Lean In - by Sheryl Sandberg

 As Sandberg was nervous to write this book so I was to read it...

Hard to admit since I've thought I was a pretty big supporter of women can do whatever they want... at the same time, I cannot deny that I've been bogged down by all the propaganda about what a woman should and shouldn't be in society. Through this book I came to a realization, I, like the majority of society, somehow innately believe woman should be super heroes who stay at home with kids, but still manage to have a career, cook, clean, be super sweet/kind, and can't run. - due to this stigma, I, myself, have not wanted to identify with other females, feeling limited and unchallenged. Reminding me of that Dove soap commercial where they asked women to demonstrate what it meant to run like a girl. - Apparently it meant to give a pathetic attempt at it, and that's what girls thought! Needless to say, the book was a bit of a revelation to me.

I knew that it was a little bit more difficult for women, but I didn't know the numbers, and I never thought we weren't leaning-in. I didn't know or recognize that I put my hand down, and often don't think I deserve promotions/opportunities when they come my way. I didn't feel entitled... which is ironic because, as I've learnt, most men do.

I've enjoyed and flourished under strong female leadership, and companies with female CEOs in the past, and I haven't thought much of it. I've even biasedly thought that women leaders were typically smarter then male leaders. But, I've never thought of us, females, as a team. A team I can contribute to and support no matter what level. I think that's significant. As women, we have to play a different game to get where/what we want, Sandberg gives women the tools to do that in this book. To approach situations in the right way.

Lastly, I want to mention how beautiful her comments of love and appreciation for her husband were. I was so touched I decided to google her and her husband... I was heart broken when I did. Sending love, and warm thoughts Sheryl's way!


Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us.

The conversation has begun on my end!

View all my reviews

My Fab Fit Fun Box Arrived!!

My FabFitFun box arrived! And I love it, even more then I thought I would!! Here are my favs:

There are a few products that I had no idea I would love so much!!

Absolute favorite all time item is my Spongelle!! It smells like heaven! I'm totally addicted to it! And my bathroom is a dream to walk into.

I adore my new Mod Cloth Scarf! It's a perfect blend of soft classy plaid! And it's huge! You could wear it as a blanket if you wanted.



Love my reusable plastic mug from The Created Co. So solid and chic. I adore it.

Skin Laundry is another really cool product that surprised me how much I liked it!! I beautiful restoring night serum for your face that is so smooth and awesome!

And Bare Clean was such an unexpected totally awesome item!

This box has been so worth it for me! Totally worth it's cost in gold! I'm just so happy I subscribed. There wasn't anything I didn't like, but the above are just the items that knocked it out of the park! Love it! Can't wait for my Winter box!! Stay tuned... 

Strands of Gold and Bronze - a Bluebeard fairy-tale retelling

So I finally finished reading this beguiling re-telling of the thrilling Bluebeard fairy-tale. One of the creepier fairy-tales of the brothers Grimm.

Here is a glimpse of the basic orginal story plot from Wikipedia:"Bluebeard (French: Barbe bleue) is a French folktale, the most famous surviving version of which was written by Charles Perrault (...) The tale tells the story of a violent nobleman in the habit of murdering his wives and the attempts of one wife to avoid the fate of her predecessors."

Bluebeard was a terrifying story, for me, as a child. I promised myself to never be so curious as to go against direct orders from my husband, as a precaution. - Not sure I've lived up to that, but then again my husband hasn't exactly forbid me to enter any of the rooms in our house. I never found there to be much substance to the story, myself. - Old rich man marries young poor girl, finally gives her keys to the entire house and forbids her to enter one of the rooms in the house. Goes on a business trip. She unlocks the room. The lock had a paint in it that stained the key blood-red so when she hands them back to him he knows she entered the forbidden room. Tries to kill her, but her brothers, and is saved.

I wasn't sure how that could be extended into a long novel.  Or was the Bluebeard tale merely an inspiration for this novel?  I kept thinking perhaps this was a very different type of story line. 

I must confess I have nursed this novel partly, because it's a slow read, partly because of my schedule, and partly because I really didn't want it to end - I was thoroughly enjoying the ride. There have been many reviews of this book on Good Reads, at varying ends of the spectrum. I can understand both sides. But at the end of the day, I must confess, I rather enjoyed it.

Bubble baths and this book became a wonderful pass-time I would treat myself to now, and again. There are many reviews, from others, on how the plot drags on as one seems to get lost in this late 18th century portrait of a beautiful young girl who is getting wined, dined, and spoiled by her deadly handsome Godfather. - Another aspect of this re-telling that didn't seem to jive with the fairy-tale as Bluebeard was more often then not described as old, hard and cold.- The picture painted of her Godfather was sinfully delicious. He was charming, seductive, wild, fashionable, intelligent, and generous. I came to hope that he didn't turn out to be a villein after all, that this would be an ironic telling of how villainized this innocent man was with a blue-ish tint to his beard. I liked him. I wanted to have dinner with this guy. I wanted to get dresses and jewels, and a french-maid from this guy. Imagining the movie potential of this story, Pierce Bronson or someone of his genteelness yet perhaps more obscure and French would be perfect.



Yes, the drawn out details of the South, and the dresses could take it's toll on someone reading to get to a point or while on a bus or a lunch break... but I will argue, while in a nice hot bubble bath with candles, perhaps even a glass of wine or lemonade to get in the spirit of things, it was just right. It wasn't like reading for me, it was about escaping to a Southern rose-scented summer with violet perfumes, orange blossom cakes, grand halls, silk sheets, ribbons and lace. I had no purpose, I was just enjoying my leisure walk through the gardens.

There is also the other aspect, slavery that gets hinted at, lending itself to the darker tones this novel starts to develop. More here could be mentioned, and stronger character development could be made, but at the same time there is a distance that is period appropriate.

All and all... I had a good time reading this book.

Sample Meal Plan

First of all...

Thank you for enduring my previous rant about Sugar and Carbs!

For all of you who are inspired to start changing things, here is a sample meal plan to help you on your way.

Click on the meal plan and it will enlarge for you.

My goal here was to make a plan that has variety and enough fats and natural sweetness to satisfy your cravings. Play with it! Have fun! Enjoy! Live long and prosper.

I'm an addict and so are you!

I have a confession to make. I'm an addict to a drug that is slowly killing many of my loved ones, and I. I don't go more than an hour into a day before I'm thinking about where I can get my first kick. Then, no more then 2 hours after that I'm wanting a much bigger kick. Then again in a couple hours I want a small high and so the day goes on... I go from looking for my first high to my last... right up to just before I go to bed.

All the women of my family have been cursed with this addiction, and we aren't totally aware of it's control. And it does control us. Our moods, our lifestyle, our happiness, and our energy. We are so controlled by this drug, that the very mention of taking it away has made each and everyone of us chuckle at the thought.

What drug am I talking about?

Sugar.

But not just Sugar, but the way our body turns all the bad starches we eat into sugar. At the end of the day you can take everything we ate and its just sugar, all day, or that's how our bodies see it.

I know how it is. I crave sugar. Love it. Relished in the sharing of it with those I love. I have great memories that centre around the sharing of carbs/sugar. It's hugely emotional.

I wake up and want sugar in my coffee/creamer. I want pancakes or sugar cereal for breakfast. I want macaroni (or some other carb) for lunch and a lemonade  (don't be naive diet pop translates into sugar to your body, its even worse). I want a snack, so I'll choke down some carrots, and then try another sweet drink. Maybe some twizzlers. Then I'm thinking about a starchy dinner followed by something sweet. Maybe I'll even buy some bread at Cobbs to treat myself during the day.

Trust me... you're body, your mind is leading you like a slave all day long. And when you try to change and you realize how many times you have to say "NO!!" to yourself, you too will see just how much and how wrong your diet is.

I stopped eating bad sugars 5 months ago. I went through incredible withdrawals. And I cannot believe the changes it made in my health, not just weight loss, but my health and my allergies. The first two-three weeks were brutal. I went through serious cravings. I came off of sugar as brutally as any drug addict. And my constant desire for sugar and breads hasn't gone away, even though it's been months. I still see sugar everywhere, calling out to me, saying I can have just one little high.

If you believe a drug addict can turn their life around, prove it! Because whether you are fully aware or not... you are addicted to sugar, and you haven't gone one day without it in a long time.

I am an addict. I want it every day. So do you. Please I beg you with all the strength you have left try to break free.

This is my challenge! Give yourself 3 months. In the first month don't allow yourself a cheat.

Here is my list of NO's for you:

- No more sugar in your coffee (use honey)
- No more wheat - cereals/breads/potatoes/frenchfries/noodles/egg rolls/potatoe salad
- No more alcohol - beers/white wines/coolers/rum etc (you can have 1 glass of a dry red wine a week)
- No more pops/lemonades/juice/especially no diet-pop
- Juice is important to change because many think juice is good but its very bad actually

Juice is very deceptive, we all think a glass of orange juice is part of a healthy diet, but it's not! You would never consume that many oranges in real time... and that's how your body treats it... a major sugar overload. So stay away! No breakfast shakes! Nothing. Eat your food! If you are craving a drink, try club soda and add a freshly squeezed lime. It's very refreshing!

I know this seems crazy! And I know that it will effect a huge part of your life, but please please try!! Please!!


Here's what you can have:

- coconut oil is magical add it to everything! Cook with it, add it to your coffee! Such a great fat to add to your diet!!
- high natural fats - butter, Homo milks, creams,
- eggs (try boiling with hot sauce)
- avocados
- for cravings have blueberries/strawberries and cream
- have cheese and apple slices
- bacon
- almonds
- steak and blue cheese
- cook everything in pure butter/olive oil - saturate it! Eat fat burn fat!

And there is so much more you can have that is good for you. I want you to eat all the natural fats and veggies you can get your hands on, but just no sugars.

I know what I'm asking is huge, and life changing... but it will only be for the best. Your best. Give me your October and say no to things that translate to Sugar in your body!

Upcycling Breakfast Table Chairs

These chairs came from an old college that was getting renovated. When I first bought them I had all sorts of colors I was going to paint them how my breakfast-nook would look... But I couldn't seem to get the nerve to pain them.

At first it was a red breakfast table and white chairs. Then a white breakfast table and red chairs. Then Yellow chairs and a grey table. Green factored in and out of these plans several times. But I couldn't decide, so I left it alone for a year. 

The breakfast area is a very important space in our house, it flows through to the rest of the house. I had to think, rethink, and re-rethink my plan. I had paint chips all over the place. And I kept coming back to green. 

When I finally decided on a turquoise-green paint, it was difficult for me to sand down these old chairs with so much history. I thought about the kids that must have sat in them, passing notes, falling asleep during lectures, sweating during an exam... lots of story's. 

Withought further adieu... here are the pictures. More to come...

Subscription Boxes

Am I the last person on earth to hear about these...??!! I was so excited when Pinterest first showed me the coolest Subscription Box! I adore the concept.

'What!? I can have random beauitful surprise products shipped to me seasonally for a fraction of its value!?... Sign me up!' :D FabFitFun

Then came the issue of finding a box that shipped to Canada, fortunately there are still lots of options that are still fairly reasonable. In the end I settled on the FabFitFun Box... It seemed to have more of what I was looking for, makeup, scarfs, mugs, candles, perfume, soaps, and more... The Fit part I'm not as interested in, however that can sometimes mean a nice Organic tea which I could enjoy.

The runner up, for me, is The Bookish Box which has all sorts of cool perks for the book nerd and old soul. It will most definitely be my next subscription. Take a look at their site, they look absolutely fabulous.

Needless to say, I can't wait for this box to arrive!! I have shipped it to my work address, because that is where I feel I most deserve surprise gifts to get me through my day! I actually think this should be included in most employee benefit packages... I think it would be the coolest benefit ever. FabFitFun

Not to mention what a perfect gift idea! The gift that literally keeps giving! :) It's inspired me with lots of gift ideas. Don't all the ladies in your life deserve a fun little box of specially chosen treats?!

Meanwhile, at work, I can look forward to getting, and posting the fabulous experience. Stay tuned...