Mamaleh Knows Best by Marjorie Ingall

I don't know a parent alive who doesn't want to raise successful, creative, empathetic, independent children, and "Mamaleh Knows Best" certainly gives you Marjorie Ingall's honest and humorous perspective.  As with all books on parenting, the reader needs to think for themselves and adopt or dismiss ideas that are presented.  With that said, I appreciated the author's approach to raising her daughters and thought that she offered something fresh that I haven't read in other books of this genre. 


Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a free copy of this book by Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest opinion.

365 Pocket Morning Prayers

This little book for prayers has some really great topics such as keeping life in perspective, changing my attitude, admitting sin, embracing my age, holding my tongue, and so many more.  As I read through this book, I felt that it was written for women like me who are in our "middle age" and need some help in our prayer life.  Great for the morning as it gets your mind thinking about and praying about the topics as the day progresses.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a free copy of this book by Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Drawing Lesson

Our teenage son is a very gifted artist.  Although we have not wanted to stifle his personal style and creativity by a formal art class, we do encourage him to learn techniques to enhance and perfect his craft.

This book is really great in that it teaches using a comic book format versus a textbook one.  That makes it very easy to read and follow along with, which is especially helpful with those who would rather draw than read.  Some concepts covered are shading, negative space, starting with a loose sketch, and proportions. 

So, although I chose this book for our artsy son, I would recommend it for anyone who is interested in learning to draw. 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a free copy of this book by Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest opinion.

Gratitude: A Prayer and Praise Coloring Journal

I have been super curious about adult coloring books and was wondering if an art-challenged person, such as myself, could really enjoy a book like this. 

First of all, this isn't just a coloring book.  It is a beautifully written book that leads the reader to reflect and journal.  The activities of doodling and coloring allow the reader to dive deeper into thought, making the experience more profound and meaningful.

I admit to being a bit of a skeptic prior to receiving this book, but am thinking this, with a pack of colored pencils, would be a great Christmas gift for some of my gal pals this year!

Love it!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a free copy of this book by Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion.

Food with Friends by Leela Cyd

I love to make memorable meals, and to make people happy through cooking.  Because of that, I am always looking for great recipes and tips. 

"Food with Friends" by Leela Cyd is a beautiful book that has a warm, eclectic style.  There are great tips for setting a gracious table and making your guests feel genuinely special.  As for the recipes, like most cookbooks there are recipes I am looking forward to trying.  For the most part, though, I believe this book will be a launching point for ideas using ingredients I would personally have on hand.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a free copy of this book by Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest opinion.

Meditate Your Weight by Tiffany Cruikshank, LAc, MAOM

In all honesty, it was with a bit of hesitation that I requested to review "Meditate Your Weight" by Tiffany Cruikshank, LAc, MAOM.  But, really, meditate just means to think deeply about something, right?

What I found was this book was like positive affirmations on steroids.  The author encourages us to learn to love and accept ourselves for who we are.  Although I do struggle to create the time to "meditate, I found the yoga sequence in the back of the book to be great, even for a novice such as myself.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a free copy of this book by Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest opinion.

Do Hard Things by Alex & Brett Harris

"Do Hard Things" by Alex and Brett Harris is geared toward the teenage reader and challenges them to look at their high school years as an opportunity not a vacation.

Included are stories of those who have done just that: they have done things that others would not choose to do, and have overcome fears, built self-confidence, and helped many in the process.

As the mother of teenagers, I am just as guilty of not expecting as much as my young adults are capable of as well as fighting the "norms" that they see and encouraging them to be more!  I'm glad I read this book because it opened my eyes to that.

A thought-provoking, must-read book that I will be asking my teens to read.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a free copy of this book by Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest opinion.