Category Archives: Books

Whipped Coloring Book Review

Whipped: A Delectable Adult Coloring Book Review and Giveaway

Whipped by Blue Star PublishingIt is no secret that this is a sweet house – and at times a homemade sweet house. I love to bake and I dream of the day that I can decorate as wonderful as I see on Food Network. The intricacy of the cupcakes and cakes are nothing short of amazing and gorgeous!

Since I am unable to re-create these creations in my edible items, I like to express my creativity on paper. The best way to do this and is by coloring, and when I can color sweet treats it is even better. I was excited when I received the Whipped: A Delectable Adult Coloring Book  by Rudy Fig, because it lets me create the combinations I am unable to in reality.

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Daily Zen Doodles Review

Daily Zen doodles – 365 Tangle Creations for Inspiration, Relaxation and Mindfulness Review and Giveaway

Daily Zen DoodlesAs I have gotten older I have discovered that my brain does not shut off, despite my best efforts. I find that once my head hits the pillow that is when i get my greatest ideas. I mean, from to-do lists to posts that I have to write, the cure for writers block is to put my head on a pillow.

I try to categorize everything in my head, and I try to think of ways to shut my brain down but sadly I am less than successful. When all else fails hot tea can sometimes work (with a ton of melted honey).

It goes without saying that when I received for review and giveaway a copy of Daily Zen Doodles: 365 Tangle Doodles for Inspiration, Relaxation and Mindfulness by Meera Lee Patel, I was reminded of the gentle art of relaxation. More importantly, I thought that this might be this thing to quiet down that constant night chatter in my head.

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Adult Coloring Books Review

Adult Coloring Books: The Ultimate 7-in-1 Collection Review and Giveaway

The Ultimate 7-in-1 CollectionI have a confession – I love a new coloring book. There is something special about cracking open the first page of a coloring book, and perusing through the pictures. I like to imagine the colors I plan to use on each picture to help me make my decision of what I will be coloring. Sometimes I can get lost in the imagery and color.

There is also something else special about coloring and that is when you crack open a new box of crayons. The color and the smell of the wax fills your mind with the possibility of color and combination. The tips and the crayons new and full of options.

When you combine these two factors, what results is an experience of imagination and color combinations. I was thrilled when I received the Adult Coloring Books: The Ultimate 7-in1 Collection because it so happens I have a new crayon box to break in.

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Coloring Animal Mandalas Review

Coloring Animal Mandalas Review and Giveaway

Coloring Animal Mandalas Coloring BookI live near two world famous zoo’s and the diversity and the breadth of animals contained in those gates astound me. The animal that fascinates me more than the others are the lions. The lions are tall, strong, majestic and mostly a mystery. The house cat is a domesticated version of the lion and they are equally mysterious.

I love to get lost in the thought of animals, and I imagine what animals combined to create the colors of many of the animals in our world. I like to imagine the colors, and the combinations and create an animals coloring from my imagination.

I have reviewed the newer editions in the coloring book collection of Wendy Piersall and so it is nice to see where it began. The book entitled Coloring Animal Mandalas by Wendy Piersall takes the combination of animals and mandalas and makes them into one magical image!

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Coloring Flower Mandalas Review

Coloring Flower Mandalas: 30 Hand-Drawn Designs for Mindful Relaxation Review and Giveaway

Coloring Flower MandalasGrowing up in California I have been lucky enough to have sun and flowers around me nearly year round. I live close to a flower field, and lucky for us, it is on our regular drive most days. When the flowers are in bloom it is a beautiful and breath-taking and a miracle of nature. The colors range from reds, to oranges, blues, purples and my favorite – the yellows. I will admit that the flowers do get my attention and sometimes can lose me in thought.

With the growing trend of adult coloring books I love to see a flower and mandalas themed book. The book entitled Coloring Flower Mandalas: 30 Hand-Drawn Designs for Mindful Relaxation by Wendy Piersall takes the combination of flowers and mandalas and makes them one gorgeous image!

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Homemade Bath Bombs, Salts & Scrubs Review

Homemade Bath Bombs, Salts & Scrubs: 300 Natural Recipes for Luxurious Soaks Review and Giveaway

Homemade Bath BombsAbout 4 years ago Jason and I bought our first home! We live in what we call our “shrinky dink” house – which is a quite appropriate. The reason for the name is imagine a house with an upper deck and a big front porch and all the indoor living areas as per typical of a house. Now imagine shrinking the house into a quarter of its intended size and you have our home.

We have all the modern conveniences, short of a bathtub. I never imagined I would miss the bathtub as much as I do, but honestly it is missed deeply. Since I lost that one luxury of life, I now spoil my friends that do have a bathtub with assorted bath bombs and soaks.

I have wanted to find a master book that has natural remedies and natural scents to cure the ails of getting older. When I received Homemade Bath Bombs, Salts & Scrubs: 300 Natural Recipes for Luxurious Soaks by Kate Bello I was excited.

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Adult Coloring Book: Stress Relieving Cats Review

Adult Coloring Book: Stress Relieving Cats Review and Giveaway

Stress Relieving CatsOften times when I am writing I hit a block – this can come suddenly and despite my best efforts becomes an immovable block. The one thing that tends to assist in removing the block are my cats and their rhythmic purring. I can place them on my lap and just listening to them purr is the antidote to writer’s block.

There is a calm and peace when a cat purrs and the most amazing part is that scientists are not even really sure where the purr comes from and why. I have my theory – I think when my Maggee or Murfee are really happy they like to express it to their humans and this is an automatic happiness reaction.

The one thing that can not be denied is that there is little as calming as a cat purring in your lap. If I was to think of one thing that is also relaxing, I would have to say coloring cats. Since my love of cats is universal, I was thrilled when I received the Adult Coloring Book: Stress Relieving Cats.

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Coloring Dream Mandalas Review

Coloring Dream Mandalas: 30 Hand-Drawn Designs for Mindful Relaxation Review and Giveaway

Coloring Dream MandalasI am a lucky girl, I generally remember my dreams. I tend to have vivid dreams and I remember them in the morning. I see my dreams as a peek into my subconscious mind, and I am fascinated by my dreams. Some days I am disturbed by my dreams and someday’s I wonder what depths of my subconscious they come from.

With the growing trend of adult coloring books I love to see a dream themed book. The book entitled Coloring Dream Mandalas: 30 Hand-Drawn Designs for Mindful Relaxation by Wendy Piersall takes our dreams and makes them into a dreamy hand-drawn image.

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The Uncolored Book for You to Color Review

The Uncolored Book for You to Color – Review and Giveaway

The Uncolored BookI am a proud child of the 1980’s and I am a fan of everything 90’s. I love this two decade block and often reminisce about my years spend in that decade. I am reminded of a phase I went through where I was under the false impression I was a skateboarder. My father, being the supportive parent he always was, got me a cost-effective, yet stable skateboard to live out my delusions/dreams. I would walk to the end of the street, put the board down, and then proceed to sit on the board for the ride down the hill never having the courage to stand-up.

Our driveway had a steep incline and I was always scared the bump from driveway to street would kill me, I mean every time I tried it I would fall. I never progressed past the point of knee boarding and sitting, but I always appreciated the talent of those that were able to stand. I saw skateboarding as part creativity and part talent, which I had but not in the sports.

I love that when you get a coloring book you are getting to see a piece of the artist’s creativity and talent. When I recently had the opportunity to review The Uncolored Book for You to Color by Matt French, I knew this would be a fun journey because it is a combination of the creativity and talent I so crave as a crafter.

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Can Holding In A Fart Kill You? Review

Can Holding in a Fart Kill You? Over 150 Curious Questions & Intriguing Answers Review and Giveaway

Can Holding in a Fart Kill You

When I was young I would spend my Saturdays with my father. The normal routine was that we would wake-up, go to breakfast and then run errands together. Not only did I love spending the time with my father, I got to learn to question things.

As my father and I would drive throughout San Diego, I had a book that had questions and answers in it. I would always bring a book with me, and I would query my father if he knew “Why a chicken lays eggs?” or “What makes electric electrical?”. I loved this time with my father and those simple days put a sense of questioning in me that I still have to this day.

To this day, when ever I see a curious question and answer book I am compelled to purchase it. It goes without saying that when I received for review and giveaway a copy of Can Holding in a Fart Kill You? Over 150 Curious Questions and Intriguing Answers by Andrew Thompson I remembered those days with my father.

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