Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Book review: Trim Healthy Mama Plan: Keep It Simple, Keep It Sane by Pearl Barrett, Serene Allison



Trim Healthy Mama Plan by Pearl Barrett and Serene Allison

Trim Healthy Mama Plan: Keep It Simple, Keep It SaneWhether you have read the authors' previous book entitled Trim Healthy Mama or not, and whether you even liked that book or not, this book will amaze and inspire you!
This eating plan is perfect for all women- mothers or not! The foods suggested in this book are really nutritious and really delicious. The authors' go back to the fundamentals of health, only suggesting foods that will truly benefit your body! I loved their realistic approach to health, diet and fitness. The fitness portion was especially encouraging and mothers will breathe a sigh of relief when they see that the authors are not expecting them to be the next Jillian Michaels! The goal of this book is realistic, beautiful health resulting in trim yet womanly bodies! You cannot be disappointed by the results of this plan. I will throw in a note that the recipes are not included in this volume; there is a companion cookbook which is referenced throughout this book. 


I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. 

More about the book: 
Based on the New York Times bestselling, self-published bookTrim Healthy Mama comes a simplified, practical guide to starting and succeeding this unique fad-free diet that teaches readers to stop cravings and boost energy while losing weight quickly and getting healthy.

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

The Knot Outdoor Weddings new book review

The Knot Outdoor Weddings

The Knot Outdoor Weddings

  Couples actually planning a wedding will appreciate the tips included in each portion of the book- seating ideas, favor inspirations, cake ideas...so many things are presented which will help your wedding planning go more smoothly! 

Friday, November 13, 2015

The Homemade Kitchen: Recipes for Cooking with Pleasure by Alana Chernila


The Homemade Kitchen: Recipes for Cooking with Pleasure


The Homemade Kitchen: Recipes for Cooking with Pleasure

by 
This book is a map for how, day in and day out, food shapes my life for the better, in the kitchen and beyond it.
—from the Introduction


Start where you are. Feed yourself. Do your best, and then let go. Be helpful.  Slow down. Don’t be afraid of food.




Alana Chernila has the  phrases quoted above taped to her fridge, and they are guiding principles helping her to stay present in her kitchen. They also provide the framework for her second book. In The Homemade Kitchen she exalts the beautiful imperfections of food made at home and extends the lessons of cooking through both the quotidian and extraordinary moments of the day. Alana sees cooking as an opportunity to live consciously, not just as a means to an end. 

Written as much for the reader as the cook, The Homemade Kitchen covers a globe’s worth of flavors and includes new staples (what Alana is known for) such as chèvre, tofu, kefir, kimchi, preserved lemons, along with recipes and ideas for using them. Here, too, are dishes you’ll be inspired to try and that you will make again and again until they become your own family recipes, such as Broccoli Raab with Cheddar Polenta, a flavor-forward lunch for one; Roasted Red Pepper Corn Chowder, “late summer in a bowl”; Stuffed Winter Squash, rich with leeks, chorizo, apples, and grains; Braised Lamb Shanks that are tucked into the oven in the late afternoon and not touched again until dinner; Corn and Nectarine Salad showered with torn basil; perfect share-fare Sesame Noodles; Asparagus Carbonara, the easiest weeknight dinner ever; and sweet and savory treats such as Popovers, Cinnamon Swirl Bread, Summer Trifle made with homemade pound cake and whatever berries are ripest, and Rhubarb Snacking Cake.

In this follow-up to Alana’s wildly successful debut, The Homemade Pantry, she once again proves herself to be the truest and least judgmental friend a home cook could want.

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Cheap Chic: 2015 version book review

Cheap Chic
   First, I would like to give a little update about myself: although you probably know by now that I have been a seamstress and clothing designer for over 10 years now, you may not know that I am also a costume designer and am currently taking a European-based course in fashion design! Therefore, I was quite interested when this book- Cheap Chic- caught my eye! I must begin this review with a note that I had no idea that this book was originally published in the 1970's. I simply thought it was current fashion book. If you are purchasing this book because you know the original and you love fashion of the '70's, then this book just might be for you! Personally, I was disappointed because all the images inside were black and white and very '70s. Oddly enough, I do not despise the fashion of that time period. Rather, I dislike the whole mentality of many of the people who lived during those ''hippie'' years. Unfortunately, that expression was all to well captured in Cheap Chic...it left me with a dark and literally cheap feeling. Besides, many of the images were inappropriate. 
On a cheerful note, the advice in the book can be considered timeless especially since we are  currently living in a fashion world which is implementing many trends from the 1970's! 

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. Thank you!

Personal style is what this book is all about. Fashion as a dictatorship of the elite is dead. Nobody knows better than you what you should wear or how you should look. What we want to do is to lay out the alternatives, the guidelines, and show you the way some of the people we think look exciting today put it all together for themselves. 

The basic concept of Cheap Chic for both men and women is to have a few clothes that you really love rather than a closet full of mismatched fashions. Paring down your wardrobe is going to simplify your life and looking good is going to make you feel good. Find the clothes that suit you best, that make you feel comfortable, confident, attractive and happy...and then hang onto them like old friends.

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

Einkorn: Recipes for Nature's Original Wheat by Carla Bartolucci, Clay Mclachlan (Photographer)

Einkorn: Recipes for Nature's Original Wheat
 Einkorn: Recipes for Nature's Original Wheat by Carla Bartolucci, Clay Mclachlan (Photographer)

   Our family tries our best to eat healthily, and we have experienced the struggle that many modern people have of trying to locate the most natural and traditional sources of grains and other foods. As many of you know, wheat as seen in stores and even health food sources in North America is a desperately far cry from anything our ancestors consumed! It has been so modified that the phytic acid contained within causes tooth decay and more problems. Thus it was with delight and surprise that we discovered Einkorn....this amazing strain of wheat is the only one known which has never been modified or hybridized! It stems from thousands of years ago, originating in the Fertile Crescent. Can you get any more authentic than that? It was found by Carla Barolucci and is now carefully cultivated in Italy. This cookbook is for all of you who have excitedly made Einkorn our new staple grain. Even those of us who cannot afford to live entirely off of this miracle wheat can use the delightful recipes in this beautiful book, substituting with other grains if we must have our breads and desserts. As I looked through this book, I was delighted by the quality and diversity of the delectable recipes within. This collection of recipes is surely a must for all bakers!

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.

Read more about the book below:

The only wheat in existence that has never been hybridized or modified, einkorn grew thousands of years ago in the Fertile Crescent. Carla Bartolucci came across it when searching for an alternative grain for her daughter Giulia, who was diagnosed with gluten sensitivity in 2008. Einkorn has remained unaltered for thousands of years, which allows many, including Giulia—who suffered from mood swings, asthma, and digestive problems—to eat wheat without symptoms. Amazed by her daughter’s health transformation, Carla became a champion of this little-known, nutrient-packed grain.
   Einkorn shares 100 delicious recipes for working with the grain and its flour in a wide variety of flavorful dishes, such as Yogurt Blueberry Muffins, Spinach Lasagna Bolognese, Neapolitan Pizza Margherita, and Soft & Chewy Ginger Cookies—as well as sourdough and yeasted breads like Classic French Boule and buttery Sweet Potato Rolls. This book also explores einkorn’s history, unique genetics, and superior nutrient content, while sharing Carla’s tips for using it to its full baking and cooking potential.
   With eighty-five beautiful color photographs, Einkorn will introduce home cooks to a delicious ancient grain that can transform the way they eat for the better by adding more nutrition and flavor to the foods they love.

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Cookbook review: The New Sugar and Spice by Samantha Seneviratne

The New Sugar and Spice: A Recipe for Bolder Baking

The New Sugar and Spice: A Recipe for Bolder Baking

 My family is made up of artists, cooks and decoraters it seems. Many of us juggle all three as well as a variety of other talents. My role in entertaning, apart from the decorating and art side of course, often falls to the baking. I am known for creating unusual and at times difficult pastries and such. When I saw the title of this new cookbook along with its front cover and enticing description, I knew I had to get it. What I have not mentioned yet about myself is my love for unique spices. I think spices, when used correctly and yet uniquely can make each and every recipe mouthwatering and amazing! This large hardcover cookbook also has beautiful photographs which appeal to my visual self. You will love flipping through the pages of this book and be prepared to become powered with inspiration for future baking!  I am excited about this new cookbook and know you will be as well. Get it in time for Autumn and Winter baking! 


A wonderfully unique and unexpected collection of desserts that showcase spice over sugar, with 80 recipes that both reinvent classic sweets and introduce more unusual spice-infused desserts.

In Sugar and Spice, veteran food editor and recipe developer Samantha Seneviratne invites readers to explore a bold new world of spice-centric desserts. Each chapter centers on a different spice--some familiar, like vanilla, cinnamon, and ginger; others less expected (especially in sweet preparations), such as peppercorns, chiles, and cardamom. With fascinating histories, origin stories, and innovative uses for each spice, this book will inspire readers to rediscover and re-stock their spice drawers, and raise their desserts up to a whole new level of flavor.

Friday, August 14, 2015

Effortless Healing by Dr. Mercola book review

Effortless Healing

9 Simple Ways to Sidestep Illness, Shed Excess Weight, and Help Your Body Fix Itself

Dr. Joseph Mercola; Foreword by David Perlmutter, M.D.

Being an advocate of healthy living, and having trusted Dr. Mercola for the past 10 years I was especially elated when I discovered this new book!

 Have you ever felt like it didn't make sense that everything healthy is hard to accomplish? Did you ever feel too discouraged to begin exercising because you couldn't do it like the pros? 
Well, Dr. Mercola explains through his website and now this marvelous book Effortless Healing that humans were wired to heal themselves! You don't have to devote hours a week working out just to get the body you want. You don't have to pay thousands of dollars to follow some other person's diet plan. Treat your body as it should be treated, and it will indeed heal itself. Drawing from centuries of healthy ancestors, Joseph Mercola explains in understandable ways how our bodies function. 
After reading this book, you will come away amazed at the intricate functions of your body and the power God has given it to heal. 
You will be inspired to put foods into your body which will help your organs work well. And you will be energized to actually lose weight or become stronger by implementing good habits and easy exercises rather than overwhelming exercise plans.

Does this lifestyle work? I have to say: yes! My family and I have been adhering to such a healthy lifestyle for the past several years, and I have seen drastic changes. I began as a teen, and I saw myself gain clearer skin, more flexible muscles, not to mention that I transformed from a chubby girl into a lean young woman! I am ever inspired when I read Mercola's writings..in fact spring is the perfect time to get back into the great healthy eating and living style he recommends! I don't know about you, but I'm going for it!

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. 


LET YOUR BODY DO THE WORK
Do you have to tell your leg to heal from a scrape? Your lungs to take in air? Your body that it’s hungry? No. Your body does these things automatically, effortlessly. Vibrant health is your birthright and within your grasp; you just have to step out of the way. In Effortless Healing, online health pioneer, natural medicine advocate, and bestselling author Dr. Joseph Mercola reveals the nine simple secrets to a healthier, thinner you. The results are amazing and the steps can be as easy to implement as:

·         Throwing ice cubes in your water to make it more “structured”
·         Skipping breakfast, as it could be making you fat
·         Eating up to 75 percent of your calories each day in fat for optimal health, reduction of heart disease, and cancer prevention
·         Avoiding certain meat and fish, but enjoying butter
·         Eating sauerkraut (and other fermented foods) to improve your immune system and your mood
·         Walking barefoot outside to decrease system-wide inflammation (and because it just feels great)
·         Enjoying a laugh: it’s as good for your blood vessels as fifteen minutes of exercise

Effortless Healing is the distillation of decades of Dr. Mercola’s experience and cutting-edge medical knowledge. With his wisdom and that of your body, you can optimize your health, your weight, and your life…effortlessly.