Happily Ever After: The Fairytale Formula for Lasting Love

I picked up this book at a used bookstore in England. I'm pretty sure I thought it was a collection of fairytales and thought that it might contain the fairytale that I remember but can't seem to find anywhere. I had a pretty good laugh at myself when I finally really looked at it a few weeks ago and realized it was a self-help book, albeit one inspired by fairytales.

Some key tips:

Know your inner value, no matter how worthless your external situation may seem

If a man wants to sweep you off your feet, go ahead and let him. Just because he's gallant doesn't mean he wants you to quit your day job and take up knitting.

Don't take one man's rejection as a reflection of your worth.

See the beauty and value in your own life. Don't assume it's inferior to your idealized vision of someone else's.

Don't let a bad experience with one man make you suspicious of the next. All men are not alike.

Don't give up on love, even if it seems like you've been single for one hundred years. The length of time it takes is no reflection on your worth or appeal.

It was cute. It was based on fairytales (which I love) and most importantly it reminded me to get back to the basics and focus on the positive possibilities for my future not the bad luck clouding my past.

Welcome Home - Travels in Smalltown Canada

I was a little leery about picking up another Stuart McLean book. I must admit that I wasn't a huge fan of the Vinyl Cafe when we read it for book club. Although I think if I had known it was based on his radio show I might have read it differently. But Welcome Home came highly reccomended by my friend Crystal so I thought I would give it a shot ... and I am glad that I did.

I didn't exactly grow up in a small town, but my grandparents lived on a farm just outside of one so I spent a lot of time in small town Alberta growing up. I remember my grandfather taking us into town on Saturday mornings. He would drink coffee and we would eat penny candy. He knew everyone in the cafe and they would all stop by the table to say hi and admire the grandkids. They all identified me as my mother's daughter. I remember church on Sunday mornings where again there was that sense of belonging, of everyone knowing everyone else by name. Fall suppers where all the ladies pitched in to serve a delicious meal. Weddings of 350+ people.

This book captured the essence of that small town spirit. Not only that, it reminded me of my roots and brought back memories of my grandfather long forgotten.