{{Book Review}} Cassey Ho's Hot Body Year-Round: The POP Pilates Plan to Get Slim, Eat Clean, and Live Happy Through Every Season

This post has been moved to my new blog! You can find it here.

Cassey Ho, internationally renowned fitness instructor, is known for her irresistibly popular workout videos which have been shared millions of times online. She runs the #1 women's fitness channel on YouTube, Blogilates. Her unique format, POP Pilates© is a fusion of ab-chiseling, butt lifting, total body sculpting exercises that are performed using only your bodyweight. Cassey's personality is bubbly, inspiring, and infectious. But don't let the smile fool you - her workouts will leave you sweating and sore for days. By following Ho's super effective workout plans and clean-eating recipes, you will transform your body towards a stronger, sleeker, and happier version of you.
 
Hot Body Year Round is your ULTIMATE exercise and nutrition guide to living a fit, happy, and healthy life while sculpting your HOTTEST body.
 

{{Book Review}} Walking with God in the Season of Motherhood: An Eleven-Week Devotional Bible Study

Learn how God’s imprint on your heart can make a lasting impression on your children.

Being a mom usually means being busy. Really busy. Whether you’re zipping from your children’s piano lessons to their next ballgame or nursing a baby while comforting a toddler, life is brimming with activities.  Yet one encounter can help shape every moment: time in the Word with Jesus. In Walking with God in the Season of Motherhood, you’ll learn how to nourish your own heart, mind, and soul with the wisdom you need to become the mother you long to be.  
As you spend time with God through this eleven-week Bible study, you’ll gain life-shaping insights to help you…
·         Understand and pursue your purpose as a mother
·         Live out your true priorities
·         Entrust your child to God
·         Bear the fruit of the Spirit in your everyday interactions
·         Recover from Perfect Mom Syndrome (PMS)
Each week offers four days of study geared specifically to a mother’s concerns, with the Bible passages already printed out for your convenience. The fifth day is a warm-hearted devotional reading to help you reflect on and apply the truths you’ve learned. 
As your relationship with God deepens through prayer and studying His Word, you’ll discover how His imprint on your heart can make a lasting impression on your children.

*My Review*

There are many books out there about the motherhood, most of them focus on either being a mother or the child. This book however focuses on the Lord, encouraging women that the best they can be for themselves and their child(ren) is to walk closely with Jesus. This study is very firmly grounded in Scriptural truth and engages the reader with thoughtful questions that help the reader to meet with the Lord in the midst of a challenging season of life.

*Disclaimer*

I received this book free from bloggingforbooks.org in exchange for my honest review. I am not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are 100% my own. 

{{Book Review}} The Allergy Fighting Garden

The Groundbreaking Guide to Health-Conscious Gardening 

If you are one of the millions of people with allergies or asthma, this totally unique book shows you how to avoid plants that trigger allergies and to create a garden that will actually protect you by trapping pollen and cleaning the air around you. This revolutionary approach combines the best of horticulturist Thomas Ogren’s previous books—Allergy-Free Gardening and Safe Sex in the Garden—into a full-color guide, including hundreds of new and updated plant listings and photographs.

Ogren’s innovative system for combating allergens is based on the crucial matter of plant sex. By replacing troublesome male plants in your yard with pollen-blocking female “pollen screens,” allergy sufferers can reduce or eliminate their symptoms. More than 3,000 plant listings are included, accompanied by an easy-to-use allergy ranking scale of 1 to 10. With many new pollen-free plants to choose from, as well as clearly marked “worst offenders” to avoid, this is the ultimate resource for home gardeners and professionals alike who want to build healthy, safe, and beautiful gardens that everyone can enjoy.

*My Review*

I'm going to be 100% honest & say I didn't quite know what to expect when I started reading "The Allergy Fighting Garden" by Thomas Leo Ogren

I was surprised with the research and science Thomas put into this book! In his introduction, You will see where he says that he began this project because his wife has asthma and allergies so he tried to find books on landscaping his yard to help her and when he couldn't....He wrote his own.  Thomas also says in his introduction, when he re-landscaped his yard armed with this knowledge, his wife does indeed feel better!

There are technical terms and a bit about plant sex. If science really isn't your thing,you can also just thumb over this part.

One of the best parts of this book, would have to be "Part Two" which contains a rating of literally hundreds, if not thousands of plants on a scale that Ogren devised.

The scale is based on numerous factors about the pollen, the amount of time the plant is in bloom, whether the plant has a fragrance and whether there is sap that causes a rash. The scale goes from 1-10 and is called OPALS. It covers all types of plants from trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals, house plants, vegetables and fruits. 

I have allergies and have had them all my life. Some days the pollen gets so thick around me that I have to stay inside. I"m excited to try this the tips in this book and see if it indeed does help

*Disclaimer*

I received this book free from bloggingforbooks.com in exchange for my honest review. I am not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are 100% my own.

{{Book Review}} The Sweetapolita Bakebook

Paint, doodle, and sprinkle your way to stunning one-of-a-kind sweets. 
 
The world of Sweetapolita is sparkly and sprinkly and charming as can be, with 75 recipes for everything from pretty homemade cookies to decadent layer cakes. But what really sets these treats apart are interactive designs that let everyone in on the fun of decorating: Painted Mini Cakes are served with edible "paint" for guests to personalize at the table, the fondant-covered tiered Chalk-a-Lot cake is paired with homemade edible "chalk," and Rainbow Doodle cookies are made for kids to go to town on with edible markers. 
 
Rosie Alyea, the creator of the Sweetapolita blog, frolics in flour and frosting, and she loves to get her two young daughters involved, too. The pages of her debut book are full of playful ideas that will inspire creativity in bakers of all levels—including a recipe for making sprinkles at home and numerous ways to showcase them, such as the Sprinkle-Me-Silly Pizza with rainbow jimmies and nonpareils galore. 
 
With 75 full-color photographs of cookies, cakes, and more plus step-by-step technique tutorials, The Sweetapolita Bakebook will change the way bakers decorate, while entertaining every kid—and kid-at-heart.

*My Review*

I absolutely LOVE this book. Rosie is so talented and creative. When I saw this book available for review on bloggingforbooks.org I had to snag a request copy ASAP & I'm so glad that I did! I cannot wait to make her recipes, the book is bright & colorful, with thick glossy pages with pictures of all of her yummy goodies! Many of the recipes are the same as on her site, but in the book there are beautiful step by step pictures for basic techniques.

If you are like me and are addicted to having cookbooks on your bookshelf, then this book is DEF for you! You should get yourself a copy ASAP and get a few for those friends/loved ones in your life that love to bake as well!

You can find the book here on amazon! 

**About The Author**
ROSIE ALYEA trained in Cake & Confection Design at the Bonnie Gordon College of Confectionary Arts in Toronto. She established herself as a savvy entrepreneur with the creation of Cake Beauty, a popular dessert-themed line of natural bath and body products before going on to found Sweetapolita.com. She has been featured in TheGlobe and Mail, Reader's Digest, Martha Stewart Living online, Huffington Post,People.com, and The Kitchn.

*Disclaimer*
I received this book free from bloggingforbooks.org in exchange for my honest review. I am not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are 100% my own. 

{{Book Review}} Capture the Moment by Sarah Wilkerson, CEO, Clickin Moms

This modern guide to photography pairs big, bold images with short, focused tips for translating everyday life into stunning works of art. Featuring contributions by the members of Clickin Moms, the photography industry’s largest social network of female photographers, this guide captures the beauty of family life—whether it’s a child’s unfinished bowl of cereal or a sunlit trip to the lake. With tips progressing from elementary to advanced, this book is perfect for amateurs and professionals alike, covering equipment, composition, posing, low light, natural light, black and white, still life, and lifestyle photography. Assignments for experimenting with lighting and shooting locations round out the chapters, providing photographers with both the inspiration and skills they need to document those unforgettable, frame-worthy moments in time.

*My Review*
I absolutely love this book. It is the perfect book for any wanna-be photographer. We all know that we should follow the rules of basic photography, but there are times when we want tips to help set up the shot. This book is full of simple tips & there are a TON of GORGEOUS photos throughout the book.

This book is for every mom (or dad). the information is helpful,and easy to follow.

*Disclaimer*
I received this book free from bloggingforbooks.org in exchange for my honest opinion. I am not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are 100% my own.

{{Book Review}} John Shaw's Guide to Digital Nature Photography by John Shaw

Photography legend John Shaw returns with his much-anticipated guide to digital nature photography, complete with more than 250 extraordinarily beautiful photographs. 

For over four decades, John Shaw’s authentic voice and trusted advice has helped photographers achieve impressive shots in the great outdoors. In his first-ever book on digital photography, Shaw provides in-depth advice on everything from equipment and lenses to thorough coverage of digital topics including how to use the histogram. In addition, he offers inspirational and frank insight that goes far beyond the nuts and bolts of photography, explaining that successful photos come from having a vision, practicing, and then acquiring the equipment needed to accomplish the intention. Easily digestible and useful for every type of photographer, and complete with more than 250 jaw-dropping images, John Shaw’s Guide to Digital Nature Photography is the one book you’ll need to beautifully capture the world around you.

*My Review*

Every since I was little I have always loved photography. My grandma gave me an old(broken) polaroid instant camera. I'd make everyone pose and then draw little stick figures on papers and pretend that was my photos. lol

As i got older I was able to start getting real working cameras, & I had an obsession with clouds and water...actually anything nature. This book is absolutely amazing & has more than 250 beautiful photos. It has everything a beginner needs to know from exposure to composition.

I absolutely recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning more about photography. 

John Shaw is one of the world's leading nature photographers and the author of many enduring bestselling books. His photographs are frequently featured in National Wildlife, Outdoor Photographer, Natural History, Sierra, and Audubon magazines, as well as in calendars, books, and advertisements. He lives in Colorado Springs

*Disclaimer*
I received this book free from bloggingforbooks.org in exchange for my honest review. I am not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are 100% my own.

{{Book Review}} Salad Love

Discover 260 hearty, flavorful, and beautiful salads that can be prepared in a flash with little more than a knife and a cutting board.

Determined to eat more vegetables for lunch, David Bez embarked on a personal challenge to create one new salad every day using seasonal, healthy ingredients. In Salad Love, he shares his favorite recipes from his yearlong experience. 
Crunchy, savory, and incredibly satisfying, these salads go beyond your typical combination of lettuce, protein, and toppings to create vibrant, plant-based meals that offer something for every palate. In summer, try Oak-Smoked Cheddar, Peaches, and Blueberries; for fall, savor hearty Roast Chicken, Quinoa, Red Pepper, and Peanuts; in winter, fuel up with Ham, Roasted Potatoes, Carrots, and Dried Cranberries; and in spring, enjoy Egg, Asparagus, Croutons, and Pecorino. 

Complemented by 280 full-color photographs, Salad Love invites to you explore inspired salads any day of the year. 

*My Review*

I absolutely love this book! the pictures in this book are beautiful, taken just before the salad is devoured. I agree with his statement that eating healthy should not be painful but a treat to ourselves, this book is amazing. It has glossy, sturdier pages, salads specific to seasons, basic directions for preparation of a salad, easy to add protein ingredients. 

Salad Love hit the nail on the head for me. Though this book may not necessarily ne for everyone, if you love salads I encourage you to take a look at this book!

*Disclaimer*

I recieved this book free from bloggingforbooks.org in exchange for my honest opinion. I am not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are 100% my own.

{{Book Review}} meQuilibrium

Stressed out and overwhelmed? In today's age, who isn't? MEQUILIBRIUM: 14 Days to Cooler, Calmer, and Happier (on sale February 3, 2015) by wellness experts Jan Bruce, Andrew Shatté, Ph.D, and Adam Perlman, MD (foreword by Mark Hyman, M.D.) presents a simple and clinically-proven plan for combating stress by learning to shift our response to it. Combining the systemic, whole-person approach of integrative medicine with the science of resilience and the tenets of positive psychology, Bruce, Shatté, and Perlman have created a personal operating system that attacks stress at its roots.

While the book will guide readers through a full two week plan to learn how to attack stress at every level, there are also a ton of standalone exercises and actionable tips:

• How to eat to beat stress
• How to stress less by doing more
• How to sleep smarter for stress relief
• The 7 most common thinking traps that lead to stress and how to avoid them
• 3 tips for mastering instant calm

meQuilibrium changes how we think about stress. And at the end of just two weeks, readers will find that state of bliss, enjoyment, balance, and vitality they've been searching for.

*My Review*

I'm not stranger to stress, that's for sure. When I saw this book was available I quickly grabbed it to review. It is such a helpful book, with such an easy program to follow. It has helped me think about how to react to things. I Def recommended this book for everyone who feels stressed & overwhelmed.

*Disclaimer*

I received this book free from bloggingforbooks.org in exchange for my honest review. I am not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are 100% my own. 

{{Book Review}} Q&A a Day: 5 Year Journal

Do you ever stop to wonder how you got where you are? The Q&A a Day Journal shows you what was going through your head each day—for five years of your life. Simply turn to today’s date, answer the question at the top of the page, and when you finish the journal, start over. As you return to the daily questions again over the years, you’ll notice how your answers change (or don’t)! With questions that are sometimes provocative (“On a scale of one to ten, how happy are you?”), occasionally quirky (“What can you smell right now?”), and inevitably interesting (“If you could travel anywhere tomorrow, where would you go?”), this classically designed journal—embellished with beautiful details—is the perfect gift for anyone embarking on a new phase of life.

*My Review*

This little book is so adorable! it's only 6.2 inches tall, so it's perfect to put on a nightstand or little coffee table. I requested this book for my 11 year old daughter. She loves to write, and thought this would be perfect for her. I can't wait to see how her answers change over the next five years as she grows. 

I like that it's not just a journal/diary, it actually makes you think with a question. Perfect for her. 

*Disclaimer*

I received this book free from BloggingForBooks.Org in exchange for my honest opinion. I am not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are 100% my own.