The Attitude Girl by Mila Bernadkin {A Review}

Being a teenager is hard (and being the mom of one is really hard too, but this isn’t about me). Mila Bernadkin is a wonderful storyteller who has obviously had a lot of experience with teens. You can tell that she really “gets them” and the characters she crafted are extremely realistic.

The Attitude Girl is the story of Victoria Benson (Vicky) , a 17 year old who is tackling some pretty hefty issues with the help of her closest friends, Alex, Chloe, Jackie and Liza. When Vicky’s mom loses her job, Vicky has to come face to face with her shopping problem. She’s not too thrilled to find out that she can’t shop whenever she wants. This news is the catalyst that pushes Vicky’s already questionable attitude over the edge.
This book is written as a first person narrative and includes both Vicky’s external interactions and her inner dialogue. As Vicky deals with her mom’s unemployment, her feelings of abandonment by her dad, her shopping “problem” and the all to frequent teenage pressures to drink, be sexually active, and to fit in, she learns the importance of friendship.
I thought the story was masterfully written and extremely realistic, however, I wasn’t a big fan of the frequent swearing and sexual situations (although I do realize that’s part of what makes this book so believable).
Here’s a few thoughts from my teenager:
The most important event that happens in Attitude Girl was when all five friends deal with a hard relationship. All five girls deal with hard decisions, Alex and Vicki find out that a best friend is more important then a guy they both like, Chloe learns to step up for herself and not be the “baby” of the group anymore, and finally Liza pays the consequence for a bad choice she made with her boyfriend by finding out that she is pregnant.

The Attitude Girl teaches great lessons about decisions and friendships. Mila Bernadkin basically wrote a story about what an average teenage girl with a single mother goes through everyday. As a Christian, I don’t agree with the language Mila used in her book. Also I believe from my point of view I wouldn’t recommend this book for a junior high student because of some of the topics the characters talk about. Overall, I thought the Attitude Girl makes a great point, as I said before, about how some decisions and the friends I choose to hang around with can ether give me a positive consequence or a negative consequence.

I also really like that the author is from Ukraine…just like me!

You can get a copy of The Attitude Girl from Five Star Publications for $16.95.
Here’s a few pieces of information from the Media Kit.

In her debut novel, a first-place winner in the Arizona Authors Association Annual Literary Awards contest, LudmilaMilaBernadkin draws on her experience as a teacher, mother and advanced graduate of the Institute of Children’s Literature to identify with the tremulous world of confusing emotions and mixed messages of “maturity” today’s teens live in as they feel their way through the process of becoming young adults.

Born and raised in Odessa, Ukraine, a beautiful resort city on the Black Sea, Bernadkin emigrated from the former Soviet Union and came to the United States in 1977. She graduated from the Brest Music College with a BA-equivalent degree in theory of music and music literature, and accepted a teaching position at a children’s music school. After moving to the States, she became a Senior Programmer-Analyst, working at several of the largest financial institutions in New York City. However, medical reasons forced her early retirement, which turned out to be a blessing as she realized her life-long dream of becoming an award-winning published writer.

Bernadkin resides in Brooklyn, New York, with her daughter, a graduate student who is working on her Master’s degree. Bernadkin loves to travel, listen to music and read.


Disclosure: The Attitude Girl was provided to me free of charge by Mila Bernadkin and Five Star Publications in conjunction with Mama Buzz. All opinions expressed here were my own and those of my daughter.

Menu Plan Monday

Here’s what’s cooking at our house this week!

Monday – Teriyaki Chicken, Rice, and mixed veggies

Tuesday – Steak, Baked Potatoes, and salad

Wednesday – Tacos

Thursday – Creamy Chicken Noodle Bake

Friday – Spaghetti Casserole

Saturday – FFY (Fend For Yourself)

If you want to know what everyone else has cooking this week, head on over to I’m An Organizing Junkie for Menu Plan Monday.

Menu Plan Monday

Here’s what’s cooking at our house this week!

Monday – Teriyaki Chicken, Rice, and mixed veggies

Tuesday – Steak, Baked Potatoes, and salad

Wednesday – Tacos

Thursday – Creamy Chicken Noodle Bake

Friday – Spaghetti Casserole

Saturday – FFY (Fend For Yourself)

If you want to know what everyone else has cooking this week, head on over to I’m An Organizing Junkie for Menu Plan Monday.

Swagbucks Gift Card Blowout

For months, I have shared my love of Swagbucks with you…and between now and January 1st, I only see my love increasing. Today is the first day of the Holiday Gift Card Blowout! Here’s what The Swag Guy had to say on the Swagbucks Blog.

Starting on Black Friday (November 27th) we’ll drastically cut the price to much less than we normally have these cards at and you can scoop up as many as 2 for far less than their full price. We won’t announce which gift cards are the blowout card of the day but if and when you find it, go to town. Some gift cards may be the blow out gift card of the day more than once and at different blowout prices. That means you should probably explore the Swag Store every day just in case we’re blowing out one of your favorite online store’s gift card. We will do this all the way up until January 1st, 2010.

So I’m pretty excited and I will be sure to check the Swag Store regularly to see what they have to offer. (Today’s gift card is a $10 Barnes and Noble gift card for 99 Swagbucks).

If you haven’t already signed up, head over here to get signed up today. If you’re already signed up and are looking for ways to earn faster, make sure you download the toolbar and tell all of your friends!

Search & Win

Black Friday Magazine Deal

I love magazines. I’m like a kid at Christmas each time the mailman delivers a new one! That’s why I’m thrilled to be able to share that now through December 1st, Amazon has 10 incredibly popular magazines priced at just $5 for a 1-year subscription. Give a gift, renew an existing subscription, or start a new one–all for just $5.00. Snap them all up at this price–they make great gifts for everyone on your list (especially friends and family who live far away or those who are hard to shop for). This is one of my favorite things to buy with the Amazon gift cards I earn through Swagbucks. The magazines that are included in this promotion are:

Real Simple (my favorite magazine!!!)
Sports Illustrated Kids
Smart Money
People Style Watch
Popular Science
Travel + Leisure
Food & Wine
House Beautiful (another favorite)
Southern Living (yet another one I love)

For more information or to order, head on over here. Don’t forget that shipping is always free on magazines.

Swagbucks Gift Card Blowout

For months, I have shared my love of Swagbucks with you…and between now and January 1st, I only see my love increasing. Today is the first day of the Holiday Gift Card Blowout! Here’s what The Swag Guy had to say on the Swagbucks Blog.

Starting on Black Friday (November 27th) we’ll drastically cut the price to much less than we normally have these cards at and you can scoop up as many as 2 for far less than their full price. We won’t announce which gift cards are the blowout card of the day but if and when you find it, go to town. Some gift cards may be the blow out gift card of the day more than once and at different blowout prices. That means you should probably explore the Swag Store every day just in case we’re blowing out one of your favorite online store’s gift card. We will do this all the way up until January 1st, 2010.

So I’m pretty excited and I will be sure to check the Swag Store regularly to see what they have to offer. (Today’s gift card is a $10 Barnes and Noble gift card for 99 Swagbucks).

If you haven’t already signed up, head over here to get signed up today. If you’re already signed up and are looking for ways to earn faster, make sure you download the toolbar and tell all of your friends!

Search & Win

Black Friday Magazine Deal

I love magazines. I’m like a kid at Christmas each time the mailman delivers a new one! That’s why I’m thrilled to be able to share that now through December 1st, Amazon has 10 incredibly popular magazines priced at just $5 for a 1-year subscription. Give a gift, renew an existing subscription, or start a new one–all for just $5.00. Snap them all up at this price–they make great gifts for everyone on your list (especially friends and family who live far away or those who are hard to shop for). This is one of my favorite things to buy with the Amazon gift cards I earn through Swagbucks. The magazines that are included in this promotion are:

Real Simple (my favorite magazine!!!)
Sports Illustrated Kids
Smart Money
People Style Watch
Popular Science
Travel + Leisure
Food & Wine
House Beautiful (another favorite)
Southern Living (yet another one I love)

For more information or to order, head on over here. Don’t forget that shipping is always free on magazines.

Mega Swagbucks Day

Friday is Mega Swagbucks Day and that means you can earn Swagbucks in larger denominations (10,20, 50, 100). They guarantee over 10K Swagbucks will be awarded in Mega Bills! Make sure to head on over tomorrow and do a few searches (and do a few today while you’re at it!). Remember 45 Swagbucks will get you a $5 Amazon gift card. You can easily earn 1 or 2 Amazon gift cards a month with just a few searches a day!

Search & Win
For those of you who haven’t heard of Swagbucks, it is a free way to search online (it’s powered by Google and Ask.com) and earn rewards for doing it. You can learn more about Swagbucks in this post. Have a great weekend!!!

Search & Win

Mega Swagbucks Day

Friday is Mega Swagbucks Day and that means you can earn Swagbucks in larger denominations (10,20, 50, 100). They guarantee over 10K Swagbucks will be awarded in Mega Bills! Make sure to head on over tomorrow and do a few searches (and do a few today while you’re at it!). Remember 45 Swagbucks will get you a $5 Amazon gift card. You can easily earn 1 or 2 Amazon gift cards a month with just a few searches a day!

Search & Win
For those of you who haven’t heard of Swagbucks, it is a free way to search online (it’s powered by Google and Ask.com) and earn rewards for doing it. You can learn more about Swagbucks in this post. Have a great weekend!!!

Search & Win

Sunday Coupon Previews

Want to know what coupons are in this Sunday’s paper? Head on over to Sunday Coupon Preview.

Sunday Coupon Previews

Want to know what coupons are in this Sunday’s paper? Head on over to Sunday Coupon Preview.

Is Gratitude Your Attitude?


Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.
~Melody Beattie

I hope your day is full of God’s riches and that you reflect on how much you have to be thankful for! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Is Gratitude Your Attitude?


Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.
~Melody Beattie

I hope your day is full of God’s riches and that you reflect on how much you have to be thankful for! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Black Friday Deals Every Day This Week at Amazon


This week, you’ll be able to find all kinds of great deals at Amazon. They just kicked off their Black Friday Deals Week. Here’s what they had to say about it.

You shouldn’t have to stand in a long line to get a great deal. We’re searching for the best Black Friday deals everywhere–including deals other stores are planning–so we can meet or beat their prices and bring them to you even earlier. These limited-supply offers will go quickly but we’ll add new ones throughout the day, every day this week, so you can skip the long lines and still save a bundle.

You can check out the current deals by clicking here. This is a great time to use the Amazon gift cards you earned with Swagbucks. These deals will be even sweeter if you signed up for the free Amazon Prime membership I told you about here. Check back regularly as they’ll be adding deals throughout the day!

Become a Member of VocalPoint and receive FREE Samples and Coupons


I love trying new products (especially when they’re free)! Since joining VocalPoint in the spring, I have found that my mailbox often contains goodies like free samples and coupons for free products. I’ve had the opportunity to try a full sized Bounce Dryer bar which totally rocks (you can see my post about it here) as well as Secret Clinical Deodorant. Plus I’ve received coupons for a free box of Kashi cereal, a free box of Rice Krispies, and most recently, I received coupons for Pantene. They also include coupons to share with your friends (this is a great way to bless others).

If you’re not already a VocalPoint mom, you can sign up here. It’s a great way to try new products (and ones you already love) for free!

Black Friday Deals Every Day This Week at Amazon


This week, you’ll be able to find all kinds of great deals at Amazon. They just kicked off their Black Friday Deals Week. Here’s what they had to say about it.

You shouldn’t have to stand in a long line to get a great deal. We’re searching for the best Black Friday deals everywhere–including deals other stores are planning–so we can meet or beat their prices and bring them to you even earlier. These limited-supply offers will go quickly but we’ll add new ones throughout the day, every day this week, so you can skip the long lines and still save a bundle.

You can check out the current deals by clicking here. This is a great time to use the Amazon gift cards you earned with Swagbucks. These deals will be even sweeter if you signed up for the free Amazon Prime membership I told you about here. Check back regularly as they’ll be adding deals throughout the day!