I haven’t read a book quite like it. As I read it, I felt like I was interacting with an entire community. Just like a blog. That’s it! The Planning With Kids Book is just like a blog in a book. It comes alive as you read it which is an amazing and unique combination! Let me tell you about it.
About Nicole Avery
Firstly, I want to tell you about the author, Nicole Avery. I call her Nic. She’s warm, friendly, down to earth and approachable. Here we are at the recent Melbourne Bloggers Brunch and Sydney Aussie Bloggers Conference (pictured below). We’ve only met a few times in person, but I feel I know Nic because I read her blog. She’s married to a supportive man and they have five unique and amazing children. The book is personal, so you feel like Nicole is there chatting with you over a cup of tea, and there’s plenty of helpful advice, presented in a easy to digest way. Read more about Nicole here: About Nicole Avery.
About the Book
Planning With Kids (the book) is all about organising a family so there’s time for family fun. It’s based on Nicole’s blog of the same name. There is vast amounts of useful information about planning in the book, but for me, it was more than that. There’s a holistic approach to the book that’s not limited to organisation strategies. I’ll venture to say the book gives a comprehensive guide to family life. It’s not so much about parenting as it is about the beauty that is family. That is what struck me.I finished the book with renewed excitement about making plans for my own family. I can’t remember last time a book did that for me.
I found myself constantly nodding as I read because it makes so much sense. Here are some lines that jumped out at me:
“Keep it simple, start small and focus on the basics.”
“Spending all my time focusing on the ‘now’ made me feel as though I was always in catch-up mode.”
“We still do have moments of mess, fighting and tears, but planning has made managing these moments easier and less frequent.”
“It’s with gradual steps that we make changes to our daily life so we can spend more time being with the kids, rather than doing for the kids.”
“Plan time for yourself, your kids, your partner and most importantly plan time for fun!”
The book covers a whole range of topics including age related stages, holidays, birthday parties, meal planning, spending time with your spouse, routines, and much more.
Community
Remember I said reading the book is like participating in a community? Well, the book is filled with excerpts from readers of the Planning With Kids Blog. I feel privileged to be in it (on page 110). It’s a book where regular Mums and Dads share their experiences, so as I read it, I felt I was in a room full of warm people chatting out their family. I was encouraged, not only by Nic, and the way she openly shared about her parenting experiences, but by the many others who shared in the book.
Last Word
I thoroughly enjoyed reading the Planning With Kids Book. It’s easy to read, a section at a time, and also engaging so you can sit for long periods and take it all in. Yes, it’s a book about planning, but it’s also a book that inspires the reader to invest in the gift of family life. And that, is very beautiful.
Particulars
The book was published by Wright Books
Find out where to buy the book here: Buy the Book
Giveaway
***Giveaway ended. Winner has been notified by email. Congratulations!***
I’m so happy to be able to give a book away to a Be A Fun Mum reader. I know you’ll love it! All you need to do is leave a comment below.
1. Open to Australian Residents only
2. Competition open 10 June to 17 June 2011
3. I will decide the winner using random.org
4. The winner will be notified via email.
Links
101 Comments
Courtney
June 10, 2011 at 7:58 amHi Kelly, Seems this book is everywhere at the moment. It is the feature of my latest blog post as well. Such a good book for me at the moment. Helping me through my chaos!
Cheers Courtney x
Sally Dalwood
June 10, 2011 at 8:01 amThat sounds like a wonderful book. Being a working mum, and (I admit) a very “disorganized housewife”, I often feel like I’m playing catch-up, and then not having the time to do the fun things I want to do with my partner and son.
Lauren
June 10, 2011 at 8:03 amThanks for introducing Nic and this book to my world….would love to read the book!
My life with the Dreaded D’s | Nobashake
June 10, 2011 at 8:04 am[…] until the 17th June 2011 you have a chance to win a copy of this book from Kelly at Be A Fun Mum so what are you waiting for – head over there and enter her competition!!! Tagged in: […]
Katie b
June 10, 2011 at 8:05 amSounds like a brilliant book, in a chaotic world its hard to find time to just “be a family” great review had
Alana
June 10, 2011 at 8:11 amI love the excerpt “Spending all my time focusing on the ‘now’ made me feel as though I was always in catch-up mode.” That is totally me! I have made a few small steps to change this, but would like to be able to see the bigger picture rather than focussing on the small stuff. Would love to read this book!
Rachael
June 10, 2011 at 8:16 amOh your the second person I have seen to review this book and love it….. I would love to win it but if not I really need to get my hands on a copy… I can’t wait to read it thank you 🙂
Jenni Law
June 10, 2011 at 8:16 ama book about the gift of family life – what a wonderful thing that gets too overlooked in the rushing here and there that is our family life. I have started to take small steps towards trying to address the inbalance. Seems to me this book just might be what I need to get where I want!! Thanks for the review!
Nicole Meyer
June 10, 2011 at 8:35 amWow could this be the answer to all my problems….maybe…a little!!!! I’m a stay at home mum but I feel like I’m running around all day cleaning, going to and fro. I feel like I don’t actually ‘spend’ time with the kids, and lets not even talk about time with hubby! Does Nicole make home visits???!!!
Allison Dench
June 10, 2011 at 8:42 amSounds like a fantastic book! thanks be a fun mum – now we can be fun AND organised 🙂
Naomi Ellis
June 10, 2011 at 8:55 amI would so love to win! great review and love the pictures of the two of you together. I love that she has included so many others – very generous lady that Nic! N x
Tara
June 10, 2011 at 8:57 amI would love to read this book! I like to plan ahead as it is but i am most certain this book would help that little bit more.
It seems every week we get busier & busier which i love so im sure theres some planning element im missing lol
xx
Annette
June 10, 2011 at 8:57 amSounds like a great book – I would love to receive a copy as it will help me organise with a new baby coming soon.
Nathalie
June 10, 2011 at 9:04 amWhat a lovely review, makes me want to have the book even more. Great photos of you both too.
Andrea Browne
June 10, 2011 at 9:25 amThanks for the review – sounds like a great read!
Mel peacock
June 10, 2011 at 10:05 amThis book is on my birthday wish list 🙂
Neen
June 10, 2011 at 10:53 amSounds like an awesome book! Am also heading over to check out the blog!
Nicole Townsend
June 10, 2011 at 11:09 amHi there
I love to escape the chaos of my world and just BE with my kids (gels, aged 8 & 6).
Childhood is so precious, loving every minute of it.
The book looks fab.
Nicole
Heidi
June 10, 2011 at 11:17 amSounds like a great book, can’t wait to read it.
Natasha
June 10, 2011 at 11:40 amfantastic! I just read that Nicole is at Dymocks Chermside and I missed it. Will definitely have a look at the book next time I’m there.
Lyndall
June 10, 2011 at 11:47 amI have been waiting for this book to come out for months… can’t wait to get my hands on it… have to ‘plan in’ some time to read it! lol 🙂
Liv
June 10, 2011 at 12:49 pmSounds like a great book. can’t wait to get a copy and have a read.
Laura snook
June 10, 2011 at 1:12 pmI have 3 children under 3 years of age and i would love any helpful hints on how to plan for fun family time. The book sounds great!
Laura
June 10, 2011 at 2:25 pmThanks for the review, i would love to read the book, the chaos in our house could do with a little organisation!
Milika
June 10, 2011 at 2:37 pmSounds great. Pity I missed Nic in Brisbane today.
Gilly
June 10, 2011 at 3:18 pmSounds fantastic! With an extraordinarily bright, busy and rambunctious 2 yr old and another bubba on the way I love the idea of geting some good tips and skills for spending more time ‘with’ the kids and less time ‘for’ the kids! Good season to stretch my capacity as a mum!
kylie
June 10, 2011 at 3:38 pmi would love this book! As a mum and a teacher at a school for young mums, i could see this book dog eared and bookmarked in no time
MultipleMum
June 10, 2011 at 4:40 pmI really want a copy of Nic’s book but with the whole “buy nothing new for a year” thing I can’t! It would be fab to win one though. Thanks for offering a giveaway x
Heidi
June 10, 2011 at 4:47 pmpick me! pick me!!!! xx
Angela
June 10, 2011 at 5:22 pmI’d love to win this book… Sounds as if it was written with me in mind 🙂
Shannon
June 10, 2011 at 6:19 pmPossibly I am in more dire need of planning assistance than 99% of the population.
narnouration
June 10, 2011 at 9:09 pmi would love to have it as i am a mother of two and the third is on the way and i am studying as well and i get stressed alot and i would love a guide to add more fun to my sweet family as they r the most important thing in my whole life and this is my biggest achievment that i need to enjoy more,thanx
Cath
June 10, 2011 at 10:30 pmSooner or later I am going to win this book. Or otherwise, I’m going to have to buy it, but that’s nowhere near as much fun!
Krys
June 10, 2011 at 11:34 pmThanks for the awesome review. It sounds like I totally need this book. Like, yesterday.
samone
June 11, 2011 at 1:06 amWe were just talking tonight over dinner how I could ‘better organize’ my day so I can spend more time playing with our kids and less time doing ‘house stuff’.
Off to find the blog now – thanks
Veronica
June 11, 2011 at 4:24 amI’m really only in the early stages of my parenting journey with two kids but this book sounds like it could get me on the right track early.
Nicole Grant
June 11, 2011 at 7:26 amWhat a great blog! If the book is anything like it, I would love to win a copy 🙂
Bronya Dodds
June 11, 2011 at 9:24 amI would LOVE LOVE LOVE a copy of this book!!
Nicole
June 11, 2011 at 9:48 amComment =)
Lee Read
June 11, 2011 at 12:24 pmAlways looking for more inspiration! x
Karen
June 11, 2011 at 1:15 pmThis sounds like the book I need! The term “fire-fighting” goes through my head quite a lot lately :/
Nina
June 11, 2011 at 3:11 pmSo glad I came across this blog – would love to win a copy!!
Nicolle
June 11, 2011 at 5:16 pmWhat a wonderful book..Oh how it would help me I am soo unorganized..I call myself “Domestically Challenged”…which is difficult to have when you have 3 children..thankyou for a awsome review and great blog
Rebekah
June 11, 2011 at 7:58 pmI am trying to win a copy of this week as I cannot afford to buy myself anything at the moment. I adore the Planning with kids blog and love receiving emails from Nic.
PlanningQueen
June 11, 2011 at 9:08 pmYour review made me teary – thanks Kelly.xxxxxx
mellie jane
June 12, 2011 at 10:31 amI would love this book with 4 darlings of my own i could use alla the tips i can get.
Elise
June 12, 2011 at 2:33 pmI’d LOVE to win that book! Sure would come in handy 🙂
Naomi
June 12, 2011 at 10:16 pmI love Nicole’s blog and I’m sure I’d love her book too.
I sure need the help – since having number 3 early this year my organised little world is on a tilt!
Thanks for a great giveaway 🙂
Ree
June 12, 2011 at 11:32 pmWow, can I just say that being a homeschooling mum with 2 businesses and helping my husband run his business too this sounds like JUST the book I’ve been looking for! Have just stumbled upon your blog and am now off to take a longer look around x
Kirsty @ My Home Truths
June 13, 2011 at 9:02 amThe book sounds fab – looking around my messy abode I certainly need some help around here! I am making a concerted effort to live more in the moment and become more organized so this book would certainly keep me on the right track. Thanks for the review, even if I don’t win I will get myself a copy, somehow!