Quick Memory Book Maker at Walmart.com
I’m a scrapbooker and photography nut from way back, so when Walmart offered me the chance to check out their Quick Memory Book Maker to make a memory book of my own, I was ecstatic. I was so impressed with the low price – $15 bucks gets you the cut out front cover and 20 pages of photos that you can arrange any way that you want. Not to mention, 97 cent shipping to your home!
Ok, I may have gone over my 20 pages. I ended up at 36. Thankfully, they let me pay to add some on. 
I did a video review of my experience below – but basically it was smooth sailing and so easy to use – and the finished product is simply stunning! Don’t take my word for it, check it out for yourself!
Disclosure: I did receive the memory book for free in order to help Walmart work the bugs out of the new quick memory book maker system (and true to form, I managed to break something – go me!) BUT the opinions expressed here are mine and are in no way, shape, or form influenced by this free product. If I don’t like it, I don’t talk about it and I certainly won’t recommend it – that’s my promise to you. For more info, check out my Disclosure Policy.
Chic Read: Suzy Welch’s 10-10-10
Hi, my name is Erika Lehmann and I can’t make a decision to save my life. No, seriously. I am so indecisive that I drive my family crazy. I find it difficult to make decisions on every little thing, from what color shirt to buy to where I should grab a bite to eat. When I heard about Suzy Welch’s new book, 10-10-10: A Life-Transforming Idea
The book really helped me to take a look at the way I make decisions. It helped me to evaluate my current decision making process, which is usually to agonize over what choice will make me feel better, and what choice will leave me with the least amount of guilt in the long run. By evaluating them this way, I am able to see that even if something makes me feel good now, it may not do that later on, and vise versa. However, it teaches you how to do that based on your personal values, not ones that anyone else sets for you. Like I said, it’s a simple premise, but one that works.
The book is filled with personal stories from Welch as well as from others that she has encountered over the years as to how they have all put 10-10-10 into effect in their own lives, and how it has changed them for the better. This holds true for work, love, parenthood and other life situations you will enevitably encounter. The book itself is an easy read and very engaging, with tons of short snippets and tales of how 10-10-10 has worked for people in situations you may have never even contemplated. By the time I reached the middle of the book, I found myself contemplating even the smallest daily decisions in manner of 10-10-10. So, calling all indecesive decision makers! This book is for you. I truly believe this book has helped me to alleviate some of the guilt and pain surrounding some of life’s harder decsions, because it is easier to see a path that I want and follow it when I have prepared myself for all possible outcomes and consequences. If you love this kind of thing, be sure to grab your copy of 10-10-10: A Life-Transforming Idea
Petite Anglaise
If you are a regular reader of Chic Shopper Chick you already know that I’m an avid Francophile. For those of you scratching your heads, that basically means I’m a crazy chick who is obsessed with anything that has an Eiffel Tower on it. And the city of Paris. Oh, and cute little French words like “ananas” or “pamplemousse” which mean pineapple and grapefruit, respectively, en français.
Ok, well, so that’s not ALL it means. But I did fall in love with the French language when I was in the 6th grade – back when I thought it was cool to learn a “secret language” that my parents wouldn’t understand (ha! take that!) – and I’ve never looked back. I went to college and graduated with a degree in French – and after spending all 5 years of my college experience insisting that, no, I did NOT want to teach – I became a French teacher. Funny how having a kid will change you in that way, right?
I no longer teach French, though I do still love learning it, teaching it, and practicing it. When I stopped teaching I eventually began blogging, and discovered that I had a passion for that as well. So, you can imagine that when I heard about a book that involved both French and blogging–I could hardly keep my credit card and Amazon account at bay. The book is called Petite Anglaise
The story of Petite Anglaise is this – English girl lives in Paris, meets French boyfriend, has half-french child, starts a blog on a whim, meets a man through the comments box on her website, falls in love, and struggles to find her way though it all. It’s actually a true story that was brought to light when the author of the blog and book, Catherine Sanderson, was dooced. The story made international headlines and Catherine (who had been writing anonymously) suddenly found herself thrust into the spotlight. I’m sure hard times followed, but so did a book deal
The book itself did not disappoint me. I devoured it in less than 24 hours. Bits of the book made me uncomfortable, but to me a book that can make me squirm or take me out of my comfort zone is a book that has completely pulled me in. I felt like I enjoyed Petite Anglaise even more knowing that it is a true story, though it read like a fabulously crafted work of fiction. It is a modern story set in a historical town, and the city of Paris serves as a main character. Best of all — when I finished the book I just headed over to her blog, Petite Anglaise, and started reading the archives beginning in mid-2006 where the book left off. I really loved the book and I would certainly recommend it to anyone who likes chick-lit — but especially bloggers (or Francophiles) as I think you will have an extra vested interest in it. You can grab your copy of Petite Anglaise on sale right now on Amazon.
Book Tour: Knit Two
There aren’t many things in the world that compares to the bond between women. A great friend can feellike a sister: someone to share secrets with, laugh with over embarrassing moments, or turn to for support. Growing up I didn’t have any siblings, though now I have 2 wonderful sisters and a great sister-in-law, but I had always relied on friends to step in where a sister would have been! Kate Jacobs first novel, The Friday Night Knitting Club, earned rave reviews because of it’s true understanding of this bond. The Sequel. Knit Two, is also really powerful, as it brings us back into the lives of the original characters five years after the first book left off. This time, 18-year-old Dakota runs her mother’s knitting store part-time with the help of the knitting club. With a focus on the challenges, joys, and friendships of these characters, this book is a powerful read for any woman.
I didn’t read the first novel, but after I finished the second one, I’m going to go out and buy the first one to fill in the blanks (hey, a lot of good movies were made that way!). The book was excellent, and even though I hadn’t read the first one, I was able to keep up and get really involved in the characters. If you are looking for a good read this Holiday Season on your break from work or a great gift for a girlfriend this would be an excellent choice! You can read more about the author, Kate Jacobs, as well as purchase Knit Two on her website.
Show Me How!
I recently had the opportunity to review a book called “Show Me How: 500 Things You Should Know – Instructions for Life from the Ordinary to the Exotic”. Once you get past the long title (phew!) you will fall in love with this book. It includes things like how to identify the different men’s styles of facial hair, which wines should be paired with what foods, how to get out of quicksand, how to identify edible plants, and how to remove gum from a child’s hair. Granted, some of the things your will hopefully never need to use (quicksand? Woah.) but that is what makes it fun to read.
Check out some of these shots of the pages of the book and you will see what I’m talking about. It’s absolutely gorgeous! (You know, um, as far as books go!)
Here is one page on how to make your own Snow Globe! (Hmm, this might be a project for the near future!)
Here is a page that shows how to do some other easy Holiday Projects.
Here is one of the pages on Champagne/Wine and food pairings.
See what I mean? It truly is a gorgeous book. Talk about the perfect coffee table book! Anything you ever wanted to know – including useless trivia that will wow your friends — is in this book! This would make a great Christmas gift for that hard-to-buy-for person in your life!
Harper Collins has graciously offered to give two very lucky Chic Shopper Chick readers their very own chance to know how do do all 500 things — that’s right — you can win a copy of Show Me How
- Leave a comment here telling me about something you’ve always wanted to know about, know how to do, or learn more about!
- Earn extra credit! You may do these for extra entries.
- Follow me on Twitter. Tell me about it in a separate comment.
- Blog about this giveaway and link back here. Tell me about it in a separate comment.
- Subscribe to my RSS feed via email or in a reader and tell me about it in a separate comment.
- Stumble my main webpage (www.chicshopperchick.com) and leave me your Stumble Upon name in a separate comment.
- Add me to your blog roll. Not just my button in your sidebar, I’d love to be on your blog roll! Let me know about it in a separate comment!
That’s it! Good luck! Oh, and the official rules and legal jargon are below.
US entries only, winner will be chosen via random.org at the end of the contest. Winners are posted here and on Prizey Fetch, please leave a valid email address or blog address if you’d like to be contacted should you win. Winner has 72 hours to claim their prize. This contest ends at 11:59 pm CST on December 3rd, 2008.
Elf on the Shelf: Review and Giveaway
Last year I was introduced to the great tradition of The Elf on the Shelf
The Elf on the Shelf is a great family Christmas Tradition in a box! It is based on a tradition that Carol Aebersold began with her family in the 1970′s, and includes a children’s book that explains that Santa knows who is naughty or nice because he sends a “scout elf” to every home. During the Holiday Season, the Elf watches the children during the day and reports back to Santa each night. When
your kids wake up the next morning, the Elf has returned from the North Pole and can be found hiding in a different location, making it into a game that both you and your kids will love!
The Elf on the Shelf
PS — need a little push to get into the Holiday Spirit? Visit the Elf on the Shelf Website — it is completely interactive and a blast to visit — you can even see the North pole!
You can buy the Elf on the Shelf on Amazon for $29.99. Hurry up and grab your Elf soon, so you can start this awesome family tradition this year!
Win it! One lucky CSC reader will win their very own Elf on the Shelf. To enter, follow the easy-peasy rules below!
- Visit the North Pole and come back here and tell me what your favorite “section” is!
- Earn extra credit! You may do these for extra entries.
- Blog about this giveaway and link back here, as well as to Elf on the Shelf. (1 entry)
- Write a post about our Holiday gift guide, linking back here as well as to An Ordinary Life and From Dates to Diapers. (3 entries) Once you’re done, come back here and leave your three additional comments, with the link to your post in one of them.
- Subscribe to my RSS feed via email or in a reader and tell me about it in a separate comment. (1 entry)
- Stumble my main webpage (www.chicshopperchick.com) and leave me your Stumble Upon name in a separate comment. (1 entry)
- Add me to your blog roll. Not just my button in your sidebar, I’d love to be on your blog roll! Let me know about it in a separate comment! (1 entry)
- Blog about this giveaway and link back here, as well as to Elf on the Shelf. (1 entry)
That’s it! Good luck! Oh, and the official rules and legal jargon are below.
US entries only, winner will be chosen via random.org at the end of the contest. Winners are posted here and on Prizey Fetch, please leave a valid email address or blog address if you’d like to be contacted should you win. Winner has 72 hours to claim their prize. This contests ends at 11:59 pm CST on November 19th, 2008.
The One Hundred: Nina Garcia
I am a self-proclaimed fashionista. I enjoy trends, and I love to watch the runways at fashion week, but overall my style tends to be more classic than trendy. I am fairly skilled at knowing which trends just won’t work for me, and good at knowing which ones will. I recently had the opportunity to review a book that I almost instantly fell in love with, a book that seemed to be written just for me. Obviously I know it wasn’t, so in that respect, I felt I should share it with you, because it is a book I feel that anyone at any age could greatly benefit from!
If you’re a fan of Project Runway, then the author of this book, Nina Garcia, needs no introduction. This is her second book, the first one being The Little Black Book of Style. This book, called The One Hundred, contains the 100 pieces that Garcia feels will remain classic pieces, the timeless items that every woman should own.
The One Hundred not only lists Garcia’s top 100 items, but it gives women a starting point when looking to create a closet full of timeless pieces. Of course, she also stresses in the book the importance of self-editing — knowing what looks good on you and what things will just never work. (For instance, her suggestion that I keep a pair of white jeans in my closet is just not one that I’m likely to take to heart.) I adore the suggestions of the perfect ballet flat, the monogrammed stationery, pearl necklace, and the pea coat, to name a few.
You can purchase The One Hundred on Amazon on sale for $13.97. As far as I’m concerned, it’s one of the best style books ever written. It’s going on my shelf right next to my Sephora Beauty Book!
Note to Self
This contest is now CLOSED!
Ok, it’s just a coincidence that I’m reviewing two books this week, but I just couldn’t wait any longer to tell you about this book!
It’s called Note to Self: On Keeping a Journal and Other Dangerous Pursuits and it is written with the kind of charm and poise that I only wish came across in my writing! Not only that, but it’s written about writing.
This is the second book written by author Samara O’Shea, the first one being For the Love of Letters, a book about the seemingly long-lost art of letter writing. Note to Self, however, focuses on something a little closer to my heart — writing journals and blogs. A “journalist” I am, so to speak, in the sense that I have kept a journal since I was little, writing down the slightest of things. I understand when O’Shea speaks of the pull, the draw of a brand new journal, and the pressure to write something incredibly profound on those first few pages. However, reading her journal entry from when she was a mere 16 puts all of my entries to shame. Don’t let her fool you, she has always had a knack for writing, a thing for words.
There is a section here for bloggers, as blogging is the new-age form of journaling in a sense. As O’Shea says, blogging is more structured than a journal entry, but not quite an article. A blogger herself, she understands what it takes to be a blogger, and to be blogged about. It’s nice to be recognized as something legitimate on paper, don’t you think? But she also recognizes that blogging is a personal rush. To have your words unedited, changed by no one before they are published.
My favorite aspect of this book is that O’Shea encourages you to make mistakes. To play with words even if you know that grammatically it is not even close to being correct. To write in a stream of consciousness. Overall, she inspires you to be a better writer, for no one else but yourself. This is not a book you choose to read for professional reasons, but for those that are so personal, you dare not share them.
You can pick up a copy of Samara O’Shea’s Note to Self on Amazon.com for $13.57
Win it! I have an extra copy of Note to Self that I’m willing to giveaway to one lucky reader! To enter, follow the easy-peasy rules below!
- Leave a comment on this post telling me why you would like to have a copy of this book.
- Please leave a valid email address if you would like to be contacted if you win. Otherwise, winners are posted here and on Prizey Fetch.
- If the winner does not respond within 72 hours I will choose a different winner.
- US entries only please!!!
- Earn extra credit! Choose one of the following for ONE extra credit entry. Any further attempts to woo me will be disqualified!
- Place my CSC button in your sidebar and tell me about it in a separate post.
- Stumble my homepage (http://www.chicshopperchick.com) and let me know about it in a separate post with your StumleUpon name too.
That’s it! This contest will end at 11:59 pm on August 20th. Good luck!
Gorgeously Green
I really like Julia Roberts. She’s not one of those crazy, flaky celebrities and it seems she generally tries to stay out of the spotlight and the media, unless she is, of course, in the media for her newest movie. (Or so it seems – I should probably confess that I don’t actually know Julia Roberts — I’m sure you are shocked. No, these are my assumptions based on what I’ve observed.)
But I digress.
Julia Roberts wrote the foreward to a book that I recently had the opportunity to review called “Gorgeously Green: 8 Simple Steps to an Earth Friendly Life“. In her foreward, Roberts says “I am absolutely altered. This Gorgeously Green book has provided my household with a bible of hope and help (not to mention a good cleansing mask and a source for eco-cashmere).”
I knew I liked her. She’s right. This book is, quite simply, a resource. It’s not a book to read and put away. It’s been sitting on my kitchen table since June — not because I’m horrible at housework, but because I am constantly flipping through it to check out another great website, to find another great idea, to figure out another way to do my part. (Oh, and to make the hummus recipe that is on page 219. Yum.)
Written by Sophie Uliano, Gorgeously Green has given me tips on everything you can imagine, like:
- A way to do something good with my half-used medicines (the Starfish Project) and why you should NEVER throw old medications down the toilet, drain, or waste disposal.
- A way to stop junk mail by being taken off of credit bureau lists (tired of those credit card offers?) and how to stop 75 percent of those wasteful national mailings.
- Why you shouldn’t burn just any old candles (guilty as charged) because of the toxins that they release, and places to buy safe candles (or what to look for when you purchase them).
- All about sleeping on natural and organic mattresses — (you spend a large portion of your life on a mattress!) and where to purchase them.
- Healthy products to get you through a pregnancy.
- Eco-friendly vacations.
And those topics are just the tip of the iceberg. My sister will love this book, and I’m already planning on purchasing her a copy of it for her for her birthday next month (don’t worry, she won’t see this!). But she’ll have to have her own copy, oh yes — because she lives 4 hours away and is not getting her hands on mine. How would I make hummus?
You can purchase your copy of Gorgeously Green on Amazon.com for $11.53.
Remember Me?
On our last day in Washington DC two weeks ago, hubby had a day full of meetings and a desperate need for the rental car. We jointly decided that Little AG and I would take the hotel shuttle down to M Street in Georgetown for the day and spend it walking around. After about 4 hours of cruising one of my favorite places in the world, she conked out in the stroller. When I walked into Anthropologie and the worker at the door commented on Little AG being “out” I swung the stroller right around and dashed over to Barnes and Nobles. I was exhausted after 4 hours of walking and just wanted to sit down and relax for a while. I took the elevator up to the 2nd floor and found the little cafe. I ordered myself a Chai Tea Frappuccuino and a sugar cookie and settled into a little corner with a book by one of my favorite ever authors, Sophie Kinsella.
Sophie Kinsella is the author who has written my favorite all-time series, Confessions of a Shopaholic
Attempting to hail a cab in the rain, Lexi slips in the street, and as she falls she blacks out. The next thing she knows, she wakes up in the hospital. Everything seems normal for about 30 minutes. Then, she realizes her nails are perfectly manicured, her hair is neat, not frizzy, with chic highlights, and her teeth are perfect and gleaming white. Her body is tanned and toned, and she is utterly confused. What happened?
Turns out Lexi has been in a car accident and the last thing she remembers is 3 years ago. On the outside, the life that she can’t remember seems perfect — she is married to a gorgeous developer, she is the boss at her company, and drives a Mercedes Convertible. But then a handsome architect shows up and throws a wrench in her perfect life when he reveals that he was Lexi’s lover. What happened to her in 3 years to bring about this life?
I laughed and smiled my way through this entire book. The people in Barnes and Noble were probably laughing at me as I read this book because I was so animated. My only complaint about it was that I read it in two sittings — I couldn’t put it down and it left me wanting more. If you are looking for a fun read for the summer, then this is it. I’m sure you will enjoy learning about the forgotten life of Lexi Smart as much as I did.
I highly encourage you to consider grabbing a copy of “Remember Me?” — you’ll be glad you did! You can purchase it on Amazon.com for $16.50.
Be Daring!
On Friday I received my copy of The Pocket Daring Book for Girls: Things to Do, which is essentially a pocket companion (though, as my husband pointed out, probably won’t fit in ANYONES pocket) to The Daring Book for Girls. When I opened it, I couldn’t help but pour through it and oooh and aaaah about how great some of the ideas were. I absolutely love it. Each activity is detailed in simple, clear, yet concise steps, and is fairly simple to follow.
Some of the activities, like, “How to make a sit-upon” brought me back to my girl scout days. I also liked the section on “How to be a Spy” (complete with secret code maker), and the section on “How to have a lemonade stand” (plus a plethora of other “lemon” inspired snacks to sell with it.) However, my favorite activity, that made me a giddy little girl again, was “How to make a zip line”. I all but made hubby turn the car around to head to Home Depot.
This book is so much fun, and is great for the set who enjoys reading, but is just as useful for the set who doesn’t, because it provides so many great active things to do. I’m thinking this is the perfect gift for the 8ish girl set, as well as a great gift to any mom of an 8ish girl. Or, if you’re like me and want to create your own zipline at 25, go ahead and buy it for yourself. You won’t be sorry that you did.
Purchase The Pocket Daring Book For Girls: Things to Do by Andrea Buchanan and Miriam Peskowitz at (on sale) Amazon for $10.17
I feel pretty, oh so pretty!
“It’s about reinventing yourself throughout life. Don’t stop at pretty – go for gorgeous all the time.
Life isn’t a dress rehearsal.”
– Jerrod Blandino, Founder of Too Faced Cosmetics, on Beauty
This is my new favorite quote, and it’s one that greeted me when I opened the pages of Sephora: The Ultimate Guide to Makeup, Skin, and Hair from the Beauty Authority. An admitted beauty-product addict (see my bathroom counter for proof – you won’t find the actual countertop) and dedicated Sephoree (yes, I just invented that word – hello Websters, it’s Chic Shopper Chick calling!) this book is a must-have for fanatics like me who just can’t get enough. But really, as I read it, I realized that this book is also a must-have for even those who aren’t fanatics like me. See, I am willing to seek out beauty tips and chat off anyone’s ear about my favorite skin-care products, mascara, and eyeshadow. I spend hours on my vacations in Sephora stores (ask hubby – poor guy just books vacations in cities with a Sephora) because until a
month ago, my darling state of Louisiana, for all of its culture, music, and fabulous food, DID NOT HAVE A SEPHORA.
But are you willing to do those things? If the answer is no, that’s ok. For me, it’s a hobby. But I know you still want to look fabulous, and if it’s not your hobby and you don’t want to spend hours scouring the internet for beauty tips, then this is the book for you. EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT LOOKING FABULOUS IS HERE. I’m serious! It’s my new Beauty Bible! Full-time job and full-time mommy? This book is for you! Full-time student and part-time job? This book is for you, too.
Case in point. Have you ever gone to the salon and gotten a really, really fabulous new hair style? You get home, you’re feelin’ good – the next day you brush it, maybe add a little product – but you’re still feelin’ good about this ‘do of yours. Then the third day comes – maybe you throw it in a ponytail, but what a cute ponytail – all of the hairs are just right! And then, day four. You can’t milk it anymore. You have to wash it. So you do. And you never get your hair to look like that again. Well, last time I got my hair “done” as I like to say, I told my fabulous stylist repeatedly that I can’t get my hair to look like she does. Well, she took baby steps with me, pointed me in the direction of some good products, and taught me how to do it myself. I left out of there $220 poorer but confident that I could at least come close to what she does with my hair – and you know what? I can. But if I had read this book first I would have saved her some time and my hair would have looked a lot better, a lot sooner. All of the same tips that she gave me, like blowdrying in sections with a round brush in the opposite direction that your hair grows and using a root-builder on the crown of my head (whew!) ARE IN THIS BOOK! Sweet!
Oh, and this book is just gorgeous. It is full of color photos to give examples, all big enough to see in detail. Tons of little tips are scattered throughout the books as well, giving you tips about how to reduce the appearance of cellulite (20 percent topical, 80 percent diet – who knew?!), how to elongate your legs and make them look flawless with a bronzer, using a primer under your foundation, and oh – did you know that concealer should be put on AFTER foundation?!
Sephora: The Ultimate Guide to Makeup, Skin, and Hair from the Beauty Authority is a must-have, and is full of classic tips that you can pass up or down a generation. The list price for this hardcover book is $27.95 but Amazon is currently selling it for $18.45. That is a serious deal for this book, so grab a copy for yourself — I promise you won’t be disappointed!
Sex and The City: The Movie, The Book
***Warning*** The nice girl in me feels the need to tell you that the review below could contain spoilers of the movie. While I am not attempting out give out major plot points, some of it is necessary to get my point across. So if you don’t want to know, please, click away now. Ok, enough nice girl, on to the goods…
I admit it. Last night I was one of the crazy girls with tickets to see the first showing of Sex and the City at exactly 12:01 AM. I had to get up early with Little AG this morning, and I got home at 3:30 am, but I didn’t care. It was worth it. I LOVED IT. I am a fanatical SATC fan (but really, is anyone not?) and have seen every episode in order, from start to finish, starting at season one, ending at season six. I can’t get enough. So, even though the reviewer from the New York Times doesn’t agree, I was extremely happy with the movie.
I do feel the need to share with you that I arrived with 3 of my friends in the theater at 11:15ish for a 12:01 movie. We walked right up to the ticket counter and she printed out our pre-paid tickets in 2 seconds flat, and I’m all “maybe it was silly that we got prepaid tickets — there’s no one here”. And then we walked upstairs. HELLO! There were women EVERYWHERE. It was sheer madness. We were ushered to the theater where our movie would be shown, and when we walked in I realized that 11:15 was not quite early enough — there were no seats left except for the really bad ones. NONE. Not even 4 seats between 2 groups of slightly sketchy people. Who waits an HOUR in a stuffy theater for a movie to start? Apparently everyone but us. I swear we were the last group of people to walk through the door.
There were women in large brimmed hats, girls in stiletto heels and fab dresses, and a grand total of 5 men who must have been being blackmailed by the women they were with — because there is NO WAY that hubby would have gone to a midnight showing of SATC with me. Anyway, my favorite part of the night, besides the movie itself, was when the woman next to us pulled a martini shaker and full-sized martini glass from her purse. She sipped cosmos through most of the movie. Seriously.
Well, today I received my copy of Sex and the City: The Movie
To top it off, there is a section about scenes that didn’t make the movie, and a COMPLETE listing of every outfit worn by the fab four in the movie (so that you don’t have to scour the internet to find out about that awesome dress that Charlotte was wearing, or the bag that Carrie was
carrying). Oh, and for you stalker-like folk, there is a listing of every on-location place used to shoot the film.
Really, this book rocked my world. Hubby will be saddened to know that I spent an hour pouring over it instead of washing clothes or cleaning the kitchen. Your copy of Sex and the City: The Movie
