• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to header navigation
  • Skip to footer navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Display Search Bar
  • About
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
Follow 5 Minutes For Mom on Facebook Follow 5 Minutes For Mom on Twitter Follow 5 Minutes For Mom on Pinterest Follow 5 Minutes For Mom on Instagram Follow 5 Minutes For Mom on YouTube Follow 5 Minutes For Mom via RSS

5 Minutes for Mom

Main navigation

  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Course
      • Breakfast and Brunch
      • Snack
      • Lunch
      • Appetizer
      • Dinner
      • Dessert
    • Ingredient
      • Apple
      • Beef
      • Blueberry
      • Chicken
      • Chocolate
      • Cranberry
      • Peach
      • Pumpkin
      • Squash
      • Strawberry
      • Tomato
      • Vegetables
      • Zucchini
    • Method
      • Air Fryer
      • Baking
      • Grilling
      • Instant Pot
      • No Bake
      • One Dish
      • Slow Cooker
    • Type
      • Breads and Rolls
      • Cakes and Muffins
      • Condiments
      • Cookies and Bars
      • Drinks
      • Food for Kids
      • Gluten-Free
      • Main Dish
      • Pies and Crisps
      • Salads
      • Sandwiches and Wraps
      • Side Dishes
      • Smoothies
      • Soup
  • Crafts & DIY
    • Crafts
    • DIY
    • Kids Crafts
    • Printables
    • Scrapbooking
    • Sewing
  • Family Life
    • Giveaways
    • Lifestyle
    • Marriage
    • Motherhood
    • Parenting
    • Pet Care
    • Special Needs
    • Time Management
    • Travel
  • Holidays
    • New Year’s
    • Valentine’s Day
    • St. Patrick’s Day
    • Easter
    • Mother’s Day
    • Fourth of July
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Christmas

Bonding Over Beauty, review and giveaway

July 25, 2011 by Jennifer Donovan

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

ShareTweetPinPocketMail

Each summer I hit the motherhood reboot button, thinking “This year we’ll have the perfect summer full of educational activities and field trips, family read-alouds, and special bonding experiences tailor-made for each child.” I don’t generally meet all my goals, but we end up doing more than sitting around staring at screens, which might otherwise be the default.

Erika Katz’s book Bonding over Beauty: A Mother-Daughter Beauty Guide to Foster Self-esteem, Confidence, and Trust has given me some ideas for special projects that I can do with my soon-to-be teen daughter during these days of leisure. She and I are well-acquainted with the power of pretty and boost in bonding we get from manicures and pedicures – done at home or at the salon – but this book goes beyond that.

The content is informative, but the tone focuses on the long-term goal – to create a healthy and open mother-daughter relationship. On the subject of hairstyles Katz says “The best thing you can do is take an interest in your daughter’s hair and help her find the most flattering look for her, not you. Be flexible. Hair grows back. Nothing is forever except the bond the two of you form now.”

How to. . .

The instruction in this chapter includes straightening, blow-drying, and how to style the perfect ponytail, chignon and French twist, then provides bonding suggestions such as doing a deep conditioning treatment, at home hair-coloring, or experimenting with scarves.

Lest you think that beauty is all sparkles and hair spray, the book also includes a chapter aptly titled “Bonding Over Puberty & Hygiene (Yes it can be done!)“ The suggested activities open the door for conversation. Try telling your daughter some humiliating stories about yourself so that you can both laugh about this sensitive subject.

Is she ready? Am I ready?

Sometimes we say “no” to something new, because we don’t feel comfortable letting them grow up. Katz’s advice about shaving in the chapter on unwanted body hair reinforces the theme of the book:

“Would you want to go to school with hairy legs (that) can bring on teasing and poor self-esteem? If you do not allow her to shave, she might borrow a friend’s razor and cut up her legs. I think it’s best to show your daughter empathy and be grateful she feels comfortable enough to talk openly about a subject that may be highly sensitive to her.”

Doing the bonding activities provides an easier way to touch on these topics. Instead of lecturing your daughter about skin-care essentials, do a homemade mask while talking about the changes she is seeing in her skin.

Not for moms only

As I predicted would happen, when I left the book out on the table, my 12-year-old daughter picked it up and started reading. When asked, she said that the pink cover got her attention. The look does enhance its subject. The subtitles are in a curly font, and the cover, as well as some inside pages and sidebars, are pink. Though it’s a book written to coach moms who are trying to communicate with their daughters about their bodies, it’s not inappropriate for older tweens and teens to read cover to cover themselves, as my daughter ended up doing.

Whether you and your daughter are typical girly-girls or more low-maintenance, Bonding over Beauty will help you fill in the gaps in your knowledge to ease that transition from little girl to woman.

Leave a comment if you’d like to win a copy of the book! We’ll announce the winner right here on August 8.

The winner of our previous giveaway Alison Winn Scotch’s novel The One that I Want is #7 Jennifer at Lit Endeavors.

The 5 Minutes for Books team is proud to be a part of the Kirkus Bloggers Network, where this review first appeared. Check out Kirkus Book Blogger Network and subscribe to the feed by going to the home page, and then clicking the subscribe button, so you don’t miss our Friday Lifestyles reviews as well as the other blogger posts each day.

ShareTweetPinPocketMail
Russell Brand Inspires with “For Amy” — His Post about Amy Winehouse and Addiction
Love A Local Business – Intuit Does!

About Jennifer Donovan

Jennifer Donovan has been a part of the 5 Minutes for Mom team since 2007. She writes product reviews, covers events, and manages the 5 Minutes for Books weekly column and website. She lives in Houston and blogs at Snapshot about life with her family.

Reader Interactions


Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

19 Comments

  1. katklaw777 says

    August 3, 2011 at 8:04 am

    Sounds like a good book to have for when my daughter is a little older, thanks!

    Reply
  2. Ellen C. says

    July 31, 2011 at 7:14 pm

    I’d like to win. Thanks for the chance.

    Reply
  3. Carolyn Hittle says

    July 28, 2011 at 7:52 am

    I would Love to own a copy of Bonding Over Beauty. My 12 year old daughter and I definately bond almost daily in my Backyard Beauty and Book Boutique. It is indeed special and I use this time to talk with her about her most treasured assest…Her inner beauty. Of course, I teach her ways to enhance her outer beauty as well. It will be interesting to talk with her years from now to learn about what those moments meant to her as I will share how special they are/were to me and how she will Never be too old to sit in my chair and bond with me…Her Mom.

    Reply
  4. Liz V. says

    July 27, 2011 at 5:22 pm

    Sounds to be just what my friend and her tween daughter need.

    Reply
  5. Kathi Lake says

    July 27, 2011 at 1:24 pm

    What a great article! The third paragraph really made my heart clench. My daughter is 11 and want to cut her long, silky, beautiful hair to look like a friend (a short pageboy!). How can I let this go? 🙂

    Reply
  6. Simone G says

    July 27, 2011 at 12:29 pm

    I would love to have this book! I just had a baby girl and can’t wait to do all the girly things with her…

    Reply
  7. Kathy says

    July 27, 2011 at 11:23 am

    I would love to have this book. We’re entering the tween years, and I am always looking for ways to have great conversations.

    Reply
  8. Debbie S. says

    July 27, 2011 at 10:32 am

    As I’m thinking about how to have these discussions with my almost 10yo, I come across this book – looks terrific!

    Reply
  9. June says

    July 27, 2011 at 8:34 am

    Perfect Mother & Daughter bonding book. Sounds good-

    Reply
  10. Jessica T says

    July 27, 2011 at 12:26 am

    I’d love this for me and my girly!

    Reply
  11. Ruth Hill says

    July 26, 2011 at 10:28 am

    This would be great for my daughter. Thanks!

    Reply
  12. Chava says

    July 26, 2011 at 8:59 am

    It sounds like an incredible book.

    Reply
  13. tennille says

    July 25, 2011 at 7:30 pm

    sounds like such a good book

    Reply
  14. Kristin G says

    July 25, 2011 at 11:50 am

    Great ideas!

    Reply
  15. Tracy B. says

    July 25, 2011 at 10:05 am

    This sounds like a great book!!!

    Reply
  16. Sandra says

    July 25, 2011 at 12:17 am

    I love the whole idea of this book! My daughter is 6 years old (a total girly-girl) and as I watch her grow, I have literally been praying that she and I would be able to continue to talk openly as she gets older. I’m excited about this book! Thanks for the giveaway! 🙂

    Reply

Primary Sidebar

Bringing Moms Together

We are Janice and Susan, twin bloggers and work-at-home moms. We're here to inspire, encourage & empower you.

Meet Us…

Work With Us…

Subscribe via Email

to be first to read new posts

Trending Now

Valentine Pretzels – How to Make Chocolate Covered Pretzels

Valentine Pretzels – How to Make Chocolate Covered Pretzels

Raspberry Coulis – How To Make Raspberry Sauce

Raspberry Coulis – How To Make Raspberry Sauce

Among Us Costumes – How To Make Pretty DIY Among Us Cosplay Outfits

Among Us Costumes – How To Make Pretty DIY Among Us Cosplay Outfits

Oven Roasted Potatoes and Peppers Recipe

Oven Roasted Potatoes and Peppers Recipe

browse around

  • Posts by Susan
  • Posts by Janice
  • Favorite Recipes
  • Favorite Crafts
  • Giveaways
  • All Posts

Footer

Recipes

Valentine Pretzels – How to Make Chocolate Covered Pretzels

Valentine Pretzels – How to Make Chocolate Covered Pretzels

Good Morning Breakfast Smoothie Recipes

Good Morning Breakfast Smoothie Recipes

Raspberry Coulis – How To Make Raspberry Sauce

Raspberry Coulis – How To Make Raspberry Sauce

Crafts/DIY

Animal Ears – How to Make an Easy No Sew Animal Ears Headband

Animal Ears – How to Make an Easy No Sew Animal Ears Headband

Free Halloween Printables For Kids

Free Halloween Printables For Kids

Easy Cat Costume – How To Make A Gorgeous Black Cat Costume

Easy Cat Costume – How To Make A Gorgeous Black Cat Costume

Giveaways

Valentine’s Day Gifts For Mom

Valentine’s Day Gifts For Mom

School Supplies List and Back to School Shopping Guide

School Supplies List and Back to School Shopping Guide

REDEEMING LOVE Set to Strike Gold on the Big Screen #RedeemingLoveMovie

REDEEMING LOVE Set to Strike Gold on the Big Screen #RedeemingLoveMovie

Follow 5 Minutes For Mom on Facebook Follow 5 Minutes For Mom on Twitter Follow 5 Minutes For Mom on Pinterest Follow 5 Minutes For Mom on Instagram Follow 5 Minutes For Mom on YouTube Follow 5 Minutes For Mom via RSS
  • About
  • Contact
  • Work with Us
  • Privacy Policy
Copyright © 2023 5 Minutes for MomTheme by Melissa Rose Design and Once Coupled