Review: Wallflower in Bloom by Claire Cook

      "Poor little you. You've got it so bad. All you're after is sympathy. Well, you can find it in the dictionary between shit and syphilis, and it'll do you about as much good."

     "Eww," I said. "Don't you dare ask me to write that down."

Deidre Griffin is more than just an ordinary wallflower — she's her families' indispensable go-to girl and doormat. She lives in the shadow of her charismatic, New Age guru brother Tag—think Deepak Chopra meets Bono—and literally in the shadow of his home (she in a converted sheep-shed, he in the mansion). Though Tag employs his entire family, Deidre is the woman behind the curtain who runs all aspects of his business and life—by sacrificing her own.

When her long-term sometimes boyfriend announces he's going to marry his knocked-up current fling, Deidre does what every woman would want to do: she rams him with her brother's golf cart. Fueled by disappointment and disgrace, she tries to drown her worries in a Ben & Jerry's Triple Caramel Chunk/chocolate soy milk/vodka milkshake. The next morning she discovers she *might* have taken advantage of Tag's vast social network to vote herself into a coveted role on Dancing With the Stars.

Once the DWTS producer starts calling, Deidre realizes she may have conned her way into her opportunity of a lifetime. She decides to hideout in Hollywood, thinking she can escape her family, learn a few dance steps, and drop a few pounds before they realize she's a fraud. A  fabulously talented dance partner, a new love interest (who still liked her after accidentally catching her in her rattiest underwear), and meddling ex-Deadhead family members round out the zany cast of characters on Deidre's journey.

So many of us lose ourselves in our family. This delightful story is a daydream for millions of women who fantasize about breaking out, breaking a leg, and doing something just for themselves. Readers will cheer her on as she strives to learn her dance steps and battles her urges to inhale every junk food in sight. (When in doubt, eat. When in eat doubt.)

Playing into the whole Facebook, Twitter, and Dancing With the Starts frenzy, Wallflower in Bloom is a lively, timely read. I am embarrassed to admit I discovered the magic of Claire Cook books only a few months ago, and I am rushing to catch up on her past novels. Reading them is like settling into your most comfortable chair with your favorite romantic comedy movie or novel. Easy. Funny. Heartwarming.

On a side note: I also admit I've never watched DWTS. ::Cue gasps:: Okay, I did watch once when Heather Mills was on—I had to see how Sir Paul's ex could foxtrot with a prosthetic leg—quite well, actually. Though I'm not a reality TV fan, Wallflower in Bloom gave me new insight into the work that goes on behind-the-scenes of the show. I still don't know if I'll ever watch it, but I absolutely will pick up Claire Cook's next book.

Peace in, peace out.

Wallflower in Bloom

by Claire Cook

257 pages

Touchstone

For more info visit http://clairecook.com, Facebook, or Twitter @ClaireCookwrite.

*Wallflower in Bloom is the She Reads Book Club August selection.  Check out SheReads.org  for author interviews and book club discussions.

**I received this complimentary book from SheReads.org. All opinions are my own.

Making Flossing Fun for the Family

When was the last time you tried to get your kids to floss their teeth? Last night? Last month? Last year? To say it can be a challenge is a gross understatement. Many parents pick their battles: we consider ourselves fortunate our kids brush their teeth regularly and without tears. And perhaps, like me, you push off the flossing for another night. Again.

But you know kids need to floss. The trick is making it fun. That was always a problem — until now.

When I was asked if I wanted to try the Waterpic Water Flosser for Kids I jumped at the chance. Early this summer we came home from the orthodontist with a whole "goodie bag" full of weird devices to help keep my kiddo's new braces food-free. The bag has sat untouched under the bathroom sink. 

Kiddo's eyes lit up the moment he saw his new Water Flosser. It comes with sheets of sticker-like clings, and he customized his Flosser with every last one. He couldn't wait to test it out.  

I discovered shooting a stream of high pressure water between the teeth is very cool to a nearly 9-year-old boy. Traditional flossing—not so much. Luckily, the Water Flosser is 3x as effective as regular flossing and 1000x more fun. He can control the stream of water and adjust the stream on three levels. He actually wants to use it. And I totally wish I owned  a Water Flosser back when I had braces.

The adjustable water flow cleans not only the normal food stuck between teeth, but also helps get rid of the gunk that tends to cake around braces. In fact, it's 5x more effective than just brushing alone for cleaning around braces.  And when you're spending a fortune on braces, the last thing you need is a cavity. It's all about prevention. You want those pearly whites to last for another 90 years or so.

Although I am not cavity prone (only two in my life—fingers crossed!) my dentist has strongly suggested I use a water flosser and sonic toothbrush if I want to prevent gum disease. For some of us with cranky gums, brushing and flossing are just not enough. Bad gums can lead to dentures and heart disease — no thanks.

This Waterpic Complete Care system not only cleans your teeth, but removes bacteria between teeth and below the gumline where brushing and regular flossing can't reach. It massages the gums, improving circulation so they can grow stronger and healthier. It feels rather luxurious, and my teeth feel dentist-fresh each time I use it.

The system is up to 159% more effective than manual brushing. And, well, it's more fun for adults, too.


My teeth and gums — and my oral hygienist — are going to be thrilled.

Want your kids to try out the system? Waterpic is offering

Back to School Savings:  

Get a $10 Savings coupon when you “Like” Water Pik on Facebook

Or visit the Waterpic website for a printable $10 off coupon for the Waterrpic Complete Care System!



*This product was sent to me for review purposes. I did not receive any monetary compensation. The opinions expressed are my own.  I cannot guarantee a positive review for any product or services, but I can promise a review written with honesty and integrity. 

Nutella Banana & Peanut Butter Banana Mini Muffins

It's Back-to-School time and back to beating lunch box boredom. So many of us are *trying* to eat healthier, but it's nearly impossible to avoid those pre-packaged snacks hyped up on sugar and preservatives. And if you still have to pack for snack time, you need to creatively find even more portable yet healthy foods to tempt often picky eaters. 

My kiddo has now braces, so I am even more limited in my snack selections — no gooey fruit snacks, fruit roll-ups, granola bars, raisins, or nuts. What else can you pack in a kid's lunch box?

Muffins.  

Mini muffins are always a hit.

They are like little cupcakes, minus the excess sugar and frosting. You can bake a big batch and freeze them. You can even  pack them individual snack bags before you stick them in the freezer, then just grab a bag in the morning and they will thaw buy lunch/snack time. A little effort and you can have a month's worth of healthy and delish snacks.

And these are delish.  I made the mistake of pulling them from the oven while I had a housefull of 8-year-old boys. I had to fight them off with a wooden spoon.  They all loved these two-bite delights— and their parents did too.

These muffins are perfect for snacks — low in fat, high in protien. And they are easy. Seriously. Minus the time it took for me to throw a bag of frozen peas on my burn (I can't get near an oven without at least one burn) I whipped these up in a jiffy. And they were totally worth the 2-inch burn.

Both these recipes are nearly identical, the main difference being peanut butter vs. Nutella. I assumed the Nutella version would make me swoon more, but the peanut butter muffins hit me with more flavor. The decision was split amongst my taste testers. They are both awesome.

Banana Peanut Butter Mini Snack Muffins

(Inspired by a Cooking Light bread recipe)

Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 15 minutes per batch
Makes 4 dozen bite-sized muffins

1  1/2 cups mashed ripe banana {about 3 large}
1/3 cup peanut butter {creamy or crunchy - whatever you like}
1/3 cup applesauce {or Greek yogurt for extra protein}
3 tbsp. melted butter
2 eggs
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour {you can use all white flour}
1/4 cup ground flaxseed
1/2 tsp. salt
3/4 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
pinch of nutmeg
pinch of clove

**non-stick cooking spray

• Heat oven to 350 degrees.
• In a large bowl, add first five ingredients — all the wet stuff. Beat with a mixer at medium speed until smooth {and all the banana chunks are gone}.  Add the sugars and blend more.
• In a seperate bowl, combine all remaining ingredients {the dry stuff}. Stir gently. Add dry mix to the wet mix and beat with mixer until just combined. 
• Spray mini muffin pan with non-stick cooking spray. ** Fill each cup about 3/4 full. {I use a trigger cookie scoop.  One scoop fills each cup perfectly with no dribbles. Totally worth $7 bucks.}
• Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. 
• Pop out of pan and cool on wire rack. 

** You can also add mini chocolate chips or crushed peanuts for some extra oomph.

*I recommend not using pretty cupcake liners, especially if you are using these for a kids' snack. Peeling them takes too much time when you just want to devour them.

Nutella Banana Mini Snack Muffins


Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 15 minutes per batch
Makes 4 dozen bite-sized muffins

1  1/2 cups mashed ripe banana {about 3 large}
1/3 cup Nutella
1/3 cup applesauce {or Greek yogurt for extra protein}
3 tbsp. melted butter
2 eggs
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour {you can use all white flour}
1/4 cup ground flaxseed
1/2 tsp. salt
3/4 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
2 tbsp. baking cocoa


**non-stick cooking spray

• Heat oven to 350 degrees.
• In a large bowl, add first five ingredients — all the wet stuff. Beat with a mixer at medium speed until smooth {and all the banana chunks are gone}.  Add the sugars and blend more.
• In a seperate bowl, combine all remaining ingredients {the dry stuff}. Stir gently. Add dry mix to the wet mix and beat with mixer until just combined. 
• Spray mini muffin pan with non-stick cooking spray. ** Fill each cup about 3/4 full. {I use a trigger cookie scoop.  One scoop fills each cup perfectly with no dribbles. Totally worth $7 bucks.}
• Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. 
• Pop out of pan and cool on wire rack. 
  

** You can also add mini chocolate chips for some extra oomph.

*I recommend not using pretty cupcake liners, especially if you are using these for a kids' snack. Peeling them takes too much time.

Once the muffins cooled, I packed them first into snack bags and them into a gallon-sized freezer bag.  Now each school morning I can just grab a pre-packed bag from the freezer and pop it straight into the lunch bag. It's perfectly thawed by lunch time.

Happy mom, happy kid.

BlogHer & RWAs ~ both, either, neither?

If somehow you missed bumping into a shy redhead at BlogHer this year in New York City — well, that's because I wasn't there.

Somehow, I also missed the Romance Writers of America Conference (RWAs) in Anaheim. 





With all the gorgeous pics of beautiful (inside and out) writers and  bloggers having a blast, I felt like I needed a pic up too. This photo isn't beautiful, and it's from 2010, but I was at the RWAs. Though I didn't attend the full conference, I did get to meet some of my favorite writers — Jane Porter, Mary Kay Andrews, Meg Cabot, Nora Roberts {though I can't read her books. . .shhh!} You can read about my experience here.   As I mingled and wandered amongst hundreds of published authors I vowed I would attend the full conference soon. Apparently, just not this year.



Instead, this is how I spent that weekend. Somehow someone (I shall not name names) left the water on while working on our master bedroom shower. Water permeated the drywall and flooded under half the bedroom suite's floor. Which I installed two years ago. By hand. After the plumbers and drying crew left, I spent the weekend ripping up my floor (while some kind volunteers ripped out the vanity) and redoing the whole damn thing. I lost my ability to write for two weeks as the only words I conjured were far too vulgar to put in print (and certainly not original).



And while I would have LOVED to have loaded my arms with goodie bags, hobnobbed with celebs, and met about 5,000 of my best blog friends IRL last weekend (not to mention learning so damn much about blogging my head would've probably exploded — that must be why they all hit the parties afterwards). . .

 

I chose not to steal any of the thousands of images of my 
wannabe friends living it up and bonding in the Big Apple 
(because that's just not how I roll).

. . . Instead I nursed my poor kiddo through his third oral surgery. {I refuse to post an actual picture of his mouth. I can't look at it for more than a few seconds, and if I released the image into the blogosphere he'd probably sue me when he turned of age. Look at this model. It's much prettier.}

I totally stole this image from an orthodontics website. 

If you want to see the myriad of medieval torture devices that may be in your kids' futures, click here.

Yes, those are exposed teeth way below the gum-line attached to braces by dangling gold chains. My kid will be sporting some REAL mouth bling at back-to-school time (unlike fake-out Ryan Lochte — dude, I totally do not get it).





When I calmed down and forced myself to think about which event I regretted missing the most, I realized it was the RWAs. Don't get me wrong, I'd nearly give my left breast to go to BlogHer, but I've realized I will never make my living as a professional blogger. Free wine, books, and toothbrushes — heck yeah — but I won't be funding kiddo's college fund with my blogging proceeds.

But it's not just about the money. (Although making some money someday from my writing would be the cat's pajamas.) It's about my passion for writing, my need to give life to my stories, and my goal of publishing my freaking novel. To reach these goals and live the life I dream about, I must hone my craft and mingle with other writers. I'm dying to hear about their struggles and  successes, to soak up every blurb of advice they may offer. I need to familiarize myself with the dirty details of the publishing industry if I ever want to find an agent or sell a book. I need pay my RWA membership so I can feel like a real writer who deserves to be there.

So while I'd still LOVE to see the bloggers, writers, humorists, and culinary divas I read each day and feel as if I already know at BlogHer 13  . . .






My goal is set: I will attend RWAs next year in Atlanta. Time to start saving, keep writing, finish editing, and kick my life into gear.

Romance Writers of America®
33rd Annual Conference
Atlanta Marriott® Marquis
Atlanta, Georgia
July 17-21, 2013

Join more than 2,100 published and aspiring romance writers, editors, agents, and other industry professionals in Atlanta, GA. Conference attendees will enhance their writing and knowledge of the ins and outs of publishing at more than 100 workshops; get the inside track at panels and round-tables featuring publishing professionals; schedule a one-on-one pitch meeting with an acquiring editor or literary agent; attend parties and network with the stars of romance fiction; and be a part of RWA's "Readers for Life" charity book signing. And let's not forget the 2013 RITA®  and Golden Heart® Awards.
Registration for RWA2013 will open in late January 2013.

Who's coming with me?


http://thingsicantsay.com
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Book Review: Glimmers by Barbara Brooke

Glimmers, the first of a trilogy of  novels by debut author Barbara Brooke, twists women's fiction with the element of time/memory travel.

 Paige Mackenzie's life is calm and lovely but missing that bit of passion, of spark. Though she lives the suburban dream (doting husband, nice house, two wonderful kids) she occasional imagines stepping into someone else's shoes for just few hours.

When she finds a pair of 80's suede ankle boots on a thrift store treasure hunt, her life gains some of the spice she'd been craving. With just a touch, her vision goes high-def, the room spins, and she is transported from her kitchen to an avacado green flashback. She caught a “glimmer” of memory and now sees the world through the eyes of Delilah, a teenager from West Virginia. Though she feels like she is experiencing Delilah's brush with young love, first job, and burgeoning cooking talents over an entire summer, when the episode ends, she has been gone only minutes. Paige's experience leaves her exhilarated, unsettled, and with new culinary skills.

Back in her normal life, she resumes the position of her sister Hailey's wedding-planning  lackey. Paige jumps at Hailey's beck and call — she stands in for her at her wedding gown fitting, she picks up her engagement ring from the jewelers. Unable to resist the allure of the sparkling diamond, she slips the ring onto her finger and slides into Hailey's life. Through her sister's eyes, she discovers how passionate love can be — with someone other than her fiancee.

Before Paige can condemn her sister's reckless behavior, she latches onto a glimmer of memory from a pair of cameo earrings. The family heirloom sends her back to the British Regency Era as Emma, a headstrong young woman who longs to follow her heart instead of the proper path of her times.

Paige wrestles with the reality of what her startling new power means and what she should do with the insights her glimmers have given her. Each glimmer helps her grow as a person and she works to untangle the threads that tie each person's memories to her life.

Glimmers is a fresh mash-up of women's fiction, romance, with flashes of fantasy. It's light summer read perfect for a day by the pool (or in my case, curled up on a rainy day) and tame enough for audiences from YA to grandmothers — no offensive language or explicit sex (though a few inferences are there). Paige is a  relatable character, and I can imagine hanging out with her and discussing our days over a glass of wine.

Though the novel just skims the surface of the powers involved in living memories via touch, I hope to discover more about the unique trait passes down through Paige's family in later books. I look forward to seeing how Brooke develops the characters in the next installment, Beyond Glimmers, due later this year.

Glimmers by Barbara Brooke
248 pages 
$9.99 (paperback)
$3.99 (Kindle edition)

Glimmers will be available on audiobook in September, with the voice of Ann Richardson bringing Paige and her adventures to life.

Connect with Barbara:

http://barbarabrooke.wordpress.com/

Twitter @Barbara_Brooke

Facebook

Those Days Go By

My high school reunion is Friday night.

I'm not going.

And that's okay.

I have plenty of excuses as to why I'm skipping school (though I never did back in the day), but the biggest hangup is that I simply cannot believe twenty years have slipped by.  It's as if Father Time stuck a Dyson vacuum to the bottom of his hour glass and he just sucked those days away.

Granted, I just "celebrated" a birthday days ago. In certain lights the lines on my face freak me out and I start to understand why women shove needles and knives into their aging skin.

But even when I'm fighting the monotony of suburban family life and the emergenices only a mature, responsible adult must face (i.e. plumbing leaks, insurance companies, orthodontics) I don't feel like I'm a REAL grown-up.

I remember going to my mom's 20th high school reunion. I was sixteen. It was a weekend-long event at a fancy hotel by the beach. My parents would not leave me home alone, so I watched TV in the hotel room while they dressed up and mingled with old school chums. They were all so OLD. So settled. Successful. They'd been plugging away at their careers for two decades, married for nearly as long, and discussed their teenagers and plans for becoming empty-nesters in the near future.

I can't be that old.

Thanks to the wonders of Facebook, we don't even really need a real life reunion. From what I've seen, most of my class is nowhere near the same level of adulthood as my parent's generation. Many of us are still single or newlyweds. My classmates have newborns, not teens. We've gone back to school, changed careers, and most of us still feel as if we are on the bottom rungs of the corporate ladder. We're not settled.

No banquets and formals for my peers. They are going to partake in an all-night bar hop. Perfect for a generation of Peter Pans who refuse to grow up.

Our class song was Boyz II Men's "It's so Hard To Say Goodbye to Yesterday" — which I remember as a funeral dirge played during Lethal Weapon 3. Gag me with a shovel. (I voted for Alphaville's "Forever Young" —  check out The Killers cover of it below.)



For me, it wasn't hard to say goodbye to high school. I counted down the months, days, and hours until I escaped to college. It was not the best time of my life.

I'm not sure I've lived the best time of my life.  I'd like to think the best is yet to come.

And I'd like to believe I'm not all that different than the dreamy-eyed girl of twenty years ago.

I was struck once again by our supposed maturity when the Offspring released "Days Go By."  When the band hit, they were so wild and slightly outrageous. And now they are old enough reminisce. Perhaps this should be our reunion song . . . If I was going . . .