Product Review: Eufy MiracleBlend by Anker Innovations

Frozen strawberries+yogurt
+ milk = YUM!

A couple of years ago, our blender died, and thus I embarked on a journey more complicated than I ever imagined. Did you know the price range for blenders varies from around $40 to above and beyond $1,000 for the highest of the high end?

While we generally never regret investing in high-quality appliances, we decided that buying the most expensive one on the market would be overkill to crush ice for occasional margaritas. Eventually, The Husband and I settled for a bare-bones one that does most of the things we need it to... adequately. There are still big chunks of frozen fruit in smoothies, for example, but to avoid a big cash outlay, we were prepared to live with it.

BUT! When I was given the chance to try the Eufy MiracleBlend, I jumped at it. First, I tried to make a rose slushie because it was a stinkin' hot day, and those are better with wine - AMIRITE?

Failed slushie, still delicious!

However, I have the self-discipline of a toddler, so I winged it and threw a handful of ice cubes in with some wine switched the dial to "On."

With my old blender, this would have been fine (see earlier point about... adequate), but because the MiracleBLend can actually crush ice, the results were not quite as expected. Yes, I drank it anyway.

For the next trial, I decided to do something radical and, you know, actually read the enclosed instruction booklet that came complete with recipes. Green Smoothies for me? Strawberry "milkshakes" for the kids? Crushed tomatoes for pasta sauce, made fresh from our little urban garden? All of it has been a breeze! It has been a month of near-daily use and we're totally in love.

Homemade pasta sauce

We thought the rotary knob would make things more complicated, but it doesn't at all. TBH, we mostly use the dedicated smoothie button. It has been providing us with tasty treats all summer, and with the built-in safe operation features, we're happy to let the kids get involved in the fun.

Next up: Watermelon popsicles!

The Eufy MiracleBlend has an MSRP  of $119.99 (USD) and it is available for purchase on Amazon.com.


Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. I received a Eufy MiracleBlend from Anker Innovations for testing purposes to write this review; no incentive, direction or additional compensation has been received. All opinions expressed are my own.

Understanding Learning Differences: Terrific Teddy by @JimForgan #BookReview

Little kids are awesome! Their views on the world around them are fascinating, and their unbridled honesty is truly a treasure. Except, of course, when it's the source of profound embarrassment for their parents! But let's face it, I think we all know a few adults who could use a little help in the tact department...

M is in school now, which means she meets kids from all walks of life. Sometimes she meets kids who have special needs and learning differences, and it can be hard to come up with ways to explain those differences in an honest, age-appropriate way. It's important to remember that just about everything will be repeated, without a care in the world about who is within earshot.

So how do we explain, tactfully, that some classmates experience learning differences that may mean changes to the way their teachers address their specific needs?

Thankfully, Dr. Jim Forgan, a licensed school psychologist, has given us the Terrific Teddy series to use as a guide when talking to children about learning differences. I received copies of Terrific Teddy bd Mix-Up and Terrific Teddy's Excessive Energy for review.

Terrific Teddy and the b-d Mix-Up (Understanding Learning Differences) (Volume 1)

Terrific Teddy's Excessive Energy (Understanding Learning Differences) (Volume 2)

I read them with M and *I* thought the books were helpful and sweet. But let's face it, I'm not the intended audience! M also really enjoyed the Terrific Teddy books. She read them to her little brother. She asked to read them again and again. Several weeks later she asked a question about a classmate with a speech impediment, and we were able to relate it to what we learned in the Terrific Teddy books.

Parenting is fraught with difficult questions and potential landmines at every turn. The Terrific Teddy series helps parents answer at least some of those questions with grace. 

* Disclosure: I received complimentary copies of the above noted Terrific Teddy books to write this review. I was not otherwise compensated, and all opinions expressed are my own. I participate in the Amazon Associates program, and if you purchase the Terrific Teddy books using the links above, I will receive a small commission. This in no way influences my opinion of the Terrific Teddy books. 

Vicks Starry Night Humidifier #ProductReview

Hey, my calendar says SPRING starts this week! So... Why does my backyard still look like a frozen wasteland? Seriously, LOOK AT IT! When I was asked to review the Vicks Starry Night Cool Moisture Humidifier, I thought the cold & flu season might have run its course in my house. Luckily (?) I was wrong! Before I tell you about my experience, here are some fun facts:

New Health Survey of Canadians – A new survey of approximately 750 Canadians (random sampling of male & female reflective of Canada’s demographics) was conducted by the makers of Honeywell Air Purifiers and Vicks Humidifiers & Thermometers.  Below are some of the interesting findings:

• Nearly half (43%) of Canadians suffer from airborne allergies, and in almost a quarter (22%) of homes at least two people are allergy-sufferers.
• The majority of Canadians (69%) estimate that having a sick child costs over C$20 a day, and 18% estimate that it costs over C$100!
• Most respondents (64%) indicated that fever scares them, and 70% of parents call the Healthline or doctor at least sometimes when their child is sick.

 Dr. Dave Greenberg offers these tips about cold and flu:

• Flu Facts - When homes are kept at the optimal 40-60 percent relative indoor humidity level, flu virus survival in the air can be dramatically decreased - by up to 30%.  Homes with radiant heat see a bigger decrease in flu virus survival when using a humidifier compared to homes with forced air heat.
• Time to Recover - They might be running around the house, feeling healthy but it’s important to keep kids home from school, play dates, and after school activities for at least 24 hours after their fever breaks.
• Prevent & Protect - Many people say the best way protect yourself and your family from the flu is with the vaccine. It takes about two weeks for your body to develop protective antibodies, so the sooner you get vaccinated the better.

It turns out M was the first to need the Vicks Starry Night Cool Moisture Humidifier. I mean, getting sick sucks when you're nearly five, but having an awesome light show softens the blow, right?

The Good: This thing is quiet. Like less than a whisper, good thing it has a light on it because otherwise I wouldn't be sure it was on kind of quiet. It releases an invisible vapour, which keeps little hands away from temptation. The starry night display is really cute and made being sick a little less unfortunate.

The Things I Would Change if I Could: The light show is great, really cute. And very entertaining. So entertaining, in fact, that I think it may have disrupted sleep a little. I would LOVE to see a timer in the next iteration. There is a filter in the humidifier that filters out impurities, but needs to be replaced periodically. Maybe it's my own lack of organization, but I can see that being a problem down the road. "Uh-oh, she needs the humidifier tonight! Ah, crap. The filter is crusty!" A reusable version that could be cleaned would be awesome.

Overall, I think it's great and the quiet operation is enough of a boon to make put it in the recommend category. Want one of your own? Here's what the manufacturer has to say: "The new Vicks Starry Night Humidifier releases cool moisture into the air, providing temporary relief from dry air discomforts. A cool mist humidifier helps keep air at a comfortable humidity to help relieve nasal and chest congestion. Available at London Drugs, Wal-Mart, Loblaw, Toys R Us, Target & Rexall. SRP of $59.99"

Or, better yet, ENTER TO WIN The Mommy Knows Best Prize Pack, valued at over $350.


Disclosure: I received a Vicks Starry Night Humidifier from Vicks & Braun for review purposes, but no monetary compensation. All opinions expressed are my own.

We experienced a #MapleSugarRush with @ExploreWR and you should too! #DiscoverOntario

Photo by @zamlos
Used with permission from The Curious Creature

Pancakes are a pretty big deal around here on weekends, mostly because they are the perfect vessel for copious amounts of maple syrup. When we were asked to take part in a family bloggers trip to explore the Waterloo Region, we jumped at the chance. What a great day for all of us! 

The Maple Sugar Bush

It started with a horse-drawn sleigh ride through the Maple SugarBush at Martin's Farm with our equine companions, Duke and Mikki.

Mmmmm... Maple toffee on snow!

I'm a little ashamed to admit that despite living my whole life about an hour away from the Waterloo Region I have just never gotten around to doing a tour to see how maple syrup is made. I know, how dreadfully un-Canadian of me! Thankfully, I have rectified this for my own kids, though granted a little too early for Little Cat Z to have much recollection of it. That's OK, now that I'm reminded just how close to home it is and how much fun can be had, we can make this trip an annual event for his benefit. Also, it turns out I'm a "medium" maple syrup kind of gal, but I could be talked into an amber if the pancake is right.

After a break for some maple toffee on snow and hot apple cider to warm us up, we headed off to the St.Jacobs Farmers Market for a tasty lunch. The Husband highly recommends Grandpa’s Soft Pretzels, and this is not a man whose recommendations should be taken lightly, particularly not when it comes to baked goods.

The Village of St. Jacobs

Child provided for scale

St. Jacobs is so quaint, one might think time forgot it. This is probably due to the large local Mennonite population, a group we learned more about from TheMennonite Story at the St. Jacobs Visitor Center. M is a bit too young to "get it" but The Husband and I found it very interesting. The next stop, however, was a little kids dream. You’ll have to see the St. Jacobs & Aberfoyle ModelRailway to believe it. Model building isn't a hobby I could ever take up with any success because of skills required. Like patience, of which I have none. But when people who love it get together to build something like this, the results are spectacular. Another highlight of the day was sampling craft beers at Block Three Brewing.

The Maple Sugar Rush experience was a great way to spend a day with the littles. It's amazing to think about just how much there is to see and do just a short drive away from home. Family Day is coming up and it’s only an hour away. Better still, make a mid-week adventure during March Break. I'm not into crowds so I really enjoyed the weekday adventure, but if you don’t mind being one of the masses and you're really into your maple syrup, go check out the Elmira Maple Syrup Festival this spring.

Disclosure: We received complimentary meals and admission to attractions from the Waterloo Regional Tourism Marketing Corporation as part of this blogger tour for review purposes, but otherwise no compensation was received for this post. All opinions expressed are my own. 

Product Review: Little Passports

When I was first contacted by a rep for Little Passports with an opportunity to review the product, I was excited! M has recently caught the travel bug and we're spending a lot of our time talking about all the places in the world we're going to go someday. That list is getting pretty long, and I thought Little Passports would be a great way to talk about different areas of the world.

Here is the product brief:

It’s time to pack your suitcase, because your family is invited on a world adventure – without leaving your backyard! I wanted to introduce you to Little Passports, an educational monthly subscription box, that invites kids to learn about culture, history, and more from Canada and around the world.

Recently named a Parent Tested Parent Approved (PTPA) winner, Little Passports fosters excitement about geography, history, and culture (including food) by following the world travels of characters Sam and Sofia on their GPS enabled scooter! Each month kids receive a special package from Sam and Sofia with hands on activities and recipes from the places they have visited.

With two editions, USA and World, kids will truly have the opportunity to learn about the culture and history in their own backyard and across the globe. In the World edition, Sam and Sofia visit one country a month and send kids a letter talking about their journey, a souvenir and hands-on activity sheets that help the child learn about that country. In the USA edition, Sam and Sofia visit two USA states a month.

The travel case arrived and I was mighty impressed. So was M. The first "destination" was Brazil. The travel case was full of materials including a mini passport and stamps, a map of the world to be updated with sticker pins (big hit with kids, M has a huge map on her wall with push pins marking the places she has already been), a picture of a native creature of Brazil, the background story and the Brazil adventure story, and a "boarding pass" to activate the online portion of the monthly package.

We had a good time for a little while with the stories and the passport and the stickers, but when it came time to check out the online portions, they were finicky. The soccer game instructions read "use your mouse to position and kick the ball" and moving the mouse positioned the ball, but nothing seemed to kick it. I fiddled with it for a few minutes and M, having completely lost interest, went to do something else. And then I pouted, because I really wanted us to enjoy this together. After all, I'm on maternity leave and keeping her quiet while Z naps is job #1 around here.

If there was an option for a physical package with a little more stuff every month OR an online subscription, I'd consider ordering Little Passports. Alas, that doesn't appear to be in the pricing options so we'll have to go back to Googling all the places in the world that M wants to visit.

Disclosure: I received a sample package from Little Passports for review purposes, but no monetary compensation. All opinions expressed are my own. 

The Willpower Instinct - A BlogHer Book Club Review #Spon

We all know we're not supposed to grocery shop when we're hungry, but do you know why? Ever looked down at the snack you were munching on while you were engrossed in some TV show and been mystified by an empty bag? The Willpower Instinct from Dr. Kelly McGonigal delves into the science of willpower and takes the reader through the process of strengthening their willpower muscles (it makes more sense when you read it) with real-life examples from her popular Continuing Ed class at Stanford.

It's a quick read with 10 chapters and 10 simple exercises to end what has been, for some, a lifelong struggle. Sounds too good to be true, doesn't it? It's not! But you have to have the willpower (HA!) to do it. Me? I'm pretty analytical. Tell me I should meditate every day because it will realign my Qi and I just might laugh out loud. Tell me it's impossible to clear your mind but meditating every day for five minutes, even if I spend the whole five minutes redirecting myself to breathing, will help me improve my focus all day and make me less apt to lose my cool with my kid, and explain the science behind it? Well now we're on to something.

I don't think anyone could adhere to all of the lessons at the end of each chapter, and that's OK. We all have different willpower challenges different personalities so it stands to reason that different things will work for us. The trick is try them all to find what works for you. I highly recommend the book and the experience!


Join the BlogHer Book Club conversation on "The Willpower Instinct" for lively, thought-provoking discussions every week!

This is a compensated review as part of the BlogHer Book Club. All opinions expressed are my own.

Canada's Wonderland = Fun for the whole family!

I love amusement parks! I have so many happy memories of hanging upside down on roller coasters, I couldn't wait to see how my daughter felt about the big thrill rides. That's why we have kids, right? Guaranteeing someone to sit beside us on roller coasters?

While a day at an amusement park isn't how a lot of moms would choose to spend a Sunday, I can't think of anywhere I'd rather be. Lucky for us Canada's Wonderland is just a short drive away from our home on the outskirts of downtown Toronto.

My trips to Canada's Wonderland were, shall we say... a little different pre-kid. I spent all my time running from big coaster to big coaster with some stops for snacks in between. I had no idea how awesome Planet Snoopy and Kidsville would be for the little people. There are several opportunities to interact with Peanuts characters, kid-appropriate games abound, and if the people are REALLY little, there's an air-conditioned family center for feeding, changing and resting. Oh, and there's tons of family-friendly rides too!
This was my first trip to Canada's Wonderland since it was acquired by the Cedar Fair Entertainment Company. From my Starbucks latte on the way into the park to my tasty sandwich and my daughter's chicken tenders that were visibly REAL chicken, I was very impressed by the taste and quality of the food. It's a definite upgrade from previous visits.

Highlights of the day include our daughter's first solo ride (Snoopy's Space Race) which made her feel oh-so grown up. Luckily, the park guides parents with a rating system, grading rides on a scale from Low Thrills (1) to Aggressive Thrills (5). I'll have to wait a little longer to take her on Leviathan, but she handled Taxi Jam like a champ. Check out those arms in the air! The force is strong in this one...

Sure sign of a great day!

Genuine expressions of joy were on all of our faces for the whole day. I had no idea how much fun it would be to watch my kid have so much fun. Now that I do, I can't wait for our next trip to Canada's Wonderland. If you need a little happy in your life, a day at your local Cedar Fair park may be just what the doctor ordered. My only question is... What ride will you go on first???


This is a compensated review on behalf of the Cedar Fair Entertainment Company in my capacity as a BlogHer reviewer. Park admission, meals and expenses were also provided by the company. All opinions expressed are my own. 

You Have No Idea: BlogHer Book Club Review

I have a love-hate relationship with Vanessa Williams. I love her because she's talented and warm and so beautiful it almost hurts to look at her. I hate her for the same reasons. OK, maybe that's the jealousy talking. Anyway..."You Have No Idea" is Williams' autobiography which features interjections and observations from her mother, Helen.

I'm Canadian, so while the Miss America pageant is aired here - I think - it certainly isn't the cultural "thing" it is in the U.S. The only Miss America I can name is Vanessa Williams, and that's only because of the scandal. I often wondered how she could be so stupid, so I am glad she explained it right off the bat. As expected, the perfectly plausible explanation is young and dumb. We've all been there, but most of us have had the good fortune making our mistakes away from the prying eyes of the tabloids. Her tales of her reign were fascinating. Fears for her safety in Alabama because she was black? In the 80s? Well, colour me naive! I had no idea it was an issue less than 30 years ago (see earlier point re: Canadian).

Now this is not, for the most part, deep stuff. Williams does touch on serious issues in her life, like her abortion as a teen and recounting a story of molestation by a friend of the family, but without more in-depth discussion about how this affected her life, it seems this information is FYI rather than an integral part of the woman she is today. I'm not sure that's what she was going for or what to do with it in the context of her story. But it was a fun read about an interesting life with insights from TWO moms who can teach us a thing or two about being a supportive parent.

Join the BlogHer Book Club conversation on "You Have No Idea" for lively, thought-provoking discussions every week!

This is a compensated review as part of the BlogHer Book Club. All opinions expressed are my own.

Things I did elsewhere: Week 13 recap

How the hell did it get to be Sunday night already? I do not know! It was less busy than last week, but just when I thought I could rest on my laurels another one of those wicked kid bugs blew through the house and knocked me on my ass. Good times! I still managed to find the the time to do some stuff elsewhere.

Over at The Facebook Page I shared this week's meal plan. We had company for dinner last night and served Chicken Parmesan Rollatini with polenta and Caesar salad for dinner, and tartufo for dessert. The Rollatini was pretty good, but if I were to do it again I would have added a few chili flakes to the sauce and topped it with some shaved parmesan to bring a little salt to the party. That may be because I used salt-free soup stock, so YMMV.

At The Wine Fund, I talked about Incentria (big, fat fucking waste of time - that's my two cents worth, which is literally all I have earned there) and Favors and Flavors, a one stop shop for breastfeeding support and supplies. I also submitted posted an article on parenting honestly on Circle of Moms.


Have a great week!

Lost and Found: BlogHer Book Club Review

One of the great things about book clubs is the opportunity to read books you normally wouldn't. Most of the time, this is a blessing. In the case of "Lost and Found: One Woman's Story of Losing Her Money and Finding Her Life" by Geneen Roth, it was not so much a blessing.

Roth, who frequently finds her way on to the bestseller list, was one of many who lost everything in the Bernie Madoff scandal. I was curious to learn just who were these people who had enough money to be unwitting participants in a billion dollar Ponzi scheme, and yet were totally clueless about how to manage it. Roth attempts to explain it by describing the deep psychological issues with money that led to her financial demise. To be frank, the process she guides us through isn't an interesting one. 

At one point early in the book, Roth wonders if "spirituality was a fancy description for self-indulgent navel gazing." Given that shortly thereafter she spends 17 pages in a petulant state about a $1,000 pair of glasses she wants to buy to fill the void, I'd say in this case yes it is. Later on, when she tells the reader what chapter they need to read in another one of her books for more information, I feel a bit ripped off. Why should I have to go read another book for you to elaborate? You just wasted nearly 10% of this one whining about a pair glasses you wanted but couldn't have.

There was silly, grand sweeping statements like "soon we'll be running out of planetary resources, so there will be nothing left to hoard or kill" that I could live with, but when she talked about the risk of being eaten by dinosaurs being slim with respect to human evolution, she lost any shred of credibility she may have had. After all, dinosaurs and even the earliest of hominids were separated by over SIXTY MILLION YEARS, so I'd say the odds were always pretty slim.

This was the first Geneen Roth book I have read. I found "Lost and Found" trite, condescending and boring in equal measures. Would I recommend it to a friend? Um, no. Would I read another one of Roth's books after reading this one? That would also be a no. For more discussion on Lost and Found, follow the discussion at the BlogHer Book Club.

This is a compensated review as part of the BlogHer Book Club. All opinions expressed are my own.

Things I Did Elsewhere: Week 11 Recap

It would seem I'm a little behind on posting things I did elsewhere. Meh. Shit happens. I made a goal to submit articles to online publications at least twice a month and have sent in one so far, so I'll find out if it gets picked up for publication soon. See, I told you! Goals are good. 

At The Facebook Page, as usual I shared our weekly meal plans for last week and this week. It's possible I fucked up the order of those links. It probably doesn't matter, and I'm really hungover tired so if I did screw it up I might get around to checking and ultimately fixing it later. So if they are screwed up and you saw it, you'll be like one of those people who have one of those dollar bills that are printed upside down. If they're right, it's just like a plain old dollar bill here. Now you have to ask yourself... do you feel lucky?

At The Wine Fund, I shared a review of the hotel we stayed at for our Easter weekend getaway. A nice, clean, reasonably priced, family-friendly hotel mere blocks away from all the attractions in Niagara Falls, Ontario and minutes away from the border crossing. If a trip to the Falls is in your future, you should stay there. Later this week I'll share the review of a book that I... didn't love. Come back and see my feeble attempts at diplomacy!

Things I Did Elsewhere: Week 9 Recap

Holy crap! How is the weekend over already? It feels like I just left work on Friday and now it's time to get ready for another Monday. But not without first telling you about all the stuff I did when I wasn't here. 

At The Facebook Page, I shared this week's meal plan and my Wednesday night "OMG, I don't have the stuff to make what I was going to make for dinner and now what?" recipe for brown rice and mushroom sauce. You should just like the damn page already so you don't have to wait for me to post a recap on Sunday for all this awesomeness. I mean, I might forget and THEN what would you do? Oh, you'd carry on with your day? I see...

Keeping with the foodie theme, over at The Wine Fund I posted a review of the Longo's Pad Thai Meal Kit. It was a bit of a thumbs down. I didn't do an app of the week because I didn't have time to play with anything new and I don't want to recommend anything not well tested. But you should still sign up for the AppSmitten newsletter because you are cool and you want to learn about cool things first. Yes, I get a small commission if you use that link but if you'd rather not, you can Google them to start learning about the apps you need to make your life easier. 

I'm helping to spread the word about a petition calling for a Royal Commission on election fraud in Canada. Wait, wut? I know! If you're Canadian just click the link, check it out and decide for yourself if you think you should sign it. I did. And on that happy note, I'm off to bed. Toodles!

Things I Did Elsewhere: Week 8 Recap

Well, it's been a pretty shitty week here at Casa del Host. But even though things suck for The Husband and I, our kid still has to eat so I made a "Give yourself a break" meal plan and posted it over at The Facebook Page.

Speaking of food, the App of the Week is Cook's Illustrated - The Best of Everything. I really quite like it. I have provided more details over at The Wine Fund. It's better if you already subscribe to Cook's Illustrated because it unlocks a bunch of members only content and your favourites automatically sync, but there's still plenty of good stuff to be had for non-subscribers. The ability to add ingredients right to the shopping list from the recipe is particularly awesome.

How do you find cool new apps? Well, you could randomly plug things into the search tool in the App Store and hope for the best, but there is a better way! Sign up for the Appsmitten newsletter. You pick your device and your areas of interest, Appsmitten gives you a custom summary of apps you'll love. Sure, I'm an affiliate and if you sign up using the link provided I'll earn a small commission, but that's not why you should do it. You should sign up because life has enough needles in haystacks, and pointless searching is for Luddites. You're not a Luddite, are you?

Things I Did Elsewhere: Week 7 Recap

Yes, I did miss a few weeks. I wasn't doing bloggy things elsewhere because I was busy teaching my daughter how to be a world traveler. She's had a total meltdown in an airport now, so I think she's all set.

At The Facebook Page I posted the back to reality meal plan and my recipe for a crockpot beef stroganoff. Which doesn't involve a crockpot. It's less complicated than it sounds. Want some ideas for what to make for dinner this week or a recipe me tested and me approved to be quick and easy for a weeknight meal? Don't feel like waiting for me to get around to posting a weekly recap? Can't say I blame you, patience is a virtue but it's not one of mine. Go ahead and "Like" The Facebook Page already!

At The Wine Fund, I posted my review our holiday (Awesome! The holiday, not the review. Though I think the review is pretty good too...) AND the first of what I plan to make a weekly feature, the App of the Week. But I might not actually get around to posting an app every week because, as we already know, I'm really quite lazy. Want to know a better way to find out what's the latest and greatest in the world of apps? Sign up for the appSmitten weekly email update. Pick your device, pick your categories of interest and sit back and watch with glee as you receive suggestions for apps YOU want to know about. Yeah, I'm an appSmitten affiliate and I get a small commission if you sign up for the newsletter, but that's not why you should do it. You should because you're pretty cool and cool people should know about cool stuff first.

And finally, want to know how The Husband and I have managed to keep up our sex life since becoming parents? Well, we haven't. But you should still read the article I wrote for Circle of Moms for tips on keeping in touch without keeping touched.

Have a great week!

The Rules of Inheritance – BlogHer Book Club Review

Those of us who have lost a parent at a young age know it leaves a hole that never quite heals. Claire Bidwell Smith’s memoir, The Rules of Inheritance, is a journey through grief. From little girl lost to woman who found her way, because of or in spite of a great sense of loss and longing.

Smith lost both of her parents to cancer before she was what most of us would consider a real-live grown up. You might be thinking “Yes, well, lots of people’s parents die when they’re young. And… ?” And maybe without so many shared experiences (right down to surgery during pregnancy and terror that went with it) I wouldn’t have found her story so eminently relatable. But I did.

The self-discovery that came through in Smith’s writing was unmistakable. She was learning about herself right along with us. Frequently she’d pause and say “This is part of my narrative”, one of those moments that define who we are. From the fresh wound of losing her mother and then her father, to falling into the pit of despair and on to beginning the circle anew by becoming a parent herself, we can’t help but find pieces of our own narrative. I know I will take more time to mark those moments, happy or sad, that shape who I am from now on. For that I am grateful.

For more discussion on The Rules of Inheritance, follow the discussion at the BlogHer Book Club.

This is a compensated review as part of the BlogHer Book Club. All opinions expressed are my own.