Books, Blogs and Assorted Musings

Time for an Official Break

2012-02-01T08:39:00.000-05:00

As much as I would like to think I can keep the blog up along with everything else, the fact that my last post was in Oct. 2011 would indicate otherwise. So, I will be taking a brief hiatus until I can get my ducks in a row. When I come back I hope to be more organized (hah!) and have some cool topics to discuss. If you are subscribed to me, you will get a new post when I come back. Hope to see you in April! Anne

A New Way of Living

2011-10-09T10:38:00.000-04:00

Where have I been? Working on solving the food allergy problem, working (the paid kind) and being a taxi service for my family. Whew. The good news: I love my family and it is well worth it. The bad news: looks like I am allergic to not only gluten, but dairy and eggs as well. I am going to have to find a whole new way of cooking and eating. I never cheat on gluten, as I know the consequences. I was wondering if the occasional egg would hurt. Answer is yes - had a scary reaction to one in some GF banana bread I made for R's birthday. Had it again with the GF cupcakes I served for her party, as one of her classmates is allergic to wheat. The dairy seems to kill my stomach, while the eggs cause full on hives, nausea and dizziness. So, any of you out there who are gluten, dairy and egg free, send in your suggestions and resources!

I'd Rather Deliver Pizza

2011-09-07T10:24:00.000-04:00

How's this for a way to make money?

CLOO' is a service designed to help city dwellers make some spare cash by renting out their bathrooms to people who are desperate to find a clean place to pee. Hey, times are tough, and, where there's a need, there's a market.

You can see how the service works in the video at the link above. In their own words:

CLOO' is based on one simple truth- we all have to pee. Though in urban cities finding a clean, available restroom is difficult & frustrating. That's where CLOO' comes in.
CLOO' is a community of registered users who choose to share their bathrooms and make city-living easier, while earning a small profit. Using social media connections, CLOO' shows what friends you have in common with the host, turning a stranger's loo into a friend of a friend's loo.

The next time you're desperate to find a bathroom near you, you can use CLOO' and the power of your social networks to find friends of friends who will let you use their bathroom for a buck or two.

This Makes Me Smile

2011-09-06T10:24:00.000-04:00

Found this on a great blog called CMYBacon

Titled "Impatient".

PURE organic bars

2011-09-06T08:58:00.000-04:00

Last week I had a fail with the PURE cherry bar (yummy, but not looking good on the allergy front). Today I tried their chocolate brownie bar. WOW! Love it. I will die if cocoa turns out to be one of my allergies. Just sayin'.

Next week is when I officially start adding things back. (yes, the chocolate was a bit of a cheat, but you do what you've gotta do). I had a reaction a few days ago that seemed to be linked to limes, which were not a banned food. Hmmmm. Avoiding them for the next week then trying again to see if it was a fluke. I figure I'll add back the easy ones first - not too hard to eat a cherry or a lime. Then on to the complicated stuff like dairy, soy and corn.

Finally, An Energy Bar that Tastes Good!

2011-08-31T09:28:00.000-04:00

Well, as you could tell from the previous post, Lara bars were not a huge success. Today I tried the Pure Organic Cherry Cashew bar. Yum! This I can live with. A little itchy now though - maybe cherries are one of my culprits. Nooooooooooo! I'll keep you posted.

Lara Bars

2011-08-30T09:08:00.000-04:00

Ever heard of Lara Bars? They are everything-free. As far as I can tell they all have the same ingredients: dates, nuts, and sometimes some unsweetened fruit. Then they put a different color wrapper on them and tell you they are different flavors. That said, the lemon was not bad. However, the banana bread flavor tastes like burned banana bread. Not the taste I was going for.

On the plus side of this diet, rice milk, frozen strawberry, kale and agave nectar smoothies are really good - no kidding! The color is not too appealing, but the strawberry sorbet flavor more than makes up for it.

Lessons Learned for Tuesday

2011-08-23T13:30:00.000-04:00

Decaf coffee is not worth it.

Millet rice cereal contains barley malt (man, does my face itch now!)

Back to Nature Sesame Seed GF Rice Thin Crackers are actually very tasty and have none of the things I can't eat - hooray! My old GF cracker standbys contained soy.

Rice milk is fine on cereal, but only if it is cold.

So there you have it. Learn from it, grasshoppers.

A (Hopefully Temporary) New Way of Life

2011-08-23T07:24:00.001-04:00

After a visit to my wonderful doctor (not kidding, I really do love her!) I am now on what is technically called an elimination diet. I call it the "eat nothing that tastes good" diet. In an effort to get to the root of some of the health problems I have been having, I have to spend 4 weeks NOT eating the following:

Oranges and orange juice, all dairy and eggs, wheat, corn, barley, spelt, kamut (don't even know what that is), rye, pork, beef/veal, sausage, cold cuts, hot dogs, shellfish, any soy products, peanuts and peanut butter, corn, butter, margarine, shortening, any processed oils, salad dressing, spreads, alcohol, coffee, soft drinks, refined sugar, white/brown sugar, honey, maple syrup, high fructose corn syrup, evaporated cane juice, chocolate, ketchup, relish, chutney, soy sauce, bbq sauce, teriyaki sauce, etc. Bored yet?

Did you know that baking powder usually contains corn starch? That the vinegar in ketchup, mayo and mustard is usually made from wheat or corn? Canned tuna often has soy in it? I know that now.

I'm not going to kid you, this is hard. Thankful I like grilled chicken and veggies and rice. I'll be expanding my (non-yogurt based) smoothie menu and reintroducing myself to my juicer, if only for the sake of variety. Wish me luck! At the end of the 4 weeks I reintroduce each type of food, about 1 new one every 3 days, to test for reactions. I've got a bad feeling about dairy.....

Time Lapse

2011-08-22T19:24:00.000-04:00

I didn't realize it had been so long since I had posted. Lots going on work-wise, which is good, but it doesn't leave much time for blogging. Oh well. Making this one brief, just stopping in to say hi. I'll leave you with a fun picture from our trip to Alaska:

Put Your Dream to the Test - Book Review

2011-07-07T14:25:00.000-04:00

Put Your Dream to the Test

10 Questions to Help You See It and Seize It

By John Maxwell  Published by Thomas Nelson

New York Times and Business Week best-selling author John C. Maxwell states “It’s one thing to have a dream. It’s another to do the things needed to achieve it.” In his book Put Your Dream to the Test, Maxwell outlines the critical thinking necessary not only to achieve your dream, but to ascertain if your dream is something you truly want vs. an abstract idea.

If you are like me, you often have multiple “dreams” percolating in your thoughts. What struck me most about this book was that it forced me to look at them and decide if they were just ideas or ideas worth pursuing. Dreams are much more than to-do lists. The book provides a list of what you must do to quantify, evaluate the stakes, and accomplish your dream, but makes clear it must be something that an “inspiring picture of the future that energizes your mind, will, and emotions, empowering you to do everything you can to achieve it.”

Have a dream? Read this book.

FTC required notice: Booksneeze has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

What Do You Know About BPA?

2011-05-30T09:12:00.001-04:00

More on the Big Cleanse: looking at other websites and getting ideas for gaining control of my health. Found this post on fastcompany about how to reduce BPA, which is a potentially toxic estrogen-mimicking compound used in plastic production that has been linked to breast cancer, early puberty, infertility, and other maladies. It's dangerous enough that it has been banned in baby bottles in Europe, Canada, and even China--but not in the U.S. So, how important do you think it is to reduce them in your life? Is this something I should do for the health of my family, or is it over-reacting?

Desks, Offices and Signs

2011-05-29T21:19:00.000-04:00

I am by nature a sarcastic person who often wonders about the collective brain power of the human race. This website confirms my worries.

So, you ask, how else have I been amusing myself in the vast wasteland that is the internet? Well, let's talk office health and desk decor:

I found this desk yoga video helpful - the stretches actually work.

To hold up the books currently in piles all over my office and desk I need this.

Fun uses for alligator clips are found here. I can't help it - I love office supplies. Does that make me totally weird?

I also want a stand up desk. I have major back issues and lately sitting seems to make it worse. I think the Pottery Barn Bedford Desk would be way cool:

Too bad for me it is ridiculously expensive and I am cheap.

I could go for one of these balance ball chairs, but I am notoriously uncoordinated and would probably roll off and hurt myself.

What is your dream office or desk set-up?

Salsa Discovery

2011-05-28T08:00:00.003-04:00

Trader Joe's Double Roasted Salsa - YUM! Perfect combo of smoky/hot peppers and rich tomatoes. You could even make a dinner out of Trader Joe's corn tortillas and this salsa, not that I would know that from personal experience or anything....

Swimming Season

2011-05-27T16:06:00.000-04:00

Come on in, the water is great! Except maybe for the 420 whale sharks.....

Found at http://news.discovery.com/animals/420-whale-sharks-gathered-off-mexican-coastline-110525.html

Wish I Was This Creative...

2011-05-20T20:52:00.001-04:00

Found at http://www.nerdnirvana.org/2010/01/30/watermelon-shark/.

For Erin, Part 2

2011-05-14T12:16:00.000-04:00

There is just no pleasing some people. The complaint: the juice recipe was too healthy. The fix:

Oreo and Ice Cream Pie

24 Oreo cookies (plus extra for eating while you make the pie)
1/4 cup butter, melted
ice cream (lots)

Preheat oven to 350°F.
Place Oreos in a large plastic zip top bag and smash the heck out of them. A flat mallet or rolling pin works great. You could probably also use a food processor or let your kids smash them to burn extra energy. The filling should resemble moist crumbs (if you do this by hand there will be a few larger pieces in the mix, this is fine).
Empty crumbs into a mixing bowl and stir in melted butter until well combined.
Pat wet crumbs all over and up sides of pie dish, making an even surface.
Bake crust for 8-10 minutes or until hardened. Cool before filling.

Buy large quantities of your favorite ice cream (my personal favorite for this pie is coffee ice cream), soften it, spoon it into the crust, then freeze the pie. Make sure to eat a bowl of the left over ice cream while waiting for the pie to set, otherwise you will feel weak from hunger. If you are making this in the evening, drink a glass of wine (or beer if you are Erin) while you wait.

Coolest Furniture EVER

2011-05-11T12:35:00.000-04:00

Just wanted to share some really cool furniture that I found from my search of the blogosphere and from recommendations from friends. While none of this will work in my house, when I get my dream studio/office maybe I'll have a shot at it (I'll probably need that independent wealth thing going on too though).

From artist Andrea Zittel come the following:

Critical space

Personal spaces

From MisoSoupDesign comes:

K Workstation

For Erin

2011-05-11T12:10:00.002-04:00

There have been some complaints (Hi Erin!!) about the (in)frequency of my blog updates. First, flattered that anyone even noticed. Second, glad for the kickstart, as I need to get going again. Amazing how life gets in the way.

So, simply because this is on my mind because I just made it and it isn't bad at all, here is an addition to the recipe portion of my ongoing big cleanse. This is specifically dedicated to those of us with digestive issues (Hi Erin!) and food allergies.

Veggie Detox Juice:

You will need a juicer to make this, but you wanted an excuse to get one anyway didn't you? I have a Breville Compact Juice Fountain that cost around $99 on amazon. Works great.

2 firm Bosc pears, cored and cut into wedges (fine to leave skin on)

1/2 inch piece peeled fresh ginger

5 medium carrots, scrubbed (I cut the ends off too, but some people don't bother)

2 celery stalks, trimmed, cut into 3 inch pieces

1 beet, trimmed and scrubbed and sliced into wedges

1 handful fresh parsley, stems and leaves

2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice (I use bottled whole foods lemon juice)

Push pears and ginger through juice machine. Then in batches add carrots, celery, beet and parsley. Stir in lemon juice. Makes two glasses. Tastes better over ice or chilled.

There now, don't you feel healthier already?

God Loves Me More Than That - Book Review

2011-04-24T19:14:00.000-04:00

This book by Dandi Daley Mackall is a sweet reminder to children about how much God loves them. It uses understandable analogies accompanied by illustrations that bring home the point.

"Just how deep is God's love for me? Deeper than a treasure chest beneath the sea."

This would be a good book for any church library or for parents interested in conveying the breadth and depth of God's love to their children.

"I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this unbiased review"

Portable Spice Kit

2011-02-24T09:25:00.002-05:00

Saw this tip on http://dollarstorecrafts.com/2011/02/make-a-portable-gourmet-salt-kit/. Use one of the pill-a-day weekly holders and store spices in them to take on vacation. That way you don't leave your good bottles of spice in the vacation home, or end up using their 20 year old spices you find tucked away in the cabinets of the house. Not a bad idea. A little quirky, but I like that in a household tip.

More IPad Dreams

2011-02-23T13:50:00.001-05:00

Read on twitter (my new media toy) that Apple will introduce the IPad 2 on March 2. Of course, if I am going to do the dream right, I have to accessorize properly. Thinking this case/keyboard combo should do it. Then again, I just saw this new product on www.kickstarter.com, so maybe I will have to multi-accessorize (is that a new word?). I think I have an IPad problem....

Art I Need

2011-02-21T14:06:00.000-05:00

Just discovered artist Megan Weston via this post on DesignSponge and am in love. Don't know what her pricing is, but I would totally put her work on my walls. Maybe I need a field trip to Australia!

True Confessions

2011-02-20T13:13:00.000-05:00

I loathe Oprah and Martha Stewart. There, I said it. I just don't get the lovefest around them. Maybe it is the cynic in me, but I think they are fakes who are brilliant marketers (not that there's anything wrong with that....).

Anyone else out there feel like that, or is it just me?

IPad dreams

2011-02-15T09:47:00.001-05:00

One of my recent musings has been how to justify an IPad. It looks like so much fun! The games, the books, the apps...forget work. I am restraining myself until the next generation comes out, as rumor has it that it will have a camera and maybe a USB port. It looks like April may be the release date. Until then, I will have to be content with window shopping for the Ipad and accessories. Once I have unlimited funds and/or a fairy godmother, this is my shopping list:

The IPad

This cool stand for the IPad - perfect for using in the kitchen when cooking recipes from the internet

A case for the IPad

A stylus for the IPad

Shop on, friends!

Assorted Musings

2011-02-14T15:48:00.000-05:00

Just some random thoughts for today:

I decided to join twitter today, mainly to make sure I reserved my business name. I already have two followers, neither of whom I know, and before I posted my first tweet. Who are these people and why on earth are they following me when they know NOTHING about me?

Just made this smoothie and it passed the taste test from both resident picky eaters, even the seven year old. She is the one who would live off cheese sticks, cheerios and strawberries if allowed. It is light and refreshing, not heavy on the peach taste. I am guessing you could up the amount of peaches if you wanted more.

Discovered Kickstarter, a funding incubator for all sorts of things. So cool. I "invested" $25 towards a cool stylus. If the product doesn't make it into production, you don't pay.

It is a beautiful day here - I am working on my porch, watching kids and dogs play in the yard. It doesn't get much better than this! Well, maybe if I dumped the work part!

Smoothies

2011-02-14T08:00:00.001-05:00

Working the Cleanse:

Still lovin' my smoothies. This creation, which received two thumbs up from the local 11 year old, was blueberry/pear.

1 cup fresh blueberries
2 sliced pears (left the skin on since I now have a vita-mix - yay me!)
1 cup vanilla yogurt
agave nectar to taste

Blend away and drink up!

Another favorite:

Pear/Kale Smoothie

3 pears, peeled and sliced
4 leaves of kale, de-stemmed
4 oz. yoplus vanilla yogurt (gluten free + extra fiber - what more could I ask?)
However much orange juice was left in the container (maybe a cup?)

Blend until a beautiful pear green color that you would want to paint your kitchen walls with, then enjoy!

I created these smoothies myself, so if you want to post them, please do so with a link back to my blog. Thanks!

Phone Sheep

2011-02-13T16:03:00.000-05:00

This just makes me smile - I love art with a sense of humor.

Phone Sheep

My little one wants to make bottle cap magnets. I guess that is recycling on a smaller scale than the sheep!

Cleansing and God things

2011-02-12T16:57:00.000-05:00

Well, someone asked me the other day how the cleanse was going and I realized I had not consciously thought about it in a week or so. The answer is "pretty well". I am doing better at not saying yes to things I really don't want or need to do. I gave up wine, which I thought would be harder. I really haven't missed it at all. I decided my body needs a cleanse along with my life, and wine was the low hanging fruit. Now comes the hard part: conscious eating. I have been praying about this cleanse because I know I can't do it by myself. Amazingly, I have seen God in the details. Just little things, but that's all I need. I am now seeing that in addition to being gluten free, which I have been for 2+ years, I need to work towards controlling the sugar in my diet. I have given up artificial sweeteners for several reasons, and definitely feel better, but now I need to reduce the real stuff too. And that means actively planning what I eat. I am reading other blogs for ideas, trying to figure out how to fit diet and exercise into my life when I am already exhausted most of the time. Of course, the diet and exercise might fix the exhaustion! I'll let you know.

Voyage of the Dawn Treader

2011-01-25T21:10:00.000-05:00

Saw the latest Narnia movie with the family on Saturday and really liked it. It is not 100% faithful to the book, but it is just as good. Some parts were a little scary for my 7 year old, but she claims to have loved it anyway - "Mom, I read the book with Daddy, so how can I be scared of the movie?" So, if you are a Narnia fan, I recommend it!

Winter Joy

2011-01-21T10:39:00.000-05:00

Nothing much to say, just wanted to share some photos that make me happy. These are from our snow days in Jan. 2011.

Beauty

Joy

(Woo Hoo, whatever this stuff is, it's great!)

Thoughtfulness

(Hmmm, what is this stuff on my nose?)

Repost of Discoveries and Blogs

2011-01-21T05:00:00.001-05:00

My apologies if you have read this before - in Cleansing my blog, I was horrified at how many of the posts were just plain old book reviews. How boring. But there were a couple posts I am proud of for the info they contain, so I am going to repost the information to bring it to the front of the new and improved Books, Blogs and Assorted Musings:

Today's Discovery: TAZO white cranberry (white tea with white cranberry juice), found in the refrigerated section of Whole Foods. Can I just say YUM?! I am usually only a hot tea drinker (which almost got me expelled from the Southern Chicks' Association - they believe sweet tea is the only appropriate non-alcoholic drink) but this ROCKS!

Today's Blog/Site: Check out www.mentalfloss.com - started by Duke grads, so you know it's good! For example, did you know the following about Sesame Street:

Oscar the Grouch used to be orange! Jim Henson decided to make him green before the second season of Sesame Street. How did Oscar explain the color change? He said he'd gone on vacation to the very damp Swamp Mushy Muddy and he turned green overnight.

I get the magazine and the emails, both of which are incredible sources of information that will amaze and confound your friends as they wonder where you get the time to learn such trivia. Your secret is safe with me!

Carrot Soup

2011-01-20T06:00:00.001-05:00

Well, I said I was going to do the Big Cleanse, and as much as I hate to admit it, that had better include what I eat. Since I don't want to send my body into shock (hah!) I am starting with trying to use more whole foods in my diet. That translates into cooking more and buying less processed food. The other night the hubby thanked me for cooking this carrot soup and I realized I had enjoyed making it. It's those nights when four people need to eat at four different times, there's nothing in the fridge, and no inspiration in the brain, that kill me. When I have time and can do it mindfully, I love cooking. So this can count as part of Step Four. Still not ready to give up the caffeine though!

Anne's Carrot Soup

Combine 10 peeled and sliced carrots, 1 peeled and sliced potato, and 4 cups of water. Bring to a boil, then simmer, covered, about 15 minutes or until veggies are soft.

Meanwhile, heat 1 Tablespoon of butter or oil in a small saucepan. Add one medium chopped onion and 11/2 teaspoons salt and saute for 5 minutes. Add in 2 cloves chopped garlic, and dried herbs to taste (I use oregano, thyme and basil, between 1/2 and 1 teaspoon each, heavier on the basil because I love the flavor). Saute 5 more minutes.

Once carrot mixture is soft, add onion mixture to it, and then use a handheld blender (Best. Kitchen. Tool. Ever.) and puree the whole thing. Simmer, covered, until ready to eat. Be careful when you take the top off as it will "bloop" at you like spaghetti sauce does.

If you need to make ahead, it reheats nicely.

PS: I will start trying to add pictures to the posts soon. Got to learn my new camera... Step Three!

The Big Cleanse

2011-01-19T11:46:00.000-05:00

You may have noticed a long run of book reviews. Well, it's about to stop. Why? The Big Cleanse.

I have been reading other blogs about being true to yourself and treating yourself well. I have failed at both recently. I got so caught up in who I thought I might want to be that I forgot who I am. In my rush to become a "blogger" I signed up for all sorts of review programs, researched ways to make money on my blog and obsessed over it without accomplishing much. After I finished my last batch of reviews I realized I wasn't having fun. Yuck. Plus the blog was getting mighty boring - I wouldn't want to read it either.

So.

Baby Steps.

The Big Cleanse:

Step One: Finish all outstanding book reviews I have been assigned and from now on only review things that I read or did because I wanted to. I'll still accept requests, as I've found some awesome books that way, but only if the book really interests me in the first place. STATUS: DONE!

Step Two: Stop collecting (that's the nice word for hoarding). I have more junk that I have kept just in case I might need it one day (fabric sample books, anyone? anyone?). It's making the house feel heavy, so out go many things that I can't think of a need for in the next month or two. If nothing else, it will make me use them if I feel that strongly about getting rid of them. STATUS: in progress, but going well. The thrift shop and trash can are my friends.

Step Three: Start concentrating on things that are important and/or fun for me. That includes family, church, Triune Mercy Center, friends, exciting new business ideas and opportunities (more on that in another post), and living in general! STATUS: in progress and taking off - already have several fun friend/family trips planned, books I want to read just for the heck of it (BTW Carl Hiaasen's Skin Tight is great brain cheetos), fun creative group with some great gals and some cool business things going on.

Step Four: Treat the body better - yeah, I have to get off my lazy rear and exercise and eat better. STATUS: working up the energy.

More later!

Unto the Hills - Book Review

2011-01-17T17:41:00.000-05:00

Thomas Nelson, Inc. has brought this book back into print 25 years after it was first published. It is one of Billy Graham’s devotional books with 365 days worth of meditations, bible verses and prayers to guide and comfort the reader. This book is a wonderful way to spend quiet time with God. I found all 3 aspects of it, the scripture, Dr. Graham’s observations and the suggested prayers to be reassuring and calming. They also provide a starting point for further contemplation of issues facing us today. I recommend this book for anyone seeking additional ways to learn and worship.

I received a copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers in exchange for my honest review.

If God Is Good - Book Review

2011-01-17T17:08:00.000-05:00

If God Is Good

Faith in the Midst of Suffering and Evil

By Randy Alcorn

This book is Randy Alcorn’s argument that evil and suffering serve a purpose in this world, one that we will one day understand. I confess that I began reading with the idea that I probably wouldn’t like it, as I disagree with many of Alcorn’s stances on Christianity. However, I found the book to be well-written and, at least for me, true. As a believer in God, I accept that He is all-powerful, but for reasons I may not understand, chooses not to eliminate evil and suffering from this world. For those wrestling with the why and how of this, the book provides excellent and thought-provoking arguments for the reasons. I would recommend this for anyone struggling with these questions, whether or not you agree with Alcorn’s personal politics.

"I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review"

Good Book for Tweens

2010-11-22T15:48:00.000-05:00

Can ordinary kids change the world? Max Lucado and his daughter say they can. Whether we affect one person or millions, it is what God has asked us to do. The authors of You Were Made to Make a Difference explain that when you live in relationship with God, your actions, words, dreams and decisions all change in a good way. You begin living to make a difference, as God intended.

The book uses a variety of means to get the point across. From real-life examples of today’s kids and writing exercises to biblical references and suggested prayers, the authors provide a variety of avenues for kids to follow. The why’s and how’s of living intentionally are covered in non-threatening yet encouraging ways and backed up with biblical proof and encouragement.

As an adult, I found the book to be somewhat of a disorganized mish-mash of ideas. The content and focus were inspiring, but hard to follow. However, I am apparently showing my age, as the resident eleven year old loved the book and has asked to keep my copy. It stirred up ideas in her about how to help people, no matter where they are. It encouraged her that she is not alone and showed her ways to deepen her relationship with God. Based on the impact the book had on her, I recommend it to parents looking for a way to encourage their kids to walk closely with God and use their lives to make a difference.

FTC Required Note: I have received a complimentary or advance reading copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers in exchange for an unbiased review.

Dare to Drop the Pose - Book Review

2010-09-28T10:38:00.000-04:00

Dare to Drop the Pose (Ten Things Christians Think but Are Afraid to Say) by Craig Groeschel is a republished version of Confessions of a Pastor. I think the earlier title is the more accurate one as far as describing the book. Pulling out the main points he is TRYING to make leaves the reader with the following:

Some Christians are hypocritical;
It is difficult to remain sexually pure as defined by the Bible;
It can be hard to be a Christian in today's world;
It is normal to sometimes doubt God;
Most people are afraid of failure.

These are not difficult concepts, but Groeschel spends the whole book trying to tell us what a rotten Christian he has been simply because he is human like the rest of us. He talks himself down in an effort to talk us up. I understand what he was trying to do, but was left more with a mild dislike of him as a person instead of being encouraged that "if he can do it, so can I". There are much better books out there - I wouldn't waste your time.

The Lord's Prayer - book review

2010-09-21T16:32:00.000-04:00

The Lord’s Prayer

Insight and Inspiration to Draw You Closer to Him

By R.T. Kendall

Dr. R.T. Kendall, minister and author, begins this book with a discussion of why we pray. He then takes us line by line through perhaps Christianity’s best-known prayer, the Lord’s Prayer, dissecting the meaning and intent behind each carefully chosen word. Instead of allowing us to recite the prayer from memory, often not even hearing ourselves as we speak, Dr. Kendall challenges us to understand and study what we are praying with these words. As he states, “The purpose of this book is not only to examine each line of the Lord’s Prayer, but to learn how to interpret the will of God”.

As a Christian, I found this book to be very helpful. It brought new insight into what God wants from us in this prayer He sent us. Based on this point, I highly recommend this book. However, there is one area with which I absolutely cannot and do not agree with the author, and I imagine this is one that will cause division among readers. Dr. Kendall asserts on page 46 that ONLY Christians have the right to pray the Lord’s Prayer. Jews and other believers in our God are excluded in his opinion because “Only those who receive Him (Jesus) and believe in His name have the right to be children of God and, therefore, to pray the Lord’s Prayer”. I believe that God wants to hear from all of His children, lost and found.

This is a major barrier for me in recommending this book; however, the rest of the book is an excellent guide. I leave it to the individual reader to determine whether this message of exclusion cancels out the other important and valid points in the book.

FTC Required Note: I have received a complimentary or advance reading copy of this book from the publishers in exchange for an unbiased review.

Outlive Your Life book review

2010-09-10T08:40:00.000-04:00

Outlive Your Life by Max Lucado

Can ordinary people change the world? Max Lucado says we can. In Outlive Your Life, Lucado presents us with the challenge of living our lives so that we have made a difference that is tangible after we are long gone. Whether we affect one person or millions, it is what God has asked us to do. As Denver Moore, co-author of Same Kind of Different as Me (another must read!), says: “Pastor Max tells all folks how to move from Bible studies to Bible doins’ “.

I don’t often say this in reviews, but I thought this book was amazing. Lucado asks difficult questions of us, questions that require inner discernment, a not always comfortable task. He draws his questions from the book of Acts and the miraculous events that took place during that time. He then challenges each of us to make a difference beyond ourselves. He does not leave us without help though. Each chapter ends with scripture and a prayer focused on the lesson just taught, both of which I found key as I reflected upon Lucado’s challenges to me as a Christian.

I cannot say enough good things about this book. I plan to go back and work my way through the discussion and action guide at the end as additional discipline for answering the call to action. I highly recommend this book as a guide and thought-provoking study to all those who wonder if it is possible to make a difference as only one person.

FTC Required Note: I have received a complimentary or advance reading copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers in exchange for an unbiased review.

Summer's Gone Part 2 - Review of Flight to Heaven

2010-09-07T10:05:00.000-04:00

OK folks, here is part two for today. We'll go for a book review. As a teaser, I have a review coming up on Sept. 10 of an absolutely wonderful book! The publisher has asked me not to post it until then, but I will say I love, love, loved the book and you will too, so come back to check it out.

And without further ado, here is today's book:

Flight to Heaven

A Pilot’s True Story

By Capt. Dale Black

Capt. Dale Black is the lone survivor of a horrific plane crash. Through a long a difficult recovery, he finds an unexpected gift of faith that sustains him. Months after the crash, his fractured memory releases the source of that faith – a visit to heaven and return to earth.

There is no question in my mind that Capt. Black is a man of faith. His journey since his near-death experience has been amazing and Christ-filled. However, I have to admit that the book did not move me the way that I expected it would. I am not convinced that he actually visited and returned from heaven, though I don’t doubt that he at least had a miraculous vision. To me the question remains: what is more important to his message – his experience in heaven or what he did with it here on earth? I would argue it is his legacy of experiences here on earth. The “flight to heaven” part has a sensationalist attraction to it that seems designed more to sell the book than to encourage others’ faith journeys.

I do not regret having read this book, but it is not one that I can recommend to others as a must read. For some it may provide comfort, but I think for many the focus will be less inspiring than they had hoped.

FTC Required Note: I have received a complimentary or advance reading copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an unbiased review.

Summer's Gone

2010-09-07T09:56:00.000-04:00

Wow, summer just flew by! I had no idea it had been so long since my last post. To make up for it, we'll go for a double today!

First, still lovin' my smoothies. Yesterday's creation, which received two thumbs up from the local 11 year old, was blueberry/pear.

1 cup fresh blueberries

2 sliced pears (left the skin on since I now have a vita-mix - yay me!)

1 cup vanilla yogurt

agave nectar to taste

Blend away and drink up!

Pear Kale Smoothie

2010-06-28T13:18:00.000-04:00

I am on a huge smoothie kick and have been inventing new flavors. Today's was especially yummy:

3 pears, peeled and sliced

4 leaves of kale, de-stemmed

4 oz. yoplus vanilla yogurt (gluten free + extra fiber - what more could I ask?)

However much orange juice was left in the container (maybe a cup?)

Blend until a beautiful pear green color that you would want to paint your kitchen walls with, then enjoy!

A User’s Guide to the Universe: Surviving the Perils of Black Holes, Time Paradoxes, and Quantam Uncertainty By Dave Goldberg and Jeff Blomquist

2010-06-22T11:00:00.000-04:00

A User’s Guide to the Universe is the authors’ attempt to educate liberal arts people like me about science and physics. They get brownie points for trying, but it may be that I am a lost cause. The book jacket calls the book a “plain-English, plain-hilarious handbook (that) ushers you through all of the major discoveries of modern physics”. The authors take basic questions (can I build a time machine; what happened before the Big Bang) and bring the answers down to the level of mere mortals.

I enjoyed the book for the first chapter or so. The authors are amusing and I was able to hang in there with them for a while. But not for long. On the one hand, I hesitate to blame them, as I have to say I lost interest when I couldn’t follow them anymore. On the other, their jokes got old, the analogies stopped working, and I stopped caring.

So, do you read the book or not? If you really want to learn more about physics in a non-threatening way, go for it. But be warned, the authors’ style can wear you down, and in the end, perhaps some things don’t need to be understood. Isn’t that why we have physicists?

Amazing Art

2010-06-15T13:35:00.000-04:00

This art is amazing! You have to see it - there is no way I can do it justice with words. So just go now. I said NOW!

http://www.petercallesen.com/index/A4PAPERCUT_000.htm

Gluten Free Discoveries

2010-06-10T16:15:00.000-04:00

Some of you may know that I have to follow a gluten free diet. Not fun if you are a bread kind of gal like me. However, I am working on finding yummy yet gluten free things. Here are the latest favorites:

Enjoy Life Cinnamon Crunch Granola and Cranapple Crunch Granola. Wonderful mixed in with Yoplait YoPlus yogurt (also gluten free). A nice, filling breakfast.

Betty Crocker GF brownie mix. Not low cal or anything, but my kids love them. A little denser than regular box brownies.

You may now continue to eat.

If I Could Ask God Anything: Awesome Bible Answers for Curious Kids!

2010-06-10T15:58:00.000-04:00

If I Could Ask God Anything: Awesome Bible Answers for Curious Kids!

By Kathryn Slattery

If I Could Ask God Anything is described as a “unique kid-friendly book jam-packed with clear, fresh answers to important questions about God, faith, prayer, and Christianity in language that children can understand.” Both my eleven year old daughter and I read this book and agree – the author gives clear, non-condescending answers to questions ALL of us have had, not just kids. Questions on topics ranging from God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit to the Bible, Christianity and Prayer and continuing on to what it means to believe and act as a Christian are all addressed.

Recognizing that even as Christians we can have varying beliefs (among denominations, churches and even families), I was a little worried at first whether the book would answer questions according to my church beliefs. With the exception of one or two answers, I thought the author handled questions beautifully. I am not going to discuss my disagreements with the author, as everyone will likely have a different opinion, and those few disagreements for me did not negate how much I enjoyed the book. I recommend this book for families looking for information to back up answers to their children’s or their own questions. I also recommend that the adults read it first or with their children, so they can be prepared to further discuss the issues. That is simply part of responsible parenting in the church!

Better Blogging

2010-05-07T20:47:00.004-04:00

Hi everyone! I'm discovering it's hard to keep up with a blog - life gets in the way, but then again, it's supposed to! Since book reviews only go so far, especially when the blog is titled "Books, Blogs and Assorted Musings", I thought it was time to add the other two parts. Get ready for Discoveries and Blogs to Check Out. I'd love feedback, recommendations, or just general comments.

Today's Discovery: TAZO white cranberry (white tea with white cranberry juice), found in the refrigerated section of Whole Foods. Can I just say YUM?! I am usually only a hot tea drinker (which almost got me expelled from the Southern Chicks' Association - they believe sweet tea is the only appropriate non-alcoholic drink) but this ROCKS!

Today's Blog/Site: Check out www.mentalfloss.com - started by Duke grads, so you know it's good! For example, did you know the following about Sesame Street:

Oscar the Grouch used to be orange! Jim Henson decided to make him green before the second season of Sesame Street. How did Oscar explain the color change? He said he'd gone on vacation to the very damp Swamp Mushy Muddy and he turned green overnight.

I get the magazine and the emails, both of which are incredible sources of information that will amaze and confound your friends as they wonder where you get the time to learn such trivia. Your secret is safe with me!

Eye of the Red Tsar

2010-04-12T10:44:00.000-04:00

Pekkala is a confidante of Tsar Nicholas Romanov until the brutal murders of the Romanov family in 1917. After years in a Soviet camp, Pekkala is called back to solve a mystery, with the promise of his freedom as the reward for success. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and read it straight through in one sitting. It kept a fast pace and had enough twists and turns to keep me interested. Was it great literature? No. Was it supposed to be? No. If you are looking for a fun read with some history thrown in, this book is for you.

Note: I received a copy of this book through LibraryThing Early Reviewers program in exchange for this unbiased review.

The Voice of Psalms - A reivew

2010-04-01T23:39:00.000-04:00

A Dubious Translation - The Voice of Psalms

This book contains the entire book of Psalms in The Voice translation and includes reading plans and reflections for selected psalms. The distinguishing feature of this book is its use of The Voice translation, described by its authors as “a literary project…created for and by a church in great transition…(this) uniquely represents collaboration among scholars, pastors, writers, musicians, poets, and other artists.” The goal seems to be to make the Bible “more beautiful” in the eyes and ears of the authors, and while the text is lovely, they are less successful in maintaining the accuracy of God’s word.

I adore the book of Psalms and was anxious to read this book. However, the more I read, the more uncomfortable I became with The Voice. I feel that it takes great yet unnecessary and perhaps incorrect liberties with the Bible. I have read from many types of Bibles, from King James to NIV to The Message, yet they all fundamentally stay true to God’s word. This translation adds or changes words that change the overall meaning of the text. The authors claim that this is necessary to reach the post-modern church, but I feel that doesn’t give people enough credit. Making the stories more accessible and understandable is one thing, changing the meaning to make people feel better is another. While I think anyone will benefit from spending time reading and meditating on the Psalms, this book goes down a slippery slope with its translation. Those truly interested in the Psalms will be better served by reading a more traditional translation.

Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for this review. My content was in no way dictated by Thomas Nelson Publishers.

The Rewards of Simplicity - A review

2010-04-01T14:47:00.002-04:00

The Rewards of Simplicity

A Practical and Spiritual Approach

By Pam and Chuck D. Pierce

This book is described as a guide to simplifying life from a Christian perspective. The authors discuss how to clear mental, physical and spiritual clutter from our lives and reclaim our peace. Their key premise is that “Every aspect of simplicity can be viewed from these three perspectives: faith, focus and function.”

As a veteran reader of many organizing/simplifying books, I can honestly say this book doesn’t break much new ground. While it does remind us to make faith-based decisions as we de-clutter, there are no real “aha” moments. For those seeking a biblical basis for decisions on slowing down and eliminating the unnecessary, this is good book. For those looking for a to-do list for simplifying, not so much.

(This book was provided to me for review by Bethany House Publishers.)

Living Life in the Zone - Book Review

2010-02-01T15:14:00.000-05:00

Living Life in the Zone by Kyle Rote, Jr. and Dr. Joe Pettigrew

Living Life in the Zone is described as a 40-day spiritual game plan for men. It follows the same template throughout the entire 40 days, beginning each day with a “thought of the day” and moving through discussions of the day’s topic, a real life example from the sports world, questions and actions to ponder, ending with prayer. Topics include Living Life in the Zone, Your Relationships with your Wife, Children, Friends, Work, and Looking to the Future.

Even though I am a female, I chose to review this book to see how a “male-oriented” approach would be presented. I found the thought of the day and the scripture references to be relevant to anyone, male or female. For the first several days, the book was interesting and did provide food for thought. However, after about a week, the repetitive format started to grate on me. I asked my husband to read and offer his opinion – he agreed that the format got stale quickly and offered that the sports metaphors that are an emphasis of the book often seemed to be a stretch. The authors also used figures as examples of strong Christians who have since been involved in less than Christian activities (Carrie Prejean and her erotic video, for one).

The book has many worthwhile points and is appropriate for those perhaps beginning their walk with Christ. However, those who are interested in searching deeper, this is not the book for you. It is too simple and tries too hard to bring sports into the picture, even when the relevance is questionable.

(I received a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review on my site.)

Same Kind of Different As Me

2010-01-19T15:22:00.001-05:00

What can I say? Loved, Loved, Loved this book! Go read it NOW.

You Did It For Me - Book Review

2010-01-19T15:21:00.000-05:00

This children's book by Robert Hug was a cute illustration of how and why we help others. I must admit I had to turn back the pages and check that it was the same character helping each time, as at first I assumed each help vignette was different in a "pay it forward" type illustration. Children may or may not pick up on this before the last two pages. As a Sunday School teacher, I would have found specific biblical verse references helpful for each situation. I know they exist, and the young children I teach take great pride in learning verses and their meanings. All that aside, the book is a good starting point for teaching children about helping others and the joy we can find in it.

Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for a review through LibraryThing Member Giveaways.

Software Reviews

2010-01-12T12:06:00.001-05:00

Well, I'm all for getting things at little or no cost, so when the chance to review some software came up, I jumped at it. Let's just say my first experience with free software was that you pretty much get what you pay for. Here are the reviews I turned in.

Berlitz Spanish Premier
Full disclosure: I received a free copy of this software in order to review it. I found that this software was most effective for basic learning, such as individual word recognition and pronunciation. The flashcard feature is a great way to self-test. I can see my children using it to practice their school Spanish. However, this is not the software to use if you plan on becoming fluent. The more “advanced” features advertised by the company – conversation practice and feedback – were not as useful. The audio was somewhat difficult to understand, the print often appeared fuzzy on my screen, the actors lacked any emotion in the video stories, and it was not particularly interesting. I speak English and French, and do not feel that this software would be useful beyond getting a basic knowledge of vocabulary and perhaps review for those wishing to refresh their Spanish.

HGTV Home and Landscape
Full disclosure: I received a free copy of this software in order to review it. I can’t even begin to give a comprehensive review of this product, as it is so complicated that it is not worth the time to learn. I am fairly computer savvy, but it took forever just to get my basic room design down. Once that was done, rearranging was a bear. My husband and I reverted to a graph paper template and moved things around by hand and got more out of that method. I can’t recommend this software. ©2010

Finding Purpose Beyond Our Pain

2009-12-21T12:46:00.000-05:00

Finding Purpose Beyond Our Pain
Uncover the Hidden Potential in Life's Most Common Struggles
By Paul Meier M.D. and David Livingstone Henderson M.D.

This book is described as a guide to dealing with life's challenges from a Christian perspective. Readers are encouraged to acknowledge and face difficulties such as injustice, rejection, loneliness, loss, discipline, failure and death with God’s guidance. Life’s challenges can be overcome and those who use emotional and spiritual discipline to do so will find themselves stronger because of them.

I found this book thought-provoking and helpful. It encouraged me to look at things I must face in my life and work through them from a biblical perspective. God does not want us to suffer, but he will not always prevent it. He will, however, provide us with mercy, forgiveness and guidance, if we would only ask. I recommend this book to those who feel trapped in cycles of suffering, or even those only experiencing a temporary setback. The lessons in the book will prove useful in many areas of life during and beyond any current challenges.

Book Review: The Well-Behaved Child

2009-11-23T17:44:00.000-05:00

The Well-Behaved Child: Discipline that Really Works! by John Rosemond

This book is described as a discipline program based on biblical principles, traditional parenting approaches, and common sense. In a nutshell, parents are parents, not friends.

I enjoyed this book. As a mom, I am familiar with the battles that often arise and the accompanying feeling of helplessness when I have tried everything I can think of to maintain control of the situation. According to this book, I have NOT tried everything. While many of the methods suggested seem extreme, I can also see where they would work. “Shock and awe” makes the point, not through abuse, but through consequences. I would recommend this book to parents who need to regain control and to those who find it difficult to separate raising a child from being his or her friend.

Review: Simply an Inspired Life

2009-11-23T17:13:00.000-05:00

Simply an Inspired LIfe, by Mary Anne Readmacher and Jonathan Lockwood Huie

I'll make this short and sweet. Yuck! This book would have been better titled Death By Metaphor. It was full of trite references and was one of the worst books I have read recently. Save yourself the time - life is too short to read bad books.

Find Your Strongest Life - Book Review

2009-10-05T17:43:00.001-04:00

Find Your Strongest Life: What the Happiest and Most Successful Women Do Differently, By Marcus Buckingham

In Find Your Strongest Life, Marcus Buckingham declares that there IS a way for women to “have it all”. However, his definition of having it all is not doing it all, but feeling fulfilled and in control in what you choose to do. Buckingham states that by finding and following your strengths, you can better define what you need to live a strong life.

I found the premise of the book interesting - that to be happy and fulfilled in life, it is important to define strengthening moments, those moments in which you feel most alive. He provides an on-line Strong Life Test to help readers identify personality roles in which their strengths help them succeed. After giving the reader various real life examples of women who follow his process, Buckingham states “the secret to success and happiness lies in your ability to know yourself well enough to make strong choices without regret…”

This book gave me many things to think about in how I manage and focus my life. I gained new tools with which to evaluate what is truly important to me and to sift through my obligations, self-imposed and otherwise, to determine what to keep and what to drop or change. However, I also felt that Buckingham often veered off to the trite, indicating that if only we would follow his advice any problem could be resolved with his methods. I am a bit more cynical than that. Overall, if you are willing to overlook what I considered a slightly over-optimistic view point on solving life problems, the basic advice in the book is good food for thought.

A Million Miles in a Thousand Years - Book Review

2009-09-29T08:26:00.000-04:00

A Million Miles in a Thousand Years details Donald Miller’s experience re-envisioning his life into what he calls “a better story”. His premise is that when you see your life as a story, you need to decide if it is a story worth reading/living. As he says in the book “We (often) don’t want to be characters in a story because characters have to move and breathe and face conflict with courage”. This book details his re-write of his story.

My reaction to this book was mixed. I liked its message that our stories, or our lives and accomplishments, aren’t set in stone. We can change the kind of story we are living by how we act – our ambitions and actions determine how our story goes. Miller makes a powerful statement on page 69 that perhaps the point isn’t the search for a better story, but the transformation that the search creates. In other words it is the living of our story, the changes that take place in us as we live, that make our story successful.

On the other hand, I did not care for the book itself. The chapters were short, choppy vignettes of his life that did not tie together well. Miller tried to show some before and after so that we understand how and why his story changed, but in the end he did not hold my interest.

I think the premise of the book, searching for a better self, is worth exploring. However, Miller did not succeed in using his own example as a compelling illustration.

Review of Social Entrepreneurship: The Art of Mission-Based Venture Development

2009-09-27T16:30:00.000-04:00

Moving along with the book reviews, this one is focused on the non-profit world, another one of my passions. This review is a bit more technical than some - just a warning that this book is not for light reading!

“Being businesslike can and should increase your capacity to do excellent mission, it should not in any way reduce your capacity to care, your concern for your community, or your humanity as an individual…”(2). What does this mean for supporters of non-profits, whether employees, funders, clients or other stakeholders? According to Peter C. Brinckerhoff, the author of Social Entrepreneurship: The Art of Mission-Based Venture Development, it means that it is perfectly acceptable and indeed desirable for non-profits to investigate innovative ways to expand programming and raise money to fund missions. The key is to utilize sound business practices and not be afraid to adopt reasonable risk if necessary. In this book, Brinckerhoff provides a thorough and logical guide to those seeking to evaluate risks and rewards of various development options.

Growing any aspect of a non-profit can be daunting. Is it a responsible allocation of resources, from employees to dollars? Does the organization have the capacity and ability to undertake the activity or business? How do you go about the whole process? Finally, what on earth is a “social entrepreneur”?

Brinckerhoff defines a social entrepreneur as someone who takes risks on behalf of the people his/her organization serves. He cautions that the role of a social entrepreneur is not to chase dollars, but to allocate resources according to sound investment decisions. Types of investments (or business development) include starting a new or expanding an existing product or service, expanding existing activities into new target populations or geographic areas, purchasing an existing business that is relevant to the organization or merging/partnering with an existing organization.
After an overview of social entrepreneurship in the first two chapters, Brinckerhoff discusses the seven steps a social entrepreneur needs to consider in the non-profit business development cycle. These are 1) review your mission; 2) establish the risk willingness of your organization; 3) establish the mission outcomes of the business; 4) idea generation; 5) preliminary and final feasibility studies; 6) business plan, including financials; 7) implementation plan with accountability. He finishes the book by cautioning the social entrepreneur against markets that move outside of his/her values envelope, customers that demand truly unreasonable changes in policy or program, chasing dollars instead of mission, and going for short-term returns instead of long-term gains.

If a step by step guide to social entrepreneurship or non-profit business/program development is what you are looking for, this book is a thorough resource. To the experienced programming or fundraising employee or volunteer, the book may seem like overkill. However, the book does provoke deeper analysis of motives and methods for anyone involved in non-profit social entrepreneurship. In all, this book is a good planning resource and guide that provides building blocks for expanding the capabilities and operations of a non-profit organization.

Called to Worship by Vernon M. Whaley

2009-09-25T16:20:00.003-04:00

Combining my explorations of Christianity with my love of reading, I have recently become a reviewer for Thomas Nelson Publishers. My first book, Called to Worship, was a powerful and informative exploration and explanation of worship in the scriptures, from Genesis through Revelation. Examples of appropriate and inappropriate (in God’s eyes) principles and practices of worship throughout history are discussed, with guidance on how to apply lessons learned to our own worship experience.

To be honest, I began this book with some trepidation. Was it going to tell me that everything I had been doing in worship was wrong? Would I be bored to tears reading the nuts and bolts of biblical examples of worship? Happily, neither one of these occurred. Whaley begins at the Creation account and shows us how it is God’s call to worship for us. Working through the account the author reveals that through Creation, God established precedent for building relationships with people and showing them how to worship Him (12). Further study of the biblical books delves into worship wars (Satan’s desire to corrupt God and man), worship and promise (God’s lessons on obedience and reward), and other examples of worship as seen throughout the bible.

This book was both informative and thought-provoking. The author’s chapter on Joshua pointed out that obedience is the groundwork for authentic worship. I took that a step forward in my own meditations to debate active obedience vs. apathy. Professing to worship while simply going through the motions doesn’t count! The book provides many other opportunities for legitimate self-questioning.

In conclusion, the author’s statement on page 298 sums up why we should consider worship as more than just going through the motions: “…Jesus Himself made it clear that worship was about more than rites…It was also about charity, integrity, acts of service, attitudes…” Called to Worship is a book worth reading for all Christians who desire background, rationale and guidance for beginning or strengthening their own worship lives.