Don’t Let Your Mechanic Pick Your Pocket can be described as “A simple guide that can save you money and keep the dishonest mechanic in line. It works for any car, truck or SUV, anywhere you live.” The guide is written by George Moyer, a mechanic of 40 years, who believes a good mechanic or automotive technician should be constantly improving through seminars and continuing education. Since cars are changing constantly and becoming more technological the mechanic needs to adapt as well. This guide is not and does not claim to be a do-it-yourself handbook. It is simply written to give the average person general knowledge about their car so they can make an informed decision when it comes to repairs.
The guide discusses basic information about brakes, computers, engines, glass, lights, suspension, transmission, wheels and tires. It gives simple dos and don’ts for car repair issues. For example, DO ask around, DON’T go alone if you’re a woman, DO ask for an estimate, DON’T tell them specifically what you think is wrong, instead explain what is taking place, sounds that you hear, etc. The guide moves on to explain symptoms of common problems. The entire book is written in a language that even a child could understand. This enables everyone to understand the author in simple terms without complexity. I personally have little knowledge or interest in cars and I was able to understand this book easily. The guide gives maintenance tips and advice that every owner should know as well as “How to guides” on changing a flat tire and replacing a rearview mirror.
A glossary in the back list terms you can expect to hear when it comes to car repairs and what they mean. Terms such as brake job, engine lock, vacuum leak, idiot lights, and tune-up are explained. In addition the author includes ten “top 10” list, pictures and diagrams as well as definitions of parts. This is a great, must have guide for every car owner. It’s perfect to leave in the glove box. I learned quite a bit from this simple guide. Don’t be unaware! Be prepared!
What if you believed you were truly helping others? What if you were sure you were making a positive difference? What if you discovered it was all a lie? How would you fell if your deepest, darkest moments were no longer a secret? What if you knew deep within, something was wrong but refused to believe it? What would happen when everything is exposed and you are left to make the easiest most difficult decision of your life, knowing you'd always wonder "What if..."
The sensational true story of Abby Johnson is told in Planned, a memoir and DVD that documents Abby's journey from Planned Parenthood Director to the leading voice for Life and women in crisis. Abby's story is an emotionally raw account of her journey. Regardless of your opinions on the topic, I believe everyone can learn something from Abby's story. I certainly did! I cried multiple times during this video. It is one that has the power to change and make a difference in the lives of many women. I could not recommend it more! This DVD is a great resource for counselors, teen group leaders, churches and other organizations who deal with women in crisis.
Watch the Unite for LIFE webcast:
The Unite for LIFE webcast is a free webcast featuring Abby Johnson that will benefit pregnancy care organizations. You can sign up to participate on May 17 at 8:00 p.m. (in all time zones) at http://www.uniteforlifewebcast.org/. Unplanned the book and the DVD will be available for purchase as a package deal and 33% of each purchase will go to crisis pregnancy centers like CareNet, the National Institute of Family & Life Advocates, and Heartbeat International.
Thanks to Tyndale House I have one copy of unPlanned to give away!
To enter please fill out this simple form:
*I was given a copy of this DVD for free in exchange for a honest review. I have donated this review copy to my church so that the DVD can be used to help others*
Authors: Shaunti Feldman & Robert Lewis
Publisher: B&H Publishing Group
ISBN: 978-14336-7112-8
Source: LitFuse Blog Tour Tour Schedule & Links Purchase Book
About the Book Whether a stay at home; or working mom, an airplane-hopping executive, an empty-nester caring for multiple generations or a single juggling high demands of career and personal life, today's fast-paced modern world leaves women gasping for balance. We as modern Christian women want to look to the Bible for guidance on how to manage our lives -- but because the world of women looks so different today than it did when the Bible was written, it is hard to find chapter and verse that seems to apply to our situation today.
Thankfully, God has given us exactly that timeless, unchanging guidance for how to find peace, clarity, and God's best for our lives once we know where to look! The Life Ready Woman: Thriving in a Do-It-All World, reveals a profound biblical roadmap for how each of us can find the abundant life we are longing for, rather than the stressful, torn, how-do-I-balance-it-all life we often feel like we are trying to keep up with today. Actually being a Life Ready Woman means that you are clear about your life, bold in your faith, and able to find God’s best for you, and the end result will be that you not only survive but thrive in our do-it-all world.
God has given every wonderfully unique woman different skills and abilities, different desires, and different temperaments -- and every woman around the planet and through the ages is certainly living in different circumstances. But no matter what a woman’s life looks like, the Bible says that God has an individual mission and plan that He’s carefully designed for each of us. And He wants us to find it. The Life Ready Woman will help every wonderfully unique woman to thrive as she identifies and courageously pursues God's unique design and callings for her. Life Ready Woman puts you on a roadmap to make decisions that will lead to relief, delight, and fulfillment instead of regret.
My Thoughts
The Life Ready Woman is a book that promotes an emotionally healthy woman. The book has generalizations that apply to all women but at the same time encourage you as an individual to reflect and grow as a woman. This unique aspect helped me not to feel alone in my everyday struggles yet I was also able to personalize my struggles with the text and encouragement provided. One of my favorite quotes of the book which also helps to demonstrate this was…
“Fatigue makes a coward of us all. What you need is some time to recharge your batteries and put life back into prospective.”
EVERYONE gets tired. We all need to recharge. Everything in life needs a chance to recharge. Nothing last forever. While this is a generalization that fits all, it is something that I struggle with daily as a mom, wife, worker and more! I sometimes forget to recharge. It’s a simple and basic element of life that enables me to focus better, keep a better attitude and feel great! I wrote this quote down because it reminds me of more than just sleep or rest. It reminds me of attitude and outlook.
The book included many helpful items that I am listing below:
Chart - Problems women say they struggle with - helped to remind me I’m not alone!
Explanation - Issues vs. problems - why they aren’t’ the same, the difference - the solution.
Advice - Practical, common sense life ready knowledge - thoughts to ponder
Questions - Can we really have it all? Is that practical for anyone?
Understanding - Biblical definitions of womanhood, marriage and family - the differences between us and bringing balance to it all.
Challenges - thought provoking questions throughout the text - helps make the book personal to the reader
Guidance - understanding the big picture - a walk through life of sorts. Helps develop clear goals.
The book gives “Wise Steps” and a Key Verse throughout each section of the chapter “Understanding the Big Picture”. These were particularly helpful to me in understanding each phase better. It also gives four principles for the “Seasons of Life”. My favorite was “There is a time for everything”. It helped bring everything the book talks about into perspective and helped to wrap up my thoughts about life and how it is lived. As a woman our life clearly demonstrates “a time for everything”. Our anatomy brings this simple phrase to truth.
With all the seriousness the book brings it wasn’t without humor. There is a chapter entitled “Using Wisdom With a Man” I had to laugh out loud at this title! All humor aside, the chapter brings a wealth of valuable knowledge to women. It helps remind us or teach us what drives a man, what men need and how to make sure we keep the man of our life thriving. I would recommend this chapter as a must read for all women. I enjoyed the fresh reminder it brought.
The book ends with a great reminder of the “rewards” of being a life ready woman! Overall it reminds us how great it is to be a woman along with the importance of maximizing our abilities, knowledge and talents to God’s glory. The book is aimed and targeted at believers, but has wonderful information for all women. I would recommend it.
Shaunti Feldhahn is a former Wall Street analyst, best-selling author of the book For Women Only, national speaker, and regular commentator in the media. She has been featured on The Today Show, PBS, TNT and Fox News- to name a few. You can learn more about her many activities by visiting her website Shaunti.com or get some great mom advice from her at MomLifeToday.com. She and her husband live with their two young children in Atlanta, Georgia and enjoy every minute of living at warp speed.
About MomLife Today
At MomLife Today you will enjoy community with real moms experiencing every age and every stage of MomLife—right alongside you.
Moms need friends we can walk through life with, but more importantly we need friends who will encourage us and equip us in our role as moms in an honest and transparent way … and that’s just what you’ll find by becoming part of our MomLife Today community! We believe that every MOMent counts!
We admit it, being a mom 24/7 is not easy. Rather than lament the role of motherhood, however, we choose to embrace that role and learn from each other how to make it through each day with the right attitude. Come share the joys, sorrows, insanity, and special moments of motherhood with us as we live it and candidly write about it…we’ll have lots of fun along the way! Join us, and do tell… What’s happening in your MomLife Today? http://www.momlifetoday.com/
Giveaways
In celebration of Shaunti Feldhahn’s Life Ready Woman, MomLife Today is giving away 2 Weekend To Remember Gift Packs and much more!
Not only, is MomLife Today helping promote Life Ready Woman, but they are thrilled to announce that Shaunti will be joining MomLife Today as a regular contributor!!!
Weekend To Remember Getaways offer marriage-changing principles that you can take home and apply to your daily lives to strengthen your marriage. Whether you are newly engaged or have been married for 50 years, you will find value in the tools provided at the getaway.
Don’t miss this opportunity to receive a conference registration for you and your spouse … and more! MomLife Today will be randomly selecting NINE lucky recipients to receive one of these great gifts:
2 Weekend To Remember Get Away conference registrations for two. $259 value each pair (Two couples will receive this.)
2 Life Ready Woman DVD packs. $149 value each (Two different people will receive this gift.)
5 Life Ready Woman books. (Book will go to 5 people.)
To enter click one of the icons below then tell your friends. Winner will be announced on March 2nd on the MomLife Today website.
MomLife Today provides encouragement, advice and resources to help YOU with your daily Momlife! Because…every MOMent counts!
Enter the Book Giveaway!!!
I have one copy to giveaway courtesy of the authors! Please see the rules below and enter on the FORM provided.
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Giveaway ends 3/12/11. Winner will be announced ASAP.
Kathryn Rose ISBN: 978-1453834558 Publisher: CreateSpace Source: Reviewed for BookPleasures
"Your children are playing in an international playground with more than 500 million strangers. Over 9 million U.S. children between the ages of 13 and 17 are registered Facebook users. Just as you wouldn’t leave them alone on a physical playground, you need to watch and guide them on the virtual one too."
The above paragraph is taken directly from the back of The Parent’s Guide to Facebook and aside from the startling numbers I don’t think it quite does the book justice in regards to its importance for parents. I have been on many playgrounds, in many malls, and other areas where children roam free without the watch of a guardian and it’s dangerous and reckless. Leaving your children unguarded and unwatched on the virtual playground of social networks in many ways can be more devastating with crippling effects. Kathryn brings these points across in the pages of this wonderful guide. As parents we protect our kids from germs and diseases, bullies and criminals, and many other potentially harmful threats to their physical being, but are you prepared for the age of the cyber-crime, cyber-bully, and potential threats to their lives and careers before the opportunity is given for them to start? The Parent’s Guide to Facebook is a comprehensive, updated, step by step guide to Facebook designed to fully inform parents of the opportunities as well as the threats their children are exposed too on the world’s largest social network.
If you are a parent this book should be in your hands. If you are an adult and you’re not familiar with Facebook but you have an account or want an account this book should be in your hands. It is full of practical and updated information for Facebook users. I have been using social networks for years and I still learned a few things from this book. Social networks don’t send messages to each user explaining in easy terms the updates they make on a constant basis. The information is there for users if they opt to find it, but would the average user search out this information or understand it completely? Most likely not, this is where The Parent’s Guide to Facebook comes in handy! Regardless of your status as a parent, this book is full of valuable information explained so that anyone can understand. It is equipped with screen shots (examples) and step by step guidance to help you protect yourself on the internet. This book is especially important for parents of young Facebook users who may or may not fully understand the implications of privacy threats. Simple things can easily fall into the wrong hands and ruin a life forever. Facebook is a great tool and meant for fun and enjoyment. It is easy to do both of those things once you protect yourself and your family from possible harm. It’s as simple as locking the door when you leave the house or go to bed, the guide is a wonderful tool that is easy to use and understand.
In this guide you will find information on the following items: • How to set up a Facebook profile and other basics to getting started. • Walk through of account settings complete with explanations and recommendations. • Explanations of security settings along with risk and issues that could arise with identity theft, how to protect your children as well as yourself! • Updated information for new features of Facebook (example: Facebook Places new as of August 2010) • Screen shots, examples and step by step guidance for each section. A “how-to” guide. • How to protect your child from cyber-bullying. • Information on laws and other important internet knowledge in regards to social-networks. • Information on “The Wall and News Feed”, Friend list, Friend request, games and reputation monitoring. • Guidance on the topic of talking to your children and educating them about appropriate posting. • Protection on privacy issues often hidden due to joining a group or playing a game. • The value of Facebook! Fun, Friendship and social engagement for those prepared to use the site safely and wisely. • Family Facebook Contract
I could not recommend this book enough. It is well written and easy to understand. I feel it covered every topic needed and as I previously stated, I learned a few things myself and made updates and changes to my account. I firmly believe this is a book that will help parents who may or may not know much about social networking. It is a book that can help multiple age groups and should not be written off because it is marketed to parents. It is important to know that this guide is not endorsed by or associated with Facebook Corporation. It is written by Kathryn Rose, a Certified Social Media Strategist and Trainer. She specializes in many areas that make her extremely qualified to write this book.
Publisher: Publish America
Source: E-book from Publisher as part of Blog Tour for Dr. Tiffany Brown
Affirmations for the Ambitious is a daily look at positive life thoughts and affirmations for all. Each day holds a new thought or challenge for the reader. The book is full of variety and topics that are relative to us all as we go about our daily lives. It has the power to change your life if you’re willing to be the catalyst for change. This daily book of affirmations is full of original thoughts, devotionals, and affirmations for life. I have included a few of my favorites below with what I learned from each. I listed the title of the affirmation first and my thoughts/summary second.
Unstoppable – the power of positive thinking
Taking Care of Yourself – taking “me” time, time to relax from daily stress. Give your mind a break.
Peace – in the midst of chaos, a state of mental calm, something that we work on. Try to rid yourself of anger, resentment, chaos and conflict. Strive for clarity, serenity and peace.
Endurance – build it day by day. Endurance is worked on every day, built upon the previous day, leaning on God for understanding.
Unique Blessings – realizing your special & unique part. Everyone is different. Variety is the spice of life, hold onto your unique and wonderful special blessing. Chances are people love that most about you.
Too Busy – slow down! Being too busy can invite evil into your life if you’re not careful. You lose the time you should spend with God. You aren’t paying attention. Frustrations, delays etc- God could be saving you. Don’t try to understand his purpose-just trust-do your best, allow extra time for him.
Panic – its forms, its dangers, how to overcome and slow down. How to pause and rely on God. Great reminders.
God’s Promise – a simple reminder of God’s love and promise to follow through.
Don’t Let Anyone Steal Your Joy – EVER! De-stress, stay focused, pray and rejoice!
How to forgive – a simple reminder, yet important to our mental, emotional and spiritual health.
Don’t worry – struggles come- the older you get the more worry you seem to have-no one is perfect. Do your best, let God do the rest.
Enabling – be an enabler. Be a catalyst for change.
Counting to Ten – try it. Avoid temper. Re-evaluate, think clear, count to ten.
Discouraged – help in overcoming disappointment, “pick yourself up and continue to run”
Mean – think before you do- would you want to be treated in the same manner? Will the outcome have a positive effect? Are you bringing joy? Enabling? Acting as Christ would?
Being Prepared – enables you to be focused, unstressed, not rushed, thoughtful, happy etc.
Some Experiences are Priceless- a reminder to be thankful for this day, this moment, this event.
Losing Hope – an uplifting chat on keeping your hope.
Opportunistic – seize the day, in God’s timing.
My hope in showing these affirmations that meant something to me is that you can see the uniqueness and versatility of this book and its' daily affirmations. These few entries do not cover the tip of the iceberg that is this book! There are so many wonderful thoughts, hopes, reminders and tidbits nestled within the pages of this book! One of my readers will have the chance to win a copy of The Reflections of Light for Daily Living: a Book of Affirmations for the Ambitious by entering via the form below. If you would like to purchase this book you can do so by visiting the following links based on your preference. Kindle or Nook.
Dr. Tiffany Brown was kind enough to answer a couple questions to go along with my review/overview of this book. They are below:
If people could take away one thing from your book, what would you want it to be?
Never give up on your goals in life but allow God to revise or tweak them into being aligned with his Will. Every failure is not a nightmare and every opportunity is not a blessing. Some failures can be blessings; some opportunities can be nightmares. Allow God completely into your heart and watch your life begin to expand in the most amazing ways. I trust God in completely different way than before because I now have a testimony that I never had before. There is nothing like spectacular fall to truly give you a new relationship with God.
I love how you have included your life stories onto the pages and you are so relatable; what has been one of your biggest challenges in life and how did you overcome it?
My biggest challenge was bouncing back from my failed mayoral bid that was a disappointment on a professional and emotional level. It was completely humiliating because I was marginalized and misunderstood throughout the campaign. I felt like people didn’t get me; they just stereotyped me.
There were many people that I had supported in the past that didn’t return the favor added to the humiliation. I was very disappointed in people that I had respected and loved in every facet of my life. It definitely changed the way I see the world.
I was able to overcome it all through forgiveness. God forgives us for all our transgressions and I was forced to do the same. All the inspirational stories I wrote are from perspective of a reader; I wrote what I needed to hear at those desperate, heart wrenching times in my life. I wrote to encourage myself and now decided to share it with others.
What have you learned about yourself throughout the process of writing your book?
I learned not to take things so personally. Most decisions are based on individual personal ambition. Ambition is never right or wrong; it is the inner drive to have something more in your life. But sometimes your ambition can clash with others. You must not take it personally.
I also learned that having just me is enough because of God’s love. I now feel comfortable in my own skin; imperfections in all. I may not be perfect but I am attempting to be a best that I can. And that is enough as long as I try to stay aligned with God.
Thank you Dr. Tiffany Brown for having me as part of your blog tour!
1 lucky reader will win a copy of Reflections of Light for Daily Living: A Book of Affirmations for the Ambitious. There is also 1 smart phone app up for grabs! Enter using the form below.
Lorraine EspositoISBN: 978-0-9842953-2-6 Publisher: EME Press *To purchase click the image to the left*
The Peacemaker Parent is a self-help guide for parents of children ages 2-12. The goal of this book is for parents to learn simple steps and tactics that will enable them to empower their children as well as themselves to peaceful approaches in regards to their daily life activities without the stress of nagging and complaining. By enabling ourselves as well as our children to do this, we can watch them develop an independent and reliable nature with skills they will use for the rest of their lives. As parents we are then able to enjoy parenting without heaps of stress and loads of aggravation. After all, everyone wants a fun and happy family. The book intends to help fill in the gray areas by helping parents and children to better understand each other.
Written by behavioral specialist, life coach, and mom Lorraine Esposito, The Peacemaker Parent is her self discovery of methods found through trial and error and documented through journals, helping to fill in the gray areas or areas left out by experts’ advice in other parenting books. The author uses many quotes to help bring a variety to the text and sometimes comic relief. The book focuses on teaching lessons of accountability, responsibility, self control and problem solving along with methods of positive reinforcement during negative situations. The author shares the idea that with each lesson or statement we send our child a message. The goal is to clearly communicate the message in a positive manner without frustrating yourself and your child, therefore blocking receptiveness to the message. One of my favorite quotes in the book says “Knowledge without experience is just speculation; wisdom is the result of practicing what you learn.” I felt this quote really summed up a lot of what the author was trying to help the reader understand.
The author gives many examples and ways to help your children learn basic life lessons and foundations through a morning routine. She believes a day that starts off happy and peaceful can stay happy and peaceful. She covers the topics of setting objectives, thinking and planning in advance and follow through. She makes some good points about figuring out what aspects are most important in your daily routine and what can be missed occasionally without a negative outcome. She also mentions thinking and planning in advance which I personally feel is a great source of positive help with parenting as last minute rushing can be very stressful. The added stress and pressure can cause everyone to function without peaceful tactics. The book takes a realistic look at family roles and parenting roles that change as our children grow, learn and are able to be more independent and self reliable. It helps parents enable themselves to slowly let go with each new phase so that our children can be proud of their accomplishments.
The book really focuses on morning routines and setting the pace of your day by having a right start. This makes a great book for parents who have children in school or daycare, but not necessarily wonderful for stay at home moms. I personally found this book helpful with tips that enabled me to think basic yet outside the box; however it wasn’t what I was expecting. As a stay at home mom with two young children I was not looking for a morning routine book as we already have an established routine. I was hoping to find some new ideas that involved peacefully resolving conflict between parent and child, siblings and friends. I was looking for new and fresh ideas for tactics to avoid arguments and fighting. While the book gave me some great ideas for the future and dealing with school preparation, I didn’t find it helpful in the areas I thought I might. I also didn’t feel the layout was reader friendly and would have liked to see the book broken down into more chapters that are to the point rather than embellished and lengthy. I would suggest this book to parents as one of your guides in parenting, especially if you need a morning routine established. It has many useful tips and suggestions as well as practical methods to help simplify the morning chaos.
Lori Radun 978-0-9743832-4-8 Wyatt MacKenzie Imprint
The Momnificent Life; Healthy and Balanced Living for Busy Moms, is a guide for all moms no matter what activities you balance. Whether you juggle your home life with work, school, church, sports, or charities, every mom has a busy and hectic life that can easily be encouraged, advised, influenced and supported by this book. The author lays a careful plan and guideline to help moms in areas such as time, managemnt, financial intimacy, personal development, career and health among many others. The goal is to help moms discover themselves aside from, yet in tune with, their children and families. It’s a book of how to manage life and stress, showing how you can have it all. It is about balance and how to take a nurturing approach to motherhood.
The book starts off with an introduction that shares the eight components to having a “Momnificent” life. Each component is summarized and later expanded on throughout the book. I found this overview very useful to the rest of the book. There is a wealth of knowledge in The Momnificent Life. The first time you read it will not be your last. I found myself re-reading specific chapters that dealt with my own needs as a mom and going back to it as a guide and re-fresher. The author carefully explains life as a balance process. If it is tipped to much in one direction it can easily burn us out. No one activity is good all the time, they are better in a balance with other activities, just the same as our health and eating habits. She clearly states that a balanced life is different for everyone because balancing is personal and in regards to what is important to you. She gives charts and assignment suggestions throughout the book help the reader to better understand themselves.
I really enjoyed this book! It is by far a wonderfuly useful tool to me as a mother. I am constantly busy. I have my own two children, one in school and the other potty training and generally a very curious child, which means I cannot take my eyes off her. In addition I baby-sit my nephew full time and work a full time job. I rarely have time for myself and have known I am burning out quickly for a while. The book has helped me prioritize where I didn’t know how, examine areas I didn’t think to examine, and encouraged me in area I have already started changing and working on. It is not a book that is a one time read for me, but rather one I go to to help remind me, encourage me and give me advise. One of my favorite parts of this book was “zap the mommy guilt” something every mother deals with on multiple levels and many different areas. I also personally enjoyed the chapter on friendships and stress. These two are two problem areas for me, my friendships are not being tended to properly and the stress comes in large amounts that are not healthy. With great attention to detail and the aspects of a moms life, Lori Redun provides a wonderful guide on how to be Momnificent!
Written by Jim Randel who has been an active real estate investor for thirty years, The Skinny On Real Estate Investing is the first of a three part series on the subject and is meant to help the reader decide if real estate investing is right for him. His credentials range from single family homes to multi-family properties and include retail centers and other commercial spaces as well as land. The advice comes from his success and failures along with his extensive knowledge on the subject. The goals of the book are simple; introduce the subject to the reader enabling them to better understand the job of a real estate investor and to “disabuse the notion of real estate investing as a get rich quick scenario”. This book is not for those who are thinking quick and easy money, but rather for the serious hard working person who has a sincere interest in the subject matter or it looking to further their knowledge.
The book is set up according to Randel's easy to read guide. Its’ comic book style enables the reader to learn about the subject of real estate investing through Billy and Beth, as previously seen in “The Skinny On” series. Billy and Beth enable the reader to learn in an interactive, fun and easy style. The book can be read in about an hour for the average reader. In this short amount of time the reader is given a wealth of useful and practical knowledge on the subject of real estate investing. It was very easy to understand and follow. The book tells the truth about the topic and does not try to persuade a person to start the path of real estate investing without the full knowledge of how it works and what you will get yourself into. The book uses humor, wit and practical knowledge to get important topics and points across to the reader. It is a very quick and enjoyable read that is totally worth the investment.
As previously stated, the book is the first of it’s’ series on the topic. It is designed for readers who want to know if real estate investing is right for them. It is also useful as an overview for readers committed to the three part series as it sets a foundation for key investment strategies in preparation for a life time of investments. It is a must have for anyone interested in the topic of real estate investing or buying their own home. Do not start your journey without the proper research! This book is a great start and has plenty of suggestions for further education and reading on the topic. The book even comes with a handy bookmark outlining key terms the reader will need to understand.