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Can the iPad make reading cool?

April 6th, 2010

by Malena Lott
ipad_hero_20100403
If anything can make reading cool and get people talking about what they are reading, it’s the iPad. With gorgeous design and built-in buzz, the iPad may be one way to get infrequent readers reading again. Sure, book nerds like me may use it primarily for reading books, but I’m hoping that people who haven’t read a book in years will find it so simple and sexy to order and read books on the device, that reading will go up. What do you think?

It may be a plaything, but movies and music and games aren’t what excites me the most about the iPad. No doubt, I’m thrilled about the iBook above all else that the iPad masterpiece can do. Sure, I’ll use the web and e-mail and that alone will make the device productive for me, but what I really want to do is to start an impressive digital library to match the 3,000 plus real books we own. (This is what happens when two book lovers marry each other and then produce children who must also have books.)Thanks to Skype, you can make calls on the iPad, too.

With reports that Apple sold 300,000 iPads over the weekend and that 250,000 books were downloaded onto the device, I’m a happy camper. If I hear exactly what was downloaded, I’ll let you know. If you have one and downloaded a book, let me know what it is.

Until I get my hands on one this week, I’ll leave you with a few comments on the iBook on the iPad.

“And of course, if the iPad was just for books, it would be revolutionary. And it is. While I don’t own a Kindle, I’ve played with one before, I’ve even tried Barnes and Nobles’ Nook, I’ve read books on my iPhone, and I’ve read books the traditional way. It’s a whole new reading experience that nothing else comes close to.” – Craig Kanally, HuffPo

“As a leading entry into the e-book 2.0 sweepstakes, the iPad will have to wean people off dedicated devices and entice paper-lovers with its wiles, which include carrying your reading library around with you like you do your music, and adding to it on an impulse.

Read More http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2010/04/the-ipad-arrives-the-wait-is-over-and-wasnt-bad/#ixzz0kGM8IkMX

A little calmer, I remind Jobs that at the product launch of the iPad in January, he had stood in front of two street signs, one reading “Liberal Arts,” the other “Technology.” “This is where I have always seen Apple,” he told the audience, “at the intersection of the Liberal Arts and Technology.”
I suggest there’s a bit more to it than that; surely Apple stands at the intersection of liberal arts, technology and commerce? “Sure, what we do has to make commercial sense,” Jobs concedes, “but it’s never the starting point. We start with the product and the user experience. You seen an iBook yet?” His pleasure in showing me the Winnie the Pooh iBook bundled with every iPad is unaffected and engaging. He demonstrates how the case can be used as a lectern and as a stand. “I think the experience of using an iPad is going to be profound for many people,” he says. “I really do. Genuinely profound.” –

Read more: http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1976935-4,00.html#ixzz0kGNtZvMz

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Ten Tips for the Modern Woman

March 25th, 2010

By Dr. Vivian Diller and Dr. Jill Muir-Sukenick
Authors of Face It: What Women Really Feel as Their Looks Change

mime-attachmentWe are often asked how the psychological six steps we describe in our book, Face It: What Women Really Feel as Their Looks Change, translate into practical ways to feel and look more attractive. So, we put together some tips that once were useful to us in our former careers as models. They are even more useful more so now as our own looks are changing! They were designed in conjunction with the internal changes suggested in Face It and work best if you have learned what it really means to be attractive at any age. The ‘beauty’ of these tips is that unlike quick-fix ones that instruct women how ‘not to look old,’ these can be applied throughout life and are for all women.

1. Show Confidence Inside and Out
We learned first hand that models who walked in with an air of confidence tended to get the jobs. It wasn’t about being the prettiest — everyone was. Or about being perfect — no one was. It was about how you carried yourself. Some models were known for their great legs or long necks and used these assets to feel beautiful. Sometimes only one’s hands or feet were considered marketable material. Instead of focusing on features you don’t like about yourself, take the ones you do and embellish them. Delicate wrists? Wear an eye-catching watch. Thick hair? An elegant headband or jeweled clip can make your statement. Posture is a feature all women can enjoy if they keep their bones healthy. Hold your head up with poise and self- assurance and people will see what you feel.

2. A Radiant Smile Can Work for You
There are models who are not perfectly shaped who have successful careers because of their great smiles. Think of a baby’s smile. Does anything bring more pleasure to the eyes of others than that spontaneous toothless grin? Sure, we can whiten and straighten our teeth, but regardless of how they look at any particular moment, smiling with a sparkle in our eyes goes a long way to convey beauty.

3. Reinvent Your Look
As models we had to constantly change our ‘look.’ It taught us to be capable of adjusting our appearance to the circumstances. Instead of feeling anxious about change, have fun as you reinvent a look with each stage. Those short skirts might not work, but other styles may. Letting go of your former self-image doesn’t mean neglecting yourself. Try walking instead of jogging; take yoga, in place of spin class. Adjust your attitude as you adjust your look.

4. Sexy at Sixty
We may have left behind unlined faces and bright teeth, but we never have to leave behind our ability to connect to others sensually. As models, we were sometimes told to ‘make love to the camera.’ With safety pins pulling at our clothes, fans blowing in our faces, that was a challenge. But the more we let ourselves get into it, the more alluring we felt. A model can be absolutely exquisite, but her photos can look cold, sexless, and dull. It’s not about the perfect body or the skimpy clothes she’s wearing or not wearing. It’s about the connection to the viewer. So it can be for you.

5. Accessories Can Say A Lot
A woman who has interests that go beyond age-defying remedies is one who conveys a vital approach to life. Sport the cap of your local baseball or football team, or a T-shirt with a meaningful saying, “Save the Whales” or “Free Tibet.” Use these ageless accessories and you may end up having fun rooting for your team or supporting a new cause.

6. Work Out and Work With Your Friends
Models are dressed, undressed and styled with other people coming and going all around them. (Nothing like outfit changes with stage hands in full view!) At best, we learned to laugh to make the work fun. Instead of sneaking off alone to color your hair, make it fun by passing the time chatting with a friend in the next salon chair. Go to a spa with friends. Take a power walk with a buddy. Tell one another how attractive you each are. We’re in this together.

7. Get up close and personal.
An essential tool for models to inspect imperfections is a magnified mirror. It’s like wearing glasses while you attend to your face. You can pluck the white hairs if you don’t want them, rub creams on brown spots if you want them to fade, and apply makeup where it belongs. How many of us have left smudges of mascara above and below our eyes thinking they made it on to our lashes?? By seeing yourself up close and personal, you can choose among the plethora of products available to adorn your beautiful self.

8. Leave Competition Out of Beauty
As models, competition was a necessary part of the work. At our age, we don’t need to be the best, but rather look our best for our age, which is about looking as healthy, robust, and vital as we possibly can. There is no race for the smoothest skin, the thinnest or the youngest looking body, nor is looking good about a race with time. Let’s get out of the competition we’ve imposed on ourselves. We’ll all feel like winners.

9. Take the Plastic out of Plastic Surgery
We are not anti taking steps to feel better about how you look. We are not anti- anything, except recklessness. Cosmetic surgery aimed at altering physical features so they appear more in sync with your self image — like removing dark circles under your otherwise sparkling eyes — can surely bring increased pleasure. However, surgery performed with the hope of changingyour self-image often leads to the opposite result. How you look is based on how you experience yourself, no matter what you do or don’t do to your face and body.

10. See Yourself as an Example for the Next Generation.
At social and professional gatherings, you have the opportunity and responsibility to show younger women what beauty at midlife can be. Demonstrate the kind of poise and grace you want your daughters and younger colleagues to emulate. Remember, those who admire and respect you are the people you influence most. Let’s provide the next generation with the kind of role models we weren’t lucky enough to have. We owe it to them to look forward to — rather than dread — the years that lie ahead. Live them with confidence that you can look and feel beautiful at any age. It will benefit both the body and the soul.

© 2010 Dr. Vivian Diller and Dr. Jill Muir-Sukenick, authors of Face It: What Women Really Feel as Their Looks Change

Author Bios
FACE IT: What Women Really Feel As Their Looks Change by Vivian Diller, Ph.D, with Jill Muir-Sukenick, Ph.D. and edited by Michele Willens is a psychological guide to help women deal with the emotions brought on by their changing appearances. As models turned psychotherapists, Diller and Sukenick have had the opportunity to examine the world of beauty from two very different vantage points. This unique perspective helped them develop a six-step program that begins with recognizing “uh-oh” moments that reveal the reality of changing looks, goes on to identify the masks used to cover deeper issues, defines the role beauty plays in a woman’s life, and ends with bidding adieu to old definitions of beauty so women can enjoy their appearance — at any age!

For more information on the book, authors, and events, please visit http://www.faceitthebook.com or visit their fan page on Facebook.

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Side Dish with author Julie K. Hersh

March 17th, 2010

img-julie-hershStruck by Living by Julie K. Hersh

struckbyliving.com

There’s a person like me in every community. Normally at the center of things, friendly, I’m almost always ready for a new experience or a new adventure. In September of 2001, all that changed. When most people watched two planes crash again and again into the twin towers, I sat in a locked psychiatric ward, ready for my first session of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). I was so sure I had nothing more to offer my family, my two young children and my community I drove my car into my garage and let it run for 90 minutes.

Luckily, I survived. My book Struck by Living is a hopeful story of how I learned to manage my clinical depression. ECT provided a jump start, but I knew if I did not understand the “why” of my disease, I’d be doomed to repeat the cycle. I’ve tried to make my book readable – more like a page-turner novel than a how to book. We already have too many depressing books on depression on the market today. I also believe that every person must make his or her own way through the maze of depression. There are no pat answers, but if we share our stories we can learn from each other.

55035807.JPGAlthough my book’s focus is depression, the core of my book revolves around a struggle universal for most women. We are the caretakers – the invisible glue that keeps our families and communities together. My book explores the importance of preserving one’s identity while we take care of others. Pulled between a husband, children, aging grandparents, an interfaith marriage and far from my family of origin; I lost my identity. My genetic predisposition for depression sped my unraveling, but this is a challenge many of us face. My book shares my journey in the hope that others will share theirs and support each other.

You can pre-order Julie’s book here.

Thanks for stopping by and sharing your profound story with us, Julie.

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The trials of “Parrothood”

March 16th, 2010

by March Top Pick author Jenny Gardiner

smAuthor1-1My parrot wants me dead. She hates me. Proof is the triangular chunk of flesh now missing from both the front and back of my thumb, testament to the dangers of a beak that’s as powerful as an industrial metal-stamping die.
It seems where I’ve met with moderate success in parenthood–i.e. maintaining the upper hand in the relationship–I’ve failed miserably in parrot-hood.

Parrot-hood, you ask? Yes, in my case, that would be the state in which one must sustain a parrot.

Graycie, a too-smart-for-our-own-good African Gray parrot, came to our family from the wild, a Christmas gift from a relative living in Zaire 20 years ago. Graycie arrived on our doorstep–with a temporary stop in parrot prison (quarantine)–in good health but bad temperament. The first few years were arduous, as she was ferocious, snapping and growling at us when we got near. Who could blame her? Poor thing was chopped down from a tree and separated from her parents, stuffed into a crate with a hundred other terrified baby birds, and left to survive with little food or water.

Had I anything to say in the matter, I would have nixed owning a contraband bird from the get-go (back then most parrots ended up in the U.S. this way; shortly thereafter such means of parrot acquisition were banned). Nevertheless, I was determined to make the best of the situation, despite the fact that she arrived on the heels of the birth of our first child. I was having enough trouble dealing with the demands of a small human who needed my attention all day and night, so was ill-prepared to welcome a bird into the home who expected that and then some.

To some extent, Graycie’s redeemed herself over the years. She’s become quite the talker: she puts my kids in time-outs when they get sassy, yells at the dog when she tries to eat her, and answers the phone in my husband’s voice. Ditto his burps and sneezes. Recently when I used a broom to nudge her back onto the cage from the floor, she pecked at my feet and the broom while repeatedly saying, “Hello gray chicken!”

For a while Graycie got somewhat nice. She let us hold her, sometimes even stroke her feathers. Unfortunately she’d scoot up my arm and perch behind my neck, precariously close to that vital jugular vein and far too inclined to poop on my back, so I didn’t make a habit of such visits. Maybe that angered her.

Lately she’s lapsed into a phase of oppositional defiance that has me vexed (and mysteriously at the vortex of her wrath).

My friend is convinced Graycie needs a boyfriend. She is a teenager, after all. I’m convinced she needs anger management therapy. Perhaps, though, she is really a he and is tired of being called a girl (back when we got her, the only way to determine a bird’s gender was surgically, so we just guessed at it).

Whatever it is, I know this: what she wants most is to wound me. Often. When I clear the paper from beneath the cage, she races down to attack me, and gleefully rips my hair out. When I reach to open the perch on top, she’s there before I complete the job, straining as far as her body can reach in order to take a chomp my way. When she sneaks off the cage on her frequent surreptitious walkabouts, she attacks my ankles and feet as I try to catch her and return her to home base. I’m the first to admit I can’t quite control her.

When I glance at her, she just gazes back with a cold, black stare that says, “You know I could snap your finger in half easier than you could break a Lorna Doone in two, beyatch.” And she means it. The old adage about not biting the hand that feeds you must’ve slipped right on past her.

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To read more about Graycie and Jenny’s escapades, click on the link to WINGING IT in the sidebar and visit her author site at www.jennygardiner.net.

Jenny will be back later this week in a special Book End Babes interview. She’ll also join us for a Twitter Wine+Book Chat on Thursday, March 25th at 5 p.m. EST.

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Side Dish with TJ Banks

March 15th, 2010

BOOK MAGIC by author TJ Banks

007MAMA Not all books are magical…sad but true. But the ones that are leave me feeling like the princess in George MacDonald’s story “The Wise Woman.” Standing before a beautiful painted landscape, she says to herself, “I do not believe it is a picture. It is the real country, with a real hill, and a real little girl upon it.” So sure is she on this score, she steps over the frame and into the painting, exclaiming, “I am free, I am free!”
The most magical books have the same freeing effect on me. They’re the ones that take me out of myself and lead me into Narnia, Edward IV’s court , a Welsh mining town, or Cold Sassy Tree, where the townsfolk know everybody else’s business or can quickly make something up if they don’t. Literature happens outside of time: when something we read truly touches us, we step out of time, too.
These books don’t even necessarily have to be great literature. For years, I’ve been in love with Joyce Stranger’s novels, which are set in the British, Welsh, and Scottish countryside. Is she a great novelist? Probably not. But she had a gift for weaving word-pictures and knew how to create worlds with them – worlds so vivid, I can feel the wind on the hills and moors and see the wildcats, deer, and other animals that play a part in her stories. That’s magic. And it carries me.

———–
A Time For ShadowsThanks for those inspiring words, TJ.
Find out more about TJ’s novel, A TIME FOR SHADOWS at these links:
http://www.tjbanks927.blogspot.com
Book: http://www.publishingworks.com/authors/bnks_tj.html

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Side Dish with Rachael Herron

March 11th, 2010

HOW TO KNIT A LOVE SONG is the debut novel by Rachael Herron, who was kind enough to share her fun book hunt with us at Book End Babes. Atta-babe, Rachael, and continued success with your funny, romantic and entertaining story.

How to Knit a First-Book Hunt by Rachael Herron

There are some things that absolutely require celebrations: weddings, births, and first books. Recently, friends and family took me out to celebrate the fact that my first novel, How to Knit a Love Song, hit the stores.

First, they gathered at our house. What I wasn’t prepared for, however, was how they gathered. They brought champagne, and good bread and cheese. Lynn made cherry tarts. Christy brought the best chocolates in the world. Bethany wore our mother’s favorite sweater in her memory.

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We toasted success. And never has champagne tasted so sweet.

Then we loaded into cars and went off on a book hunt! We were determined to see if we could spot my book in the wild. I wasn’t sure we could—it was such a big dream, I didn’t want to get my hopes up, and it was my release day, after all. We went to a small, independent bookstore first. We searched. Nothing. I wasn’t even disappointed. But then my sister found it! I was so flustered I couldn’t even spell my name to find where on the shelf she was pointing.

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I honestly thought they’d planted the book there to delight me, but they hadn’t. It was there, waiting for me to do my first book signing. We moved on to another chain store, where there were lots of copies (which I also delightedly signed), and then on to a bar for one final toast.

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A perfect, gorgeous night. Girlfriends, food, books, celebration, and love.

———-
47728413.JPGBabes, buy the book here or your favorite retailer.

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Girlfriend Dana Wood

March 9th, 2010

Dana Wood, author of Momover, her March debut and web site, pops in to dish about meditation to tame your restless mind. Welcome, Dana~

DanaWoodnew2-375x470by Dana Wood,
Author of Momover: The New Mom’s Guide to Getting It Back Together (even if you never had it in the first place!)

I can’t tell you how long “Learn to Meditate” has been sitting on my life-goals list. Not on my ho-hum to-do list, next to “schedule teeth cleaning” or “buy Huggies Pull-Ups.” I’m talking about the biggie, the list that serves as the repository for my deepest desires for myself, like “Find Hubby” and “Have Baby.” That’s how important I consider meditation to my overall health and wellness.

So if it’s so important, why haven’t I tackled it before now? I guess I wasn’t ready. Though I’m sure I could’ve benefited from meditation at earlier stages of my life, I was just too antsy to explore it (and yes, I see the irony in that). Another big reason is that I’d always assumed meditation required a lot of skill and knowledge. Not so. As it turns out, meditation is just like so many other things in life. Sometimes you just have to wade into the shallow end and start splashing around. “There’s no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ with meditation,” says intuitive guru Michele Bernhardt, a multitasking healer, astrologer, and metaphysician who’s produced several guided meditation CDs. (Learn more at her brilliant website, www.myinnerworld.com.) ”A big part of meditation is your intention.”

Momover_final4-5-662x1024So at least intend to give meditation a shot, and in the process, you’ll be giving yourself the opportunity to relax, gain mental clarity, and connect with your spirituality.

Go with the Flow

As I said, I hope you don’t take a page out of my book by contemplating meditation for a good ten years before actually trying it. To help you move your intention into reality and make the whole shebang that much more compelling, here’s a list of tips:
Designate a sacred space: For me, it’s my walk-in closet. I love the girl-power vibe — the shoes, the dresses, the purses. Attached to my office, my walk-in is a key part of my “Dana Zone.” I’ve stocked it with a few small pillows and a beautiful meditation mat Bernhardt gave me years ago. In one of my shoe cubbies, I’ve stashed a gorgeous sand timer, pictures of the ocean, candles, meditation CDs, and a player. Though pillows and candles are the norm, trick out your own sacred space with treasures that speak to you.
Create a ritual: This can involve repeating a mantra, listening to particular music (I like Gregorian chants, but you might prefer wind chimes, Tibetan bells, etc.), or inhaling certain scents. “I think, deep inside, most of us love a ritual,” says Bernhardt. “So use sounds, a candle, or some kind of scentlike incense or myrrh. Patchouli is also perfect. With a scent, right away your body says, ‘Okay, I’m ready.’”
Make sure you’re comfy: Sorry, that means no Spanx. (Kidding. Sort of.) If you’re not keen on sitting on the floor with your back erect and your hands on your knees, you can sit in a chair. Just make sure you’re maintaining good posture, that you’re positioned a few inches away from the back of the chair, and that your feet are on the floor. Kneeling is another possibility, though you might want to use a pillow for support.

Observe your thoughts without “feeding” them: We discuss how tricky this is below, but it becomes easier once you realize that it’s all about detachment. For instance, if, midmeditation, you think about the fact that you need to take your DD to the doc, you say to yourself, ”I’m having a thought about needing to take the baby to the pediatrician.” What you don’t do is take that original thought to the next level, as in, “Next Tuesday afternoon might work” or “I hope the poor little doll doesn’t need too many shots.” Just let those snippets pass in and out without reaction.

themotherload

“I’ve gotten much more deeply spiritual since I had my child. I trace it directly to being pregnant with him. I was introduced to the notion that our babies choose us as parents. Well, that terrified me to my core. So, I started an intense inner dialogue with my unborn child about who I really am, what kind of mother I hoped to be, my hopes and dreams, etc. To do that, I had to really dig deep and explore the whole ‘Who Am I? Why Am I Here?’ business. It got me on the path that has led to my becoming a meditation coach. I meditate daily and love it. ”
-Katherine, mama of one

Copyright © 2010 Dana Wood, author of Momover: The New Mom’s Guide to Getting It Back Together (even if you never had it in the first place!)

Author Bio
Dana Wood, author of Momover: The New Mom’s Guide to Getting It Back Together (even if you never had it in the first place!), is a mother, wife, and the writer of “Momover,” an online column that explores the collision of age and first-time mommyhood. Currently the senior fashion features editor of W, Wood has served as the beauty director of W and the health and beauty director of Cookie. In her twenty-plus years of journalism, she has also written for numerous national publications, including Glamour, Harper’s Bazaar, InStyle, Women’s Health, Self, and People. Learn more about Wood and her her popular blog at Momover.net. She lives in New York, NY.

Get your copy here.

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Liquid Happiness

February 10th, 2010

In looking for something to feature on Wine Wednesday, I ran across this adorable wine stopper with the engraving LIQUID HAPPINESS. I thought it was the perfect showcase since one of our Top Picks this month is THE HAPPINESS PROJECT. (which I hope you are reading and doing by the way!) It would make a great gift for a girlfriend’s birthday (along with a great bottle of vino) or as a door prize at your next book club party!
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Get one here from ediblegiftsplus.com. ($9.50 each)

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Succeeding as a Freelance Writer

February 3rd, 2010

by Mari Farthing, Book End Babe Chapter 1 Member

mari small picWe’ve all got something to say. But let’s be clear: not all of us are writers.

Is that too harsh to say? Well, the good news is that writers are often bred, not born. This is especially true when it comes to freelance writing. Many common factors are bringing people to freelance writing. The bad economy, the search for secondary or new sources of income and the draw of a career as a writer are enticing. Add to that the instant delivery system that is the internet, and it seems an easy career choice.

These factors can work against a budding freelancer. As the editor of a locally-based parenting publication, I receive many submissions over the course of the week. Some of these I read and I’ve found great writers based on these email submissions. In fact, I found my first freelancing gig (at the publication where I am now the editor) through a cold e-mail.

It’s not uncommon for freelancers to forge long, successful partnerships with local publications that can be expanded to a national career based on reprints and more cold submissions. But just as easily, these submissions can lead to nothing. There are many factors that cause an editor to read a query, and just as many that cause that same editor to quickly hit the delete key.

So how do you make yourself stand out as a great writer? There are a few tips you can follow that will make a huge difference in your queries.

· Identify yourself. Include some information about yourself in your query. My name is Mari, I live in Oklahoma City – editors want to know that. Especially when you are sending information to local publications which tend to skew to local writers.
· Don’t spam. If I see a writer is addressing me (as opposed to “undisclosed recipients”) I’m much more likely to keep reading.
· Write well. Use proper grammar. Try to avoid slang or vernacular unless it’s very tied to your topic.
· Be personable but not personal. I want to get some clues to your personality (the editor/writer relationship is a close one) but I don’t want to know too much about you right away. Save something for later.
· Be concise. If you choose to paste an article in your email, that’s great; but lead your email with an engaging few sentences that make me want to read your article.
· Clean it up! We all cut and paste to save time and energy, but please be sure that the fonts, sizes, spacing, etc., are neat and orderly. An email that is obviously patched together is not one I want to read.

Among other things, Mari Farthing is the Editor at MetroFamily Magazine in Oklahoma City (MetroFamilyMagazine.com). She also maintains a personal blog at MariMargene.Blogspot.com.

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Our Happiness Project

February 2nd, 2010

by Malena Lott

hp_body_bookIn yesterday’s video reveal of our February Top Picks, I explained that Book End Babes will be hosting our own Happiness Project on our Facebook group for the next 12 weeks. THE HAPPINESS PROJECT by Gretchen Rubin is a February Top Pick and is our source for our HP series. I downloaded the group Happiness Project kit, which outlines our 12 weeks we’ll be spending together searching for our own personal happiness. Why do I want to do this? Let me count the ways.

1. I love men, but I’m a woman and therefore the woman’s journey is an important part of my life and purpose. I love to write about it, I love to explore it, and I love to inspire women to find their purpose and live a passionate life. The journey looks different for each woman, which is why it’s so interesting to see where those roads lead.

2. Happiness is a funny word. I’ve studied a lot of Eastern philosophies and have come to believe that “happiness” isn’t the ultimate goal, but that peace and living a full life WITHIN the turmoil and troubles that life hands us is the mark of an enriched life. Despite a tumultuous early childhood, I’ve always considered myself a “happy person.” Yet I was happy and anxious. Happy and worried. Happy and obsessive. So my own journey has been getting rid of those unwanted things to feel peace and within even the mundane moments I can find a sort of happiness that looks nothing like a Snoopy dance. So I am intrigued by Gretchen’s journey and hope to see how hers can make me better understand my own.

3. One whack at the bat. Unless you believe in reincarnation, you only get one whack at the bat when it comes to your life. One chance to get things figured out and living the best life for you (whether that’s big or small or trapezoid or square). Let’s decide right here and now that you may get one baseball game, seven innings and many strikes at the bat to figure out what your authentic life should look like for you. THIS is why I think it’s a good way to spend our time, reflecting and weeding out the stuff getting in our way and pruning and planting the good stuff. It’s 12 weeks to make a positive difference in your life.

4. Women need each other. As is our mission at Book End Babes, books rock, girlfriends rule. We need to help support each other in our journeys, lose the guilt and the judgement and go for it. I’m here for you. I hope you really will use our Facebook group and these weekly lessons to share and build the life you’ve always wanted or decide you want from here on out. Doing things together makes us not feel so alone.

Huge thanks to Gretchen Rubin for writing this fabulous book and creating this foundation for our discussion and our journeys. Visit her website here and click on the the book cover in our sidebar to the right to get the book or visit your favorite retailer so we can begin TODAY! Gretchen tested the theories and wisdom of great leaders so we aren’t starting from scratch here. Atta-babe Gretchen! We salute you.

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