My Latest Segment on The Social: The Mid-Year Check-In!

It's the halfway mark of the school year, and I was back at The Social to share information about report cards and parent/teacher interviews.

This time my mom was my date - and I think she really enjoyed a behind-the-scenes look at how the show operates.

Thanks to Le Chateau for again hooking me up with a gorgeous outfit (yes, that's a dress, and yes, those are pockets!) as well as the shoes, earrings and bracelets. Hair is by Andrea Zarlenga and makeup by Stephanie Cruz (who, coincidentally, was headed to a parent/teacher interview for her child that very afternoon!)

This time I was chatting with Cynthia Loyst and Marci Ien, and as always, the hosts were warm, supportive and positive - even those who weren't in the segment (Lainey was very kind afterwards, and Jess told me it was my best segment yet. Which she has said before, so either she's just always super kind or I keep improving!)

Video of the segment can be found below. I say this every time, but please know how much I appreciate the support I receive from you, whether in person, through email/text or over social media. It never gets old!

My Top 10 Posts of 2016

After eliminating giveaway posts, these were my top ten most-viewed posts of 2016! Clearly, readers are into Momterviews, with education, beauty and fashion thrown in there too!

#10 My New Eyebrows: Microblading from Permanent Beauty by Kalyna

# 9  Ask the Teacher: My Segment on THE SOCIAL (P.S. I'm back on the show January 23!)

# 8 Kate and the Replikate Trend

# 7 Kate Wells: The Special Needs Parenting Momterview

# 6 Kindergarten Advice From Parents (including some well-known faces) and Teachers 

# 5 Melissa Grelo shares Health and Fitness Tips

# 4 Angela Price: The Hockey Wives Momterview

# 3 marQ: Melissa Grelo and Shayna Haddon's New Children's Clothing Line

# 2 Kortney Wilson Talks Masters of Flip Season 2

# 1 Kortney Wilson: The Momterview

Thanks so much for all of your support in 2016! I can't wait to bring you lots of exciting, informative content in 2017! Happy New Year!

A RepliKate Update - My Fashion Finds in the Style of Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge

While I haven't yet stocked up on any of the Duchess of Cambridge's looks from the 2016 Canada Tour, I have had fun with a few RepliKates since I last updated my dear readers! (Though if you follow on Instagram, you probably saw all of these in real time!)

EARRINGS

Earrings from D Baker Jewelry on Etsy (bottom, under $40), replicas of Kate's Kiki McDonough Lauren Yellow Gold Pave Diamond Leaf Earrings (top; roughly $3600 Canadian). I've worn them several times a week since they came in the mail - love them!

MAKEUP

While in Toronto on the holidays, I made an appointment at Sephora for a Custom Makeover (free with minimum $50 purchase). The makeup artist (Khadijah) and I discussed my goals (to try out and report on some of Kate Middleton's favourite items) and it was a lot of fun! Of course I wasn't worried about replicating the Duchess's exact shades of products (although we do have similar colouring).

We know for a fact, through sources directly at Bobbi Brown, that Kate has worn the brand (including on her wedding day, when she did her own makeup!) Some other companies have confirmed that she has bought or worn their products, and on occasion she has even been spotted making a purchase. (Lots of info on my favourite Kate site, What Would Kate Do?)

So, in good fun, I tried out the following:

Urban Decay Naked Eye Shadow Palette (which I didn't end up purchasing, because I have almost all of the same colours at home by different companies...and I'm not made of money!)

Bobbi Brown foundation stick
Bobbi Brown creamy matte lip colour
Bobbi Brown lip gloss

Lancome Kohl Eye-Liner (recommended by the makeup artist over the Kohl Le Crayon, likely worn by the other Kate, which the pro finds drier and harder to apply)

There were many other products used to create the look above, but I ended up buying the three Bobbi Brown items as well as the eyeliner, which I really liked. (I already have a great mascara, blush, etc. at home.)

In the future, I'd still like to try out the Bobbi Brown Shimmer brick, Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer (seems like a quick and easy school-day product), and a bee venom mask that doesn't cost more than a mortgage payment.

SHOES

When in need of new running shoes, of course I wondered, "What would Kate wear?" Some quick research indicated that her latest sneaker appearance involved a pair of Adidas Pure Boost X trainers...which of course immediately sold out. However, someone on eBay happened to be offering up the exact same pair (in my size!), and I won the auction, paying much less than the regular selling price. They're funky-looking shoes in person (you can actually put your finger right through the area under the foot and above the sole of the shoe!) and SOOOO comfy.

SCARF

Again, I "needed" a neutral-looking scarf as the cold weather approaches...so why not go with the exact same one Kate wore on her very first visit to Canada? Here's my new Aquascutum Club Check scarf, and a grainy photo of Kate sporting hers while out on the Canadian water.

SWEATER

While I haven't yet copied any of Kate's style from last month's royal visit, once again she copied mine - which proves to me that I have chosen the right style icon! She was seen in a nice cozy red sweater, similar to the Joe Fresh version I've been wearing for over a year!

Until next time!

Kate's Favourite Things - September 2016

BOOKS

None of my usual suspense/thrillers for you this month - I branched out!

After You by JoJo Moyes (an excellent sequel to the bestseller Me Before You; this one didn't pull at my heartstrings quite as much, but it was fun to revisit characters that I knew and loved from the first book)

Sushi For Beginners by Marian Keyes (I was in the mood for something Irish, and since Keyes does not like the term "chick lit" I won't use it - but now you've got the idea!)

This Charming Man by Marian Keyes (a bit long at 676 pages but I love her work)

When God Was a Rabbit by Sarah Winman (award-winning fiction, just pay attention to time lapses - there were moments that I was confused)

The Choices We Make by Karma Brown (I loved the first book by my Twitter friend Karma, Come Away With Me - read it if you haven't - and her second novel about a woman being a pregnancy surrogate for a friend is just as compelling)

The Rainbow Comes and Goes by Anderson Cooper and Gloria Vanderbilt (fascinating to learn about Vanderbilt's upbringing, and I should have been more impressed by her famous romantic partners, except she's in her 90s now which means I have never heard of most of them! Sinatra, yes, but not most of the others)

MOVIES

It was all about family movies this month:

Nine Lives I love Jennifer Garner, and the movie kept the girls and me entertained.

Pete's Dragon A lot of great messages to discuss in this one, and the CGI animation was really well done.


MISCELLANEOUS

Need a makeup artist? Try Lacey West Makeup! I was in a video for a special project this month (I'm still not allowed to tell!) and Lacey did a fantastic job on my makeup!

My favourite mail delivery this month *might* have been this selection of notebooks an datebooks from Hallmark. It makes me happy just to look at the photo!

Some of my posts this month were particularly popular, so I'm going to lump them in with my "favourite things" as well!

My New Eyebrows: Microblading from Permanent Beauty by Kalyna (this post has so many views that I started to think I should switch to beauty blogging!)

Kate and the RepliKate Trend (following the style of the Duchess of Cambridge; I have a few upcoming posts on this as well, since I've purchased or received several more RepliKates since this first post!)

Kindergarten Advice From Teachers and Parents

oh yes, and I was back on THE SOCIAL with Back-to-School Tips and Tricks

And there you have it - my favourite things! I have a sneaking suspicion that I won't be reading many books or watching many movies in September, but we'll see when next month's edition brings!

My New Eyebrows: Microblading from Permanent Beauty by Kalyna

Yes, I live a pretty blessed life that I have the time and money to spend on my eyebrows. Let's get over that one and move on.

And to be fair, I am not expecting that my kindergarten students will be paying any attention to the shape, colour or thickness of my brows. Partly because they will be just learning the concepts of shape, colour and thickness. However, my "moonlighting" work puts me on video and in photography quite often, and while I am naturally a very dark brunette, for some reasons my eyebrows seem to disappear on camera. Sure, I could keep filling them in for every special occasion, but when I started to see the great results women were having with the microblading technique, I was intrigued.

Enter Kalyna Cabral, who runs Permanent Beauty by Kalyna in Peterborough. I started checking out her Instagram account, and was super impressed by the before-and-afters I saw, so I took the plunge and made an appointment...which was today!

Since I was slightly nervous about the pain, I took two extra-strength Tylenol before leaving the house (that is NOT a professional recommendation, and please note that you're definitely not supposed to use alcohol or any drugs that are blood thinners before your procedure).

After filling out the standard paperwork (and realizing that I went to high school with the receptionist, and in fact knew her first when we were kids and our brothers played lacrosse together), Kalyna led me into the room where the magic happens. She and I also established that it's a small world (our significant others once worked together, someone she knows is engaged to someone I know) and we got down to business.

Kalyna asked me if I had any pictures or specific requests, and I just told her that I wanted my brows to follow my natural shape, but to be darker and fuller so they would stand out. She took some before photos (they're coming, be patient!), took some measurements, and then pencilled in the outline of the shape that she recommended, which I totally loved. She then cleaned up any hairs that were outside that shape (which you can tell when looking at the photos).

She numbed my skin before beginning, and then started the microblading process, which involves a micro machine, needle and organic pigments. (Random piece of info: I can't donate blood for six months now, because it counts as a tattooing procdure). Kalyna uses a feather stroke technique which really looks like individual brow hairs, and creates a 3D effect (it's not like a flat coloured tattoo on your eyebrow, there's actual texture there).

As far as pain goes, I would describe the sensation like someone scratching at my brows with a toothpick. I could feel something, and I could always tell where she was working, but it never actually hurt (though it did make me sneeze a couple of times, and luckily I was able to warn Kalyna so she wasn't mid-stroke!)

When it comes to colour, I've heard from a couple of people not to be afraid to go dark, and one girl regretted going lighter because the brows do fade over the first few weeks. In fact, Kalyna told me that the colour would lighten by 20%, so I went a bit darker than what I would want for my end results. The whole thing took less than an hour.

And...here are the results! (Photos are from the Permanent Beauty By Kalyna Instagram account - and if you're reading this post so far thinking I'm vain, please take note that I am voluntarily showing photos where I have absolutely no makeup and there are no filters used).

An extra highlight of the process was when we were all finished and Kalyna turned to me and said, "You know who you look like? Prince William's wife!" (My regular readers should already be laughing. My response: "Funny you should say that! Here's a picture...")

When I left, I was provided with a little bag holding the cream I would need to apply (antibiotic ointment for tonight and after care ointment for the next 7 to 10 days) as well as a cute themed cookie. (My girls don't know that I got a cookie, since I wolfed it down as soon as I got in the door, before they even made it up the stairs to check out the transformation. No one needs to tell them.)

I am booked to go back in December for a touch up, when Kalyna can darken or enhance the shape, as I wish.

For prices and more info about microblading and all of Kalyna's services, visit her website. Her Instagram account also has a ton of helpful before and afters to check out as well. While Peterborough might not appear (to the untrained eye) to be the most cutting-edge city, Kalyna is renowned far and wide for her work (and trains others in Canada and the U.S. on these procedures too) and there's a fairly lengthy waiting time so book as soon as you're ready!

In case you're wondering, this procedure wasn't a blog freebie - I'm a satisfied paying customer! However, Permanent Beauty by Kalyna does have a referral program, so if you end up there for an appointment, I'd love if you could put my name on the "Referred by..." line! (It's Kate Winn. You knew that, right?) And of course please don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions!

Angela Price: The Hockey Wives Momterview* (*mom-to-be!)

Angela Price, wife of Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price, is one of the stars of the W Network series Hockey Wives - with new episodes starting March 16th.

I had the opportunity to chat with Angela, and in our conversation she opened up about the media scooping their baby news (they're expecting their first child at the end of April), how she feels about being known as "Carey Price's wife", her favourite Montreal restaurant, and more!

Congratulations on the pregnancy - how are you feeling? 

Thank you! I'm actually feeling pretty good, so I'm not complaining!

The Diet Coke picture you shared to announce you were expecting was really cute - did you work with the brand on that, or just do it yourselves? 

We are excited to announce that we are expecting...well, "confirm" that we are expecting is probably more appropriate. Our baby news and my rant about Montreal media on the blog today!

A photo posted by Angela Price (@byangelaprice) on Oct 21, 2015 at 7:15am PDT

We just did that ourselves; it was actually very last minute! Carey saw the cans at the rink and grabbed them before coming home!

News of your pregnancy was shared in the media earlier than you would have liked - can you speak to that a bit?

We were a week out of having that all-important doctor's appointment where they check the heartbeat and make sure everything is good, and someone must have seen us at a doctor's appointment or something and the media released that we were expecting, so that's how a lot of our friends and family found out which was too bad.

You're keeping the sex a surprise?

Yes, we have no idea, so we're very anxious to find out!

Of course you spend the hockey season living in Montreal {Angela is originally from Tri-Cities Washington, and the couple spends their off-season in Kelowna BC, near Carey's hometown}. What are some of your favourite things about Montreal?

The food...especially now, being pregnant! Montreal has some of the best restaurants out of any city I've ever lived in so that's definitely my favourite part!

Any one in particular?

Oh, I would have to go with Sho-Dan which is a sushi place downtown.

Have you learned any French since you've been in Montreal, or did you already speak the language?

You know what, I didn't speak French before. I'm American so I didn't grow up with that but I've taken private courses, courses at the university, I've learned through Rosetta Stone and it's not sticking! But I'm continually trying!

What made you decide to start your own blog {By Angela Price}? You're helping me master my hair-curling technique, by the way!

Oh, great! Well, it kind of brought all of my favourite things together in one place. I love photography, I love telling my stories, and I'm so far away from friends and family and I'm awful at texting and keeping in touch so it's a good way to let everyone know what I'm up to. I just thought, why not?

I know you said on the blog that there's a silver lining to Carey being injured in that you're spending more time together than ever - which is especially nice with a baby on the way - but there must also be a lot of frustration and disappointment since he's not playing right now?

Oh for sure, especially since this season has been a little rough for the guys and of course Carey wants to be on the ice so it gets a bit frustrating when he wants to be able to help out and there's nothing he can do. I think it's nice that I'm pregnant and we have the baby to distract us and give us something to look forward to and take our minds of that a bit.

Congratulations on being part of the cast of Hockey Wives! What would you say are the best and worst things about being on the show?

I think the best thing is seeing girls that you were friends with in the past and probably wouldn't see again, and being able to be with them and catch up has been really nice. I'd say the biggest downside would be watching yourself on TV, and hearing how annoying your voice is, stupid little things that you don't like about yourself and are displayed for all to see! {Here I shared with Angela that I *never* watch myself back on television.}

Are you ever concerned about being known as "Carey Price's wife" - is it a struggle to keep your own identity?

It was a struggle at first but at the end of the day, I am Carey Price's wife and I'm proud to be. I don't really mind it, but I think people often forget that I am my own person and I have my own life which doesn't always revolve around him or the Habs necessarily, so that can get frustrating.

As a follow-up to that, what do you want people to know about you as an individual? {Warning: Hardcore Habs fans may want to skip this answer.}

Oh, good question. I don't know if there's anything in particular that I want people to know, just that I have my own interests and I think people think that hockey kind of runs our world at home and that's not necessarily true. At home, we're just the same as any other couple. We're not talking about hockey, not talking about the Habs, just normal everyday things.

Do you find you've faced much social media negativity - I'm thinking of the Twitter harassment faced by another NHL goalie wife, April Reimer - have you had any issues like that?

I haven't had any big issues but of course you're going to get those negative people and I always joke that it seems like I can't do anything right according to people on social media! Everybody has their opinions but I think I'm pretty lucky that it doesn't get to me. I feel worse for my friends and family who read that stuff and get all worked up and upset but to be honest it doesn't really bother me.

The impression I get of Carey is that he is pretty private and can be wary of media attention - how did he feel about you joining a reality show?

He definitely is a lot more private than I am, and when I first went to him about Hockey Wives, I was thinking he would automatically say no, but he didn't. He was open to the idea, so we discussed with the show the importance of Carey maintaining his privacy and not filming in our home with us, not requiring anything from Carey and they were fine with that. So now we're in control of when he's on the show and when I'm talking about him or our family so we were able to remain as private as we wanted so it's been a perfect fit. I know when I started my blog, a piece of advice someone gave me was, "Make sure you're only telling your story, and not your husband's or anyone else's," and I keep that in mind because I think it's important.

What can we expect on the new episodes of Hockey Wives?

For me it's a lot of baby preparations and baby showers, and just celebrating the fact that we're having the baby. I'm really looking forward to it because I think it's a really special time that the cameras were able to capture and probably some episodes that later in life I'll look back at. 

Because my blog is called This Mom Loves, I always ask my interviewees how they would finish the sentence "This mom loves..." in your case it's "This mom-to-be loves"! What are some of your favourite things - products, places, foods, activities, anything?

Okay, where do I start? I love eating, as you know. Matcha tea lattes are my number one, every day. I like spending time with family, I love my quiet times in the morning - which I'm scared are going to go away! - and I love the outdoors, the sunshine. Love it, love it!

*******

You can catch new episodes of Hockey Wives on W Network starting March 16th, and find Angela on her blog, Twitter and Instagram.

P.S. Angela and Carey are involved in several charitable initiatives, and as a teacher - and Habs fan - I just had to finish off with this fun photo from Angela's Instagram.

Had a pretty sweet set up today while reading to some kiddos for @englishmtl literacy event.

A photo posted by Angela Price (@byangelaprice) on Jan 22, 2016 at 11:39am PST

What Are You Feeding Your Skin? Advice + Common Food/Skin Myths Debunked!

My regular readers know that skin is my "thing". I've never had to worry too much about my weight, I don't stress about hair, and I've had few post-braces concerns about my teeth. My skin, though, has always been my issue. 

That's why I was fascinated when this information popped up in my inbox from Skintology Skin and Laser Center in Manhattan. (www.skintologyny.com) While I know I won't be making it to New York City any time soon, I can still take advantage of the professional expertise! I think there is a lot of misinformation out there about the connections between food intake and skin condition, and I appreciate having some of the most common myths debunked here as well. Read on for better skin!

**********

Want truly fabulous skin -- glowing, vibrant, and younger looking skin? Make sure you're putting foods for healthy skin on your plate. "Everything you eat becomes a part of not only your inner being, but the outer fabric of your body as well. The healthier the foods are that you consume, the better your skin will look," says Rachel Sharoff, a licensed aesthetician at Skintology Skin and Laser Center in Manhattan.  The reverse is true as well. The less attention we pay to what goes in our mouth, the more problems we may see cropping up with our skin. "You could have sallow, dry and older-looking skin. It's not going to happen overnight, but starve your skin long enough, and it's going to show," says Rachel Sharoff. What's more, some health experts believe that when your diet is missing certain foods for healthy skin, other, even more serious skin problems can result.  Sharoff points out that, “a number of conditions, such as acne, can cause you to suddenly break out. And some chronic skin conditions, such as eczema, may be linked to diet.”

Berries

Strawberries, blueberries and blackberries pack high amounts of antioxidants. Antioxidants help block "free radicals," such as the sun's rays, from damaging skin cells. But don't toss your sunscreen. Eating berries is an extra step you can take to help protect your skin from damage and prevent premature aging. "Free radicals; like the kind formed from sun exposure damage the membrane of skin cells, potentially allowing damage to the DNA of that cell," says Rachel. The antioxidants and other phytochemicals in these fruits can protect the cell, so there is less chance for damage.” When you help protect the cells from damage and disintegration, you also guard against premature aging. In this respect, these fruits may very well help keep your skin younger looking longer," says Rachel.

Sweet Potatoes

Vegetables such as sweet potatoes contain beta-carotene and vitamins A and C — a good formula for beautiful skin. These nutrients can help retain skin moisture and prevent dryness.

Low-Fat Dairy

One the most important components of skin health is vitamin A. One of the best places to get it is low-fat dairy products. In fact, experts say that the health of our skin cells is dependent on dietary vitamin A.  “The A in dairy products is true A, so everyone's skin can use it,” says Rachel Sharoff. She adds, “low-fat yogurt is not only high in vitamin A, but also acidophilus, the "live" bacteria that is good for intestinal health. It may also have an impact on the skin. Anything that helps keep digestion normal, any live bacteria or enzymes, is also going to be reflected in healthy-looking skin.”

Salmon, Walnuts, Canola Oil, and Flax Seed

These seemingly unrelated foods all deliver essential fatty acids, and thus are key foods for healthy skin. Essential fatty acids are responsible for healthy cell membranes, which is not only what act as barriers to harmful things but also as the passageway for nutrients to cross in and out and for waste products to get in and out of the cell. Rachel Sharoff explains that, “Because it is the cell membrane that also holds water in, the stronger that barrier is the better your cells can hold moisture. And that means plumper, younger looking skin.” The same inflammatory process that can harm our arteries and cause heart disease can harm skin cells. Essential fatty acids can offer protection to both. The best-known essential fatty acids are omega 3 and omega 6, which must be in balance for good health (and good skin). Though we all seem to get enough omega 6, Stuart says many people lack omega 3s. Fish, walnut, and flax seed oil are among the best sources.

Oils

Oils can give your skin much needed moisture. Just make sure you're using healthy oils, such as olive oil. Adding just 2 tablespoons a day to your diet will help keep your skin properly lubricated and healthy.

Whole Grains

The mineral selenium is an antioxidant found in whole-grain products. Selenium can help control cell damage that can lead to skin cancer. Filling up on whole grains will help you avoid refined white flour and starchy foods that can increase your insulin levels. High insulin levels can induce inflammation and irritate your skin.

Green Tea

This beverage deserves its own category in any article about foods for healthy skin. The skin-health properties in this beneficial drink just can't be beat. "It has anti-inflammatory properties, and it's protective to the cell membrane. It may even help prevent or reduce the risk of skin cancer," says Rachel Sharoff. Indeed, a study published recently in the Archives of Dermatology shows that whether taken orally or applied to the skin, green tea can reduce the risk of damage from ultraviolet light (such as the burning rays of the sun), and thus reduce the risk of skin cancer.

Water

While the exact amount you should drink each day varies, no one disputes the role good hydration plays in keeping skin looking healthy and even young. When that hydration comes from pure, clean water; not liquids such as soda or even soup, experts say skin cells rejoice. "It is my belief that our skin needs at least eight glasses every day," says Rachel Sharoff. In addition to keeping cells hydrated, water helps cells move nutrients in and toxins out, which Rachel Sharoff says automatically leaves skin looking better. She adds that, “when we're properly hydrated, we also sweat more efficiently.”

SOME COMMON MYTHS DEBUNKED

Chocolate Causes Acne

Fried foods don’t, either. There is no little pipeline that carries oil from your intestines to your skin. Oily foods have nothing to do with the skin’s oiliness, and oil isn’t the cause of acne, anyway. Acne occurs when testosterone and other hormones stimulate the growth of skin over pores so that the oil, sebum, that keeps the skin flexible and wrinkle-free, gets trapped inside. When bacteria degrade this oil, then there can be whiteheads, blackheads, and various kinds of inflammation.

Junk Food and Dark Colas Cause Acne

Experts agree that there is no evidence to support the claim that gorging on pizza and Coke leads to acne. However, if you notice that your acne flare up significantly after consuming certain foods or beverages, eliminate those items and watch your skin. You may have stumbled in your own free brand of treatment.

Vitamin A Prevents Acne

The Truth - Vitamin A is an important part of skin health. Basically, if you don’t have enough Vitamin A in your system, your sebaceous glands produce excess lipids, causing pimples, but if you have too much vitamin A, while your pimples might not be the issue, other parts of your body, like your liver, may be negatively affected. The optimal daily intake with food and supplementation is about 15,000 IU.

ABOUT SKINTOLOGY

Skintology Skin and Laser Center is an all-inclusive destination for all your beauty needs. Whether it’s laser hair removal, Botox injections or a hydrating facial, our trusted staff is dedicated to making your experience comfortable and pleasant. We offer customized treatments that are specifically designed for your skin type. Patient satisfaction is our top priority and we design treatments to produce the best results possible. Experienced Cosmetic Surgeons and Laser Technicians utilize the most advanced FDA approved laser technologies from renowned companies such as Cynosure, Candela, Lumenis, and Deka, to provide the most effective and safe treatments.

Kate's Favourite Things - March 2016

My favourites for this month include a LOT of books...and I always love to hear whether or not you agree with my assessments, and what other titles you may recommend!

BOOKS

Pretty Happy by Kate Hudson (received free review copy)

I'm a sucker for a celebrity book, and I was excited to get my hands on this one. Divided into four sections (Cultivate an Intuitive Relationship with Your Body, Eat Well, Awaken Your Body and The Miracle of Mindfulness), the book is a positive, encouraging health and fitness manual. Now despite Hudson's protests (at one point she actually writes, "This isn't new agey!"), the book feels very much so to me.

Hudson says she wrote this book because she was tired of hearing sound-bytes taken out of context from her interviews referring to her health habits: "Kate Hudson goes vegan" or "Kate Hudson works out three hours a day". Pretty Happy tries to set the record straight.

What I love about this book is that Hudson is extremely open and honest when it comes to the topics at hand (no celebrity tell-alls, or anything about work or relationships; she stays strictly on message), and admits that she's just sharing her own research and experience - no pretense of professional expertise.

There are several interactive workbook type components (quizzes, blank lines for answering prompts), and Hudson refers back frequently to her/the reader's "Drawing Board" - which can be anything from a traditional vision board to a list in a smartphone app.

For me, I was more interested in learning about Hudson than actually getting nutritional advice - My diet is not the most nutritionally balanced and I acknowledge that, okay? - and she lost me as soon as she suggested cleanses that involve eliminating gluten dairy and sugar. Readers out there who are passionate about healthy eating and exercise and always looking for new ideas will absolutely love the book.

If not - it's worth it just for all of the beautiful colour photography.

The Productivity Project by Chris Bailey

As seen on The Social, I picked up this book, quite truthfully, to feed into my productivity obsession. (My husband: "Uh, shouldn't you be looking for a book about how not to want to be productive?")

Filled with research, especially based on the author's own project (subtitle: "Accomplishing More by Managing Your Time, Attention and Energy"). One area where we totally agree: being as productive as possible with your time doesn't exclude relaxation and fun. In fact, I believe that by being as efficient as possible with certain pockets of my day, I actually earn myself more time to sit on the couch in front of the TV with a book (or take a bath with a book, a runner up for my favourite way to unwind).If you want to get more done, check it out.

For the Love by Jen Hatmaker

My mom shared this one with me because she knows my taste so well. Hatmaker, who is among other things a mom of five and a pastor's wife, is hilarious...which might surprise you since this book of essays is heavy on Christianity (you caught the pastor's wife part, right?). Her chapters about media and marriage ("Marriage is completely beautiful and sometimes not so much...") were particularly striking to me, as well as some of her insights about the church: "Young adults are abandoning church, so we can either listen carefully or watch their backs as they go."

I actually read a passage to my daughters from her "Dear Kids" chapter, and a quick skim of copyright assures me that I am breaking no laws by sharing this much with you:

"Some of your classmates barely get out the door every day. You see them. They are picked on or mocked or completely ignored, as if they don't even matter. They pretend they don't care or can't hear but you know they do...First, I hope you see them. This is harder than it sounds; you have to learn to see hurt people, because they figure out how to act invisible...My dream is that you see hurting kids and do the simple brave work of kindness. This isn't fancy at all. It sounds like: Do you want to sit with us? or I really like your outfit or What's up, man? or What are you reading? It doesn't seem like much, maybe, but if it's the only kind word they've heard all day, it can literally give them strength to go on."

With passages like that, I know Hatmaker is a mom and wife whose advice I want to take, and I will be looking for her other books ASAP.

The Children Act by Ian McEwan

In the midst of a marital crisis, High Court Judge Fiona Maye must decide whether a seventeen year old leukemia patient (also a Jehovah's Witness) should legally be able to refuse the blood transfusions that will save his life. Heavy, obviously, and fascinating.

The Expatriates by Janice Y.K. Lee

This month's The Social Chapter pick, I really enjoyed this novel about the converging stories of three different American women living in Hong Kong. Warning: there is a child disappearance, which kept me from sleeping the night I read it, but I was fascinated to learn about the life of expatriates in Hong Kong - a topic I knew nothing about before.

Spark Joy: an illustrated master class on the art of organizing and tidying up by Marie Kondo

Companion to the #1 New York Times best-selling The Life-changing Magic of Tidying Up

While I disagree that rolling my socks into balls is cruel to them, and talk of the gods of tidying doesn't exactly fit with my faith, this was one of the best books I've read in a long time. However, that doesn't mean you will agree! When I showed the book on Facebook one friend commented that I don't need it (though I have to say I definitely learned a few tricks and was inspired to clean out my kitchen cupboards and organize the spice drawer the night I finished it) but really it just makes me irrationally happy to "spend time" with someone (Kondo) who sees things about clutter the way I do. And I also agree with her that once you've done a marathon tidy it really isn't as hard as you might think to keep things that way...and it will bring you so much joy! (I may have missed my calling as a professional organizer. If I didn't already have three jobs I might have to consider adding that on the side.)


MOVIES

Clearly this month was more about reading, but I did enjoy...

How To Be Single

Even a smug married like myself could enjoy the humour (I mean, Rebel Wilson!) and (spoiler alert) a happy ending for a woman doesn't have to involve a man.