Settle Monroe
Creative writing teacher & mom
WHO DO YOU LIVE WITH | My husband, Jeff, our children: Jack (9), Duncan (7) and Hattie Mac (12 months) and our chocolate lab, Porter (14)
WHAT’S YOUR SIGN | Sagittarius
DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE IN 3 WORDS | Warm, relaxed and colorful
3 FAVORITE THINGS ABOUT YOUR HOUSE | 1) I love the split-level. It lives like a ranch, but we still have separation for bedrooms and a playroom. 2) The location – I can run out the door to walk the children to school or hop on the greenway for a walk or bike ride. 3) The deck my husband and father-in-law added on to the house. It is a great spot for gathering friends and family.
WHAT DO YOU COLLECT | Quotes, poems, books, song lyrics. I have scraps of paper with words and phrases taped on walls and mirrors and tucked all over the house. Oh, and boots – I also collect boots.
YOU’VE DONE AN AMAZING JOB AT MAKING THIS HOUSE FEEL PERFECT FOR YOUR FAMILY – SIMPLE, CLASSIC WITH JUST THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF PERSONALITY. WHAT WERE SOME OF YOUR TRICKS? | Start simple and add layers of spunk as you can.
FAVORITE PLACES TO SCORE FINDS FOR YOUR HOME | My mom is an artist and an art collector. Her house feels like a revolving art gallery. I scored several of my favorite pieces in our home from her walls.
FAVORITE COCKTAIL | Old fashioned in the winter, gin and tonic in the summer
NECESSARY EXTRAVAGANCE/SIMPLE INDULGENCE | Date nights/Hot Tamales and sour jelly beans
FAVORITE PLACE TO GET COFFEE IN RALEIGH | Yellow Dog
FAVE RESTAURANT | Stanbury, Bhavana and Centro
FAVORITE PIECE OF CLOTHING RIGHT NOW | Now and always – my grandmother’s yellow sundress that she wore all the time in the summer. Whenever I wear it, I feel like she is drinking a martini and waving her hands telling a story right next to me.
WHAT’S YOUR NEWEST MUSIC DISCOVERY | Every year or so I rediscover the Staple Singers. Blaring “I’ll Take You There” in the kitchen makes even emptying the dishwasher bearable.
WHAT WOULD PEOPLE BE SURPRISED TO LEARN ABOUT YOU | One of my first jobs involved being a cafeteria lady (hair net, latex gloves and all). I got a real thrill doling out extra chicken nuggets or piling on the mashed potatoes for kids when my boss wasn’t looking.
FAVORITE SONG RIGHT NOW | “Good Kisser” by Lake Street Dive. Although, my family has banned it in our house because I have been singing it nonstop.
A BOOK YOU’VE READ MORE THAN ONCE | Jayber Crow, Catcher in the Rye, To Kill a Mockingbird, Bridge to Terabithia
YOUR FAVORITE 3 THINGS IN YOUR HOUSE | 1) A David Shingler painting of my boys in the woods 2) Needlepoints of Revolutionary War generals that my grandmother made ages ago 3) An old photograph of my great-grandmother, Harriet Settle Plyler, for whom my daughter and I are named
WHAT DO YOU BRING WITH YOU EVERYWHERE YOU GO | A hair rubber band. How do women wear their hair down all day long? I can’t last more than an hour or two. I’ve usually got a book and a journal with me also.
BEST CONCERT YOU’VE EVER BEEN TO | When I was ten years old, my favorite song was “Blowing in the Wind.” My dad took me to see Bob Dylan that year, on a school night. I’ll never forget it.
FAVORITE SONG TO DANCE TO | Tina Turner’s version of “Proud Mary”
WHAT’S ALWAYS IN YOUR REFRIGERATOR | Siggis yogurt, Roots hummus and La Croix
BOOK YOU’RE READING RIGHT NOW | The Sun Does Shine by Anthony Ray Hinton
NETFLIX OBSESSION | Grace and Frankie
WHAT CAN YOU NOT STOP THINKING ABOUT | Traveling out west with my family in a camper.
WHAT DO YOU DO FIRST THING AFTER YOU WAKE UP | I sneak downstairs like a ninja and pray I have time to read and write before the baby wakes.
FAVORITE PLACE TO BUY CLOTHES | The Real Real, Shopbop, Father and Sons, Dress, Ebay
DREAM DINNER PARTY GUESTS | Wendell Berry (give me your insight to change the world), Tina Turner (give me your legs ) and both of my grandfathers (they were great conversationalists)
FAVE SCENT | Dove soap
PIECE OF JEWELRY | My grandmother’s emerald cocktail ring
IMPROMPTU TALENT SHOW – HOW DO YOU WIN | The last talent show I was in (5th grade), I performed an interpretative dance wearing bright orange Duck Head shorts and a unitard. I did not win. However, I still have a pretty mean “up and under” move on the basketball court. Only my dad and husband can defend it. Could I do that in a talent show?
FOOL PROOF DINNER PARTY TIP | Light candles and have a playlist ready. I enjoy planning the music just as much as I enjoy planning the meal!
WEEKEND DESTINATION | The woods of Scotland County, NC on the Lumbee River, where my family has been gathering for many generations
FAVE MUSEUM | North Carolina Museum of Art, my favorite in all the world
TWO THINGS YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB | 1) Teaching is such a creative outlet for me. I get so much energy from planning lessons and dreaming up projects to engage the writing group. 2) I love my students! I teach middle school girls, mostly. They constantly challenge and inspire me (and keep me humble).
WHERE IS THE LAST PLACE YOU TRAVELED | Pine Knoll Shores, NC
WHAT DID YOU BRING BACK | Seashells and a few extra pounds from too many Big Oak shrimp burgers
SONG/ALBUM/STATION THAT ALWAYS PUTS YOU IN A GREAT MOOD | Van Morrison’s “Moondance” album, Neil Young’s “Harvest” album and Reba McEntire’s song, “Fancy” (the absolute best)
FAVE MOVEIE SET DESIGN | “The Shop Around the Corner” in “You’ve Got Mail” is my all-time favorite.
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