Netgalley Review: Hot, Holy, and Humorous

Do you want to be a hottie in the bedroom without sacrificing holiness? How can you make the most of God’s gift of sexual intimacy in marriage?
Wrongful thinking and behaviors regarding sex permeate our culture. Christians need to reclaim sexuality and enjoy it in the way God intended.
 
God does not shy away from the subject of sex. The Bible shows a better way in every area—including the marital bedroom.
 
In Hot, Holy, and Humorous, author J. Parker gives candid advice for wives from a foundation of faith with a splash of humor.
 
This book can boost your sex savvy and improve your marital intimacy. And guess what? With God’s perfect design, you and your spouse can enjoy the most amazing sex!

My Review:

While there are references to love and lovemaking in the bible, there aren't exactly a lot of hot and steamy passages, or any detail about trivial marriage things, like how Abram and his wife decided (probably together, I don't see any woman making such a decision on her own) that he should sleep with someone else for the good of the future. 
There are many (perhaps too many) references to Star Trek in the first chapter of Hot, Holy and Humorous. While I appreciate the first chapter describing how to spark common romance in the relationship, the constant Star Trek references took away from it. As it so happens, I'm the less romantic one in our relationship and I don't like the implication that I'm an emotionless alien.
But it got better. Parker breaks down how to write a love letter you don't totally hate, and mentions that if it makes the great poets roll in their graves your mate will likely love it anyway. 
Between common obstacles that spoke directly to my heart like having totally off sleeping schedules, not knowing how to buy lingerie, being okay with more than the missionary position, and how to initiate sex, I felt like Parker was the best friend I never had. The whole book being centered on God was a bonus.
My favorite idea: having sex in a homemade fort. 
This book did have more to-the-point descriptions and diagrams involved, which I appreciated. I'd actually probably give this book to my daughter when she's of age. But if you blush easy, you might want to stay away.
4.5/5

NetGalley Review: Meditation for Moms and Dads

Meditation Practice for Moms and Dads: 108 Tips for Parents and Caregivers boldly claims that a thriving meditation practice is not only possible, but an absolute must for the parent/householder. It isn't an empty claim. The author, Shana Smith, is doing it. Her journey is profound, funny, and fabulous. This entertaining combination of tips, real-parent stories, and poetry demonstrates that parents can squelch the mindset of ""I can't"" to ""I will,"" and celebrate the opportunity to embrace parenthood and worldly life itself as a vital spiritual practice. "








My Review:

This book starts out with a brief introduction to meditation and great tips to combat those swirling thoughts that jump on you now that you've slowed down enough to think them. 

The tips themselves are a little new age, but not bad. I don't think I'll be explaining meditation to my kid as "seeing fairies in the forest" and no, I don't have guilt over sitting her in front of Peg + Cat for a half hour of quiet. What really bugged me was the art. Every few pages there are stick figure drawings. I'm not sure if her kids made them, but I wasn't expecting art at all in this book. If anything, the art in the book should match the art on the cover. 

Between the wording and passages that don't quite fit with my religious beliefs and the stick figure drawings (seriously...why?) I'm going to say skip this book. There are plenty of other meditation sources in the world, my favorite of which is visual or guided meditation. Look it up on youtube.

ebook review: Raising a child who Prays

In a society that is quickly abandoning its biblical standards, parents can create an effortless culture in their home that lends itself to the spiritual development of their child.

David Ireland, known for his dynamic teachings on prayer, provides a framework that helps parents elevate their prayer life, then parents can pass along the secrets to their little ones so they too may become spiritual giants over time. Parents will be equipped with practical exercises, sample prayers, and developmentally appropriate mentoring plans that will encourage their children to pray effectively now and into adulthood.






My Review:
I'll be honest. I want a child who prays, but I don't even really, truly know how to pray myself. So I got this book for some pointers, fully expecting to be told "welp, nothing doing if you don't have a solid relationship with the big man yourself."

Don't get me wrong, that's essentially what the first chapter says. But what struck me was that it didn't say "you have to be the end-all be-all perfect prayer-er." It said, instead, "practice. Take a tiny bit of time out of your day to say a prayer. Just start, and make sure you are doing it because you want Christ" Which essentially is what my husband told me when we first started discussing my conversion.

Ireland breaks it down into three steps: Purpose, Pattern, and Power. I love that the steps for leading your child to pray are the same steps for teaching yourself, and that example prayers are included for people (it can't be just me) who have no idea where to even start praying.

The effective teaching principles and engaging stories from the bible and more modern times kept me interested and reading on to the next chapter. I now have a framework for how to guide my daughter in a faith I just discovered, and would recommend this book to anyone looking for a little guidance as well.

NetGalley review: Minute Motivators for women

If it’s true that behind every good man is a great woman, then you’ve got an important job! Women are influencers. You influence your husbands, your children, your church community, your coworkers, your neighbors. That means you have a big responsibility. Take some time right now for yourself. One minute could make all the difference for you and for those around you.

About Stan Toler:
Stan Toler is senior pastor of Trinity Church of the Nazarene in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and hosts the television program, "Leadership Today." He conducts seminars throughout the U.S. as the Model Church Instructor for INJOY Ministries, a leadership development institute for pastors. He has written over 30 books and is co-author of The Year Round Church Event Book.



My Review:
Light purple isn't used nearly enough in book covers, but it's fitting on this one. This book was way better than I expected it to be. In fact, the only reason I even picked it up was because I went 'Minute? Well it shouldn't take too long to read, then.'
I'm so glad I got to read this, though. Each passage is short, yes, but no word is wasted. I was highlighting a passage at least every few pages, and some motivators are so simple that you forget how effective they are because you just haven't done them lately.
Prime example: "Rest". It's explained to us that rest doesn't mean going to the beach or hanging out on facebook. It means taking a dang nap. And the last time I took a nap without feeling guilty was, honestly, elementary school. We forget little things like this that can make a huge difference in our lives.
It's notable to say there are more in this series, including minute motivators for teachers, leaders, teens, etc. This series would make a great gift for someone you care about. 

ebook review: trash talks

A lively investigation of the intimate connections we maintain with the things we toss away 
It's hard to think of trash as anything but a growing menace. Our communities face crises over what to do with the mountains of rubbish we produce, the enormous amount of biological waste generated by humans and animals, and the truckloads of electronic equipment judged to be obsolete. All this effluvia poses widespread problems for human health, the well-being of the planet, and the quality of our lives. 
But though our notorious habits of disposal have put us well on the way to making the earth inhospitable to life, our relation to rejectamenta includes much more than shedding and tossing. In Trash Talks, philosopher Elizabeth V. Spelman explores the extent to which we rely on trash and waste to make sense of our lives. 



My Review: 

I feel like this book could have been better. The book has so much potential to be interesting that I picked it up, but the presentation of the subject itself was dry. I already knew trash is used in forensics. For whatever reason it was drilled into our heads that police and criminals alike have motive to go through your trash when I was in elementary school. 
It was kind of interesting to find out what other countries do with trash that they import, but it really wasn't anything worth buying a book for. A google search or well placed tumblr post can easily replace it. 
I feel with more every day language and hypothetical situations (like the id fraudster or policemen) with less of an academic approach to the matter would have made this book much more interesting.
As it stands it's pretty much a long essay written by a nerd who likes trash.
If you have the patience and imagination to apply 'garbology' to imaginary situations yourself, this is a good reference book for writers. For the average reader, there are better nonfiction books out there. 

ebook review: 52 ways to love your body

Do you look in the mirror and see all the things you dislike about your body? For many of us, the first step to loving our bodies is being able to look at our reflection and not criticize what we see. And in a culture that worships thin, beautiful celebrities, it’s easy to feel like we just don’t measure up. So, how can you get over your flaws and focus on your fabulous?
52 Ways to Love Your Body is packed with easy and fun practices—one for each week of the year—to help you toss perfectionism out the window, turn down the volume on that nagging inner critic who is always going on about what's wrong, stop the never-ending comparison game, and finally love your body. You'll also find encouraging, in-the-moment affirmations to keep negative self-talk at bay, and give you a much-needed pick-me-up, any time, any place.
If you're ready to start loving your body, this book gives you 52 ways to get started now. So, what are you waiting for?


My Review:
Honestly it took some effort to get past the author's personality to judge the content of her book. "Lawyer-turned-teacher-turned-writer who talks to her heart while balancing on a wobbly indoor standup paddleboard yoga mat unless she's raising chickens" didn't exactly scream 'I'm relateable! I get what you're going through!" to me. 
That, and the self promoting (don't forget she wrote another book, guys!) got on my nerves. It took away from actually flipping through the chapters to find something that I could say "yes. this is useful to me." About a third of the way in, I was losing hope, but the Aspirations chapter finally got on my level. 
But I don't really get the sense that Simpkins really got to a point where she seamlessly loves her body. In a few chapters she mentions things like "If I don't do this, I feel horrible but then I do it again and the bad voices go away."
I'm not trying to take a medicine for self love that only works if you do it. I think of a self-relationship as just that--a relationship. I should be fine indulging in a spa day every couple of weeks, not going into 'self massage' withdrawals. 
Overall, not for me. I don't buy it, but if you're also a lawyer-turned-hippie-turned stay-at-home-whatever then you might like this book. 

ebook review: Spiritual cross training

On a quest for enlightenment, Benjamin Shalva journeyed through the wilds of Tibet and took a pilgrimage to a white-walled monastery in Rhode Island. He wrestled with demons, danced with temptresses, and sang with hundreds of voices under the stars. Now, using the lessons and techniques gained through years of religious exploration and inward reflection, Shalva offers simple and powerful ways to connect with your spiritual self, whether it be in a place of worship or the yoga studio, or even while sitting in traffic, working late at the office, or kneeling in your garden.

In this honest, intimate—sometimes embarrassing and frequently funny—memoir with down-to-earth instruction and guidance, Shalva reveals that you don’t have to be perfect or singularly focused to accomplish deep spiritual work. By cross-training in three simple exercises—silence, stretch, and song—you can strengthen your spiritual muscles and deepen your personal search for meaning.

Inspiring and refreshingly candid, Spiritual Cross-Training encourages you to trust your own path, grow with an open mind and a light heart, and uncover the truth as you search for your place in the universe.


My Review: 
I don't buy it. In fact, I don't think Shalva buys what he's putting on the table here. In the introduction, one phrase in particular popped out at me:

"Patting myself on the back I declared "I meditate." or, "I sing and dance and pray."

That's pretty much the feeling I get from this entire book. Someone with enough money to travel the world in order to figure out what his heart believed is telling us that singing and moving and meditating is the secret to life. He gives us a journal and sells it as self help.

And I don't buy it. It feels forced. Like he got the placebo pill for spirituality and wants everyone to try some. 

As a self help spiritual guidance book, I don't recommend it at all. As a memoir, sure go ahead and get it. You might find a bit of humor under the pompousness.

ebook review: a field guide to the F word

A Field Guide to the F Word explores its history from the fifteenth century, its blossoming in World War II, and its evolution into contemporary acceptance. Its linguistic and syntactic peculiarities are explained, alternative words evaluated, its etiquette and misuse clearly defined, and its nuances exposed—without The Word appearing in print. Charming, thought-provoking, playful, subtle, and all in good clean fun. A Field Guide to the F Word is your ticket to social success.







Book Review:
I don't make a habit of reading author bios before a book because I don't want to become unintentionally biased. In this case, perhaps the line "Ben was in WWII from the very beginning, having been at Pearl Harbor..." might have better prepared me for this book.
I found the book boring. How someone could possibly make the F word boring is beyond me, but Parker managed it. I was going to say something about the occasional implication that only soldiers truly have the right to use the word, but out of respect for the author's bio I'll chalk it up to writer's privilege. 
And honestly if you're going to omit a word, at least use asterisks. Use comic book symbols. Use something other than the "         " that rudely interrupts my internal reading with my brain trying to make a sound out of it. This is a pet peeve of mine in speech too, when people sort of pause or grunt instead of saying 'fuck.' Or even the more appropriate 'fudge'. Say SOMETHING. 
I'm very proud of this 96 year old man writing a book but I don't really think it's a particularly good book. Skip it. If you want a more entertaining theory on language and how curse words came about and how to use them, go on Tumblr for a while.

ebook review: 8 great smarts

Your child is smart, but does he or she believe it?

"Smart" is a power word. Children who believe they’re smart excel more in school and approach life with greater confidence. But children who don’t can struggle to apply themselves. Do you wish your child could see how smart he or she is?

Find hope in 8 Great Smarts. You’ll be empowered and equipped with new language and creative ideas for how to:

Accept and affirm your child’s unique smarts Motivate your child to learn and study with all 8 smarts Reawaken any "paralyzed" smarts Redirect misbehavior in new, constructive ways Guide your child spiritually, relationally, and to a good career fit

Dr. Kathy Koch loves seeing children flourish and helping parents make it happen—and it’s never too late to start. Now is the time to help your child be all that God designed him or her to be.

For children of all ages, this application of the theory of multiple intelligences is a revised edition of How Am I Smart?

My Review: 

This is a book that you're going to want in your Parent's Survival Kit. It's a book you want to give at a baby shower, or at an adoption party. It is Christian-based, but if you have any qualms about that take a sharpie and hide the word 'God' if you need to, because the actual information in this book is valuable for everyone.

Doctor Koch reviews different types of intelligences, named 'smarts' in her running theme of making the language in this book easy to understand and process. We already know every pregnancy, labor, child is different. If you get three mothers in a room you'll inevitably hear 'every child is different' drawled out like they're at a mother's anonymous meeting within an hour. This book goes a step further and lays out some points to bring up and help your child if they have one or more or a mixture of different smarts and are bummed out, maybe, by being different.

When I was growing up, different wasn't necessarily good. To put it in terms of this book, I was Word smart but not really Logic or People smart. Everyone else, it seemed, were Logic and People smart people. Bringing up a child's strengths may help them out because I didn't realize until High School that no one could read a book quite like I could and even less people wrote books for fun. 

If you're not sure, pick it up from a library. But you'll probably end up buying it.

ebook review: The bible doesn't say that

The Bible Doesn't Say That explores what the Bible meant before it was misinterpreted over the past 2,000 years.
Acclaimed translator and biblical scholar Dr. Joel M. Hoffman walks the reader through dozens of mistranslations, misconceptions, and other misunderstandings about the Bible. In forty short, straightforward chapters, he covers morality, life-style, theology, and biblical imagery, including:
*The Bible doesn't call homosexuality a sin
*The Bible's famous "beat their swords into plowshares" is matched by the militaristic, "beat your plowshares into swords."
*The often-cited New Testament quotation "God so loved the world" is a mistranslation, as are the titles "Son of Man" and "Son of God."
*The Ten Commandments don't prohibit killing or coveting.
What does the Bible say about violence? About the Rapture? About keeping kosher? About marriage and divorce? Hoffman provides answers to all of these and more, succinctly explaining how so many pivotal biblical answers came to be misunderstood.

My Review:

I love theology. I love having long discussions with people I love or work with about religious theories and what this or that may or may not mean and not have it matter because we all agree the bible pretty much says 'be a decent human being and stop being distracted by the small stuff'.
Know that about me, let me say Dr. Hoffman gets SUPER distracted by the small stuff. Like "what does 'beginning' really mean when the bible says 'in the beginning'?" But he shortly gets to the point, which is "not everything is literal."
Which I love. I love that he makes this the basis of his book and reminds readers in the age of science and logic to remember that this was written in a time of parables and teaching via stories. It actually helps readers to stop getting caught up on the small things and read beyond the text to find the true meaning of the bible.
So even though the book itself ended up being pretty decent, I'm just not the type to get over a bad beginning. There was a type of rambling that made me end up just scanning the rest of the book in hopes to avoid seeing more rambling in future chapters.
If you are the type to be interested in theological discussions and one doctor's take on the bible, go ahead and get this. It's worth a shot if you don't have anyone to have a live discussion with or if you simply prefer solitary study.

ebook review: Everything you need to know about American History

An exciting book for all middle schoolers (6th-8th grade) who wish they had taken better notes in American history class or just want to jump to the head of the class. Each Big Fat Notebook is like getting to borrow the notebook of the best student in American history class, the one who not only writes down the important points the teacher makes—noting those crucial  “you will get tested on these” facts—but also meticulously transcribes key points from the chalkboard and pastes teacher handouts into her notebook. Part “CliffsNotes,” part workbook, this study hack will help kids focus on the things they need to remember in order to rock their middle school exams and ace american history.
Each notebook was written by a graduate of a prestigious university, and all the writers graduated with honors in their respective subjects. Everything You Need to Ace American History in One Big Fat Notebook is based on state standards and has been vetted by a middle school American history teacher who has won a teacher-of-the-year award.

My Review:

Oh my god, I love this book. First of all, it's Emily Lestrange styled pages with an educational twist. If you are in school or know someone who is, definitely get this book. I have a sister who's really good at school and probably doesn't need this book, but I'm gonna get it for her anyway. The only thing that I didn't like about this book is that it wasn't the physical copy. You better believe I'm getting one for my own shelves too.

I LOVE that there are Check your Knowledge pages at the end of chapters, so I'll definitely be keeping this around for when my daughter gets to school age. The maps are uncomplicated and color coded, the font is easy to read and key words are bolded and highlighted, and the overall spacing of everything takes advantage of the space the pages have without seeming too cluttered or overwhelming. 

As I was looking through this, I found several things I either never learned or never paid attention to in class. So let's keep a tally of the copies I'm getting: Sister, daughter, me....you know what? I'll get another copy for my older sister and if she likes it she can get another copy for HER kids. so four. And honestly, the price that this is going for is SO worth it. Friends who frequent Barnes and Noble know this price is practically a steal.

Do you think the author was good at English and Math too?

I got an ecopy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Now go buy this book.

The Indian Family Kitchen

A fresh and friendly introduction to South Asian cuisine, The Indian Family Kitchen reflects how we cook today with seasonal and vegetable-forward recipes. This striking cookbook shows how to coax flavor out of your favorite foods by adding Indian spices: rub butternut squash with garam masala before roasting with salty feta and sun-dried tomatoes; marinate chicken wings in a punchy tandoori sauce; and brighten up a quinoa salad with ginger and cumin. 

You'll also find classics refined over the years by the granddaughter of the family that brought Patak's sauces and chutneys to households around the world. Throughout, The Indian Family Kitchen demystifies traditional cooking methods with kitchen shortcuts and the spices you should always have on hand—for delicious family meals that'll be loved by generation upon generation.

My Review:

My experience with Indian cooking is primarily made up of Curry nights every Sunday with my dad, and the occasional outing to a local Indian restaurant. When I moved out and made a home with my husband, I started branching out--making Chicken Korma, coming to terms with the fact that Tikka Masala wasn't even made by Indians, and a great number of experiments with spices and ramen.
What I love about this book in particular is the way Pathak introduces Indian Cooking as a process, not a formula. She leaves helpful stamps on each recipe that advise whether you should substitute or leave out an ingredient you don't have.
She starts the book with the important points: cooking is about intuition and improvising. The secret to good cooking is a good pantry (which was proved by my ramen-noodle experiments)
For anyone wanting to explore Indian cooking but not sure about the complexity, this is a great book to have. It's a great addition, even, for people who want to cook Indian but live in an area where 'Asian' means 'Japanese' and have to scour every corner of their city for ingredients sometimes. *ahem* But, anyway....
Buy this book and try something out. If you're cooking according to what you have, there's a helpful index in the back that you can use to locate pages of recipes for lamb, pork, chicken, etc. My advice: if you have someone sharing dinner with you, don't cook alone. Indian cooking is best done as a family affair.

365 devotions to peace

The Christian life isn’t exempt from times of difficulty, strain, and worry. But God didn’t intend for you to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. He offers an amazing gift to those who fix their eyes on Him: peace.


This 365-day devotional will help you release your worries to God and discover the peace that only He can give. Each devotion offers an encouraging Bible verse and closes with a prayer to help you find peace in the midst of any circumstance.


Spending each day with the Author of peace will bring a restful and refreshing year. 




My Review:

From the first time I opened the book, this book has helped me. I don't read it every day, but it has the prettiest cover (the thumbnail really doesn't do it justice) and I like to pull it form the shelf whenever I feel stressed and only have a few minutes to find peace (mothers of toddlers know what I'm talking about. Using a devotional coloring book isn't always practical).

I definitely recommend buying this book and keeping it in your purse or bag, so you can pull it out at work or at home whenever you need it. Don't feel pressure to open it up every single day, but keep it in mind when you need a gentle push in the peaceful direction.

rating: 5/5

Book review: Lies my teacher told me

Winner of the 1996 American Book Award and the Oliver Cromwell Cox Award for Distinguished Anti-Racist Scholarship

Americans have lost touch with their history, and in this thought-provoking book, Professor James Loewen shows why. After surveying twelve leading high school American history texts, he has concluded that not one does a decent job of making history interesting or memorable. Marred by an embarrassing combination of blind patriotism, mindless optimism, sheer misinformation, and outright lies, these books omit almost all the ambiguity, passion, conflict, and drama from our past. In ten powerful chapters, Loewen reveals that:

The United States dropped three times as many tons of explosives in Vietman as it dropped in all theaters of World War II, including Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Ponce de Leon went to Florida mainly to capture Native Americans as slaves for Hispaniola, not to find the mythical fountain of youth. Woodrow Wilson, known as a progressive leader, was in fact a white supremacist who personally vetoed a clause on racial equality in the Covenant of the League of Nations. The first colony to legalize slavery was not Virginia but Massachusetts.

From the truth about Columbus's historic voyages to an honest evaluation of our national leaders, Loewen revives our history, restoring to it the vitality and relevance it truly possesses.

My Review:

This book is one I've been meaning to get since I was 15 and my educator mom mentioned it to me. In retrospect, I should have gotten it back then.
This book is full of interesting facts and is no doubt an important book to read if you truly believe history is important. But alas, it's better as a supplement to education or learning aid than light reading. I'll be keeping it around in case I come across a book challenge that needs an educational read, but other than that it'll probably stay on my shelf until my daughter hits her teen years. 
If you're really into learning and have a great attention span, then definitely get this book and read it. If you're like me and like fictional reads and learning about history from tumblr posts, it might be better to skip this one.
I got this book from a bookoutlet haul.

ebook review: help yourself cookbook

Struggling to get your kids to eat their fruits and vegetables? Try letting them help themselves!

Experts tell us the best way to teach kids healthy eating habits is to involve them in the process. This irresistibe cookbook presents 60 appealing recipes kids will beg to make themselves, in fun and charming illustrations they will love. Bursting with color, humor, cute animal characters, and cool facts (Did you know your brain actually shrinks when you’re dehydrated? Drink water, quick!), Help Yourself empowers children to take charge of their own nutrition — for now and for life!



My Review:

I was hoping this book would target a younger audience, so I would only wait maybe three years instead of ten to share this with my daughter.

The Power tower and party in a cup recipes are good, and exactly what I expected: healthy beginners recipes that use simple ingredients.

But the Drinks are complicated and I wish most of the ingredients used were easy to find and budget friendly. I can work with vegetables, spices, and nuts but my local grocery simply doesn't stock algae.

As far as format, the Illustrations are cute and adult alerts are convenient. It's bright and colorful and seems like it would target 5 and 6 year olds like I was hoping. But the Introduction to kitchen safety could be redone to be shorter or have bigger words. Or even be in black and white so it stands out and lends itself as an Important Page. If I'm not paying attention to it, why will my daughter?

This is also my First Ruby Roth book and wow, vegan propaganda everywhere. But the book itself is a good concept with fun recipes and could be five stars with a little tweaking.

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Mary Mary Quite on raising children and other mind altering experiences

Mary and her hubby, old Hunk, raised five kids, assorted grandkids, three dogs, two cats, various reptiles, rodents galore, a boatload of fish, and a Mexican tarantula named Mad Max. It was crazy. But their drug of choice has always been laughter. A former AP English teacher and freelance writer, Mary earned her MFA in Screenwriting from UCLA in 2004, then worked in development for a small production company with projects at Sony, Disney, Lifetime, and Hallmark Hall of Fame. Next, Mary turned her talents toward funny stories about family life - aka "domestic humor." Thus, the MARY MARY QUITE series was born. Mary met artist David J Condry in 2011 and their collaboration led to 22 full-page illustrations and David's cover design, all of which are works of art, in their own right. Currently a Denver resident, David is a graduate of the Massachusetts College of Art and Design. A husband, a father, a lover of people, and an artist. David's favorite subjects have always been human beings - as evidenced in his delightful illustrations of the characters in this family-friendly book.

Goodreads

My Review:

I did not like this book. I don't think the pictures showed raw human emotion. I particularly don't appreciate how inconvenient this book would be to carry to work. I feel like the writing itself is maybe better suited for a blog and if you're going to try to have a sassy mommy book like Jenny Mccarthy, a [much] smaller book is probably better and I'd personally go with sketches if the paintings don't translate well (that's the only reason I could come up with as to why this book is so inconveniently wide.)

That said, at the time of writing this review the kindle version is .99, and that's about what it's worth so go for it. 
I got this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

journal review: Life changing magic

“Does it spark joy?”

These four little words have the power to create a revolutionary shift in your mindset. By asking yourself which things, activities, and relationships spark joy—and which don’t—you can mindfully zero in on your ideal life. Peppered with quotes and inspiration from The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, this journal is an invitation to apply Marie Kondo’s principles to not only the objects in your home but also the moments in your life, one day at a time.





My Review:

This journal was not at all what I expected. I was expecting prompts or ideas. 
maybe space to draw things that spark joy. Even a weekly quote or picture. While there was the occasional quote, this journal was really a glorified notebook. 
Don't get me wrong, go and get the accompanying self help book written by the author. But if you want a place to record things that spark joy, go to the dollar store and invest in a fifty cent composition notebook or agenda.
I got this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Journal Review: Design the life you love

A joyful, inspirational guide to building the life you've always dreamed of, using the principles and creative process of an award-winning product designer.
     Life, just like a design problem, is full of constraints--time, money, age, location, and circumstances. You cannot have everything, and if you want more out of it, you have to be creative about how to make what you need and what you want co-exist. This requires design thinking. Design the Life You Love uses a simple but proven creative thinking and design process to give ordinary people new tools to think about life differently, and also includes fascinating examples from the world of art and design that relate to each step of the process, plus guided creative exercises. Turn constraints into opportunities with optimism and holistic thinking using four simple steps: taking the whole apart, forming a new point of view, putting it back together, and giving it form. The striking design and Ayse Birsel's hand-drawn art and type set off her brilliant, life-changing design process, empowering and inspiring readers to create a better life.

My Review:

I love the feel of this journal. The cover is sturdy and smooth to touch, plus the elastic bookmark is built into the back cover so it's easier to find your place than a ribbon is.

I also love how the author includes warm ups and examples of the activities, and takes time to explain how you can apply designing strategies to a life plan. On several activities where you write things down there are two templates so you can choose to revisit the activity later and redo it, or if you make a mistake or have two ideas there is plenty of space.

The art style in this book is simple and while not quite elegant, it is classy and not at all patronizing.

This is a great gift to give to journal lovers and self improvement enthusiasts, as well as to have as a copy for yourself to envision and plan your own success in life. And even though this journal is for self improvement, it never comes off as doing homework. Each step is creative, easy, and fun.

I got this book through the publisher for an honest review.

book review: Raising grateful children in an entitled world

"But everyone else has it." "If you loved me, you'd get it for me!" When you hear these comments from your kids, it can be tough not to cave. You love your children--don't you want them to be happy and to fit in?Kristen Welch knows firsthand it's not that easy. In fact, she's found out that when you say yes too often, it's not only hard on your peace of mind and your wallet--it actually "puts your kids at long-term risk." In "Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World," Kristen shares the ups and downs in her own family's journey of discovering why it's healthiest "not" to give their kids everything. Teaching them the difference between "want" and "need" is the first step in the right direction. With many practical tips and anecdotes, she shares how to help kids become hardworking, fulfilled, and successful adults.It's never too late to raise grateful kids. Get ready to cultivate a spirit of genuine appreciation in your family and create a home in which your kids don't just say--but "mean"!--"thank you" for everything they have. 


My Review: 

Before I read this book I read a review that said "just finished this, and I'm going to go through it again with a highlighter!"

I rolled my eyes, as I usually do with these kind of reviews because I haven't yet actually met a book that I wanted to go through twice in a row like that. Anything I don't get the first time I'll MAYBE go through and highlight in a month or so, but right away?

...actually, yes. I read this book between calls at work and all he mothers at work read the title and went "oh, I need that book." The book itself was more than just a reference book. It was encouragement. It was a mother solid in her faith with both failed and successful methods of teaching gratefulness.

Of course, no nonfiction book is complete without sources. The author cinched her call to action with references and quotes from other authors that create the breadcrumbs of knowledge I love so much.

And ultimately, yes. I will be going through this book again soon to highlight it and hand over to my husband.

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

book review: Tuna on Toast, Sister Clotildis, UFOs and Other Things I Survived

Whether or not you grew up in the 1970s, you’ll find plenty to identify with (and plenty to laugh at) in Tuna on Toast. From the surreal TV shows, to the meanest nun at Catholic school, to making your own fun (outside!), Sherri Bobzien’s first book captures the hilarity, the awkwardness, the heartache and the occasional magic of childhood in a quasi-functional family. Everything Sherri survived—princess pageants, a parent’s alcoholism, divorce, mild poverty, mild neglect, Dad’s new girlfriends, Cindy Brady, President Nixon—she did surrounded by an ample supply of tormenting brothers and hero-caliber sisters.

This family will feel so much like your own—you’ll cringe.

Goodreads

Amazon

My Review:

This book was better than I thought it would be. I originally got this book from a goodreads giveaway, and thought the title was too long and too forgettable to be good.
But you know what they say about judgments and covers. 
This book was actually nice. Not quite laugh out loud funny but it left a good feeling as I read it. It felt at once nostalgic and sarcastic, blending the experience of a young girl and the reminiscence of a woman perfectly.
I would definitely advocate for people to read this book, despite the cover and long name.  As far as gifting, I'd probably part with my copy but wouldn't necessarily pay hard money to get this for anyone else.
My recommendation: get it from a library.
I got this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.