Now before I start, can I say that I really wanted to like this book.  So much so that I couldn’t wait for it to be in stores here in New Zealand I ordered it off the Internet.  Yes call me crazy but  I was desperate, the reviews said it was great, she’s Mehmet Ozs wife, it must be great.

So it arrived and I was so excited.  The book is titled US, ‘Transforming Ourselves and the Relationships that Matter the Most.’  I pretty much sat down and started to read, I wanted to know what she thought was the answer on how to live a great life.  She of all people would know, she’s married to Americas Dr Oz.  It’ like finding a secret path to the Holy Grail.  Or is it?

I guess we should never assume things then should we, which is precisely why I am here at thia point writing this.  I am here for you, to sift out all the rubbish and to help you make better buying decisions.  I wonder if I can swing that one past my husband, it was research and I needed it straight away.

I couldn’t have been more disappointed reading this book.  Really like I said at the start, I was certain she would be great to listen too.  You see when they put confusing statements on the inside cover alarm bells start to ring.  I love this one “The key to real and lasting change lies somewhere between what you know and what you do.  It’s what you think.”   Ok so what on earth does that mean, I hate these sort of statements that fluff around the facts.  What is she trying to say?  Why can’t she just say ‘The real key to lasting change lies with what you think”  see much easier.

So unfortunately most of the book seems to follow along those lines and if you concentrate  hard you will find the odd piece of good advice that pops out.  But most of it is hard to read, she uses words I haven’t even heard of and I require the dictionary to know their meaning.  This hardly smacks of a book for the masses, which really is a shame as it could have been so mush better.  I found her advice hard to understand and not memorable either.

So in a nutshell, don’t bother with this one if you are looking for a good self book look somewhere else.

 

Available:  All leading bookstores

Price:$34.95

  

It’s at this point that if you were close to me you would probably want to hit me when I tell you that I am writing this from my lounger by the pool in Fiji.  Yes, in answer to your question, the weather is amazing. I am feeling totally relaxed having had my latest instalment of vitamin D.  I can honestly say I haven’t looked forward to a trip as much as this one and it has definitely paid off.  I am very relaxed and ready to face the world again when I get home.

I have also managed to lose myself for a couple of days in Louise Bagshawe’s latest book, Passion.  I’ve been transported around the world in an exciting chase for survival, fallen a little bit more in love with my husband due to the love story and have decided that I haven’t worked anywhere hard at getting myself fitter in 2009.

Seriously isn’t this why we buy them. These books certainly don’t require you to have a university degree to read them nor do you really need to concentrate hard. I managed to keep reading this over the laughter and screams from my kids in the pool.  But I have really enjoyed just chilling out and no you don’t have to come to Fiji to enjoy the book.  In fact, this could the very thing you need when the weather is bad and you are looking for an escape. 

I read her book Sparkles and loved it, so I was thrilled when her new book came out just before my holiday.  This has also lived up to Bagshawe’s reputation as a great read.  Remember though, I did warn you that it won’t make Oprah’s best book list but it may just make your life just that little bit more bearable on those dreary winter days.

Passion by Louise Bagshawe

 A failed marriage between Melissa Elmett and Will Hyde did a lot of damage. She was too young, he was hurt when she left him. Years later, Melissa becomes the target for a kidnap plot, a consequence of her father’s ground breaking energy saving invention, and Will is the only man who can protect her. Now they’re on the run, thrown together again by the pursuit of vengeance, will their passion for each other reignite?

Avaliable: all major bookstores

Price: $38.99

                          

  

During the holidays it’s always a challenge to find something interesting and exciting to do with the kids and cooking always seems to pop up much to my concern.  You see the control freak in me likes to keep things in order and this activity scares me, as I have visions of food travelling at high speed around my kitchen.  It of course probably wont happen and I really should pay attention to the sticker my eight year stuck to my steering wheel, its very simple reads ‘chill out mummy’.

So as any well intentioned parent would do, I am rising above my children cooking fear and I have bought the girls a cookbook and I think it’s going to help them turn into the next Nigella Lawsons.  But maybe before it does that, it might just help me.  If I am now going to be completely honest, I have actually used it much more than they have. 

The recipes are quite simply fantastic for the less exciting eaters in our house and gives me great everyday ideas of what we can eat.  Seriously I bang my head on the fridge door on a regular basis trying to think of fast, easy and yummy meals which my family will love.  So as much as this is a great cookbook for the girls, it’s an even bigger help for me.

But seriously the girls also love it and has become a favourite gift for their friends as well, you can combine it with an apron or a cool chefs hat etc to make a really different birthday gift. 

You can choose from easy to prepare Nachos, Homemade Hamburgers, Rice and Chicken Kebabs, Macaroni Cheese, gosh where do you stop, um did I mention the Chocolate-dipped treats, Fudge Pudding, Little Apple Pies or Meringue Nests I could go on and on.

Pick up a copy of Edmonds Beginner’s Cookbook and add it to your cookbook library you wont be disappointed, I haven’t been.  It does take away need for me to be really hands on when the girls are using it to cook with, as it’s so simple for them to follow. 

Available:  all major bookstores                            Price:$24.95  (prices can vary)

  It’s taken me a long time to finally watch it and yes I know many of you have already been there and done that, but better late than never.  I watched The Secret.  I have to confess I read about it before it had arrived in New Zealand, owned it before most people even knew what it was and now after all this time have finally watched it.

Yes, I can hear you all say why didn’t you do that earlier?  But it’s like this, you really have to be at a place in life where you are going to take it on board otherwise it’s a complete waste of time.  You know what I mean you can read all the self-help books and watch all the DVD’s you like, but it’s not going to make a jot of difference if you aren’t able to put any of it into practice.

So why have I given it four stars, because you know that is quite high for me.  Well it’s good in a word, it’s easy to watch and it just makes sense.   The Secret is basically about what they refer to as the ‘Law of Attraction’ meaning what you put out for in life you get back.  So if you run around unhappy and negative, always expecting the worse then that’s what you get back.  On the other hand if you are positive and open to challenges and change that’s what you get.

They refer to one of the things I do all the time as an example.  Whenever I am going anywhere in the car, I always visualise me arriving there and a car park is free.  So I always get car parks, now I am renowned for this and it really cheeses my girlfriends off because they can never get a park.  I always do and so this is the theory behind the ‘Law of Attraction’, what you put out is what you get back.

Yes they do tell you how to do this and give you the steps necessary to make those changes.  Now it wont happen overnight but they say if you start behaving like the ‘Law of attraction’ good things will happen.

You can buy all sorts of stuff about the secret, but really it’s not necessary.  The only two things to look at are either the DVD or the book.   Now in my case as you would expect, I have both.   Primarily because I had the book for ages and could never find the time to read it, so I bought the DVD and it was much easier to sit down to watch that instead.  I have picked up the book now I know what it’s about and am referring back to it. You need to do that to cement the process in your head.

Where I do think it let itself down was with the start.  I want to stress that you shouldn’t be concerned when you first start watching it that  it’s some kind of weird cult recruiting exercise.  Give it a chance, the speakers appear and it starts to unfold in a very simple, understandable way.  I don’t subscribe to the whole “it dates back centuries” rubbish.  I just believe that this is a good idea and it makes sense to me.  What you put out there in the world, is what you are going to get back.

There will be those who want to disprove this theory and each to their own.  I certainly don’t buy into mumbo jumbo either, but this is certainly worth thinking about.  I am going to re-think my attitude and where I invest my time and energy.

In these difficult times we are in, anything that gives a helping hand is wanted in my view.

Try my car parking trick.

Available:  all leading book stores, over the Internet etc

Price: all prices seemed to vary but the Books were around $39.95 - $45.00 and the DVD’s were around $55.00 - $60.00

  I am starting to think that as we age we can’t worry about everything that seems to be deteriorating with our bodies.  I mean one minute we are able to multi task, run marathons, stay out late and then turn up for work on time the next day and still look amazing.  You know what I mean, we were almost super human, our bodies would simply bounce back at whatever we threw at it.

Then one day we wake up and hello, things aren’t in the same place they were last year, come to think of it can I even remember where they were, getting out of bed is harder and the thought of running a marathon next Sunday, well you would but you do have that brunch with friends you really shouldn’t miss. 

So when I picked up John Shacks book called Life is for Living and it’s about getting the best out of our lives and he really has made me think.  So often we just push through life, being busy not really making conscious decisions on how we live and John, with this book, challenges you to think about that.

‘This book wont tell you what to eat or what exercise to take - there are loads of books on the market which will give you that information…..but primarily this book is about attitude and thought processes you’ll need to adopt to achieve your health and fitness goal.’                John Shackleton

If you hurt now at whatever age you are when you exercise, what are you going to be like at sixty.

Now there aren’t any stunning new revelations on how to get fit and loose weight in two weeks, or that he has been the one to discover the magic pill that really does melt the fat off with not effort required.  But what he does say makes sense, if we are out of shape, tired and stressed now at our current age, what on earth are we going to be like when we are sixty.  I am scared and probably should be.

You can also choose to buy the CD and listen to an interview with John which is very easy to do, I found it funny and was at the end of it before I realised I had been listening for a while.

Available:www.johnshack.com

Price:$24.95  book        Price:$20.00    CD

   I have just finished reading one of the best books I have ever read.  Now that’s a big statement to make, as you know I do read alot but this is a really good book.  It’s Suzanne Paul’s new book called ‘But wait there’s more’ and I couldn’t put it down.

Now I haven’t ever been a fan of hers but thought that the book would be interesting about her rise to the top and her then very public fall to the ground.  What I didn’t plan on was how honest she was going to be about everything and helpful, this is for anyone wanting to achieve their goals in life.  It also gave me a reality check on how hard you really do have to work, if you want to succeed at anything in life.  It doesn’t just happen, you have to make it happen.

Her story is one of courage to go after her dreams when her life was pretty bad and her determination not to let anything get in her way.  She just never gave up and she still hasn’t.

I kid you not, she hit some really bad times, arriving in New Zealand with $18.00 in her wallet, having to spend two hours each way on a bus everyday to get to her job, changing buses multiple times.  Amazing when alot of us would consider having to take one bus to work is a big deal.  The worst part was when she realised she had lost it all.

But while all this is very interesting and makes you realise how hard she really did have to work to achieve her success, what’s really great about this book is she gives you advice on how you can do it.  This was the really cool bit for me.  It’s smart, practical and really makes you think I can do this.   I found it inspirational and have been motivated by her advice.

Her story is amazing, her message is simple.  It’s a must read and a great gift idea for anyone who you know has big dreams.  One of her great quotes is:

                                       Dreams become your goals

                                      Goals become your plans

                                         Plans become your reality 

Available: all leading booksellers

Price:$37.00 (Whitcoulls price)

  We know we all do it, we get busy in the build up to Christmas, go away on holiday tired, and then sit around thinking about all of the things we could have done better this year and the things we want to do next year. If we could change somethings in our life to make it better, what would they be?

Do you know what you would change and how you would do it?

We all know that 2009 is going to be an interesting year and I say interesting because I refuse to get caught up in all the negativity that says it is going to be all bad. So instead of next year being about doom and gloom, for me, it is going to be about a year of change. Hence my new section, “New Year, New You”.

I don’t know about you,  but I think I’ve been stuck.   I have been waiting for the right time to do things.  The right time when my life is not so busy, so I can dedicate some time to myself.  But I get it now, that time just never comes. We have to make time for ourselves, to put ourselves on the list. The list of important things we have to do. I am going to set goals this year. I am going to post them in this section and tell you about how I am going to achieve them in 2009. You will be able to track my progress on how I am getting on. What I have found out that works and what doesn’t.

I have been reading a book given to me for Christmas by my thoughtful sister-in-law, Lyndal.  The book is “Life Makeovers” by Cheryl Richardson. It is great because it is split in to 52 practical and inspiring ways to improve your life one week at a time. A great example is, week one, which is about reflecting on the good things from last year and what you did get right. It is all to easy to remember the negatives but surely something must have gone right. At the start of the year I had every intention to blog every day. I feel pretty bad that I did not achieve that goal. But when I reflect back on all of the positive feedback and the huge growth in readership, I have to be proud of what I have achieved. Cheryl is right, looking back at what you have achieved rather than what you didn’t is a much more positive way to start a new year.

My first suggestion in New Year, New You, if you want to join my journey, is to buy yourself a copy of Cheryl’s book. The book is insightful, well written, easy to follow, with practical advice and exercises on a wide range of topics. It is like a weekly meeting with a life coach and not just any life coach, Oprah’s Life Coach!

Stay tuned, to keep up with how I get on and I need to brace myself, it could be a bit of a bumpy ride.

Life Makeovers by Cheryl Richardson    

Available All major booksellers            Price $10.36 American via Amazon

  “We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.”  - Randy Pausch

If you were told you had months to live, what would you do?   What sort of legacy would you leave behind? 

I bet whatever it is, it wouldn’t be to stand up in front of all your peers and give a lecture on what lessons you have learnt in life so far.  Most of us would be too ticked off to even contemplate how to help those left behind.  But that’s just what Randy Pausch did.

Randy was a computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon and was asked to give what they call there “The Last Lecture”.  When leaving the University the Professors are asked to give their ‘Last Lecture”, to talk about what lessons they have learnt and in most cases this has usually been because the Professors are retiring, not dying.  But Randy had been diagnosed with terminal cancer, he has a young family, a great life and he doesn’t want to die.  But as he says “we cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.” 
So instead of talking about dying, he decides this is his opportunity to leave behind for his young kids, a legacy on the importance of overcoming obstacles.  He talks about enabling the dreams of others, of seizing every moment (because time is all you have) and all he has come to believe about life and more importantly, how to live it.
 
This book is one of the best books I have ever read.  It is funny, inspirational, intelligent and at times has moved me to tears.  But the most important lesson I learnt was to work harder at making the most of everyday.  I know this can sound cliché but really if we were in his shoes, just think about it, would we really sweat the small stuff.  Probably not.

Now you can down load off the Internet, the actual lecture from the University, and I encourage you to do so.  It is very entertaining and easy to watch.  But the book has so much more and very worthwhile reading.  He encourages us all to live a better life, to try harder to achieve our dreams and to never give up.  I have gained so much more form the book.

I have to say I am inspired and I am going to write up my goals, as they say “you have to name them to claim them”.  This book is also being read by my Dad, as it was his Fathers Day gift and he’s really enjoying it.  This is a great gift for the special people in your life and keep it in mind for Christmas.

“Time is all you have.   And you may find one day you have less than you think.” -  Randy Pausch

Sadly Randy passed away in July this year after a brave and hard fought battle. To learn more visit www.TheLastLecture.com

Available: all leading bookstores                                                         Price:$29.95

  Are Ferraris faster than Lamborghinis?

Which dead celebrity earns the most money?

Who is the most searched for woman on the Internet? 

Men are obsessed with what’s the biggest, the fastest, the smallest…..  So this book will keep them fascinated for days and provide the answers to every question you never wanted to ask.

While I was hunting for Fathers Day presents, I stumbled across Top 10 For Men which has over 250 lists that matter.  Well to men anyway, but to be honest I have found it fascinating and been seen to pick it up time and time again.  To be fair it was destined to be a Fathers Day present but for some funny reason never quite made it there, it’s far too interesting.

This book has over 250 lists covering the most important subjects like cars, most popular playboy names, who has the biggest boat, most expensive items of rock memorabilia sold at auction and many more.  I could go on and on. 

A great gift for any man and is one to remember as a stocking filler at Christmas time or as a birthday gift.

Available:  All leading bookstores

Price:$25.99

  As I mentioned recently I have a list of my favourite things, you know its the things that you go back to time and time again because they really are good.  Well this wee gem certainly makes it onto the list and its the Luxe Travel Guides.

I was told about them by a friend who has used them around the world, so I went and bought some for myself and they really are great.  It’s like travelling with your very own hotel concierge.

In their words they describe them as ‘the consummately stylish, pocket travel guides, packed with astute opinionated information for the busy and sophisticated traveller.’

Translated,  it means a really cool pocket size travel guide, which is funny and really helpful.  So why are they so good?  Well it really comes down to a couple of reasons and the first being their size, they really are small and fit into your back pocket.  Second would have to be the content and style of writing.  It’s fun, to the point and very honest.

A great example of this is, in the Luxe Melbourne guide they give phrases that may help you out with the locals.  One of my favourites is:

‘Strewth, look at the Muffin-top on that!  :  That young lady has a large amount of excess flesh above the waistband of her low-cut jeans and is doing herself no favours.’   Very funny.

Luxe also comes with online city updates, you just simply log-in on their website to find out what’s new.  Now that’s very cool.

What I truly love about them is that they take all the guess work out of visiting somewhere new for you and have chosen only the very best places to go. 

You will find:

half-day shopping and activity itineraries for you to mix and match.

hidden places to relax in, the very latest places to dine, drink and dance

shops you simply never find as a visitor

the most beautiful spas and salons

and services you can’t find in any other guides

This is a fantastic gift for anyone travelling overseas, they will be reminded of you and what a cool gift giver you are, during their holiday.  Don’t leave home without it.

Stylish, brutally frank and sometimes, frankly, brutal.

Available:all major book stores and at www.luxecityguides.com   

Price:  per guide $17.99   or can be bought as a set from the website.