Author Archives: Rae Nudson

50 ways to make 50 shades more interesting

Today in Sometimes I Read Things, I take a look back at the literary glory that was 50 Shades of Grey and add 50 ways I think it could be more interesting. If you need a refresher before you dive in, take a look at my thoughts on the book here. But you probably already know the gist of it. This list was compiled with the help of a fellow reader who also felt it was a little…lacking.

1. Christian’s secret is that he tortured and killed his mother’s pimp.
2. The charity he’s been donating to is actually a front for selling illegal arms in guerrilla warfare. I can’t decide if its better if he knows about it or finds out about it later.
3. Ana is actually kind of a ho and teaches Christian a few things
4. Ana gave a kid up for adoption before she met Christian
5. Christian is running a giant ponzi scheme
6. Christian is a pimp for expensive call girls that used to be his subs
7. Taylor, Christian’s live-in head of security, is secretly Christian’s biological father
10. Christian is an international gangster—that’s why he’s so rich
11. Christian opens a thesaurus and uses words for his mother that aren’t “crack whore”
12. Book is written from the perspective of Ana on the reality show “real girlfriends of Seattle”
13. Therapist Dr. Flynn falls in love with Ana and messes with Christians head in anger/jealousy
14. Taylor, the male head of the security team, and Christian had a secret illicit affair
15. Ana becomes a businesswoman and rivals Christian at work
16. I would also like to acknowledge that to receive an email on Ana’s blackberry, it would have to be sent to her personal email address, and for her to receive an email on her work computer, it would have to be sent to her work email address. These are different things. Also, does no one else ever send Ana an email?
17. Ana finds Viagra in his apartment
18. Someone at least once does something embarrassing during sex, i.e. falling off the bed, can’t get bra unhooked, etc.
19. They lived in a world where hangovers exist
20. They stopped arguing about how they don’t deserve each other
21. Christian makes $100,000 an hour? hahahahaha, please
22. Ana actually had a computer since, you know, she’s an A student and lives in the 21st century and has a job
23. The sex scenes were better. Yeah, I said it.
24. Ana was into dominating and Christian was not
25. Darfur seems to be thrown around a lot without anyone actually seeming to know why, so maybe we could pick a less trendy cause for Christian?
26. Christian has an older sister that surfaces
27. There is a hostile takeover of Grey’s company
28. Christian accidentally killed a submissive
29. Christian is a secret serial killer of pimps
30. Ana is already using birth control
31. Ana is a lesbian
32. Ana has a life-threatening disease that one of Christian’s research teams can cure…but she’s not telling
33. Ana likes being a submissive and later wants her own sub
34. Christian is gay
35. Christian’s real dad shows up and wants money
36. Christian’s real dad shows up and is also very rich
37. Christian’s real dad shows up and tries to kill Christan because he doesn’t want any other heirs around
38. Call the book 50 shades of red..amp up the sadism
39. Christian’s company sells the sex products and he tests them
40. Jose begins to stalk gray to do away with him
41. Kate feels she deserved Christian and goes after him
42. Someone starts blackmailing Christian…and it’s ?…Take your pick
43. Christian’s mom is still alive and is looking for him
44. Christian finds out he already has a kid he didn’t know about
45. Ana reads modern fiction/science fiction/anything other than romantic English literature
46. Ana likes make-up and shopping and realizes this does not make her any less smart
47. Someone at his work files a suit because he only hires attractive blonde women
48. Same story, half the length
49. Christian is ugly, Ana falls for him anyway
50. Everyone stopped saying the phrase “mighty fine” forever

Got your own ideas? Leave them in the comments!

I’ve since finished the 50 Shades trilogy and have moved on to better and brighter-titled literature Hot Pink by Adam Levin. It is just what I needed to cleanse my palate.

Keep up with me on Goodreads! And, as always, if you need a way to carry your trashy and not trashy books, check out Rae’s Days on Etsy!


P.S. I can’t take credit for this whole list, so my thanks to another 50 Shades reader who always has the time and wit to talk books.

#fatcat took a very long nap this weekend and was very blob-like in the process. Also this weekend I made Pioneer Woman’s bruschetta and it was delicious. I forgot to get crusty bread at the store so a bagel did in a pinch. I went to the eye doctor after I had some trouble reading the display signs at the museum last weekend. So I got new glasses! I was also told to probably not read for so many hours in the day without taking a break, whoops. In the park, some sidewalk men try to hold hands. Or, you know, it’s sidewalk paint to show where people should walk. Also, the lake was looking particularly lovely. 

I hope your week was great! To see more snapshots during the week, I’m on instagram as raenudson.

back to work

The past weekend was really fun, but work has definitely kicked up a notch this week. To keep my spirits up, I threw a few of my favorite things into one outfit. 

Chambray! Again. From Lands End. Skirt from Zara, sweater from Uniqlo (50% off heyyy), necklace from Dannijo, shoes from JC Penny. Belt from Old Navy. I think I’d like to add some jingly bracelets to this look, but I can’t wear too many at work or they jingle too much when I type. Also, you can’t really see them, but my nails are orange. Which I liked.

Snapshots! It’s been a busy week guys. Good thing I have an Alexander McQueen souvenir to keep me company at my desk at work. My friend Anna came last weekend and it was really fun. We saw city from the Staten Island ferry. #fatcat was busy this weekend, too. He found a new place to hide. And any weekend to New York isn’t complete without a delicious brunch. We also went to the Met! And took a late night train ride home from dinner and a show. 

Today’s look includes blazer from Uniqlo, shoes and skirt from Zara and top from a cute store in Columbia, Mo., that I can’t remember the name of. So glad it’s Friday, am I right?

hunger games

Remember the new tote bag you voted for?! Here it is!

If you’d like one for your very own, email me at raesdays@gmail.com or check it out on Etsy!

books + fashion

So you all know I read 50 Shades of Grey and didn’t hate it as much as I thought I would (for my thoughts on the book, see here). And just to reiterate that you can use critical thinking and find inspiration in just about anything, let’s use the book to find some outfit inspiration. 

In the book, Ana borrow a purple dress from her roommate (you know, because Ana’s too smart to care about clothes and anything that’s not old English literature), and Hot Billionaire ends up quite liking it on her. Here’s how I might style a purple dress for Ana on days when she’s being a normal 20-something and not going on really expensive dates with the city’s hottest bachelor. I’d put her in flats because this girl just does not seem like she’d be comfortable in heels. And you know what, that’s totally ok. Play to your strengths and what makes you comfortable. These flats are from Madewell and I love them. Dress is J Crew, sweater is Jonathan Saunders, earrings are Dannijo (you know, she can’t completely give up glamour), and clutch is Rae’s Days. I think it’s so perfect for her because she loves to read and works in publishing. 

And for when she does have a really expensive date with HB? Why not hint at that sexy bondage stuff the book alludes to so much. Add a corset belt, shoes from Louboutin, bracelet from Asos, and McQueen lookalike clutch. Dress is L’Wren Scott. 

bookstore

I’ve been posting some tidbits here and there, but now I am so excited to announce that my zipper bags can be found at Second Chapter Books in Ligonier! 

My wonderful friend Jewels (you guys know Jewels, right? She runs a cool cooking blog) was using some bags she got from Rae’s Days on Etsy, and a very nice bookstore owner in her town saw them and took an interest. Jewels told her all about me, and, a few weeks later, they are ready for sale at Second Chapter Books. I couldn’t be more thrilled about this opportunity, and it was so fun to work on this order and see them in a brick and mortar store. If you are in town, please stop by and check them out!

If you aren’t in great state of Pennsylvania, you can always check out Rae’s Days on Etsy. 

snapshots

I always like when people post some of their pictures from the week, so here we go. 

  • #fatcat was being really cute this week. Obvs.
  • The flowers outside of my office are gorgeous! 
  • I went shopping! These are my new shoes from Zara. Also, if you were curious, that’s what the floor of our elevators look like.
  • The view up from a bench across the street from my apartment. I always have trouble spelling the word “across,” does that happen to anybody else? 
  • My friend Jewels was kind enough to send a picture of my bags in a bookstore in her town of Ligonier! If you are in town you should stop by and buy one.
  • There was a lot of pink in my apartment over the weekend—thread, nail polish, fabric

Hope everyone had a great weekend! If you want to see some snapshots in real time, follow me on Instagram at raenudson!