Summer Reading 2016

It has finally happened folks! Another parenting milestone has now been reached & it can officially be checked off the list! My daughter is tall enough to touch the bottom of our pool. COMFORTABLY! As sad as I am to see my Lil'Princess not be so Lil' anymore, it also comes with a huge perk. That perk? I can now somewhat relax with a book while she swims the day away since I no longer have to hover over her to make sure she doesn't sink to the bottom. I have been so envious of all those moms reading their summers away while their kiddos play & now I can officially call myself a member of that exclusive club!

Since I have now gained this awesome privilege that I've been so patiently waiting for, I thought I would share with y'all the awesome reading material on my summer poolside reading list! At the rate my daughter has been going with wanting to live in our backyard, I should have no problem finishing this list! Let's just hope rain & gloomy weather stays far away. I'm all about this sandbox, water table, pool outdoor play and new gained mommy reading time! I don't need a rainy day killing my reading vibe ;-)

Turning the Tables: From Housewife to Inmate and Back Again

Teresa Giudice, star of The Real Housewives of New Jersey, has seen it all but nothing could compare to the media firestorm that ensued after she was convicted on federal fraud charges—and sentenced to fifteen months in prison. What was a skinny Italian to do? Keep a diary, of course…
In her very first tell-all memoir, Teresa comes clean on all things Giudice: growing up as an Italian-American, starting a family, dealing with chaos on national television, and coming to terms with the reality of life in prison. Featuring scans from her coveted prison diary, Turning the Tables captures some of the most memorable moments of her stay, including the fights she witnessed, the awkward conundrum of being trapped when a fellow inmate had a…guest…over, and the strength she found while confined between four concrete walls.

Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance

In this instant New York Times bestseller, pioneering psychologist Angela Duckworth shows anyone striving to succeed—be it parents, students, educators, athletes, or business people—that the secret to outstanding achievement is not talent but a special blend of passion and persistence she calls “grit.”
Drawing on her own powerful story as the daughter of a scientist who frequently noted her lack of “genius,” Duckworth, now a celebrated researcher and professor, describes her early eye-opening stints in teaching, business consulting, and neuroscience, which led to the hypothesis that what really drives success is not “genius” but a unique combination of passion and long-term perseverance.

The Vegas Diaries: Romance, Rolling the Dice, and the Road to Reinvention

The Vegas Diaries is a comedy of errors, set against the glitz and glamour of the dazzling Vegas strip. Through the wild and crazy experiences on one young woman's quest to "have it all," Holly faces her fears, anxieties, and insecurities to discover that her journey to self-sufficiency is also her path to healing. Letting go of trying to prove herself to others, Holly finally gains the courage to confront her past-and in the process finds the life and love she deserves.

Give and Take: Why Helping Others Drives Our Success

Praised by bestselling authors such as Dan Pink, Tony Hsieh, Dan Ariely, Susan Cain, Dan Gilbert, Gretchen Rubin, Bob Sutton, David Allen, Robert Cialdini, and Seth Godin--as well as senior leaders from Google, McKinsey, Merck, Estée Lauder, Nike, and NASA--Give and Take highlights what effective networking, collaboration, influence, negotiation, and leadership skills have in common. This landmark book opens up an approach to success that has the power to transform not just individuals and groups, but entire organizations and communities.

The Andy Cohen Diaries: A Deep Look at a Shallow Year

A year in the whirlwind life of the beloved pop icon Andy Cohen, in his own cheeky, candid, and irreverent words ~ As a TV Producer and host of the smash late night show Watch What Happens Live, Andy Cohen has a front row seat to an exciting world not many get to see. In this dishy, detailed diary of one year in his life, Andy goes out on the town, drops names, hosts a ton of shows, becomes codependent with Real Housewives, makes trouble, calls his mom, drops some more names, and, while searching for love, finds it with a dog. We learn everything from which celebrity peed in her WWHL dressing room to which Housewives are causing trouble and how. Nothing is off limits – including dating. We see Andy at home and with close friends and family (including his beloved and unforgettable mom). Throughout, Andy tells us not only what goes down, but exactly what he thinks about it. Inspired by the diaries of another celebrity-obsessed Andy (Warhol), this honest, irreverent, and laugh-out-loud funny book is a one-of-a-kind account of the whos and whats of pop culture in the 21st century.

The Code Theory: Uncovering the hidden pattern of life

The Code Theory: Uncovering the hidden pattern of life, explores these very questions, and shows how our seemingly unpredictable and chaotic existence is truly by design. Applying both objective reasoning and concepts derived from science, mathematics, and philosophy, The Code Theory reveals links between our everyday existence and the underlying code which governs us all. The book shows that scientific, mathematical, and philosophical concepts all point to the reality that our lives are already planned out and that we are living out our dynamic destinies. Does everything truly happen for a reason? Can order be found in the chaos of our lives? You decide, and learn whether the Code Theory may be closer to the underlying truth within your life.

Snobs: A Novel

From the creator of the Emmy-Award winning Downton Abbey ..."The English, of all classes as it happens, are addicted to exclusivity. Leave three Englishmen in a room and they will invent a rule that prevents a fourth joining them." The best comedies of manners are often deceptively simple, seamlessly blending social critique with character and story. In his superbly observed first novel, Julian Fellowes, winner of an Academy Award for his original screenplay of Gosford Park, brings us an insider's look at a contemporary England that is still not as classless as is popularly supposed.

Law of Attraction: 30 Days to Turn Your Brain Into a Money Machine:

Are you frustrated that there never seems to be enough money left at the end of the month? Do your expenses keep going up? Are your dreams of retirement fading away? What If I told you i could give you a brain of a millionaire to change all of that so you can create the financial future and life you've always dreamed of... If so, you've found the right book!

Julian Fellowes's Belgravia

Julian Fellowes's Belgravia is the story of a secret. A secret that unravels behind the porticoed doors of London's grandest postcode. Set in the 1840s when the upper echelons of society began to rub shoulders with the emerging industrial nouveau riche, Belgravia is people by a rich cast of characters. But the story begins on the eve of the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. At the Duchess of Richmond's n0w legendary ball, one family's life will change forever.

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​What books are on your summer reading list?

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