happily random

Book Review & Discussion: The Magic Room

Ever want to be a fly on the wall of a bridal boutique? Listening in to interactions between brides, their mothers, family and friends, the tears of joy, a few bridezillas, all while the salespeople try to make a sale in a tough market as brides search for the perfect dress for their special day. The Magic Room by Jeffrey Zaslow made me feel like exactly that -- albeit a very elegant, softly lit fly. The Magic Room is an inside look into the life of a family-owned bride boutique in a relatively smallish town of Fowler, Michigan. In business for over 70 years and having sold over 100,000 dresses in its lifetime, this book takes a closer look into the struggles and triumphs of a family who has given their lives to make brides look their best on their wedding day. Being a small business owner myself, I could relate to the challenges that faced the Becker family in attempting to find a balance between business and family. Not only do we travel the years with the Becker family, but we also get small glimpse into the lives of many of the brides who have stepped foot into the Magic Room -- a special room where they get to see themselves as the glowing bride they are for the first time. I found myself wanting to know more about these women, but realizing that just like they salespeople at Becker's Bridal, I will only ever get to know just a bit of what brought them into the store that day. Having not had this "magic room" experience myself, I enjoyed being a part of that experience with the other women in this book. Join the discussion and learn more about this wonderful book at Blogher.

***Blogher has provided me with a copy of The Magic Room for purposes of providing a review. I received this book at no charge to me and have been paid to provide a review this book.

MomSense: Book Review & Giveaway

Recently I was asked by MOPS International to read and review the book MomSense: A Common-Sense Guide to Confident Mothering by Jean Blackmer. Those who know me know that I am not really a fan of non-fiction. I have best intentions to finish a good devotional book or the like, and about four chapters in I kind of lose interest. I'm pretty sure I have undiagnosed ADD at times.... squirrel!

That said, MomSense wasn't like my previously attempts to complete a work of uplifting non-fiction. I actually finished it. And not with the push-my-way-through, I-have-to-get-this-read kind of finish it, but with an enjoying-myself, what's-next, absorbing-every-word kind of finish it. Full of stories from other mothers, this book brims with common-sense advice about mothering -- hence the name -- that teaches not a list of rules on how to be a good mother, but instead helps you to feel out what being a good mother to your children looks like for you.

As mothers, we are often full of self-doubt, often comparing our mothering skills to the way we were mothered and to other mothers around us. I know that I personally will look at my parenting skills at the end the day and feel like a complete failure. I found that this book did not expect me to be Super Mom, but instead gave me tips to help me find the best ways to help me to guide my children -- from teaching respect, patience, self-control and more -- not cut-and-dried rules of parenting that seem to fill many parenting books. The author of this book seemed to understand that there are many good ways to reach the same results in our children and that no one way is better than another or will work with every child.

MomSense has given me a greater confidence in my mothering choices and has equipped me to feel out new situations as they come up. What is the worst piece of mothering advice you have ever received? 

A New Opportunity

God's timing is so perfect, some times you just have to laugh. A few weeks ago I posted that I was feeling a little aimless, not sure what to do with myself now that my kids are all in school. I didn't really want to get a full-time job, still feeling it's important to be home with my kids as much as I can, but still wanting something to do with myself during the day.

An opportunity just fell into my lap, something so perfect, that it could only be sent by God. I'm delighted to report that starting in January, I will begin teach voice lessons at B Sharp Studios. Honestly, I don't know how this opportunity could be more perfect. Not only will I be putting my expensive college education to good use -- which should make my parents very happy -- but involves something that I love with hours that I can fit into my schedule. Perfection.

Just one day after giving the go-ahead, I have two students, with more sure to follow. I'm tremendously excited to get to share with others something that I enjoy so much. So... if you're in the market for a voice teacher for yourself or one of your children, I'm available in beginning January 2.

Pinterest: Waste of Time or Inspiration?

The internet is full of evermore entertaining wastes of time: Facebook, Twitter, My Space, YouTube... and on and on and on. My latest time-wasting favorite is Pinterest. For those of you who have yet to be introduced to Pinterest, in it's simplest definition, it's an online visual pinboard. You can scan through items other people have pinned, as well as pinning items from online and organizing them into catagories yourself. The biggest selling point of this site is the visual images for each pin that make scanning through it so fun and simple. You truly can waste hours on Pinterest. I have.

That said, I have found while other time-wasting sites only do just that, items on Pinterest have actually inspired me into creativity more than any other. I can't count the number of recipes that I have found and tried that my friends have pinned on their boards. I have made cupcakes that look like suns and found great tips for photo shoots all from scanning the pinboards. Pinterest is a creative person's dream site, and what's more, it's free.

My latest inspiration led me into creating this star wreath this past Saturday. It's been a couple of years since I have put my mounds of scrapbook stash to good use, and I find myself very happy with the result.

For those of you who might now be inspired to create a wreath of your own, the directions are to be found at Little Birdie Secrets, although I found the link for it on a board on Pinterest. I used the bottom of a cardboard box from one of those giant boxes that CostCo always seems to send you home with to create the ring, using a giant plate to make the circle. And instead of a bone folder to create the star points, I used a dry embossing stylus. I'm happy with the results, and even happier to be creating again.

So, I guess Pinterest isn't a complete waste of time. That what I keep telling myself anyway as I scan the site anyway.