52 Weeks Of Gratitude Journal Review

 

Title: 52 Weeks Of Gratitude

Author: Ink and Willow Publishing

Genre: Nonfiction, Journal, Spiritual, Gratitude.

Plot: If we have ever needed a guided journal to focus on gratitude, 2020 is the year for it. This journal is a hardcover with a gorgeous design and it id divided into sections inside. Each section, Home, Community, Faith, and Beauty cover the different areas of our lives that we can find gratitude in. Each themed week has a Bible verse, a paragraph to reflect on, a section to journal, and a tip to build gratitude into your daily life. At the back of the journal is a daily gratitude list for the entire year where you write down one thing a day you are grateful for.

All in all, a very elegant and simple journal with a straightforward layout and goal in mind.

Likes/Dislikes: The paper is nice, very smooth and just the right thickness. Some of the reflections might be harder than others but over all, this is a good journal to create and build the habit of gratitude. I quite like it, especially the daily list at the end.

Rating: G-all ages, geared more for adults though.

Date Reviewed: November 14th, 2020

I received a copy of this book courtesy of the publishers for my honest opinion and wasn't required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed in the above review are my own.

To Read Or Not To Read Journal Book Review

 
Title: To Read Or Not To Read

Author: Ink and Willow Publishing

Genre: Nonfiction, Journal, Literary, Books, Interactive, Lists.

Plot: Every book-dragon and serious reader know that keeping track of the books you've read is a daunting task. Throw in keeping track of the books you want to read and you're pretty much guaranteed to be buried under piles and piles of unsorted books. This is when a journal such as To Read Or Not To Read comes in very, very handy. This journal is designed with book lovers in mind.

Beginning with the table of contents, there are blank spaces to write in the titles of the titles you review for easy future reference. Each page has a space for the book's title, year published, your rating, notes, your review, your final thoughts, why you read the book, and what impact it had on you. Furthermore, there are lists of books such as BBC Top 100 Reads to check off which titles you've read and introduce you to new favorite reads. There is a blank list in the back to list your own to be read titles, and a How Bookish Are You quiz. For a final treat, there are Author Spotlight sections on Flannery O'Connor, Shusaku Endo, Frederick Douglass, Dorothy Sayers, Richard Twiss, and Justo L. Gonzalez.

Likes/Dislikes: This is the first bookish journal I have (shocking, I know) and I absolutely love it! The paper is thick and smooth, the layout of each section is gorgeous and easy on the eyes, and the whole thing makes me excited about reading and discovering new books. I think it is an extra perk that the cover is blue which is my favorite color. All in all, this journal is highly recommended and should be at the top of every book lover's holiday wish list this season.

Rating: G-all ages, geared more toward teens and adults.

Date Reviewed: November 14th, 2020

I received a copy of this book courtesy of the publishers for my honest opinion and wasn't required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed in the above review are my own.

She Believed Book Review

Title: She Believed

Author: Jean Fischer

Genre: Children, Nonfiction, Inspirational, Biography, Christian.

Plot: Girls today need strong feminine role models to look up to and this collection of twelve stories provides girls with twelve historic women to admire and look up to.

Written in short concise entries, girls are introduced to Gladys Aylward, Clara Barton, Catherine Booth, Amy Carmichael, Fanny Crosby, Florence Nightingale, Edith Schaeffer, Mary Slessor, Corrie Ten Boom, Mother Teresa, Sojourner Truth and Harriet Tubman.

Each entry is beautifully illustrated and accompanied by a Bible verse that helps to anchor the story in the Word of God for readers.

Likes/Dislikes: I really enjoyed this little book. The stories are short, concise and to the point without being overly long. I read it to my three girls who are 6, 3 and 18 months. The baby lost interest when she wasn't allowed to eat the book or rip out the pages but the older two listened to the stories and seemed interested. I feel like it is missing the story of Joan of Arc though which was a story I always grew up with as a girl and which mine would adore because swords are popular in my house right now. All in all, I liked it.

Rating: PG-all ages

Date Reviewed: February 27th, 2020

I received a copy of this book courtesy of the publishers for my honest opinion. I wasn't required to write a positive review and the opinions expressed in the above review are my own.

Snug Book Review

Title: Snug

Author: Catana Chetwynd

Genre: Nonfiction, Comic, Graphic Novel, Romance, Humor.

Plot: Snug is a special word that accurately describes that comfortable feeling you only find in loving long-term relationships. And this book, Snug, is a celebration of that word and those feelings and those long-term relationships we are so comfortable in.

Catana and her bearded John are comfortable, loving and in a steady long-term relationship with spots of humor and fun to keep things perky and interesting. These calming black and white illustrations show life at its fullest with just the right amount of reality for spice.

Likes/Dislikes: My sister and I both follow Catana Comics online and like to send each other our favorite snippets. Now I have to find the books and send them to her. This is the second Catana book and I really enjoyed it. Some of the comics were my favorites I have already read and some were new to me. I would've liked more original pieces but I think that is just because I want more Catana and John doing cute things together.

Rating: G-12 and up.

Date Reviewed: January 25th, 2020

I received a copy of this book courtesy of Netgalley for my honest opinion and I wasn't required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed in the above review are my own.

That Can Be Arranged Book Review

Title: That Can Be Arranged

Author: Huda Fahmy

Genre: Nonfiction, Comic, Humor, Romance.

Plot: Huda Fahmy is the author of the popular web comic, Yes, I'm Hot In This which humorously talks about her day to day life as a traditional Muslim woman in today's modern world. Her debut book features all new content and tells the often-hilarious story of how she met and married her husband, Gehad.

Divided into easily managed sections, this book tells us about Huda's early days of crushes and searching for a suitable suitor while swamped in Jane Austen's famous novels. Eventually, she beats the naysayers in her life and does find her dream man.

Likes/Dislikes: I would like to note that I personally am not Muslim but I love reading about Huda's adventures. I have learned so much about her culture and strongly encourage everyone to check her out when you get a chance. I don't usually read a lot of graphic novels so I'm very picky when I decide to read one and I'm glad I read this one. My one real complaint is that it was too short. I really wanted to keep reading and learn more about Huda, Gehad and their baby, their daily life and what other books she's become obsessed with over the years. Maybe there will be a sequel. I really liked that it was original content and not just her popular posts printed up. My favorite bits were the interludes as her empty coffee cup pile grew as she told the story.

Rating: G-all ages but mostly 14 and up.

Date Reviewed: January 25th, 2020

I received a copy of this book courtesy of Netgalley for my honest opinion and I wasn't required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed in the above review are my own.

The 5-Ingredient Paleo Cookbook Book Review

Title: The 5-Ingredient Paleo Cookbook

Author: Genevieve Jerome

Genre: Nonfiction, Cookbook, Paleo

Plot: If you are looking for ease imflammation, control food allergies or simply eat more healthy then the Paleo diet might be the best option for you. But how do you switch over to this diet and then stick to it on busy days? How do you overhaul your pantry to qualify as Paleo and what exactly is Paleo anyway?

This slim cookbook answers all these questions and more while acting as a friendly and easy introduction to the Paleo diet.

Likes/Dislikes: Right off the bat, we need to point out that a lot of these recipes call for more than just five ingredients so don't be too thrown by that. My family and I are on the Paleo diet to help with autoimmune disorders and inflammation; it works for us and I have done a lot of research on it. This book, while probably not the best Paleo cookbook available, is a good starting place for beginners.

Rating: PG-all ages

Date Reviewed: January 22nd, 2020

I received a copy of this book courtesy of Netgalley for my honest opinion and I wasn't required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed in the above review are my own.

100 Words Of Affirmation Your Husband Needs To Hear Book Review

Title: 100 Words Of Affirmation Your Husband Needs To Hear

Author: Lisa Jacobson

Genre: Nonfiction, Self-Help, Marriage, Husbands, Christian.

Plot: Straight forward and simple, pastor's wife Lisa Jacobson lists one hundred words or phrases rather which your husband needs to hear from you. These range from "You are my protector" to "Thank you for supporting our family" and "You are one handsome man."

Lisa and her husband Matt have been married for over 20 years and she has learned through trial, error and experimentation exactly what her husband needs to hear. This book is a product of those years of effort, love and learning that you van now apply to your marriage and affirm your husband in a loving and God-honoring way.

Likes/Dislikes: One of the things I really enjoyed about this book was that Lisa dived right into the things to say to your husband and didn't waste time telling us who this book was for, how to save your marriage, or why you should fight for your marriage in an abusive or otherwise uncomfortable situation like other marriage books I've read have done. While those books have their place, they all end up feeling preachy or guilt-tripping me for not doing enough or sacrificing enough. This book by Lisa made me feel like getting into the habit of affirming and loving my husband every day is something easy, fun and simple to do. The doable aspect was very appealing and I started texting my husband while reading the book.

For those of you curious, there is a companion book on ways to actively show love to your husband and the flip side to those books for showing love and 100 affirming words for wives. They make a great bundle for a wedding or anniversary gift.

Rating: PG-15 and up, mainly for reading level and content (it's a marriage book)

Date Reviewed: January 22nd, 2020

I received a copy of this book courtesy of Netgalley for my honest opinion. I wasn't required to write a positive review and the opinions expressed in the above review are my own.

Mama Mama Only Mama Book Review

Title: Mama, Mama, Only Mama

Author: Lara Lillibridge

Genre: Nonfiction, Humor, Self-Help, Advice, Memoir, Parenting, Children, Single-Parenting.

Plot: One day Lara woke up and decided that her bland married existence was too stifling to continue. So she uprooted her world and moved out, adventuring tentatively into the world of single parenting.

There is more to her story, of course. Like what happens when you're the main authority of the house and yet there are still icky spiders to deal with, the trials of co-parenting and what happens when you try to date as a single parent. While she worked her way through those challenges, Lara still had two adventurous boys to raise, a dog to monitor and a couple of jobs to work.

This book is about how she overcame all those challenges and reconnected with herself.

Likes/Dislikes: Single-parenting is hard but so is denying yourself and staying in a loveless bland marriage. Somehow Lara found the strength to do what many of us can't and she overcame her struggles. She still has a messy car though and that will never change. In between her humorous life lessons are tasty, easy recipes and blog posts that spotlight her personal growth. I really enjoyed this book, though it didn't necessarily sell me on the joys of single parenthood. I especially enjoyed the humorous recipes. Definitely a very fun read.

Rating: PG-14 and up, mainly for reading level and some content (it's a parenting book).

Date Reviewed: January 22nd, 2020

I received a copy of this book courtesy of Netgalley for my honest opinion. I wasn't required to write a positive review and the opinions expressed in the above review are my own.

The Toddler Survival Guide Book Review

Title: The Toddler Survival Guide

Author: Mike and Heather Spohr

Genre: Nonfiction, Humor, Parenting, Toddlers, Survival Guide.

Plot: Statistically speaking, you are more likely to meet a ravenous sleep-deprived toddler than you are to meet an undead zombie but both creatures can be terrifying and very dangerous. It is best to proceed with caution and keep your handy guide near you at all times.

In a hilarious parody of all survival guides but especially zombie survival guides, The Toddler Survival Guide is the parenting book every parent needs. Parenting can be truly fulfilling but bone-crushingly hard at the same time and a healthy dose of humor is the secret to weathering all the toddler-themed storms.

Likes/Dislikes: This book is hilarious! It makes the best kind of Father's Day gift for new modern dads which is awesome. No guarantees if they will actually have the time to read it before baby eats it though.

Rating: PG-13 and up, mainly for reading level.

Date Reviewed: January 15th, 2020

I received a copy of this book courtesy of Netgalley for my honest opinion. I wasn't required to write a positive review and the opinions in the above review are my own.

The Natural Baby Sleep Solution Book Review

Title: The Natural Baby Sleep Solution

Author: Polly Moore

Genre: Nonfiction, Parenting, Self-Help, Babies, Sleep.

Plot: Trying to get a fussy baby down to sleep when sleep is what everyone needs is super hard - harder than it should be. Everyone will give you lots of well-meaning but ultimately useless advice and the most frequent piece is to let baby cry it out. This option is not always feasible or acceptable to every parent.

So how do we get baby to sleep deeply and soundly every night? Polly Moore has a solution based on the body's natural sleep cycle. With space to journal about baby's sleep habits and a trouble-shooting guide, this is the only sleep manual you will need for ages two weeks to one year.

Likes/Dislikes: I have never liked the cry-it-out method of sleep training and rejected it after a very long day with my firstborn when she was a toddler. Since then, I have opted to work with my children and find a solution that is more natural. This book fits that goal beautifully and I highly recommend it.

Rating: PG-12 and up for reading level.

Date Reviewed: January 15th, 2020

I received a copy of this book courtesy of Netgalley for my honest opinion. I wasn't required to write a positive review and the opinions expressed in the above review are my own.

The Salvation Of Dr Who Book Review

Title: The Salvation Of Dr Who

Author: Mike Rawle

Genre: Nonfiction, Devotional, Biblical, Bible Study, Television Show, Christian.

Plot: Connecting the dots between a classic secular British television show and the Bible is a tricky thing to do but pastor Mike Rawle manages to pull it off relatively successfully. This isn't a traditional devotional with verses and short bite-sized chapters but it can be used in addition to other while watching Doctor Who and looking up the reference verses in your handy Bible.

Doctor Who a long-running science fiction show about an ancient alien who uses humor, knowledge and a profound dislike for violence to save the day from nasty invading foes. There is a lot of good to be found buried in this show and connecting it to Christ's messages isn't necessarily hard to achieve. Most readers will read this and then go watch the show.

Likes/Dislikes: Fans of Doctor Who will adore this book. I personally didn't see a huge appeal beyond going, "Oh, it's about Doctor Who." But that's okay, I don't feel like I was the target audience. I still enjoyed reading the bits about the older episodes of the show and how you can see good in a secular interest.

Rating: PG-13 and up, mainly for reading level.

Date Reviewed: January 14th, 2020

I received a copy of this book courtesy of Netgalley for my honest opinion. I wasn't required to write a positive review and the opinions expressed in the above review are my own.

The Paper Bag Princess 40th Edition Book Review

Title: The Paper Bag Princess

Author: Robert Munsch

Genre: Fiction, Children, Classic, Illustrated, Fairy tale, Princess, Dragons.

Plot: Princess Elizabeth is spunky, clever and madly in love with the handsome and pretty Prince Ronald. But there's a tiny wrench in her wedding plans: a local dragon. This dragon further throws things into chaos by attacking and burning down the castle, including all of the fine clothes in Elizabeth's wardrobe and then the dragon carries off Prince Ronald as his captive snack for later.

Undaunted by these events and the lack of decent clothes, Elizabeth determines to rescue her handsome prince. So she dons a paper bag and sets off on her mission, armed only with her wits and patience.

Likes/Dislikes: For 40 years, readers young and old have adored this simple and beautiful story. Elizabeth is a princess but she doesn't let that get in her way as she firmly establishes herself as the hero in her story. She is resourceful (see: the paper bag) and clever with a large store of patience at her youthful disposal. On top of that, she knows how to tell when someone is throwing her shade and how to put them back in their place. Her confidence has inspired girls everywhere and will continue to do so with this beautiful special edition of the classic book.

I read this a couple of times as a kid and always remembered it as the story with the girl wearing the paper bag. It wasn't until I was older that more of the story's subtle undertones clicked for me. Now I'm on the hunt for a copy for my girls so they can grow up with this book nestled in their subconscious. They can defeat dragons wearing only a paper bag and walk off into the sunset if they so choose.

Rating: G-all ages. Highly recommended.

Date Reviewed: January 11th, 2020

I received a copy of this book courtesy of Netgalley for my honest opinion. I wasn't required to write a positive review and the opinions expressed in the above review are my own.

The Autoimmune Protocol Made Simple Cookbook Book Review

Title: The Autoimmune Protocol Made Simple Cookbook

Author: Sophie Van Tiggelen

Genre: Nonfiction, Cookbook, Health, Autoimmune, Paleo, Diet, Healing.

Plot: Healing your body through food sounds simple and easy but can quickly turn to daunting, confusing and overwhelming. Healing through dietary restrictions is not as simple as one thinks it is and by the time we have figured this out, we are already in too deeply to abandon the project without results.

Author Sophie Van Tiggelen has a feasible solution written in a comfortable, practical and delicious format complete with gorgeous food photography to inspire the appetite. The Autoimmune Protocol or AIP diet is very user-friendly once a few key features have been explained and is exactly what our autoimmune-imbalanced bodies need in this sugary world.

Complete with detailed recipes, shopping lists and more, this cookbook will soon be the only cookbook on your shelf.

Likes/Dislikes: Oftentimes, the hardest part of starting any new diet is finding something that both looks and sounds good enough to make you go out and buy the ingredients to cook the dish. With such yummy items as Fluffy Plantain Pancakes and Delectable Cherry Crumble, finding a recipe won't be as hard as we thought. The autoimmune protocol diet is very similar to the Anti-inflammatory and Paleo diets so readers familiar with those will be able to swing into this book with the most ease.

Rating: G-all ages.

Date Reviewed: January 7th, 2020

I received a copy of this book courtesy of Netgalley for my honest opinion. I wasn't required to write a positive review and the opinions expressed in the above review are my own.

40 Humorous British Traditions Book Review

Title: 40 Humorous British Traditions

Author: Julian Worker

Genre: Nonfiction, British, Humor, Traditions, History.

Plot: If you want to learn more about other rich cultures (particularly the British culture in this case) but only have a few minutes everyday then the book 40 Humorous British Traditions is exactly what you need.

Written in short independent chunks that only take 5-10 minutes to read, this book covers some of Britain's more humorous traditions - ranging from Bog Snorkeling and Cheese Rolling to Turtle Rinsing in London and, of course, more traditional activities such as spitting and digging contests.

With a little something for everyone, this book is sure to please the historian and the humorist in your family in addition to teaching some fascinating cultural facts.

Likes/Dislikes: The British are not necessarily known for their sense of humor but this book might just change that. They definitely have some very unique traditions. This was a fun short read!

Rating: PG-13 and up, mainly for reading level.

Date Reviewed: January 4th, 2020

I received a copy of this book courtesy of Netgalley. I wasn't required to write a positive review and the opinions expressed in the above review are my own.

Chocolate The Consuming Passion Book Review

Title: Chocolate: The Consuming Passion

Author: Sandra Boynton

Genre: Nonfiction, Chocolate, Food, Humor,

Plot: We all love chocolate (if you don't, why are you reading this book?) and there is nothing better than chocolate. We can have chocolate straight up, hot or cold, dark or milk, cover almost anything in chocolate and still be down for more chocolate later on.

This adorable little book covers all things chocolate (please don't eat the book, it isn't covered in chocolate), as well as giving a few fascinating chocolate facts and handy charts that explain how white chocolate is not real chocolate.

Likes/Dislikes: My kids love Sandra Boynton's board books so obviously I had to read her chocolate book when I spotted it at the library. My kids looked through it too and asked for chocolate. I strongly recommend buying some chocolate to nibble while reading this book, it will help satisfy the cravings.

Rating: PG-all ages (though not for young readers who will eat the book)

Date Reviewed: Dec 17th, 2019

Only Dead On The Inside Book Review

Title: Only Dead On The Inside

Author: James Breakwell

Genre: Nonfiction, Humor, Parenting, Survival Guide, Self-Help,

Plot: Quick! It's the zombie apocalypse and you have kids, what do you do? Since most of us probably can't answer that questions without thinking about it first, James Breakwell has written a handy guide to have around when the inevitable occurs.

Shopping with kids, making meals for picky eaters and just about everything else is ten times harder to do with kids than without. Throw in an end-of-the-world scene complete with the wandering undead looking for snacks and parenting successfully just flew out the window. Or did it? The kids might not be a huge fan of the blankets over their windows, being quiet all the time and the cardboard ketchup sandwiches when the real food runs out, but they are still alive, right? Call it a win-win and move onto more important things like securing the basement door.

Likes/Dislikes: I've followed James Breakwell on Twitter and other platforms for several years now and was tickled pink to finally get a hold of his book (I bought it for my husband and then immediately took it away and read it). This was hilarious! Combining the feel of a self-help parenting book with a survival manual while flipping it side-ways and injecting zombies and a wonderful dose of humor made this book truly unique. I couldn't put it down. My kids liked all the comics sprinkled throughout too, so win-win.

Rating: PG-12 and up, mainly for reading level and content (zombies, parenting, humor associated with parenting that only parents will understand).

Date Reviewed: Dec 17th, 2019.

It's A Love Story Book Review

Title: It's A Love Story


Author: Lincee Ray

Genre: Christian, Nonfiction, Memoir, Humor, Sequel

Plot: If Hollywood is any reliable indicator, we all love a good love story. If there is rain, a tall dark handsome hero and chocolate thrown in, all the better! We could spend our whole lives surrounded by things we love, enjoying the people we love and doing the activities we love.

So why don't we? We enjoy those things for a reason and they make us happier than other things. Why not own up to the factor that we are addicted to Cadbury eggs and can only watch The Bachelor in our fuzzy socks? Those things that we love make us who we are and ultimately, the ability to love these things comes from the One who loved us so much that He gave the ultimate sacrifice. Trying to fill that void inside with cookies and concert tickets is a temporary band-aid for the true love we are all looking for. But until we get that unconditional love, we can at least enjoy those other void-fillers.

Likes/Dislikes: I enjoyed I Hate Green Beans quite a lot more than I expected to so I got very excited to see a second book by Ray. This book doesn't go on about The Bachelor in fine detail; instead, it covers lots of things that Ray loves. Concerts on summer nights, fishing with her niece, watching humanity come together after a horrific hurricane and the simple joy of a classic Disney princess movie. All of these little pieces make up Lincee Ray and prompt us to examine the little pieces that make us up. We might be over the moon for brownies or enjoy walks by the beach with amazing sunsets in the background. We were designed with the ability to love because our God loves us and wants us to be able to love. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to more by Lincee Ray.

Rating: PG-14 and up, mainly for reading level

Date Reviewed: May 7th, 2019

I received a copy of this book courtesy of Revel Bloggers for my honest opinion. I wasn't required to write a positive review and the opinions in the above review are my own.

How To Raise A Reader Book Review

Title: How To Raise A Reader


Author: Pamela Paul and Maria Russo

Genre: Nonfiction, Parenting, Reading, How-To, Book Lists

Plot: Raising a kid who loves to read is a lot of work and requires years of consistent and age-appropriate effort. But it is not as daunting a task as it sounds. Authors Pamela Paul and Maria Russo draw on their own experiences raising their children to be readers and break this goal down into manageable steps and achievable mini-goals, complete with handy book lists to get the ball rolling.

From babyhood and the exciting toddler years (where, yes, you have to do the bulk of the reading) to the early readers and then middle grade independent readers who devour everything in sight and binge on their favorite series and then finally the teenage years where they are off in worlds of their own and only require the smallest parental guidance in their reading adventures. This book covers all four age groups and has several additional lists in the back for further reading.

Likes/Dislikes: This was a delightful little book to read and I definitely found the beginning chapters on toddlers and babies very inspiring and encouraging. I read the early reader and middle grade sections a bit disinterestedly as I am not in that category yet with my budding readers. I found the teen chapter to be a bit amusing considering that I would not have welcomed any parental interference in my reading choices as a teen. Thankfully, the advice for that section was to be very hands-off with the teenagers.

I didn't really like that graphic novels were so strongly recommended. I can see the appeal for younger readers like mine but after that, I want them to read more words and less pictures. I also found it amusing that internet use is encouraged to go hand-in-hand with the reading experience. I use the internet to read book reviews and find new books all the time.

Rating: PG 15 and up (geared more toward parents)

Date Review Written: April 27th, 2019

I received a copy of this book courtesy of Netgalley for my honest opinion. I wasn't required to write a positive review and the opinions expressed in the above review are my own.

The Minimalist Kitchen Book Review

Title: The Minimalist Kitchen


Author: Melissa Coleman

Genre: Nonfiction, Cookbook, Organizing, Lifestyle,

Plot: Minimalism is all the rage right now but how do you minimize the kitchen and yet keep it functional in a way that suits your family's needs? A kitchen is arguably the most important part of the house and it is certainly the busiest part of many houses. Keeping it streamlined, efficient and functional is a daunting and challenging task. Throw in minimalism and the game is up. Or is it?

Author Melissa Coleman uses her own kitchen and experience with minimalism to show us how to have a functional and minimal kitchen arrangement. The best part is that this particular room's level of minimalism can be tailored to your own specific needs. If you have both a blender and a food processor but only use one, the obvious solution is to donate the unused item and make yourself a smoothie with the other one. But if you have twenty forks and use every single one of them, it might be more productive to sort the collection of spoons instead.

Likes/Dislikes: This is a surprisingly large book but in a nice size. Coleman gives simple tips and advice for streamlining the kitchen items and even provides sample grocery lists for an organized shopping, storage and cooking experience that will free up mental space, shelf space and cooking time. If you always know how much of something you have and need for every recipe, you won't buy multiples or store more than you will consume. The rest of the book is filled with delicious recipes that range from Overnight Oatmeal to Kitchen-Sink Lentil Bowls and Roasted Vegetable Sandwiches. The Immunity Smoothie recipe looks especially enticing. This is definitely the type of book I would want to buy and then study with a highlighter and sticky tabs to mark all the recipes I want to make.

Rating: G-all ages, geared toward adults (cause what kid wants to minimize the kitchen?)

Date Review Written: April 12th, 2019

I received a copy of this book courtesy of Netgalley, lost that digital copy and found it at my local library. I wasn't required to write a positive review and the opinions expressed in the above review are my own.

How To Be A Happier Parent Book Review

Title: How To Be A Happier Parent


Author: K. J. Dell`Antonia

Genre: Nonfiction, Parenting, How-To, Toddlers, Teens,

Plot: Parenting is hard. It is a thankless job with a life-or-death element to it which keeps things interesting and is riddled with moments of bliss, fury, sorrow and disgusting mystery substances. Many parents cope till the college years by diving into a hobby, taking up recreational drinking or just waiting till that next kid-free vacation. But what if there was a way to be a happier parent that didn't involve smuggled chocolate, expensive counseling or even a whole lot of effort on our part?

Enter K. J. Dell'Antonia's amazing book, How To Be A Happier Parent. Drawing from years of experience writing parenting articles, interviews with over a thousand parents, loads of research and data, and her own experience parenting four rowdy kids in New England, Dell'Antonia targets ten problem spots in the family and gives grounded advice and tips for how to deal with these areas, make them more efficient and less of a struggle and thus, make you a happier parent.

Happiness is in reach for parents everywhere now. You just need a quick solo trip to the bookstore, a library or one day shipping to unlock the mysteries.

Likes/Dislikes: I loved this book! The cover was gorgeous, the writing style was very even paced without getting bogged by random facts or droning on and on about something useless, and the solutions for each problem area are real and actually something I can implement in my family. I especially enjoyed the chapters on chores, discipline and siblings. I have three girls and they are already driving me crazy with their sibling disputes. This book reassured me that these disputes are natural and (mostly) harmless. My kids are still at the age where they need to be constantly monitored but I'm looking forward to letting them handle their own arguments in the future. This book, while geared toward parents of older children and teens more than toddlers, gave me permission to parent the way I've been parenting and to "do me," as Dell'Antonia instructed.  Every parent needs to own and read this book!

Rating: PG-16 and up, mainly for reading level and content (it's a parenting book for parents)

Date Review Written: April 6th, 2019