Concert Katie

Book Review: Dream Big

Katie March 24, 2017 0 Comments

Dream Big is basically my motto in life. So of course I had to check out this children’s book of the same name.  There are a lot of animals and they are all making wishes of their wildest dreams.  The baboon thinks that these things can never come true, but one by one they start happening for the animals because they are wishing and believing that they can do anything.  This is a great message and the animals in the book are really cute 🙂

I received a free e-copy of this book in order to write this review. I was not otherwise compensated.

About the Book

One by one, Caterpillar, Tadpole, and Flamingo gaze up at the night sky and wish upon a star for their wildest dreams. Baboon, who can’t help but overhear, insists these dreams could never come true. But when he sees Caterpillar turn into a winged butterfly, Tadpole into a dancing frog, and Flamingo into a beautiful pink bird, Baboon realizes that a transformative power exists between these stars and the animals once they truly believe in themselves and their dreams. When Baboon tries out this secret, CATCH-M, his Magical, Mystical, Wished-Upon Star, whooshes down from the heavens to wham! ignite the courage in his chest too, and what happens next is fantastic!

Inclusive of an Arts/Activities resource section, this richly illustrated book demonstrates that together we can all be inspired to identify and pursue our dreams, no matter how big or impossible they may seem. Dream Big is the perfect heart-warming gift of encouragement for anyone starting a new phase in their life or a great send-off for grads—preschool, high school, college, and beyond!

Book Review: I Don’t Belong To You

Katie March 22, 2017 0 Comments

I don’t think I have ever felt more OLD reading a book.  Keke Palmer’s “I Don’t Belong To You” is an autobiography and also an inspirational and potentially “self help” book.  However, I couldn’t get past all the use of “lol” and hashtags throughout the text.  Maybe if I was about 10 years younger I would find it appropriate – but it was written more like she was writing you an email than an actual book – which maybe was the point, but again, I’m just realizing that at 32 I am old. Watch out, or  I may bust out a “kids these days”.

LOLs, emojis and hashtags aside, the book did have a lot of lessons that Keke learned throughout her career and learning to love herself and the secrets and struggles that she went through and would be perfect for a teen or twenty something to read as I think that a lot of kids, especially girls, go through some of these same things.  Of course, I grew up before social media was a “thing”, so I don’t relate to all of the struggles that Keke mentions, but anyone her age would totally get where she is coming from.

I received a free e-copy of this book from NetGalley in order to write this review. I was not otherwise compensated.

About the Book

A sometimes serious, often hilarious, and always inspiring guide that encourages young women to live a life full of ownership, confidence, and freedom from singer and popular Scream Queens and Grease Live! actress Keke Palmer, delightfully illustrated in four color with Keke’s favorite inspirational quotes, journal entries, and memes.

As a successful singer, actress, and talk show host, Keke has always used her huge social media following as a platform for real talk about the issues that matter to her generation, but now she is speaking out candidly and for the first time about the secrets, struggles, and practices that have guided her to succeed. On the surface, it may appear that Keke has it made, but under the success, she has grappled with the same issues all young women wrestle with—identity, pressure, self-worth, love, sexuality, heartbreak, and family.

With this in mind, she created I Don’t Belong To You—an inspirational guide that encourages young women to change their mindset and live with more freedom, confidence, and love as they navigate the rough terrain of the twenty-first century. Full of revealing stories from Keke’s personal and professional life, this book tackles twelve topics—sexuality, race, anxiety, success, bullying, and body image to name a few—with refreshing honesty.

Within each chapter is a personal interview with one of the many people that have inspired and motivated her, including Serena Williams, Drake, Nicki Minaj, and Lee Daniels; quotes, texts, song lyrics, and funny memes that have inspired her; and practices that can help you stay on a path of always growing, never grown. With a voice of empathy, tough love, and determination, Keke speaks about the challenges and triumphs she has experienced on her journey to finding her own voice and creating a beautiful life. I Don’t Belong To You is the motivation you need to move past pain and fear to lead a life full of creativity, spirituality, passion, and unlimited success.

Book Review: Everybody Curses, I Swear!

Katie March 17, 2017 0 Comments

Everybody Curses, I Swear is by Carrie Keagan.  I recognize her from VH1 Morning Buzz Live but you may recognize her from her YouTube videos.  The beginning of this book warns that if you offended by curse words (and at about 2 paragraphs in, she has already used a LOT) then you should pick out a different book to read.  A couple of paragraphs below that she lists 80 curse words – since the average person swears 80 times a day! The list is in alphabetical order and some of these I don’t even consider to be swears so I would venture to guess I’m well above average in the “Daily Cursing” department!

The book is part autobiography and a bit more “crude” than most, but that is what made me love it.  It’s not written all prim and proper, it’s written as if you’re sitting around and having a real conversation with Carrie – average of 80 swear words per day and all.  (Although I think her average is a bit more than 80 too…)  Throughout there are also conversations she’s had with celebrities that were full of swears and double entendres. (Justin Timberlake and Ben Affleck to name a couple)

There is even a word search puzzle – full of curse words! And a crossword puzzle!  And no book about curse words is complete without a Profanity Index at the end of the book.

I received a free e-copy of this book in order to write this review, I was not otherwise compensated.

About the Book

She’s been called vulgar, crass, sophomoric, offensive and dirty…and that was just in one article. But there’s so much more to talk show host, internet entrepreneur, and original YouTube sensation, Carrie Keagan. You may know her as host, writer, and producer of VH1’s hit morning show Big Morning Buzz Live with Carrie Keagan, but before Judd Apatow made being dirty mainstream, she was pioneering the R-rated, A-List celebrity digital video to an audience of tens of millions on one of the first and most successful YouTube networks ever, No Good TV. She’s turned swearing into an art-form and invited all of Hollywood to join in.

Some women f*ck their way to the top but she “f*cked” her way to the top. Her naughty interviews with Hollywood’s elite are the stuff of legend, earning her the nickname “Barbara Walters on Acid.” She’s gone toe-to-toe with virtually every celebrity in the world, and she’s been taking notes. Get ready for all the juicy, behind-the-scenes stories from the biggest stars as she shares her journey from being a bullied kid from Buffalo to Hollywood’s most fearless host. After 8,000 interviews, 2 billion views online, her own TV show, and countless appearances including her upcoming season on Celebrity Apprentice, she’s got crazy stories to tell.

Everybody Curses, I Swear! is the quintessential book on the wonderful world of potty-mouthed depravity inside Hollywood!