Butterviews

I recently read Here, Home, Hope, by Kaira Rouda.

I could really relate to this book. In my late 30′s, suffering from depression, kids not needing me as much. I, too, even started my own business. It’s rare I find a book that seems like my own life so much. That said, some of the story is a little out there, but Rouda really ties the varying oddities into the whole story, and brings the whole situation to a believable, if somewhat naive, place.

I liked the book, but it won’t make my “Must keep forever and ever” shelf. It was easy readying, without being dumbed down, which I like. If I’m escaping into fiction, I don’t want a novel to be too terribly cerebral, and this fits the bill. But it was intelligent at the same time.

All in all though, I did get annoyed by some of the characters. Kelly’s over-sentimentality of her children off to camp turned me off a bit. I was glad, however, that the book showed Kelly’s need for therapy and the help she got. I would have liked to have it fleshed out a bit more though. I think we, as readers, sit in on maybe two sessions, and suddenly she’s turned her entire life around. It doesn’t seem real – it’s NOT real. I’ve been there. Another unrealistic aspect was Kelly’s business becoming an overnight success. While it’s true, sometimes look that way, that’s because the business was under the radar during its building phase. In this case, you see the hard work after it’s already a success. Backwards. Again – I’ve been there. But you do get a chance to see the long hours and chaos that seems to surround new businesses. That’s something that’s not usually a topic of fiction, so it was fun to watch that unfold. Kelly’s husband, Patrick, seemed (and seems now – having finished the book) to be a little too perfect. I would have liked to see more of his faults. I think there was an attempt made, but frankly, his reactions were perfectly reasonable and not faulty in the least. He seemed to be more the caricature of a perfect husband, rather than delving into what made him Patrick.

Living in an affluent neighborhood, I can say that Rouda really nailed that one woman. You know the one – perfect, at all the school functions, rules the school, and seemingly genetically pre-disposed to passive aggression? Yeah, that one. I liked that even though some of the situations were far-fetched, you could still imagine them happening. And really, when you look back in life, you realize that things really sometimes happen this way. I was glad of that reminder.

Ultimately, this is a positive review. I was engaged by the book. After I was finished, I was left with the idea that it doesn’t matter your size or shape, age or gender, you can reinvent yourself. You can find your passion. You can love yourself. You can feel as though you matter. Reinvention can happen any time.

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I’m a mom, a wife, a daughter, a business owner… I’m busy. So are you. Mornings are, well, difficult I suppose is the word.

Here’s what we do. I get up at 6am to be able to have my coffee and some morning quiet time. I am NOT a morning person. If I don’t have that hour or so before the rest of the house, I get very very grumpy. Then, around 7am I wake the kids up. They know the routine. Into the dining room for breakfast, brush teeth, wash face, feed and water the cats, get dressed, clean up rooms, and make their beds. Then they can do whatever they’d like before going to school. It’s taken a long time to come up with a routine. We’re still working out the kinks.

For example, if the laundry’s not put away – then where are the clothes? Homework didn’t get put away the night before – where’s that? Where’s the lunchbox so it can be packed? Not to mention if, God forbid, one of the kids gets up on the wrong side of the bed.

But the kids always eat breakfast – and that’s where this review and giveaway come into play.

The good folks at BlogHer asked for a review and for me to giveaway money. How could I refuse that?!

So… Per my regular review format, here we go…

EQUATION: I received the new product from Capri-Sun in three varieties to try – well, for my kids to try. They tried the Orange Wake Up and Berry Tangerine Morning.

Capri Sun Sunrise ~ Making Every Day Better
Capri Sun Sunrise is the new, wholesome morning drink for kids chock full of Vitamin C and calcium.

• A good source of calcium
• 100% Daily Value Vitamin C
• The pouch kids love

It comes in three flavors: Orange Wake Up, Tropical Morning, Berry Tangerine Morning

PLUS: Well – aside from all the vitamins and all that good for you stuff… My kids LOVED it. I tried to get descriptions from them other than “good” but all I got out of them is, “It’s very Orangy!” They’re only 6 & 9 so I’ll give them some slack. But I suppose the biggest praise of all was, “Can we please please please have it in snack tomorrow?”

MINUS: We’ve been using the Capri-Sun products for a long time, and I really trust the brand. But, it’s still a packaged juice, as opposed to completely fresh do-it-yourself. But since I’ve never made juice in my life, that’s not a big minus for me. Although I suppose it should be? But it is 100% juice, and they have Green initiative that you can find out more about at their website.

There are actually 8 chances to win… Go see the Blogher Round-Up Page to find out how.

Good Luck!

RULES: Sorry. Have to have them to keep things fair.

To enter, leave me a comment below and share YOUR morning routine tips, as I mentioned above – or you may leave a link to your post on your own blog in the comments below. The contest will begin on 4/29/09 and will end 7/8/09. Make sure that the e-mail address you leave is correct. You can find the Official BlogHer Contest Rules here.

• No duplicate comments.
• You may receive an additional entry by linking on twitter and leaving a link in the comments.
• You may receive an additional entry by blogging about this contest and leaving a link in the comments.
• This giveaway is open to US residents, over the age of 18.
• Winners will be selected via random draw, and will notified by e-mail.
• You have 48 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.

EQUATION:

The good promotional people sent me a “sample” that was actually a full sized Febreze for Fabrics, Carpets and Air in the “lavender vanilla & comfort” scent for me to use and review for you good people.

I chose my reading chair – a second hand find that’s made of a nubby corduroy type material.  I vacuumed it first – cause eewwww cat hair.  And then I followed the instructions and sprayed away.

Of note about the product:  It’s safe for dogs and cats (which, you know, good for me since I have two cats) but unsafe around birds (as with all air products).

PLUS:

When I picked it up, even the bottle felt good.  It’s rounded, and the sprayer attachment isn’t all pointy.  When you spray it, it sprays evenly and easily with no drips. To me, it didn’t smell like lavender and vanilla.  But it did smell like a freshly changed baby.  You know when you use the wipes, and a fresh diaper, and clean clothes, and then pick them up?  That scent, which is wonderful.  It was nice and light, and not overpowering or “chemically.”  It took about a half an hour for the dampness to subside, which to me, doesn’t seem terribly long since you purposefully made fabric wet.  And when I sat, it set off that wonderful scent again.

MINUS:

Honestly?  None.  It’s rare that I can say that…  Usually something rubs me wrong on everything (aren’t I a ball of sunshine?)  But in this case – nope!

EQUALS:

A positive review.  A great product, and one that I will willingly and purposely buy in the future.