The Hip Girl's Guide To Homemaking - Giveaway!

It's a very photogenic book.

This book giveaway is now closed! The winner will be posted in a few days!

I don't do a lot of giveaways over here, as you might have noticed. Only when there's something really worthwhile. And The Hip Girl's Guide to Homemaking: Decorating, Dining and the Gratifying Pleasures of Self-Sufficiency--on a Budget! by Kate Payne is totally worthwhile.

I am a bit skeptical when it comes to books that claim to cover a lot of ground. So, when I cracked the lovely spine of this book, it was with a bit of my personal brand of Okay, show me what you got. (It's not my best characteristic, I'll have you know.) This is the kind of book that you can jump in the middle of, get wrapped up, and feel very satisfied. I love "sticky" books like that, meaning books that keep me reading. I wanted to wait to read the whole thing through to review this, but I kept getting sucked into certain chapters. For a light and charming read, it's a very dense book that's full of return. How does Kate Payne do it?

Being a homemaker myself, and in my opinion, a fairly accomplished one (that's where that voice comes from!), I found myself learning tons of things. It was mostly about things that I never pursued because I didn't find them that interesting. Like cleaning, for example. But Kate not only brings things together clearly and easily for you, but she makes it fun to read, and suddenly you think: totally! I am going to go turn the water off on my toilet so I can really give it a thorough cleaning!! (I actually thought this, but haven't done it yet. Step-by-step in the book!) I have, however, already cleaned my drains out with a goodly dose of vinegar and baking soda. A simple idea, one I've read in other places, but these little factoids drift in your head while more enticing things sit front and center. Hip Girl's Guide to Homemaking actually made me want to do them!

I started with the introduction, which is thoughtful and smart and where you'll find that this book was a journey for Payne. You can see that in the research that she has done. She quotes from philosophical treatises on keeping a home, and eating well, to the basic bibles that we all grab for. This is not only a book with elbow grease, but a book with an artful brain. At the end of each chapter, there is a list of resources, both books and websites, that can deepen your quest for homey knowledge. But her knowledge is not just a rearrangement of other informations, it was her quest to find the best way to live, while doing so frugally. This book isn't looking to tell you to go out and buy this and buy that to make your life easier. Anybody can organize a house with a bunch of money. But it takes some ingenuity and creativity to make it work on a tight budget. I think everyone can relate with that.

There is so much in Hip Girl's Guide to Homemaking, that it would be too much to list. But in a nutshell, the book covers the home, room-by-room, and all the things you need to know about to make your life worth living in that home. Like gardening, and basic DIY projects, cleaning, taking care of your linens, basic tool kit needs, cleaning, and of course, my personal faves, cooking, canning and entertaining.

If you were at all wondering if it is indeed "hip," you can rest assured that it is, in the very best way possible. One of the things I like best about The Hip Girl's Guide to Homemaking, is that it is totally green and eco-friendly without getting up on a soapbox. Everything is explained, in a not-condescending manner, that is: clearly, but with the awareness that you, the reader, also have a brain. Isn't that nice?

Okay, so you want this book, okay? If not for you, than someone in your life. I've already given it as a graduation present, which I highly recommend, but as I pointed out, this forty-one-year-old still found it very pertinent. Here's the giveaway deets:

Leave a comment here. Tell me what "impressive acts of domesticity"you want to learn more about! You MUST leave an email address in your comment if you don't have a blog that you are linking to. If you win and there is no way to contact you, I will re-draw. Blogger's comment format stinks, and I apologize for that, so if you have problems, please e-mail your comment to halfpintpreserves[at]gmail[dot]com, and I will accept that as an entry. You have until Sunday, June 19 at midnight EST to enter.


First prize: A copy of Hip Girl's Guide to Homemaking by Kate Payne


*Prize Update*  Kate has graciously announced that the first prize winner will also receive a jar of her preserves from her own cupboard, sent personally from her!


Second prize: a sweet little jar of jam from yours truly


Please check out Kate's blog, The Hip Girl's Guide to Homemaking Or visit her Facebook page where you can see what new things she's up to, most recently a beautiful watermelon jelly she made. And if you are on the West coast, check out her tour, with stops in Portland, San Francisco, Santa Cruz and Seattle in the next few days. There's some great events, like cocktails with Kate, hosted by Meg from Grow and Resist!

This could be your mailbox!