Emma Forbes at BookHampton

The Olympics were (gently) pushed aside Friday night as Londoner Emma Forbes  charmed our BookHampton audience. Emma, who is a familiar name to all of Great Britain as the host of lifestyle programs and the wildly successful internet magazine ForbesStyle, is visiting our shores for a summer holiday, so we grabbed the opportunity to have her come and share a bit of “how it's done" fun.

Her new book Life and Soul is an absolutely wonderful addition to the Martha-Ina-Rachel shelf! Emma radiates fun and an enjoyment of life that is completely contagious. Already recognized in Europe as a "lifestyle guru" Emma took pains to explain her other moniker, “Yummy Mummy." True, she is very beautiful, but in the bookstore world we don't let that count.

So what’s with the Yummy Mummy? Her own kids adore her! And she seems to be an imaginative and ingenious kid-party planner! For her son's 9th birthday she sent out invitations in plastic tubes that were packed with a note, a bit of garden dirt and rocks, as well as a plastic garter snake that popped out (surprise!) — a perfect boy's invitation. For her daughter's 16th? The annual family fireworks fest will have a cordoned off-section for the grown-up 16 crowd (a party within a party!) .

Emma, whose new book not only landscapes the party but also provides absolutely wonderful and hostess-friendly recipes, was open to all sorts of questions including how to limit the number of young guests at an adult party (ah, summer problems!). WIth true Brit self-aplomb Emma also shared a bit of good advice: No matter what happens when you're the hostess you may never walk out on your own party — she did it once, and never again — no matter what.

Well, we'd like to be invited to any of Emma's parties — and until we are we'll recommend Life and Soul, a wonderful new look at lifestyle and life enjoyment! We have copies of the UK edition — only at BookHampton!