Southern Spirits by Robert F. Moss

I'm a good Southern gal.  Born in Tennessee, raised in Texas, lived in North Carolina for 25 years.  Almost all of my 58 years of living has been in the South.  My first exposure to alcohol was my daddy's bottle of Jack Daniel's.  Every Christmas we gave my grandparents the annual Wild Turkey decanter.  So this book was right up my alley.

Interspersed with recipes for drinks, Moss leads us on a comprehensive review of everything liquor in the South.  From Revolutionary War days to the current trend in craft breweries, we learn everything about what is poured and sipped.

An interesting read, Southern Spirits should be read on the porch with a drink in hand.

"I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review."

Broth & Stock from the Nourished Kitchen by Jennifer McGruther

Like most people, I rely on boxes and cans of stock from the grocery store.  I usually think about making my own when I need some and the cupboard is empty.  But Jennifer McGruber in her new book, Broth & Stock from the Nourished Kitchen, makes me want to fill the stove with pots of simmering liquid.

From using the left over bones from a meal and scraps of veggies to 'trotters' and chicken feet, McGruber makes a case for making and storing your own broth.  The bonus is she gives recipes for then using the broth and stocks as a base for some simply delicious soups.

I can see a lot of soup bowls in my future!

Note:  I received this book from Blogging For Books in exchange for a fair review.

I Draw on Cats - A. R. Coffeit

I was puzzling over the concept of the book when Lady K saw the picture and demanded I get this book.  And when it arrived, I had about 5 minutes with it before it walked away in the hands of a three year old.  Only to be 'rescued' by her aunt and taken upstairs.

I Draw on Cats by A. R. Coffeit is an accordion book with picture after picture of cats and connect the dots.  The premise is to see what the cats are really up to.  Cute pictures of cats in their 'natural' habitat of our homes up to all kinds of mischief in reality.

Cute and a fun book for a cat lover (we have three by the way).

Note: "I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review."

Alice in Wonderland - Amily Shen

Our household loves all things Alice in Wonderland, so I was excited to see this coloring book by Amily Shen offered on Blogging for Books.

According to the synopsis on Blogging for Books...

Follow the White Rabbit into this imaginative adult coloring book inspired by Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, featuring intricate pen-and-ink drawings by acclaimed artist Amily Shen.

The book is like many of the nicer coloring books offered these days and on good quality paper, holding up well to about any medium used to color.  The illustrations are delightful and whimsical.  

The only downside - family members got to the book shortly after it arrived and I haven't seen it since!

Note:  "I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review."

52 Cups of Coffee - Megan Gebhart

I am sorry, but I forgot where I saw this book recommended.  But I am glad I had an interlibrary loan made to get ahold of a copy of 52 Cups of Coffee.

The introduction to the book starts with the quote, "Who you are in five years depends on the people you meet and the books you read." (Twyla Tharp)

Megan Gebhart was a college senior and embarked on a personal project, to have coffee, once a week for a year, with people she normally wouldn't come in contact with and to write about each encounter on her blog, www.52cups.com.

This project was brave on her part in my opinion.  I couldn't image sitting down with complete strangers and having an intimate conversation for 30 minutes or an hour.  But she did and the results are fantastic.

Each chapter is only three or four pages long and you would think it would be a quick read.  But it isn't.  Because you want to savor each one.  There is a lot of insight packed into each chapter.

The format for the book is the same, chapter to chapter.  The person being interviewed and the place and coffee (or beverage) consumed during the interview.  And a takeaway thought from the chapter, such as, from Lou Anna K. Simon, Michigan State President, of "Hard work is the currency that buys good fortune."

While reading the book I found myself taking notes on each chapter.  At first, I thought it would be sporadic.  However, looking at my notes, I had something to write about almost every chapter.

This book is now on my 'to-get' list so I can go back and underline and write in it (they tend to frown on that with library books).  And stock up on coffee.

Sleeping Giants by Sylvain Neuvel

When you live in Helena, Montana and "Sleeping Giant" comes up, you naturally grab the book.  And Sleeping Giants by Sylvain Neuvel is well worth grabbing.

Eleven year old Rose literally falls into a giant hand while riding her bicycle near her home in Deadwood, South Dakota.  Now, 17 years later, she is the head scientist studying the same hand.

Written as a series of debriefings between an unnamed government official and the various scientists and military personnel putting this puzzle together, it's an interesting read from this perspective.  As events unfold and more of the giant is discovered, more questions and unexplained events occur.

Book 1 in the Themis Files series, this is a good summer read.  It will also make you look at our own Sleeping Giant a little bit differently.

Somethingtofoodabout by Questlove

Being that I can sit in front of the TV and watch food show after food show, this book is a feast for my senses.  Somethingtofoodabout by Questlove is a collection of interviews with innovative chefs from around the country, interspersed with artful photographs.

The tagline of the book is what really captured by attention initially - "exploring creativity with innovative chefs".   Also the Arcimboldo-like picture, who I really love, was a second reason I wanted to take a look at this book.

This is a book to sit down with a plate of good bread and cheese, a glass of wine, prop your feet up and spend the evening with.  Much like you would do if you were enjoying a great meal.  It is one to savor in bites and not gulp down in a single serving.

Besides, anything with an introduction by Anthony Bourdain has to be good, right!

"I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review."

4 X 4 Diet by Erin Oprea

So, when Lady K is sitting on my bed and tells me 'exercise, exercise', I guess I had better pay attention.  However, my capacity for exercise has the attention span of Lady K, about 5 minutes max. Which is one reason 4 X 4 Diet by Erin Oprea sparked my interest.

Erin Oprea's approach is like the diet and exercise, simple and clean.  One thing which really caught my attention (and I personally like) is she doesn't say "NO" sugar.  She just says 'cut back' on sugar.  Her recipes included in the book show simple substitutes for my favorite ingredient - sugar.

Sometimes when you get a diet book there are all kinds of hoops and tricks you have to do, but this one is fairly straight forward.  And the exercises are simple too.  High intensity, rest, repeat, but only 4 minutes worth.  However, Oprea does encourage getting up and walking more, setting the bar at 10,000 steps, which is what my daily goal is already.

I liked the book and will probably incorporate many of her suggestions, recipes and ideas into my daily life - like drinking more water, for one.   I'll have to work up to the 4 minute workouts though.

"I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review."

June - by Miranda Beverly-Whittlemore

Cassie Danver’s life is in need of as much repair as the crumbling family mansion, Two Oaks. And rural St. Jude, Ohio is just the place to hide, and not only mourn the grandmother, June, who raised her, but to try and figure out where she wants to go from here. 

But the house, and life, have other plans for Cassie, such as a surprise inheritance from legendary movie idol, Jack Montgomery, someone who Cassie only knew from old movies. When his two daughters arrive to challenge the will, Cassie’s peace is turned upside down. What transpires is a sixty year old secret full of murder, Hollywood and intrigue. 

Alternating between June, 2015 and June, 1955, Beverly-Whittlemore skillfully weaves a tale of a young June and the woman Cassie thought she knew as her grandmother. The house itself seems to come alive during this investigation into what really happened in St. Jude, Ohio during the filming of a movie in June, 1955. Was there a romance between the star, Jack Montgomery, and 19 year old June? Is Cassie really his granddaughter? 

While I was a bit irritated with Cassie early in the book for not immediately starting repairs on Two Oaks (that’s the type A in me), I quickly became immersed in the back and forth of Junes, sixty years apart. While the young June had to deal with Hollywood movie stars, Cassie has to deal with the equally famous daughters of movie stars, who may, or may not, be her aunts. Definitely a good summer read.

Find your copy of June at the Lewis and Clark Library or here.

My Kitchen Year - Ruth Reichl

I came to Ruth Reichl and her books a bit backwards.  I first read her recent work of fiction, Delicious, which I reviewed here.  And I have it on my to-read-list to go back and read her other books. However, My Kitchen Year came across recently when checking in books and I dragged it home.  

This book hits many of my 'buttons' - in a good way.

First of, it's a 'year in the life of' book, which I really enjoy.  Secondly, it's filled with recipes and the stories behind them, another favorite of mine.  Third, it's written and photographed like you are peeking into her life and/or journal, getting the real story of Ruth Reichl.

Reichl starts her story just as her 10 years as editor of Gourmet magazine was abruptly ended.  Overnight she went from being the head of a well-known magazine to being unemployed.  This was the fall of 2009.

She writes 'seasonally' and includes recipes which mean a lot to her past and how they 'saved' her during the year when she was adjusting to no longer having a job.  Filled with snatches of handwriting, like it is pulled from her journal and pictures of both food and scenes from every day life, this is a book to savor.  So much so, I keep renewing it so I don't have to rush through it.

By the way, I just flipped the book open to her banana bread recipe and I have some ripe bananas begging to be used.

The Paris Key by Juliet Blackwell

Synposis:  An American in Paris navigates her family’s secret past and unlocks her own future, in this emotionally evocative novel by New York Times bestselling author Juliet Blackwell.

As a girl, Genevieve Martin spent the happiest summer of her life in Paris, learning the delicate art of locksmithing at her uncle’s side. But since then, living back in the States, she has become more private, more subdued. She has been an observer of life rather than an active participant, holding herself back from those around her, including her soon-to-be-ex-husband.

Paris never really left Genevieve, and, as her marriage crumbles, she finds herself faced with an incredible opportunity: return to the magical city of her youth to take over her late uncle’s shop. But as she absorbs all that Parisian culture has to offer, she realizes the city also holds secrets about her family that could change her forever, and that locked doors can protect you or imprison you, depending on which side of them you stand.

It seems I have been on a Francophile journey the past few weeks.  And right now I need my passport updated so I can head to Paris and then saunter down to Provence.  And The Paris Key did not disappoint (or help with that longing).  A quick read (I devoured in two days) and one which makes you want to dress better and find the best baguette in town.

It seems the antique key Genevieve wears around her neck, given to her by her mother,  is the 'key' to both the past and the present.  With shifting points of view, you explore how Genevieve, her mother and aunt all had, and kept, secrets, some of which impact the future.

Does Genevieve give up on getting the proper paperwork and head back to her life in the United States, or does she unlock the door to a different future with her new friends in Paris?

Another "Problem" I Have...

Yep.  Books!

This is my latest group of books I dragged home from the library from our donation cart.  The Natalie Goldberg and the Gretchen Rubin I have read and want my own copy.  The others are 'goodies' for my library.

Of course, they have to go on a huge existing stack of books which are in my library I haven't read yet. 

AND the shelf of books I have checked out from the library...

AND the audio book I am listening to.  AND the Patrick Rothfuss I have on reserve because he will be a guest at Miscon 30 and I haven't read any of his books.

AND the books on my e-reader.

Of this stack, I have actually finished one which will be a forthcoming review.  Incarnation I received as part of a blog hop review in May.  I will be posting my review on May 19, so stay tuned.

So yes, I have a book problem.

And I love it!

Lucky Rice by Danielle Chang

There aren't many any decent Asian restaurants in Helena. So I was interested in this book as an alternate to going without my Chinese food fix.

I really like the categories the recipes are divided 

into - Street Eats, Funky Foods, Asian Mash-ups (one recipe includes spam!), and Lucky Feasts, to name a few.  Coupled with short stories about the recipe, and including 'notes' on some of them, the recipes are clean and easy to follow.  The ingredients, for the most part, are fairly easy to find, even here in Helena, Montana.  Squid and octopus might be an issue, however. 

One dish I am really excited about trying is the Hawaiian Tuna Poke, using fresh tuna steaks.  This might get my non-fish-eating daughters to try some.  

If you are looking for yet another cookbook on how to make sweet-and-sour chicken, this is not the book for you.  If you are looking for one with 'street food' and other fun Asian-styled recipes, then you need to take a look through this one.  But not if you are hungry.

Note: "I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review."

The Bee-Friendly Garden by Kate Frey and Gretchen LeBuhn

It's that time of the year when my desires turn to starting a garden.  This year is exciting because I have a yard to work in where we will be for some time to come.  And I am having to design space, in a tiny yard, for dogs, children and plants.  So receiving The Bee-Friendly Garden by Kate Frey and Gretchen LeBuhn was a bonus.

The blurb on the front states "Design an abundant, flower-filled yard that nurtures bees and supports biodiversity."  And this is what I am striving for.  However, I was a bit concerned it might not address my desire for a vegetable garden.

But that fear was short-lived, as there is a whole section on plants for edible gardens which will attract and support a strong bee population.  What I particularly liked about this chapter was the interplanting of flowers and vegetables, something I personally like to do.

The first chapter talks about the different kinds of bees and their habitats and needs and then it gets down to the nitty-gritty of having a garden which welcomes and supports bees.

At only about 200 pages and tons of pictures, on one hand it's a quick read.  On the other, there is a wealth of information and requires going back and rereading sections.  One of my particular favorites is at the end of the book where Frey and LeBuhn list recommendations of plants based on regions of the country.  Still learning Zone 4 after a life-long immersion in Zone 7, this is really helpful.  Each list is also divided into annuals, perennials, tree and shrubs.  While the lists are not lengthy, they do give an excellent starting point for your garden.

This is one book which will be review many times over the coming years I am sure.

Note:  I received this book from Blogging For Books in exchange for a fair review.

I Need a Juicer!!

Savvy and I have talked several times about getting a juicer.  Actually, what we have really talked about was how to steal the one at the Real Foods Market in town.  But receiving the book, Green Smoothies by Fern Green (a little suspicious of the name), has definitely reinforced the need for a juicer.

Subtitled "Recipes for Smoothies, Juices, Nut Milk and Tonics to Detox, Lose Weight, and Promote Whole-Body Health", this book packs a lot of information in a small package.

While it contains almost as many juice recipes as it does smoothies, it reinforces my need for a juicer.    There is a brief intro on the difference between blenders and juicers which leads to a picture and paragraph section on the different 'greens' and their benefits.  Followed by a brief description of tips for a juice detox, it leads into a two day spread on the plan and what juices and smoothies you would be drinking that day.

Then the book gets into the 'meat' of the subject, so to speak.  Each recipe takes up two pages.  The left hand side shows the ingredients required laid out very nicely.  The opposite page shows a picture of a bottle of the juice or smoothie and lists it's benefits and uses.  One thing I really like is each recipe title also has under it whether it is a sweet juice/smoothie or a savory one.  I like the heads-up as what to expect before I drink it. Each recipe makes enough for 2-3 servings or a full day of nothing but that specific juice or smoothie. 

What did surprise me in reading through the recipes for the smoothies were there is no yogurt or milk added to them.  They are all strictly the fruit or vegetable with an occasional nut or seed added, along with a bit of water perhaps.

This little book is so appealing, even Texter, with her aversion to veggies and smoothies, is interested in some, along with the juices.  And they would be good for her to take to school to drink during the day.

So while awaiting the arrival of the Juicer Fairy, we will be making some of the smoothies. In the meantime, I will prepare myself a Banana Tonic which is suppose to give my body a sense of calm.  All I need is some mint, a banana and some romaine lettuce.

Trim Healthy Mama Cookbook

Reviewing a cookbook while alternately putting on and taking off a sweater or blankets due to chills or dashes to the bathroom might not be the best of times.  But the Trim Healthy Mama Cookbook showed up on my doorstep right at a time when Texter and I were reading the Trim Healthy Mama Plan book and were thinking new year and all the usual goals and plans for better eating and weight loss.

First, let me say this is a substantial book.  512 pages filled with recipes and pictures.  Something you can use to at least keep the door open on a windy day.

Secondly, both Pearl and Serene (they encourage informality) have disclaimers in the opening pages you don't need to purchase their products to be successful on their plan, including the initial book, but as they say, it helps.  Balancing your "S" and "E" is necessary to the plan and you need some grounding in that area.

Third, integral collagen, 'gluccie', dronks, gelatin and pristine whey protein!  What!  Most of the recipes contain some, if not, all of the above.  And while you can fix the recipes without them, I got tired of having to tick off things I wasn't going to buy and leave out of recipes.  

There are some recipes which don't have what I refer to as the 'extras'.  The Cajun Cream Chicken is simple to prepare and looks really good, even using less fat cream cheese.  Cilantro Lime-Burst Chicken and Bangin' Ranch Drums I have also pulled out to make at some future date.  And they do have a whole section on crockpot meals and one-skillet dinners.

While this might not become a go-to cookbook and I find Weight Watchers easier to use because they don't have any special ingredients, per se, in their cookbooks, this isn't without merit.  However, I find planning menus hard enough without trying to balance my "S" and "E" meals.

But right now, chicken noodle soup out of a red and white can is all that sounds good to me.

NOTE: I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

5 in 5 for Every Season - Michael Symon

I enjoy watching Michael Symon on various cooking shows.  I like the fact he doesn't take himself or cooking seriously, so I was excited to see this book.  

There is one big 'issue' I have with the book and it is more personal.  Well, two actually.  First, there are more than five ingredients in each dish.  And many of them are outside the norm for this good ol' Southern gal.  But he does give a basic pantry set-up list at the front of the book and this is a chance to expand my palette.  That said, others in the household aren't as willing to 'expand' as Savvy and I are.  And some of the ingredients are a little hard to find in Helena, Montana.

That said, there is plenty I like about the book.

• Lovely pictures of the recipes throughout the book.
• The recipes are quick and relatively easy to prepare.
• Divided by season (which I like for trying to find things at the Farmer's Market)
• Some of the food combinations are a little unusual, which makes it interesting

While this will probably not become my 'go-to' cookbook for dinner ideas, I will slip one or two a month into the menu rotation.  

Note: "I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review."

After Alice - Gregory Maguire

I picked up this book at work for a couple of reasons.  First, I love Lewis Carroll and the Alice stories.  And secondly, because I am a fan of Wicked by Maguire.  So how could I go wrong?

According to the blurb on the book, this is the premise of the book...

When Alice toppled down the rabbit-hole 150 years ago, she found a Wonderland as rife with inconsistent rules and abrasive egos as the world she left behind. But what of that world? How did 1860s Oxford react to Alice’s disappearance?

In this brilliant work of fiction, Gregory Maguire turns his dazzling imagination to the question of underworlds, undergrounds, underpinnings—and understandings old and new, offering an inventive spin on Carroll’s enduring tale. Ada, a friend of Alice’s mentioned briefly in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, is off to visit her friend, but arrives a moment too late—and tumbles down the rabbit-hole herself.

Ada brings to Wonderland her own imperfect apprehension of cause and effect as she embarks on an odyssey to find Alice and see her safely home from this surreal world below the world. If Eurydice can ever be returned to the arms of Orpheus, or Lazarus can be raised from the tomb, perhaps Alice can be returned to life. Either way, everything that happens next is “After Alice.”

The book follows the adventures of a friend of Alice, Ada, one afternoon.  Not only is the book "after Alice", but Ada is also after Alice, as in trying to find her.  Running from her nanny, Ada tumbles down the rabbit hole also and soon is experiencing many of the same characters Alice does.

In reading the book I felt I was reading Carroll.  In fact, this is a book I want to get on audio to hear the flow of words rather than read them.  And if a musical should be made from this book....I'm ok with it!

Better Than Before - Gretchen Rubin

I picked this book, Better than Before, up off the check-in cart at work, mainly because I had read Rubin's first two books about The Happiness Project.  And it languished on my 'to-read' shelf until it was almost time to go back to the library.  Then it was a race to read and absorb and, several pages of notes later, I finished.

"I should monitor whatever is essential to me. 

In that way, I ensure that my life reflects my values."

The first section deals with setting up yourself to succeed at the habits you are trying to establish.  Rubin recommends (1) Monitor, (2) Foundation, (3) Scheduling and (4) Accountability.

"How we schedule our days

is how we spend our lives." 

So much of what was in this first section dovetailed with what I am trying to set up for 2016 and really, my life.  She then goes into when would be the best time to begin a new habit.  Some of her suggestions are - 

• First steps - one step of a project at a time (yes!)
• Lightening Bolt - 'something' triggers you - big or small
• Convenience - good habit/make it easier, bad habit/make it harder
• "If/Then" strategy - "If I want X, then I need to do Y."

Then she goes into the 'exceptions' we tell ourselves we need to make which derails us from our purpose.

"A planned exception works best when it's made

for something memorable...A good test of a planned

exception is "How will I feel about the exception later."

Other 'loopholes' to our goals of a new habit are:

• Moral - permission to do something 'bad' because we have been 'good'
• Tomorrow - doing something 'bad' because tomorrow we will be 'good'
• False Choice - can't do X because you are doing Y
• Lack of Control - too hot or too cold, for example
• Arranging to Fail - "...we make a change of seemingly harmless decisions that allow us covertly to engineer the very circumstances that we'll find irresistible."  For example, this doesn't count, I'm on vacation.
• Questionable Assumptions - ie - going to work shortly, so I can't do X.
• Concern for Others
• Fake Self-Actualization - life is too short not to live a little
• One-Coin - I haven't done project in so long-what's the point?  What's one more spoonful of sugar.
• Strategy of Distraction - looking at Facebook rather than reading a book 

One of the most interesting things she says in the book is about 'Rewards or Finishing' and how they might actually be bad things.

"...striving toward a finish line, not building a habit."

"By finding my reward within the habit itself, with a reward that

takes me deeper into the habit."

"The reward for a good habit is the habit itself."

And I thought about my goal of losing weight.  So I lose weight.  But if I haven't changed my eating habits, then the weight will come right back.  I have to make my goal to eat better, more healthy and combine with exercise.  Then I have a good habit and the offshoot is weight loss and once I hit the weight I want, the habit continues, it doesn't stop because I've reached my goal.

Rubin also talks about 'rewards' in that "...a treat is a small pleasure or indulgence that we give to ourselves just because we want it."  We shouldn't be rewarding ourselves for 'doing' the habit or goal we are attempting to establish.

Some of the tips she gives to setting yourself up for success have been on my radar already.

• Pairing - "...couple two activities, one that I need or want to do, and one that I don't particularly want to do, to get myself to accomplish them both."

I use this strategy already to a certain extent.  I will allow myself to work for a certain amount of time on a project I want, then I switch to something like doing the dishes, or another load of clothes, or cleaning a room.  Once the housework is done, then I can return to my 'play' for another amount of time.

• Clarity - "The clearer I am about what I value, and what action I expect from myself - not what other people value, or expect from me - the more likely I am to stick to my habits."

This is my project in December, to see where I want to go and do.  To get 'my head on straight', so to speak.

• Identity - Does the habit add to or take away from our identity.  "Our habits reflect our identity."
• Other People - we pick up others' habits - good and bad.  So associate with those whose habits and values reflect my own.

"Those habits wouldn't make everyone happy,

but they make me very happy."

This is a book I wish I had lingered over a bit longer and will probably go back and reread a couple of times.

My Pantry - Alice Waters

I fell in love with Alice Waters many years ago.  I own 2-3 of her earlier books and couldn't wait to get my hands on her latest book which includes illustrations by Fanny Singer (her daughter).

One thing about every book by Waters I pick up, I always feel very virtuous and compelled to make a trip to my local farmer's market.  Unfortunately, now that I'm in Montana, I don't have the extensive market which was available to me in North Carolina.  So I start haunting the local natural food store (where I have already ordered my Thanksgiving turkey from).  For the next few weeks, I will be eating better a'la Alice Waters.

This is a quick read as opposed to some of her earlier books.  I really enjoy the 'stories' behind the recipes which she includes, a very similar treatment as her other books.

My Pantry is just that, recipes for items she has in her pantry and which are staples for Waters.  While I am now considering sea salt/spice combinations to mix up and have on hand to make me use more spices in my cooking, I don't know that I will be making 10 liters of red wine vinegar.  Mainly because I don't drink enough wine and when I do, there's nothing left over!  But the chapter on making my own cheeses is interesting and might be used, as will be the Raspberry Syrup and Brandied Cherries.

At 144 pages, not a lot of really 'go-to' recipes, but a quick and interesting read none the less.



Note: "I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review."

Q & A a Day for Creatives

Once again I was drawn to the fact this book is a journal and it's labeled 'for creatives'.  I'm creative, right? And I journal, too.  Ok, so far, so good.

So four years of daily sketches should be a fun idea.  And it is.

By Potter Style, Q&A a Day For Creatives is a fun book.  Each page is divided into four quadrants and a quick prompt or question is listed to the side.  There is a tiny "20__" in each quadrant so you can list the year you are drawing.  

Most of the prompts are fun.  For example, March 13 is "Compose an abstract drawing that depicts your bank account's current status." 

Some of the things I like about the book are the fact the dates are already listed for you.  All I have to do is fill in the year.  The block you have to draw in each day is about 3.5 X 3.5 inches.  Not too small and not too large to be intimidating or time consuming to fill.

Couple of things I would change.  The paper is not ink friendly.  If you use anything other than pen (ball point) or pencil, there is a definite chance of bleed through.  Also, the book could use a ribbon to help mark your stop on the current day.

I have been using the journal in the mornings to get the old 'creative juices' flowing for the day.  It's fun and at this point, the bleed through on the pages is a bit of an irritant, but not a deal breaker.  We will see down the road.  In fact, I will probably be doing a bit of mixed media, mini-collages in it as time goes by.

This is definitely a book I would purchase to give to another 'creative journal.'

Note: "I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review."

Instant Happy Journal - Karen Salmansohn

There were three things in the title which attracted me to this book.  First, 'journal'.  I love to journal and love journals of all kinds.  Second, 'instant'.  As in instant gratification.  And third, 'happy'.  Who doesn't want to be happy?  

I can add a couple of other things which are attractive about this book.  It's small.  Only about 5.5"X6.5" and about an inch thick.  Just the right size to keep on the bedside table or throw in your bag and carry with you.  And it has a solid feel to it.  It doesn't feel like it would fall apart after a few uses. Secondly, the dates are blank.  So you can start anywhere in the book, writing down your responses to the questions or skip around.  Each day has a prompt in the form of a quote or question for you to think about and respond to.  All the pages are sturdy, so most pens will not bleed through to the other side.  Each page has an attractive colored graphic border of some sort around it.

Now for the downside.  It's too happy!  The outside, with the red, orange and yellow, I know is suppose to be energetic and, well, happy.  But it reminds me of McDonalds and just too happy for me.  I think I might have to make a cover for it as I have it on my bedside table.  I am using it at night before I go to bed.  Or at least that is my plan at the moment.

Another 'unhappy' thought about the book some of the prompts are really not prompts at all.  For example, how am I to respond to "Love the Heck out of Life"?  Or, in such a small space, how am I suppose to write a letter to myself or the first chapter or two of my life story?

Since I have it beside my bed and I would like to use the book, I will probably collage on some of the pages and put in other words or phrases over the prompts in the book and make it more my own.

I think this is a book you would give someone who you know loves 'page a day' books, but overall I probably would not buy this for myself or a serious journal writer.  

Note: I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review."

Book Review - Dessert & Booze Hacks

After my last review of the coloring book from Blogging for Books, I allowed Texter to pick out the next book to review.  Needless to say, this immediately caught her attention.  What drew my attention was I am sort of familiar with Buzzfeed and was interested in what Peggy Wang.

First, the book is what we call at the library, a board book.  It's a sturdy book, well suited to handle rough handling with ease.  The colors and pictures are simple and bright.  The type, easy to read.  A delightful 'feel' to the book, especially for the topic.

So Monday, since everyone was home, I decided to make some of the desserts.  I couldn't do any of the booze hacks without going to the store, so I passed on those.  Plus, we all had to go to work or school the next day.  But believe me, there are several booze hacks noted for future use.

The first recipe I tried was the "Easy Thin Mints".  I microwaved the Andes Mints and dipped the ritz crackers.  In order to cover the entire cracker, I dipped half, threw them in the freezer and then dipped the other half.  With a little more care, they would be really pretty.  But regardless, they are tasty and are similar to the actual thin mints.  I had some melted chocolate left over (I used one and a half packages of mints), I threw in some 'O' cereal and cashews and made some munchies out of them.

Once again, just emptying out things I had on hand, I made the Chocolate Chip Stuffed Raspberries, Bite Sized Caramel Grapes, Salted Chocolate Cuties and a couple of different versions of Autumnal Dessert Nachos.

Needless to say, once I called in the troops, the snacks disappeared in a flash.

What I have to say about the book - 

• The recipes are simple and easy.  Well suited for even children to help with.
• Most of the ingredients you already have in your kitchen.
• They are quick to make.  No hours spent slaving away.
• They're fun.
• This would be a great stocking stuffer or present for a young adult in college or their first apartment.
• Fairly inexpensive to make (until you get to the booze aspect of it).

Already, even though I have only had the book about a week, it's been well thumbed through.  It will find a place of honor on the bookshelf and will be referred to often, I can tell.  I would give it two thumbs up, but I'm too busy eating.

The Time Garden - Adult Coloring Book

Another blogger I respect and follow (Paperback Writer), recently mentioned Blogging for Books.  My thought was 'free books' and 'blog about them'...this is a win-win situation.  So for my first book I selected an adult coloring book.

First off, I have to say coloring as an adult is far from new for me.  I spent the early 70's in my bedroom, going through scores of flair pens, coloring away on the huge art posters to color.  Back then there was no teenage angst, you dealt - quietly.  After 9/11, I would often bring coloring books from the dollar store into work.  I was ahead of the curve and knew about zentangling before it became the thing to do. So the whole craze these days about color books for adults - old hat.

I requested The Time Garden by Daria Song as my first book.  Before I get to my review, let me tell you about the journey the book arrival took.  Apparently it is suppose to arrive sooner than I was thinking it should.  And I get this email about how they thought it had been sent out, but there was actually a backlog at the warehouse and it didn't get sent out on time.  So they sent me a second book as an apology.  Also a coloring book - completely different from The Time Garden.

So....

About this book.  I LOVE IT!

First off, it seems almost a sacrilege to color in it.  The illustrations are delightful and there is a story behind the pictures.  The cover, which is also an illustration in the book, is embossed with metallic paint on the leaves.  Everyone I have shown the book to before I started coloring in is were all 'ah's' over it.

Daria Song is Korean and the pictures are delicate and detailed.  This is not a book for your crayons.  You could use crayons, but I think they would be too 'bulky' feeling for this book. I was a little worried about possible bleed-through on the pages even though the paper has a good feel to it.  I decided to try different coloring implements on the pages.

When I got out my markers, watercolors and colored pencils it drew an assistant like flies to sweets.  The story behind the drawings is a little girl, who couldn't sleep, getting drawn into a magical cuckoo clock which transports her to this garden.  Very simple story, detailed drawings.

There is NO way these little hands are touching this book.  In fact, I am even pouting a bit about letting my 22 year old daughter color in it and she's an artist.

One page caught my attention immediately.  It's a picture of blossoms and I knew I wanted to try a watercolor wash on it.

I was a little hesitant because I didn't know how the paper would react with the water.  I did very well.

The pink and green wasn't enough for me, so I had to add sky to the page.

I am pleased with how the paper held up to the watercolors.  No bleeding on the top or bleed through on the back.  Little, if any, wrinkling of the paper due to water.

This page I tried out flair pens, colored pencils and Stadler markers.  All worked well and didn't show on the other side.

Overall, I have to give the book a major thumbs up.  Not only is the story and drawings fantastic without any additional coloring, but the quality of the paper makes it a joy to use.  This book is one which would make a great gift to someone special.

Note:  I received the book from Blogging for Books in exchange for a fair and true review.  All opinions I have given above are mine.