I submitted an essay to Real Simple Life Lessons contest. I fantasize that they are haggling over whether to pick mine and then they do, pick mine.  They call me and tell me.  I cry when, I hear, "You are the winner."  Then, I scream.  Then, I lay on the floor and look up my popcorn ceiling, and for a moment I imagine it's Michelangelo's Sistine ceiling, instead.  Then, I super bunch Alyss and Tucker and Eric in my arms.   I read my essay again and I know why they chose it.  Then, I drink some champagne, the good stuff.  I call some people and tell them.

Then, we book the flights to New York and when I am with the editors I tell them about my advice column idea and they love it and think it's the best idea they've ever heard.  They hire me on as an advice columnist with Real Simple and then my essay becomes the first chapter in my memoir.  And, of course, I live happily ever after.

And that's how it goes.  I hope you all create a love story that becomes a life event for you today.

I like to evaluate my life as if it is a best selling novel.  When I look at my life from a third person perspective -- I can peer as an outsider into my story. From the outside view point of my novel (my life,) I have unique insight to evaluate my story elements. What elements do I add to make my life the most wildly meaningful and interesting story for me?

First, I look at the main character. Myself. What is it about me as the main character that makes my story a best seller? Am I vulnerable and do I share my vulnerabilities openly? Am I willing to expose my idiosyncrasies? Am I willing to fail and share those failures? Am I evolving intellectually, spiritually, emotionally, physically? Am I all things I admire in other best-selling novel's main characters? If not, what do I need to learn to develop new qualities in myself?

Second, I look at the other characters in my novel. My family, friends, coworkers and acquaintances. Are they enhancing my quality of life? Do they add wonder and curiosity? What are they teaching me? Do they provide a safe harbor? Do they fill my color palette with beautiful hues and shades? Who else do I need to add to my cast of characters of my life story? Who else can help me develop into the most amazing main character in my life?

Third, I look at the plot of my novel. Is there enough tension/conflict to make the plot interesting? What about the pacing of story plot -- too fast or too slow? What new twists and turns does my plot need? What new experiences do I -- as the main character in my best selling novel -- want to have before the last chapter of my life?

If you looked at your life as a novel, would you think it was the very best story for you?

Oprah's magazine this month featured the Six Word Mini Memoir originally started by Larry Smith of SMITH Mini Memoir Project five years ago. What's really great is that Memoir of Me personalized books are like a mini memoir with your child!  Now is the perfect time to create a keepsake memory book just for you and your special child.  Love, Michelle

Love Love this Story Application by Oceanhouse Media.  Educational and imaginative and brings interactivity to reading and fun.  A must-have for any children's digital story library!  See Digital Storytime Review by clicking here.

Children have adored Helen Lester’s unique and affable penguin Tacky character for more than two decades since the first of the series was published.   Including Tacky Goes to Camp, Oceanhouse Media has now redesigned five titles of Tacky the Penguin series for the iPad and iPhone.

What readers will like best about Tacky Goes to Camp, and what I would classify as a standard to most Oceanhouse Media apps, including the Bippolo Seed  and A Wocket in My Pocket, is the elegance of each illustration, text, and sound.  The simple OM books style maintains both the integrity of the story and the fundamentals of reading for both young and older readers.  Another must-have for any children’s digital library.  Click the pic below to read the entire review or on Apptudes.com

If you are an app aficionodo, you won't want to miss the review of the interactive digital storybook by Auryn Apps of Vincent Van Gogh’s Sunflowers On iPad on Apptudes.com

Click the pic below to see the entire review.

Here is my first storybook app review on Apptudes.com -- My Little Pony by Ruckus Media Group.  It's not easy reviewing and giving my truthful opinion regarding a story app developer's hard work!  I believe Ruckus Media Group did a nice job and I gave them 3.5 stars! Click the pick below to see my full review here:

Hi! I'm Michelle LeBow author and digital publisher of Memoir of Me personalized books. I believe in the power of personal stories. Please connect with us and share your passionate story. I personally will make sure I help you package (in video or writing or however works best) and share it with people who can help. I have connected 1500 kids with their own personalized stories. The Memoir of Me Story Community. Share your story. Help share ours. Love, Michelle

The Law of Pure Potentiality - This law is based on the fact that we are, in our essential state, pure consciousness. The field of all possibilities and infinite creativity. When you discover your essential nature and know who you really are, in that knowing itself is the ability to fulfill any dream you have, because you are the eternal possibility, the immeasurable potential of all that was, is and will be. This law could also be called the Law of Unity, because underlying the infinite diversity of life is the unity of one all-pervasive spirit. There is no separation between you and this field of energy. One way to access the field is through the daily practice of silence, meditation and non-judgment. Spending time in nature will also give you access to the qualities inherent in the field: infinite creativity, freedom and bliss. 

How will you find your pure potential of your own personalized story? Love, Michelle Memoir of Me Personalized Books

Acceptance, Responsibility and Defenselessness are the ways to enter the space of your own personalized story.  The Law of Least Effort - This law is based on the fact that nature's intelligence functions with effortless ease and abandoned carefreeness. This is the principle of least action, of no resistance. This is, therefore, the principle of harmony and love. When we learn this lesson from nature, we easily fulfill our desires. In Vedic Science, the age-old philosophy of India, this principle is known as the principle of economy of effort, or "do less and accomplish more." Ultimately, you come to the state where you do nothing and accomplish everything. This means that there is just a faint idea, and then the manifestation of the idea comes about effortlessly. What is commonly called a "miracle" is actually an expression of the Law of Least Effort. Least effort is expended when your actions are motivated by love, because nature is held together by the energy of love. When you seek power and control over other people, you waste energy. When you seek money or power for the sake of the ego, you spend energy chasing the illusion of happiness instead of enjoying happiness in the moment. When your actions are motivated by love, your energy multiplies and accumulates--and the surplus energy you gather and enjoy can be channeled to create anything that you want, including unlimited wealth. There are three components to the Law of Least Effort--three things you can do to put this principle of "do less and accomplish more" into action. The first component is acceptance. Acceptance simply means that you make a commitment: "Today I will accept people, situations, circumstances and events as they occur." This means I will know that this moment is as it should be, because the whole universe is as it should be. The second component is responsibility. This means not blaming anyone or anything for your situation, including yourself. This allows you the ability to have a creative response to the situation as it is now. All problems contain the seeds of opportunity, and this awareness allows you to take the moment and transform it to a better situation or thing. The third component to the Law of Least Effort is defenselessness. This means that you have relinquished the need to convince or persuade others of your point of view. If you relinquish this need you will in that relinquishment gain access to enormous amounts of energy that have been previously wasted.

How will you begin your personalized story?  Love, Michelle