Thursday, August 20, 2009

Book Giveaway


If you enjoyed Susan’s Zucchini-Key Lime Cobbler recipe, you might really enjoy reading her book.

Making It Home: How to Run Your Household Like a Business . . . and Find Your Heart Along the Way by Susan R. Blaske Williams is a clearly written book that covers the basics of running a home from the perspective of an older mom. (Susan’s a mother of four and grandma of three).

Covering topics from disciplining kids to minding your finances, she wrote the book at the request of her daughters-in-law, who wanted her to put down on paper the homemaking principles that have worked for her.

Susan includes the compelling story of her own journey, starting as an overwhelmed young mom who ran from her role as wife and mom by immersing herself in the work world.

“Somewhere,” she says, “I had gotten the notion that if you just take a house and add all the necessary ingredients, you would have an instant family. I didn’t realize the sacrifices I would need to make. I didn’t realize that children don’t just raise themselves and that daycare is not a substitute for my involvement, time and interest . . . I think somewhere deep down inside, I assumed all those loads of laundry were going to mysteriously wash and fold themselves and jump into the dresser drawers and that food was going to magically appear in the cupboard every time I opened the door . . . No one told me that having a family included all this extra ‘stuff’ – you know, stuff like responsibility, accountability, sacrifice, teamwork, planning, organizing, parenting. . . I felt like someone had played a practical joke – only I wasn’t laughing.”

What young mom can’t identify with Susan’s struggle? Running a home and raising a family is hard work, and few of us have any idea of what it takes until we find ourselves dazed and confused, doing a job we can’t remember ever applying for.

Susan admits that she learned many of the lessons about being a wife and mother “the hard way” and wished she’d had an older woman or two who’d been willing to talk with her about these topics when she was younger. . . “so I’m trying to be that woman to others in the form of this book.”

I’m giving away a copy of Making It Home, kindly provided by Susan herself. If you’d like to win, leave a comment. (If you really, really want to win, leave two.) I’ll randomly pick a name next Friday, August 28, by 7 p.m. Pacific time. Good luck!

To visit Susan at Making It Home Magazine: Encouragement for Women with a Heart for Home, go here.

26 Comments:

Blogger Tribal said...

Yay! This book looks great, I am juggling many things within my life including parenting and a home business. Here's to hope that I win! :)

August 20, 2009 at 8:44 PM  
Blogger Pam Ryder said...

I like that she writes from an "older" perspective. Sounds like a great read!

August 20, 2009 at 9:40 PM  
Anonymous southeastcountrywife said...

this sounds like it would be a really interesting read!

August 21, 2009 at 2:18 AM  
Blogger Lori said...

Oooh, oooh, oooh!!! I hope I win!! I *need* another cookbook. I really do. Honest. :)
Thanks for the chance!!!
Hope you have a wonderful day!

August 21, 2009 at 3:53 AM  
Blogger Tress said...

Good Morning, This books look sso ineteresting-even if I do not win I may order one! Please enter me in!

August 21, 2009 at 4:42 AM  
Blogger Ben and Kristen said...

I would love to win!

Kristen

August 21, 2009 at 7:26 AM  
Blogger Carpool Queen said...

I'm a Susan! I need this book! For while there are many things I do well, running my home and being disciplined about it is not an innate gift of mine.

August 21, 2009 at 7:31 AM  
Blogger Sherri Murphy said...

I would love the book! SOunds perfect.

August 21, 2009 at 8:27 AM  
Blogger SAH in Suburbia said...

Oh, I would LOVE LOVE LOVE this book! Sounds fabulous and exactly what I need right now. I'm in!!

August 21, 2009 at 12:01 PM  
Blogger Katy said...

Oh my gosh....i just found your site from RuthAnn's site and WOOHOO! I would LOVE to win this book! It sounds WONDERFUL!!!

August 21, 2009 at 1:39 PM  
Blogger Katy said...

OH...and you said "if you really really want to win...then leave two comments" so here is my second! ;) I really really want to win!

:o) have a great weekend!

August 21, 2009 at 1:40 PM  
Blogger Flat Creek Farm said...

From an older mom perspective - hmmm, that's me! And this ol' mom can always use new direction & tips :) Thanks! I'm off to check out your stir-fried cuke recipe. Interesting! -Tammy

August 21, 2009 at 1:54 PM  
Blogger Jenn said...

Pick me please!!

August 21, 2009 at 4:07 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Back to leave another comment.

It's for the CHILDREN, Lynn, the CHILDREN.

August 21, 2009 at 5:24 PM  
Blogger Susan said...

That book sounds like a goldmine! I'd love to be entered in the drawing.

August 22, 2009 at 11:49 AM  
Blogger Susan said...

I live in Canada, but if your drawing is only open to US addresses, I do have a US PO box! :)

August 22, 2009 at 11:49 AM  
Blogger theUngourmet said...

This sounds like the perfect book for me right now.

August 22, 2009 at 10:42 PM  
Blogger VK said...

I hesitate to share my "Wisdom" with young mothers and especially my DIL, because they may think I'm butting in or that I just don't understand what they have to go through (even though it's only been 18 years since I myself had a newborn)
They act like they know it all already, and I don't have a clue. I'd be interested in how she does this.

August 23, 2009 at 7:37 AM  
Blogger Kristina said...

This sounds like a book I NEED!

August 23, 2009 at 9:58 AM  
Blogger Whitney Dunahee said...

Sounds like a great book!

August 23, 2009 at 5:44 PM  
Blogger Ginnylou said...

I'm going to be a stay-home mom soon, so I could REALLY use this book!

August 23, 2009 at 9:41 PM  
Blogger Ginnylou said...

I mean, I could REALLY use this book!

August 23, 2009 at 9:42 PM  
Blogger NeedANap2 said...

As a mom of 4 kids, ages 8 and under, I could really use this book. I might wait and make a second comment b/c I think I really really could use this book!!

August 24, 2009 at 11:47 AM  
Blogger Libby@CookingWithLibby said...

Ohhhh...I would love to win a copy of it!! It sounds like a really good read! I'm in :)

August 26, 2009 at 4:16 PM  
Blogger Libby@CookingWithLibby said...

You said to leave another comment if you really want to win...so I am doing that :)

August 26, 2009 at 4:17 PM  
Anonymous Barbara H. said...

I'd been debating with myself about entering, wondering whether it was more for "new" housewives. But even though I've been at it 30 years, there is still plenty I don't know. And if I can always pass it along to my new daughter-in-law.

Thanks for the opportunity to win it!

August 26, 2009 at 5:15 PM  

Post a Comment

Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]

<< Home