"Yes Please" by Amy Poehler

My drive home from work today was extremely lonely. I have been spending the last week and a half with a bright, hilarious, female companion as I ripped around the Annapolis Valley. I have been listening to “Yes Please” the new audio book by the brilliant Amy Poehler.

I am a BIG fan of listening to the comedians read their own books as I drive; it helps pass the incredible amount of time I spend in my car. Whilst listening to incredible books like Tina Fey’s “Bossypants” and Mindy Kaling’s “Is EveryoneHanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns)” I actually started to resent having passengers during my trips who distracted me from listening to the special voices living inside my car. “Yes Please” was no different. My sister and other travel companions would recognize Poehler’s voice instantly and tell me to continue listening with them or start the book over.

Sometimes it is nice to have a little something to yourself, even if people all over the world are enjoying the same thing at the exact same time. There is something so intimate and private about listening to someone read you a book and tell you their stories that it makes you feel connected to them in a way that would probably creep them out (at least a little bit).

To be honest with you I am not big on listening to books that are anything other than authors talking about their own lives. I could never listen to Game of Thrones via audio book, although it would take until I settled into retirement to finish them. Listening to Tina and Mindy’s books really added that special touch, something I think I missed by reading Sarah Silverman’s ballsy “The Bedwetter: Stories of Courage, Redemption, and Pee”.

Listening to “Yes Please” was a treat. Poehler’s book is honest in a way that the other books in the female comedian semi-biography genre are not. Her take on life, her words of advice and her humble roots combine to make a very accessible book that can be appreciated by readers of all ages. I love the cameo voice-overs interjecting with advice and bits throughout the book as well. Not only does Amy offer up words of wisdom from experience her parents also interject with more advice on living.

I love the advice on everything from sex to tipping waiters in “Yes Please” but I can happily tell you that the book is not preachy. Poehler’s counsel is perfectly balanced with tales from her childhood and her personal and professional life as an adult. As much as I love Parks and Recreation I am happy that she feels too close to the show right now to write in depth about it, she acknowledges the impact of the show on her life but leaves more to be discussed (hopefully) in her next book.

It is hard to determine what my favourite part of the book is because the entire book was a pleasure to listen too. I can narrow it down to three parts:

-      Amy reflecting back on her time at SNL. I believe that the set of Saturday Night Live is equally as magical as Disney World/Land and listening to Amy talk about her time as part of the cast makes me feel like I am listening to a child talk about why they like Christmas so much.

-      Listening to Amy discuss her appreciation and love for the cast of Parks and Recreation. It sounds like the incredible characters that have made us love them on TV are just as easy to love off-screen. The workplace environment Poehler discusses sounds like the dream, there’s nothing better than working with talented, fun individuals who mesh well. You can hear the love in her voice when she talks about her co-workers and that is something to be cherished. It is nice to know that the cast of Parks and Recreation will miss working together as much (or more) than the fans will miss watching it after the final season.

-      The advice. Yes, I had to mention it one more time… and tip your server well. Words of wisdom touch on many topics like finding confidence, sleep deprivation, hugging inappropriate people and finding ways to be fun/funny during challenging times. There is a gem for everyone in this book.  

Poehler’s book is a winner; pick it up for any lady on your Christmas list this year. Or better yet, check out the audio book and have the one and only Amy Poehler read it to her herself! 

Last thought on “Yes Please”:

I think Amy Poehler could be the next Oprah. I just deleted a long paragraph justifying my stance on this statement but I really think you should let your mind wander on this topic until you agree with me. My question to you is, who would be her Gail? I would do crazy things to be invited to the “Amy’s Favourite Things” episode of this hypothetical television show…

For now I guess you can settle for checking out the "Yes Please" tour! For showtimes and locations click here.

"The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business" by Charles Duhigg

Would you like to quit smoking? Start working out regularly? Follow a healthy eating plan? Or kick a nasty habit like biting your nails or hitting the snooze button every morning? The empowering read you are looking for is "The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business" by Charles Duhigg.

I have known for a long time the power of habits and routine. For example, the only times I have been successful (in my mind anyways) at being a healthy adult were during times when I could establish a proper routine and develop good habits. Right now I am in one of the "cue, routine, reward" loops that Duhigg describes in the book, I have been going to the gym now for 33 weeks straight (minus one week while at Disney World) and have worked out 184 times. It is all because I made going to the gym and working out part of my daily routine and it eventually became a habit. 

It all started for me when I returned home from my previous vacation. While visiting San Diego for a week in February everyone made time to go to the gym but me. I had been working on a side project at work and in was consuming all of my down time on vacation. All of a sudden my Grandfather passed away while I was on the other side of the planet enjoying the California sunshine. My Grandfather's health had been an issue as long as I could remember, so I made a pact with myself that on my first day back at the station after vacation I would hit the gym for my lunch hour. 

I had been religiously going to the gym before I started my "grown-up" 9-5 job. After moving to British Columbia I found I had no time to go to the gym and for eight months focused on my new job and my new home. On the first day back from California I joined Peak Physique in Castlegar, British Columbia and hauled my ass to the gym every workday (and some weekends) until my next move at the end of July. 

I knew it was going to be a struggle when another move popped up, but I have continued to venture to the gym at least five times a week even when in different provinces and forced to use hotel fitness facilities. For me it was never about a number, how much I weigh is not really something that bothers me and loosing weight is definitely not my focus. Going to the gym and eating properly has always been better for me mentally than physically. Feeling good on the inside translates to looking good and hitting the gym helps me curb some of my anxiety and burn off extra energy. 

Everyday I wake up and I hit the gym. My cue is sliding out of bed and into workout clothing. My routine is drinking my pre-workout, driving to the gym and then working out. My reward is a little time in the sauna reading, enjoying a protein shake and that post-workout high. 

An area that I need to start applying the "cue, routine, reward" theory is with my online life. If you follow my blog you can tell that I really do not spend much time writing right now, my website needs to be revamped and well my social media pages are pretty dull. Moving across the country has really killed the amount of time I spend online. While working at the radio station I spent lots of time online at work and while I was at home but now I have lots of other priorities that do not include looking for hot topics to talk or write about. Right now I am working "offline", I am not intentionally avoiding the internet but just do not have the time for the things that were really important to me at this time last year.

It has been a nice break but I am looking forward to figuring out a way to include more time for writing and creativity in my new routine. Any tips? I have always been big on lists and charting my goals, this is something I need to work into my new living situation. I have always created little nooks and areas in my living spaces to do my work, this is lacking from my new house. Maybe my first reward for blogging everyday for a month could be a new desk? Hmmmm... or I'm thinking a coffee everyday on my way home from the gym to help the creative juices flow while writing my daily blog? We will see... that could get expensive. 

What did you do to kick your nasty habits?

If you have yet to figure out how to start a new routine for yourself or quit a habit or addiction I recommend "The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business" by Charles Duhigg.. I have always been a fan of buying books at the airport and this book was up there on the list of my favourites. It was incredibly easy to follow and I could not put it down. I actually read over half of the book while on my flights from Orlando back to Halifax. 

Amanda Lang’s “The Power of Why”

I've never been more excited to finish a book than I am right now and it is totally for good reason, I want to read it again. I have been reading Amanda Lang’s “The Power of Why” since December 2013 and it has taken all of my patience and willpower not to push through the entire book. I absolutely loved every page of the book and I am feeling very inspired right now; hence the excitement in my writing.

I have looked up to Amanda Lang for a long time. Everyday when I would get home from broadcast school I would watch her program The Lang and O'Leary Exchange and marvel at Lang’s consistent poise, class and optimism going head-to-head a lot of the time with Kevin O'Leary. I was so excited when I picked up “The Power of Why” that I immediately shoved all the other books I bought that day aside. Including Ron Burgundy’s book…

I knew immediately when I started “The Power of Why” that it was a book that was not meant to be rapidly consumed. I normally power through books I am passionate about. Not this time. 
"The Power of Why" is written so powerfully that each segment of each chapter has a substantial message, so I read each story individually to take her lessons in marketing and business to heart.

I’m going to be honest with you; I went to university to go to university. When I was “learning” I was memorizing theories and facts to get a grade that would lead to a diploma. I never really thought about a career in promotions and marketing, all I could think about was getting through university to get to broadcast school. I had always been interested in politics and history; they are subjects I excelled in back in high school so it made sense to pursue in at university.

I know this is not how it is for most people who get a degree, but for me it was a box to check off and I wanted to finish it as soon as possible. For me the difference between learning back then and learning in broadcast school, reading “The Power of Why” and working in radio is that I actually want a future in the industries and want to develop the skills. I am constantly curious and want explanations rather than a pass these days. Don't get me wrong, in the common year of Radio and Television Arts at NSCC I definitely underachieved in areas that did not hold my key interests but I still cared more about those marks than most during my degree. 

Please do not get me wrong; I loved my time at St. Francis Xavier University.  It helped develop me into the independent conscious adult that I needed to be before I started my education in broadcasting. Simply put, StFX taught me valuable skills that helped me develop into a confident and competent professional person, something I am not sure I would have been if I had not gone to university. 

I thought I would explain that so you could get a better understanding of why I read this book so slowly. I can totally read; that was not the issue.  I wanted to fully appreciate every story. Amanda Lang does an incredible job taking you through multiple stories in each chapter; each one deserves full attention because they are all great lessons in growth to learn from.  Whenever I would get a little down or run low on ideas I would pick up “The Power of Why” and read a chapter, it would usually change the way I was thinking about an issue or at least inspire an idea that was floating around the back of my mind waiting for some inspiration.

I have been trying to wrap my head around a lot of things these days. I have been trying to innovate both big and small aspects of my daily life before I turn twenty-five next week and this book has been a big inspiration. On top of Sarah Silverman’s “Make It A Treat” mantra I have adopted, I have also made “why?” the number one question or comment my mind jumps to at all times. This started a little earlier than MIAT and has been pretty effective when communicating new goals and new ideas with people.

I have joined the gym down the street and it is changing the way I run my day to day. I like to think of it as innovating to make the most of my time. I workout on my lunch hour and as I finish with cardio I check my inbox on my iPad and respond to all my emails and it gives me time to read more into radio and marketing articles. It also gives me a chance to do show prep for my next show and research whatever my curious mind is wondering about. I like to think my boss is innovating here too by allowing me to not take a conventional lunch hour and understanding/trusting me to be accountable while at the gym. My bosses realize that those minutes doing cardio are uninterrupted work minutes and my perception of work is much more positive because there is trust. I am more likely to stay late or work from home because I appreciate getting a full workout in. I do not abuse the trust and everyone ends up happy. Again, just a little example…

I have nothing but kind words and praise for “The Power of Why”. It truly is an honest and inspiring book that I think can have applications for daily life for everyone.  Thank you Amanda Lang, from now on I am keeping your book at my desk for any moments that I need a little inspiration.

Sarah Siverman’s “The Bedwetter: Stories of Courage, Redemption, and Pee”

I just finished Sarah Silverman’s book “The Bedwetter: Stories of Courage, Redemption, and Pee”.  I never used to be a Sarah Silverman fan but seeing her nail the role of Vanellope von Schweetz in Disney’s “Wreck-It-Ralph” was like a gateway drug. I am now a huge fan and I absolutely loved her book.

The main thing I am going to take from the book is her “make it a treat” philosophy. I think this will help me conquer my addiction to Chinese food and penny candy.  Seriously, I’m fighting the urges right now…

Her stories are so comforting for anyone who grew up not feeling 100% normal.

I love that she doesn’t hold anything back and is just as raunchy as a writer. Expect vulgar language; talk about farts and doody and lots of Silverman family features. I think Sarah’s family is just as entertaining as she is. Even if they aren’t she is a good enough writer to make them seem like a barrel of laughs.

I love that Sarah Silverman is ballsy enough to write her own foreword and even an afterward by God.

If you a looking for a fun and quick read, Sarah Siverman’s “The Bedwetter: Stories of Courage, Redemption, and Pee”.

And, Sarah is 100% right... Pee is a better word for the title than Pee Pee. 

Rockin' Read: Everybody Loves Our Town: An Oral History of Grunge

I was a wee baby when Seattle’s music scene was creating what we now call “grunge” music. Actually, I was an idea when it all started… scratch that… I would have been the equivalent of a contemporary woman’s Pinterest board for planning an upcoming baby when it all was getting started. So, working in a radio station that plays classic rock and only the best new rock, I felt I needed to learn about the bands that earn me my bread and butter. I do know my fair share about the quintessential rock classics, I took ‘The History of Popular Music’ in university (yes, university not Greendale College); but I felt I was really missing the story behind the “grunge” music that I was certainly not allowed to listen to as a kid.

First of all, I am using “grunge” for lack of a better word and because it is pretty common place for music from this important chunk of rock history. I don’t like the label, I totally agree with people who are not fans of the word but this is just a simple blog for my station and I’m trying to not get too technical here.

So, what did I think of ‘Everybody Loves Our Town: An Oral History of Grunge’?

Well, I will be honest with you. With the crazy morning show schedule it took me two months to read. Again, I promise to have it back to the Trail Public Library as soon as possible. I just finished it, but I took my time; I really wanted to get everything I could from it. It did take me a little while to get into the format of the book and the style that it uses to orally communicate the story from all the players; but I loved it!

It was like the script of a soap-opera turned into a documentary…that you could read. There are two-sided stories and all the drama you could possibly imagine. It balances the incredibly dark reality of some situations with the fun and the comradery that were also part of the era.

I would definitely read this one again; I think it is the perfect book to have on-hand for multiple reads.

A big, BIG thumbs up for everyone on this read; especially if you are a music lover and fans of bands like Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, Hole , Mudhoney, Pearl Jam, Nirvana and many others! 

Kate's Reading Challenge Book 10: '50 Shades of Grey’ by E.L. James

One of my goals I set for myself on my twenty-fourth birthday was reading a book a week.  I am a little behind, moving twice and finishing school put a damper on my plan. To help motivate myself to finish books on time every week my new plan is to share my latest read with you on my blog. I w
ill read anything and everything and I would love your suggestions, feel free to email them to me at kate@mountainfm.net.

Book 10: '50 Shades of Grey’ by E.L. James

After saying I would never read ’50 Shades of Grey’ I can now say I have. I made the pledge to get through the book on-air when it was announced that Charlie Hunnam would play the lead role of Christian Grey. I had made several attempts to read the book in the past, but I just could not get into it. After forcing it, I finally managed to turn the last page a couple of weeks ago.

My thoughts?

I’m not impressed. I didn't expect a realistic story line in this book, so no disappointment there. I really did not like much of this book; I found it hard to sympathize with Ana because she was just too pathetic to me. Imagining Charlie Hunnam as Christian got me through the book. I was prepared for so much more and it seemed a little green and drawn out, maybe I just have a super dirty mind? The books pace was so slow and then it abruptly ends. I know that there are more books in the series, I will not be wasting my time on them, I have no more time to waste on a set of books.

I am also very discouraged that Hunnam has since decided not to do the film adaptation. 

Getting Goosebumps Nails

I am not a very girly girl. I rarely paint my finger nails. But this vine video has inspired me to ‘Goosebumps’ my nails this Halloween. I am thinking of going with pink nails and blue ooze off the top (inspired by one of my favourite Goosebumps books). I love it!

Kate's Reading Challenge Book 9: 'Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me (and Other Concerns)’ by Mindy Kaling

One of my goals I set for myself on my twenty-fourth birthday was reading a book a week.  I am a little behind, moving twice and finishing school put a damper on my plan. To help motivate myself to finish books on time every week my new plan is to share my latest read with you on my blog. I w
ill read anything and everything and I would love your suggestions, feel free to email them to me at kate@mountainfm.net.

Book 9: 'Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me (and Other Concerns)’ by Mindy Kaling

I loved this book, as someone working in the entertainment industry I found a lot of her stories very fitting in my own life. I have often wondered the same thing, is everyone hanging out without me? Kaling is brilliant, I recommend listening to this book rather than reading it because she does a stellar job bringing it to life (as she should, it is her memoir and all). Just the sound of Kaling’s voice makes everything more livelily, I think this book is on par with Tina Fey’s ‘Bossypants’, it is honest and heartfelt and explores all the elements of Kaling’s life that has led to her continued success after 'Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me (and Other Concerns)’ was published.

I really enjoyed this book; it really does hit the highs and lows of being a working woman that tries to make people laugh for a living. I love the stories from the Office and Kaling’s awkwardness in life and her career. I really relate to her stories about saying the wrong things, at the wrong time.

This is a great light read, perfect to listen to on a road trip if you are so inclined!

Yay, Mindy!

Kate's Reading Challenge Book 8: 'I Can Barely Take Care of Myself: Tales from a Happy Life Without Children' by Jen Kirkman

OOne of my goals I set for myself on my twenty-fourth birthday was reading a book a week.  I am a little behind, moving twice and finishing school put a damper on my plan. To help motivate myself to finish books on time every week my new plan is to share my latest read with you on my blog. I will read anything and everything and I would love your suggestions, feel free to email them to me at kate@mountainfm.net.

Book 8:  'I Can Barely Take Care of Myself: Tales from a Happy Life without Children" by Jen Kirkman 

I did not finish this week’s book review; I will not make this a habit. I was pretty bored with the book in general, which I guess I should have realized by the title. At a solid 400 page plus book on my e-reader all about not wanting to have kids and not wanting to be judged because of it. I am not huge on the idea of having kids, in fact right now at twenty-four I am pretty dead set on not having them; but I don’t feel the need to write an entire book about it.

I know this book is a bit of a bio of Jen Kirkman, but it really feels like it is loosely strung together by the fact that she does not want to have kids. I think with all the other books written by funny gals on the market these days this book just does not hold up. It does have its fun moments, moments that will make you laugh… but I am not sure they mesh well with the theme of the book and I really don’t think they are worth the pages it takes just for Kirkman to say that she does not want to have kids.

FYI, I still don't want kids. But, I'm not going to write a book about it. 

Kate's Reading Challenge Book 7: ‘The Wolf of Wall Street' by Jordan Belfort

One of my goals I set for myself on my twenty-fourth birthday was reading a book a week.  I am a little behind, moving twice and finishing school put a damper on my plan. To help motivate myself to finish books on time every week my new plan is to share my latest read with you on my blog. I will read anything and everything and I would love your suggestions, feel free to email them to me at kate@mountainfm.net.

                         

Book 7: ‘The Wolf of Wall Street' by Jordan Belfort

When I started reading ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’ I could not put it down. Jordan Belfort’s tales from his life of wealth and abundance are almost unimaginable for average people. I really enjoyed most of ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’; it did seem to drag on though. Typically books I read for my weekly reviews are under 500 pages on my iPad and this bad boy was over 800 pages. Despite being long the story continues to move and sometimes has to jump in time to keep everything moving. My only real beef is that the story could have been condensed more; some of the technical information could have been left out. I feel like I learned a lot about trading, Swiss Banking and the SEC but would rather have spent time hearing more about Jordan Belfort’s sexy escapades. I enjoy hearing the perspective of both Jordan Belfort ‘the Wolf’ and Jordan Belfort the loving father, sometimes it seems like his only redeeming quality is how much he loves his children (and how generous he was with the money to the people in his life).

Overall, I would recommend waiting for the movie if this book interests you. I am really excited to go see the film adaptation (I made a point to finish the book before seeing the movie). If you enjoy the film consider investing in reading the book, I am sure it goes into much more detail than the movie will. 

Here is the film adaptations official trailer.

Kate's Reading Challenge Book 6: ‘Debt-Free Forever: Take Control of Your Money and Your Life' by Gail Vaz-Oxlade

One of my goals I set for myself on my twenty-fourth birthday was reading a book a week.  I am a little behind, moving twice and finishing school put a damper on my plan. To help motivate myself to finish books on time every week my new plan is to share my latest read with you on my blog. I will read anything and everything and I would love your suggestions, feel free to email them to me at kate@mountainfm.net.

Book 6: ‘Debt-Free Forever: Take Control of Your Money and Your Life' by Gail Vaz-Oxlade

Gail Vaz-Oxlade is the hard-nosed penny-pinching Canadian finance guru that hosts some of the hottest Canadian finance television reality shows. She caught my eye with her shows this spring and her insightful appearances on CBC news advising average Canadians on their finances.

I am not in crazy debt, I am actually in a pretty good place for being a twenty-something new grad working in my first professional job; but I chose this book because I want to be pro-active about my finances and not end up in the situation many Canadians find themselves in with dangerous credit cards.

I really do not think that they spend enough talking about personal finances and credit in school. I think you should have to take a course on using credit before receiving things like credit cards, you have to take driving tests and lessons; why a not financial test to prove you know how to use credit responsibly.

I chose ‘Debt-Free Forever’ because I wanted to learn the basics on personal finance. I wanted to be able to craft a responsible budget, begin an emergency fund, start a big expense savings account and start thinking about the future by saving for retirement (etc.). I ended up getting so much more out of this book than what I originally intended, I will be keeping it around for reference for the rest of my life.

If you are like me and pretty green to the world of finances, this book is for you; it is a pretty easy read but Gail still gets the important details across and manages to take a hard line on important issues. She does not allow excuses or whining, with all her experience it is like she can sense the moments where you want to fight her advise; at these points in the book she kindly reminds you to think of the goal and work hard towards it.

I think this is the perfect book for anyone, if I had a child I would give it to them around their final year of high school. Easy steps to get them started (without knowing it) are getting them to set milestones and goals. If you start your kids with in this process it will not be alien to them when they need to them. Even the smallest steps, like saving for the newest want will put them (or you) in the right direction to getting to the goal.

The biggest thing, once you have gotten past spending every dollar you earn each paycheck is to follow Gail’s mantra, “plan like a pessimist, so you can live like an optimist.”

I like to revert to the wise words of Kanye on this front, “Whether you broke or rich you gotta get this. Havin money's not everything not havin it is.”

A seriously good read. It is not an adventure that whisks you away to another time or place; it is not a lusty romance or a page-turner thriller that will stimulate your fantasies. ‘Debt-Free Forever: Take Control of Your Money and Your Life' is a book that will allow to have the freedom to have adventures of your own, a financially responsible relationship and a live in the moment life rather than a life filled with regretful spending and the stress of bills piling up. 

Kate's Reading Challenge Book 5: ‘Everything is Perfect When You're a Liar' by Kelly Oxford

One of my goals I set for myself on my twenty-fourth birthday was reading a book a week.  I am a little behind, moving twice and finishing school put a damper on my plan. To help motivate myself to finish books on time every week my new plan is to share my latest read with you on my blog. I will read anything and everything and I would love your suggestions, feel free to email them to me at kate@mountainfm.net.

Book 5: ‘Everything is Perfect When You're a Liar' by Kelly Oxford

I have read a bunch of reviews saying “not for everyone” and “not my thing”. I guess I can understand that, with that being said I loved Kelly Oxford’s ‘Everything is Perfect When You’re a Liar.

I laughed throughout this book. Honestly, I feel like Kelly Oxford’s life is similar to what my life would have been like if I was born a decade earlier. I love her perspective on her life stories; things other people would consider ridiculous or unsafe are completely normal for Kelly Oxford.

My favourite Kelly Oxford story is actually a more recent tale about living with kids in Calgary. She really is so relatable; I can totally picture myself in the same situation driving to the Calgary Zoo and getting pulled over. I don’t want to give too much away, because Kelly Oxford is absolutely brilliant storyteller.

I recommend this book to anyone who believes they’re special snowflake; Kelly Oxford’s tales from her unique life are perfect for anyone who can relate to living out their ridiculous dreams.