Faith Broussard Cade is a joy to follow on Instagram. She shares her hard earned wisdom daily. She is an inspiration to many. Sharing her tough journeFaith Broussard Cade is a joy to follow on Instagram. She shares her hard earned wisdom daily. She is an inspiration to many. Sharing her tough journey after an accident derailed her life and she had to learn to pivot on the path of life. She has founds joy and self forgiveness, how to take time for yourself without guilt and how to set healthy boundaries.
Her wisdom is boundless. This 90 day affirmation book shares daily essays and a beautiful photo with one of her affirmations on a card. This is a great book for yourself or to share with a loved one. You will revisit it many times and share the brilliance of Ms. Cade....more
Are you interested in learning how to take thrifted clothes and restyle them? If you don’t know where to begin this is the perfect place to start. AprAre you interested in learning how to take thrifted clothes and restyle them? If you don’t know where to begin this is the perfect place to start. April Yang provides the knowledge and advice on how to start. What basic supplies you need to begin alterations is included in the first chapter. Advice on what to look for at the thrift or vintage shops, how to tell if the garments will fit, and not to limit yourself to just clothing. Look at bedding, curtains and table clothes in a new way.
Instructions and samples are shown of a few possible alterations. The beauty of this book is not as a primer but as an inspiration, a jumping off point to your own creativity. Soon you will have a unique wardrobe of sustainable fashion....more
Where was this book a year ago! I have had multiple abdominal surgeries and I was a mess of scar tissue and malfunctioning nerves and pain. My doctor Where was this book a year ago! I have had multiple abdominal surgeries and I was a mess of scar tissue and malfunctioning nerves and pain. My doctor referred me to a Pelvic Floor Therapist. Many of the therapies, exercises and advice given here are the same I received. I am very thankful this book has been published so more women can get the help they need post-partum or post surgery. I will be referring to this book very often on my healing journey....more
Kimi ni Todoke saw a resurgence of popularity thanks to the anime being on Netflix. My niece discovered it recently and I was so happy to share my lovKimi ni Todoke saw a resurgence of popularity thanks to the anime being on Netflix. My niece discovered it recently and I was so happy to share my love of anime and manga with her.
I thought the story ended with Sawako and Kazehaya's happy ending. Kimi ni Todoke : From me to you: Soulmate continues the story with Sawako and Kurumi going to college. They have apartments close to each other. Kurumi and Sawako have become best friends, in fact Kurumi can often be found at Sawako's place hanging out.
Watching Sawako and Kazehaya's relationship, Kurumi wishes to have someone she can rely on like that too. She has never had a boyfriend before and does not know how to meet someone. Convincing Sawako to go with her to a mixer turns out to be a bad idea. The two attract the attention of an over-enthusiastic guy. The guy comes on too strong and over steps the bounds of Japanese familiarity. Invading their personal space. Thankfully Sawako's cousin is in the restaurant and comes to their rescue. Eiji gets Kurumi like no one has before. It shakes Kurumi to the core. He breaks down her defenses and leaves her speechless. She is so mixed up she has no idea how to react or what her real feelings are.
This is a beautiful beginning! I look forward to Eiji getting under Kurumi's skin some more....more
Make your own summer bag for your beach trip or a sun hat. With stunning photographs from the author's island beaches, you will be inspired to make yoMake your own summer bag for your beach trip or a sun hat. With stunning photographs from the author's island beaches, you will be inspired to make your own accessories and home decor items using raffia yarn. It may be a bit of a hunt to find the yarn locally, so the author has included sources for ordering supplies and tips on types of hooks to use.
Detailed written and charted instructions are included for each pattern. The author also took the effort to include US and UK abbreviations and instructions making this a book that all crochet enthusiasts can use....more
Fans of historical mysteries will find the Ladies Most Scandalous series a delightful read. A Governess's Guide to Passion and Peril is book four in tFans of historical mysteries will find the Ladies Most Scandalous series a delightful read. A Governess's Guide to Passion and Peril is book four in the series. While each book features characters from previous books, it is not necessary to read them in order. You can just right in and not be lost.
In the latest mystery, Miss Jane Halliwell, daughter of an ambassador for England, finds herself in reduced circumstances, as they say. She is currently a governess for a former friend and colleague of her father's. After her father's supposed suicide, Jane and her mother were snubbed by their former friends. The household is hosting numerous other diplomats from various European countries and America for a symposium on roses. This whole thing is a charade for a meeting to secure the rights to a talking machine for England.
When Jane's boss is murdered during the first evening, everything is a sixes and sevens. Jane and Lord Adrian begin to nose around with varying degrees of success and find much more than danger....more
Strange Folk is a great novel about family, tradition, and magic. If you have been searching for a book like the perennial favorite, Practical Magic, Strange Folk is a great novel about family, tradition, and magic. If you have been searching for a book like the perennial favorite, Practical Magic, you need to read Strange Folk.
Lee left Craw Valley when she went to college and never looked back. Her life was a misery there. In the small mountain town, her mother fell apart after Lee's father died. Lee has to learn at 10 how to care for herself and pay bills because no one else would. When Lee asked her grandma Belva for help, Belva took her back to her mother. Lee never forgave her.
Now Lee is looking for a safe place to land from a bad marriage. The only place she can think of is Belva's house. When Lee arrives the memories come flooding back. How can she explain to her two children that the family is "different" from others. The land speaks to them. How can she keep them safe from her mother Redbud. When a dead body show up not too far from the family's home they are in danger of getting blamed by the community.
Lee's world is falling apart, can she keep it together long enough to find the killer and save her children?...more
I was so excited to see this book was coming out. I loved Let’s Make Ramen and Let’s Make Dumplings. The illustrations and explanations were easy to fI was so excited to see this book was coming out. I loved Let’s Make Ramen and Let’s Make Dumplings. The illustrations and explanations were easy to follow and understand. Bread making has always mystified me. You take flour and yeast, water and a pinch of salt and move your hands in a certain way and magic happens. I have never had luck making bread except in my 30 year old bread machine that you just dump in the ingredients and turn it on. There is nothing like the smell of fresh baking bread to lift your spirits and raise the appetite. Thanks to Forkish for his easy to follow recipes and tips on making levain, I have a sourdough starter in my fridge and we are baking a loaf of bread weekly. Becan’s illistrations are easier to understand than photographs of the process. I was able to knead my bread and feel confident I was doing it correctly for the first time ever. This one deserves a Beard award. Let’s Make Bread is a must have for all home kitchens....more
Third book in the Mr. Darcy and Miss Tilney mystery series by Claudia Gray has the duo being summoned to Rosings because Lady Catherine feels her lifeThird book in the Mr. Darcy and Miss Tilney mystery series by Claudia Gray has the duo being summoned to Rosings because Lady Catherine feels her life is in danger. Someone has tried to harm her twice and bungled it both times thankfully. She wants the perpetrator found before they can succeed. As imperious as ever, Lady Catherine demands answers and the two young people will waste no time in providing them.
Prime suspects are those close to Lady Catherine: Anne and her husband Fitzwilliam, The Collins’ family, and the upper servants. All are subjected to Lady Catherine’s managing personality and strong will. They are all dependent upon her money. Could one of them have had enough and decided to hurry her off this mortal coil? The possibility also exists that these are just unfortunate accidents.
Can Miss Tilney and young Mr. Darcy sneak some moments alone to further their relationship as well? Another excellent mystery that ends with the promise that Pemberly could be next....more
People interested in learning about the basic principles and teachings of Buddhism should look no further than Teachings of the Buddha by Jack KornfiePeople interested in learning about the basic principles and teachings of Buddhism should look no further than Teachings of the Buddha by Jack Kornfield. This revised edition of the classic text has representations from Indian, Tibetan, Chinese, and Japanese teachings. An updated section on the role of women in the early years of Buddhism provides a broader view of the religion.
In addition to the core teachings, instructional sections on meditation, creating a sense of calmness and living with compassion for all life creates a well rounded book for anyone seeking spiritual fulfillment....more
Have you ever seen the videos of people making squeegee art and wondered if that is real? I thought there must be some trick to it. In simple easy to Have you ever seen the videos of people making squeegee art and wondered if that is real? I thought there must be some trick to it. In simple easy to follow language, Clara Cristina de Souza Rego shares her expertise. The trick is in the pressure and angle of the squeegee. After explaining the method of creating squeegee art, Clara has included a series of step by step instructions to create your first artwork. Create your own art to display on your walls....more
This text from Gaylon Ferguson is great for helping people learn how to explain the Buddhist mindset. To find the right path at the right time. Much oThis text from Gaylon Ferguson is great for helping people learn how to explain the Buddhist mindset. To find the right path at the right time. Much of it was over my head as I am not a practicing Buddhist but I love to read and learn about religion. Absolutely fascinating. Everything is explained using the 10 famous ox herding pictures and their stories....more
I love the fantasy genres new trend towards cozier novels and beautiful world building, like Legends and Lattes or the perennial favorite, The PrincesI love the fantasy genres new trend towards cozier novels and beautiful world building, like Legends and Lattes or the perennial favorite, The Princess Bride. Romance and daily life with a dash of adventure and drama but not too much. No battles and great wars. No five year long treks across a wasteland or down a river. The Spellshop is a feel good, find yourself and your tribe story. The feeds your soul, perfect for winter reading with a cup of tea, the perfect escape to a fantasy world of cloud bears, unicorns and merhorses.
Kiela was a studious girl growing up on a small island in the far reaches of her realm. Her parents were happy but they wanted the best for their bright and talented child so they moved to the city. The family continued their happy life until young adult Kiela lost her parents tragically but she found her dream job as a librarian in the Great Library. Buried in book, Kiela didn’t pay much attention to the outside world so a rebellion took her as a bit of a surprise. She escaped back to her island hometown with her assistant and some rescued books.
Trying to quietly rebuild her life included a few bumps and a stumbles but her chosen family and friends are there to back her up when trouble came calling....more
West Heart Kill is a mystery novel that is hard to categorize. I don’t want to give away any spoilers so this is going to be difficult to review. The West Heart Kill is a mystery novel that is hard to categorize. I don’t want to give away any spoilers so this is going to be difficult to review. The story opens with two men in a car heading to a “private hunting club” for rich families for the Fourth of July weekend. The two men have been recently reacquainted. Could the reunion have been under false pretenses, who knows? One man is the son of a club member, his family have been members of the club since its inception. The other man was a college friend of the former, until he had to drop out of college. He is not rich, he is a private detective and son of a homicide detective. Will there be a crime committed this weekend? Will the PI be called on to solve it? What kind of mystery will this story be?
Full of clues and many “sins” being committed, this novel will have to guessing which wrong doers is trying to cover their tracks. West Heart hunting club is full of secrets but which are ones someone will murder to protect. If you are a mystery fan, the informational tangents about the history of crime novels and how they evolved will be of interest.
The novel breaks the fourth wall at times and really pulls in the reader. I think this would make a fantastic book group selection. There would be a lot to talk about....more
A unique manga created around the Shinto belief that the items you use can become imbued with a soul and the mistreatment of such items can cause thosA unique manga created around the Shinto belief that the items you use can become imbued with a soul and the mistreatment of such items can cause those items to become angry spirits. The people who live in the floating city are divided by class. A line divides those who have money and are a wasteful society. When they get bored with an item or it gets a little dirty, they throw it away. On the other side of the floating city are the poor people who would love to have the discarded items of the rich but are ridiculed for being “dirty”. Trash picking is an illegal activity though. When Rudo defies the law and picks trash, fixes and cleans things to re-use he is an outcast among outcasts. Further isolating him, his father was accused of murder and as punishment was thrown off the floating city into the trash pile below.
When something horrible happens, Rudo is also thrown off the city like trash. He wakes up in a strange trash filed land full of a miasma. He can’t breathe and is scared. When trash monsters come after Rudo he runs then fights until a man comes to his rescue. Will Rudo be able to survive in this new strange land? Can he clean his name and get his life back? Who knows, but this is a fresh and fun plot for a manga. It give me Sand Land or Tank Girl vibes so far. It seems written for a middle grade reader so far but who knows what the future holds....more
Ai Weiwei is a man of many talents. an artist, political activist, poet, photographer, architect, filmmaker. He has been very vocal in his criticism oAi Weiwei is a man of many talents. an artist, political activist, poet, photographer, architect, filmmaker. He has been very vocal in his criticism of the Chinese government, been imprisoned, beaten and detained. Zodiac is his first biographical graphic novel. Telling twelve stories from Ai's life each identified by an animal from the Chinese Zodiac.
The book opens with Mouse, Ai is speaking with his father about books. They are in a labor camp, his father, a poet, was banished to the camp in the far northwest of China for speaking against the government. The only books that the Chinese people had were by Mao Zedong or by Enver Hoxha. Each story builds a picture of these pivotal moments in Ai Weiwei's life that made him the courageous man he is.
That one man coming from such humble origins can do so much is an inspiration. No one should ever say what can one man do? He can do a lot!...more
Watercolor Your Way is an excellent introduction to watercolor painting. Sarah Cray explains the basics without overwhelming the reader. Begin paintinWatercolor Your Way is an excellent introduction to watercolor painting. Sarah Cray explains the basics without overwhelming the reader. Begin painting with just a three colors and two brushes! Basic strokes and easy to learn step by step techniques lead to lovely compositions. By the end, you will feel accomplished and proud of your work....more
An eye opening experience! If you have trouble setting boundaries, or with your self worth, you need this journal today. I was brought to tears a few An eye opening experience! If you have trouble setting boundaries, or with your self worth, you need this journal today. I was brought to tears a few times but Jordan Brown's questions made me realize a few things about myself. There are plenty of questions to answer that will dig into areas that can be improved.
I will take the time to write my answers in a separate journal so I can go through this book every year as a check in with myself....more
A relaxing walk through the life of the author, Annette Thurmon, and her family's choice to move to the country and live a simpler life. Choosing doinA relaxing walk through the life of the author, Annette Thurmon, and her family's choice to move to the country and live a simpler life. Choosing doing over electronic consumption of entertainment. Being closer to nature and the earth, living seasonally.
The author explains you have to know you "why", why are you making the choice. This is a hard choice to make on a whim. You are moving away from the city life you had, the convenience of having things close at hand, ordering supper to be delivered if you don't feel up to cooking. Living in the country you are far from many stores others regularly visit, some favorite items may only be available through mail order. The benefits though are many. You get to see where your food comes from, grow you own veggies, free from pesticides. Meet the farmer who gives you milk, eggs and meat. Build relationships with your kids that don't involve screen time.
If you have ever dreamed of making a choice like this, read Simple Country Living it is a delightful read full of recipes, photographs and great advice....more
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