Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Book Review and Giveaway: What to Wear For the Rest of Your Life (CLOSED)

What to Wear for the Rest of Your Life: Ageless Secrets of Style
What to Wear for the Rest of Your Life
By: Kim Johnson Gross
Published by Springboard Press, 2010
288 pgs, English


Description:
Every woman's closet-no matter the size-is a room of her own. In that space hang side by side the special occasions and the everyday, the triumphs and the disasters, the memories we want to keep and those we should jettison. Gross helps us to reconsider our closet identity and discover who we want to be. She shares her personal journey and the intimate, poignant and often humorous stories of the dozens of women she interviewed across the country. Along with calming fashion advice about how to choose flattering clothes that will fit any woman's shape and style, Gross's engaging stories will help every woman evolve gracefully from wife to mother, from empty-nester to globe-trotting adventurer--whatever role she chooses--while letting her style express her inner beauty.

Review:
Okay, I know this book was written toward an over 40 audience. But I still got some really great tips!

I have my own "alien" (you have to read to see what I mean!) after having the boys and have not been able to figure out how to dress myself anymore. Plus, life has changed so much for me and I'm still wearing things from college and early in our marriage (we're coming up on 11 years!).

I spend most of the day in the house with the two monsters boys and I really don't have the need for chic day wear, yet. I spend my days in shorts or sweats (which are so old they're just pants now, no sweat left to them if you know what I mean) and a tee shirt which already has baby drool and spit-up on it so it doesn't matter if more gets on it. Oh and my hair has been worn in a ponytail so long it naturally lays back now after it's washed.

But then we have our church life. I can't keep wearing my one old pair of black trousers, which are about 2 sizes too big, every Sunday. Oh, and don't get me started on my two skirts (which I hate...yucky girl clothes...) or my other pants which I'm still hoping will magically re-size themselves to fit again. I did go shopping for the first time (maternity doesn't count) in three years a few weeks ago and got a few new shirts. I want to look better for our life there. I want to look like a pulled-together pastor's wife. I'm tired of looking like a college kid who just can't graduate.

I just can't find my "look". You know, when people look at you and think "wow, where does she shop?" I can't figure out what works on my body, how to cut my hair, how to accessorize.

Yes, I really am a woman, I just don't know how to do these things.

I will be taking lessons from this book for a long time. I've learned that I will not likely find something off the rack that is perfect. That's why God has gifted people to tailor clothes.

I will be getting a hair cut (no color, I'm tired of fighting the greys) as soon as I can get an appointment. I think I'm just going to ask her to "make me look better, just not too short".

I will learn to accessorize (it does separate us from the beasts after all) and I will continue to play around with make-up until I find the one that works best for my skin.

I will do better.

You can purchase this book from Amazon HERE or you can enter to win one of 3 copies that are being provided for my readers courtesy of Anna at the Hachette Group.

This is a real simple, real quick giveaway. You have one week to get entered.

Entry Methods:
First, and mandatory, entry: Tell me your greatest challenge with dressing yourself. (1 Entry)


Other entries (leave a separate comment for each) Please notice that some entries have changed:
1 entry - Become a public follower of my blog. The link is on the right hand side of the page. If you're already a follower, leave a comment letting me know.
2 entries - Blog about this giveaway, with a link back to the giveaway (leave a link in your comment so I can verify)
1 entry - Subscribe to my blog by email (link is just under the followers), let me know if you already subscribe.
1 entry - Become a Facebook fan of Faithful Finances, let me know if you're already a fan.
NEW ENTRY: Place my button on your site (5 entries! You must leave a link so I can verify) 
THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED
Giveaway Rules: Please be sure you read these before you start posting comments. 
Giveaway open to residents of the US and Canada only. Winner will be chosen, with the True Random Number Generator (Random.org), Wednesday, May 19 at 10 PM CST. Winner will be notified via email and will have 24 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. Winner will need to provide a physical address for shipping the book. All entries MUST have your email in them. To keep Spam Bots from snagging you, put your address like this: name(at)server(dot)com

I was provided with a copy of the book from Hachette Book Group. No additional compensation was received. I was not required to write a positive review. Thank you to Anna at Hachette for allowing me to take part in this promotion.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm a Facebook fan!

Melissa E.
equasue@juno.com

Anonymous said...

The most challenging thing about dressing myself is finding jeans that fit! If they fit in the waist, they're too short. I don't want a bunch of glitter on the pockets. Jean shopping is a MAJOR challenge!

Melissa E.
equasue@juno.com

Ashley R said...

I follow your blog on GFC!

reynoldsmommy at gmail dot comdedis

Ashley R said...

My greatest challenge (one of many actually) is a little mixing together things that may not work, or are a bit "outlandish" for me, and people noticing and whispering. Stupid, I know. So, I end up with the classic tshirt and jeans...always jeans though.

reynoldsmommy at gmail dot com

Ashley R said...

Fan on FB under Ashley Reynolds!

reynoldsmommy at gmail dot com

Money Saving Maine-iac said...

Color is the greatest challenge for me. What colors? How bright?

Teresa
moneysavingaineac at gmail dot com

Money Saving Maine-iac said...

I follow you via google friend connect!

moneysavingmaineac at gmail dot com

Money Saving Maine-iac said...

I subscribe to your emails!

moneysavingmaineac at gmail dot com

Kristin said...

I really NEED this book. :) My weight has gone from 135 to 265 and back to 135 over the course of my adult life. I have clothing from a size 10 to a 26 and can't manage to pull anything remotely attractive together. I won't even start on my hair.
I follow your blog, read you on facebook, and get your emails.
Kristin
kristin_landrum(at)yahoo(dot)com

Kristin said...

I am a blog subscriber too!
kristin_landrum@yahoo.com

Kristin said...

I follow you on Facebook! Wonderful up to the minute updates.
kristin_landrum@yahoo.com

Jeff said...

jeffintennessee at gmail dot com

I would love to win!

Most challenging thing is which clothes fit right that make me feel good about myself!

Anonymous said...

Covering a lump on my lower leg, without looking like a granny when I were a dress.
Linda linda[at]downes[dot]net