Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Escape from Sick Island

Today’s post is going to take some explaining as it’s a departure for this blog on many levels. 

First, I don’t know if you know this but a few of my posts have been published in a book. There’s a series of books called Life Well Blogged by Monica Merrill Mylet and Abbey Fatica, and my contributions are included in the one called Holly Daze: Underachiever Extraordinaire.

How today’s post came about is actually through a misunderstanding. Life Well Blogged’s authors were looking for Book Review Bloggers to review their books. I made a friendly suggestion that they’d reach more people if they included non-bloggers who could possibly do reviews as Guest Posts on blogs. I thought it was a helpful suggestion. They thought it was an offer. Now what?

I’m very protective of my blog. Like what’s here or not, it’s mine. I’m not letting someone just take it over, no way. And I’m in this book (twice), what if the review isn’t what I want it to be? How embarrassing is that?

It happens that there’s a very funny woman I follow on twitter. She doesn’t blog but should, and is going to. Light bulb moment. This could work. Holly Daze gets an honest review, Jennifer gets her first post published, and I get to introduce a (soon-to-be) brand new blogger who I think has great potential. Win/Win/Win and another Win (as long as she likes the book, that is).

So it’s my pleasure to introduce a first book review, a first guest post by a (not for long) non-blogger and a first post by a soon-to-be blogger. Welcome to the Blogosphere, Outsmarted Mommy. Make yourself at home. Mi casa es su casa:


Baking In A Tornado signature | www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics


Wow, I haven’t been this excited or nervous about something since . . . hmmm, well . . . since I went into labor with my first son. (Hint: just like then, I have no clue now what I’ve gotten myself into or how this is going to go. Is it too late for an epidural glass of wine?)

Let me introduce myself: I’m Jennifer, a stay-at-home Mom to two loveable boys I like to refer to as Energizer 1 and Energizer 2. I left my career behind as a Sales Executive to raise them. Going into motherhood I always thought I would know much more than my kids but I find that, at the ripe old ages of 4 years and 20 months, they tend to outsmart me daily. But that’s another story.

I’m here to talk about a little book called Life Well Blogged Holly Daze: Underachiever Extraordinaire. I was graciously invited by Karen to review this book as a Guest Post on her blog. Having read Baking In A Tornado for a while now, I know that she doesn’t take Guest Posts lightly so I’m honored, to say the least. I think of Karen as a baking/writing extraordinaire. I, on the other hand, am lucky if I brush my teeth most days, so finding time to read a book seemed a bit scary at first.


Life Well Blogged. Holly Daze: Underachiever Extraordinaire



Available for Kindle, Nook and in paperback

I often find myself picking up the latest book that everyone is talking about but finding it impossible to stay focused enough to become engrossed in it. For example, over the summer, everyone and their Mother (including mine, EEK) was reading 50 Shades of Gray so I started it too. The only problem was I got about 4 shades in and found myself interrupted by a crying baby, diaper changes, snack time, preschool drop off, parent meetings, snack time, diaper changes, diaper changes. . .  well you get the point. By the time I got into bed at night I would have to reread where I had left off and the whole process started to become exhausting.

Enter Life Well Blogged Holly Daze: Underachiever Extraordinaire. This book arrived on my doorstep on a snowy afternoon with me stuck in the house with two sick kids. I couldn’t wait to open it in the hopes that it would allow me to escape from Sick Island. So I made myself a cup of coffee while the kids took their naps and I began the journey. I read the first 26 pages. Cue crying baby. I had to put the book down, only this time it felt less like putting a book down and more like telling a group of my girlfriends “hold that thought, I’ll be right back.”

This book had me laughing from New Year’s until Christmas and from Birthdays to the 6ft Leprechaun who ruined Easter. The stories are told by real women about real events without any sugar-coating. They are relatable, funny and impossible not to love. From the 5 guests who will ruin your party, to Mommy’s-night-out, to tips on how not to ruin a picnic, to baking your own birthday cake, I laughed.

I got to know all these women and their funny stories the week of Valentine’s Day. By this time not only were the kids sick, but my husband was sick and I was in denial that I was getting sick, so romance was completely out the window. I was so happy to have a group of girlfriends to hang with. I found them all in this book and they were right at home in the circus we run here. They came with me to the bathroom, while I gave the kids a bath, while I made Chicken Soup, while I waited at the Pediatrician . . . twice . . . and when I finally gave in and sat waiting for the Doctor to see me.

The Doctor prescribed an antibiotic and lots of rest. I’m a Mom, rest is certainly not an option, but I’ve heard that laughter is one of life’s best medicines and I can tell you it’s true. After finishing Holly Daze: Underachiever Extraordinaire I started feeling so much better.

I hope you enjoyed my take on this must-read book. To order your copy, click on the link (below the picture) above. And if you would like to learn more about my crazy life run by two amazing kids, you can follow me on twitter at @outsmartedmommy. I plan on joining the blogosphere soon . . . so stay tuned.

28 comments:

  1. This sound like a book I can get into!!
    Thank you so much for sharing1

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  2. Thanks, Jennifer, it was fun hanging out with you, too! (I wrote The Five Guests... and Mommy's Night Out...)

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    1. You're so welome. I loved both of those Jenn! Mommy's Night Out had me in stitches.

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  3. An official welcome to the Blogosphere! We hope you'll stay a while! These books are full of some of my favorite people & my favorite stories! Karen, love you! Always giving new folks an opportunity to share their voice! XOXO

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    1. Thank you so much for the warm welcome. I'm looking forward to diving in to the Blogosphere very soon. Oh & Karen rocks I couldn't agree more. :)

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    2. Thank you both for the kind compliments. Made my day! XO

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  4. Congratulations sweetie! I'm so happy for you!

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  5. Sounds like such a great book ... And WHY is it that we can't seem to find the time to brush our teeth!? Agh for the love of motherhood!

    ¤´¨)
    ¸.•*´
    (¸¤ Lanaya | xoxo
    www.raising-reagan.com

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    1. The book is great definitely give it a read when you can...maybe after brushing your teeth. ;) Ah motherhood.

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  6. Thanks Jennifer for the great review and congrats on your inaugural post into the blogosphere! You did great! Can't wait to read your blog when you launch!

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    1. It was my pleasure Abbey. Thank you for allowing me to review it. xoxo

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  7. Great review Jennifer, and YES, you need to post that first blog. It is easy to see just from this little bit, that you are a talented lady. So what are you waiting for? Come join the blogosphere party!

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    1. Thank you so much! It's so nice to be a part of something where women are so supportive of one another. I love it. I will be joining the blogging party very very soon. I hope when I do you'll stop by & say hi.

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  8. Karen, kudos on sharing your space! You picked a great gal.

    Jennifer, awesome review! I love you bringing your girlfriends everywhere with you. Welcome to blogging, you'll do great! And it will do great things for you. Amazing writing.

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    1. Thanks so much Marcia! The warm welcomes are overwhelming & so awesome.

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  9. Jennifer, love the review! Can't wait to see your blog.

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    1. Thanks so much Dawn! The blog will be up very soon looking forward to seeing you there. :)

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  10. Welcome to the blog world, Jennifer! It's a crazy, but rewarding place to be. Thanks for your review on a book I obviously now need to buy. I'll have to have it delivered to Karen's house first, so I can get a signed copy from one of my favorite bloggessess in the world.

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    1. You're very welcome Michele. I just know if you love Karen that you will most certainly love this book.

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  11. Welcome, Jennifer! Nice to meet you and now I really want to read this book! Keep us posted on the start of your blog :)

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    1. Thank you Meredith. Read the book you'll love it!

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  12. Welcome to the world of blogging! That sounds like a good read.

    Even though I am the lone dude here, Karen has let me be a part of her terrific readership as I am still a newbie blogger myself. She has a wonderful, and fun blog. Heck, I sometimes come here just to see what she is baking!

    Can't wait to read your blog!

    Phil
    www.blog.theregularguynyc.com

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    1. Thanks Phil! I can't think of a better place than here to have gotten my feet wet. :) Looking forward to seeing you over at my blog soon.

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  13. Welcome Jennifer! Nice to meet you! Looking forward to seeing your blog when you start.
    and Karen.....keep up the good, amusing, funny, and TASTY work! Your posts always make me smile :)
    mary

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    1. Thanks Mary. Seems to me Karen has some really great people reading her blog. I'm so honored to be here.

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    2. I'm no foodie, but you can't say I don't have fun with food (well, mostly treats). Makes it easier when you have teenagers waiting to grab the baked goods as they come out of the oven . . .

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