I have two extra copies of this wonderful book that I’ll give away to the first two people who leave a comment about this review!
The Package Deal: My (not-so) Glamorous Transition from Single Gal to Instant Mom
by Izzy Rose (♥♥♥♥♥)
Izzy Rose has written the “every new step mom book!” In The Package Deal: My (not-so) Glamorous Transition from Single Gal to Instant Mom
For the last three nights, I have looked forward to crawling under the covers with Izzy’s book, while my wonderful husband snuggled against my left side. Even last night Richard said, “Don’t you need to read? You need to read so I can snuggle…” Twist my arm…I must read so Richard can fall asleep curled up next to me. And what better book to read than Izzy’s!
The Package Deal is funny and full of the lessons every new step mom must learn. She talks about the struggles universal to step moms – setting boundaries, finding alone time with your man, and most importantly, Accepting What Is (Rule Number Six).
Izzy’s approach to stepmotherhood and her book is humor…but don’t be fooled…her journey includes a lot of wisdom and believe me, one pearl she discovered was at Bridal Boot Camp.
…The Evil One explained that this sweaty, dirty, achy, humiliating, painful hour of suffering was all ours. It was ours to OWN. One hour to spend on our bodies and our minds, no one tugging, asking, talking, or needing us in any way…An hour to be self-aware and self-consumed. An hour to take care of ourselves, because for the rest of the day we’d be taking care of everyone else.”
Izzy, if you’re ever in New Hampshire, remind me to HIGH FIVE you…I’m all about Self-Care!
Along with learning to Accept What Is, Izzy also learned to “Surrender her expectations,” especially when it came to the bio-mom. I believe that stepmoms, no matter what their relationship with the bio-mom is (hostile to shopping buddies), battle with the expectations we have. In my case, I have to keep reminding myself that Junior’s mom is going to do what Junior’s mom is going to do. She’s going to do things that make my eyes cross…and she does…so the quicker I surrender my expectations and accept what is (because I can’t change what she did and I can’t influence what she’s going to do) I’m so much better off!
Following Izzy’s journey, I was quite happy to see that she questioned whether it was just her or if other stepmoms “craved family-free time” like she did. Izzy…HELL YES. And I love your happy hour special – “Manicures and Martinis…” I’m a believer in pedicures and manicures…and adding a martini to that…Grey Goose, straight up with a lemon twist please!
Ladies – Izzy Rose is your newest Best Friend…and even if you don’t know her in person, you’ll feel like you do reading her book.
And Izzy…any time you find yourself in the Boston area…call me…I’ll buy you a Martini!
The Package Deal: My (not-so) Glamorous Transition from Single Gal to Instant Mom by Izzy Rose (♥♥♥♥♥)
I’m giving this book five pink hearts because it’s a great personal journey story and stepmoms across the land will easily identify with Izzy Rose!
Don’t forget – you can keep up-to-date with Izzy and her life at her awesome blog,
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“Surrender her expectations” indeed! And not just with the bio-mom, but also with the stepchildren, especially when we have come so late in to their lives.
Sounds like another good read, thanks for bringing it to my attention.
Very interesting! I’ll add it to my summer read list. It’s so funny that we all seem to sometimes feel guilty about wanting “family-free” time. Even with my stepdaughter not being around very often, I still crave it. I can’t imagine being a full-time stepmom…it would be hard. But with people like Glenda in the world to give advice through her awesome writing–it seems like it might be OK.
Jessica – please email me your address so I can send the book to you. Email me at toolboxgrl.gmail.com!
Congratulations!!
Hey Julie! Congratulations! You’ll be getting a copy of Izzy’s book! Please email me at toolboxgrl@gmail.com with your address!!
I love my family FREE time!
correction on my email…toolboxgrl@gmail.com
Argh! Too little too late…
That’s what I get for traveling…but now that I am back stateside I can start wearing a path to the library to read all of these books! First up: StepMonster and Career Girl’s Guide …thank you Amazon.
Keep up the good work Peggy
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Let’s see what I can do…if you don’t mind a copy that got squashed in my gym bag, I’ll send you that one…just email me your address!
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