"The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up" by Marie Kondo

   My drawers will never look the same as long as I live. After reading this book I just had to try out the suggestions laid out by Marie, even though I did not believe her promises. I am young, living in an apartment with my husband, and have very few possessions...how on earth could I dramatically increase the space I have in my closets? But now I no longer need to place my seasonal clothing in storage, because I have so much room in my closets now!
   The book is laid out a bit messily (ironically) with her suggestions disorganized throughout the book, so do wait to finish the book before you begin your tidying process. Also, I feel that if her suggestions were better categorized, she could cut down on the size of the book as well, because she repeats her ideas at times. Some of her suggestions were just not something I could do, (ex: speaking to my clothes, etc. and thanking them for their support of my lifestyle.). However, I understand her point of view and even if you don't take her literally, you can adopt her main point which is to treat your things respectfully so that they last long.
   Despite these flaws, I highly suggest reading this book and partaking in the process of refining and organizing your belongings. The most important things I gleaned from this book are how to choose my belongings carefully and how to fold my clothes so amazingly that my once full closets now echo. I recommend it!


Source: I received a copy of this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review.

"Prayers for the Stolen" by Jennifer Clement

   I could not put this book down. Jennifer Clement has a knack for writing real, interesting characters that kept me wondering throughout the day what would happen next. Her descriptions of Mexican climate is incredibly accurate; no wonder, she lived in Mexico most of her young life. It takes a moment to get adjusted to her way of describing things, but once you're there, the story is enjoyable.
   "Prayers for the Stolen" is a story about a young girl's life in a very poor mountain community of all women and their daughters. All of the men had left for work in the United States, leaving the women behind. The story follows Ladydi Garcia Martinez, describing the life she and her friends are exposed to. Its very sad, the girls have to pretend they are ugly or are boys so that drug lords do not steal them as sex slaves. The first half of the book describes this hard life centering around her and her friends. The second half of the book follows Ladydi as she finishes school and finds work in the nearby town. The story certainly surprised me, though I wish it was much longer. I feel like so much more could have been filled in...However the author leaves the book off at an acceptable cutoff point.
   I am not someone who reads ethnically-centered literature, however I really enjoyed this story, and it made me think about something that I don't normally. It is a quick, enjoyable read and I recommend it.

Source: I received a copy of this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review.

"A Good Food Day" by Marco Canora

   This recipe book was an enjoyable experience for me. In the introduction, Marco describes how he used to eat when working full-time with long hours. Contrary to my assumptions (he is a chef), he ate lots of terribly unhealthy foods and eventually became so sick that his doctor had to intervene. Once placed on a restricted healthy diet, he was afraid that he'd be forced to eat tasteless foods while pining for the rich, gourmet foods he once enjoyed. He managed to use his skills and knowledge of food to create simple and delicious foods that are also great for your health.
   On the back cover the question is asked: "What is a good food day? A day when feeling well and eating well go hand in hand". This is completely possible using the recipes outlined in this book. The chapters include breakfast, salads, veggies, beans/lentils, grains, fish, meat & poultry, snacks, and sweets, leaving no meal left behind. My favorite smoothie recipe is on page 27, the Dark Berry Shake, is absolutely delicious and healthy with no added sugars. I drink it everyday! Also, the Japanese-inspired soup on page 206 is fantastic, so light and tasty and has been a huge asset in helping me lose weight. I was also very excited to see on page 213 Marco teaches us to make Flavor Pounded chicken, something I have never tried before, and now use every time we eat chicken.
I highly recommend this recipe book if you are serious about eating less manufactured foods and don't mind buying a few special ingredients in order to enhance the flavor of your daily food.


Source: I received a copy of this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review.

"Daily Painting" by Carol Marine

  Reading this book has been absolute fun and has inspired me to get back into painting myself. 182 pages long with beautiful colored photographs, this book has realigned my creativity in the short time it took to read it.
  The first chapter is as far as you need to get to begin feeling your inspiration rise up as you turn the pages. She begins with an explanation as to how 'daily painting' has changed her career and life. In the next few chapters she goes on to address subjects that most art books tend to have, materials, colors, composition, drawing, value, and subject matter. Then in chapter 8, she has instructions as how to "stay fresh and loose with oil paints', which is very helpful. Chapter nine addresses artist's block, an experience known to us all, and she gives very helpful advice on how to break free from the rut. The last two chapters also are immensely helpful..."How to Photograph and Edit Small Paintings" and "Tips for Better Online Sales" are pages that I will be turning back to for some time.
  Carol Marine not only incudes her own oil paintings, but also other artists as well. Her main focus is oil painting, but she invites artists to use the daily painting method with all mediums. I will, as I have said before, be referencing this book for some time and would recommend the purchase.

Source: I received a copy of this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review.