she who blogs

BISP Month: The Cinderella Society by Kay Cassidy

 

Stars: ****1/2

Egmont USA (April 2010)
YA Fiction

Summary: Jess Parker never really fit in. Until she receives an invitation to join The Cinderella Society (TCS). She gets swept up in their world and life but there's a bigger picture. The purpose of TCS is to help combat The Wickeds. Jess starts to wonder if she's the wrong person for the job. Full description here.

I was a little apprehensive about this book as I figured it would be about a bunch of good looking girls who are cliquish. That was before I read the description of course. It turns out this is the perfect book for showing girls can accomplish anything and shows a full understanding of the way high school works. Although I doubt any such Cinderella Society really exists, there are Wickeds (the mean, bullies) and Reggies (regular people) and though there might not be Cindys (the Cinderella Society, trying to stop the Wickeds from bullying the Reggies), there are those who help others. As a bully target, I identified with Jess and Heather in the book.

I'll admit I"m not great in reviewing fiction, mostly because I review nonfiction more. I want to make sure not to give away too much of the book but it would be really cool if The Cinderella Society and it's mother organization really existed. As part of turning into a Cindy, Jess gets a makeover, but it's not your average makeover. Jess has to study and figure out what her style is. Then she is helped to look more like she feels inside. This is not a making you up so much that you aren't who you really are kind of makeover. Also, although Jess's low self-esteem makes her think she's not attractive till she's all made up, a boy tells her that he noticed her way before her makeover, showing that she underestimates how beautiful she really is. Unfortunately this is common for teenage girls. Well actually, girls and women of all ages.

If you'd like to read an excerpt, you can find out here. If you are looking for a more in depth review with talk about plot, characters and more, check out some of the other reviews below from fellow bloggers.

BISP Month stands for Body Image and Self Perception Month and is an event run by Once Upon a Bookcase. Participating blogs have reviews, interviews and more.

From Once Upon a Bookcase:
"For the whole of July, I and several other bloggers will be reading YA novels that cover body image and self-perception issues, from eating disoders and obesity to physical disabilities, disfigurment, and general self-esteem issues. [...] BI&SP Month is about looking at how authors deal with this sensitive subject, and to try and make people realise there is no perfect body image, that you're perfectly beautiful as you are."

Links of Interest: Kay Cassidy, The Cinderella Society, BISP Month, Kay Cassidy on Twitter,

Other Reviews: Juiciliciousss Reviews, Cindy's Love of Books, Shooting Stars Mag, Book Crumbs, The Page Flipper, Reading Keeps You Sane,

Buy The Cinderella Society at amazon.com and support SMS Book Reviews

* I won this book at a blog giveaway and was not compensated in any way for my review.

 

Visit SMS BOOK REVIEWS

Where I Have Been...

 

Those of you who know me pretty well know I tend to keep my charitable work to myself. However, in helping a friend who is desperately in need of a vehicle, I have been spending a fair amount of time on the Free Charity Cars website, voting for folks who are seriously in need of transportation.

While all of us have suffered effects of the economy one way or another, it is a repetitive pattern of either illness, job loss, or other catastrophic life situation that has taken purely productive individuals and left them in grave need of what we take for granted; transportation. Some have lost everything, some are in the process, some just need a way to get to work.

This is a legitimate charity organization and depends upon the generosity of businesses and goodwill of individuals to function. 

Have I been ignoring my blog a bit?
Yes.

 

Have I been busy with studio work? (a.k.a. my church commission)
Yes?

Do I regret the people I have met at FCC?
Not at all.

If you chose to spend a half hour a day on your computer, enjoying coffee, you can mouse click votes to people who would appreciate it beyond words.
I'm doing a little shout-out here.....and you don't have to answer me. BUT. If you have ever been slightly down on your luck, know someone who has, helped someone in that condition or have the desire to do a little extra but don't know where or how to start, this is a good place.
You may find me by searching for amhl and if you take the time to set up a profile, you can vote for me. All my votes are donated each day.
It is amazing what the press of a finger can do.
I bid you all...

Pax....

Visit Anne at El Milagro Studio

Share a Square 2010 Begins

She Who Blogs member Shelly is always up to good.  You can visit her at This Eclectic Life, Spin Me A Yarn &  over at Posterous.

Shelly also has a weekly meme called Only The Good - it's on vacation right now -  but do check back there in the fall.

If you crochet, chances are good that you have a handful of tiny balls of yarn. Though they aren’t big enough to create a project, you can’t bring yourself to throw them away!

Here is your opportunity to use that yarn for a good cause. It’s called “Share A Square” Our mission is simple:

We are going to blanket some children who are
battling cancer with afghans filled with our love!

• Over the next year, we will create 150 afghans to give to children at Camp Discovery cancer camp in South Texas (in July of 2011).
• Each afghan will contain 80 crocheted squares (each 6″ x6″) made by 80 different people
• Each square will have a laminated card attached with the name and location of the creator of the square (business card size — 3 1/2″ x 2″)
• Each child will receive the afghan and a binder ring (probably attached to a necklace of some kind) for holding the collection of tags.

I tried to answer any questions on the FAQ page AND I have set up a Facebook group (although I’m still not sure what to do with it). Why don’t you go join (or send your mother, if you don’t crochet)? It will make me feel less foolish.

Am I a bit nervous about the enormity of this task? Oh, yes, indeed! I have butterflies in my stomach, but as Dr. Rob Gilbert says:

“It’s all right to have
butterflies in your stomach.
Just get them to fly
in formation!”

 

 

love thursday: family & friends edition

This week’s Love Thursday is quite special because the photos come from two friends made via Internet and my very own niece, Mia:

From L-R:

(1) My friend Beth’s daughter Sarah made a batch of  peanut butter cookies and this heart came out.

(2) My friend Lucy of On my way 2 work and Other Stuff spotted this branch-formed heart.

(3) My niece Mia caught this heart-shaped puddle before it dried up.

(4) Again, Mia’s eye saw a heart in this pork cutlet.

I have *no* idea who Mia takes after!

Happy Love Thursday everyone!

Are you ready for the weekend?

I sure am.

Visit Michelle at Bleeding Espresso

To Begin Again

 

Today is July 1st – a wonderful and cool Thursday. It is also a new beginning for us here at daytrippers. Did you miss us? We took off June to recharge our collective creative batteries. We hope you had a splendid June as well. You probably notice it that we have a new look. The colors are slightly different and the sidebar items are now on the right side instead of at the bottom. We also have a new badge - take a look on the sidebar. Plus a new introduction page over here. Nothing's changed. We will be posting as before.

 

 

Note: lettering on the pendent may vary from what is shown above.

To celebrate our return, we are giving away three (3) of these lovely 'she who blogs' pendents plus a 15 US dollars gift certificate to amazon.com to go along with them.

Here's how to enter: 1. Tell us your favorite daytripper photo so far - just leave a link to that particular photo/post - you can browse our archive by labels or by month - just go to the sidebar. OR 1. Make up a new line tag for us. We currently have "two photographers, one city: new york" - you can make up a new one. Though we'll probably won't use it but it's fun to see what you come up with. 2. Please leave an email or if you're a Blogger user, you must have your blogger profile page activated AND your email turn on. 3. No anonymous entries - those will be disqualify. 4. There will be 3 winners. 5. This contest is open to U.S. and Canada only. 6. Contest ends on July 15, 2010. Winners will be selected randomly