Chicken Soup for the Mother's Soul: Review

About The Book

We can all remember a time when we were young and under-the-weather, and Mom soothed and nurtured us back to health with her magical chicken soup elixir. Now we can revisit those cherished moments with a delightful batch of stories for and about mothers. Celebrity contributions include Barbara Bush, Reba McEntire, Erma Bombeck and Montel Williams.

Chicken Soup for the Mother's Soul

Book Content

1. On Love
2. A Mother's Guiding Hand
3. A Mother's Courage
4. On Motherhood
5. Becoming A Mother
6. Special Moments
7. Miracles
8. Letting Go
9. A Grandmother's Love
10. Thank you, Mom

   About The Author

Jack Canfield is co-creator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul® series, which includes forty New York Times bestsellers, and coauthor of The Success Principles: How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be. He is a leader in the field of personal transformation and peak performance and is currently CEO of the Canfield Training Group and Founder and Chairman of the Board of The Foundation for Self-Esteem. An internationally renowned corporate trainer and keynote speaker, he lives in Santa Barbara, California.

 Mark Victor Hansen is a co-founder of Chicken Soup for the Soul.

Book Review

Inside the 300+ pages are heart-warming stories about the precious relationship between a mother and child. So many wonderful motherly shared memories will encourage you to keep-a-going if you are a new mother. Being a mother and grandmother, as you read through the powerful stories I think you will find great inspiration for mentoring a mother who is overwhelmed and struggling with her new responsibilities. One of my favorite comic illustrations from the book reads: "Remember! Hugs and kisses come before 'What did you bring us, Grandma?" I especially love Reba's story about her mother and grandmother's encouragement. I think you will, too. I like this one. Good for gift-giving.

5/5 stars.

Chicken Soup for the Mother's Soul

Lady D

 “You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me." C. S. Lewis

8 Tips Anyone Can Do (Clean)

"KonMari" method is the Japanese art of decluttering and organizing. Get the book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo. You will not be disappointed but extremely motivated!

So, I watched the video on YouTube about the KonMari Method and have gleaned a few points I'd like to share with you. 

1. Tidy in one shot, as quickly and completely as possible.
2. Sort by category, not by location.
3. Selection criteria: DOES IT SPARK JOY? (Make sure you touch it. Does it give you inspiration? How does it make my body feel?
4. Order of tidying: Clothes / Books / Documents / Miscellaneous Items / Momentos
5. Prioritize your own items first.
6. Am I happy with that amount of stuff?
7. Examine your life and how you want to live. How do I want to spend the rest of my life?
8. Find inspiration with the items you keep.

Another great TedTalk video that I watched, Is Your Stuff Stopping You? really motivated me to get organized! Thanks, Elizabeth Dulemba! Here are a few vital points covered in the 17 min. clip:

• Stuff makes us feel safe.
• Stuff gives us the illusion of permanence.
• The marketing machine tells us we should.
• Be a conscious keeper.
• Get rid of it.
• The stuff we keep affects how we live our lives.

Further Reading (Children's Books)

How Do Dinosaurs Clean Their Rooms?

Colonel Trash Truck

Happy Reading!

Lady D

 “You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me." C. S. Lewis

Review: Jesus Loves Me! A Sing-Along Book

Book Description

Read or sing along with your little one’s favorite song! Jesus Loves Me pairs sweet, snuggly illustrations with the text of the familiar children’s song. This newest board book in the beloved Sing-Along series also features a padded cover perfect for little hands and is sure to delight children and parents alike.


Jesus loves me!
This I know,
for the Bible tells me so.

Little ones to Him belong;
they are weak,
but He is strong.

Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so.

My Thoughts

This charming padded board book is just the right size for little ones to hold, ages 4-8. The illustrations of beautiful countryside with picnic tables all around and a warm campfire site will sure to draw you in. Plus, children will engage with so many adorable animals like a fox, bear, raccoon, owl, and so much more. The lyrics to a very popular song, along with happy animals playing musical instruments such as the guitar, horn, maracas, drum, and more are sure to invite kids to sing along in the celebration. I think the author has introduced the children to a peaceful assurance that they are safe and truly loved by Jesus always simply because by faith the Bible tells us so. I especially love the melody line to the song on the end cover. My grandkids love this one!

4/5 stars!

 

Jesus Loves Me! A Sing-Along Book

I received this book for my honest opinion from BookLook Bloggers.

Happy Reading!

Lady D

 “You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me." C. S. Lewis

Book Review: Bronze and Sunflower

I was so excited to learn that I had won Bronze and Sunflower by Cao Wenxuan from LibraryThing!

About The Book

Sunflower is an only child, and when her father is sent to the rural Cadre School, she has to go with him. Her father is an established artist from the city and finds his new life of physical labor and endless meetings exhausting. Sunflower is lonely and longs to play with the local children in the village across the river. When her father tragically drowns, Sunflower is taken in by the poorest family in the village, a family with a son named Bronze. Until Sunflower joins his family, Bronze was an only child, too, and hasn’t spoken a word since he was traumatized by a terrible fire. Bronze and Sunflower become inseparable, understanding each other as only the closest friends can. Translated from Mandarin, the story meanders gracefully through the challenges that face the family, creating a timeless story of the trials of poverty and the power of love and loyalty to overcome hardship.

Bronze and Sunflower

Book Review

Throughout the 400 pages, words paint pictures of little wooden boats, beautiful sunflower fields, paper lanterns, and so much more. You will meet Bronze, an only child who is mute, along with his mother and father and grandmother. Next, you will be introduced to good little Sunflower who has lost her father in a storm and soon is adopted by Bronze's family who is so poor but extremely kind. This lovely story is sure to warm your heart as you see a special close-knit family endure hardships with locust invasions, sacrifice, and hard work with making woven-reed shoes to sell. I especially like how Sunflower teaches her brother the beautiful world of characters and how Bronze makes a wonderful ice necklace for Sunflower. Discover how life in China can be delicate, fragile and fascinating! I love the book very much. It made me cry... Worth reading!

This is the best Chinese Middle-Grade novel!

5/5 stars! Highly recommend!

Bronze and Sunflower

About The Author

Cao Wenxuan is one of China's most esteemed children's book writers and has won several of China's
important awards for children's literature. Bronze and Sunflower is his first full-length book to be translated into French, Russian, Japanese, and Korean.

Helen Wang studied Chinese at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London and is now
a curator at the British Museum. She has been a translator for more than twenty years. She
lives in London.

Get this beautiful hardcover book, Bronze and Sunflower!

Happy Reading!

Lady D


 “You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me." C. S. Lewis

P.S. I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

Top Ten Mrs. Fields Cookies

I am delighted to share with my readers a wonderful cookie book with 100 recipes collected by Debbi Fields. My 4 grandsons think the cookies we've made so far are amazing!! My sweet granddaughter says that this is the best cookie book ever!! I think this year I pass the cookie cookbook along to my daughter for her and my granddaughter to enjoy. In addition, a couple of handmade aprons will make a nice gift!


Book Review

This paperback book is perfect for those who bake only occasionally and for those who bake all the time. Debbi Fields shares her passion for delicious tasting cookie recipes that don't take lots of prep time. As you probably know, Debbi's passion turned into an international business and her stores are everywhere. Now you can enjoy 100 recipes from Fancy Cookies, Drop Cookies Filled Cookies, Bar Cookies, and Special Treats. Every recipe has a color photo and the directions are easy to follow. My family loves the cookies!

5/5 stars!

Mrs. Fields Cookie Book

My family created this list of their favorite yummy cookies from this great paperback book in our home library.

Top Ten Favorite Cookies

1.  Blue-Ribbon Chocolate Chip Cookies
2. Soft and Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies
3. Oatmeal Raisin Chews
4. Lemon Poppy Seed Cookies
5. Pecan Supremes
6. Cashew and Coconut Cookies
7. Russian Tea Cakes
8. Gingerbread Men
9. Christmas Sugar Cookies
10. Gingersnaps

Mrs. Fields Cookie Book

Gingersnaps

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
ur mixture
In a medium bowl combine flour, soda, salt, ground ginger, crystallized ginger, allspice, and pepper. Mix well with a wire whisk. Set aside.

In a large bowl, mix sugar and butter with an electric mixer set at medium speed. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add egg and molasses, and beat at medium speed until light and fluffy.

Add the flour mixture and mix at low speed just until combined. Do not overmix. Chill the dough in the refrigerator for 1 hour - the dough will be less sticky and easier to handle.

Form dough into balls 1 inch in diameter. Place onto ungreased cookie sheets, 1 1/2 inches apart. Bake 24-25 minutes. Use a spatula to immediately transfer cookies to a cool, flat surface.

Mrs. Fields Cookie Book


Happy Reading!

-- Lady D

“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me." C. S. Lewis