Balancing It All: My Story of Juggling Priorities and Purpose

by Candace Cameron Bure

“How do you do it all?”

That’s the question that wife, mom, actress, and best-selling author Candace Cameron Bure is often asked. And it’s a question that women everywhere are asking themselves as we seek to balance all of our roles, responsibilities, and opportunities.

So, how do we do it? Working since the age of 5, Candace has been in a balancing act for nearly her entire life. She is the first to tell you that there is no miracle formula for perfect execution in every area of your life, but there definitely are some lessons to be learned, lessons that come to life in Candace's story.

Come along and dig into Candace’s story from her start in commercials, the balance-necessitating years on Full House, to adding on the roles of wife and mom while also returning to Hollywood. Insightful, funny, and poignant, Candace’s story will help you balance it all.

Genres: Nonfiction, Christian, Self Help, Memoir, Biography Memoir, Personal Development, Biography

243 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 4, 2013

About the author

Candace Cameron Bure, actress, producer, New York Times bestselling author, beloved by millions worldwide from her role as D.J. Tanner on the iconic family sitcoms Full House and Fuller House, Hallmark Channel movies, former co-host of The View, inspirational speaker, and Dancing with the Stars Season 18 finalist, is both outspoken and passionate about her family and faith. Candace continues to flourish in the entertainment industry as a role model to women of all ages. She lives in the Los Angeles area with her husband and three children.

Reviews

[Elizabeth Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book in a goodreads giveaway. The following is my honest opinion.

I really enjoyed this book! I thought of it as more of her sharing her story than a typical self-help book, but I did feel like I came away with some important wisdom. I really didn't know much about Candace, other than having seen her in Full House and a few TV movies, so I enjoyed reading about her life behind the scenes. As a Christian, I also enjoyed reading about her walk with God and her honesty to share mistakes she had made and what she has learned in her walk with God. This was an enjoyable, quick read!

[Alexis · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book has some nuggets of wisdom about how to keep your life balanced. However, the conclusion is what most women already know: you can have it all, just not at the same time. Ms. Bure injects personal stories with numerous biblical scripture references and quotes biblical verses freely. She evens prays for the reader in the final chapter. I found it difficult to look beyond her conservative christian proselytizing to see much value in the book.

I received this book via a GoodReads giveaway.

[Brooke — brooklynnnnereads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a helpful and inspirational memoir but I will put out the disclaimer that it also has Christian/Biblical undertones that are heavily referenced and influences the author's writing. If religion or religious based memoirs make you uncomfortable, this book may not be the one for you.

With that aside, even though simple in concept, I found some of the tips and reminders that Candace used using examples from her own life were helpful.

I liked this book as a self-help guide in the sense that some of the information was thought provoking and applicable to my life, but other information I could leave as it wasn't relevant to my own journey.

[Sunshine Rodgers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Candace Cameron Bure! She is certainly one of my celebrity-role models! I love watching her Hallmark Movies now! So I am wanting to read through all of her books. I started with "Kind is the New Classy" (which I loved!) and now finished "Balancing it All." The thing I love about this book is Candace really opened up about her past, working on Full House, getting her role on the TV show Make it Or Break It, getting married and moving to Canada, her battle with bulimia. being a mother of three and all the mistakes and successes along the way. Even though I didn't feel like this was a book ABOUT how to balance life...I did enjoy reading Candace's personal life and her *attempt* to balance it all (even she'll admit, she's not perfect!). There were quite a few chapters on being a mother, finding the right school, hiring nannies and discipling your children which I liked but didn't quite relate to since I don't have any kids of my own. I love Candace's strength and her faith so it disappointed me when she said she lived with her boyfriend before she got married and basically married a nonbeliever (Val got truly saved years into the marriage). But I know she "grew up" in Hollywood and I am proud of her for finding Christ (and bravo to Kirk as well!). I loved hearing what an influence Kirk had on his little sister! Cameron also writes a prayer for the reader at the end and recommends books that can help the reader grow in their faith. I will certainly be reading more of Candace Cameron's books and truly support her on her journey!

[J.C. Morrows · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was not at all what I expected - in a good way.

Yes it is exciting to read about Candace and Kirk’s childhood and rise to Hollywood fame but it’s also very exciting to see how they managed to avoid the pitfalls that so many other Hollywood stars fall right into.

It is comforting to see that the family is very much like most of our own. I think a lot of people tend to think that just because someone is in a movie or on TV - they’re nothing like “normal” people.

Cameron makes a point of letting us know that her family was very normal as she was growing up and that she and her husband do what they can to provide their children with as normal a life as possible now.

I will hazard a guess that there are things in the book that people will not agree with but they should remember this:

Just because you do something in a different way, doesn’t mean it’s right or wrong - it’s just right or wrong for your family. A lot of people I know say they could never homeschool but it is exactly the right choice for our family!


All-in-all, it’s a great story. And I really enjoyed the read!

As far as the read itself – It’s very well put-together and it flows beautifully. I’m not sure if the “with Dana Wilkerson” means she is the one who did the writing or if it was more of a collaboration but whoever did the writing did a Great job!

It pulls you right in, moves quick and will have you laughing all the way through. The descriptions are so vivid, I can see it all unfold right in front of me and you get a very real sense from it. This is no fairy tale story that has been crafted to make life sound perfect – it’s real!

I am also thrilled to see how Candace weaves her faith into everything. Even talking about her childhood, she credits her parent’s morality as one reason for her faith. BRAVO Candace! I know a lot of people have had nasty things to say about the whole “proverbs 31 woman” thing but I am really impressed that Candace has stuck to her beliefs and her faith! It’s not easy when you’re being attacked on all sides.


Please know that you have plenty of supporters too Candace!

Well worth reading! You won’t regret it!

And the cover gets my son’s approval – which is a VERY big deal. He likes that she’s wearing a dress and that she’s covered nicely – no low cut top or too short skirt. So, GOOD JOB to the cover designer as well!

A GREAT READ!

[Laurie DelaCruz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I've read by Candace, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! A nice quick read with lots of humor and down-to-earth anecdotes, but also a healthy portion of challenging, convicting moments. It was incredibly refreshing to read her stance on sometimes unpopular Biblical beliefs, such as submission and raising a family. Also refreshing to see how she has a daily walk with God, digging into Scriptures and praying.

It has to be an incredibly hard thing to be a Christian in Hollywood, and there are certainly aspects that I disagree with, but that is the beauty of the Christian walk. We don't answer to each other, we answer to the Lord. I have great respect for anyone who is so vocal about her beliefs in a culture that is so opposed to them.

Definitely want to read her other books!

[Tonya · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know. I am so on the fence about these books. Are they good? Maybe. Does it get the message out there about Jesus? I suppose. But something about this bothers me and I am not sure what. I have been pondering it for awhile. I don't think you can balance work, kids and home life and have it all. Something has to give. Something takes a back seat. It just does. That is the plain and simple fact. Something gets more time and attention. Something loses.

On the back cover, it says, "How do you do it all." Well ladies, we can't. You simply cannot do it all. So ask yourselves. Seek God's will for your life. Don't find it in a book, or someone else's opinion, or what someone else does, or a star.

[KGlo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Note: This book was won on a giveaway featured on goodreads. All thoughts on the book are my own.

Rating: 1 & 1/2 stars


I really wanted to like this book. I like Candace and agree with a lot of what she believes in. However, this book was dull. The stories of her life were told in a boring way and the book had no spark. I would not recommend this book at all.

[Kaycie · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you are looking for a book with pointers on how to balance your life this isn't it. I grew up watching Full House, but had no idea this was written by someone from the show. However, you quickly figure that out as the book is just a story of her childhood and life in show business as a child...mixed with a bible verse every few pages. I get it, she's religious and a child star, but that isn't what I thought I was getting ready to read. I don't care enough to learn celeb names, so I dropped this part way through and started skimming to see the entire book was more of the same. There never seems to be a time when she says how she balance life, just that God helps her do it. ...that's not helpful, honey.

[Becky Colosimo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this book up as a daily deal one day for my Kindle. I was expecting a typical self-help organizing book with checklists, anecdotes and maybe a few recipes thrown in. Instead it was a very thoughtful and philosophical discussion of what life's priorities should be and how, when you properly prioritize, everything falls into place. It was also partly autobiographical which I found interesting since Candace was a Hollywood child star who now is atypically grounded, conservative and family oriented. She relies heavily on biblical principles and even has very specific bible citations to support her approach. She does this without a heavy hand and with an understanding that her readers may all live very different and diverse lifestyles. I've followed her on social media for a while and always found her to be likable and I thought her book was enjoyable and promoted a healthy lifestyle in all ways -- physically, socially, emotionally and spiritually.

[Emma · Rating 1 out of 5]

Like Jodi Sweedin's memoir, I decided to read this after watching the unauthorized Full House movie on Lifetime. I thought this might have little Full House gems. If that's what you're looking for, you'll be disappointed. While she does mention things about her Full House years, it's not anything juicy. I may not have been her prime audience for this book about balancing life's priorities while being a Christian woman, but I can see how this would be a great book for her intended audience. The only thing that really bothered me about this book is how she describes God granted her this big miracle relating to her son and how God does grant miracles if you only ask for the right kind of prayers. I'm not bashing anyone's faith, but it seemed like a trite comment for those who do believe in the power of prayer and their prayers are never granted.

[Kelli Oliver George · Rating 1 out of 5]

I realized the author was religious and fully expected there would be some religion scattered throughout. Fortunately, the minute I saw religion was getting preached, I skimmed those parts and got to the good parts instead. It was interesting to read about her life as a child actress and some of the "behind-the-scenes" from her days on "Full House" (a show I only recently started watching as an adult because my kids are hooked)

The "advice" was mostly common sense.

If you are super religious and a huge Candace Cameron/Full House fan, then you might want to read this book. In that case, save your money and get it from the library!

[Amory · Rating 1 out of 5]

I went into this with low hopes but goddamn, it was so much worse than I could have imagined. I truly don't get why Candace bothered to write a memoir like this, where every chapter was just her explaining how praying is what helps her "balance it all." I don't mind that every chapter started with a Bible verse; her faith is important to her so I figured it'd be part of this book. But every single page had a Bible verse crammed in randomly for literally no reason. I don't understand how this got past editors when it's so terribly written and unorganized. The only positive thing I can say was that this was so short that I managed to drag myself through it quickly.

[Heather Neroy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The most surprising part of this book (after all the media backlash) was how small (like, don't blink or you will miss it) the submissive wife part was. As an 80s kid, the best part for me was reading about her time on Full House.

[Zachary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Candace Cameron Bure's book is really intriguing in that it never quite decides if it wants to be an autobiography, a self-help book, or a Christian teaching tool, and so kind of ends up doing bits of all three of those things without really nailing any of them. This isn't to say that the book ends up feeling muddled, per se, so much as it is to say that the book does a bunch of things without doing any of them exceptionally well. It remains, oddly, quite balanced in its mediocrity, which is probably fitting given the book's title/theme. What was interesting and disappointing to me was how the book had an underlying elitism that was never quite dealt with self-consciously. A lot of the advice given in these chapters is easy to follow...if you've got ample time, money, and space in which to do them. A chapter on choosing between public and private schools for your children is just one easy example, but there are others. Cameron Bure acknowledges that not everyone can do what she and her family have done, or maybe can't afford all that they've done, but this is only ever mentioned in passing and then vast majority of her advice is essentially reserved for those with the material means to make certain things happen. As a result, the book ends up feeling weirdly balanced, strangely noncommittal to one identity, and ultimately a bit out of touch.

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun read! I admire that Candace puts her faith above all else and is willing to turn jobs away that do not align with her beliefs and convictions— especially in corrupt Hollywood. Though this book is more of a biography rather than self-help, I enjoyed reading of her upbringing and she did give pointers on how to prioritize and balance all the things in life by turning to prayer and asking God to point them to His will for their life. Cute! Keep being a shining light, Candace!

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was sweet, a little trite, but enjoyable. I don't think anything groundbreaking is in these pages, and for the most part Candace shares her personal experiences and applies small lessons in each chapter. They're great lessons, but especially if you have a Christian background this likely won't be anything new to you. I still love Candace, though! And I enjoyed learning a bit more about her life.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a good read. Candace is such a fun person who is very real. She talks about life as a Christian in Hollywood. Though I don’t agree with everything she says, it gives me perspective into the life she lives. And I would much rather have her be a role model than some of the other actresses out there.

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this one or her book "Kind is the new Classy-"- they are basically the same. This one has more of her story, and the other book is her story plus a little more gospel teaching associated with it.

[Ashlee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay. I have to admit I totally read this book because I am a lifetime fan of Full House. I loved the show and really just wanted to read a whole lot of behind the scenes stuff from Candace's younger years. I knew the book would be primarily about her life as a Christian but part of me was just really excited to read what she had been up to.

Similair to other reviews on this book....her story would have better fit as a "where are they now" article, rather than a book. It wasn't really a self-help at all. I actually felt like I was just reading scripture after scripture mixed in with how HER parents raised her family. It wasn't a bad book. It was a quick read and I absolutely loved the beginning when she was talking about how she got into show business and how she outlined her years on Full House. I am a very "Behind the scenes" type of person and love to read stories about what goes on when the tapes aren't rolling.

The only part of the book that I kept rolling my eyes at was the parts about her husband. Yes, the controversial line about her taking a more submissive role did peak my interest. But the entire page before and after that kind of ticked me off. Honestly, I feel like the message she was trying to get out was that a submissive wife is a happy wife, and that definitely isn't what I believe at all. I saw her doing an interview where she said that she makes decisions and is still a very strong person. I saw that interview and thought "Oh, okay, I get what she means." but in the book she really comes across as doing whatever the hell her HUSBAND wants. She wanted to act, but her husband wouldn't agree to it unless it was in the best interest of their family. Sorry Val, I didn't realize your dangerous NHL career and being gone for months, touring, not seeing your kids often, and uprooting their lives a few time was much more stable and in the best interest of a family with 3 kids. Sorry, not buying it. The more I read the book the more I actually disliked her husband who I had no opinion about beforehand.


His career was not stable or safe, but Candace wouldn't dream of asking him to step down. But it was totally okay for them to "mutually agree" that she would put her acting career on hold for the sake of their family and she would just stay at home with the kids because it just made more sense because women are more nurturing anyways. Yea, I don't agree with that at all and think it's extremely sexist that it made more sense for her to give her up dreams for a period of time (whether one year or ten) because she was the woman.

Aside from the whole submissive and putting her husband on a pedestal and him basically not minding her giving up her dreams and home and being near family, I was pretty neutral throughout the entire read.

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was interested in this book because I too, juggle to balance it all! Candace Cameron Bure's book promises that she and I are similar even though she's famous and I am not! Even though she is rich and I am not! Plus, I grew up watching Full House on Friday nights and I wanted to find out behind-the-scenes tidbits.

Well, this memoir was disappointing. It turns out that in order to balance it all, you have to pray about it all. Big things and little things. Which is okay, I mean, I already knew that Candace was religious before I picked up this book. But if God exists, I just don't think God has interest or time for the minutiae of my daily life.

I really wanted this book to include practical tips for organizing my day, and I wanted Candace to give examples of the ways she struggles -- a celebrity who admits to struggling! -- during her day or what she finds is the most challenging part of day. But she really doesn't get specific in her writing:

"I've found that many times my life is out of balance and my priorities need to change because I need to change. The things I do are based on the state of my heart at the time. My heart needs to change so that I can see clearly and make wise choices about how I live my life."

THE WHOLE BOOK IS LIKE THAT. Other times, she just mentions the word "balance" a lot:

"I have found that friendships are not only crucial to balance, they are one of the most natural ways we find balance. Once you take the intentional step to make time for friendships in the midst of everything else you are balancing, you will discover that the sounding board of a good friend is a great benefit to helping balance the opportunities, priorities, and challenges of life."

There are times when I was reading and I thought she was maybe going to open up and share details:

"Prayer is often the only thing that keeps me hanging on when something is wrong or in a season of imbalance. Oh, I've been there. I'm actually going through it right now, and it's only getting harder. It's not that I'm trying any less; in fact, I'm trying more, praying harder, and trusting in the Lord more than ever. But things aren't changing and I'm getting weary."

WHAT DOES THIS EVEN MEAN? WHAT IS SHE TALKING ABOUT?! Does the reader ever find out? ...nope.

If Candace has a Facebook account, I get the feeling that she does a lot of vaguebooking.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Balancing It All, Candace Cameron Bure gives readers a look at how she has balanced her life in the past and continues to do so now. She talks about balancing her faith, family, and career. This book isn't a how-to on balancing life and setting priorities but rather at look at how she has tried to balance her life along with some tips for finding balance in your own life. She's quite real in the book an points out her short comings and failures. She talks about low points in her life in addition to high points.

I found it interesting that she didn't grow up in a Christian home and that she didn't have a strong Christian walk until later in her life even though she did attend church in her youth. She talks about mistakes that she made when she wasn't living out her faith as well as her struggles with bulimia.

This book isn't about Candace having it all together and rubbing it in the reader's face. No, it's the story of her life (both good and bad) and the techniques she's used to try to find proper balance. I appreciate that she didn't try to act like she was perfect. It's a real glimpse into the struggles in her life and how she's worked to achieve a balance for not only herself but also her family. It's the realness that makes this book an enjoyable read.

The book is broken down in a logical manner and reads like a combination of a story and a talk with an old friend. I enjoyed getting to know Candace a bit better through this book as it showed a side of her that I hadn't known previously. I appreciated that she was real about her Christian walk and how it's changed over time. Life is messy, and she has no issue embracing that. Overall, it was an enjoyable read.

[Bethany Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always loved Full House and grew up with DJ Tanner! I couldn't wait to read Candace Camron Bure's new book about balancing it all - a healthy marriage, children and a career! I strive to have as happy of a family and life as she does!

I feel that she is an amazing roll model for all to follow and model our lives after. Now, I do not feel that I need to have the exact same life style, but I do feel as if I can strive to me the type of example that she sets for those around her.

Examples that she relives for us are really uplifting and something to strive for in the crazy world we live in these days.

I really enjoyed this book! I felt like she gave me terrific insight to help me through my day to day life. I feel I can relate to so much she talks about from family to children to finding her faith to learning to pray and so much more. I will be starting her first book soon and I hope that she has more to follow in the future! I have started following her blog as well.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was driven to read this book for three reasons. First, I was a huge fan of Full House and DJ Tanner was my favorite character on the show. Second, I love the acting work that Candace Cameron Bure has done since Full House. Oh and I loved her husband and brother in law when they played in the NHL. Third, I was intrigued at all the controversy that exploded when the book first came out.

The book is short( only 20 chapters) and could more or less be called 20 life lessons that Cameron Bure has learned. Events and changes made in Candace Cameron Bure's life are applied to biblical messages from the Bible. I loved the direct approach to her reading audience and I admire that this woman has stayed true to her faith through it all. The message is very clear that it truly is her story and she makes it quite clear that each woman must find her own way with God's help. As for the controversy, it is all regarding ONE word that is used early on "submissive" and IMHO those who criticised miss the whole point of her statement and the entire book.

[Kourtney · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wanted to like this one. I am a sucker for autobiographies of celebrities, or just books written by the celebrity talking about whatever crosses their minds. When Candace Cameron Bure would write about her life, I was transfixed - I loved hearing the stories of her being on the Full House set, her being with her family, or even how her and her husband would make a big decision. Going into reading this book, I knew that she was very very religious, and I did not hold that against her. I could easily skip the parts of the story where she discussed religion in such detail. What I could not get past though were the parts where she began to preach to me on how I should live my life. That's great if it works for you, but to go on for pages about a Bible verse and how I should start doing X,Y and Z to live that way - well now you lost me.

I received this e-book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Marissa · Rating 1 out of 5]

I hate to give this book such a bad rating because I think Candace sounds like an amazing person and I've loved her since full house days. This was hard to relate to though because she is telling the story of her life and how she found balance, yet most people outside of Hollywood can't relate. She gave up her career so her husband could have his hockey career and once that career ended she returned to Hollywood to act. While everyone's life needs balance and it's hard for each of us to find in our own way I couldn't help but think of the luxuries she had to be a stay at home mom if she chose. The activities she is balancing are all by her own choices. Kind of repetitive writing and overall I just wasn't engaged.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I have been a fan of her's since her days as DJ Tanner in Full House. I have also read her book Reshaping it all a couple of years ago which I enjoyed it all. In this book she talks about her life and how she balances everything. She also talks a lot about her faith in GOD which may not make this book readable to all as most of you know both her and her brother are outspoken about their Christian faith. Which doesn't bother me at all but if it bothers you then I would not suggest reading this book. But if it doesn't then I do recommend reading it as it is a quick and entertaining read.

[D · Rating 5 out of 5]

IT WAS EFFECTIVE FOR ME

I am a Christian. I felt the ideas represented in this story very well were supported by scripture. I also appreciated the honesty of the struggle of the Christian life. Several of the concepts presented toward the end of the story especially inspired me. I highly recommend to anyone, even someone willing to keep an open mind to faith.

[Elizabeth Hay · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was only published because of her status. There is absolutely nothing here that is new, innovative, or life changing. It's a cute story but nothing more than reading a gossip magazine and getting the details of a celebs life.

[Lenisa Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like Candace's book. They are uplifting and a good reminder that life as a working mom and wife is crazy for everyone. It's nice to know that I'm not the only one who has some strange off days here and there.