Fashion

Dream Dress! – Perfect for a Gala

Tiffany Renee Harmon

Do you ever stumble across a dress or shoe that you can’t stop thinking about? It happens to me pretty frequently, and while it used to make me worry I was deeply shallow at heart, now I know it’s just an extension of my imagination. When I see something beautiful, I’m drawn to it – I’m drawn to its story or the story that could be formed around it. And recently, I came across this dress and a new obsession began. I absolute long for a reason to buy and wear this dress (so, side note: if you’re going to a gala soon, feel free to invite me!)

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The amazing thing is that this Nina tulle dress is actually pretty affordable and available on Amazon for only $69. It really does seem like something that someone would wear to a gala or red carpet event. It might even work for a formal event like prom or even as a bridesmaid dress. Unfortunately, in my case, I know that my short height and larger bust size would make it difficult to pull off this dress even should the occasion arise, but a girl can dream, right?

Anyway, even though I probably won’t be able to wear this dress to a masquerade ball on Valentine’s day where I fall in love with a mysterious stranger (oh no, I fear I’m veering dangerously close to Hallmark movie territory now), that doesn’t mean you can’t!

If you have a great story about a life-changing dress or have an opinion on this one, be sure to let me know in the comments section!

XO – Tiffany

Book Review

Book Review: Maggie Hope Mysteries

Tiffany Renee Harmon

It’s been a while since I reviewed a book or series, but there’s one series in particular that I definitely wanted to share! I have been loving the Maggie Hope Mysteries by Susan Elia MacNeal. These are historical mysteries set during World War II that feature a young woman, Maggie Hope, a British-born American who becomes a codebreaker and spy. The first book in the series is Mr. Churchill’s Secretary.

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This is a pretty long-running series. It has 10 books that have already been published and surely more are on the way. I am halfway through the series, and I think they just keep getting better and better. Maggie is a fantastic heroine who really grows and evolves throughout the series (which means, you definitely should read them in order to get the full impact of her character development!) She is smart and engaging and I adore following her on her many WWII adventures.

Also, while this is definitely not a cozy series, I appreciate that there are some lighthearted moments in each of the books, which balances out the serious war subject matter. I don’t know about you but WWII books can really get me depressed but these balance out the facts with some fun fictional scenarios that are probably a touch beyond what is realistic. Still, I love that each book features at least one very important real historical figure.

If you are a fan of mysteries and history, I absolutely recommend this series. They’re truly some of the best I’ve read. They’re fun and adventurous but are firmly grounded in actual historical events. The characters are refreshing and lively, and they also grow in believable and meaningful ways throughout the series.

Have you read this series or do you love a different historical mystery series? Be sure to let me know in the comment section!

Thanks for reading,

Tiffany

painting

New Painting – Merry Christmas!

Tiffany Renee Harmon

It’s Christmas Eve! Right now, it seems like Cincinnati will be having a mild, kind of warmish Christmas which is just fine with me. I can’t believe this is the second Christmas we’re celebrating during a global pandemic, but hopefully that helps us all feel just even more grateful for our family and friends.

I was looking through my recent paintings and this one felt a bit Christmas-y to me with the red and green like light coming through a stain glass church window. Anyway, I thought I’d share it since it’s a tad festive.

May you have a wonderful Christmas filled with all the people you love and the warmest of memories!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

-Tiffany

Fashion

Petite Fashion Styling – Best Pants Ever!

Tiffany Renee Harmon

As a petite person, it can be really hard to find clothes that fit correctly. Often, petite departments have limited options filled with matronly things I don’t particularly want to wear. But with short arms, a short waist, and very short legs, standard clothing departments typically just have options that seem to devour my frame and trail on the ground behind me. In case you also have this issue, I wanted to share my absolute favorite brand for affordable pants that fit without needing to be tailored or hemmed!

For reference, I am 5’2″ so even some petite pants end up being a bit too long. However, the Hybrid & Company Women’s Stretchy High Waisted Slim Fit Pants come in Standard, Short, and Tall sizes, and I’ve found that the Short ones are PERFECT for my frame. Not only is the length perfect, but they are so comfortable! They also have functional pockets and are pull-ons so you don’t have to worry about zippers or buttons. I wear these pants almost every day and have them in charcoal (featured above), black, dark wash denim, and white.

I found these pants on Amazon and they are only about $30 (the price seems to fluctuate but it’s always roughly that amount unless there’s a sale!) I would love more color options, but I’m thrilled that I can get all the neutrals taken care of! I will say that it’s important to order a size up (I’m typically a small but I definitely need a medium in these pants). I hope these pants are never ever discontinued because they are so perfect for me and my short stature.

Also, as a bonus, I’ll link to the shirt I’m wearing in the picture too: it’s from Romwe and retails on Amazon for about $20. I love the little pearl detailing, the puffy sleeves, and the slim fit. Often, since I’m short waisted, shirts drown me or look like tunics even when they’re not supposed to, but this brand is cut at just the right length. They aren’t actually marketed as petite though, so if you have a longer torso, these might be too short for you. Also, I typically order two sizes up (the shirt in the picture is a large). It can be annoying guessing at sizing for fast fashion, but I typically try to err on getting a bigger size whenever possible since lots of similar brands fit smaller than expected.

I hope this was helpful! If you’re petite (or have the opposite problem) please let me know in the comment section if you have any favorite go-to brands that fit you perfectly!

XO- Tiffany

Poetry Review

November 2021 Ephemeral Elegies Roundup!

Tiffany Renee Harmon

I am super proud and honored to be the Editor-in-Chief of Ephemeral Elegies, a poetry-focused literary journal. It’s been an amazing experience to connect with so many poets from around the globe, so I wanted to make sure I’m sharing more of their work on this site too. So, after each month, I’m going to start posting a roundup of the poems published in case anyone wants to experience some great poetry. Here are the poems that we published in November 2021:

Photo by Thought Catalog on Pexels.com

Thanks for reading!

-Tiffany

Fashion

Great Christmas Shopping Idea!

Tiffany Renee Harmon

If you’re looking for a last-minute gift idea for the fashionista in your life, look no further! I am absolutely obsessed with this Scarleton bag that I bought myself for Black Friday!

This medium-sized bag is perfect for the office. It’s small enough to not feel like a burden while being big enough that I can toss a book or something larger inside to transport it to and from work. It comes in so many shades but I picked grey because of its versatility. It goes with every outfit I own and the neutral color balances out the adorable but large bow. Its quilted design also reminds me of vintage Chanel. Best of all, this bag retails at $40 so it won’t break the bank!

Anyway, happy holidays everyone! And enjoy the last-minute shopping adrenaline high!

XO – Tiffany

Industry News, Poetry Review

Update: Ephemeral Elegies

Tiffany Renee Harmon

Well, winter feels well underway here in Ohio. The leaves are fading from their brilliant hues and falling faster and faster. And as the seasons change and the sunlight seems more fleeting, I’m forced to spend more time indoors. This time of reflection seems the perfect chance to focus once again on poetry, so I wanted to share an update regarding my big passion project, the poetry-themed literary journal Ephemeral Elegies.

We are nearing the end of our second year of publication! I want to give a big shout out to our 663 subscribers and nearly 13,000 visitors. I love seeing poets and readers from around the world comment and encourage one another on the posts! Truly, the online poetry community is one the warmest, most inclusive, best places to be and I’m honored for the opportunity to play a small role.

Submissions for 2022 are open! I’m thrilled to finally be caught up on my email, and now I’m ready for some more. So, if you’re a seasoned, emerging, or brand new poet, please hop on over to our Submissions Page and consider sending us something. I especially love supporting new voices.

Ephemeral Elegies is subtitled “The Poetry of Emotion” because we often focus on the raw exploration of trauma and the grittier parts of life. I know the ongoing global pandemic has impacted everyone, and we’d especially love to see new poems about this experience.

Thanks for reading and considering being part of this thriving poetry community!

-Tiffany

painting

Autumn in the Woods

Tiffany Renee Harmon

I have been loving the cooler weather here in Cincinnati. The leaves are changing in some areas but I’ve also noticed a lot of trees that lost their leaves early this year. Every spare moment, I’ve been trying to soak up as much sunshine as possible before the winter inevitably comes. It’s inspired a lot of my writing and painting, and I wanted to share my latest abstract landscape.

Thanks for stopping by,

Tiffany

Update

New Published Poem!

Tiffany Renee Harmon

I have exciting news to share! The journal Grand Little Things was kind enough to publish my poem “Prelude to the Frost” today. This is a great space for poetry, and I encourage you to check them out if you enjoy reading or writing poetry. Thanks to Patrick at Grand Little Things for the opportunity to be featured today.

Thanks for reading,

Tiffany

Photo by Skyler Ewing on Pexels.com
Book Review

30 Years of Reading

Tiffany Renee Harmon

Yesterday was my 30th birthday, and to celebrate, I wanted to share my top 5 favorite books of all time with you!

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First up is The Elegence of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery. I love this part of the description on Goodreads: “A moving, funny, triumphant novel that exalts the quiet victories of the inconspicuous among us.” That definitely sums it up. I loved the explorations of art and philosophy in this book as well as the unlikely friendships and beautiful descriptions.

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Next is Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. This is absolutely my favorite classic. Jane is my favorite literary heroine. Even though I read this one differently than I did when I was younger (Mr. Rochester no longer feels like a romantic hero to me), I still love Jane and her fearlessness and recklessness as she forges her own path in the world and overcomes the odds stacked against her.

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Third is A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness, described by some as the adult version of Twilight. When I first read this book, I had some issues with it (Matthew’s possessiveness), but it became clear that I couldn’t stop talking about it. Since then, I’ve probably read it five more times and have fallen in love with this story of witches and vampires. I love the science and history described in the series – it really sets this apart from the rest of the romantic fantasy out there.

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Next is Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty. When I first read this one, I couldn’t put it down. I was obsessed with the exploration of motherhood and the way the mystery unfolded. To this day, it’s one of the books I recommend most when I’m working at the library. It’s fast-paced and easy to discuss, which makes it perfect for book clubs. I’ve read all of Moriarty’s books and this is hands down my favorite.

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And lastly, there is Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. The descriptions of nature in this book are truly unparalleled, but I was also instantly drawn into the story about Kya. I loved the way the story unfolded, and I constantly recommend this one at the library as well. This was the rare book where I felt sad when it was over because I’d never be able to read it for the first time again. Still, I’ve enjoyed many subsequent readings.

What are some books that have stayed with you over the years? I would love to know! Feel free to send me recommendations in the comments section!

Thanks for reading!

-Tiffany