Building your dream wardrobe

My closet, while somewhat spacious, is quite difficult for me to keep orderly and locate items I am looking for.  Let's just say it is a good thing I can annex the guest room closet for my out of season clothing.  Oh, and now that my kids are growing up and moving out, maybe I can move into their closets as well!

Seriously, I don't know that I could have defined my personal style before reading and working through the suggested steps. My daughter, on the other hand, has such a sense of style, she can make an outfit shine because she knows how to put things together and only wears items that fit her personal style regardless of what the stores tell us is fashionable for the season.  I love the fact that Rees suggests to only have in your closet things that you love 100%.  Am I there yet?  Absolutely not.  There are still items that I have around because they go with something I do love and fear I can't replace but I'm getting there.  This book is a process, not a task to check off after a day or two. 

From discovering my personal style to weeding, making the most of your shopping budget, and putting together outfits, you will find yourself motivated to get started.  This volume is certainly going to help with my personal goal to get rid of 1,000 items in my home and I suspect I will feel as if I have more wearable clothing after I  put it all into practice than I do now with more items in my drawers and closet.

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.  Thanks Anuschka Rees for helping me figure out why I "never know what to wear" and then equipping me with the tools I need to do something about it.

New Amish fiction by Beverly Lewis

I have had a long break from Amish centered fiction (due to the fact that it seems like everyone is writing it) but author Beverly Lewis has always been my favorite so decided to give The Wish a try.  Leona Speicher never felt like she fit in with her family and spent more time at her best friend's, Gloria, house than her own it would seem.  More of a sister relationship than a friendship, Leona is devastated when Gloria's family suddenly moves away with no explanation and Leona hears nothing from her dear friend for years.  Out of the blue, Gloria contacts Leona asking for help.  But Gloria isn't the same girl who left Lancaster all those years ago.

If I had to describe Lewis' writing, I would use adjectives such as dependable, well researched, and one of those books you want to curl up with a cup of tea and read until you can't sit anymore.  While The Wish meets those expectations, the characters fell just a bit short of endearing themselves to me.  I don't know if it was the predictability of their actions or if they weren't as well developed as I would have liked.  I do like that the book focuses primarily on the friendship between the two girls and the choices they make rather than the romance which more or less is playing  itself out in the background of the story. 

If you are a fan of Lewis', you won't want to miss this latest publication.

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

More than I expected and am "dying" to try (pardon the attempt at humor)

I have an aunt who has tried to peak my interest in natural dyes but the closest I ever came was using a walnut dye she had made to color a basket I had made.  However, the idea of learning about and using natural dyes is something I could see myself doing so ordered Sasha Duerr's Natural Color.  Duerr spends the first 40 or so pages explaining the tools, process, sources of natural dyes and how to extract the color, and fibers you may want to consider dying.  She likens dying to cooking.  One has to experiment to find just the right amount to produce the hue or color you want.

The remainder of the book is full of ideas to get your creative juices flowing using a variety of plants based on their growing season.  In other words, the spring, summer, fall, and winter plant material are sectioned off so you can look for items in season. I must admit indigo was my favorite.  Duerr gives clear directions on how to dye the product with an exhaustive list of supplies needed, some of which I am not real certain where to find locally.  In some instances, she explains how to preserve the dye for later projects.  If you want to get a bit more creative, Duerr closes the book with a description of various techniques which can be used to design your one of a kind wearable.  From scarves to bedding to sweaters, the list is endless of the possibilities.

Overall, I really enjoyed looking through the book and reading her explanations.   It may be a bit too earthy and organic for me but that is more of a time issue rather than preference.  I like the fact that the pages are a matte finish, making it easy to make your own notations on the page so you can remember what worked and what didn't as your experiment.  The volume has ideas that will appeal to all ages and walks of life.  Maybe it is time to go try my hand with a bit of indigo or madder root!

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. 

Choose joy every day

Life is hard.  Some days there appears to be few reasons to be joyful with what may be going on in your own life or perhaps simply the world around you.  But those who know and love Jesus can have true joy no matter the circumstance.

Sheila Walsh has given us a tool to focus on Jesus and rejoice always in 5 Minutes with Jesus: A Fresh Infusion of Joy.  Few of us can't spare five minutes in the morning, at least most mornings.  While I can sometimes get overwhelmed with where to even begin in Scripture, Ms. Walsh has provided a tool I think I can use daily with typically four or five short scripture verses on a specific topic (such as illness/healing, rest, forgiveness, creation) followed by a short story taken from a life event, movie, scripture, etc. and a takeaway for the day to ponder.  Her writing style makes it simple and understandable even for those of us whose brains may wake a bit slowly and three short pages in the 5 1/2" by 5 1/2" book makes a morning devotional accessible and possible for all.

This volume is book three in a series of 5 Minutes with Jesus.  Makes a great give and is very affordable.  I did receive this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review and am not obligated in any way to write a positive one.  Thank you Ms. Walsh for sharing very applicable stories where joy may have not been the obvious choice but God miraculously provided.

Never too little to know Jesus

Bethlehem is busier than Itsy and Bitsy Mouse have ever seen it because the time has come for all the people to be counted.  Conversing with Daniel Donkey, Itsy and Bitsy learn a King is coming to Bethlehem and go in search of him throughout the town, not giving into the discouragement their animal friends convey.  Not until they return to their stable home do they find the King they seek and learn that he came for all, no matter how small.

Max Lucado eloquently shares the true story of Christmas through Itsy Bitsy Christmas: You're never too little for His love!  Published in a sturdy board book format, it is larger than many allowing small hands to enjoy the book without fear of tearing pages.  It doesn't follow the word count in what I think of when I think of the typical board book so the story is complete with language, sentence structure, and length appropriate for even young school age children.  

Lucado has been a favorite author of mine for years with You Are Special, Because I Love You, Best of All,  and Just in Case You Ever Wonder.  This book is right in line with those and will become a favorite for our family who loves the Christmas season so much already.  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.  May God allow Lucado's writing to continue for years for future generations.

Perfect 1st letter writing for kids

Unfortunately, the art of letter writing has almost ceased to exist with the technological age.  While facetime, e-mail, Skype, and other electronic communication is wonderful and instantaneous, there is little that is better than opening up the mailbox and finding something personal and written with you in mind.  Random House has made it not only possible but easy for a child at whatever age to send a postcard greeting to family and friends.

Wee Alphas contains 26 postcards, one for every letter of the alphabet.  Each postcard contains one letter of the alphabet with the featured letter represented by a whimsical animal as shown on the box shown above.  On the side used for writing, Random House has simplified the chore of choosing what to write about by providing an outline or prompt that the child can fill in or complete.  For example, the postcard may prompt the child to draw a picture of their favorite item that begins with the featured letter or it may provide a checklist of characteristics beginning with the featured letter where the child can check and add a bit of a personal line.  A few are a bit more open ended, encouraging the child to write more of their own thoughts but still much less intimidating than staring at a blank sheet of paper you have to fill.  A perfect item for encouraging your little writer.

I think this makes a wonderful little gift for any child old enough to hold a pencil and draw a bit.  I know if I were a grandmother, nothing would be more special than receiving something in the mail from my grandchild.  I did receive these postcards free from Random House and was not obligated to write a positive review.