2015 Best Books

  

  

  

 

   

 

  

  

 

 

 

 

 

I started out with around the top 23 books of the year but decided to narrow it down a tad. So top fifteen favorite books for 2015! It was a good book year for me. : )

Design the Life You Love Review

 About the Book 

A joyful, inspirational guide to building the life you've always dreamed of, using the principles and creative process of an award-winning product designer.     Life, just like a design problem, is full of constraints--time, money, age, location, and circumstances. You cannot have everything, and if you want more out of it, you have to be creative about how to make what you need and what you want co-exist. This requires design thinking. Design the Life You Love uses a simple but proven creative thinking and design process to give ordinary people new tools to think about life differently, and also includes fascinating examples from the world of art and design that relate to each step of the process, plus guided creative exercises. Turn constraints into opportunities with optimism and holistic thinking using four simple steps: taking the whole apart, forming a new point of view, putting it back together, and giving it form. The striking design and Ayse Birsel's hand-drawn art and type set off her brilliant, life-changing design process, empowering and inspiring readers to create a better life. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts

I had no idea what to expect with this book but it reminded me a bit of the Wreck It Journal, this is just like a notebook type. The first part of the book is explaining the book, where the idea for the book came from, and what the author did by creating the book. This takes up a huge chunk of the book and was really not very interesting for me. The last part of the book is pages in which is examine your life in a certain way, you take it apart, analyze it, then basically think creatively to make your life wonderful. I think this is a good book if you want to look at your current life and need to put it down on paper. What your goals are and your focus. As for the creative process this is not the book for me. I didn't learn anything new and you could do this in a blank notebook. But if you want a guided step by step then this is the book for you.

Three stars. 

"I received this book from Blogging for Books for free in exchange for an honest review."

 

Snow and Pre-Christmas Events

Life has been pretty eventful since we moved. There has been a lot more things to do, firewood doesn't magically appear, and the sledding has been pretty great. I'm working on a great sled run and I have it slicked up pretty good.
Remi likes to hop in the sled with me and zoom down the hill as well, it's too funny. So as of right now we have a horse, Buford, five barn cats, and Minn and Remi our dogs. It's really been fun to be around the animals, they are so entertaining to watch. Chance asked me to go with him a couple times last week to help check cows. It was really fun, we live in such a beautiful place. As I write this it is snowing while the sun shines brightly. This is normal.

 Running sooo fast...

 My mom

 Me wearing the silly elf hat. I figured I would post it on here before someone else does...I think it was all recorded on someone's phone so now no one can black mail me. : )

 

My aunt was here a few days this past week so we had more grand adventures with her. Shoveling out people stuck in drifts, watching another person get stuck in the same obvious drift, setting up the Christmas tree, and remembering Christmas past. It's always fun to set up the grandparents' tree because they have all of the sentimental ornaments, like the really ugly homemade ones I made when I was five.
There was also an entertaining evening where I was gifted an elf hat that sings...yay me. It was actually quite funny. So the adventure continues in mountain living.
Happy week of Christmas!
 

Whatever Is Lovely Review

 

 About the Book

We live in such a busy, hectic world—but what waits for you inside this cover is a way to quiet the noise, express creativity, and spend some sweet time with God. Each page features an original design from one of a dozen different artists, beautifully illustrating a contemplative quote from an inspirational writer, a beloved hymn, or Scripture.

When we create, we echo the heart of our Creative God who designed everything and gave us the capacity to recognize beauty.

So go ahead! You have permission to pick up your colored pencil and be reminded of truth in a fresh way.

To help set the perfect mood for worship, contemplation, and creative expression, a link to the “Whatever Is Lovely” playlist is included. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts

What a fun coloring book that while having beautiful pictures to color, it also has verses, quotes, and hymns. The adult coloring book craze has begun and it amazes me how popular these books have become. I think it is fun as something you can multitask with or for a way to be calm/be still. 

Out of all of the coloring books I have looked at or colored, this is my favorite because of the scripture and the pictures are really great. 

Highly recommend!

"I received this book from Blogging for Books for free in exchange for an honest review."

At Love's Bidding Review

About the Book

After helping her grandfather at their Boston auction house, Miranda Wimplegate discovers she's accidentally sold a powerful family's prized portrait to an anonymous bidder. Desperate to appease the furious family, her grandfather tracks it to the Missouri Ozarks and makes an outlandish offer to buy the local auction house if they promise not to sell anything until he arrives.

Upon their arrival, however, they discover their new business doesn't deal in fine antiques, but in livestock. And its manager, ruggedly handsome Wyatt Ballentine, is frustrated to discover his fussy new bosses don't know a thing about the business he's single-handedly kept afloat. Faced with more cattle than they can count--but no mysterious painting--Miranda and Wyatt form an unlikely but charged partnership to try and salvage a bad situation getting worse. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts

I really wasn't sure what to expect with this book. I really enjoyed Regina's earlier books but lately they all seem to blend together. The silliness is a bit over the top for me and the romance with this particular book is not my favorite and didn't really capture my attention. There are some funny moments and a few great lines but overall this was a difficult book for me to get into and finish.
If you enjoy Jennings' books I'm sure you will like this one, it just wasn't for me.

"I received this book from Litfuse for free in exchange for an honest review."

After a cross-country trip to track down a sold painting that could ruin her family's business forever, Miranda Wimplegate forms an unlikely but charged partnership with livestock auctioneer Wyatt Ballentine in Regina Jennings' At Love's Bidding. Miranda and her grandfather discover their new auction house doesn’t deal in fine antiques, but in livestock. And its frustratingly handsome manager, Wyatt, is annoyed to discover his fussy new bosses don’t know a thing about the business he’s single-handedly kept afloat. Faced with more heads of cattle than they can count–but no mysterious painting–Miranda and Wyatt must try and prevent a bad situation from getting worse.

Join Regina in celebrating the release of At Love's Bidding by entering to win her Cozy Winter Night giveaway and RSVPing to her January 5th author chat party!

 

One grand prize winner will receive everything you need for a cozy winter night:

• One copy of At Love's Bidding
• A coloring book for adults
• A pie dish
• Gourmet hot chocolate
• A fuzzy throw blanket
• Warm slippers
• Wintery coasters

 

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on 1/5. The winner will be announced at the At Love's Bidding Facebook party. RSVP for a chance to connect with Regina and other readers, as well as for a chance to win some great prizes!

RSVP today and spread the word—tell your friends about the giveaway via FACEBOOK, TWITTER, or PINTEREST and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 5th!

Usborne Books-Have You Heard About It Yet?!

I recently discovered Usborne Books and decided I wanted to be a part of all the book fun! They have so many wonderful books for children of all ages, including chapter books! They offer a generous host reward program and since I am new, the amount of free books doubles for any host that has a party within the next three months! If you haven't heard of this company I encourage to look at the website and explore. These books are well made, I have many of them, and they are perfect for kids!

I love books and I have little kids in my life who I feel get too much junk thrown at them and need quality books to educate them. They also need books that help them grow and create imaginations, which I think is lacking in our society. Usborne Books has such a wide variety of books for multiple personalities, that is what makes it special! 

I just want to get the word out there about this company to those that have kids, know kids, have grand kids, etc.

For more info check out this link here.