5 Tips To Start Your Child Reading

You know I love a good guest post, and as a parent and kindergarten teacher I thought this topic, from these two authors, was very appropriate!

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5 Tips to Start Your Child Reading

By Michelle MacRoy-Higgins, PhD, and Carlyn Kolker

As children approach their school years, parent begin to wonder how their child is going to learn to read. When will that golden moment happen? But did you know that your child is soaking up the basics of reading long before he or she begins any formal reading instruction? That means that you have lots of opportunities to introduce early literacy skills and instill a love of reading in your child even before she trots off to full-time elementary school. 

In Time to Talk: What You Need to Know About Your Child’s Speech and Language Development, parents learn about fostering oral communication skills in toddlers and pre-schoolers that can help lead to better literacy skills when their child learns to read. A good way to start introducing those early reading skills is simply by talking to your child about the written and spoken words all around you.

Like many parenting activities, you'll see the most success if you have some tricks up your sleeve: If you want your little reader to become interested in words and letters, you may have to work your magic on the sly. Think of these tricks as the reading equivalent of sneaking vegetables into your child's pasta sauce.

Use these child-friendly tips to encourage early literacy once your youngster reaches age 3 or 4:

1. Pick a "word of the day" with your child. Talk about that word a lot, and point it out in written language. Choose a short, simple word -- preferably something that occurs or appears a lot in your everyday life, like "mom" or "dad," "dog" or "cat," "car" or "bike," and "sun" or "moon." Talk about the first letter of that word. Say that sound a lot. Talk about how many letters the word has. Write the word down for your child, find a the word in a book, and look for all the occurrences you can find of the word.

2. Create rhyming words with your word of the day. Rhyming is a great way to familiarize your child with the different sounds that words and syllables make. (Cat rhymes with hat, bat, mat...) If your child helps you find words that rhyme with your word of the day, you'll be practicing early literacy skills. You can make this silly and fun -- and, of course, your child may never know he's actually learning something along the way.

3. Cook and read the recipes with your child. Most recipes, whether on a cake-mix box or in a book or online, use pictures with the text to show the steps involved. That means your child can start to figure out how the pictures help represent the words, and can often report to you how the steps should go -- something along the lines of, "Crack the egg in the bowl now, Mama."

4. Read signs with your child. Point out Stop signs and explain what they tell drivers to do. Ask your child to find Stop signs when you're out driving. Exit signs on highways are another common sign that he can look out for. Spell the words on the sign whenever he finds them.

5. Talk about the first letter of your child's name. Find words that start with that letter. If your daughter's names starts with a "C," point out words that also start with the letter -- "cars," "cats," "cookies," and so on. If your son's first name starts with a "Z," he'll know he's special when you visit the "zoo" and find the "zebra." Talking about the first letter of childrens' names always captures their attention. Ask them to look for the letter everywhere they go.

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Dr. Michelle MacRoy-Higgins and Carlyn Kolker are co-authors of the new book, Time to Talk: What You Need to Know About Your Child's Speech and Language Development (Amacom 2017). Dr. MacRoy-Higgins is an associate professor in the Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology at Hunter College in New York City. She has a BS and MS in speech-language pathology and a Ph.D. in speech-language-hearing sciences. She has her Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), is licensed in New York State as a speech-language pathologist, and has worked as a classroom teacher. Dr. Michelle has evaluated and worked with hundreds of children ages 6 months to 10 years with their speech and language issues. Carlyn Kolker is a freelance writer and former reporter for Bloomberg News and Reuters. Learn more atwww.timetotalkbook.com or on Twitter at @time2talkbook.

Kate's Favourite Things - March 2017

My top picks of the month:

BOOKS

The Best Kind of People by Zoe Whittall

Canadian writer Whittall tells the story of a family impacted by an accusation of sexual assault. (Note that the experiences are more about the effects on the family members than they are about the alleged crimes.)

Scrappy Little Nobody by Anna Kendrick

With lots of Hollywood-insider bits tempered by self-deprecation, this was a great read - and the girl is pretty funny.

Swimming Lessons by Claire Fuller

From the publisher: "In this spine-tingling tale Ingrid Coleman writes letters to her husband, Gil, about the truth of their marriage, but she never sends them. Instead she hides them within the thousands of books her husband has collected. After she writes her final letter, Ingrid disappears.

Twelve years later, her adult daughter, Flora comes home to look after her injured father. Secretly, Flora has never believed her mother is dead, and she starts asking questions, without realizing that the answers she’s looking for are hidden in the books that surround her."

MOVIE

A Dog's Purpose

The girls really liked this movie (though we all cried a lot!) and were particularly impressed that years ago I was in a play in Peterborough with Gabrielle Rose, who has a small role in the film. It also sparked a great conversation because after the movie (the premise of which is that a dog is reincarnated many times over) one of my daughters said, "I don't want to come back in another life!" and I explained to her that we (as Catholics) actually don't believe that we do. Entertainment and a religion lesson all in one!

TV

We caught up on Homeland on Netflix (now anxiously awaiting new seasons) and I'm three quarters through Suits, which I am still loving! Now what should I watch next?!

Kate's Favourite Things - February 2017

January was a busy month around here but I have four great titles to recommend today!

What She Knew by Gilly MacMillan

This was one of the best books I've read in a long time, in my favourite suspense/thriller genre. A missing boy, a frantic mother and a multitude of suspects. Excellent read.

The Perfect Girl by Gilly MacMillan

Because once I discover a great writer, I have to read another one of her books! I had no idea who the murderer really was in this multiple-perspectives novel. Random point: I noted with interest that the British author used the word "posh" twice in a less than flattering context, making me question whether or not I chose to identify with the right Spice Girl in my childhood. In my defense, she seems to have done well for herself. (And I am not spicy, sporty, scary or a baby so my options were limited.)

Faithful by Alice Hoffman

Responsible for a tragedy, Shelby Richmond's life is changed forever. This is the story of how she (eventually) tries to get it back. While I won't tell you which character is being referred to in the following quote, I will tell you that it made me close my book and have a little cry - as a daughter and as a mother - before resuming my read:

"She doesn't have a mother anymore. There's no one to whom she's the most important person in the world."

When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi

This autobiography of a neurosurgeon's battle with lung cancer was on almost every must-read list last year and I finally got around to it. I wasn't disappointed.

(Please note that I am a Chapters Indigo Affiliate and receive a small fee for sales made through links on my site.)

My Picks for the Top Books of 2016

I've pored over all of the 2016 editions of Kate's Favourite Things and compiled my edited list of the best books I read last year.

A few notes before we get to it:

• While most of these books were published in 2016, there may be a few published earlier, and I just happened to read them last year.
• I'm no highbrow book critic, I'm a pop culture gal. Keep that in mind.
• This Mom Loves is now an affiliate partner with Chapters Indigo, so if you click on a link and make a purchase, a small portion of the price goes to this blog. If you're buying anything at all from Chapters Indigo, you can also use the link at the bottom of the post to support TML as well. Thanks!

FICTION (heavy on psychological thrillers, but some exceptions*)

The Expatriates by Janice Y. K. Lee*

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce* 

Sushi For Beginners by Marian Keyes*

The Choices We Make by Karma Brown*

The Wonder by Emma Donoghue*

After You by JoJo Moyes*

Still Mine by Amy Stuart

Don't You Cry by Mary Kubica

The Other Widow by Susan Crawford

I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh

All Is Not Forgotten by Wendy Walker

The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena

NONFICTION

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo

Spark Joy by Marie Kondo

Where the Light Gets In by Kimberly Williams-Paisley

The Happiness Equation by Neil Pasricha

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Have you read any of these books? Which were your favourites? What am I missing on the list? I'd love to hear from you!

Kate's Favourite Things - January 2017

Blogging news: the books in my "Favourite Things" posts will now feature affiliate links. For those who don't speak "blogger", that means that if you click on the link and end up purchasing the book from Chapters Indigo, a very small portion of the sales will be given to This Mom Loves (this also applies if you click on one of the Chapters Indigo ads in my sidebar and make any purchase at all). If you're going to buy one of my recos, or anything else, from Chapters Indigo, I'd greatly appreciate if you could click through here first. If you love my recommendations, please help keep This Mom Loves up and running! Thank you very much!

BOOKS

All the Missing Girls by Megan Miranda

A great psychological thriller, this story is actually told in reverse (Day 6, Day 5, etc.) leading up to the end...or the beginning? Two women disappear a decade apart, and there are strong reasons to believe that the disappearances are connected. I didn't become completely comfortable with the format, but the story itself was very gripping, and I definitely recommend this book.

Born a Crime by Trevor Noah

Be forewarned: this is not the smart, political comedy that you're used to from the host of The Daily Show. Instead Noah goes way back to share the story of his childhood in South Africa (with touches of humour thrown in, of course). I read most of this book sitting in the ER, and learning about what life was like for a mixed race boy growing up as apartheid ended (he was literally born a crime - it was illegal for a white person and black person to have a child together) really helped keep my minor medical issues in perspective. Noah is a great storyteller, and I have my fingers crossed for a "Coming to America" sequel.

I See You by Clare Mackintosh

I recently recommended Mackintosh's I Let You Go, and her new novel, where normal women face danger after unknowingly appearing in classified ads - did not disappoint. Throughout the first few chapters I was impatient to get to know the characters and see how everything was connecting, but once the story got rolling it was very compelling...let me know if you correctly guess whodunnit before the end!

MOVIES

Collateral Beauty

This tear-jerking drama has an all-star cast including Will Smith, Edward Norton, Kate Winslet, Helen Mirren, Naomie Harris and Keira Knightley. Smith's character deals with the death of a child by writing letters to Time, Death and Love...who then come visiting in human form. I loved this movie, and the gentle twists and turns within. It might be what you expect, and it might not.

Sing

There's another all-star cast in this animated film (Matthew McConnaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Seth MacFarlane, John C. Reilly, Scarlett Johansson, the list goes on) about a koala bear hoping to save his theatre by staging a singing competition. After the movie ended, 10-year-old Liv turned to me and said, "I think the main idea of the movie was perseverance," which is not only true, but a great message to share with kids. And the popular music selections are fun for children and adults alike! A great family movie.

Sully

This film is now available to rent, and I really enjoyed it. It's the true story of Captain Chesley Sullenberger (portrayed by a white-haired Tom Hanks) and his emergency plane landing in New York's Hudson River after a bird strike takes out the plane's engines. (During the landing scene, my sweet husband turned to me and asked, "When are you flying to London again?" Such a comedian.) All 155 passengers and crew survive (which shouldn't be a spoiler if you were following the news in 2009) and Sully is hailed as a hero, yet the his actions are heavily questioned, which forms the basis of the movie. I always wonder how much truth is in "true story" movies like this one - did Sully really have a fortune-cookie fortune in his wallet saying, "A delay is better than a disaster"?

Star Wars Rogue One

I'm not a die-hard Star Wars fan, but my girls love the franchise so we took them to see this film. I'm pretty sure no one needs my recommendation - if you're into the movies you've already seen it - but I do want to mention that I found the last scene very meaningful. If you're seen it, you know what I mean.

How Families Can Give Back This Holiday Season: Special Guest Post by Clare Morneau

A passionate advocate for girls’ education and refugee issues, Clare Morneau is a 17-year-old author and speaker who lives in Toronto with her father, Canada’s Finance Minister, Bill Morneau, mother, Nancy McCain, and siblings Henry, Edward and Grace Acan, who joined the family in 2010 from northern Uganda. Clare is compassionate, driven and committed to working for real change. As a student at Havergal College, she founded the Kakuma Toronto Girls Education Partnership. In the fall of 2016, she released her first book, Kakuma Girls (named one of "Heather's Picks" at Chapters Indigo shortly after its launch). She completed a four-week internship at the Global Humanitarian Lab, a partner organization of the United Nations, in the summer of 2016 and has been named a Global Humanitarian Lab Youth Ambassador by the organization.

I'm thrilled to have Clare as a special guest blogger today, sharing ways families can give back over the holiday season.

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I’m Clare Morneau, and I’m the author of Kakuma Girls, a book about refugee girls in Kakuma Refugee Camp in northwest Kenya. My book is about the challenges young refugees, particularly girls, face when attempting to get an education in refugee camps. More than that though, it’s about how we can mobilize youth to be engaged in our efforts to help refugees.

The story about how I got involved with these girls is rooted in friendship. It’s also about helping young Canadians understand the enormous gulf between our experiences and those less fortunate, and how a small local effort has the potential to lead to a great solution to a global issue.

There are so many amazing ways we can all give back over the holiday season through random acts of kindness rather than just by buying more things. Here are 5 ideas I love:

1. Buy a book for someone in your community – books change lives. I’ve always been inspired by the power of books. Everyone should have access to books and the right to read and learn. You can’t give a more impactful gift than the gift of education.

2. Donate to your local clothing drive. Clothing is a fundamental need, but for many, it’s also transformational. One of my favourite clothing donation programs is Dress for Success; an organization that promotes the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire. Another great option is New Circles, a not-for-profit organization based in Toronto that gives local families and newcomers to Canada the clothing they need. With another cold Canadian winter approaching, it’s a great idea to donate your or your kids’ gently used winter clothing.

3. Bring school supplies to donate to the kids in the regions you’re visiting over the holidays. We are so lucky here to have access to new pens, binders, and notepads for every new school year. So many kids worldwide don’t have this luxury and it has a negative impact on their motivation to thrive at school. Popular holiday destinations like Mexico, Dominican Republic, and Cuba are examples of countries where kids are living in poverty. If you’re visiting these areas over the holidays, bring an extra bag of school supplies to leave with these children! It’s a small thing to do, and it will make such an enormous difference in their lives.

Photo: Storey Wilkins

4. Share a holiday meal with a new Canadian and/or a refugee. There are many new immigrants and refugees spending their first holiday season in Canada this year. It’s a huge blessing for them to be here, and also, a daunting reality since for many, they won’t be with their loved ones. Sharing a meal together will be an incredibly humbling and rewarding experience for them and you.

5. Sponsor a meal at a soup kitchen. If you’re based in Toronto, the Muslim Welfare Centre hosts a series of meals around the GTA, helping Torontonians get warm meals.

We all have the means to make a real difference in someone’s life. Whether your efforts are global or local, they matter.

Happy holidays! 

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Thank you, Clare! You can find Clare's book Kakuma Girls on Indigo and Amazon.

Follow Clare on Twitter @KakumaGirls and Instagram @Kakuma_Girls.

Kate's Favourite Things - December 2016

Here's a list of my latest recos!

MOVIES

The Girl on the Train - I know not everyone agrees, but I thought the movie really did justice to the book, and Emily Blunt was fantastic.

Love Actually - I realize this isn't a new one, but it was new to me! (Don't ask me how I missed a romantic comedy in the last 20 years - this one's from 2003 - but somehow it happened.) Just days after Lainey Lui mentioned on The Social how this movie always gets her into the Christmas spirit, I was thrilled to see it pop up on TV...and I loved it.

Allied - Starring Brad Pitt and Marion Cotillard, this is an excellent WWII love story/drama with a twist: is Cotillard's character really a German spy? If you're anything like me, you'll also appreciate the smattering of Canadian references - Pitt's character is from Canada, and when he attempts a Parisian accent he is nicknamed "Quebecois"; Medicine Hat also plays a role. I recommend it even if you haven't saved up M and M bags for free movie tickets!


BOOKS

The Wonder by Emma Donoghue - This book (from the author of Room) is about a nurse who comes to Ireland to supervise a supposed miracle: a young girl who is surviving without eating. It's a fascinating read, though I always have to remember not to take offense on behalf of the Catholic Church to every fictional (or perhaps semi-fictional) insult.

Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult -  Picoult's latest is about a black maternity nurse faced with a dilemma: does she take action to save a white baby after being ordered not to touch him?

I am so saddened when I read about racism (even fictional) as well as shocked, while I know I shouldn't be. I keep up with the news and I like to think I'm pretty well-read, but I don't want to believe that there are still parents raising their children to hate like this. Even though I grew up in possibly one of the whitest places ever (and moved to another one - I'm guessing a diverse population hasn't yet been drawn to our Irish-Catholic farming communities) I never heard a racist word from one of my parents.

Years ago when walking our girls to the Centre Island ferry, one asked, "Mommy, are a lot of these people not from here?" which certainly sparked a conversation, but I'd like to think that my children see past colour when looking for the beauty and value in the people around them.

I don't have a thick enough skin (sorry, best expression I could come up with) to take on any further racial commentary right now, but I was also not surprised to learn that Picoult (who is white) has been criticized for attempting to take on the first-person story of a black character, something she actually addresses in a separate section of the book.

Babushka: A Christmas Tale by Dawn Casey - If you're looking to add a new title to your Christmas collection, this lovely traditional Russian tale helps us all remember the meaning of the season. We've been working on "favourite parts" in the kindergarten class, and here were a few of their responses to this book:

"The picture with the cat because it was so detailed"
"The dream because Mary and Jesus were in it"
"The part where the boy didn't catch any fish because then he got food"
"The part where it said 'KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK' because it was exciting"

Bridget Jones's Baby by Helen Fielding - A companion to the movie (written after Fielding worked on the script to the third film), this book is as light and fun as you would expect - a worthwhile visit with an old friend. Be forewarned though - there is a one huge plot difference (which I won't spoil for you right now).

The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena - this is incredible work for Lapena's suspense debut. I could hardly put it down, and the twists kept on coming right to the end.

Unstuffed: Decluttering Your Home, Mind and Soul by Ruth Soukup - if you look up the definition of "preaching to the choir", you will see a picture of me reading this book. Basically, it affirmed much of what I already know and believe...but if you're looking for a decluttering jumpstart, this one's for you!

If my Christmas wishes come true, I'll have lots of time over the holidays for some more great books and movies, and I'll have a full update next month!

The Perfect Guide For Women's Health and Happiness - From a Woman Whose Wake-Up Call Changed It All

I'm all about women helping other women. (Or, really, people helping other people...but sometimes women need it more.) Paying it forward is essential: I love to answer questions from new bloggers or or aspiring TV guests, I support teacher candidates from faculties of education every year, and I'm happy to offer some words of wisdom or just a listening ear to new moms.

Sometimes, though, it's also important to pay it back.

The author of today's guest post - and a brand-new, possibly life-saving book for women - once helped pull me up. Years ago, as the Executive Editor of Today's Parent magazine, Kerrie Lee Brown was one of the very first big-magazine editors to give me a personal reply to a pitch (not a generic 'no thanks'), and words of encouragement. The first post I sent her wasn't a fit (and she told me why; they had covered something similar in the recent past), the second one almost made it but was eventually passed over due to space restrictions...but the third time was a charm, and she forwarded my query to a colleague who ended up accepting and then editing my first of many pieces for the magazine.

For that, I will always be grateful to Kerrie Lee Brown. Here is her story.

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What happens when your life seems perfect—a loving family, healthy kids, and an impressive career—and all of a sudden something stops you in your tracks?

This is exactly what happened to me when I ignored some serious warning signs and ended up having a heart attack at age 39. I was not your typical cardiac patient either—physically fit, non-smoker, and no immediate family known to have heart disease.

My unexpected wake-up call changed everything including my perspective on what I was doing and how I was doing it. As a working mom, in the media no less, I never thought something like this would happen to me. But it did. And now I share my story with other women, moms in particular, about what can happen if you don’t take time for yourself once in a while.

In my new book “My Heart, My Self – A Guide For Women Who Do Too Much” I dig deep and reveal my vulnerabilities—which is something a lot of us women shy away from because we are supposed to “have it all together.” I didn’t listen to my body and felt I needed to do everything for everyone, all the time, forgetting about my needs—until my body finally told me it needed to slow down, or it would shut down for good.

But who had time for a heart attack? I have two active boys who needed to get to hockey practice… so needless to say I didn’t go to the hospital. And that was my first mistake. I was lucky, and ended up having surgery to fix my electrical heart problem, but I learned a valuable lesson.

I learned the harsh reality that keeping all balls in the air is not always what it’s cracked up to be. My goal now is to educate women and help them realize that no one is exempt from health issues. I am living proof that life can catch up with you if you don’t take time for yourself.

My book also includes “10 Signs You Need To Slow Down” which I feel is essential to leading a stress-free life—and enjoy unique Brain Break exercises to help you reflect on your own daily stressors, and practical tips to help real women, just like you, take time from your busy schedule to focus on your health needs. Even when they may not be so obvious…

After all, kids need a healthy mom. Bosses need healthy employees. Partners need healthy partners. You get the picture.

My Heart, My Self will help you:

·         Learn to slow down (what all women need—especially moms!)

·         Tackle the guilt factor and never-ending desire to appear okay

·         Recognize daily stressors that hinder achieving optimal health

·         Accept the things you cannot control

·         Listen to your body and change your lifestyle

·         Realize you don't have to do it all...all of the time!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Kerrie Lee Brown has a passion for health and wellness that spans over two decades. Her unique experience and perspective on the demands women put on themselves has positioned Kerrie as an expert on maintaining a healthy, balanced lifestyle. Besides writing for various mainstream publications including Chatelaine, Glow, Best Health, Women’s Running etc. she has appeared on numerous television and radio shows as a health expert. Kerrie is best known for her roles as editor-in-chief of Oxygen Women’s Fitness, founding editor of American Health and Fitness, and executive editor at Today’s Parent magazine. For more, visit www.kerrieleebrown.com

CONTACT INFO:

The much-anticipated book, My Heart, My Self, is available on Amazon in eight countries and Createspace.com. For more information visit http://www.kerrieleebrown.com/books.html

Editor’s Note: With incredible insight and real-life testimony from international journalist, motivational speaker and women’s health advocate, Kerrie Lee Brown—My Heart, My Self will help any woman realize that she too may be at risk if she doesn’t slow down. Go out and buy your copy today!

Kate's Favourite Things - October 2016

The reason you haven't heard from me much this month is of course because my new favourite thing is....

Our Kindergarten Classroom

The start of the school year is always a whirlwind, and the switch to kindergarten has added in a huge learning curve for me, but I think we're finding our groove! A couple of little highlights:

The interactive word wall. The kids and their families sent in pictures to go with their assigned letters, and it really helped give them ownership and add to the enthusiasm for the wall. It will just be used for names and age-appropriate sight words, but I still think a word wall is important for the classroom. It has already been rearranged since this picture was taken, as we have seven "K" names in the class and needed to adapt the space!

Our new classroom carpet. The saga of ordering and waiting for this piece of beauty is a story in itself, but long story short: we now have a wonderful spot where each of our 29 students can have their own space when we gather, and a soft, cozy place to sit and play for all of our open blocks of the day.

Cross Country

We have lots of staff members at our school willing to pitch in, so my big coaching commitment begins and ends in the fall with Cross Country. This year our 90-member team once again achieved amazing results, and my girls' hard work paid off as well, with Liv bringing home gold and Eva bronze. I'm so proud of everyone, not for running ability (though that helps) but for their determination and their sportsmanship.

Fall Decorating

If you know me, you know I love the heat, and I'm always sad to see summer go. However, I do get excited about seasonal decorations, and being at my mom's house last week really got me inspired. Here's a selection of her festive touches.

Great Kids' Book

I was sent a copy of The STEM Club Goes Exploring (from the My Future Story series) for review, and it's fantastic. While it's picture-book style, there's a lot of rich text on each page, so it's not a read-aloud, but instead a fun way for growing kids (I'd say 8+) to explore different career possibilities. Diverse boys and girls are represented in the detailed illustrations, and the book offers a great age-appropriate overview of the huge range of amazing options for kids who love STEM (science, technology, engineering and math). We know that girls may need added encouragement to pursue their passions in these areas, so it would be a great gift for a little lady in your life - or a little gentleman, of course!

Entertainment

If you're usually drawn to these posts for my book and movie recos, I'm sorry to disappoint you! I don't have one non-professional grownup book to recommend this month (I tried and abandoned a couple of works of fiction), but I did see one great movie: Bridget Jones's Baby. I learned, from my fellow movie-goers, that not everyone is a Mark Darcy fan (what is wrong with you people?) and believe it or not the fact that 2016 Renee Zellweger doesn't look identical to 2004 Renee Zellweger (from the last Bridget movie) did not ruin the film for me. If you haven't read her Huffington Post piece, you must.

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Just a final note that when life doesn't leave time for full blog posts, I do a lot of micro-blogging on social media, so if you want to be sure to get all my updates, I'd love for you to follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. I also do a lot of flash giveaways and you have to follow to enter and win! Thanks!

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!

Kate's Favourite Things - August 2016

I've really appreciated the downtime in the last month, and I hope you enjoy these recos as much as I did!

By the way, if you do appreciate my suggestions - especially books - please consider following me on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter, as I share reading material as I go...and you won't have to wait for the next month to get the list! Thanks!

BOOKS

The Weekenders by Mary Kay Andrews - a fun summer read

Angelina: An Unauthorized Biography by Andrew Morton - this one was recommended by Melissa Grelo recently, and I really learned a lot about this fascinating actress

I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh - amazing suspense novel full of twists and turns. I've spent a lot of time thinking about how it could be made into a movie without giving away the surprises!

The Happiness Equation by Neil Pasricha - nonfiction by the Canadian author who wrote The Book of Awesome (and other Awesome books)

The Children by Ann Leary - fiction about a now-grown blended family dealing with their issues and secrets

All Is Not Forgotten by Wendy Walker - this is one of the best books I've read in a long time (right up there with I Let You Go, actually). It's pretty dark (dealing with the rape of a teen) with multiple points of view (as told to the narrator psychiatrist) and all sorts of twists.

MOVIES

Ghostbusters - not at all my type of movie, I went strictly for Melissa McCarthy and Kristen Wiig and really enjoyed it...and can't understand why on earth a female reboot was so controversial. (The original cast members make fun cameo appearances, too!)

Eye in the Sky - this was a rental (starring Helen Mirren and the late Alan Rickman) about a military mission, asking great questions about the value of one life.

Lots more to come next month! Enjoy!