“I Love Me”: New Children's Book is the Key to Loving Each Other!

{Book provided for review/feature consideration}

Growing up on a small family farm in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, Catherine Haala (www.catherineahaala.com) lived a simple life. Years later, she was in for quite the shock when she witnessed real poverty for the first time while working on location as a model in the Philippines. These images stayed with her.

Now, Haala is founder and president of non-profit organization The World is Our Neighborhood (TWION), through which for nearly 14 years she has teamed up with like-minded individuals to help raise the level of healthcare and provide other valuable assistance for people in countries experiencing extreme poverty. During this time, Haala was inspired to write a poem that she eventually incorporated onto the celebratory commemorative plaques given to children’s schools, hospitals and orphanages that received TWION assistance.

She expanded upon her poem to write “I Love Me,” a book geared toward children ages 4 to 7 that can benefit readers of all ages, as it joyfully and lovingly affirms the limitless gifts and magnificence we all bring into the universe.

“Self-love is the cornerstone to high self-esteem, love of others, gratitude, forgiveness and to living life to its fullest potential. If children truly love and believe in themselves, their life possibilities are limitless and their level of consciousness will positively impact the universe!” Haala said.

“I Love Me” is enchanting and beautifully illustrated with whimsical characters from around the world. Children can even personalize their own goals and gratitude pages, and see their reflection in an “I Love Me” mirror.



“I Love Me”

By Catherine Haala

Available in hardcover and e-book

Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Google Books and Balboa Press




About the author and TWION

Catherine Haala (www.catherineahaala.com) is an actress and model who is the president and founder of The World Is Our Neighborhood (TWION), a 501(c)(3) volunteer (no salaries) charity that helps to raise the level of healthcare and provides other valuable assistance for communities in need around the world, working with the poor, elderly, mentally and physically challenged. For more information about TWION, visit www.TWION.org, or see it covered in O, The Oprah Magazine. 50% of the net proceeds from the book “I Love Me” will benefit TWION.

Have a Skinny New Year Courtesy of David Kirsch!

The New Year is a time where motivation is at a high. With your resolutions set in stone, you’ve made the commitment and are ready to get started. Combined with the recipes found in his new book, Ultimate Family Wellness, David Kirsch’s 5 -5 -5™ plan can help improve one’s fitness level and shed unhealthy weight without carving out a huge amount of time to do it. So whether you want to get a head start on your New Year’s Resolution or just want to avoid the dreaded holiday bulge, get up and get moving! {Book provided for review/feature consideration}

Rose and the Wish Thing (Wunderkind Reads)

Caroline Magerl's new children's picture book, Rose and the Wish Thing, will surely strike a chord with children, parents and teachers alike. Moving to a new city or town, or any change for that matter, can be a daunting task and it's not always easy to adapt. Rose's story, coupled with beautiful illustrations, shows us that sometimes what we're looking for is right outside our own window. {Book provided for review/feature consideration}

Be Chic Literate: The Little Book of Skin Care by Charlotte Cho

Korea's "skin-first" beauty philosophy has taken the world by storm. As the co-founder of Soko Glam, a leading Korean beauty and lifestyle website, esthetician Charlotte Cho is the foremost voice on all things Korean skin care. {Product provided for review/feature consideration}

Motherland of Sam: A Hilariously Honest New Book

Sam Deane Mavis holds nothing back in her brutally honest new book Motherland of Sam: We Are All Born A**holes. The Motherland of Sam blog founder takes a unique approach to telling her story as an unconventional mother of 3, all of which are under 5 years of age, as a parent trying to find her way and submitting to the beautiful chaos that is her life. With blog titles such as "Parenting Multiple Toddlers: Someone is Always Crying," "Do You Hear The Poop Mom" and "Sibling Love: I F**king Love Him Mom" Sam's faithful fans and fellow parents are always in for a good laugh and wild ride. Her book uses the same sharp and witty sense of humor to divulge valuable life lessons that readers will absolutely fall in love with and undeniably relate to. {Book provided for review/feature consideration}

Knox Chase on the Case of the Valentine’s Day Mystery: Read the Book. Audition for the Movie. See it on the Big Screen.

Reading clubs everywhere – be on alert! Knox Chase is making his way to bookshelves and this super sleuth kid is gaining the admiration of middle school-aged kids everywhere - with the added benefit that the magical nature of these stories helps kids learn how to solve their own problems.  Knox Chase has the same attributes that make Encyclopedia Brown, Nancy Drew and Harry Potter so interesting to us all and make us want more. Even more impressive ... the book is already slated to be a movie, and the producers plan to hold a nationwide contest to search for cast members.   {Book provided for review/feature consideration}

Enter the World of Nancyland Books! (Wunderkind Reads)

Singer-songwriter and children's book author Nancy Guettier finds the inspiration in each of her adopted children to write entertaining and educational stories. Guettier has very cleverly included educational twists in each of her books, and her whimsical and fun style makes learning effortless. What's more, Nancy donates a portion of the Nancyland book proceeds to Habitat for Humanity. {Books provided for review/feature consideration}

Wunderkind Reads - The Ru-Lan Series

Ru-Lan Volume 1 - The Prince is Born {Ages 4 - 6; 48 pages; $10.95; Heritage Builders Publishing} 

Shortly after his miraculous birth, made possible with help from the phoenix, prince Ru-lan is captured by Su-ling, the evil enchantress, who plans to raise Ru-lan and use him to take over the kingdom. Several years later, the phoenix reminds the little boy of his real identity, and he escapes from Su-ling’s cottage with the help of his animal friends. Once their son is firmly ensconced in the palace, the emperor and empress undertake a daring plot to forever rid the kingdom of the threat of the evil enchantress.

The first book in the Ru-lan series depicts Ru-lan’s origin. Thrown into one adventure after another, Ru-lan demonstrates the values of compassion, empathy, loyalty and friendship even when faced with dangerous enemies intent on destroying all he holds dear. Children not only learn valuable life lessons but also are also introduced to interesting aspects of Chinese culture creating an extended learning experience. Basia Tov illustrates this first volume in the series with a beautiful touch, the images of animals and the young prince have a naive child-like feeling that is at once familiar and exotic, sure to appeal to parents and kids alike.

Ru-lan Volume 2 - Attack of The Stink Bugs {Ages 4-6; 48 pages; $10.95; Heritage Builders Publishing}

The evil enchantress Su-ling had a sister, Ya-Mei, the good enchantress. For 200 years, Su-ling had kept Ya-Mei imprisoned in the body of a caged rabbit. Ya-Mei was freed when the Emperor destroyed her evil sister, and she is very grateful. Many years before her death, Su-ling had placed a curse on the kingdom, that upon her demise, would trigger the unleashing of a swarm of highly destructive, magically enhanced stink bugs on their crops, threatening their food supply and very survival. Once this happens, Ya-Mei, seeing the desperate situation, grants Ru-lan power over insects. This power helps the young prince save the kingdom from starvation. In victory, Ru-lan shows compassion for his enemies, teaching everyone a lesson. He also meets the young, talented, precocious Cai Hua, his future wife. The illustrations by Basia Tov continue to bring the story to life with a magical sense of realism that takes its inspiration from authentic early Chinese painting.

The Ru-lan series is entertaining and a great way to expose your young ones to new and different cultures. Until next time...

What Colleges Really Want… in Essays, Apps and Interviews By Susan Ford Collins

I began my career as a researcher at the National Institutes of Health. After a year, an idea began waking me at night. What more could we learn if we started studying healthy, successful people as well as ill and dysfunctional ones? Are they using skills the rest of us are missing or misusing? Finally, after numerous restless nights, I stood up and presented my idea at one of our prestigious weekly conferences. But, instead of becoming excited, my colleagues all laughed!

Modern Girl, Trend Expert and 'Job Genius' Jane Buckingham Shares New Tips and Secrets!

The Modern Girl is back with more tips, hacks & beauty fun! From author and trend expert Jane Buckingham, (formerly of the Style channel), founder of  and newly crowned Job Genius of the new ABC Family Show “Job or No Job,” THE MODERN GIRL’S GUIDE TO LIFE  has been completely revamped for a new generation of MG’s. A lot has changed over the past decade, and leave it to Jane to keep us Modern Girls up-to-date! {Book provided for review/feature consideration}

Wunderkind Reads: Green Is Good (Liv on Life Series)

Meet the extraordinary mother-daughter team of Elizabeth Gorcey and her amazing daughter Olivia (age 8) and their highly anticipated new children's book Green Is Good where Liv and her boxer dog 'Bowie' invite us all to eat healthy and green. Green is Good is the second book in the popular Liv on Life Series, and tells the story of Liv and Bowie's first visit to a farm where she discovers that the best way to grow her favorite veggies is organically. This book is not only fun read for the kids, it also opens up a dialogue between young children and their parents on modern living, farming, healthy eating and organic food. {Book provided for review/feature consideration}

Rich Habits Rich Life: The Power of 'Me We Do Be' Habits, Rituals and Routines (Book Feature)

While the definition of success may be many things to many people, we know there is no standard 'one-size-fits-all' answer! In Dr. Randall Bell's soon-to-be-released book, Rich Habits Rich Life: The Power of 'Me We Do Be' Habits, Rituals and Routines, he reveals how he was able to identify a link between daily habits and various measures of success by analyzing the everyday habits of over 5,000 people. {Book provided for review/feature purposes}

FAT GIRL WALKING: Sex, Food, Love, and Being Comfortable in Your Skin…Every Inch of It

Brittany Gibbons’ is a popular blogger and in her memoir, FAT GIRL WALKING: Sex, Food, Love, and Being Comfortable in Your Skin…Every Inch of It (Dey Street Books, May 19, 2015), she discusses the often funny and often painful true stories of her life as an overweight girl growing up in the Midwest. {Book provided for review/feature consideration}

KETTLEBELL KICKBOXING: Every Woman¹s Guide to Getting Healthy, Sexy, and Strong

Celebrity trainer and fitness expert Dasha Libin Anderson, the founder and creator of the Kettlebell Kickboxing method, has written her first book. This must read for summer is titled KETTLEBELL KICKBOXING: Every Woman¹s Guide to Getting Healthy, Sexy, and Strong (Skyhorse Publishing; $19.99) and is out just in time to get ready for bathing suit weather! {Book provided for review/feature consideration}

Introducing The International Healthy Living Sensation: LEBOOTCAMP DIET

We can learn many things from the French: how to dress with panache, how to age well, how to be more romantic, and, maybe most importantly, how to live a healthy life while still enjoying simple pleasures (pass the chocolat, s’il vous plait!).  New York Times bestsellers such as French Women Don’t Get Fat and The Dukan Diet prove that American readers are eager to learn nutrition and fitness tips from “across the pond.”  Now comes the newest, hottest worldwide nutrition and fitness phenomenon, LeBootCamp Diet: The Scientifically-Proven French Method to Eat Well, Lose Weight and Keep it Off for Good (Berkley Hardcover; April 7, 2015; $26.95) by healthy living coach and international media sensation Valerie Orsoni.  Available for the first time in the U.S. this Spring, LeBootCamp Diet offers an appealing approach to diet and exercise that will help readers lose weight the French way—no guilt and no excuses. {Book provided for review/feature consideration}

Living Well, Spending Less

Ruth Soukup knows exactly what it is like to want what you can't afford and spend more than you have. She also knows the downward spiral of out-of-control spending and the destruction it can cause. Soukup's newest book, "Living Well, Spending Less: 12 Secrets of the Good Life," shares her personal experience and insights to help readers focus on what matters most (Zondervan, 12/30/14, $15.99, ISBN13: 9780310337676). {Book provided for review/feature consideration}

Beauty Tips at Your Fingertips: 365 Beauty & Style Tips from Parragon Books

Get glowing skin, perfect nails, tips on dressing well, and more in this guide packed with 365 beauty and style tips! Ideal for teens and tweens alike, this book unlocks a wealth of style secrets for girls! From finding the right hair color to choosing the pair of jeans that flatters you, this book of easy-to-follow tips will keep girls looking and feeling good 365 days a year. {Product provided for review/feature consideration}

Wednesday Reads (Wunderkind Edition): Bunny Loves to Write

Parragon Books' Bunny Loves to Write by Peter Bently 

I'm very happy to say: as much as my girls and I like to watch TV, we also all LOVE to read! I've shared books here before as part of my "Be Chic Literate" series {and I have a few reviews coming up really soon!}, but I would love to start sharing some of the gems that my youngest daughters and I get to enjoy during our story time! {Book sent for consideration}

The Runaway Princess by Hester Browne AKA: A Be Chic Literate Review

Between reading this, the return of Downton Abbey, and watching Mansfield Park, I've been hearing my thoughts in a British accent! After reading her "Little Lady" series, I've been a big fan of Hester Browne, and have looked forward to every new release from her since discovering her delightful way with words mixed her ability to tell fantastic stories in a very real life way.

Beneath the Glitter-AKA: Be Chic Literate

I'm a bit of a YouTube junkie and one of the first "beauty gurus" that I subscribed to was Elle Fowler, AKA AllThatGlitters21. She and her sister, Blair (JuicyStar07), have built quite an admirable empire, one of their most recent ventures has been a dip into the literary world. Beneath the Glitter is the sisterly duos first book (in what looks to be a series), and is loosely based on their lives. I won't give away the plot line, other than to say that the book deals with the relationship between two sisters as they try to build their business in LA, as well as their interactions with an entertaining cast of friends, pets, and love interests. I tried to keep my expectations low, and truth be told, it took me about 75 pages (and a week and half) to truly get into the book. But once I did get into it, I really got into it and literally couldn't put it down. Once I felt immersed in  the world of the fictional London sisters, I finished the last two thirds of the book in a day and a half (no easy feat for someone with daughters as demanding and talkative as mine). 

I think part of what made Beneath the Glitter entertaining was trying to ascertain how much of the London sisters and their fictional lives was based on the real lives of the Fowler sisters. But outside of that, the story was truly entertaining, even if slightly predictable. There's a bit of a cliffhanger at the end, which serves as the perfect segue to the sister's second book, due out in the summer of 2013. I'm not ashamed to admit, I'm seriously looking forward to seeing what's happening next. Until next time...