a lifestyle blog for book lovers

What I’m into (March 2014 edition)

Linking up with Leigh Kramer to share what I’ve been into lately.

spring flowers

Real life has been bonkers. We’ve been sick, and we’ve been house hunting. We’ve had snow storms and 70-degree-and-sunny days–all in the same week.

I’ve also been working on a big project that I’m excited to tell you about this week!

What I’m reading

unstaged life

From instagram: “I could tell you I’m staging blog photos, but the truth is this scene looks dangerously close to our Unstaged Life.” 

I just finished Parnassus on Wheels, which was completely charming, and skimmed my way through Judging a Book by its Lover (meh). I’m on chapter 5 of Wuthering Heights, which is one of the books I’ve been meaning to read for years. (Or probably more like decades.)

Also read: Possession (again), The Hypnotist’s Love Story, The Vacationers, The Silver Linings Playbook, The Chaperone. (All that modern fiction drove me to Wuthering Heights!)

Worth watching

veronica mars movie poster

I watched more this month than I have in months, thanks to two movie date nights and a virus that wouldn’t quit.

First, in health: The Veronica Mars Movie was so much fun (but watch the series first). Will and I both loved About Time (which I already recommended to readers).

In sickness, I indulged in some serious comfort watching: I finally saw Elizabeth Gaskell’s North and South and Wives and Daughters, and re-watched the 2009 Emma. (Pro tip: all streamed free with Prime.) Then I re-watched You’ve Got Mail. (Loved it, even on the tenth viewing!)

Emma

Will and I saw The Giant Mechanical Man (with Jenna Fischer of The Office). It was quirky and enjoyable, except for one poorly written scene. And we watched Desk Set, with Hepburn and Tracy, and … maybe it was the fever, but I was just not getting it. Have you seen it? Can you recommend any classics that I might like a little more?

Also watching: March Madness. I’m still wishing I’d gone to bed Friday night instead of staying up till 2:00 a.m. watching my team lose.

And Frozen! I almost forgot. Sarah’s been obsessed for months; I finally watched it with her on Tuesday. It was genuinely good and I loved the ending.

Pinning

striped maxi

Want.

Need.

Pop of orange.

Thinking about it for tomorrow.

Let’s go on an adventure.

Butcher block + window seat.

It’s that time of year.

(Follow me on Pinterest here.)

Best of the web

You have to love the effort.

22 strong female characters in literature we all wanted to be. (Or at least #1, #6, #7, and #16.)

“Just take a book and hold it in front of your body.”

My new favorite.

Lego street photography, Chicago style.

Amen, sister.

Look, Ma! I’m on Fast Company.

What you learn in your forties.

These are amazing.

BBC seriously underestimates MMD readers.

On the blog

early spring salads

Going viral on Pinterest.

What’s your house really worth?

Easter basket gifts that aren’t cheap, disposable crap.

I’m playing Emma.

Breakfast hacks.

Managing your day-to-day.

What were you into in March?

This post contains my affiliate links. Thanks for supporting MMD!

44 comments

Leave A Comment
  1. Ginger says:

    The “What I’m Into” posts are some of my favorite for discovering all sorts of miscellanea.

    I’ve not seen Desk Set, but my favorite classics are:
    Paris When It Sizzles (my favorite Audrey Hepburn… I love it even more than Breakfast at Tiffany’s or Roman Holiday)
    The Philadelphia Story
    Adam’s Rib and Woman of the Year
    Charade (and the remake The Truth About Charlie)
    Auntie Mame
    Secret Life of Walter Mitty with Danny Kaye.

    And… not a classic, but since you’ve loved and recommended the book, I’m guessing you’ve seen Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day starring Amy Adams? It’s just got so much that I love about the classic movies.

    • Anne says:

      I’ve never seen Paris When It Sizzles! Definitely adding that to the list. I also need to see The Truth About Charlie and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. (And yes to Miss Pettigrew! I liked the book better, but it did a good job of bringing it to life. 🙂 )

  2. Catie says:

    I can’t wait to hear your thoughts on Wuthering Heights and The Hypnotist’s Love Story. 🙂

    Also, what scene are you talking about in The Giant Mechanical Man? I loved that movie!

    • Anne says:

      Short version of The Hypnotist’s Love Story: not bad, but not at the same level as What Alice Forgot. Save your reading time for a better book.

      And it was the scene between Jenna Fischer and her sister outside the silent film showing that had me cringing. The dialogue just didn’t work. But I still loved the movie. 🙂

      • Catie says:

        Thanks for the advice! I just finished The Husband’s Secret and I liked it. Didn’t love it. I agree with you about that scene. I remember it being very LONG, too.

        • Anne says:

          My thoughts exactly about The Husband’s Secret. Liked it, didn’t love it. Usually first novels are the bumpiest but What Alice Forgot (her first) is my favorite so far!

  3. Love Sabrina and Roman Holiday for old movies. Gone With the Wind, The Wizard of Oz, Some Like it Hot, How to Marry a Millionaire are all great – but some of my favorite older rom-coms are ones with Doris Day and Rock Hudson. *happy sigh* Pillow Talk is my favorite, along with Lover, Come Back and Send Me No Flowers. If you haven’t seen Pillow Talk, I beg you to find it and have a wonderful night in. 🙂

    I’m still making my way through re-watching Veronica Mars seasons before I see the movie. It’s been too long since I first saw them, so I need a refresher. 🙂

    Of course I love your book lists – added Parnassus on Wheels to my GoodReads list. Hoping you have a fabulous April!

  4. melyssa says:

    One of my favorite classics is The Thin Man series, starring Myrna Loy and William Powell. They are perfect together – extremely witty and well written. I love the show Castle because they remind me a bit of a modern day Nick and Nora. 🙂

    • Anne says:

      I haven’t seen any of The Thin Man since I was too young to appreciate it, and forced to watch it because my parents wanted to. ( I do remember that Nick and Nora made the “favorite fictional couples” list back around Valentine’s Day. 🙂 )

  5. Jennifer says:

    I am finally reading Anne of Green Gables, thanks to you, and loving it.

    For classic movies, I do love Pillow Talk and Mame, also Yours Mine Ours (the original), and I recently dvr’d Pollyanna and have started watching it with Samuel and, while we got distracted, we are definitely going back to it. And maybe Grease is not a “classic” but I could watch it anytime, along with Chitty-Chitty Bang Bang.

    I think I’m more of a pop of lime green or yellow girl, but I think orange is perfect for you.

  6. Leigh Kramer says:

    Those flowers are gorgeous! I can’t wait to hear more about house hunting. Did we ever talk about Silver Linings Playbook? I have a vague memory of a Vox from you about it but can’t remember if I ever responded. March was not my month for communication via technology.

  7. Kim says:

    We spent much of our time slowly moving into our new home—hooray for setting a budget and sticking to it. We are also haunting yard sales, Craigslist, etc., to find the things we need and want to further furnish and decorate the house.
    Just finished George Washington’s Secret Six, the spy ring that saved the American Revolution. It’s a terrific and fascinating account of the Culper Ring and how they provided critical information to Washington to help win the war. I highly recommend the book!

  8. Ashley says:

    Classic movies that I’ve been watching lately: Pillow Talk, How to Marry A Millionaire, High Society. Some other wonderful ones: Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, a and this time of year Easter Parade!!

  9. Oh my, your comfort watching is so my speed. I also loved Frozen. I think Veronica Mars needs to be our next TV marathon so I can see what all the fuss is about.

    The babies – so much hilarity. I just imagine my James dressed in some of those get-ups…

    Great idea with the pizza cutter pancake. I hate flipping.

  10. Amy E Patton says:

    The Bronte sisters are to me who Jane Austen is to you. I’m excited to hear you are reading Wuthering Heights. I’m looking forward to hearing about your big project. Speaking of projects, your photography is beautiful. I am diving into the resources you shared the other day.

  11. Courtney says:

    I love Desk Set! Maybe it’s because I’m a librarian, but it’s always been my top Hepburn and Tracy. I love them all (especially Adam’s Rib), but there’s something about Desk Set…

  12. Rosanna says:

    Thanks for another great set of links. I love how you had something for me to share with my 14yo son, something to add to my instagram feed, something to add to my to read and to watch lists, and a few things to make me feel like I’m already reading good stuff!

  13. Leslie H says:

    My favorite Hepburn/Tracy movie is State of the Union. Hard to find, but such a good one! Another I will recommend is The Old Maid with Bette Davis…It will bruise your heart and make you think!

  14. Fun fact: I was an extra on an episode of Veronica Mars. I never watched the show, but it’s the one where she is pretending to be in high school?

    Also: very curious to hear your thoughts on Wuthering Heights. Not one of my faves, but I love hearing different opinions.

  15. “Wuthering Heights” always leaves me conflicted — I love novels about windswept moors but someone needs to give Heathcliff a hearty sock in the jaw. You don’t get to be a jerk just because you’re all deep and broody, you big spoiled brat.
    Veronica Mars (the TV show) has been on my list to check out for a long time…along with Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
    I just read “Ender’s Game” and can’t stop thinking about it. I think it was supposed to be a YA novel but…goodness. And one of my favorite old movies was “To Catch a Thief.” Love!

  16. MK says:

    It seems unnecessary to add the words, “My kids love Frozen, too!” when the internet seems too full of the phrase…but I will mention that I can no longer use the bathroom without hearing, “Do you wanna build a snowman?” from the other side of the door. 🙂

  17. Heather says:

    It Happened One Night really is amazing,
    As is His Girl Friday with Carey Grant.
    We also just watched The Quiet Man for St. Patricks Day, if you like John Wayne in a great ensemble cast in Ireland.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

We appreciate a good conversation in the comments section. Whether we’re talking about books or life, differing opinions can enrich a discussion when they’re offered for the purpose of greater connection and deeper understanding, which we whole-heartedly support. However, my team and I will delete comments that are hurtful or intended to shame members of this community, particularly if they are left by first-time commenters. We have zero tolerance for hate speech or bigotry of any kind. Remember that there are real people on the other side of the screen. We’re grateful our community of readers is characterized by kindness, curiosity, and thoughtfulness. Thank you for helping us keep it that way.

Find your next read with:

100 Book recommendations
for every mood

Plus weekly emails with book lists, reading life tips, and links to delight avid readers.