Maven Says: Style me up

My latest offering from Parent Bloggers Network is the new book The Little Black Book of Style by Elle Magazine Fashion Director and Project Runway Judge Nina Garcia. As a serious Project Runway fan I could hear Nina's voice with its Colombian accent as I read the book written as if I were having a conversation with her.

The most important (and probably hardest to carry out) piece of advice in the book was to edit your wardrobe. She challenges you to find the truly remarkable pieces in your wardrobe and pitch everything else. I know I've stared at a full closet only to feel like I had nothing to wear. Garcia urges to get rid of them advising "its much easier to be inspired when you see five remarkable pieces than when you see twenty-five pieces and twenty of them are unremarkable." Ouch, that is a story I know all too well! I've got some serious editing of my own to do! There were moments as I read that I felt a little like one of the fashion victims on What Not to Wear whining to Stacey and Clinton--thinking in my head, I can't get rid of that, its comfortable or has sentimental value. I am obviously in a suburban Mommy clothing rut.

Garcia waxes poetic about heels and the few times you shouldn't wear them. My general feeling about heels are they are lovely on other people and I'll wear them for special occasions. I did agree with her however on the philosophy of shoes, lots of shoes. My closet doesn't have a single pair of Manolo's or Jimmy Choo's but it does have lots and lots of other pairs. I am sure that Nina wouldn't approve of most of my low heeled, practical, comfortable shoes but I do appreciate the sentiment that shoes make the outfit and having LOTS of them is good, very good. Right along with shoes was her advice on accessories making the outfit. As someone who has been a "big girl" most of my life I can honestly say I am an accessory and shoe hound because no matter what size I've been I can always find shoes and accessories that fit!

The Little Black Book of Style is not a how to guide for dressing. There is no magic formula for putting piece A with piece B to come out with stunning outfit C. There are tips about how to take advantage of classics and suggestions for how to dress for various occasions. For the true fashionista there is a question and answer section in the back of the book with top fashion designers. Most importantly, the book makes you think about and how to develop one of your own. I'm off to try and edit my closet and think about what pieces are truly remarkable and which ones belong in the trash.

Maven & PDQ Say: Personalized books are cool!

PDQ is really happy that Parent Bloggers Network gave her Mommy the chance to review a Printakid personalized book for kids. Printakid offers 6 different titles at two different levels--preschool and elementary school. Although we didn't receive one to review Printakid also offers personalized CDs to go along with the books.

I ordered the Laughing All the Way to School book for Abby at the elementary level. The preschool level books are aimed at kids 3-6 and the elementary books for kids 7-10. PDQ is 6 and entering the first grade and I wanted her to grow into reading the book so I went for the elementary level. She is able to read all but a few words in the book.

PDQ loves the fact that the girl in the book looks like her--there is an opportunity to pick eye, hair and skin color when ordering the book. It also asks for the names of Mom & Dad and three friends. There is room for a personalized message on the opening page of the book, on the page facing the first page of the book has the child's name, birth date and the date the book was printed. At this point PDQ believes the world revolves around her so having a book that includes her and all of her friends is perfect for her. When we received it she immediately opened it up and began trying to read. Any book that encourages her to read is good with me. The story is a little silly but it engaged PDQ and although Boobah was quite disappointed she isn't included in the book she enjoyed listening to it as well.

I think the book or book and CD set is the perfect gift for a birthday or other holiday. Kids like things that are about them. As a gift giver or parent the opportunity to offer a personalized message to an important child is nice. The book is high quality from cover to page, not easily destroyed by frequent reading. Compared to other personalized books I've seen, this one is heads and shoulders above the rest. I know that I'll need at least one more book from Printakid--Boobah is quite jealous and wants a book about her!

Maven and Gman Say: A Good Read on Parenting

As part of Parent Bloggers Network I read Fathering Your School Age Child: A Dad's Guide to the Wonder Years 3 to 9 by Armin Brott because I was curious about what they tell dads that they don't tell moms. I also asked Gman to take a read--he doesn't read much of anything but he is the parent of 4, boys 18 & 13 and our girls 6 & 4.

Here are Gman's thoughts:
Not having read any kind of parenting book before I really have nothing to base it against, but I found "Fathering Your School-Age Child ... A Dad's Guide to the Wonder Years: 3 to 9" interesting. Having 4 kids boys and girls I felt like I should be able to speak with some authority on the subject. Overall I liked and agreed with what he had to say. He uses modern and personal stories to illustrate points, and gives out specific details, from which toys meet his criteria, to website links that have more or supporting information. The overall theme of the book is for each age there are physical and developmental things going on with your child, what to expect and suggestions on how to deal with them, and promotes the notion of being an involved father by citing examples of how to, or general behaviors that will lead to more involvement. One thing that I took exception to was it seemed that he would throw in random scenarios, like talking about step parenting during age 6 but not age 4.

Another thing I found interesting was the sociological point of view he takes throughout, citing how sometimes being an involved father is an uphill battle against the forces of society. I would certainly recommend this book to new fathers and existing fathers alike. Even after 4 kids I read a couple of things that were enlightening.

I'll post more on my thoughts later...being overtaken by life!

Okay, sorry for the interruption, now back to my previous topic...

I enjoyed the whole tone of the book which didn't, like many Mommy-focused books, use fear or guilt. In fact, in the chapter on 9 year olds he provides an e-mail about how we were raised (with lead paint and no car seats) and the fact we are still here. It echoes the message in Anne Dunnwold's Even June Cleaver would Forget the Juice Box--you don't have to be perfect, just good enough. The book and the information on what children are going through at an age and how to father them through it was fact based and relied on research--which appeals to my process oriented, project manager side. I particularly enjoyed the wit of Brott's writing style. An example is (are?) his chapter titles that do a great job of summing up what that year is about like 4-Let's Talk about Meee! and 9-Just Like a Real Person, Only Shorter.

Each chapter starts out with a description of what your child is experiencing physically, intellectually, emotionally and socially. That is followed up by what is going on with you. Then it goes on to talk about the relationship between you and your child adding in topical information for that age. Of particular interest to me was the chart on page 175 that listed common texting abbreviations--here I thought I was so up-to-date on the technical, I guess not really so much. Who knew, IPN--I'm posting naked? Gee, I'll have to keep Gman from using that one, talk about TMI!

Overall I enjoyed the book and looking at parenting from a different angle. I think that it will be a good catalyst for discussion between Gman and I as we continue through our parenting journey.

Maven Says: Listen to the "24-Hour Pharmacist"

Suzy Cohen, America's Most Trusted Pharmacist, with 20 years of experience and many national television and radio appearances and a syndicated column, "Dear Pharmacist" that appears around the world offers up a book, The 24-Hour Pharmacist. The book, published by Collins offers her advice, opinions and cures for looking younger, feeling healthier while saving time and money all in a easy to read format and easy reading style.

As someone who has been fighting insomnia with every treatment from over the counter sleep aids to acupuncture I was interested to see the opinion of a pharmacist since it seems that I have conferred with folks from every other traditional and alternative medicine specialty. Given that, I cheated and started the book with chapter 8: A Nation of Insomniacs: Do You Really Need a Pill to Get a Good Night's Sleep? In this chapter she covers the media onslaught of commercials for prescription sleep aids and gives them credit where its due but suggests there are lots of other things to check out before going that route. She gives names to the various types of insomniac in the down to earth style used throughout the book, I am a long-time "Antenna Head" whose mind goes into re-wind (or sometimes fast forward) when I go to bed and by the time I get to sleep hours later I am mad. I've also had some experience as a "Creepy Crawler" and a "Bed Bugger." Cohen reviews medications, diseases, and hormones that might be keeping you awake and then suggests possible herbal remedies, melatonin, Reishi mushrooms, as well as OTC sleep aids and prescriptions. I was glad to see some of the remedies I have tried, like my nightly lavender scented baths among her suggestions.

Of course having suffered from insomnia for a long time fatigue is also something I've wrestled with so I went back and started at the beginning of the book with Chapter 1: Overcoming Fatigue: From Stupor Woman to Super Woman. Yeah, that sounded right up my alley. In this chapter I had a hard time deciding which of the faces of fatigue was most descriptive of myself--am I a Juggling Janet or Morning Mary, hmmm maybe I'm really Stupor woman. As I read more I was fascinated by the connection with fatigue medications and hormones. I've been using Ashwagandha for the last month or so and it has helped with my insomnia, in this chapter I also learned that it might help with my thyroid function and control blood sugar and cholesterol--nice bonus! I found the easy to understand description of your adrenal glands and what they do really interesting, certainly not something I've heard from my physician or read about anywhere--until now.

The book is divided into five parts:

• Above the Waist



• Above the Neck



• Below the Waist



• And Everything in Between



• Think Outside the Pill

The chapters in these parts cover everything from "toenail crud" to aromatherapy in the same down-to-earth style that makes the book an easy read even if you aren't nearly ready to think about "surge protection for your hot flashes." The book does start with a disclaimer that reminds you that the book is not intended to take the place of appropriate medical care but instead to allow you to explore "all potential options for health and wellness." The end of the book has many resources and references so that you read more and find the products discussed in the book. You can also check out the authors website Dear Pharmacist for more information.

If you are interested in winning your own copy of the book, stop by the Parent Bloggers Network site and leave a comment on the launch of the campaign for The 24-Hour Pharmacist or the mid-campaign round-up this Friday, July 13. You'll be entered to win a copy of the book and a $50 CVS giftcard (who couldn't use that?!).