Review: Martha Stewart's Appetizers

Martha Stewart's Appetizers



 

I really wanted to like this cookbook but I just can't. I really don't like the way it looks and that for me makes it so unappealing to where I don't even want to pick up to even look through so that is an issue. When I finally did pick it up to look through I was not really impressed with the quality of the recipes that it contained. It kind of felt forced and like they were scraping the bottom of the barrel just so that they had another cookbook to come out with that had Martha Stewart's name on it since so many trust her brand they knew it would sell. This is definitely a cookbook that I would pass up and not even buy or waste the space in your home. I will be giving this book away to whoever would like it or possibly donating. I wouldn't recommend it and don't care to actually try anything in it.

Review: Faithgirlz Bible, NIV

NIV Faithgirlz Bible

 

When I saw that this Bible was up for review I jumped at the chance to review it so I could give it to my friends daughters when I was through with it because its so darn cute and I can say I was definitely not disappointed! This Bible is even cuter in person and has really fun and shiny foil accents that make it even more appealing to young girls. The inside of the Bible is almost entirely written in purple and has some pink tones throughout it as well. It is a hard back book that has a hidden magnetic closure giving it a bit more appeal as well. Overall the quality and look of the Bible is fantastic and I was very happy with it and happily passed it along to my friends little girls.

 

As for the what it contains it is the New International Version which is the same as any others you would have read but all the things that are highlighted pertain to girls and in a manner to help them better identify and an easier way for them to grasp and study a the Bible in a manner they would more comfortably be able to do so. This is defnitely something that I would pick up as a gift in the future and would recommend to other families who have little girls in them looking for a Bible that would peak their interest.

 

**I received this free from the publisher for my honest review.**

Trisha's Table

by Trisha Yearwood

This cookbook is super easy to read and beautifully written but not one that I will be using in my kitchen. I liked that her husband, Garth Brooks, wrote the forward and signed it it Mr. Yearwood that was super cute and you can tell that everyone who helped and supported the cookbook really love it. I unfortunately am not a fan of the all the short cuts it takes. I rather have an actual recipe instead of it saying baking mix and then suggesting bisquick or having a pizza dough recipe instead of saying to use a remade pilsbury dough. I already know I can pick most of that stuff up in my home and make various things in them but to have a pizza dough recipe would be way more helpful. I have already given this book away as I can tell its not one I will ever reach for with so many options out there, but just because it doesn't meet my needs it still may be something you enjoy. 

**I received this book free for my honest review.**

Review: The Berenstain Bears Country Cookbook

The Berenstain Bears' Country Cookbook

by Mike Berenstain

My son and I went through this cookbook and decided it wasn't a cookbook that we'll keep in our collection and we passed it along to another family that we thought would enjoy it a bit better than us. I've never been a huge fan of the Berenstain Bears to begin with but I do remember than from my childhood as I'm sure many others do as well and this will more than likely be a great for those of you. 

They do have some great simple recipes to get the kids ready and helping in the kitchen, but unfortunately none of them were appealing to us or we already make something similar and have our favorite recipe. I would definitely recommend this to Berenstain fans and children who don't already have a knack for recipes and the kitchen, but we let our little guy adapt recipes to his liking and use regular cookbooks so we will not try any other children's cookbooks in the future. 

**We received this book free for our honest review.**

Review: Against the Grain

Against the Grain 

By Nancy Cain

I was really excited to see this cookbook on the list to review. I know there are many that do paleo and don't eat grains for whatever reason but I have some friends that have celiac disease so I would love to know how to cook some dishes that they'd be able to enjoy as well. I also have friends who eat paleo and have various allergies so this cookbook comes in handy for many different reasons. It is definitely beautifully written and super easy to follow. There are a lot of gluten free cookbooks that make everything so darn complicated but this book definitely does not do that and you end up with food that even those who eat grains truly enjoy. This is definitely a cookbook that I will recommend to others and I will look forward to using it for years to come.

**I did receive this cookbook free from the publisher for my honest review.**

Book Review: Duck Commander Devotions for Kids

Duck Commander Devotions for Kids
 by Korie Robertson and Chrys Howard

This book is adorable. The illustrations are super cute and kid friendly and the devotions are easy to follow for young children. We enjoy most of the books that come from Duck Commander and I do believe that we'll enjoy this book as well. I do think its for a child a little older than my son but we will hang onto it to read with him when he's older. This book tells stories in a simple manner that I think anyone would be able to understand. There is nothing fancy or over the top with this book and I do believe that it will be enjoyed by those looking for something for their children. 

**I received this book free for my honest opinion.**

Book Review: Soul Food Love

 

Soul Food Love: Healthy Recipes Inspired by One Hundred Years of Cooking in a Black Family

By Alice Randall & Caroline Randall Williams

This cookbook is absolutely beautiful, but it wasn't quite what I was expecting. I didn't realize the first half of the book would be nothing but family stories. I did find them interesting but I don't normally buy cookbooks to read them, its just not my thing. I like cookbooks to be beautifully illustrated and the recipes to be easy to follow. This cookbook did have pictures but not as many as I would have liked and in all honesty a couple of the recipes were just silly. In the dessert section there was a recipe that said to serve a thimble of burbon and dark chocolate. I guess that would be good as a random tip somewhere in the book but shouldn't take up a full page of a cookbook. Overall its a beautiful book and the quality is great, but its not one that I will keep in my collection. It is also one I won't be recommending to family or friends. 

 **I did receive this book free from the publishers for my honest opinion.**

Book Review: Words to Dream On

Words to Dream On

Bedtime Bible Stories and Prayers

By Diane Stortz

I completely forgot that we were getting this book to review until it showed up on my doorstep this afternoon. It was a nice surprise when we opened box and saw this book. At first sight it is an absolutely gorgeous book and when you open it up the illustrations are absolutely gorgeous and definitely kept both mine and my son's attention. He absolutely loves bedtime because he gets to read his Bible stories with his daddy and is excited to have another one to add to their little library. This book is just stories and does not cover everything that a Bible would so keep that in mind. It is split up by old and new testament. Each story begins with the chapter and verses that the story is being told from. There is a Bible verse to accompany the story and then the story is told and it is ended with a bedtime blessing. The stories are not long maybe 2-3 pages depending on the story and the bedtime blessings are super short usually no more than a line and super easy for the little ones to read and remember. I would definitely recommend this book to others and we will definitely be keeping it and I know my boys will truly enjoy adding it to their collection. 

** I received this book free for my honest opinion from the publishers. **

Review Clean Slate

Clean Slate

I am not entirely sure what I was expecting when I choose this book for review but it hasn't really met my expectations. It is a great cookbook for those who are starting to eat better but a lot of the recipes are ones you would expect. The book is excellent overall and the pictures are stunning but you wouldn't expect anything less from the editors of Martha Stewart Living. I will admit its not one of my favorite cookbooks or one that I will probably grab in the future. If you are a fan of anything with Martha Stewart then this book would be one for you but for me I'll stick to my tried and true.

**I received this free from the publisher for my honest review**

Citrus Lane: January Box

Citrus Lane: January 2015 Box

So we have been getting Nathan Citrus Lane Boxes for a few months now and we have been overall pretty happy with them. He has gotten some really great puzzles, books, snacks, and other various items but for the month of January was it just me or did it kind of really suck?

These two items are definitely cute and I am glad that they added colored pencils and something to use them with but honestly not too crazy about the placemats. The pad is kind of large to carry around with you and there really is no need for coloring placements at home.

These I will admit were pretty darn neat BUT they only give you 20! With only 20 of these pieces there isn't much you can do. It was kind of a pointless set to have and I ended up giving it away to another friend who happens to get these boxes so that at least one kid could have a few more pieces to try to actually do something with.

They also included a sample to these vitamins which Nathan seemed to enjoy but we won't be getting them again as I don't want my child thinking that vitamins are candy as you can have too much of a good thing. The last thing they included in the box was a card for Fabletics which was awful to add as an item to the box since you can find that same deal anywhere on the internet. If I had paid full price for this box I would have been even more upset about the items in the box. It was by far the worst and you'd think they want to start the year out with a bang! I did buy this box on my own with coupons I found online.

 

Review: The Beginner's Bible Come Celebrate Easter Sticker & Activity Book

 

The Beginner's Bible Come Celebrate Easter Sticker & Activity Book 

By Kelly Pulley 

We just received this activity book in the mail yesterday and I have sat down this morning and went over it. It is a very simple book which is great for younger children. The pages are beautifully written as well as the illustrations being well done and bright and color for the children. The stickers look like they match wonderfully. This will definitely be a fun and engaging workbook for my son, but I have chosen not to give it to him until it is actually closer to Easter. The only complaint I have about this book is the type of paper that the coloring pages are on. I think that using markers on those pages will get messy and will not dry the way they normally should. I would definitely recommend this activity book to others and would definitely get similar ones for my son in the future. I truly look forward to working with my son with this activity book.

**I received this book free of charge from the publisher for my honest opinion**

Review: The Burn

The Burn

By Haylie Pomroy

I just recently received this book and I was kind of excited about it when I first saw it but now that it is in my hands I am not sure why so many would think its wonderful. The soup is like baby food. I am not really sure why it needs to be blended in such a way but its awful and bland I just cannot imagine having to eat this twice a day. The tea is disgusting which says a lot since I LOVE tea. I am not a coffee drinker so I don't have a dislike towards it because of that bias. The dislike comes from it just being bad and don't get me started on the smoothies can you say drinking regurgitated food...ugh just thinking about it makes me want to vomit. From all the good reviews out there I know there are people who have to like/love this program but as for me I will NEVER use and will NEVER recommend it to anyone. Thankfully I did not have to spend any money on the book but unfortunately I wasted lots of ingredients on inedible food items. 

*I recieved this book free from the publisher for my honest opinion.*

Psalms 23
By Richard Jesse Watson

Book Description: In this follow-up to his bestselling children’s book, The Lord’s Prayer, illustrator Richard Jesse Watson brings to life the beloved Psalm 23. Watson’s use of vibrant color and detailed imagery beautifully captures the essence of the comforting words of David, bringing the King James Version of Psalm 23 alive for readers young and old.

Review: This is a beautiful children's board book. The illustrations are gorgeous and it is definitely a great way to introduce little ones to Psalms 23. I would recommend this book to other families and may even buy it for gifts in the future. I do think since it being a board book that it is geared towards younger children but it is still beautiful for any age. I for some reason thought it was going to be a hard back book and not a board book so I was a bit disappointed in that as my son isn't too thrilled with board books anymore as he thinks they're "baby" books but he still let me read it with him. We will definitely keep it in our collection though. 

*I did receive this book free of charge from the publisher for my honest opinion.*

Review: Your Family in Pictures

Your Family in Pictures: The Parents' Guide to Photographing Holidays, Family Portraits, and Everyday Life

 

About the book:

For parents (especially moms) with little to no photography experience who want to capture better portraits and photos of their families using any camera.

What parent doesn’t want to capture the perfectly imperfect joy of family life through photos? From holidays and vacations to portraits and shared moments, celebrated photographer (and mom) Me Ra Koh not only helps moms and dads take better photos, but inspires them to discover photography as a way to connect with, cherish, and celebrate their family. With forty beautiful “photo recipes” anyone can follow—with any camera—preserving your family’s story has never been easier!

My Review:

I was super excited to see this book on the list of book to review this time around and I definitely jumped at the chance to review it. I am always looking for advice on how to photographer my kiddo and this book definitely helps in that area. I am no photographer so anything who can help out an average joe with a camera is always a plus to me since I do not always have the time or quite frankly the cash to pay a professional and who am I kidding some days I just need to take photos of my amazing little person! I have no experience with her first two books but if this is the only one you pick up you're not missing out on much from what I can tell because I didn't even know there were others! This book def gives great instructions on what and how to do it and reminders to take pics of everyday life because it does go so quickly! I would definitely recommend this book to others.

**I recieved this book from the publisher free for my honest opinions.**

Review: Let There Be Light

Let There Be Light

by Archbishop Desmond Tutu 

This is a board book for children and yes it is beautifully illustrated and of course the story is wonderful it just wasn't a book my son actually enjoyed. Even though the illustrations are beautiful they weren't necessarily geared towards children. It will not be a book that we get a lot of use out and more than likely will not keep in our collection because by the time he appreciates the illustrations he'll have outgrown the board book stage. I am sure there are families out there that truly love and enjoy this book but it just wasn't a fit for our home. 

**I did receive this book free of charge from the publisher for my honest review.**

I am really excited to have been able to review this cookbook. This is definitely a great cookbook, it is well made, well put together and will definitely last in the kitchen. The recipes are great and super easy to follow and adjust if needed. The pictures that go along with each recipe really helps to pull together what it is you're making. I personally love pictures so that I feel like I did something right. Another great thing about this cookbook is that there are MANY recipes we will actually eat, so many times we'll get a new cookbook and there will only be a recipe or two our family will actually eat. I can't wait to try many of the recipes that are in the cookbook and will definitely be checking out more of her cookbooks.

**I received this cookbook free from the publishers for my honest opinion.**