How many things did you want to be when you grew up? It’s a common refrain from my daughter – “When I grow up, I want to be a waitress at IHOP!” Her love of pancakes currently outweighs her long term life goals. But at least, heaven forbid, it’s an option. For Mary Sutter, her dream of becoming a surgeon was not an option. Prepared as a midwife by her mother, Mary has midwifery in her veins. But she dreams of something more.
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My Name is Mary Sutter
by Robin Oliveira -
Book Review:
Bad Mother by Avelet Waldman
In Ayelet Waldman’s treatise on motherhood – Bad Mother: A Chronicle of Maternal Crimes, Minor Calamities, and Occasional Moments of Grace, she writes in brilliant and witty prose that, guess what moms, we are OK and our kids will be just fine. -
2 Gary Schmidt books
Gary Schmidt has the gift of turning middle school angst in to something profound and redemptive. In his Newbery Honor book, The Wednesday Wars, he tackles the Vietnam War from the perspective of Holling Hoodhood, a 7th grader on Long Island, New York. With the help of teachers, friends and Shakespeare, Holling is able to [...]
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Dinner Tonight: Done!
‘Hey, what’s for dinner?’ is right up there with “Have you seen the Visa bill?” as one of my least favorite questions. And even after many years of being the person responsible for dinner, those four simple words still get my adrenaline surging as typically it’s nearly five o’clock, and I have not a single dinner [...]
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The Glass Castle
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls My rating: 4 of 5 stars Book source: used book store Sensitive reader: This book contains some language and sexual situations. My earliest memories include twirling around in my front yard in a blue floral dress with a tutu-like skirt. Jeannette Walls’ first memories are of being engulfed in [...]
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The Wrong Mother
by Sophie HannahWhat’s that huge grinding sound ringing in your ears? Probably the Doppler effect of the fall holidays poised to descend on female do-gooders in oh, about three seconds. Before that frenzy completely catches you, give yourself a Calgon-take-me-away-moment to read The Wrong Mother by Sophie Hannah (paperback). It’s a gripping psychological thriller set in England [...]
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The Dirty Life: On Farming, Food,
and Love by Kristin KimballMy enjoyment rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars Source: Personal copy Genre: Memoir, non-fiction My only recollections of EVER getting up at 3:45am: • Pulling an all-nighter in college to finish college paper or study for a test • Nursing a newborn • Insomnia Kristin Kimball and her husband Mark, get up routinely that early [...]
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Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
Laura Hillenbrand has written an epic story that follows Louie through his being lost at sea for 47 days, his years as a Japanese POW, his inhumane and brutal treatment at the hands of psychopathic prison guards, his liberation and his difficult return home. Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption [...]
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Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo with Lynn Vincent
Heaven is for Real by is a sweet little book, earnestly written, about one family’s profound journey of faith. It’s the Burpo’s testimony of God’s love, providence and power. If you, like me, believe that heaven does exist, reading this book will affirm and deepen that belief. If you doubt, then perhaps a four-year-old [...]
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South to Alaska
by Nancy Owens BarnesSouth to Alaska: A True Story of Courage and Survival from the Heartland of America to the Heart of a Dream by Nancy Owens Barnes My enjoyment rating: 4 out of 5 stars Source: Copy received from the author — my thoughts on this book are my own; I was not compensated in any way [...]
meet our contributors
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Victorya Rogers
Victorya Michaels Rogers is a Life & Love Coach, equipping women to create and keep healthy relationships. Rogers’ authored four books, including Finding a Man Worth Keeping and The Automatic 2nd Date. Her latest release is the DVD “Straight Talk About Sex for Christian Couples” co-written with Sex Therapist Debby Wade. Victorya has been seen and heard on national TV, Radio, and print—from MTV to Focus on the Family, Cosmopolitan to Woman’s World. This former Hollywood agent is also an active REALTOR® at Coldwell Banker Residential. She’s part of First Friday Women and lives in Southlake with her husband, Will, and their two children. Learn more about her coaching services at www.Victorya.com. -
Samantha Conner
In my “past life” I earned a degree in Education at TCU and taught elementary school. But these days, I am working as a super stay-at-home-mom with a serious craft addiction. During naptime, I am an avid blogger, runner, and nester. My blog is the place where I chronicle my journey in homemaking and sell my fabulous handmade bows, tutus, and hair accessories. I have a loving husband and two young daughters. Their enthusiasm and support is what drives my creativity in home decor, unique crafts, party planning, holiday fun, and all things girly. I am dedicated to creating a warm, loving home for my family. And to me, that means a lot of 'crafty how-to’ projects along the way. I believe that life can be more fabulous with the use of polka dots, tulle, ribbon and rhinestones! I hope you enjoy sharing in our adventures and that I can inspire you to 'get crafty' in your own home. Follow my crafting journey at craftytexasgirls.blogspot.com -
Rhonda Sargent Chambers
Rhonda, a former model and owner of RSC Show Productions, considers herself a “naturalized Texan”. After moving to Texas from San Francisco, she began her modeling career at a young age walking runways around the world from Japan to Mexico. She transitioned from full-time modeling to fashion show production with the creation of RSC Show Productions. As an instructor and speaker in the modeling community for over 30 years, she is a respected figure who consults with modeling agencies to develop criteria and guidelines for professional models to follow. Rhonda and her husband Kit have been together more than 20 years. The busy mom’s schedule is somewhat flexible since she owns her own business, but it’s the couple’s two boys, Callahan, 12, and Ford, 10, who now shape Rhonda’s daily routine. She is active in the community both personally and professionally giving her time to organizations such as Children’s Cancer Fund, Mane Gait Therapeutic Center, Child Abuse Prevention Center, Big Thought and The Elisa Project. She is passionate about fashion, and her forte will offer wonderful shopping and wardrobing tips for busy moms on the go! www.rscshow.com -
Maxi Erdmann
I am Maxi Erdmann, and I reside in Keller, TX with my four sweet babies and my husband, Nathan. A University of Oklahoma grad, I love all things SOONER! I love food, but I don’t cook, I love music, but I don’t sing, (except in the shower), and I have a ridiculously expensive obsession with make-up. I have been writing since I could form letters and my mother put a pencil in my hand. Prior to having my third and fourth baby, I was a teacher at Southlake Christian Preschool. Before moving to Texas, I lived in Oklahoma where I spent my days as a full-time mom of twins and part-time make-up artist. I have also lived in Nashville, TN where I worked for Gaylord Entertainment and Springhouse Golf Course. My other interests include all things sports related and a new endeavor as an aspiring (learning!) photographer. It seems, along with my pencil, I have always had a camera around my neck. My days are filled with loud kids, tons of laundry and enough extra-curricular activities to keep six people busy. I’m up for the challenge, and I love every minute of it... -
Brooke Hortenstine
Brooke Hortenstine is a Dallas-based editor, writer and charitable volunteer. As editor-at-large of PaperCity magazine, Brooke chronicles the evolving Dallas social scene and writes about all things luxurious — fashion, food, beauty, and interior design, to name a few. She has appeared as a style authority in television segments, and has been published in periodicals such as In Style and Four Seasons Magazine. Contemporary art, dining, travel, music, modern furnishings, and southern customs — think iced tea, old monograms and SEC football — top her lists of likes, as well as giving back to her community. She sits on the Board of Directors of the Dallas Contemporary artspace and the President’s Advisory Council to the AT&T Performing Arts Center, and serves as a member of Cattle Baron’s Ball benefiting the American Cancer Society. Her family includes her husband Blake Hortenstine, a ranch real estate broker, and their two-year-old son, Rollins Hortenstine.
