Tag: Self-Help

Book Review · Books

Day By Day: A Guided Journal by Jess Conte

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A new year means you just might be hunting for a new journal. Some journals offer plain blank pages to write whatever you want, but this upcoming journal by Jess Conte offers something better. She provides a wide range of different writing prompts from writing about your childhood, to filling out a never have I ever page, to narrowing down which foods you can’t stand, etc. Sprinkled throughout this journal Jess also offers both heart and health check in pages to gauge how you might be holding up on a particular day.

This journal I feel gives a wide range of different writing prompts. Some were fairly traditional and others were a nice surprise. The one thing that was missing, in my opinion, is more Christian faith content. Jess does have micro spots of a sentence here or there, but there are no Bible verses, prayers, etc. Maybe this journal is more for a general audience rather than a faith based one. Either audience I think would appreciate this journal. I believe Jess captures a writer’s full portrait so to speak with covering so many different topics within this journal.

I received my complimentary copy of Day By Day: A Guided Journal by Jess Conte from EllieClaire.com, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc to provide my honest feedback. Thoughts expressed are my own and of my own choice. Keep an eye out for this pretty soon to be released journal.

Book Review · Books

The 50/50 Friendship Flow by Shari Leid

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Shari went on a year long journey of asking 50 of her friends to meet her for a friendship date so that she could share with them how they’ve impacted, inspired and changed her life. Each chapter is of each friend she met with whether it was for bunch, lunch, dinner or drinks. Most of the chapters showcase a picture of that particular friend at the beginning of the chapter. One theme I noticed is that each of Shari’s friends glow through their photos.

This idea intrigues me. It’s a neat way to show your friends how much they mean to you and how they have impacted your life. How often do we truly take the time to express how much a friendship means to us?

Do you have 50, 25, 15, 10, or 5 friends that you would ask to do this flow challenge with? I know for me personally I have a fairly decent number of friends. Who would you pick?

For 2023 I want to do this friendship flow challenge. All I have to do is choose how many friends I want to include and start scheduling my virtual friendship dates.

I received my complimentary copy of The 50/50 Friendship Flow by Shari Leid from Capucia, LLC, care of Pacific And Court in exchange for my honest review. Views expressed are my own and of my own will. This book would make a wonderful gift to give a Bestie, a sibling, a parent or family member. Let’s keep the friendship flow going.

Book Review · Books

Self Love Poetry

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I’ll confess the title had me thinking something vastly different. This collection of poetry is stunning, thought provoking, moving, shocking and most of all POWERFUL. I almost finished it in one day. I couldn’t stop reading. Each poem spoke to me. I wanted to pause, to highlight and take notes. I’ll have to wait till it’s released, but it’s already sitting on my Amazon wishlist. Yes, it was that great of a read.

Poetry is primal and personal. It digs into your soul like it’s a pumpkin and your guts get squeezed out, but underneath all that orange slime are seeds that take root. These seeds water your soul with hope, bravery, compassion, humor, love, acceptance and joy. This poetry won’t leave you empty. It will inspire to keep going.

I received my complimentary digital copy of Self Love Poetry by Melody Godfred from Andrew McMeel Publishing, care of NetGalley. The views are mine and of my own choice. If you enjoy poetry I highly recommend this book of poetry. I think it will make a great gift this upcoming fall.

Book Review · Books

How To Age Without Getting Old

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I’m generally in the middle age era of my life and it feels like it arrived in the blink of an eye. One moment I was in grade school, next dealing with the dramas of high and next thing I know I’m feeling old. Funny thing is I don’t look my age thanks to not wearing much makeup and not being a fan of sunbathing. Needless to say reading a book about aging without getting old sounds just right for me.

In Joyce Meyer’s newest upcoming book she delves into the topic of aging and the ways in which she’s come to terms with getting older. She provides stories from her own life and offers Biblical encouragement. At the end of each chapter is a quote by an anonymous person on wisdom they want to offer.

I may be considered too young for this particular title, but actually I think I’m just right for it, or gasp a little behind on needing it. This book makes you think over your life and the choices you’ve made and are making. This book helps encourage me to want to live a long life. That’s why I love talking with elderly people. They offer wisdom from living a long full life.

I received my complimentary copy of How To Age Without Getting Old by Joyce Meyer from Faith Words. The views are my own and my choice. If you are a fan of Joyce Meyer or are just hearing about her I highly recommend this little volume.

Books

The Confident Woman Journal

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Who doesn’t love a beautiful journal? I sure do and am a sucker for journals from Tuesday Morning or Ross. When I got asked if I’d like to review a journal and Joyce Meyer was involved I couldn’t say, “Yes, please, ” fast enough. This journal has pretty colored pages with blues, greens and pinks. Joyce Meyer imparts different messages on each page; topics ranging from faith, fear, confidence, trust, the Holy Spirit and Christ.

I think this journal would make a wonderful prayer journal, to write out your prayers to God. It’s a slim volume, so you don’t have to feel intimidated by it being too thick.

I received this complimentary journal from Faith Words. The views expressed are mine and my choice. Be sure to grab a copy this spring. This journal would make a lovely Easter or birthday gift for a friend, mother, sister, aunt, grandmother, etc.

Book Review · Books

The Grown Woman’s Guide To Online Dating

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Dating in this day and age is plain weird. If you are a Christian woman wading through the different dating apps out there, trying to figure out how do they work, are there any good men left, then this short book may be just right for you. If you aren’t straight, then this book isn’t written for you in mind, but the different nuggets within this book’s pages just may help you as well (just substitute gender, etc.).

The author goes through the joys, pitfalls and lessons she’s learned through online dating. Each section tackles a different topic. If you aren’t sure how to compose a profile, then Miss Starbuck will give you examples and also, provide examples of things not to put in your profile. She does interject some faith points throughout her book and quotes by different people. The author also, tackles ways to detect fake profiles and how to be savvy with friend zoning dates that don’t make the potential forever cut.

I was expecting this book to be more heavy on the faith aspect, but honestly it was more faith light. One of the quotes given at the start of a chapter was by Marianne Williamson, which surprised me since she promotes A Course In Miracles. But I know a lot of believers are more progressive than traditional. I can relate to that.

I received my complimentary copy of The Grown Woman’s Guide To Online Dating by Margot Starbuck from Thomas Nelson, care of TLC Book Tours. The views are mine and my own choice.

Book Review · Books

How Do I Feel?

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For little kids emotions can be overwhelming and seem to appear left and right, making you feel like you are on a roller coaster. This little picture book talks briefly about the range of emotions you might have: happy, sad, angry or proud. It would be a nice beginner book for a small child.

The drawings in this children’s book are adorable, simple, colorful and expressive. I think this book would make a great addition to your child’s book collection. I received a complimentary digital copy of How Do I Feel from DK Children’s Books from NetGalley. The views are mine and of my own choice.

Book Review · Books

I Feel Happy

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Who can’t help, but smile seeing a sun with a big grin on its cartoon face? This delightful children’s book on the subject of being happy is too, sweet not to share with your child, niece, nephew or grandchild. I like the optimism of this cute picture book. Many different things can make us happy, but even when there isn’t we can rest assured something else will pop up in our life to make us happy.

The drawings in this children’s book are adorable, simple, colorful and expressive. I think this book would make a great addition to your child’s book collection. I received a complimentary digital copy of I Feel Happy from DK Children’s Books from NetGalley. The views are mine and of my own choice.

Book Review · Books

I Feel Angry

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Does your child struggle with anger? Does your child have a temper? This little picture book of a fireball learning about anger is just the book you need. This short book explains how anger can be positive, but also, a negative emotion if used for the wrong reasons. I think the author shows some great examples of how our body responds to an emotion like anger. I thought I liked the Star in this DK Children’s Book series, but the little fireball takes the cake.

The drawings in this children’s book are adorable, simple, colorful and expressive. I think this book would make a great addition to your child’s book collection. I received a complimentary digital copy of I Feel Angry from DK Children’s Books from NetGalley. The views are mine and of my own choice.

Book Review · Books

I Feel Proud

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Being proud is an emotion that gets a bad rep. This little children’s book by DK is a short overview of what pride is when it’s used in a positive way and what it can be when used in a negative way. The little star character is cute and the examples of the forms of pride are varied. If you need an easy to understand book for your child this would make a great choice.

The drawings in this children’s book are adorable, simple, colorful and expressive. I think this book would make a great addition to your child’s book collection. I received a complimentary digital copy of I Feel Proud from DK Children’s Books from NetGalley. The views are mine and of my own choice.