Rainy Day Reads: Jodi Picoult

I've always loved Jodi Picoult books, especially the most recent one I read entitled The Storyteller.  I started reading her books per my mother’s recommendation.  I have been in love with reading since I was younger and it was always a struggle for her to find books I hadn’t already read.  I started with My Sister’s Keeper (the book is SO much better than the movie) then I went on to read everything she published. She is an author I have continued to read over the years, as I have grown up and years later I still thoroughly enjoy her stories.  I love her writing because she knows how to keep you guessing.  Every book has some sort of twist ending that catches you by surprise. I also love that she deals with intense and poignant topics, relevant today. 

The Storyteller is about a shy baker, Sage, who befriends an old man, Josef, through a grief counseling group she attends after her mothers death.  When Josef unveils a dark secret, Sage must decide the right path to take and the mystery begins to unfold.  A moral dilemma, historical fiction, and many exciting twists and turns, this book kept me on the edge of my seat.  I loved reading it – it was one of those books I couldn’t put down and I could not wait to recommend it to you! Happy reading! 

♥ Caro

Farmer's Market Fun

Saturday (after brunch, of course) I went to the Union Square Farmer’s Market.  I love this farmer’s market because it feels like a little taste of home in the big city.  All of the tents are set up and the stands are full of fresh fruits and veggies – everything smells amazing! This weekend was especially nice because the sections were full of beautiful fall flowers and giant, bright pumpkins!  The weather on Saturday was beautiful, clear blue skies and a nice warm breeze.  I had so much fun browsing the different stands, picking out the best produce with my friend (and Big sister) Laura. She got a lot of great locally grown things, including homemade applesauce I can’t wait to try! I took some pictures while I was there (at Laura’s request – you can thank her for this post!) I figured I would share them with you.  If you are ever in the city and around Union Square on the weekend definitely check out this great market, even if you aren’t planning to buy anything, it is still a fun experience. 

{Casually looking for the perfect pumpkin}

{Union Square}

{Beautiful fall flowers}

{So many peppers}

{Grow your own peppers - caution, HOT}

{Fall Decorations}

{SO excited Fall is here! Happy pumpkin picking!}

♥ Caro

Stay Updated!

I am still getting into the swing of blogging, I am learning more and more everyday and it is definitely a work in progress for me.  I recently added my blog to the site Bloglovin' - it's a great website that takes all of your favorite blogs and puts the new posts in one place for you.  This makes it super easy to stay up to date on new posts and ensure you never miss one! Feel free to follow me there, you can also sign up for email updates or follow me on Instagram (@handbagsandheartbeats) to see when new content is put up! Thanks for the patience and support, and I hope y'all enjoy H&H as much as I do :) 

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♥ Caro

What's In My School Bag?

I have been back in school for about a month now and I am enjoying being back on a schedule and keeping busy.  Though sometimes the stress takes over, for the most part my classes this year are exciting and interesting.  I don't mind going because I enjoy the lessons and the professors are great.  Three days a week I have studio acting classes that last all day, the other two days of the week I am on campus and in academic classes.  It is really nice to interact with people in different majors and have an opportunity to take different classes. I thought I would show you what I carry in my school bag on the days I have academic classes! 

I use my Longchamp Le Pliage Nylon tote as a book bag since this year all of my text books are online. Cute and versatile - I got it in red.  It's a great size, holding everything I need comfortably.  I also love that it's nylon so I don't have to worry as much if I get caught in the rain.  

13" Macbook Pro with Retina Display

Kate Spade La Pavillion Laptop Sleeve 

Lilly Pulitzer Large Agenda in Jellies Be Jammin’

Multicolored Fine Point Marker Pens

Pink and Black Le Pens

Hand Sanitizer

Orbit Wintermint Gum

Lilly Pulitzer Pencil Case

Cough Drops

Hobo Wallet

Scripts to memorize for class

Amazon Kindle in a Dianne von Furstenberg Case

Two Subject Notebook

♥ Caro

Kate Spade Surprise Sale

It is always so exciting to wake up to an email about the Kate Spade surprise sales! Last week they had one, and I got the cutest shirt through the sale on sale. I couldn’t wait to share it with y’all! As soon as I saw this shirt I knew it was perfect for me, I love stripes and the hot pink accent is 100% my style.  It is called the Roanne top and it is cream and black striped with hot pink writing declaring, "Mon Amour." on the front. Originally $148 (for a t-shirt, crazy, I know) but on sale it was reduced to $35, I simply could not resist! It is cotton but the fabric is heavy, which I love because it will be perfect for those cool New York nights, with one of my favorite vests of course. Long sleeved and super comfy, I am so excited to wear it soon!!

♥ Caro