No Regrets! Giveaway, Interview and Review with the Fabulous Sarah Ivens

Tell me which you regret more: That night back in college where you had a little too much to drink and you can only piece together 95% of the evening? Or having your loved one pass before you could tell him/her how you really felt?

Regretting the things we haven't done, rather than those we have, is the premise behind the book "No Regrets: 101 Fabulous Things to Do Before You're Too Old, Married or Pregnant" by Sarah Ivens.

"Fabulous" is a fitting word for the title, as Sarah herself exudes fabulosity through every page. Not only is she the Editor-in-Chief of OK! Magazine (which alone counts as ultra fabulous in my book), but she has done all but one of the 101 ideas listed in her book. From exotic travels, to indulgent feasts, to the simple pleasures in life, "No Regrets" has it all.

I think this one paragraph from the book about the wonders of Bourbon Street sums Sarah up perfectly:

"I've been lucky enough to meet George Clooney at the Golden Globes, dance with Sharon Stone at the Oscars, and go behind the scenes at New York Fashion Week, but nothing compares to N'awlins."

See what I mean? This girl knows how to have fun!

Consider "No Regrets" to be a bucket list for chic, girly-girls. A glam list if you will. And even though I am married with three kids, and getting closer and closer to what might be considered "old," I am still striving to accomplish at least a few of Sarah's ideas.



While reading, I tended to get excited when I could cross off an idea as already accomplished, such as "buy sexy underwear." I always refuse to wear anything but! There really is something for everyone in here, so even if you can't go on an African Safari, you CAN "be the first to apologize," or "throw yourself a party."

On the top of my glam list:

1. Rock the Microphone at Karaoke (while I've done an online version of this, I've yet to do it live in public.)
   
2. Splash Out in a Burberry Raincoat
   
3. People Watch in Paris

So what's the one thing Sarah hasn't been able to do?

"The one thing I couldn't do of my 101 things was visit the Taj Mahal," Sarah told me. "India was declared unsafe just before the trip, so I I had to postpone my visit and rely on multiple accounts of the place from close friends and guide books. I need to go there before I'm too old for sure."

What would be Sarah's biggest regret in life if she weren't able to accomplish it? "My biggest regret in life would be if my friends and family failed to realize how much I love them," she said. "Since writing this book, I am trying to live more in the moment and appreciate the smaller things and people, not just bigger things and things money can buy."



I asked Sarah what one thing from her list of 101 ideas she would do all over again and she picked one that I found fascinating myself. "Swim with sharks in Bora bora - apart from my wedding day, it really was the most exhilarating time of my life!"

And the one idea she would recommend for all of you? "Compete with yourself - not your girlfriend," Sarah advised. "Jealousy and bitchiness get you nowhere. The race is long, and only with yourself."

Told you she was fabulous. :)

Thanks to Sarah and Random House, I have a copy of "No Regrets" to give away to one lucky reader! To enter, simply leave a comment letting me know what you would put at the top of your "No Regrets" list and why.

Be sure that there is an email address for you that I can find, or your entry will have to be disqualified. By entering, you automatically agree to all the rules and disclaimers listed here.

You can receive additional entries by doing one or all of the following (one entry for each step):

~Twitter with a link to this post. Then leave a separate comment here with your Twitter link.

~Blog about this contest with a link to this post. Then leave a separate comment here with the link to your post.

~Follow this blog. Simply click on "Follow this blog" found near the top of the sidebar to the right (under "The Blonde"). Then, leave a separate comment letting me know you are following.

~Post the button below on your blog and then leave a separate comment here letting me know it's posted and where. Here's the code for the button:



<a href="http://www.soablondewalksintoareview.com" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="So A Blonde Walks Into A Review" src="http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll303/BlondeBlogger/dawn_125button.gif"/></a>

~Add So a Blonde Walks Into a Review to your Technorati Favorites (just click the button below and follow the simple steps). Then, leave a separate comment here letting me know you've added this blog to your favorites:



Deadline to enter is 11:59 EST, Tuesday, November 10, 2009. Winner will be selected at random using Random.org. Good luck!

Good Deals & Smart Steals Review and Giveaway

Most of us are feeling the pinch this holiday season and if you're like me, you're doing your best to score "deals and steals" while doing your shopping.

The makers of Good Housekeeping have long been respected as the go-to source for such money-saving ideas. Now, they've come out with a book filled with their tips.

Good Deals & Smart Steals: How to Save Money on Everything by the editors of Good Housekeeping, is a perfect book for frugal shoppers. Whether your shopping for big or small-ticket items, you're bound to find a tip to help you stretch your dollar.

Part One, "How to Be a Smart Shopper," covers everything from rebates, to negotiating, to "stacking" and more. Stacking is the process of combining coupons, rebates, and other discounts.

I was able to use this technique recently at Victoria's Secret online, where you're allowed to use three coupon codes at a time. Their $60 pajamas were on sale for $40, and they were offering a pair of free slippers with every pajama purchase.

I searched online for more deals and was also able to get a 20% discount and this free set of perfumes (containing over a dozen Victoria Secret scents) just by using coupon codes:



So for less than $40, I received a pair of luxurious pajamas, matching slippers, and a set of Victoria Secret's finest perfumes (all valued at roughly $130 combined). Stacking has to be one of my favorite tips in the book! You can even stack on top of stacking...I made a few more individual orders for gifts for the women in my family and scored the same deal over and over.

Part two, "Get a Good Deal," covers various categories of shopping such as fashion and beauty, entertainment and cars. Which part do you think I went to first?

Mmm hmmm....fashion and beauty. *grin* I love the blurb under this section:

"Sometimes half the fun of looking good is in shopping for the right clothes, shoes, and makeup, and getting your hair done perfectly. The other half comes from finding a bargain in all these areas, which is easy to do with the tips in this chapter."

A chapter after my own heart! :) One tip is to check for deals from your favorite stores online before buying in person. I use this method when getting my kids' hair cut at Cartoon Cuts. They always have a discount coupon that can be printed out for each child and I make sure I have those with me before we go.

Want to learn some tricks for yourself? Thanks to Meryl L. Moss Media Relations, Inc., one lucky person will win a copy of Good Housekeeping's Good Deals & Smart Steals: How to Save Money on Everything
To enter, simply leave a comment here with your best money-saving tip. Be sure there is an email to be found or your entry will have to be disqualified.

For bonus entries, you can do one or all of the following:

~Blog about this contest on your site with a link to this post, then leave a separate comment here with your link.

~Post about the contest on Twitter for another entry, then leave a separate comment here with the link to your Tweet.

~Subscribe to this site (found under "subscribe" in the sidebar), then leave a separate comment here letting me know you've subscribed (if you're already a subscriber, you will still need to leave a separate comment so that I can give you an extra entry)

By entering, you automatically agree to all the rules and disclaimers listed here.

Deadline to enter is 11:59 EST, Wednesday, December 17, 2008. Winner will be selected at random using Random.org, posted here and contacted by email.

Good luck!

Christmas....Sucks?

I know. Shocking title, right? That's what I thought too when I first heard about the book by the same name, "Christmas Sucks: What to Do When Fruitcake, Family, and Finding the Perfect Gift Make You Miserable" by Joanne Kimes. (author of "Pregnancy Sucks")

If you're not one of the many people who dread the holiday season, then you probably at least know someone who does. I myself am a Christmas fanatic. I cannot get enough of the holiday and am so excited when I see all the lights start to go up in the neighborhood (as they have now). I'm like a little kid every December.

My husband on the other hand, is a definite Christmas scrooge. And I can understand why as he's the budget-runner in our house. I probably wouldn't be as cheery as I am if I was the one to face the bills!

So when I saw this book, I immediately thought of my husband and knew he'd get a kick out of it. When it arrived, I handed it to him and said, "Here. This is for you." And he laughed as soon as he saw the title, nodding his head. I'm sure he was grateful that there was someone out there who understood him.

Now I will warn you. If you are easily offended, you'll want to avoid the book. Kimes is definitely the Sarah Silverman of the book world! I personally found her hilarious (as did my husband) and I'm going to have the book out on the coffee table for our Christmas party. Though I'll make sure it's not within any child's reach, of course.

Speaking of Christmas parties, here's a quote from the book on the disadvantages of cookie swap parties:

"You may get stuck with some truly crappy cookies. Sure you leave with an assortment of cookies instead of all one kind, but there are always some loser cookies in the bunch, like the candied fruit lavender surprise or the ones with nuts you hate, or the dried-out cookies that the baker claims to be biscotti but you know are only called this to cover for the fact that they were overcooked."

See what I mean? I love her humor. Sarcastic and snarky? Yes. But also down-to-earth and real. Kimes is the kind of friend who would flat out tell you that, yes indeed your butt does look big in that dress. And while you'll get mad at first, you'll inwardly thank her for saving you the humiliation of wearing that dress in public.

Her rants will amuse you and her many tips just might save you some sanity this Christmas!

Click over to Sucks and the City, Kimes' blog, to learn more about "Christmas Sucks."

And while you're there, check out her blog description for further proof of her hilarious sense of humor:

"Let's be honest. I know you only found this site by surfing for either "Sex and the City" info, or a porn version of said film. But I think you'll enjoy this site as well, so take off your coat and stay awhile."

Want to win a copy of "Christmas Sucks" for yourself? Thanks to Meryl L. Moss Media Relations, Inc., one lucky person will win a copy of the book. Simply leave a comment here describing a funny/embarrassing/silly moment you've experienced during the holidays to be entered. Be sure there is an email to be found or your entry will have to be disqualified.

For a bonus entry, blog about this contest with a link to this post, then leave a separate comment here with your link.

By entering, you automatically agree to all the rules and disclaimers listed here.

Deadline to enter is 11:59 EST, Tuesday, December 9, 2008. Winner will be selected at random using Random.org, posted here and contacted by email.

Good luck!

The Secret Mountain

As I've said here before, we have a thing for books in our house. My kids still love for me to read to them and they read to themselves every night as well.

So I'm always delighted to come across new publishers and books that I can share with my kids. I recently was able to review three books from the amazing publishing group The Secret Mountain:

Down at the Sea Hotel



Dream Songs Night Songs



A Duck in New York City



My personal favorite is "A Duck in New York City." My kids seemed to like that one best, too, most likely because we just traveled there this summer for vacation.

Here's a description of the book from the publisher:

"An original work by well-known singer-songwriter Connie Kaldor that tells the story of a little prairie duck with a big idea – making it on Broadway. It’s a long shot, and New York’s very far away. Luckily, a truck-driver named Big Betty comes along, offers him a ride, and gives him that extra little boost he needs to fulfill his dream!"

What sets these books apart from most others is that they come with a CD filled with music to accompany the stories. Lyrics and illustration files are also available for printing on the CDs.

The books themselves are high-quality. They are hardcover, well-bound, and the illustrations inside and out are dazzling!

The Secret Mountain books are going down on my favorites list. Head over to their site now to check them out for yourself. Enjoy!

I've Got a Secret

Finding quality books for my kids to read is not always in easy task in this day and age. That's why I was so excited to find out that Danna Gresh, one of my favorite, Christian authors, has come out with a mainstream book series for tweens.

Secret Keeper Girl is a fiction series that explores relevant and age-appropriate issues to girls ages 8-12. The series is comprised of four books that feature a group of middle school friends who support each other through the challenges that they face in life.

My daughter Natalie, who is 8, got to try out Danika's Totally Terrible Toss - The Legend of the Purple Flurp in the series. The book is about a girl who gets into trouble when she accidentally hits the lunch lady in the head with her brown paper bag lunch. Through her troubles, she comes to learn that popularity can come with a price and that it's more important to be the "real Danika."

Natalie LOVED the book and finished it fairly quickly, which is pretty good considering it's over 100 pages and has ten chapters. So even if your child is on the lower end of the tween spectrum, it should be easy for them to follow along.

The design of the book is very appealing as well. Each page is framed in a purple background with girly graphics, and I think that made the book more visually appealing to Natalie.

At the end of the book, there are some fun activities, such as a Bible verse and how it applies to the character of Danika and her life, discussion ideas for moms and their daughters, a question form with blanks for your child to write in, and more.

In looking at the back of Natalie's edition, I see she answered the question about the most important thing about friendship. She wrote, "Being a friend is the only way to have one," (one of the lessons in the book).

See what I mean about quality reading? In fact, one of Gresh's main goals is to help young girls to avoid the perils of peer pressure and to encourage modest yet trendy attire.

To enhance this goal, and to accentuate the book series, there is an online site called Secret Keeper Girl. There are sections for both mothers and daughters and the site is so lively and colorful. The message within (about faith and values) is an important one for me as a mom to pass on to my daughter.

Be sure to check out the other books in the series as well: Just Call Me Kate, Yuzi's False Alarm, and "T" is for AnTONIa.

For more information, visit the website and check out this video featuring the author Dannah Gresh:

The Tear Thief Will Steal Your Heart

I'm fortunate to have children young enough that they still enjoy my reading to them (just don't tell my son's friends that *smile*). Every now and then, we'll happen upon a book that stands out above the rest...one that is timeless and will forever be remembered.

The Tear Thief by Carol Ann Duffy, and illustrated by Nicoletta Ceccoli, is one such book. This 32-page hardcover published by Barefoot Books is filled with magical illustrations and soothing prose.

The Tear Thief collects the tears of children all over the world and keeps them in her special silver sack. There are children who cry over small things with crocodile tears, but the tears of real sadness hold the most worth.

One girl who cries such tears of sadness happens upon the Tear Thief when she catches her reflection in a puddle (the only way to see her). Readers will follow this girl along in her journey with the Tear Thief and will learn just why these tears are collected and what the Tear Thief does with them.

My kids were riveted and now count this book as one of their favorites. Here are a few examples of the whimsical illustrations and the lovely way Duffy tells this story (click to enlarge):





Beautiful, isn't it? Click here for more information and/or to order. Just be prepared to have a tear or two of your own stolen. :)

Sweet Life - Interview and Giveaway

Don't you love when you stumble upon a book that you can't put down? I just finished such a book - Sweet Life by Mia King. With rich characters, an intriguing plot and an unforgettable message, this book is going down on my favorites list.

The book's tag line sums it up best: "What if you got away from it all—and then it all got away from you?"

The main character, Marissa, is someone you come to love quickly. All of her quirks and vulnerabilities are exposed along with her strengths and good qualities. King does an impressive job of creating a well-rounded heroine.

As she follows her husband Paul from New York to his new job in Hawaii, (with daughter Pansy in tow), life begins to unravel. Instead of finding paradise, she loses her marriage...and herself.

King, however, takes us on an entertaining ride as we watch Marissa find herself once again, as well as what defines her and makes her truly happy.

One aspect I loved the most is that King, like me, is a homeschooling mom and weaves her experience seamlessly into the plot. Stereotypes are quietly exposed and explained away, much to my delight.

I also loved the setting...the beautiful state of Hawaii. I learned a lot about Hawaiian traditions, foods and more. As a bonus, recipes to many of the dishes talked about in the story can be found in the back of the book.

Check out this enticing promotional video and see if you can't wait to read it as much as I wanted to:



Recently, I had the opportunity to interview Mia King and I think her answers will give you good insight into the making of Sweet Life:

********************************************************************************
1. Did the story of Marissa and Paul come to you through experience, or did you do research into the issue of a strained marriage? If the latter, how did you go about that?

The story of Marissa and Paul came to me as a result of moving to the Big Island. I noticed in the eight years that I've lived here that the island has a way of pushing you to look at your issues, ready or not. Many marriages and relationships get tested here.

For some reason living on the mainland seems to buy you extra time -- you can maintain status quo for a while. But if you move to the Big Island, look out -- if there is anything simmering under the surface of your marriage, well, it's going to come out.

Living here has definitely strengthened my own marriage, and for that I am forever grateful, but Pele and the island definitely make you work for it! ;-)

2. How does being a homeschooling mother influence your plot, if at all?

As a homeschooling parent, I struggled with finding my own definition of homeschooling and then defending it to friends and family who couldn't understand why I was homeschooling. By including it in my novels, I like to think that I'm mainstreaming the concept for more people, along with the truth that ANYBODY can homeschool. I would never had dreamed I would be homeschooling, but here I am, and I love it.

3. How do you find the time to craft such a brilliant novel while homeschooling?!

The ultimate compliment! My daughter is 7 1/2 and very smart, which helps, and my other two are still pre-K (well, one's less than 3 months so he's pre-pre-K!). I just write when I can, and work homeschool around my schedule as a family.

We're unconventional in that we have our own business as well and work weekends, so homeschooling gives us the freedom to spend time together and fit other things in. But some days I feel like I can't get anything done - homeschooling or writing, much less laundry or cleaning the bathroom - and I just try to give myself a break on those days.

4. Did you use to live in New York like your character Marissa? If so, what caused you to move to Hawaii?

I've been to New York a lot but never lived there. I did a lot of schooling on the East Coast, though, and wanted a character that would really experience a culture shock in moving to Hawaii. I've been fortunate enough to live in a lot of places so the move to Hawaii wasn't a big deal for me.

My husband and I were living in California before and came out on vacation when I was 5 months pregnant. We felt "the call" to come here, so we sold everything and did, two months later. We gave up our corporate jobs and my husband started a golf school, The Spirit of Golf Academy (www.spiritofgolfhawaii.com) and we both started writing. We've never had island fever and love being here, though we do miss family.

5. I love the painfully honest journey we get to take through Marissa's character, especially when she admits to faults such as looking down on the barista and the "hippy mom." What goes into defining your characters and their traits? Do you draw from experience, watch others, or something else?

The secondary characters and relationships are just as important to me as the primary ones. I love relationships and friendships that are borne from the unlikeliest of circumstances, and among the unlikeliest of people. People that Marissa never thought she'd become friends with, and yet they're the ones that help her deepen with herself and become a more authentic person.

I've had that happen in my own life, too: a woman who really bugged me moved next door to me and for three years I tried to move away, but couldn't! In the end, she became one of my dearest friends, and remains that way today.

6. What lessons/insights do you want your readers to come away with most after reading "Sweet Life?"

That life sometimes has greater things in store for us that we may not be able to see at first, and that it's never too late to change or uplevel your life.
*********************************************************************************

You can probably see why I'm also adding Mia King to my favorite authors list!

And Mia is offering a SWEET giveaway to readers here! Check out this glorious gift basket which one lucky winner will receive:



The basket is filled with goodies:

• ~one small gold box of Chocolate Dipped Original Shortbread Cookies
  
• ~one gold box of Kohala Brownie Assortment
  
• ~one petite box of Hawaiian Macadamia Nut Rocky Road
  
• ~one petite box of Combination (Dark and Milk) Chocolate Covered Macadamia Nuts
  
• ~three Dark Chocolate Dipped Original Shortbread cookies
  
• ~one Original Biscotti with Milk Chocolate waves
  
• ~one Original Biscotti with Dark Chocolate Waves
  
• ~one signed copy of GOOD THINGS
  
• ~one signed copy of SWEET LIFE
  
• ~an assortment of temporary hibiscus tattoos, tropical key chains, monogrammed GOOD THINGS and SWEET LIFE pens, and bookmarks

And since Mia and I have homeschooling in common, she offered to throw in extra homeschool-related goodies. In addition to the basket, the winner will receive a Hawaiian studies workbook and stickers!

To enter, simply leave a comment here letting me know which part of the interview interested you most and why (for example, "I love that Mia homeschools"). For a bonus entry, blog about this contest on your site with a link to this post, as well as to Mia's site. Then leave a separate comment here with your link so I can put you down for another entry.

Deadline to enter is 11:59 EST, Saturday, September 20. U.S. residents only, please. Further disclaimers as follows:

1. 1. Must be 18 or older to participate.
   
2. 2. Any prize or prize notification returned to Mia or Big Island Candies as undeliverable will result in the awarding of that prize to an alternate winner.
   
3. 3. No purchase is necessary to win.
   
4. 4. The gift baskets, books and promotional items are given in-kind and have no cash value.
   
5. 5. Basket contents and style may vary slightly depending on availability.
   
6. 6. This give-away contest is offered in good faith and in the spirit of fun and aloha. Mia King, miaking.com, Big Island Candies and Penguin Group USA, Inc. and So a Blonde Walks Into a Review assume no liability for damages associated with the gift basket or contents contained herein.

Good luck and happy reading!

Summer Affair

It's that time of year again. My favorite time of year, actually. Summer. And anyone who has read here for awhile, knows that I love a good summer read!

Just how enticing is this cover for beach/poolside reading:



I know, right? That alone had me hooked. And I promise you, the inside of Summer Affair by Elin Hilderbrand (published by Little, Brown and Company), is just as intriguing.

The weird thing for me was the fact that the main character, Claire Danner Crispin, is a professional glass blower. How many main characters have you read with that job? None? Yeah, me too.

Well, it just so happens that my sister is an art major in college and is studying glass blowing. It's what she wants to do when she's finished college, and she just made me a gorgeous, glass vase for my birthday this past May. So I felt closer to my sister as I read all about the ins and outs of this amazing art.

There are so many interesting characters in Summer Affair, and that was another aspect I really enjoyed. Each one was well-developed and I couldn't wait to hear how each one's life was progressing throughout the story.

The entire story takes place on the island of Nantucket, and Hilderbrand will make you feel like you are right on the island with all of the characters, enmeshed in the goings on of everyday life there.

The main character, Claire, was someone I couldn't quite figure out. She was a mystery to me. And I think that was the author's intent.

She is study in contrasts. Yin and Yang. Fire and Ice. On one hand she is a loving wife and mother, and on the other, she is abandoning her family night after night to enjoy a fling with the head of a charity event (of which she is the co-chair). At times, she is a devoted friend to her sister-in-law, Siobhan, and at other times, she is keeping secrets from her and lying to her.

I think Claire herself is on a journey to find out exactly who she is, and that was the reason for her affair. She is rebelling against all of the labels that have been put on her and takes this dangerous journey to discovering herself.

Click here to get your hands on a copy of this fun read. And after you've read it at the beach or poolside (and into the wee hours of the morning by a nightlight on your nightstand...*ahem*), come let me know what you thought about it.

Stay-At-Home Survival Guide

There are plenty of books on the market that give advice on raising children. But what about you? Want to know how you can survive those child-raising years?

Melissa Stanton shares excellent advice on just that topic in her new self-help book The Stay-At-Home Survival Guide - Field-tested strategies for staying smart, sane, and connected while caring for your kids, published by Seal Press.

Stanton is a former editor of People (my dream job) and LIFE magazines who decided to leave the workforce to raise her children. She shares the lessons and skills she's learned along the way in the book, with advice on topics such as creating time for yourself, making friends, getting your partner more involved in child rearing, and more.

The book includes interviews with stay-at-home moms, discussions with experts and has checklists to help you make the most of your time and keep you balanced. Stanton also shares her own experiences on leaving a career to become a stay-at-home mom herself.

I am so happy to have found a book that not only understands the struggles stay-at-home moms go through, but that gives us a guide to surviving those struggles.

My absolute favorite part of the book is a little excerpt titled, "What Do You Say When You're Asked 'What Do You Do?'" Before I became a freelance writer, I would always answer that question with, "I'm a stay-at-home mom."

When I began writing and answered, "I'm a freelance writer," I was amazed at the difference in the responses I'd get! Their faces would light up and they would suddenly be so interested in what I had to say. As if being a mom isn't more important than putting words on a piece of paper.

In this particular excerpt in the book, Stanton shares responses from mothers across the country on how they handle this question. Reading these two responses made me grin from ear to ear:

"...I've realized that once most people figure out you stay home, they don't think you have anything important to say." -Jen

"I always give it to them straight and say I'm a homemaker. I tend not to say I'm a lawyer or a cellist unless it comes up. I watch their reactions. It's no loss to me to not spend time with a person who's so stupid as to actually think that because someone cares for the most important asset society has, she has nothing to offer the conversation." -Sandra

Wow! It felt SO good to read that!

I highly recommend this book to all stay-at-home moms, dads, or those who just want to understand what it's like to be in our shoes. You'll feel an instant camaraderie with Stanton and the moms who share their experiences in the book. And what stay-at-home mom couldn't use a little camaraderie?

Find The Stay-At-Home Survival Guide at Amazon by clicking here.

Mama Rock's Rules - Review and Giveaway

Update: Please note the new deadline of April 27 for this contest. I'm bumping up the date so that I can feature this contest in the very awesome Bloggy Giveaways Carnival! Click here to enter all of the other fabulous giveaways going on there. Good luck!

As a parent of three, I've been learning and growing along with my children for over 18 years. And you know what? "You learn something new everyday" is quite true, even after all this time.

Imagine if you were able to get sage advice and tips from a mother who has successfully raised 27 children? If you're like me, you'd jump on the chance to do so.

You'll have the opportunity to do just that when you read Mama Rock's Rules: Ten Lessons for Raising a Household of Successful Children (Harper Collins) by Rose Rock with Valerie Graham. Rose Rock is the mother of comedian Chris Rock, and has raised ten children as well as 17 foster children.



Anyone who can do that...and do it successfully, has my full attention! The book is full of wonderful words of wisdom, and I like that Mama Rock is very "old school." She tells it like it is and believes in setting rules and limitations for children. She believes that parents should be parents and not friends with their children (Amen to that!)

To bring home the points she makes in each section, she offers "Mama's Mojo" which is a short but sweet summary of some of her rules. Her children also offer their point of view in quotes in the sidebars of the book.

The celebrity lover in me enjoyed getting a glimpse into the childhood of Chris Rock. Mama Rock tells so many funny/charming stories that you feel like you're right there in their household, trying to cover up the broken gumball machine right along with them (one broken piece at a time carried out of the house under coats, lol).

My favorite piece of advice was how Mama Rock got her children to admit to doing something wrong. She advises parents to never ask a "yes" or "no" question. Don't ask your children if they broke a vase. The answer will always be no.

Instead, sit them down, make them comfortable with something like a delicious bowl of ice cream and then make them believe that you already know more than you do (don't you just love her already?). Then ask them something like, "When you did this (broke the lamp or piece of china), were you bouncing a ball or did you throw it around the room with someone else?"

I am so going to use that from now on with my kids! In fact, I clearly remember using this on a boyfriend of mine who I suspected was cheating on me in middle school. He'd gone to a skating rink on a Friday night and when he got back I said, "I heard you were skating with that girl."

Of course, I'd heard no such thing, but it worked. He apologized profusely and I quickly dumped him. Why didn't I ever think to use that tactic with my kids? Thanks, Mama Rock for reminding me that a little manipulation can go a long way in bringing out the truth!

I don't agree with all of the rules in the book (for example, I don't believe in handing my children a condom and so far my approach has worked as my oldest is heading off to college as a virgin and plans to save herself for marriage), but I think most parents would be hard-pressed to completely agree with all the rules another parent has for their kids.

But I do agree with most of the rules, and I think you will too.

Want to find out if you do? I am giving away my review copy of Mama Rock's Rules to one lucky reader. Simply leave a comment here to be entered. Deadline to enter is at 11:59 p.m, April 27. Winner will be selected at random using Random.org and announced on April 28. Good luck!

Road Map To Holland

As I sit here, I am trying to find the right words to adequately express how much this book meant to me. And I realize there are none. None that are powerful enough anyway.

I have always had a special place in my heart for children with Down syndrome. So when I was offered the opportunity to review the memoir Road Map to Holland: How I Found My Way Through My Son's First Two Years With Down Syndrome by Jennifer Graf Groneberg, I immediately accepted.

Little did I know just how important this book would become to me and my family. Shortly after I began reading it, we found out that my sister-in-law, who is pregnant with my first niece or nephew, was told that initial tests showed she was at increased risk of having a baby with Down syndrome. My mother-in-law informed us that abortion was being considered.

I felt so helpless and I wanted to shout to the rooftops about how wonderful children with Down syndrome are. How this was not a death sentence, if the tests were even correct, which many times they are not. I wanted to share how what may seem like a burden can actually be the biggest blessing in your life.

I wanted to give my sister-in-law a "road map to Holland."

In fact, I wish every single woman who is faced with this possible diagnosis be given this book to read. It is honest, gripping, and raw, and a testimony to the boundless love a mother can have for her child.

The title comes from the idea that having a baby with Down syndrome is a bit like having planned a trip to Italy, but being detoured to Holland. You've made all of these plans to tour the beautiful hillsides of Tuscany and everything is all mapped out.

When your plane finally lands, the stewardess announces, "Welcome to Holland." At first you are confused, afraid, bewildered. You know nothing about Holland. You have no idea how to get around, where to go, what to do.

But Holland is beautiful too. You just need to get a new road map, change your plans and enjoy all that this new place has to offer you.

The pain of not being able to realize your dreams of going to Italy, especially as everyone around you talks about how wonderful their trips to the country were, will never fully go away. But, as Groneberg says, if you spend your time dwelling on that pain, you'll never be able to fully enjoy "the very special, the very lovely things...about Holland."

What I loved most about Groneberg, is that she makes it clear in this book that she is no out-of-the-ordinary superhero. She is just like you and me. She has fears, worries and insecurities just like the rest of us. And she shows that all it takes to raise a child with Down syndrome is love. That's the only quality you will need to possess. Love alone will give you courage and determination and anything else that may be required of you.

There was one part of the book that made me really identify with Groneberg. It's what made me see, more than anything, that she is just like any other mother. She talked about watching the Tour de France and how cyclists have support vans that move along with them as they race. She says:

"I need a support van. A mother's support van following alongside me wherever I go, full of helpful people popping out whenever they are needed. Want a nap? Here we are. Need to use the toilet? Take your time. Shower? No problem. How about a paper cup of Gatorade and a splash of cool water on the face?"

Oh my gosh! What mother wouldn't LOVE to have such a thing? I was nodding my head vigorously and dreaming of how much easier life would be with a support van.

But you know what? I'm not sure if Groneberg realizes this or not, but in a way, she has not only created a road map for parents facing a Down syndrome diagnosis. Her book is also that support van.

Feeling lost? Scared? Confused? Afraid of what the future holds? There's a support van waiting to help you, and it's found in Road Map to Holland.

My sister-in-law, as it turns out, was never really considering abortion (we found out that that idea came more from my mother-in-law). She has decided to not find out the results of her follow-up tests and accept whatever God gives to her.

If that is a baby with Down syndrome, I will be there with open arms. And I will have a road map and support van all ready for her.
************************
~Read the backstory on Road Map to Holland, including the amazing moment captured on the book's cover, by clicking here.

~Be sure to check out the author's blog, as well as her columns in Mamazine.com and Literary Mama.

~Purchase your own copy of this amazing book here.

Healthy Child, Healthy World

Note: Thank you for your patience as I've had to take a bit of a hiatus from posting regular reviews and contests. There are still two contests you can enter. Click here and here for more information and to enter. New contests will be posted very soon. Thanks for reading!

As a mom of three, I know all about worry. You worry about the foods your children eat, the air they breathe, the environment in which they live. Most of all, you worry that your children will grow up happy and healthy.

I was blown away by the information I read in Healthy Child, Healthy World by Christopher Gavigan, and how many things I did not realize had an adverse affect on my children's health.

Something as simple as a basic household cleaner can contain chemicals that irritate the respiratory system, are carcinogenic, disrupt hormones, and are neurotoxic. Studies show that using typical cleaners is associated with chronic wheezing and asthma in children (all of my children have asthma, so this was particularly concerning to me). Manufacturers are not required to post these warnings on labels.

Think your child is healthy because he/she eats lots of fruits and vegetables? So did I. But if those fruits and vegetables are not organic, the more they eat, the more harmful pesticides they may be ingesting.

Fish and seafood can also be problematic, as they often contain high levels of both mercury and PCB's, which are linked to memory and thyroid problems, and possibly cancer. Did you know that it can take about ten years for your body to rid itself of the chemicals in half of one night's dinner?

Even plastic toys, water bottles, shower curtains, etc. can be hazardous. Plastics (mainly those with a #3 recycling label) contain Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), which is made from flammable glass vinyl chloride, a known carcinogen. Our family goes through a ton of water bottles, something I'm going to work on changing.

The good thing about this book is that it gives you answers and solutions along with the warnings and information. You'll feel empowered rather than scared. There are easy-to-follow steps and the book encourages you to go slowly so as not to feel overwhelmed.

For example, cutting out cleaning products that contain scents is one step toward reducing respiratory irritation. Easy enough, right? There are also tons of cleaning tips and recipes for homemade, organic cleaning solutions.

The book also contains advice from celebrities such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Brooke Shields, Tom Hanks, Tobey Maguire, Kate Hudson and Erin Brockovich, and the foreword is by Meryl Streep.

Click here to check out Healthy Child, Healthy World's website, and here to purchase the book. Here's to being healthy!

The Liar's Diary - Review and Giveaway

If you loved the movie Notes on a Scandal, you're going to love the new, intriguing book, The Liar's Diary by Patry Francis. It is scintillating, disturbingly creepy (in a good, bone-chilling way), mysterious and oh-so-good to read! (Be careful if you go to any of the links I list in this review, as some of them give away a good chunk of the plot).

There is murder and mystery, love and friendship, lies and deceit. What more could you ask for in such a spellbinding book?

It was an honor for me to take part in this review, which features more than 300 reviewers! From bestsellers, Emmy winners, movie makers, and publishing houses, this is a pretty significant tour!

As it should be. Some things transcend something as simple as a good read.
And this is one of those things.


You see, just as author Patry Francis saw her dreams come true, and her book finally published, she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer. Talk about the epitome of bittersweet.

I loved this book for so many reasons, but that reason alone would make me give her my full support. It's like she took all the best that she had inside of her to give, and she gave it to us in this book. And now she is left to battle this insidious disease.

Life can be so unfair.

Be sure to read about the details here, read her blog here, and read a wonderful interview with Patry here. (Ironically, Algonkian is about twenty minutes from my house...that last interview link was to the Algonkian Writer's Conference interview...who knew so much was going on right in my own backyard?)

I promise you'll want to read this book for it's incredible plot, lyrical storytelling and edge-of-your-seat suspense. But above all, I want to show my support to this talented author who gave me night after night of entertaining reading. She deserves all the support she can get as she battles this cancer. My prayers are definitely with her.

I have one copy of The Liar's Diary to give away to one lucky reader! Simply comment here on this post and I will select a winner at random by using random.org. Deadline to enter is Friday, March 14 at 11:59 EST. Winner will be announced on Saturday, March 15.

Good luck and happy reading!

Body Surfing - Review and Giveaway

There is nothing more I love in a book than a character who has bigger problems than I do. I love seeing how the character handles the situations most of all.

So when I read Body Surfing by Anita Shreve, I was enthralled to say the least. Sydney, the main character, encounters so many different personality types and I kept thinking about how I personally would've reacted to each one. Not as well as Sydney I have to admit!

Through Sydney, we get an inside look into the inner dynamics and workings of a family that she begins to work for. It's like getting to be a fly on the wall in this oh-so-interesting household. The biggest twist being that the two brothers fall for Sydney. I can't say more without giving the whole book away, but I promise you do NOT want to miss this one!

I was already a big fan of Anita Shreve. (Have you read her book The Weight of Water? It's one of my favorites.)

I love her writing style...it flows so easily. She has a way of composing her words so that you forget you're reading a story. It sucks you in and keeps you turning page after page. Read an excerpt here from Body Surfing for yourself to see what I mean.

This is one of those books that I couldn't wait to lay in bed and read every night. I looked forward to seeing what would befall Sydney next, and, as I said, how she would handle it all.

Want to get lost in Body Surfing yourself? I am giving away one copy of the novel to one lucky reader, courtesy of Hachette Book Group USA! All you have to do is leave a comment here on this post. For a double entry, simply post a link to this contest and to Body Surfing on your own site.

Deadline to enter is 11:59 p.m. EST, Monday, March 3. Winner will be selected at random using Random.org and announced on March 4. Good luck and happy reading!

Being the Best You, Naturally

Ask any woman if she feels tired, run-down, and overwhelmed, and most will probably answer yes. Today's woman has so much on her plate and is pulled in all different directions.

While stress can be a big contributor toward such exhaustion, our own bodies may be to blame as well. The Natural Superwoman by Uzzi Reiss, M.D., Ob/Gyn and Yfat Reiss Gendell, explains how to naturally cure whatever is ailing your body. (Catch the author's interview with CBS News here.

As the subtitle of the book states, it's "The Scientifically Backed Program for Feeling Great, Looking Younger, and Enjoying Amazing Energy at Any Age." The self-help book, published by Penguin Group, is a valuable resource for women and is great to have at your fingertips if you're experiencing a particular problem.

There are quizzes interspersed throughout the book to help you understand different issues better, and the one most interesting to me was the quiz (and the chapter) on stress.

After taking the quiz and realizing that I definitely fit into this category, I read about natural ways to treat tension such as visualization and deep breathing. The rest of the chapter deals with the affects of stress on the body, like adrenal exhaustion, and how to go about being tested for such effects.

The authors give very specific advice on natural treatments for dozens of issues, from insomnia to depression to memory and more.

No one knows your body better than you do, so why not make sure you are doing all you can to protect yourself against illness and disease? The Natural Superwoman is one step toward doing just that.

The Middle Place Winner

Congratulations to Jennifer from This, That & Another Thing, who has won a copy of The Middle Place by Kelly Corrigan.

Jennifer, I'll be emailing you for your contact information and will get the book in the mail to you ASAP.

Thanks to everyone who entered, and thank you to Kelly Corrigan herself for taking the time to comment here!

Keep an eye out for more fun contests to come this week!

Pretzel Crisps Giveaway

Looking for a yummy, low-fat snack can be a challenge for me, especially when my shelves are laden with so many fattening goodies for my kids (who are all thin and need such snacks).

Enter Pretzel Crisps. These are delicious AND healthy. And perfect for when you are in a hurry and need to grab a quick snack for the road, as I often do. With absolutely ZERO trans fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol, you won't have to feel guilty about eating them.

Made by the creators of the New York Style Bagel Chip Co., the pretzels are super-thin and super-crispy. They're perfect for dipping (the dip of my choice is the ultra-low fat and healthy hummus dip). Their flat shape makes it easy to spread the topping of your choice on them, too.

Pretzel Crisps come in five different varieties: Original, Everything, Garlic, Honey Mustard & Onion, and Buffalo Wing.

I LOVE these pretzels. But don't take my word for it. Try a bag out for yourself. You can win one by commenting here and letting me know your favorite variety. Deadline to enter is Friday, January 18, 11:59 p.m. Good luck, and happy munching!

The Middle Place Review and Giveaway

Have you ever sat down with a book and wished that you could be best friends with the main character? Me too.

In the case of "The Middle Place," though, the "character" is real. The book is a memoir by Kelly Corrigan and you will want to be her BFF after the first dozen pages.

Kelly is witty, down-to-earth and just plain real. You know that if you were with her, she would be the kind of person who is so secure that she has no problem revealing all her insecurities to you, if that makes any sense.

There were so many "me too" moments in the book. For example, one of my favorite lines, goes like this: "...pull on yesterday's yoga pants (I don’t actually do yoga)….."

See what I mean? Not only admitting that she wore the same pants the day before, but that she doesn't actually do yoga. It was instant platonic love for me!

Some other weird coincidences: her birthday is my son's birthday...August 16. Her father, her hero, is named George. My uncle, my hero, was named George. Her father had cancer, my uncle did, too.

Unfortunately, my uncle did not survive. But I vowed that, if my husband and I ever had another child, and it was a girl, I was going to name her Georgia after my uncle. The author named her first child Georgia after her father. Cue the Twilight Zone music!

You'll find yourself repeating her anecdotes to anyone who will listen. I retold the "Shifty the Snake" story to my kids (three different times...once for each child) and then to my husband, and I was still wanting to find someone else I could tell it to. It was that funny.

That story was yet another "me too" moment as I sort-of-on-accident killed my baby duck when I was a kid (long story).

Unfortunately, I could also relate to "The Middle Place" on a more serious level. The book details Kelly's battle against breast cancer, and her dealing with her father's prostate cancer as well.

Let me be up front in saying that, while I endured all of the first steps that Kelly did (up until her biopsy came back positive for cancer), my tumors ended up being benign. So I won't even claim to know what it's like to actually have cancer.

But as I read the beginning of Kelly's journey, I remembered that agonizing fear. She does such an amazing job of describing what those first steps are like for a woman.

And she does an even better job explaining what cancer is like. For her and her father. By the time you've finished the book, you'll wonder at the fact that not once did you ever feel truly down, or depressed in reading her story.

Kelly has a way of giving you the harsh reality, without making the book "heavy." She uplifts, encourages, and entertains, all with such a serious topic.

And I love the title of the book. "The Middle Place" is all about being a parent, and still being someones child. The love Kelly has for her father, "Greenie," is so clear that it seeps from the pages of her book into your own heart.

You'll find yourself rooting for both of them. And you won't be disappointed.

Note: "The Middle Place" has been chosen as a Booksense pick for January 2008. Booksense is the largest association of independent booksellers in the US. Also, The Middle Place will be profiled in O, The Oprah Winfrey Magazine's January issue, on newsstands now!

Want to win a copy of "The Middle Place?" Just leave a comment here to be entered. I'm giving away my ARC edition to one lucky winner. Deadline to enter is 11:59 p.m., Monday, January 14. Good luck!

Merry Christmas, Christine!

Congratulations to Christine over at From Dates to Diapers who has won an autographed copy of Merry Christmas, America! Megawatt Displays Across the USA by Bruce Littlefield.

Christine also won the adorable pickle ornament from Bruce's own tree (see this post for details.)

Merry Christmas, America! :)

I'll be taking a hiatus from posting here to celebrate the holidays with my family. Stay tuned for TONS of fun contests and reviews to come in the new year!

Christmas Giveaway!

Note: This post will remain at the top of my blog for the next several days. Be sure to scroll down for new giveaways and contest updates. Thanks!



It's the best gift book of 2007 (USA Today's "Critic's Pick")! It's pretty and cheery and just plain fun! It's Merry Christmas, America! Megawatt Displays Across the USA by Bruce Littlefield!

(Be sure to read my review of this fabulous book here if you haven't already done so)

Not only do you have a chance to win, here on this site, an autographed copy of this fun book, but Bruce has also generously offered to give away a special, vintage, Christmas treasure!



In case you're wondering, that is a pickle ornament from Bruce's very own tree (I still say he's crazy for giving this up *grin*)! When else will you have a chance to say you have a celebrity's ornament on your tree?! (see You Tube video at the bottom of this post to watch Bruce's latest stint on The Today Show)

In Merry Christmas, America!, you'll read about the fun tradition of hiding a pickle ornament in your tree on Christmas morning. The first person to find the ornament gets to open the first present.

I'd never heard of this until I read the book, but I just saw a whole line of pickle ornaments at my craft store the other day (fashioned as pickle people in various professions). Now I'm hooked on this tradition and wish I could enter my own contest. :)

To enter, simply link to this contest and to Merry Christmas, America! Megawatt Displays Across the USA on your site (I've made it easy for you with the text you can copy below if you'd like), then leave a comment here with the link. Deadline to enter is Wednesday, December 19 at 11:59 PM EST. Winner will be drawn at random using Random.org on Thursday, December 20.

Create your own post, or simply copy this below and paste it directly onto your site:

<a href="http://blondereviews.blogspot.com">So a Blonde Walks Into a Review</a> is hosting a fun holiday <a href="http://blondereviews.blogspot.com/2007/12/christmas-giveaway.html">contest</a> where you can win an autographed copy of <i><a href="http://www.megawattchristmas.com/">Merry Christmas, America! Megawatt Displays Across the USA</a></i> by <a href="http://www.brucelittlefield.com">Bruce Littlefield</a> along with a vintage, Christmas treasure! Deadline to enter is December 19, so <a href="http://blondereviews.blogspot.com">click on over</a> and enter quick!

Here's a little video of Bruce's latest appearance on The Today Show, where he offers really great decorating tips for the holidays and shows off his own decorations at his home while he's at it:



Happy entering!