My Pictures are Amazing!

I was always praised for my pictures.  Even on film I seemed to have a knack for taking good photos.  I was very apprehensive to switch to digital... I really loved the anticipation of taking my roll of pictures to the drug store and the sweet relief that they turned out.  


But I did it... my husband even took me to the store one day and let me pick out my dream camera.  My pictures got even better.  I was able to look at them and retake if necessary.  After getting this book my pictures have changed dramatically!  I didn't really know how to use my DSLR camera to the best of its features.  She lists step by step how to use it and how to step it up to maximize my investment.  I was able to snap a great photo of my boys for my husband.  I love how simple Me Ra Koh directs you to utilize your camera and get the best images.  I look forward to getting my Christmas card photos started


If you are looking for a simple way to expand your knowledge of taking the best possible photos then this is the book for you!!


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

A New Way to Love My Kids

When my first son was born I had a ton of ideas of how I was going to parent him.  I made a mental list all the years of living with my parents of what not to do.  We all did.  We would stomp away from our parents saying when I have kids I will let them... fill in the blank!

But I was amazed at how quickly that list went out the door.

I was really excited to open this book and find a new way to handle my children.  Once I read I noticed how I would react differently to them.  I noticed how differently they reacted to me.  These children were beginning to understand me and I, them.  I loved how Milan and Kay laid each idea out and let you take the wheel.  I really love how I was able to work through my long list of things I would never do and actually understand why my parents did those things.

There are few books that I would purchase and give as gifts and this is one of them.  I think that most parents want to find a way to relate and love their children deeper... and this is the answer.

** I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review.

Break-through Understanding!

Most of the books I tend to like are fiction.  Something that can take me away from my everyday life.  But this book dragged my into my life and helped me confront some of things I never understood (not that I completely understand them now).  But this book helped me dive into the minds of my husband and my young sons.

Being a woman, I was drawn to this book.  I wondered what was so secret or special that this book needed to be titled, For Women Only.  I quickly found out why.  I also discovered so many answers as to why my husband acted the way he did during our conversations.  I always wondered by I acted a certain way as well.

This book does a great job of helping you to slowly integrate different techniques in building up the man in your life as well as how to help them give you what you need.  I loved how this book took me step by step through the process.  I would read one chapter and try to integrate the tools I learned into my life.

I have begun to see changes in the men in my life and how we interact.  Even though my sons are young I can still see their "maleness" coming though in how we communicate.  I am so thankful to have read this book.  I am starting, and I stress starting, to understand how their minds work!

One of My Favorite Authors!

I love to read a wide variety of authors but each time that I read anything by Nick Vujicic I am reminded that he is my favorite.  I previously read "Life without Limits" and instantly fell in love with him and his story.  And after reading Limitless I am even more convinced of the plan that God has for me.

I think that many of us question why we are the way we are.  If you walk in faith you know that God created you exactly the way he wanted.  But for many of us that reason makes us crazy.  We often ask why are features are the way they are, why we aren't taller or blessed with great athletic abilities... and so on.  But after reading anything, and especially this devotional but Nick, you are reminded that even a man with no arms or legs but created for a purpose.

I love this book because it shows you each time you read it that God's love for you is beyond your physical attributes.  God loves us for what is on the inside as well as what we do with our love for Him.  Nick challenges us to look beyond the obviousness of our circumstances and see God in our lives.

I highly recommend anything written by Nick and encourage everyone to read his books.  If you know anyone struggling with their faith or in their life in any way, then this is a great book for them!

One Month to a Better Life

The reason why I chose this book was to see if I could create a better relationship between my husband and I.  Boy was I wrong.  Not only did it strengthen our relationship it strengthened ALL my relationships.  This book opened my eyes to the areas where I could improve and create a more meaningful relationship.

I loved the step by step process that this book lead me on.  Not only was I able to implement all the features like being in the moment and letting go of the past but I was able to do it easily.  The fact that this book is set up to work one week at a time was fantastic.  Having a busy schedule meant that I needed to focus on one area at a time.

My life before this book was great.  I had a great relationship with my husband and my children.  But now my relationship with them is so much richer than before.  I don't let the parts of life that don't matter interfere with the parts that do.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking to improve themselves and their emotion well-being!

Vegan in 2013!

It all started with Food Inc. and my innocent notion of wanting to know where my food came from.  Well it is now 4 years later, a ton of documentaries and not a whole lot of change (on my part)!  I continually think I can change my diet and my families diet so easily and it has yet to happen.

Yes, we no longer eat fast food.  In fact my son thinks McDonald's is called Old McDonald's and has only eaten there about 2 times (thanks to his grandmas!).  We rarely eat outside of the house and if we do it is generally sushi or Submarina.  We purchased a juicer after watching Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead and have done countless juice fasts but we are still fighting to get to our goal.

But this time I think I have found my motivation!  I got my blood test results back from the doctor.  Turns out I have high cholesterol.  What!?!  I am a healthy woman in my early 30's, not overweight and have a healthy diet.  How can this be?  So it is with new determination that I start my new goal... I have said it countless times before but I am changing my diet to a plant based diet (in other words... VEGAN!).

It seems like a scary notion... no meat, no eggs and NO CHEESE.  I might be okay with the first two but no cheese, UGH!  So I am going to work into it gradually.  Each month I am slowly going to eliminate one animal product from my diet and end the year as a vegan.

My original goal was to post each week on my progress but it seems that life has gotten in the way.  Here it is the middle of February and I haven't even posted this... So keep an eye out for my progress so far!

The relationship is the knowledge!

When I first picked up this book I wanted to use it as a tool to bring me closer to Christ.  And that is exactly what I got.

I am new in my faith and am eager to get my hands on everything that I can to help me learn more about the bible.  I am taking classes on the bible to get a better understanding.  But I seem to be getting a wealth of knowledge but am no closer to my God then I was when I started.

This is just the book I needed.  My church teaches that we need to be more Christ-like but what does that mean.  Did Christ have an overwhelming understanding of the events of the Bible?  Did he know all the history behind it before and after his death?  Or did he simply understand His Father and preach the truth?

This book helped me to understand that my relationship with God is not just about facts and understanding His word but rather understanding myself in order to grow with Him.  This book guided me in how I interact with my fellow believers and non-believers as a way to grow in my relationship.  While quoting scripture is good it is not everything.

My 5 year old sprain his ankle at the playground and he immediately (after he was done crying) began to pray.  As he took his first steps on that ankle he shouted that the trusted in God.  He knew exactly where to place his faith and where to look for guidance.  This book taught me that I didn't exactly need to know the Bible but more importantly I need to know my God and trust Him.