Getting the Pretty Back by Molly Ringwald

Again,  another book I picked up on a whim at the library.  (Our local library sure sees a lot of us these days.  Between going there by myself to get some much needed quiet time to taking the girls there for various activities and to fill up their library book bag our library card gets quite the workout.)  Anyways, back to the book.  When I picked up Getting the Pretty Back: Friendship, Family and Finding the Perfect Lipstick I wasn't sure what to expect.  I thought it was going to be another good autobiography I was going to enjoy.  I did think the book was a little thin for an autobiography and the font a bit big but oh well.  I was going to give it a shot.

The very first page was addressed to women age 40 and older.  I was like "Oh my, what have I gotten into."  I kept reading and finished the book in 2 days.  The font is really big and the book is filled with illustrations.   She did have some interesting stories about her family and accepting her changed body after having kids.  Overall though there wasn't much depth to the book, I was disappointed.

I would give this book a 2 out of 5 stars.

Happy Reading!

Spoken From the Heart by Laura Bush

I've wanted to read Spoken From the Heart by Laura Bush ever since I saw her appear on the Oprah Show last fall.  I was hoping to get it for Christmas but Santa said he couldn't find it.  So I picked it up at the local library.  I really love reading autobiographies on strong, loving women.

The beginning of the book read a little slow I will admit.  She talked about her childhood and growing up in Midland, TX., how her and George met and their journey to the White House.  What I found the most interesting was all the things she accomplished while George Bush was president.  Laura loves books and was a librarian at one point in her life.  She pushed for literacy in schools and raised funds to help the libraries purchase more books.  Laura was also an advocate for Afghanistan women, fighting for their rights.  The injustices that Laura say all over the world deeply affected her and she vowed to do something about it.  She certainly used her time in the White House as a chance to change the world, even if it was one project at a time.

I definitely give this book 5 out of 5 stars.

Happy Reading!

Momfidence! An Oreo Never Killed Anybody and Other Secrets of Happier Parenting by Paula Spencer

I picked up this Momfidence! while trying to find a book on how to get Kennedy to be nicer to her little baby sister Lexi. I was intrigued by how worn the book was.  It looks as if a lot of moms have read the book or maybe a lot of little ones have gotten a hold of it.  Either was I’m always up for a book that will give me some insight on how to be a better mom.

From the book – Paula Spencer lives with her husband George and their four children; one boy and 3 girls, in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.  She’s the “Momfidence!” columnist (formerly “The Mom Next Door”) in Woman’s Day magazine and a longtime contributing editor of Parenting and Baby Talk.  Her articles have also appeared in many other national magazines and at BabyCenter.com and ParentCenter.com.  She’s written four books for Parenting and coauthored The Happiest Toddler on the Block with Harvey Karp, MD.  Not least, she’s faithfully kept a daily diary since she was nine years old.

Through out the book she reminds us that five little ingredients are missing from most mothering messages these days. 

1.  Instinct
2.  Reality
3.  Common Sense
4.  Fun
5.  Parents

What I liked about the book-

The book was filled with fun, funny stories from her own life that I could easily relate to and was an easy quick read..  At the time the book was written her children were around the same age that mine are now.  It was nice to read a book that let me know that I’m not the only one going through what I’m dealing with now.  Kids that don’t listen, act as if they are from another planet and myself having the guilt of not doing this are acting like that.

I agreed with all the topics she had in the book.  I’m a planner by nature and have a tendency to want to control everything.  She helped me see that there are little things that I can let go of, like my house not being “company ready” 24/7.  And she reminded me that I have to take time for myself along the way.

All in all, the book was a nice easy read.  I would definitely suggest it to other moms I know.  There are times when being a mom gets stressful and we need a reminder that we can do this and the kids will come out alive.

I would give the book 5 out of 5 stars.

Happy Reading!