Book Review: The Fashion Disaster That Changed My Life by Lauren Myracle

The Fashion Disaster That Changed My Life by Lauren Myracle 
(Penguin Group)

Smack dab in the middle of the worst years of her life: Middle School, Allison a 7th grader has to deal with figuring it ALL out. Between friendships, crushes, and the all consuming pursuit to be popular, she is deeply entrenched in a preteen's complicated world! With that said, while I was reading, I thought back to my days of teaching 7th grade and even further back to my days of actually experiencing that horrid era of existence. It is an excruciating time of self discovery and unwarranted input from peers. This book captures this pain and confusion very well and is entertaining to boot.

NOW FOR THE BAD PART: The book is inappropriate for a girl of middle school age. Some of the language, sexual innuendo, and subject matter will add fuel to the already hormone-induced curiosity fire raging in tweens. Furthermore, some of the language, while common with that age set, shouldn't be promoted as acceptable. The delicate balance is what was so awesome about Clueless. The language could have been way more vulgar to portray popular nineties parlance, but Amy Heckerling avoided vulgarity while capturing the vernacular authentically. Any time a book aimed toward ages 10 and up (the suggested age on the book) uses the term "ménage à troi," you know you've got to shelve the book until the reader is 14, if then.  Well written? Yes! Entertaining? Yes!  Too mature for the suggested reader? Definitely!

If she had just framed The Fashion Disaster That Changed My Life as being recalled by a high schooler, summed up with a successful update at the end (e.g., Allison and Meagan are going to the same college in the fall or Rachel wasn't prom queen, Mika was), teenagers 14 and up would more readily go for the middle school plot. It's a fun read, but just too mature for the intended audience.

Moral of the story: Parents, you may just have to read/skim books before you allow your kids to read them. Just because it's at a book fair or in the library doesn't mean that it is acceptable for all children. 

Turn a Summer Fling into a Lasting Thing!

                          

Like I've written before, it is amazingly easy to meet new people in the summer. Everyone is traveling, and you can strike up conversation with complete strangers on a plane or in an out-of-town restaurant. Furthermore, there is a carefree attitude that summer seems to bring. We let our inhibitions go and get lost in the euphoria that the sun evokes.  For some, this carefree attitude can be a blessing that turns into a curse once all the "summer madness" is over. Have you ever wondered why a "summer fling" doesn't usually last? It may seem obvious...it's a fling! But, there is a deeper culprit at work. Because of the lowering of inhibitions, there are also lowered expectations, standards, and meaningful conversation that will lead to a solid relationship. If you'd like to turn your summer fling into a lasting thing...read on!

First things first: MAKE YOUR INTENTIONS KNOWN..subtly but clearly. If you want more than a few months (or hours) of interaction, you'll need to be clear that your standards haven't flown out of the window just because the temps are up and your windows are down. Approach meeting new suitors the same way you would when you're bundled up in frigid temps. Your will have more suitors because there is more skin to hypnotize them, but you'll just have to get over the thrill of heightened exposure (pun intended) and proceed with the same tact, poise, and COMMON SENSE you usually employ. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying you should lead in with "so when are we getting married?" I'm thinking more along the lines of once you get to know a person and feel that you want it to last beyond the summer, through in some "fall talk." While listening to a band you both like on a date..."Hey, there is this awesome festival in OCTOBER where this band and several others like them perform. Have you been? Do you think you'd like to check it out?"  If he says, "WE should check it out TOGETHER! Sounds like fun,"  you are all set for something more than a fling. However, if he says, "Huh? I couldn't hear you" or "I don't even know where I'll be in next week let alone October," he's trying to make summer memories and that's about it! RUN! 

What if the thought of being tied down during the summer makes you cringe?  Or makes your love interest cringe? There is absolutely nothing wrong with that apprehension. Date and enjoy! Just remember your love interest is dating and enjoying as well. If you want it last beyond the summer, you'll need to set yourself apart from the others and your love interest will have to do the same for you. Remain true to yourself and your character.  You will definitely shine through. Don't compete with the others by trying to be more sexy or sexual thinking that'll keep your love interest interested for the long haul. If he's meant to be yours beyond the summer, he'll be with real you!

Make your goal this summer and every season to live a full and robust life. Connections come to those who are perfectly content in their current state. You don't want to alter a happy state with a drop in romance when it could be the love of your life!

What's For Lunch? Sal's Ristorante Italiano

Well, travel season is in full swing at least for me. People are sneaking off early to take in a quick weekend mini-trip or is that just me?? Either way, when you take a mini-trip, it is extremely important choose between letting the wind carry you along and having everything "masterplanned" out. Most of the time, I have most of my trip planned out in order to get as much done in a short period of time as possible. Other times I'll plan half of the trip and leave some time for exploration.  This weekend was a football travel week and we were road warriors Saturday and Sunday. Ahhh, but Sunday, we found a true treasure tucked in Williamsburg, Virginia.  My son wanted pizza. I asked him if he wanted some "chain" pizza or some authentic Italian style pizza? He decided he wanted something authentic, so I typed in "pizza restaurant" into Google Maps. I scrolled through the long list, yet settled on the first (closest) spot.

Sal's Ristorante Italiano

835 Capital Landing Road

Williamsburg, Virginia 23185-4324

Easy to find and in a great touristy neighborhood, we pulled into Sal's Ristorante Italiano. Fresh fried mozzarella and pizza (pepperoni and sausage) were our choices! And boy, were we happy. The food was delicious. The menu was full of my favorites, so I'll have to go back and sample some other great dishes like Chicken Marsala and Mussels Marinara. The atmosphere was quaint and pleasant. Our server was efficient and kind. No complaints...just praise for a lovely restaurant. The owner was full of personality and we enjoyed the conversation! We felt like part of the family! Anyway, when you're in Williamsburg, Sal's is a must! Oh, and check out the website for a coupon! I wish I had known, but I will be back soon! Yum!

Book Review: How the Other Half Hamptons by Jasmin Rosemberg

How the Other Half Hamptons by Jasmin Rosemberg
5 Spot (Hachette Book Group)


Spring cleaning definitely has benefits. You get to clear out and freshen up things for the busy travel season ahead!! Well, I was sorting some things out in the garage and I ran across a brand new book among other books that had been packed away.  I had never seen the book before. It was published in 2008 which was a year full of transition. I may have even purchased it while in a fog, but I sure am glad I found it!  

Three friends--Jamie, Rachel, and Allison--pay for share house arrangements one summer in the Hamptons and their lives change forever. While that may seem like a rather dramatic observation, it is true nonetheless. Between hookups and hangouts, these girls find out a lot about themselves and about what they truly want.  I enjoyed the entire book. I enjoyed the plot. I enjoyed the insider approach to Rosemberg’s writing. Can I call her “Jasmin?”  After reading this delicious novel, I feel like we’re friends for some odd reason. Her background as a nightlife reporter for the New York Post serves her well as she gives readers a taste of the not-so-often seen side of the Hamptons. 

Jasmin Rosemberg’s How the Other Half Hamptons is an easy read that you won’t want to put down. It was not at all what I expected which was a pleasant surprise. The book is a sneak peek at not how the upper echelon “hamptons” each summer--oh no--but, it’s about how twenty-somethings (sometimes thirty-somethings) break and bend the law in order to make summer memories. As the byline reads, “One house. Forty strangers. Add vodka and stir…”

I appreciate this book not only for the entertainment factor, but also because it shows women from all backgrounds that there is a clear distinction between boys and men. I could relate to some of the hijinks, tomfoolery, and down right ambiguity of the guys these girls had to encounter. I also could relate to the cattiness that plague female interactions. Jasmin got the tone just right and I found myself reading at a frenetic pace in order to find out how things were going to pan out. For example, the adventure in the Lexus was hilarious however, the writing was so great that I felt anxious for the girls! I felt as if I were the fourth chick in the back seat trying to find a sign on the dark roads to save us from a debacle of a trip. Anyway, as you build up your beach reading list (I know I am), add this gem.  If you can’t wait, read it now to get some ideas of ways to spend your summer...or things to avoid!

Monthly "Ponderable" Thought

While I love Christmas and all of the wonder of the season, am I a "Baa Humbug" because I miss summertime's long days of fun in the sun?

She’s Such a Flirt!

She lavishes you with all of her time. She takes you places you don’t usually get to go. She lets you sleep in and stay up late. She shines her bright sun on you then in an instant you are immediately transitioned back to the fluorescent lights of an office or cube. She teases you! She gives you everything you desire, but snatches it all away in a moment’s notice. Dear Miss Vacation, why are you so wonderful and so cruel at the same time?

I have been away from my office for 10 days! While I feel refreshed, I also feel a little let down. I hadn’t had to rush anywhere during my vacation. The only traffic I had to endure was while traveling, but my destination made all the toil worth it. This morning, on the other hand, I was stuck in traffic on my way to work along with everyone else. I looked over at stern, disappointed faces and recalled looking at the other travelers during my vacation traffic jams. Despite the obvious agitation of some of the drivers, the cars were full of jovial faces chatting it up, playing video games, and munching on snacks.  They were planning what they were going to do when they got to their destination or swapping stories about all they had just experienced during their trip.  But, this morning was quite different. Each car had a single driver. There was no one to swap stories with and no one to ask if they had beaten their high score. There were no chips or pretzels to munch as we sat bumper to bumper trying to get up the hill.  That’s when I realized that she had played a joke on me. She had let me taste the joys of freedom just to through me back into captivity.

I miss my son who was sick of me taking pics. I miss sleeping in. I miss my immaculate home that I had a chance to clean and actually enjoy. I miss going to the pool on a whim.  I miss being able to just let my hair go.   I miss trying new restaurants.  I miss souvenir shopping. I miss actually walking around and doing things instead of sitting at a desk.  I miss reading a book with a cup of coffee in the morning. I actually miss folding clothes while watching a good movie.  I miss complimentary continental breakfast.  Sigh.

Well, I guess I can just plan another awesome vacation very soon. Despite her cruelty, she’s absolutely wonderful when she’s around. What do you have planned? Make it big because she will leave you high and dry.   You want plenty of pictures and stories to tell when she kicks you out!