Today, I’m launching my book… the book I’ve been planning and dreaming about and writing for nearly a year.
Yes, I’m a slow writer.
Lots of words have gone into the making of this book. So it’s kind of strange that tonight, as I sit here in front of my computer trying to dream up the perfect post to share it with you for the very first time…. I can’t find the words.
I could tell you how excited I am to have completed a project so large. That would be true. Between pioneering a blog, writing a book, parenting three littlies, moving house (soon to be twice in less than a year), dealing with trips away for medical appointments for our daughter, and just plain doing life…. let’s just say “downtime” hasn’t figured too large on my list of priorities this year.
I could tell you that it always seems impossible until it’s done. That I’m thrilled to see this little dream of mine come to pass, and nervous about what people will think of it, and as vulnerable as if I’d taken my beating heart out of my body and handed it to you all quivering and bloody on my outstretched palm.
All of those things would be true, but none of them seem exactly right.
So instead, I’m going to tell you a story.
Once, there was a girl.
She didn’t believe she was beautiful. In fact, she spent many lunchtimes cowering in a toilet cubicle, trying not to let anyone hear her cry. She was hiding from the world, because the world had taught her that she was not good enough. The world ridiculed her for things about herself that she couldn’t change. Taunted her. Laughed at her. Made her feel unworthy… rejected… less-than.
And so she shrank away from people, and turned her eyes toward the ground, and as the years went by and the girl grew into a woman, she never forgot the hard lesson she had learned as a child, which was this: you are not good enough, and people won’t like you the way you are.
It’s hard to bandage wounds that are soul-deep, because how do you reach them?
How can you ever take the ugly things, the hurtful things, and turn them into something beautiful?
That girl was me, and this book is my story…
…but it’s also your story.
It’s a story about finding beauty in unlikely places; a story about celebrating home.
It’s a story about journeying to the beautiful life – a journey that has taken me out of the insecurity of my past, through rocky early motherhood, into a new understanding of what beauty really is, and what it is not.
It’s a book that asks the question – what does a beautiful life really look like? For a woman, a wife, a mother, and a home-maker?
What does a beautiful life look like for you?
I hope you’ll find this book inspiring and empowering. It’s also very practical. My aim is to give you a vision for your life and home, as well as the tools to get there.
Here’s what you can expect to find inside:
FOR MOTHERS:
· How to break free of the comparison trap
· The GAP in your life when you become a mother – and what you can do about it
· How to create the positive home environment you’ve always wanted
· The single best preventative discipline strategy you will ever use: how to stop behaviour problems before they start!
· How to experience measurable success in your role as a mother
· My secret to creating enough time to meet your kids’ needs… AND your own!
· How to plan your day with preschool-age kids
· A proven method for getting your kids to go to bed without fuss and stay in bed until 7am – every day!
FOR HOME-MAKERS:
· The two barriers between you and a beautiful home (Hint: money isn’t one of them!)
· The hottest decorating trend that costs the least amount of money
· One secret of top designers that will help you decorate your home with style and character… even on a tight budget
· The two beliefs that will change your home environment forever
· Inspiration to create a home you love
· The secret to absolute contentment – right here and now!
So, what will this book cost you?
So, what will this book cost you?
Nothing.
That’s right. It’s my desire to offer it to you for free. So please, spread the word, tell your friends, shout it from the rooftops.
When you sign up to receive your free copy of this book, you’ll also be joining the A house full of sunshine community. Because finding your most beautiful life is not just a one-book proposition. It’s a journey.
Each post that I write on this blog aims to inspire you in that journey – whether I’m sharing a DIY project, a decorated room, a kids’ activity, a recipe, or my thoughts on parenting and life. When you join with other women in community, creativity has room to flourish. We inspire and empower each other on the way.
Will you join me on the journey to a beautiful life? The story is not over yet… it’s just beginning. If you want to be a part of it and get your FREE 100+ page e-book, just type your email address below.
Amberlynnpray@yahoo.com
Can't wait to read your book Karen. Thank you for opening up your heart and sharing with us.
Amberlynnpray@yahoo.com
Can't wait to read your book Karen. Thank you for opening up your heart and sharing with us.
Thank you Fiona – I hope you enjoy it! xo
kaileedickinson@hotmail.com
Thank you Fiona – I hope you enjoy it! xo
kaileedickinson@hotmail.com
Beautiful cover, Karen!!
Thanks, Jill – I truly love it! The artist did a beautiful job!
Okay – truly lovely. And I haven't even cracked the book yet. I know I will love it. I know everyone will. Karen, your words are always just right. Thrilled for you!
Beautiful cover, Karen!!
Thanks, Jill – I truly love it! The artist did a beautiful job!
Okay – truly lovely. And I haven't even cracked the book yet. I know I will love it. I know everyone will. Karen, your words are always just right. Thrilled for you!
Just found your blog from being featured on IHeart Organizing. Great job on the office wall/command center! I've also been reading through many of your previous posts, and WOW…great job completing everything you had planned to do š
Can't wait to read your book once I receive it and see what else you have planned for your blog. Keep up the great work! <3
Karen I just "found" you via I heart Organizing. Congrats on finishing your book (oh, and your office project too, which is brilliant and very much infused with sunshine!) and many thanks in advance for offering your labor of love and inspiration to others.
Thank you for sharing your book. I'm not a stay at home mom, but always wished I could be. Your thoughts about making a home really resonated with me, especially "Y" – I needed to hear what you had to say.
Wow Karen, I am so excited to read your book. It's come at a time when I need some help! I also found you via I Heart Organising and I'm so excited that your Australian xx
Oops that YOU ARE Australian x
Hi Karen, I've just stumbled across your blog and am loving it. We too have an ugly chunky desk and office chair which I transformed. I spray painted the desk also using Rustoleum spray from Bunnings and I also had a sheet of clear Perspex 3mm thick cut up to the dimensions of the desktop.
Oops! Didn't quite finish! The Perspex is safer than glass and cheaper too. I then lay a roll of pretty wrapping paper under the Perspex and cut to size. I too change my mind frequently and so all I need to do is change the wrapping paper over when I get bored with it. I also took to the office chair with spray paint in silver and managed to pop out the back and unscrew the base to change the fabric with something a little prettier. No sewing involved just scissors and a staple gun. The desk is still too big but it's a whole lot less offensive to look at now!
Just found your blog from being featured on IHeart Organizing. Great job on the office wall/command center! I've also been reading through many of your previous posts, and WOW…great job completing everything you had planned to do š
Can't wait to read your book once I receive it and see what else you have planned for your blog. Keep up the great work! <3
Karen I just "found" you via I heart Organizing. Congrats on finishing your book (oh, and your office project too, which is brilliant and very much infused with sunshine!) and many thanks in advance for offering your labor of love and inspiration to others.
Thank you for sharing your book. I'm not a stay at home mom, but always wished I could be. Your thoughts about making a home really resonated with me, especially "Y" – I needed to hear what you had to say.
Wow Karen, I am so excited to read your book. It's come at a time when I need some help! I also found you via I Heart Organising and I'm so excited that your Australian xx
Oops that YOU ARE Australian x
Hi Karen, I've just stumbled across your blog and am loving it. We too have an ugly chunky desk and office chair which I transformed. I spray painted the desk also using Rustoleum spray from Bunnings and I also had a sheet of clear Perspex 3mm thick cut up to the dimensions of the desktop.
Oops! Didn't quite finish! The Perspex is safer than glass and cheaper too. I then lay a roll of pretty wrapping paper under the Perspex and cut to size. I too change my mind frequently and so all I need to do is change the wrapping paper over when I get bored with it. I also took to the office chair with spray paint in silver and managed to pop out the back and unscrew the base to change the fabric with something a little prettier. No sewing involved just scissors and a staple gun. The desk is still too big but it's a whole lot less offensive to look at now!
Narelle, that makes me so happy to hear! All the work will be worthwhile if it's actually helpful to people. So impressed that you've finished reading it already! AND you have a plan! You're gonna rock it, girl! š And YES, how funny is it that sometimes we have to look in faraway places to find what's in our own backyard. That has happened to me several times now! Always lovely to have a fellow Aussie on board. I'm so glad you're here. xo
Another Aussie?? Yay!! So thrilled that the book is timely for you – I hope you enjoy it and get a lot out of it! It's wonderful to have you here. xoxo
Kim, I so appreciate you letting me know how that impacted you. That was a really personal chapter to write… it's so encouraging to know it has meant something to somebody. Thanks, friend. xoxo
I'm so glad you found me! Thank you so much for those lovely words! xoxo
Oh! Your reference to that verse just brought a great big smile to my face. š It has really been my mantra this year… it means so much to me that even as a brand new visitor to my blog, you've been able to see the fruition of that. Wow…. I can't stop smiling. š Thank you for your sweet encouragement!! So glad to have you here!
P.S. About the book…. after signing up and following the prompts, you should have received it right away. Perhaps just check that your confirmation email hasn't gottten caught in your spam filter? If you have any trouble at all, please shoot me an email at ahousefullofsunshine@gmail.com, and I'll fix you up with your copy! xoxo
You're such a dear friend, sweet Jenn! Thanks so much for your beautiful words. xoxo
Wow, what an awesome effort, Tina!! I can just picture it – sounds AMAZING! Some great ideas, especially the Perspex with wrapping paper beneath. Great job! I love it when a transformation can be made using things you already have on hand. So creative! xoxo
Thanks for sharing it with us for free. I'm looking forward to reading it š
You're so welcome, Francesca – I hope you enjoy it! xo
Narelle, that makes me so happy to hear! All the work will be worthwhile if it's actually helpful to people. So impressed that you've finished reading it already! AND you have a plan! You're gonna rock it, girl! š And YES, how funny is it that sometimes we have to look in faraway places to find what's in our own backyard. That has happened to me several times now! Always lovely to have a fellow Aussie on board. I'm so glad you're here. xo
Another Aussie?? Yay!! So thrilled that the book is timely for you – I hope you enjoy it and get a lot out of it! It's wonderful to have you here. xoxo
Kim, I so appreciate you letting me know how that impacted you. That was a really personal chapter to write… it's so encouraging to know it has meant something to somebody. Thanks, friend. xoxo
I'm so glad you found me! Thank you so much for those lovely words! xoxo
Oh! Your reference to that verse just brought a great big smile to my face. š It has really been my mantra this year… it means so much to me that even as a brand new visitor to my blog, you've been able to see the fruition of that. Wow…. I can't stop smiling. š Thank you for your sweet encouragement!! So glad to have you here!
P.S. About the book…. after signing up and following the prompts, you should have received it right away. Perhaps just check that your confirmation email hasn't gottten caught in your spam filter? If you have any trouble at all, please shoot me an email at ahousefullofsunshine@gmail.com, and I'll fix you up with your copy! xoxo
You're such a dear friend, sweet Jenn! Thanks so much for your beautiful words. xoxo
Wow, what an awesome effort, Tina!! I can just picture it – sounds AMAZING! Some great ideas, especially the Perspex with wrapping paper beneath. Great job! I love it when a transformation can be made using things you already have on hand. So creative! xoxo
Thanks for sharing it with us for free. I'm looking forward to reading it š
Congratulations on the book!! I just found you thru I Heart Organizing and just reading the post about your book has me really intrigued to read it. I feel like I can learn a lot from you. I will definitely add you to my Bloglovin list of must reads. I'm currently at work sneaking away for a few minutes to peruse your blog, can't wait to read the book! š
You're so welcome, Francesca – I hope you enjoy it! xo
Thank you, Ari – I hope you really enjoy the book!
Congratulations on the book!! I just found you thru I Heart Organizing and just reading the post about your book has me really intrigued to read it. I feel like I can learn a lot from you. I will definitely add you to my Bloglovin list of must reads. I'm currently at work sneaking away for a few minutes to peruse your blog, can't wait to read the book! š
Thank you, Ari – I hope you really enjoy the book!
I have been trying to sign up to get the book, I am really interested in it.. but I haven't gotten any confirmation emails, help! Thank you very much. I found you via I Heart Organizing and added your blog to my favorites š
I'm so sorry about that, Stephanie! It's probably gone to your junk folder. Just let me know your email address, and I'll send you a copy straight away! You could drop me a quick line at ahousefullofsunshine(at)gmail(dot)com if you don't want to leave your email addy out in public for all the world to see. xoxo
I have been trying to sign up to get the book, I am really interested in it.. but I haven't gotten any confirmation emails, help! Thank you very much. I found you via I Heart Organizing and added your blog to my favorites š
I'm so sorry about that, Stephanie! It's probably gone to your junk folder. Just let me know your email address, and I'll send you a copy straight away! You could drop me a quick line at ahousefullofsunshine(at)gmail(dot)com if you don't want to leave your email addy out in public for all the world to see. xoxo
Congratulations! I was over at I Heart Organizing when I read about you and had to come over and check you out. You are now officially on my bloglovin list!! What an amazing sounding book…so what this mumma needs! Thank you for sharing xo
Congratulations! I was over at I Heart Organizing when I read about you and had to come over and check you out. You are now officially on my bloglovin list!! What an amazing sounding book…so what this mumma needs! Thank you for sharing xo
You're so welcome, Michelle! Thank you for those sweet words. I hope you enjoy and get lots out of it! xoxo
You're so welcome, Michelle! Thank you for those sweet words. I hope you enjoy and get lots out of it! xoxo
Karen, just received your e-book in my inbox. Can't wait to read it! Congratulations on the book and thank you so much for sharing it with us.
P.S: Love your blog!
~ http://thecreatist.wordpress.com/
Thanks so much, raingirl! š Glad to have you here!
Karen, just received your e-book in my inbox. Can't wait to read it! Congratulations on the book and thank you so much for sharing it with us.
P.S: Love your blog!
~ http://thecreatist.wordpress.com/
Thanks so much, raingirl! š Glad to have you here!
Congratulations, Karen!! I'm looking forward to reading your book. We share similar stories. I'm so thrilled for you!
Congratulations, Karen!! I'm looking forward to reading your book. We share similar stories. I'm so thrilled for you!
Thank you, sweet Jeanne! So lovely to see you here! xoxo
Thank you, sweet Jeanne! So lovely to see you here! xoxo
Sorry for the dumb question, but how did you attach/mount these to the wall? I absolutely love the idea
Sorry for the dumb question, but how did you attach/mount these to the wall? I absolutely love the idea
Not dumb at all, lovely! I screwed them into the wall using a hollow wall anchor (if you have a stud handy you could just screw them straight in.) A washer prevents the screw from slipping between the mesh of the basket. I spray-painted the screw head and washer black so they blended in. Thanks for asking – if you have the question, I'm sure others do to! xo
Not dumb at all, lovely! I screwed them into the wall using a hollow wall anchor (if you have a stud handy you could just screw them straight in.) A washer prevents the screw from slipping between the mesh of the basket. I spray-painted the screw head and washer black so they blended in. Thanks for asking – if you have the question, I'm sure others do to! xo
Wow, this is great!
Wow, this is great!
Thanks so much! xo
Thanks so much! xo