We think Summer is the best time of year for guilty pleasure reading(aka GPR). And we love our GPR to have lots of celebrities, some naughtiness and at least one good man that takes his shirt off regularly. So when Katie Lee's Groundswell landed on our doorstep last month, we had a feeling it would be REALLY good GPR. And we were right!
That's why we're totally stoked to have Katie sharing her 5 Do's and a Do-over on the site today. We have a feeling that many of you are really needing a little GPR yourselves!
Katie's multi-talented- she's also a fabulouso chef that has written TWO cookbooks. (Even Paula Deen loves her!) Another Katie Lee fun fact? She hosted the first season of one of our fave shows, TOP CHEF!
Here's the skinny on Groundswell: Sometimes the biggest ripples come from the smallest events. Like the day that Emma Guthrie walks into world-famous movie star Garrett Walker’s trailer. When she steps through the door, she’s a novice PA who’s just dropped out of college after losing her scholarship. When she walks out, she’s on her way to becoming Mrs. Emma Walker—wife of an A-list actor. Soon, Emma has made the transition from nobody to red-carpet royalty, trading jeans and flip-flops for closets full of Chanel and Birkin bags, swishing past velvet ropes to attend every lavish party and charity gala on both coasts. With her husband’s encouragement, Emma pens a screenplay based on her life, Fame Tax, which becomes a blockbuster sensation. Through it all, Garrett is her ally and her mentor . . . until their relationship is thrown into question by an incriminating text message that Emma discovers on Garrett’s phone the night of the Met Costume Institute Gala.
Devastated by her husband’s infidelity and hounded mercilessly by the paparazzi, Emma must flee New York City to get away from it all and clear her head. Her destination? A sleepy coastal town in Mexico where no one recognizes her and there is nothing but unspoiled beaches for miles. Here, she meets Ben, a gorgeous, California-born surf instructor, who teaches her about the healing powers of surfing, shows her the joys of the simple life, and ultimately opens her up to the possibility of love.
Sounds super fun, right? Good thing we have FIVE copies to give away! Just leave a comment here and be entered to win. We'll choose the winner on Sunday July 31st after 6pm PST. Good luck y'all!
CHICK LIT IS NOT DEAD PRESENTS...KATIE LEE'S 5 DO'S AND A DO-OVER
5 DO'S
1. Breathe. I do yoga a few times a week, and it’s done wonders for reducing my stress level. If yoga isn’t your thing, “zen-out” while running, spinning, meditating, or allocating 15 minutes of quiet time with a cup of tea.
2. Ask questions about your food. I call it “conscious consumption” – being aware of what you’re eating, how it was raised, and how it affects the environment. Ask questions wherever you buy your food, and also at restaurants. The more interested people are in having ethically raised food, the more it will be available.
3. Travel somewhere new every year. I like to take a trip once a year to somewhere I haven’t been and take myself out of my usual “comfort zone.” Last year, I went to Morocco, and this year I’m planning a trip to India. But it doesn’t have to be somewhere totally far-flung and exotic, going on a road trip to a state park you’ve never visited is a great way to expose yourself to something totally new, too.
4. Take on a new challenge. A few years ago, I decided to try surfing. I was in the midst of a divorce, and I wanted to do something out of character to get out of my own head. I had always been afraid of the ocean, so I decided to try surfing. Not only did I gain new confidence, the idea for Groundswell was born from it. A real win-win!
5. Keep a clean house. I can’t think when my house is disorganized. Keeping a neat house will help you function better, and is also a way of appreciating what you have and honoring your home.
DO-OVER
Go back to high school, just for a day, and realize that all the petty stuff didn’t matter one bit, especially the mean girls!
Thanks Katie! xo, L&L
To read more about Katie, head on over to her website or find her on Facebook and Twitter!