My Claim to Review Fame

Once up on a time, when I was in the middle of my mid-life crisis I was the Chick Lit Examiner for the National edition of the... umm… Examiner.

During that time (May 4, 2010 to be exact) I wrote a lovely review for Jen Lancaster's My Fair Lazy where I said, and I quote, "My Fair Lazy does not 'suck it'.  It rocks it. And it's available today."  Well, lo and behold, flash forward to earlier this year.  It's late at night and I am reading, my husband is snoring, and I start perusing the back of Jeneration X.  And I see it.  "My Fair Lazy does not 'suck it'.  It rocks it", was written on the back of the book, and it was attributed to Examiner.com.


"Gosh, that sounds familiar," I said to myself.  So, I did a little Google searching on my phone and I found my original review, and the last line of my article is the line on the back of the book.  O. M. G., I am quoted on the back of Jen Lancaster's book!  Me!

I woke Cory up but I don't really think he understood what I was talking about, and it all seemed really crazy anyway and eventually I went to sleep.  I thought about the quote from time to time and shared it with friends, but it wasn't until late Spring when a friend told me that Jen Lancaster would be appearing at Nicola's Books in Ann Arbor for a signing that I got excited again.  Not only could I meet her, I could also tell her it was me that wrote that review!

The day of the signing my life was overwhelming as usual, and I almost didn't go.  I left work late and drove the 30 miles feeling that there was no way I would make it on time.  Not only that, I totally forgot my copy of Jeneration X to have signed (and my pearls that everyone knows you should wear to a Jen Lancaster signing).  But I did make it on time, and after I met up with my friend and the seat she had saved for me, I walked up to buy my copy of The Tao of Martha: My Year of LIVING; Or, Why I'm Never Getting All That Glitter Off of the Dog.  I made my purchase, returned to my seat and began looking over the book.  And there it was.  My review!  On the back of the new book too!

Short story long, Jen was hilarious and we had a lovely time waiting in line to meet her.  She laughed when I pointed out my review on her book, but we didn't spend much time chatting.  The line was long and my friend and I headed for the exit.  But as we looked at the our the pages she signed I chuckled as I saw what she wrote.

You're welcome Jen Lancaster!  And hopefully I can write another review that you can quote on your next book.  Thus extending my 15 minutes of fame to 30.

Heather Wells in The Bride Wore Size 12

I knew this was coming.  But for my own sanity and the ability to sleep, I had to put it out of my head.

I love Meg Cabot, and I have read most of her adult fiction books, and a few of her books for younger people (Allie Finkle, The Princess Diaries).  But her Heather Wells mysteries, starting with Size 12 Is Not Fat, are my FAVORITE.

When I saw this cover photo on Heather Well's Facebook page I gasped with glee.  Finally!

I will do my best to wait until September 24, but just a tip- if you also like Heather Wells on Facebook, you can preview an excerpt from The Bride Wore Size 12.  I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Surviving Middle School with Discovery Girls ~ Giveaway

I am the mother of a Middle School Girl.  Pray for me.

Everyday I am faced with something else to discuss with my daughter, and my one rule of thumb when deciding if it's necessary or not?  Do I wish my mother had, or was I glad that my mother did, discuss this with me.

While my Mom did a pretty good job raising me there are some things I wish I had known that I didn't.  Number one- getting fitted for a bra.  We never did that.  I think I was 25 and with my BFF the first time I found and bought a bra that fit me properly.  But you know- there are things we, as Moms, just don't think of  because we are too busy making sure everyone eats and has clothes that are clean.  So, for those times I am thankful for Discovery Girls and their Discovery Girls' Middle School Survival Guides .

I browsed each of these books before my twelve-year-old said "Mom can I take those to bed?"  Of course I let her and I haven't seen them since.  That could be because she has a loft bed and I'm just not climbing up there, but usually when she's done with a book it lands with a thud on the floor and scares the crap out of my husband and me, but there have been no thuds.  I think it's because each little vignette or story deals with a different situation that a middle-schooler may or may not encounter but at least it won't be completely foreign to them if it does happen, and this is why-

Discovery Girls', is an award-winning magazine aimed at tween girls, and they have produced four books packed with real-world practical advice. The books deliver their best strategies so girls can successfully deal with friendship troubles, embarrassing moments, life's toughest problems, body issues, school pressures and much much more. All of the books reinforce the power of girls to overcome disappointment, develop positive images about themselves, seek the right kind of help, talk to their parents and learn how to grow from failures.

Friendship Hardship shows girls how to deal with their toughest friendship problems plus how to make (and keep!) good friends Sticky Situations is all about the best ways to deal with more than 70 of life's trickiest situations and most embarrassing moments. Ask Ali: All the Advice You'll Ever Need gives girls sound advice on school, boys, family, friends and more, all from Discovery Girls' very popular columnist, Ali. My Worst Day is packed with amazing true stories...girls like you share their struggles and help you through your most difficult times.

I am comfortable sharing these with my daughter and I think you will be too.  And I have a set to give away!  Just comment on this post between now and Sunday, November 11 at 11:59 pm for a chance to win your own set of Discovery Girls' Middle School Survival Guides .  That's right one simple comment.  Below.  And you can share these lovely books with a middle school girl in your life, and then make a note to have her fitted properly for a bra.  Preferrably sometime before she's 25.

Disclosure: I was given a set of the Discovery Girls Middle School Guides to review as well as a set to giveaway.  All opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.  Comment below to enter by Sunday, November 11 at 11:59 p.m.