Out On Your Own Book Launch

Thank you so much for stopping by during the initial Book Launch party for Simple Steps For Living Life: Out On Your Own!  This article is all about the BOOK and a giveaway!  Woot woot!  Check out the facebook page on Tuesday December 20th at 7:30 for the facebook live video.  Share the fun with your friends and invite everyone to this giveaway on this post and also the book page here. 

Simple Steps For Living Life:  Out On Your Own will be 10% off during the initial book launch until December 31, 2016. The hard copy is available on Amazon for $14.99.

 It’s hard to believe that the project I started well over a year ago is finally complete.  I’m so excited to share this book with the world and hopefully help lots of people in the process.

See that?  That’s the cover photo for the book!  Thanks so much to Franzi on CreativeMarket.

A girl’s get-away weekend was the entire reason Simple Steps For Living Life: Out On Your Own was created.  A group of friends met up at my sister’s house for a mini-break to watch movies, snack on delicious foods, and even get in a little shopping.  That weekend our friends talked about how they wished they would have had more help when they moved out on their own for the first time.  They talked about how they wish they would have known what they would need in their new place, tips on daily living, and encouragement along the way.

This got me thinking.  Then I started researching.

National Center for Education Statistic estimates that 3.5 million kids will graduate during the 2016-2017 school year.  I bet some of those young adults could use some help going into the big, wide world.  Let’s face it, I’m 40+ years old and still need help being out here!

FosterClub.com has statistics from 2014 of kids that age out of foster care.  Aging out of foster care means when a young person reaches 18 years old they go from being in the foster care system to being on their own.  Here’s an excerpt from FosterClub.com –

“In 2014, 22,392 youth emancipate* — or “age-out”— from the foster care system when they reach age 18 or finish high school. (Some states have extended care through the ages of 20 or 21.) Youth in foster care often do not get the help they need with high school completion, employment, accessing health care, continued educational opportunities, housing and transitional living arrangements. Studies of youth who have left foster care have shown they are more likely than those in the general population to not finish high school, be unemployed, and be dependent on public assistance. Many find themselves in prison, homeless, or parents at an early age.”

This got me motivated.  Then I started writing.

It took more than a long year to complete Simple Steps For Living Life:  Out On Your Own.  Many weeks were spent at Chic Fil A using the free WIFI while the kids were in school.  Over this past year, it became normal to asking for tips and ideas from family, friends, and complete strangers at grocery stores.  I worked around kids going to school, going on vacation, visiting family, taking kids to therapy, having surgery, moving to a new state, having a health scare, and more.

Being motivated though, not giving up, it’s part of my makeup.  If there is something that is deeply important in my heart, I want to complete the task.  This book is no exception to that rule.

I’m so thankful for my husband supporting me on this endeavor.  For my “babies” being patient when mommy was busy typing away.  For my dad, mom, and sisters to continuously encourage me.  For friends cheering me on and supporting me along the way.  

I’m thankful that God opened my eyes and ears to this need and allowed me to write this.  Gave me this desire.  Opened doors and helped me find resources at just the right time each step of the way.

And, I’m thankful for you.  That you are willing to share your time by reading my blog.  Listening about this dream of mine and supporting this project along the way.

About the book.

There are three sections in this guide.  Acquiring Your Own Place – The chapters in this section cover budgeting, important documents, apartment lease, and necessities like utilities.  Setting Up Room By Room – Basics on what you will need for each room and tips and tricks for things like cooking.  Daily Living – Just as the title states this section is to help with cleaning tips, organizing, decorating, entertaining, finances, and learning to overcome loneliness.  It also includes 20+ worksheets, checklists, and organizational charts.  Examples are checklists for items needed per room, emergency numbers checklist, simple budget worksheet, meal plan with shopping list, and lots more!

My goal.

Not only do I want to launch a line of Simple Steps for Living Life guide books to help pay our bills(next up Prepping for Surgery), I also want to help as many people as I can with my books.  With this book in particular, I want every young adult aging out of foster care to have access to a hardcopy of the book for free(I’m not sure yet on how to make this happen).  

Will you help get the word out about this book by sending this post to your friends and family?  Plus, who knows they might just be the person who enters and wins the $50 Amazon Gift Card giveaway that ends Thursday at midnight!

A Free Sample Chapter!

Not ready to buy the book quite yet?  Download a free sample chapter by filling out this form.

  Drumroll please….  Now for the Giveaway!!!

Book Launch Party – $50 Amazon GC Giveaway!

Thank you so much for entering this giveaway!  Please tweet, share, and pin for your friends!