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.
