Thursday, December 24, 2015

Fabulous cookbook for healthy eating



Finally forgiven......When I received the latest version of Trim Healthy Mama, I was incredibly disappointed that there were no recipes, only the hows and whys of the sister duo's ways of cooking and eating healthy and losing weight in the process.  Well, I can now forgive the ladies because they have introduced a cookbook full of recipes that dwarf what was offered in the original book.  From one pot meals (my personal favorite) to breakfast foods to sweets and hearty main dishes, this book contains over 350 recipes, several of which are destined to become favorites.  Some of the recipes have ingredients that you may not keep in your pantry if you are not already a Trim Healthy Mama cook but all items are very easy to acquire at your local grocery store or health food store--also easily available on-line. (This comment probably applies more to baked goods than other recipes.) One of the unique features of this cookbook is that the sister's personalities still shine just as in Trim Healthy Mama when they take turns sharing the history of the recipe of tips.

As for the book itself, I will always wish cookbooks were either loose leaf or spiral bound so I can easily lay them on the counter and cook from them.  However, a nice slick paper was chosen so it is easy to wipe away small drips and spills from the book.

Lest you be misled, the Trim Healthy Mama Cookbook isn't just for those who want to lose weight.  Eating healthy foods will make  you feel better and give you more energy than you have had for years.  Give it a try.  It isn't necessary to have the cookbook to eat healthy but it sure does make it a bit simpler. 

I did receive this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review and was in no way obligated to write a positive one.

Thursday, December 17, 2015

Best coloring book ever



Who doesn't love to color?  It has to be one of the most relaxing activities ever and it isn't just for kids anymore.  Adult coloring books are everywhere now. 

We all know that we need to spend time with the Lord each and every day and in His word.  What could be more incredible than doing so while coloring?  Each page has a pictures just waiting for color and a short scripture or quote to meditate on and memorize while you are coloring.  On the verso of many of the pages is the entire scripture, words to a hymn, or the reference where the quote originated.  The paper is a heavy stock, but not card weight.  Each illustration is the work of one of a dozen different artists.  The book is bound and pages would be difficult to tear out so you can either look at it as an entire work that can stand the test of time and not be concerned about pages falling out or get out the scissors if you want to share or frame.

I can already tell that I need to begin looking for my next volume because this one won't last long.  Off to purchase a new box of colored pencils with as many color options as I can find.

I did receive this free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review and was in no way obligated to write a positive one.

Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Silent no more



















WE CANNOT BE SILENT:  Speaking truth to a culture redefining sex, marriage, and the very meaning of right & wrong.  In some aspects, the title says it all.  Our world seems to have taken everything good and holy and deemed moral and turned it into something shameful.  In his latest book, Al Mohler claims that this cultural revolution is far from over.  He says that what we, as Christians, have determined as the "straw that broke the camel's back" (my words, not his) in redefining marriage as anything other than being between a man and woman is not the start of the changes and certainly will not be the end.  As Christians, we have a choice to make during these times.  What should a Christian and the Church do in today's world? 


Mohler's book sheds light on the historical path that led us to where we are now, from the acceptance of divorce to the homosexual movement  and same sex marriages to the transgender movement.  After revealing our treacherous path, Mohler takes us into Scripture to look at what the Bible says about sex and marriage and the proper response Christians should have in the wake of our times.  Are we nearing the end of religious liberty and marriage?  Mohler fears we just may be and today's church could be partially to blame.

To be honest, this isn't a book I wanted to read but I simply couldn't get it off my mind once I saw it.  Fairly vocal on a normal basis, I didn't feel equipped to address this issue nor did I think I wanted to.  However, it seems to me that if no one ever takes a stand, what is to keep the United States from being a modern day Sodom and Gomorrah?  I call home a certain state that has been in national news for months because a woman refused to issue a marriage license to a homosexual couple.  I admired her fortitude.  Would I have done the same?  It was time to discover exactly what my reaction should have been.


Mohler's book is a challenging one. It was provoke you to think about sexuality and marriage and your own beliefs at a deeper level than ever before.  Is it one that is going to leave you feeling good about the world when finished? Probably not.  However, I want to personally challenge each of you to pick up a copy and read it for yourself.  His writing is straight forward and easy to understand.  Read it over time though.  Don't look at it as something to get read to check off your list. Read it and digest it as you go.  Two thumbs up to Mohler for authoring a book that confronts this touchy, sensitive issue.

I did receive this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  I was in no way obligated to write a positive one. 

Saturday, December 5, 2015

A handbook of owls





















Owls are loved by many and collected by some but who knew there were so many varieties of these winged friends?  I certainly never knew there was an owl small enough to fit into a pocket.  Matt Sewell takes the reader all over the world from the tropics to the desert, woodlands, and wilderness to introduce forty-seven different owls.  While the narrative is easy to understand and captivating, it is the watercolor pictures of the owls that make this such an intriguing small book.  They are beautiful.  As for the narrative, the author's voice comes through loud and clear making it an interesting read for older children and adults alike. Originally published in 2014 but now introduced in a different form.  An unusual feature the author also included is an illustrated checklist in the back of the book for bird watchers to keep track of the owls they are fortunate enough to spot.


This volume is perfect for any bird enthusiast or owl lover but also very appropriate and will capture the attention of children so a good choice to use in encouraging them to read non-fiction.  Who knows, perhaps your little person might pick up bird watching as a hobby. As for my copy, I have an owl lover on my Christmas list so off to the wrapping table I go.

I did receive this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  I was in no way obligated to write a positive one.