Walking barefoot with Rachel Berstche....plus a book giveaway

I don't follow celebrities all that much.  Lately I feel like I'm barely keeping up with my own life, let alone the lives of ... well, I couldn't even tell you who the latest and greatest celebs are as of recently.  I leave that up to my friends to post on Facebook, and from time-to-time I'll click on a post to get a dose of celebrity gossip.  Unlike me, today's CLC guest is so focused on celebrities that she spent time trying to live like them to see if fame truly does bring true happiness.

Late last year, I reviewed Rachel Berstshe's book, MWF Seeking BFF. Today, I have the privilege of giving our readers a chance to get to know her better.  Rachel is a Chicago native who, in addition to her books, has written for a variety of publication including: New York Times Magazine, O, The Oprah Magazine, Marie Claire, More, Teen Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Seventeen, Every Day with Rachael Ray, Fitness, Women's Health, New York, Huffington Post and CNN.com.  She was also a former producer for Oprah.com and an editor at O, The Oprah Magazine.

We are thrilled to have Rachel join us today to kick off our "Summertime Fun" theme, and thanks to Random House we're celebrating her visit by giving away FIVE copies of her recently released memoir, Jennifer, Gwyneth & Me: The Pursuit of Happiness, One Celebrity at a Time, to some lucky US readers!

Synopsis:
What woman hasn’t seen pictures of Jennifer Aniston, Gwyneth Paltrow, or Beyoncé and wished she had their clothes, their abs, their seemingly flawless lives? For Rachel Bertsche, these celebrities are the epitome of perfection—self-assured and effortlessly cool. Yet lately, between juggling her career, her marriage, and her dream of becoming a mother, Bertsche feels anything but put together.

In Jennifer, Gwyneth & Me, Bertsche embarks on a quest to emulate her Hollywood role models—while sticking to a budget—to see if they really hold the keys to happiness. While trying to unlock the stars’ secrets, from Sarah Jessica Parker’s wardrobe to Julia Roberts’s sense of calm to—maybe one day—Jessica Alba’s chic pregnancy, Bertsche learns valuable lessons. A toned body doesn’t come easy or cheap, avoiding social media can do wonders for your peace of mind, and confidence is the key to pulling off any outfit. But can she immerse herself in the A-list lifestyle and still stay true to herself? And will her pursuit of perfection really lead to happiness? (Courtesy of Amazon.)

Visit Rachel at her blog, Facebook, and Twitter.

Favorite summertime tradition: 
Our annual trip to Cape Cod for July 4th. My mother-in-law lives on the Cape and every year we travel there for the holiday weekend, with my brother-in-law and sister-in-law and my two nephews. We eat lobster and grilled corn and I do nothing but go for outdoor runs and read books on the porch. That weekend feels like summer in a way the season hasn't since I was a kid.

Of all the summer memories you have as a child, which sticks out most?
Summer camp! I went to camp for eight weeks for nine summers -- from when I was 8 years old to 16 years old. I'm still a little bit obsessed with camp. If they'd let me, I'd still be going back.

When I think of summer, the first thing that pops into my mind is:
Camp, again, or that July 4 trip. To me, summer is about reading, relaxing and spending time with the people you love, so the vacations and experiences shape the season for me.

What song reminds you of summertime and why?
The first song that pops into my head is "Summertime" by DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince, which speaks to my love of all things 1990s.

One of my summertime guilty pleasures is: 
This isn't that guilty, but I love nothing more than walking barefoot through grass in the summertime. I just love, love, love the way it feels on my feet and makes me feel like a kid again. Also, white wine, Stacy's pita chips, and cheese.

Favorite summer outfit:
Sundress! I wait nine long months for the sundress.



Thanks to Rachel for chatting with us and Random House for sharing her book with our readers!

~Introduction and interview by Tracey Meyers

How to win: Use Rafflecopter to enter the giveaway. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


US only. Giveaway ends July 6th at midnight EST.