. Whether you like to do you are reading in bed, the Boll & Branch sheet set is the perfect way to update your bedding, or you like to curl up on the couch wrapped up in a soft blanket with a candle burning as you read, this gift edit has both options. As far as book suggestions, a mystery is always a good idea, so I’ve included two of the books (The Mystery Guest & Mastering the French Art of Murder) that I’ve read this month.

#LTKHoliday #LTKSeasonal #LTKGiftGuide

While I thought about a variety of different culinary/foodie-themed gift guides for my first edit of the holiday season, I ended up going with an edit centered around one of my favorite things throughout the year, mocktails. Having a selection of glassware, spoons (decorative and otherwise), and syrups is something any budding mixologist needs to have on hand.

#LTKGiftGuide #LTKSeasonal #LTKHoliday

This dress is even more stunning in person!

#LTKfindsunder100 #LTKstyletip

The coziest Saturday morning outfit from Quince. The quality and prices are the best!

#LTKfamily #LTKSeasonal #LTKstyletip

Spending some time in the forest reading and eating delicious cookies with milk.

#LTKhome #LTKSeasonal #LTKHalloween

The perfect bag for summer… and for those of you heading to school or work in the fall.

#LTKFind #LTKBacktoSchool #LTKSeasonal

A sneak peek at something coming to the blog this week, featuring the perfect shirt dress from @boden_clothing
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#lifestyle #lifestyleblogger #summervibes #summerglam

#LTKSeasonal #LTKstyletip #LTKworkwear

The most beautiful gift arrived from @lesfleursviasandra of @lesfleursandover I shared an interview with Sandra for the first time in 2020 and on March 21st her first book ‘French Blooms’ was released.
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This beautiful book is for lovers of florals and all things French, and I’m looking forward to creating some beautiful floral arrangements inspired by ‘French Blooms’
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Read the latest interview with Sandra via the link in bio!
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#lesfleurs #french #frenchblooms #aesthetic #parisianamour #frenchchic #frenchvibes #howtobeparisian #authentic #lesparisiennesdumounde #parismood #oldsoul

#LTKSeasonal #LTKunder50 #LTKhome

I’m absolutely obsessed with this Ginkgo vase from @anthropologie

#LTKSeasonal #LTKhome #LTKunder100