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April Book Club Discussion With the Author: The Bear

Tuesday, April 29th, 2014

The Bear by Claire Cameron

Welcome to our April Book Club! I am so excited to be talking about this month’s selection, “The Bear,” by Claire Cameron.  Claire has truly been such a generous author to share in our book club discussion today and her book was so beautifully written that I could not wait to talk about it today.

Just as a recap from our announcement last week, here is a little on the basic premise of this book.

While camping with her family on a remote island, five-year-old Anna awakes in the night to the sound of her mother screaming. A bear has found their campsite and her parents become the bear’s victims.

As her mother lays injured on the ground, she convinces Anna to take her brother in the canoe, getting them away from the bear and (hopefully) to safety. Anna & Sticky must fight for survival as they are lost and alone in the wilderness.

Told through the eyes of five-year-old Anna, we see the struggles and triumphs as she tries to find safety with her brother.  A survival story unlike any other I have read, it is one that you just won’t be able to put down because you must know what happens to these children.

Wow, I don’t know about you, but this novel kept me on the edge of my seat until I finished it. I could not close the final pages until I knew if Anna & Sticky were safe.

As readers, we are swept away in the suspenseful story of Anna & her brother Alex (nicknamed Sticky). While their family is camping on a remote island, five-year-old Anna awakes in the night to the sound of her mother screaming. A bear has found their campsite and her parents become the bear’s victims.

As her mother lays injured on the ground, she convinces Anna to take her brother in the canoe, getting them away from the bear and (hopefully) to safety. Anna & Sticky must fight for survival as they are lost and alone in the wilderness.

Told through the eyes of five-year-old Anna, we see the struggles and triumphs as she tries to find safety with her brother.

Although telling the story through the eyes of a five-year-old can get a little old, I think it lends itself well in this survival story because we have to understand what Anna’s motives are for keeping her brother safe.

In the author’s note, we learn that in October of 1991, Ryamond Jakubauskas & Carola Frehe pitched a tent on Bates Island on Lake Opeongo in Algonquin Park and were attacked by a large male black bear.

Both of them died from injuries inflicted by the bear and there were no clear reasons why this bear attacked, other than hunger.

The author worked as a counselor at a summer camp at the park and used these stories and theories about what happened as a basis for her novel, adding in the children.

Since this story is only about the children, it is told through Anna’s eyes and her interpretation of what happened to her parents, who attacked them (referred to as a dog), and, ultimately, how they will survive.

Of course, since it is told through a child’s eyes, we also sometimes follow along confused about what is happening to them and what is real versus what is imagined. This helps us to truly understand Anna’s own confusion about the situation.

I loved that the story, in the end, had them come back to the place where the attack happened, in a small ceremony bringing a little more peace to them both.

Claire Cameron

Born in 1973, Claire Cameron grew up in Toronto. She studied History and Culture at Queen’s University. She then worked as an instructor for Outward Bound, teaching mountaineering, climbing, and white-water rafting in Oregon. Next she worked in San Francisco for Pearson Plc before moving to London in 1999. There she was director of Shift Media, a consultancy whose clients included the BBC, McGraw-Hill, and Oxford University Press. Her first novel was the taut thriller, “The Line Painter.”  Claire lives in Toronto with her husband and two sons. You can become a fan of Claire Cameron on Facebook, follow her on Twitter, follow her on IG, and on GoodReads.

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Getting in the head of a five-year-old voice can’t be easy. Who was your inspiration and how did you capture it in this novel?

It might not surprise you to hear that my son was five when I started writing the novel. He was in a really talkative stage and I used conversations with him to establish the emotional scope and ability of the character. The first draft was actually about two little boys. At some point in the endless rewrites, I realized there was a lot of me in Anna. That’s when she became a girl. I let her be me.

 I read an interview where you shared that, “the bear,” symbolizes our fears at parents. What is, “the bear,” to you as a mother?

Writing the novel was emotionally challenging as, in some ways, I was typing out my greatest fears. It was hard to live that way. In retrospect, though, it helped me relax as a mother. My story ended up being about how kids can be resilient and how they can cope. When I finished, I knew that was true and that they would be fine, whether or not I was there to help.

I suppose that’s ‘the bear’ to me, the idea of not being there to help my kids when they are in trouble.

 Have you camped at all since writing this book? Do you think it has made you nervous or added another perspective on camping?

Last summer I took my family on a canoe trip back to the island in Algonquin Park where the bear attack that I reimagined in The Bear took place. I did think about the attack, but I also found that I’ve slept in a tent so many nights before that I knew we were fine. It helped that it was a great blue berry season. The bears were full!

The first night we were back home, I tucked my son into bed and asked him if he felt safer in his bed, rather than sleeping in a tent. He said no, it’s scarier at home. Why? Because when camping we were all together in the same tent, but in our house we sleep in different rooms so his Dad and I are farther away. It helped me realize that feeling scared is different for everyone. Fear is a perspective and a mindset, not a set thing.

Did the father leave the family during arguments or did I misinterpret that part of the narrative? (from reader, Sarah)

I purposely left the details of Anna’s family situation in the state that 5 year olds often experience them, a bunch of vague details that don’t quite make sense because I child is rarely told the whole story. My hope is that a reader will use her experience to fill in the details (sorry that is probably a frustratingly vague answer).

Some of the scariest scenes for me are the ones where Sticky disappears and Anna isn’t watching him. As a mom, I think I held my breath until he came back. Of course, there are terrifying moments like that peppered throughout the book. What were some of the most difficult scenes for you as a mom?

The scariest scene to write was the same, when Sticky disappears. I know this because I skipped over it in the first draft. It was my editor, Sarah Murphy at Little Brown, who pointed it out–that I had worked up to this moment and then only vaguely sketched it in. When she said this I thought, “oh no, I’ve been caught out. Now I’m going to have to buck up and write it.”

That is the definition of a great editor, I think. Someone who is so in tune with the story that they can see the emotional gaps.

In, “The Room,” by Emma Donoghue, she utilizes a young narrator to tell a story of survival and a reader can’t help but notice the similar theme in your book. Have you read this book and what do you think makes your narrator different than Donoghue’s?

The book that was the bigger influence at the beginning of writing THE BEAR was LORD OF THE FLIES. I re-read it and, having boys of my own, couldn’t accept the mean take on human nature it shows. When I was about 1/3 of the way through the first draft. I got tired and wondered who would want to read a story told in a 5 year olds voice. That’s when I thought of ROOM. I read it and loved it, so I knew it was possible and I got a lot of strength to keep going from that. Both books have a child in a survival situation, but Anna is a very different child with more varied experience than the child in ROOM, Jack. Her voice reflects that. She needs to make a new normal after her rescue, whereas Jack has to find out what normal might be for him.

If you could tell anyone to read one book (other than your own) what would that book be?

Such a hard question! Maybe TREASURE ISLAND by Robert Louis Stevenson because it is such a great adventure story. I love Long John Silver as he’s the best kind of bad guy–one that feels so complete that you can’t help rooting for him.

What do you have in store for us with your next project?

I am writing a lot at the moment, but I’m not entirely sure what the book will be just yet. It will involve the wilderness, as that is a long time passion. I am interested in capturing the amazing things that happen in the outdoors between people. That’s at the heart of my interest. When you go through a survival situation with another person, you get to know them in a whole new way.

What did you think of The Bear?  Share your thoughts on our  book club pick below and offer recommendations for what you might like to see on our list in the upcoming year!

Our book club will now be going to a quarterly selection. Be sure to pick up our summer selection, “Love With a Chance of Drowning.” In the meantime, catch up on what is happening this year and explore our past book club selections here!

 

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Sundays With Writers: Margot by Jillian Cantor

Sunday, April 27th, 2014

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I am always so excited when I can feature beautiful books in our Sundays With Writers series. Today’s book, Margot by Jillian Cantor, explores a fictional account of what it would be like if Margot Frank, Anne Frank’s sister, actually lived and had to carry the secret of her escape.

In the spring of 1959, The Diary of Anne Frank has just come to the silver screen to great acclaim, and a young woman named Margie Franklin is working in Philadelphia as a secretary at a Jewish law firm. On the surface she lives a quiet life, but Margie has a secret: a life she once lived, a past and a religion she has denied, and a family and a country she left behind.

Margot

Margie Franklin is really Margot Frank, older sister of Anne, who did not die in Bergen-Belsen as reported, but who instead escaped the Nazis for America. But now, as her sister becomes a global icon, Margie’s carefully constructed American life begins to fall apart. A new relationship threatens to overtake the young love that sustained her during the war, and her past and present begin to collide. Margie is forced to come to terms with Margot, with the people she loved, and with a life swept up into the course of history.

I was captivated by the premise of this book and it brought to light some things that I had not thought of for those that did escape the Nazis. We witness a very real reaction to the post-traumatic stress that one would suffer if they escaped and what it would be like to live day-to-day with a number from a concentration camp tattooed on your arm.

When I finished this book, I just knew that I needed to interview Jillian and learn more about what moved her to create this fictional life for Margot and how she developed an entirely fictional concept while staying true to the life of Anne Frank’s family and history.

Grab your coffee and let’s sit down this Sunday with Jillian and talk about her amazing book, “Margot.”

 

Jillian Cantor

One of my favorite writers is Melanie Benjamin because she always finds some of the most unique historical characters and builds a story around them in a fresh way.  The story of Margot Frank reminded me of a character she might pick. What made it truly exceptional though is that you created a storyline around someone who had passed away without her story really being told. Do you think it was harder to build a storyline when the character was, in fact, deceased?

The real Margot Frank died in Bergen-Belsen with her sister, Anne, in 1945. But in my novel, my fictional Margot escapes from the Nazis and moves to America to begin a new life. My novel takes place largely in 1959, the year when the movie version of Anne’s diary came out in the US — fourteen years after the real Margot Frank died. My fictional Margot has changed her name to Margie Franklin and she lives in Philadelphia where she works as a legal secretary. As a writer of fiction, I think it was somewhat easier to write about Margot Frank in this capacity because my Margie Franklin truly is a fictional character. At the same time, I wanted to make sure to stay to true to what I believed the real Margot Frank might have or could’ve become if this had actually happened, so it was a little tricky to try to strike the balance between the truth and fiction.

 The fact that Margie hides her tattoo with the number she was issued by the Nazis is a very important element to her story. We discover that Margie always keeps her arms covered, even in the stifling heat of summer, so no one will know her secret.  Did you read of others who hid this and how did this inspire you?

I didn’t read anything specific about anyone hiding a tattoo with a sweater, though, I did read about Jews who moved to the US after the war and changed their identities in one capacity or another. I also read that some people had their tattoos removed once they moved to the United States, and I thought a lot about this with my character of Margie. Even though she didn’t want anyone to see her tattoo, I also couldn’t see her having it removed. Margie’s tattoo is so visible and so permanent, and yet it is undeniably such a part of her and her history.

Margie is clearly suffering from some severe post-traumatic stress and we witness this when she visits the Rabbi, when the car backfires, and when anyone tries to get close to her. What type of research did you do to prepare for these moments for Margie?

I didn’t specifically read up on PTSD while I was writing. I’ve read a lot in the past about post-traumatic stress, especially in soldiers, so I had an idea of what PTSD was, and I’ve experienced it in small ways in my own life. Shortly before I started writing MARGOT, Gabrielle Giffords was shot in a shopping center near me, and six people were killed – I was in the shopping center at the time, though very luckily I was not involved or hurt. For weeks afterwards I was nervous and jumpy every time I left the house. For Margie, I felt that the small bit of fear and anxiety I felt would be enormously magnified, and that living through such a horrific time and losing her family is something that would stay with her forever. As I wrote, I tried to put myself in Margie’s shoes, to think about how I would’ve reacted in those situations after living through such horrors.

 As children, many of us read or watched the movie of The Diary of Anne Frank. Was this something that you remember from your own childhood and was it a story that always stuck with you?

I read the The Diary of a Young Girl in seventh grade, and it did always stick with me. I felt connected to Anne at the time – I was about her age when I read it, Jewish, and I wanted to be a writer. What I didn’t remember, years later, was that Anne had an older sister, Margot. When I picked up the book again in my 30s to reread it, I noticed Margot but I had no memory of her from my earlier reading. I tried to do some research about her, and I found very little. But I did find that Margot Frank had kept her own diary (though hers was never recovered after the war). I grew up the older of two sisters myself, and I started to think about what Margot’s story might have been and how her point of view might have been different than Anne’s. I started to think about Anne and Margot as sisters, and that was the starting point for this novel for me.

 Is this your first historical fiction piece you have written and do you plan to write more? What other historical fiction characters would you love to write about?

This is my first historical fiction novel, but I have another one coming out some time next year.  My next historical novel revolves around Ethel and Julius Rosenberg. It’s told from the point of view of a fictional neighbor who befriends Ethel and becomes caught up in everything surrounding her arrest, trial, and execution. It’s very much a book about friendship, and mothers and sons, but there’s also spy intrigue and a love story.

If you could tell anyone to read one book (other than your own) what would that book be?

That’s a tough question! I don’t know that I can pick just one book. But my favorite author is Anna Quindlen. I read Black and Blue years ago and it has always stayed with me. Every time she has a new book out, I buy it right away!

*This series may contain affiliate links!

 

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It’s the 3 Little Things: Green Smoothies, Nude Heels, & Tan Legs

Friday, April 25th, 2014

It's The 3 Little Things

As I write this, I am picturing myself in a conference room making a million new friends at the SNAP Conference in Salt Lake City!  Conferences can be so expensive and I am so grateful to Walmart for sponsoring me this weekend so I can grow, learn, & hopefully come back renewed & inspired for this website (and for you!)  I am also very thankful to our site sponsor, Flourish Boutique, for their assistance with my wardrobe for these events.

Even though I am off, I still wanted to make sure I made my happy list of three for you and can’t wait to see your lists this week!

Comfortable Nude Heels

Comfortable Nude Heels

I have a hard time finding affordable shoes that are comfortable and so each year, I treat myself to one really good pair of Naturalizer shoes. I had treated myself in the fall though and as Spring rolled around, I really needed a basic heel to wear for church and conferences. I went to Payless and found these super comfortable nude heels and the best part, for me, is that they come in a wide size.  Doesn’t everyone have as wide of feet as long? Maybe that is just me. The heel is just the right height, they don’t feel like an inexpensive shoe, and they come in a few great basic colors. Since I am the size of a child, they also make me feel like I have long legs and they go with everything in my closet.  When I went to our store, they had them on sale for $14.99. If they aren’t on sale for you though, I find their email newsletter and mailers usually offer some great coupons.  ($24.99)

 

Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs

Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs

I don’t want to brag, but when I was a kid the kids at school used to call me Casper. Well, who is laughing now, friends? This girl. Because I am TAN…on my legs… with make-up. So.

In all honesty, this stuff is heaven-sent for a really white girl like me. It comes in an aerosol can and, yes, it can make a big mess if you are not careful. You shake the can and then spray it on your lightly moisturized (but dry) legs. Then just use your hands to spread the make-up on your legs and it all air dries in one minute. It is truly an airbrushed leg experience and, provided you blend well and pick the right shade for your own coloring, it gives a beautiful finish to your legs. It has a little shimmer to it too, but not overly noticeable.

I love this stuff so much that when I travel, I spray it into a baggie (I don’t check in luggage so the ounces are too high on this) and take it with me when I have events that I am headed to.  Between this and my nude heels, I am feeling very confident about wearing dresses this year!

The best part is that it is waterproof so if you are even at the beach, you will be fine. You need soap to get it off, otherwise it stays right where you put it. Since it has good staying power, one bottle usually gets me through the entire summer!

Life's Basics Plant Protein Mix

Life’s Basics Plant Protein Mix (in Vanilla)

Since I gave up dairy, I thought I would have to give up my favorite green smoothies. Fortunately, I discovered there are lots of vegan protein powders on the market and after reading a ton of Amazon reviews (both comparing price & taste), I decided to give this Life’s Basic Plant Protein Mix a try in the blender. It took me a week or so to get used to the texture, but now that I have finally perfected the ratios on this smoothie, it tastes just like a yummy milkshake to me.

Here is my green smoothie recipe that I used before with dairy. With this protein powder, I do one cup of almond milk, 1/2 cup mixed frozen berries, 1 banana, 1 scoop of this protein powder, 4 ice cubes, and I fill the rest of the blender up with spinach. When I first was getting used to the taste, I also added a drizzle of honey, but now I don’t need it. My daughter and I split this smoothie and it leaves me feeling full minus the dairy belly-ache I used to get.

*this post may contain affiliate links- I only recommend what I love though. Check out past editions of  It’s the 3 Little Things! 

Now it’s your turn, what makes you happy this week? Feel free to share in our link up below and link back to this post to participate!

Share 3 things that are making you happy today!

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Amy’s Notebook 04.23.14

Wednesday, April 23rd, 2014

make your cut flowers last longer

Source: Honeybear Lane

 

I’m definitely going to use these 10 tips to help cut flowers last longer – they can make me happy that much more!

I found this post all about how to make homemade nut butters, which includes a picture tutorial that shows what the nuts look like at different stages of processing, to be super helpful.

These tips on how to get your kids to drink more water are terrific and will come in handy at any time of the year.

Banana cream pie overnight oatmeal? Um…yum!

It’s no secret we enjoy making our teachers feel special and appreciated around here – and I’m crushing on the idea of giving them a no sew teacher banner for their rooms!

So excited for asparagus season – and to try pistachio crusted asparagus with feta.

You’ll be amazed at how big this 250 square feet studio apartment  lives – and the fun design ideas to maximize your living space.

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I hope you enjoyed this collection of gathered links to DIY crafts, food projects, and thrifty ways to spruce up your home. Nothing brings me more joy then to highlight other fabulous bloggers. Follow me on Pinterest for daily inspiration!

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It’s the 3 Little Things: Salt Soaks, I Like Giving, & Vinyl Collecting

Friday, April 18th, 2014

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Happy Friday, friends! It was such a crazy week that today really snuck up on me! I hope you guys are having a wonderful week this week and are looking forward to the holiday weekend!  Here are three things that are making me happy this week!

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Dr. Teal’s Epsom Salts With Milk & Honey

I love taking baths in the evenings, but a lot of products for the bath can be drying and irritating to the skin. I found these Epsom Salts with Milk and Honey and I will probably never bathe in anything else again. The milk in the product makes a calming solution for the skin and it smells incredible. There are also some added benefits like Aloe Vera & Vitamin E too.

If I do a really hard workout at the gym, I usually come home and sink into these as a reward for myself. They are inexpensive and at just about every drugstore.  As you know, epsom salts alleviate a lot of muscle pains and aches plus they help get rid of toxins in your body. While epsom salts alone can feel a bit medicinal on their own, this blend with milk & honey makes soaking in these a real treat!

I_Like_Giving

I Like Giving

I discovered this site last week and walked away from it completely inspired.  You can share your story of, “I Like…” and then fill in the blank with something you give to someone else. The site has a film series of ways that people give back to others and it is so incredibly inspiring that you wonder what you can do to live more generously in your life.

You need to go to the site to view these films directly, but I will share the URL’s to the 3 that I loved the most!

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I Like Being 98- View it HERE

I_Like_Car

I Like Car- View it HERE

I_Like_Bugshells

I Like Bugshells- View It HERE

It’s hard to narrow down though because the I Like iPad & I Like Adoption were so inspiring too! It’s a narnia of happiness in those videos of big givers. Tell me if that doesn’t make you happy and think about what you can do for someone else today?

Vinyl Collecting

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I can’t tell you how happy a new-to-me record makes me.  Last month my husband took a day off work so we could have a day date and we spent the entire day in this amazing record store, Ignition Records,  in Goshen. If the owner asks if you want to see anything in the back, always say yes. It is there where I found my own little slice of happiness- Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, and Billie Holiday were all back there waiting for me for my record player.

The best part is that after you make your selections the owner is SO excited for you that you feel so proud about everything you picked out.  As we waited in line, he rubbed his hands together as the customer in front of us handed over her purchase. “What did you find today? Oh, this is so good! You are going to love it.”  The enthusiasm is contagious  from one vinyl-lover to another that you want to pick out more and say, “What about this? Do you love this one too?”

 

yellow_brick_road

My husband’s favorite Elton John album Yellow Brick Road had been reissued in beautiful yellow vinyl and he used his birthday funds to buy it for himself. I have never seen him so darn happy. It is one of those things that makes vinyl so special. If you find me on Instagram, you will see a video of it and it will make you a believer that you need this one too. Yellow Brick Road was meant to be played on a record player.

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That is my list of three today, but this is image is a pretty sweet fourth. We have some crafts to share with you for next week and I got this shot of my daughter and I plan to put it in a frame.  It captures the sweetness that I love so much- and those freckles and lashes that I adore!  Happy Easter, friends!

*this post may contain affiliate links- I only recommend what I love though. Check out past editions of  It’s the 3 Little Things! 

Now it’s your turn, what makes you happy this week? Feel free to share in our link up below and link back to this post to participate!

Share 3 things that are making you happy today!

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Amy’s Notebook 04.16.14

Wednesday, April 16th, 2014

Neutral Easter bunny napkin ring

Source: Design Dining & Diapers

 

Sweet and simple, these burlap bunny napkin rings will help make your Easter table adorable.

You can make bouncy balls at home? This is new to me, but I know my kids will flip for this science-experiment-wrapped-in-a-fun-activity!

Drool-worthy lemon meringue eclairs would be the highlight of any Easter celebration, don’t you think?

How fun are these diy bunny treat jars? I think they would make fabulous gifts for grandparents, friends, and neighbors as well as for the kids.

I’m loving the Easter coloring of this cake batter puppy chow snack mix and the fact that I can make it gluten free.

This small kids reading loft is completely inspiring – that crate-like bookshelf with books arranged by color – the stairs leading to the loft – the fun yellow chair and blue pouff!  Ahhh, it all makes this reader-girl’s heart go pitter-patter.

I just love mirrors and I’m totally motivated by these 35 ways to decorate with mirrors to look for some fun & different examples at thrift stores.

 

amys_notebook

I hope you enjoyed this collection of gathered links to DIY crafts, food projects, and thrifty ways to spruce up your home. Nothing brings me more joy then to highlight other fabulous bloggers. Follow me on Pinterest for daily inspiration!

 

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It’s The 3 Little Things: Word to the Mother, Positivity, & Workout Gear

Friday, April 11th, 2014

3_little_things

It must be Friday and time for our 3 Little Things that are making me happy this week!  I am actually pretty impressed that I remembered to do this since we are on Spring Break and completely off schedule. Truth be told, one thing that made me awfully happy was not having to get up at 5:45 to get my son on the bus each day. Who wouldn’t be happy about that?

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The Daily Positive

I discovered a site called The Daily Positive and decided to sign up for their daily email that offers a positive thought each morning. Over my coffee in the morning, I read the daily positive and it has really helped me start my day on a better foot. This week some of the takeaways were reminders to utilize my time more wisely, to be an unsung hero for others, and a gentle reminder about my social media addiction. There is usually some awesome video element to it and the words are short and to the point. Head here and sign up for your own daily positive thought and see if it doesn’t change your outlook a bit!

Here is one of the videos that was shared that touched me deeply. This is the kind of stuff that reminds you what life is all about and starts your day in a positive way.

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Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar

I kept reading about Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar and the enormous health benefits of it and decided to give it a try after I read this article.  I can’t tell you how much I am loving this stuff and how much it has helped me with my energy levels, my low blood sugar issues, and also helping me feel more full which has been a big issue for me since I cut gluten out of my diet.  I add two teaspoons of this vinegar to a glass of ice water and drink it through a straw. You can add sweeteners (like honey or liquid stevia), spices (like cinnamon or cayenne pepper), but I love acidic things so I just drink it plain with just water, and it has fixed my midday slumps like nothing else I have tried.

There are many health claims about what apple cider vinegar can offer.  Rather than fad claims though, check out this article on WebMD about the true benefits of it. What it has done for me, personally, is that my stomach feels much calmer (particularly if I eat things that I shouldn’t), I no longer have those terrible drops in my blood sugar, and it makes my stomach feel full (which can definitely help you if you are trying to lose weight).

Whatever you choose, it must say WITH THE MOTHER, not anything else. THE MOTHER is what you need for all these enormous health benefits.

The Mother is making me happy.

Word to her.

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New-To-Me Workout Gear

Getting new workout clothes makes me happy, but the price tag on things you sweat in is absolutely ridiculous. I try to buy one or two really good workout pieces each year and then rely on inexpensive stuff from Old Navy to get me  by from week to week.  I am super psyched though that Twice is now offering workout gear.  It hasn’t shown up on their homepage as a category yet, but those scrolling pictures clue you in that they are now offering workout clothes. I got three new workout tops that were about the same price as I pay for my Old Navy gear, but it is fancy-schmancy brands like Lululemon, Lucy, & Nike.

So now you can be all Fancy Pants at the gym like everyone else, but your pants are less than half price.

And that’s something worth celebrating!

*this post may contain affiliate links- I only recommend what I love though. Check out past editions of  It’s the 3 Little Things! 

Now it’s your turn, what makes you happy this week? Feel free to share in our link up below and link back to this post to participate!

Share 3 things that are making you happy today!


 

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Amy’s Notebook 04.09.14

Wednesday, April 9th, 2014

Chalkboard Bunny Easter Bucket

Source: Sugar Bee Crafts

 

I’m just over the moon with how cute – and simple! – these chalkboard bunny Easter buckets are. What a fun change from a regular basket.

Oh, this creamy corn casserole with bacon seems like the most perfect comfort food – Drool.

This is a completely adorable ‘Be Happy” printable bunting that would just be the sweetest decoration for a kids room or any bright, colorful space!

This horse-themed birthday party idea is really unique and any horse-crazy kid would love it!

I totally agree with Alice’s one rule for perfect cake pan prep.

I’m so intrigued with “zoodles” – zucchini noodles – and am looking forward to trying them in this lemon-garlic spicy shrimp with zoodles recipe. Sounds just about perfect for my new gluten-free life!

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I hope you enjoyed this collection of gathered links to DIY crafts, food projects, and thrifty ways to spruce up your home. Nothing brings me more joy then to highlight other fabulous bloggers. Follow me on Pinterest for daily inspiration!

 

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Sundays With Writers: Hush Little Baby by Suzanne Redfearn

Sunday, April 6th, 2014

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One of the highlights of running our MomAdvice Book Club has been our author interviews. It is truly a dream come true to share these interviews with you and to get to ask writers my questions about their process, their pieces, and their own recommendations for great books.

With that in mind, I am starting a new series called, “Sundays With Writers.” It will not be a weekly feature, but as I read books that I think you will love, I will share an interview with you about them and about their books.  It gives me the chance to continue sharing about incredible books and the beautiful minds and thoughts behind their creation. It also gives me a chance to swim a bit more in their words and hopefully share about an author you may not know about.  So grab your coffee and let’s chat about beautiful books together!

We will begin our series with an incredible book that I hope you will run out and pick up! It is called, “Hush Little Baby,” written by Suzanne Redfearn. It is a well-paced psychological thriller that I could not put down. The recommendation came from my friend Kristen, at Dine & Dish, and as I closed on the final pages, I knew that I needed to interview her.

Hush Little Baby by Suzanne Redfearn

Hush Little Baby is the story of a woman named Jillian Kane who has the life that she always dreamed of. She is a successful businesswoman, she has two beautiful kids, she wants for nothing financially, and her husband is a well-respected cop who every woman wish she had. Jillian is living with a secret though.  For nine years, her husband has abused her and he is calculating enough to abuse her in ways that no one would ever suspect that she is a victim.

When things escalate too far, Jillian decides to run away from him with her two kids. Unfortunately, she has no money, no plan, and no one that she can turn to.  It is in this most pivotal moment of her life that she develops unlikely friendships and learns to finally save herself and her kids. Her husband though, is a cop and is determined to do everything in his power to get his children back…and kill her.

I could not put this book down because I was so worried about Jillian and her kids. For two days, every moment I had, I was reading this to make sure that they could get to safety. When I say that I had my heart all wrapped up in this one, it would not be an understatement.

Today I am talking with Suzanne about her amazing book and a little bit about her process in writing this!

Suzanne_Redfearn

The abuse that Jillian suffers is so painful to read through and yet illustrates how important it is for her to break free. Did you struggle with this as you were writing these scenes?

In order to accurately depict what Jillian was going through, I needed to do extensive research on domestic violence and reading the first person accounts and testimonials of victims was very difficult.  And then internalizing what I’d read so I could use it in the story was exhausting.  Writing is a lot like acting, in order to do it well, you need to get inside your character’s head, put yourself in their life, and experience what they are going through.  Jillian is a lot like me in some ways, so it wasn’t difficult to feel her plight.  The nice thing about being an author is that, unlike my characters, when it gets to be too much, I can step away and return to my real life, the one that is loving and warm and not full of violence and fear.

 One thing that really struck me in your book was that Jillian often thinks of herself in pivotal moments and not her children. This part really pulled at my heartstrings, but I wonder if it was meant to do that. Was this meant to showcase the guilt that we all have as mothers in putting our own needs first?

Great question and one I haven’t been asked.  This was a result of the research I did as well as my experience of being a mom myself.  Oftentimes this is the dilemma an abused woman faces, save herself or stay to protect her kids.  Fear plays havoc on the psyche and self preservation is an instinct that is hard to override.  But you’re right about the resulting guilt that occurs after a woman has those treacherous thoughts.  Even if she doesn’t act on them, it can be devastating.  Some readers have told me they didn’t like Jillian because they didn’t think she was a good mother.  I would defend that she is a real mother, one who is not perfect, who sometimes made mistakes and had selfish thoughts (haven’t we all?), who had been beat down to believe she wasn’t a good mother, but who ultimately risked everything to save her kids.

There is a pretty scary scene for me, as a mom, when Jillian finds her son torturing a frog at a birthday party. Was this meant to show us how the abuse had weaved its way into Drew’s life?

Thank you for picking up on that.  I think it was a pivotal moment foretelling of the perilous path Drew was on to follow in his dad’s footsteps.  Abuse begets abuse, and I believe it is because of that moment that Jillian realizes something needs to change, if not to save herself, to save her kids.  I contrasted the frog scene with the gift scene of the Hollyhock seeds to show that Drew is at a crossroads and that there is still hope to save him.

I had a secret hope that you would bring Jillian back to the Flying Goat and reunite her with the people that helped keep her safe. Did you consider bringing her back or weaving those characters in at the end?

So many readers have mentioned this, and I too fell in love with Goat and Paul and the entire crew from Elmer City, but the story told itself and ended where it was supposed to.  I will leave it to the readers’ imaginations to figure out when and where their paths cross again.

 I find it so unbelievable that this is your first novel- the writing is so beautiful and the scenes were woven together so well. It reminded me a lot of some of my favorite books from Heather Gudenkauf or Diane Chamberlain. Since you are an architect by profession, what brought you to this moment in your life to pursue writing and was this a difficult career transition for you?

 I am what someone termed an accidental author.  I did not go to school for writing and never considered becoming an author, but one day I sat down with an idea for a story and started to write and it poured out of me (that was seven years ago and it was not Hush Little Baby), and I discovered that I love to tell stories.  My grandfather was a storyteller, and I believe I inherited the gift from him.  I was hooked, and since architecture had tanked with the recession, I had time on my hands, so I set out to learn the craft and kept writing.  Hush Little Baby is the fifth novel I wrote but the first one to get published.  I still love architecture, and, if inspired, I will switch hats again and build something.  It’s not one or the other for me, it’s wherever I’m at in any given moment of time.  For now, the stories continue to flow, so I continue to peck at the keys, but who knows where this crazy path will lead or what I will do next.

 If you could tell anyone to read one book (other than your own) what would that book be?

 The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay.

 What do you have in store for us with your next project?

I am very excited about the next project.  It is another story about a mother protecting her children but in a very different context and with a very different protagonist.  I can’t disclose more than that, other than to say, it’s another rollercoaster ride of emotion.

*This series may contain affiliate links! 

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It’s The 3 Little Things: Americans, Eczema, & Undergarments

Friday, April 4th, 2014

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Happy, Friday, friends! I am excited for another round of, “It’s the 3 Little Things,” and sharing three things that are making me happy this week! If you have missed any of our past weeks, you can check them out here! I am also opening the post up for you to share your own list of 3 things that are making you happy this week! I’d love for you to participate either on your own blogs or in the comments below! I love ending my week on a high note, don’t you?

 

This American Life

This American Life

Oh, dear, I have become QUITE the NPR junkie this year.  Every day I learn something new from listening to NPR and one of the things that my husband & I discovered was our absolute adoration for This American Life. Since we are rarely listening to the radio at the scheduled time, I splurged for the This American Life app for my iPad ($4.99) and now we are able to listen to the shows anytime we want.  If you haven’t discovered it yet  This American Life is mostly true stories of everyday people, and the best way I can describe it is that the show is like listening to a movie about these people.  It is typically told in three acts that all interact around the same theme. It is the best kind of storytelling and usually leads to a beautiful discussion about your own viewpoints after the show.

My husband and I sit in our respective chairs and hang on every word. Every. Word. It’s become one of our favorite things to do in the evenings, further solidifying the exciting type of senior life you might expect from us in the future.  If you aren’t listening to NPR, you are missing the boat. And I can say this because I missed the boat for years and now I can’t imagine my life without it.

Aveeno Eczema Cream

Aveeno Eczema Cream

I have been having a bad struggle with patches of eczema that just didn’t seem to heal. I read that coconut oil was a great solution and although it moisturized really well, it never cleared up my eczema. I started using this Aveeno cream and it has changed my skin completely. No more dry, itchy, irritated skin for this girl. Just a little dab seems to go a long way and my skin feels completely different especially on those patches of eczema that I have battled for forever.  If you or someone you know is struggling with this, definitely give this cream a try. It has finally healed me!

 

Vassarette Soft N' Smooth Bra

Vassarette Soft N’ Smooth Bra

If you are the type of woman that benefits from things like extra support, underwires, and wide comfortable straps…please carry on with your day. If you do not benefit from such an arrangement, I have found the world’s most comfortable undergarment ever. This bra has no lines if you wear it with t-shirts or tank tops and it is comfortable enough that you could sleep in it. I had one that I wore to death and then decided that I would buy a few more.

I went to Vassarette’s site directly, but it was $5 more than Walmart so I ordered it through Walmart instead. You can’t beat $9.48 for the world’s best bra. I bought myself five and got rid of the ones that weren’t comfortable. I would call that “something that makes me happy,” indeed!

And for those that asked why I wasn’t in that cardio dance video, I had the pleasure of being a part of one of Abbi’s tapings! If my list of randomness doesn’t make you happy, this dance will! Happy Friday, friends!!

*this post may contain affiliate links- I only recommend what I love though.

 

Now it’s your turn, what makes you happy this week? Feel free to share in our link up below and link back to this post to participate!

Share 3 things that are making you happy today!

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