The Enochian Evocation of Dr. John Dee by Geoffrey James

The Enochian Evocation of Dr. John Dee by Geoffrey James is an excellent resource for this system that was given to Dr. John Dee by angels. If this is something you would like to learn more about, this is a must-read for your collection.


Book Description
“Based on the transcriptions of Dr. John Dee, the famous Elizabethan scientist and magus, The Enochian Evocation of Dr. John Dee is the translation of the original material received from direct Angelic contact. In 1852 Dee and his partner Edward Kelly, while gazing into a crystal stone, began to see and hear angels. These beings desired to re-establish the true art of magic, which had been lost due to man's wickedness and ignorance. The true magical art, these beings claimed, would bestow superhuman powers upon its practitioners, change the political structure of Europe, and herald the coming of the Apocalypse. Dee believed this research would greatly benefit mankind and documented all of the channeled information into a series of manuscripts and workbooks. Author Geoffrey James presents here the direct translation of the core of the channeled material itself, framed in a historical context, with authority and integrity.” – The Enochian Evocation of Dr. John Dee


My Thoughts
The Enochian Evocation of Dr. John Dee is a very detailed book about the material. It is written so it is clear to understand, but it is a highly complex system so reading the material more than once is a must.


Overall, this book is a fantastic intro guide for the beginner seeking information about the Enochian magick system and also those who already practice it. It provides clear information for working with it and also which invitations you should use for certain things you want/require of the angels.

I recommend this book for everyone who is interested in this type of system. If it isn’t something that interests you, or you think it goes against your religion, obviously you wouldn’t like it. For those that do want to research it though, this is a great book to get you started.



* Thank you to the publisher of The Enochian Evocation of Dr. John Dee, Weiser Books, for providing me with a copy of this book for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Enochian Vision Magick by Lon Milo DuQuette

Enochian Vision Magick by Lon Milo DuQuette is an intro guide to the angelic magick that Dr. John Dee and Edward Kelley discovered in 1582. This modern guide will help you to better understand it whether you just want to learn something about it or perhaps want to try it out for yourself.


Book Description
“Dr. John Dee (1527-1608) was one of the greatest minds of the Elizabethan Age, and his system of angelic communication was the result of the most dramatic magical operation ever recorded. It has survived to become the cornerstone of the modern ceremonial magician's practice. In 1582 Dee and his clairvoyant partner Edward Kelley made magical contact with a number of spiritual entities who identified themselves as angels - the same that communicated with Adam, Enoch, and the patriarchs of the Old Testament. Over the next three years they revealed to Dee and Kelley three distinct magical systems of vision magick. The third and last of these incorporated a series of "calls" to be recited in an angelic language in order to raise the consciousness of the magician to a level where angelic contact is possible. Best-selling author and magician, Lon Milo DuQuette, who has practiced Dee's system for over twenty-five years, has seized upon elements of the original Dee material overlooked by adepts of the Golden Dawn, Aleister Crowley, and other modern magicians, and brought them to light in Enochian Vision Magick. DuQuette offers the expert and novice alike the practical means by which they can become attuned in the same simple step-by-step manner that first prepared Dee and Kelley. There has never been a book on Enochian magick like this one.” – Enochian Vision Magick


My Thoughts
Enochian Vision Magick is a highly detailed book about what Dr. John Dee and Edward Kelley explored in the late 1500s. A large majority of this book details their journey in uncovering the information from the angels and then tries to explain the information used in the tables and diagrams for people to understand.

The backstory of the two early magician’s work was detailed quite well. However, the author didn’t really uncomplicate the whole use of the system very well. It is highly complex and someone just starting out exploring this type of thing would easily become lost and confused.


Personally, I would have preferred more information about using it. There should have been at least that much time and information spent on this aspect as there was in the whole backstory of the system. Afterall, the subtitle of the book is “An Introduction and Practical Guide to the Magick of Dr. John Dee and Edward Kelley.”

Throughout the book, the author gives little stories about his magick class on the subject. I would have enjoyed going to the class as I am quite sure it is explained better there than in this book. At least there you’d have examples of practicing it and according to his story; it is quite effective when used.

Although it didn’t quite meet my expectations, it is a very good book on the subject. It gives an excellent history about the system that is very readable. I can’t promise that you will understand it the first time you read it. I probably will have to read it again to make better sense of it myself. If this angelic magick is something you’ve been interested in or perhaps this is the first time you’ve heard of it, it is worth a look even if just for reading about some old magicians of times long ago.



* Thank you to the publisher of Enochian Vision Magick, Weiser Books, for providing me with a copy of this book for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

What’s A Disorganized Person To Do? by Stacey Platt

What’s A Disorganized Person To Do? by Stacey Platt is a go-to reference guide for organizing your home. You’ll learn how to organize to save time searching for items in your home and also how to make it look much better by decluttering.


Book Description
“An easy-to-read, idea-packed guide for anyone who wants to be more organized—and who doesn't?

Everyone has overflowing closets and desk drawers, countertops loaded with kitchen gadgets, and overstuffed computer desktops. We dream of getting organized—but what's a disorganized person to do? In this book, professional organizer Stacey Platt comes to the rescue with empowering ideas on putting and keeping things in order.

Like earlier titles in the series, such as the best-selling What's a Cook to Do?, this book offers easy-to-scan and access solutions to everyday aggravations: How do you keep from misplacing your cell phone or house keys? What's the best way to organize the fridge? How do you pack efficiently for a trip? This user-friendly book, illustrated with stylish, full-color photography, is up-to-date on the latest technologies for organizing everything from music to family photos.

Here are hundreds of ingenious solutions for gaining control of clutter so you can live happily in your space. There are quick solutions as well as one-hour projects—from organizing your emails so you can find your passwords to sorting the area under the bathroom sink—that readers can tackle, one weekend at a time, with big payoffs. From the kitchen to the home office, the bedroom closet to the car, this thoughtful guide will help readers carve out more space and more time.” – What’s A Disorganized Person To Do?


My Thoughts
What’s A Disorganized Person To Do? is a seriously organized book about organizing. It is neatly divided into categories to show (and explain) how to organize just about every aspect of your home. If you’ve ever spent time searching for a shoe, car keys, an earring, an old bill, or any of the other numerous things that clutter piles on top of, this is the book for you!

I consider myself to be highly organized, but Stacey Platt really takes it to the next level. This is one seriously organized woman and her very helpful tips can really guide everyone to making their life more organized. The book contains 317 tips. Even if you only use 17 of these tips, I bet you will see a significant change, and then probably want to use more of her tips to help you on the path to being more organized.

Some of my favorite sections include how to organize a bathroom, the bedrooms, and of course the closet. I can’t quite make mine look like her examples in any of the cases, but for what I have to work with I think I’ve managed to stay pretty organized. I know that these are huge trouble spots for many people, and I will be sharing these tips (and the book) with those who need a little guidance on decluttering their life too.

I highly recommend this book to everyone who needs to declutter and organize their life!



* Thank you to the publisher of What’s A Disorganized Person To Do?, Artisan, for providing me with a copy of this book for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Every Girl’s Guide to Life by Maria Menounos

The Every Girl’s Guide to Life by Maria Menounos is a how-to guide for everything a girl needs at all stages in her life. This isn’t just directed towards 20-somethings. It really is an enjoyable read by women of all ages. If you want to know Maria’s tips on life and living well, read this book!


Book Description
“Raised by working-class immigrant parents and later exposed to Hollywood's most elite experts in every field, Access Hollywood's, Today's, and Nightly News's reporter Maria Menounos reveals her EveryGirl secrets on everything: her systems to organize life, manage time, and ascend the ladder of success; her lazy woman's workout; her weight-loss tips (how she lost forty pounds and kept it off); and her guide to styling yourself like the stars—a self-proclaimed EveryGirl, Maria often does her own hair and makeup for celebrity events.

In The EveryGirl's Guide to Life, Maria shares personal experiences and photos from her life and professional journey as well as the various mantras, mottos, and philosophies she's adopted from the world's most impressive women. She gives advice on health, career, relationships, renovations, recreation, and more. From your carpet to the red carpet, Maria teaches the EveryGirl on a budget how to do it all, while living a healthier and happier life. ” – The Every Girl’s Guide to Life


My Thoughts
The Every Girl’s Guide to Life is a pleasant surprise. It is very well-written and is in full color with many images of Maria and the areas of life that she writes about in this book. I honestly wasn’t expecting it to be as good as it is. I’m very happy with it though and learned quite a few tips from Maria.

The organizational tips are all very helpful. I know that the advice given by Maria on this topic will help many women become organized in life. One quote I absolutely love from her on this topic is “Disorganization inhibits happiness and increases stress and chances for failure.” How true is that?

I didn’t know that Maria does her own hair and makeup (most of the time) for the events that she goes to. She learned how to do both on her own so she can save time (and money). The tips given on these sections is great for every woman who wants to look good, and really, isn’t that all of us?

I also never knew that Maria lost 40 lbs and won a pageant. The sections that she explains about losing weight, staying fit, and eating healthy are a must-read for all of us. I plan on implementing some of her tips and recipes into my life in this area as well.

This guide is really a must-read for all women. It includes such a wide variety of topics that just about everyone will find something that they could use some help with or relate to in some way. I highly recommend it to women of all ages.

For more advice and tips from Maria, check out her videos on www.bing.com/maria.


* Thank you to the publisher of The Every Girl’s Guide to Life, Harper Collins, for providing me with a copy of this book for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Future Flooding and Earthquakes in America?

So the world didn’t end as predicted by some quack who claimed it would end yesterday with people being raptured. No offense, but I really hope nobody reading my Blog believed such things!

The “End Times” and prophecies of Armageddon and world ending disasters has been a hot topic of discussion for all of our recorded history (and probably even before then). I don’t think this is going to change anytime soon.

We have another such prediction coming up next year. This one is from the Mayans with the December 21, 2012 end date. Unfortunately there are no Mayans left to ask about this since they all disappeared quite some time ago.

Personally, I do not think the world is going to “end” next year either. I do however think that we could experience some life changing things in our near future.

The New Madrid earthquake fault line in America could very likely experience some strong activity. This could result in devastating changes in America if a huge earthquake were to hit there.



The U.S. Navy Earth Change Map also shows what America could look like in the future. I guess my dream home in the French Quarter in New Orleans, LA will be gone :(



So, what do you think will happen? Discuss!

How to Pay for College – A Library How-To Handbook

How to Pay for College by the Editors of the American Library Association is a good reference for figuring out how to pay for a college education. If you or your kids want to go to college, this is a must-read for information very relevant towards paying for a very expensive education.

Book Description
“Whether you're a high school student, already in college, a parent, or an adult returning to school, this guide can help you thoroughly and easily research all available financial aid options, narrow your search to those that are a good fit for you, and make the best attempt possible at applying for them. Within these pages, find ways to plan and save for the high cost of college tuition; how to look for schools that are less expensive yet offer everything an expensive school might; when and how to fill out forms for loans, grants, and scholarships; how to get the government to help you; tips on applications and essays; and much more. This unique guide emphasizes the help that your local library can be in this process, using its reference materials, the Internet, and the advice of experienced researchers. This is a book that can help change your life.” – How to Pay for College


My Thoughts
How to Pay for College is something that all high school seniors and their parents should read. It is really directed more towards this group rather than those already in college or adults who have already earned a degree of some sort.

The knowledge included in the book is basic and gives references for more information on subjects. That doesn’t make it a bad reference book though, because it does give good information. It just isn’t going to give any big secrets away for being able to find money out of nowhere to go to somewhere like Harvard.

If you already have a Bachelor’s degree you are quite excluded on both learning anything from the book and finding out how to pay for college for another degree, unless of course you need information on taking out student loans. Therefore, if you fit into this category, I would not recommend the book to you.

Overall though, I think this is a very good reference book for high school seniors or juniors who don’t know anything at all about paying for college. The parents would also benefit from reading it because they could learn that their kids could receive grants or other type of scholarships to help them pursue a higher education.



* Thank you to the publisher of How to Pay for College, Skyhorse Publishing, for providing me with a copy of this book for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Want to Know your Credit Score? Use Credit Karma to Find Out Your Credit Score for Free!

Do you know what your credit score is? Want to find out for free from a safe company?

Credit Karma is an online service that can let you know what that number is in a secure and safe manner (which is highly important). Check it out to find out your score and also look at the free credit report card to help you better understand the number and also how items on it affect your credit score.

If you don’t know your number or haven’t even looked at your report before, you really need to do this to be sure that everything on there is accurate. Mistakes on it could be costing you money on interest rates and denials of lines of credit.




* Be sure to use a safe internet connection and also a computer free of viruses, spyware and malware before using Credit Karma.

100 Places to Go Before They Disappear

100 Places to Go Before They Disappear by Co+Life, foreword by Ranjedra K. Pachauri, contribution by Desmond Tutu is a stunningly beautiful illustrated book that shows you 100 places that are in very real danger of disappearing in our lifetime. Want to take a look at these places and see what can be done to change their potentially devastating fate? Read this book!


Book Description
“What would our world look like if the planet's average temperature were to rise by only a few degrees? Venice, Bangkok, London, Chicago, and New York would experience severe flooding. The tea fields of Sri Lanka and the vineyards of France would suffer heat and drought. Beijing and Timbuktu would be transformed into deserts, and the Great Barrier Reef's coral colonies would die. The entire nation of Tuvalu would sink into the Pacific Ocean.

As plants and animals vital to local ecosystems continue to perish due to climate change, the face of our planet is already being transformed. 100 Places to Go Before They Disappear features the locations on all seven continents in the greatest danger of disappearing within our lifetime. With an essay by Desmond Tutu, this stunning book will inspire travelers and environmentalists to save gorgeous places that might soon be only a memory.” – 100 Places to Go Before They Disappear


My Thoughts
100 Places to Go Before They Disappear is a look at 100 places that have a very real possibility of no longer being there as they are now within our lifetime. Scary thought, right? There are many places on the list I really want to go to one day including: Venice, Chicago, Manhattan, Olympia, Paris, the Great Barrier Reef, and many more.

It is a visually stunning illustrated book with 100 color photographs. Each location has information to go with each area, including how climate and what people are doing to cause the decline in each location. It isn’t too late to help these places though and information is also given for ideas on how to save these places from changing beyond recognition (or fully disappearing). For more information, visit http://www.100places.com/.

I highly recommend this book to everyone who loves photography books, travel books, environmental books, and anyone who really enjoys beautiful places and learning more about them.



* Thank you to the publisher of 100 Places to Go Before They Disappear, Abrams, for providing me with a copy of this book for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

True Blood’s Alexander Skarsgard - Love Scenes and GQ Cover

My favorite actor and vampire in “True Blood” is Alexander Skarsgard. Love scenes with him and Sookie are sure to be hot this season, or well I hope so anyways!

It is about time she ditches Bill, and I for one cannot wait until she starts hooking up with Eric (the vampire Alexander plays in the series). Yes, I know Anna (who plays Sookie) is married to Stephen Moyer (who plays Bill) in real life. However, in the series I am really rooting for Sookie and Eric.

As Alex told GQ “It’s really clear to Steve and to everybody else what the deal is — which is that Anna is like a sister to me . . . Those love scenes take quite a bit of acting, actually. A lot of acting.”

Sounds like Season Four of True Blood is going to be very steamy with Alexandar Skarsgard love scenes with Anna!

For now though, enjoy the rest of the pics of Alex seen in GQ.


Can we say "Blue Steel"?


Where do they make guys like this? Can I order one?

How to Write a Book Proposal by Michael Larsen

How to Write a Book Proposal by Michael Larson is an excellent find when it comes to getting a book published. If you think you have what it takes to compete in this field, this is the book you need to help put you on the path to possibly make your dreams come true!

Book Description“With more than 100,000 copies sold, How to Write a Book Proposal has been the go-to resource for getting your work published for almost 25 years. This Writer's Digest classic from literary agent Michael Larsen outlines in a clear step-by-step manner how to create an effective nonfiction book proposal. The 4th edition of the book features information about recent changes in the publishing industry, updated trend information, new sample proposals, a completely updated resources section, and a new chapter on online promotion.” – How to Write a Book Proposal


My Thoughts
How to Write a Book Proposal is an in-depth guide to writing a book proposal. I never knew how much time and effort the proposal took. I figured the hard part would be the actual writing of the book. Now, I see that you may not even have to write the book before the proposal! Though, I think that the writing of the book would probably be the first thing I’d personally do.

I have yet to finish the book I’m working on. Though, this guide does give me some inspiration to finish it and actually start on my own proposal.

This guide does not claim to be some kind of miracle to ensure that your proposal will be accepted (don’t we wish?). It does significantly help your chances as opposed to just writing something brief about your book and hoping it will spark interest in a publisher.

I highly recommend this book to everyone that wants to have any type of a book published. It is really a must-read for anyone wishing to pursue a career as a writer.



Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Cascade Complete Review and Sample Giveaway

Hate washing gross dishes with food that has been stuck on them for 24 hrs? Well, the new Cascade Complete could help with that problem when it comes to cleaning those dishes.

I was a little bit iffy if it could really do what it said. So, I took the 24 hour challenge to bake something that would normally require time and a lot of effort to clean. I baked a gluten-free blueberry cobbler and let it sit out for 24 hours. I didn’t even pre-soak it or rinse it. I put in a normal load of dishes in the dishwasher and then added in the Cascade Complete. Once the load was finished washing, I took it out and everything was clean, including the dish used for the blueberry cobbler! I was quite surprised (and glad).

If you would also like to try this out for yourself, I have 5 samples that I can send you to try this challenge out too.

Want a Sample?
Follow my blog publicly and enter the following ways:

1 comment – tell me what you’d cook in the dish for the 24 hr challenge to use with the Cascade Complete All-in-1 Action Pacs.
1 comment – blog about this sample to let others know they can possibly get a sample too (be sure to post a link to this page) and in the comment leave the URL to your blog page about it.
1 comment – tweet about it (same as above)
1 comment – leave a facebook comment about this (same as above)

I'll pick the winners of the samples on May 31, 2011.



Thanks to Cascade and MyBlogSpark, I was able to review the new Cascade Complete and also am able to offer some samples up to my readers to try out too. All opinions and experiences are my own. The product featured was provided by P&G through MyBlogSpark.

Adele - Rolling in the Deep

I absolutely love this song, so I have to share it. You may have heard it on some of your favorite shows playing in the background (think "Gossip Girl" or "One Tree Hill"). I have yet to hear it on the radio where I live, but that is fine because I'm buying the CD.

Here is the video of "Rolling in the Deep" by Adele.



What do you think? Love it? Hate it? Have it? Want it? Discuss!

Faeries: Deluxe Collector’s Edition by Brian Froud and Alan Lee

Faeries: Deluxe Collector’s Edition by Brian Froud and Alan Lee is a beautiful look into the world of faeries as illustrated by Brian Froud. If you ever wanted to purchase this book or perhaps already own the original copy, this is really a must buy for your collection of faeries.


Book Description
“A quarter of a century after its initial publication, and with more than a million copies in print worldwide, Brian Froud and Alan Lee’s Faeries is a certified fantasy classic. Now, Froud and Lee return to their most enduring and beloved work in this deluxe anniversary edition. This ultimate collector’s book features eight new pieces of art by Froud and Lee with the original pencil drawings and watercolors.

More than just a reissue, this deluxe revised and updated edition contains essays from both Froud and Lee on the continuing influence of Faeries. There is also a foreword by bestselling author Jane Yolen.” – Faeries: Deluxe Collector’s Edition


My Thoughts
Faeries: Deluxe Collector’s Edition showcases just how talented Brian Froud is when it comes to showcasing how he portrays faeries. These are not your run-of-the-mill faeries playing in a meadow in cute outfits. The 200 + illustrations featured in this edition are for adults to appreciate, and yes, some are nude.

Although this is not a book aimed towards kids, it is worth the purchase for yourself (or to give as a gift). Each layout in the book is stunningly gorgeous and has captivating tales to go along with it. It is the type of book that could be devoured in a single night, or left to explore for a long stretch of time by only reading a few pages a day.

Faeries: Deluxe Collector’s Edition is a truly artistic view of faeries. It is perfect for any fan of fairies, book lover of artistic books, and anyone creative at heart. I highly recommend this edition to everyone that adores such things.



* Thank you to the publisher of Faeries: Deluxe Collector’s Edition, Abrams, for providing me with a copy of this book for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

How to See Faeries by Brian Froud and John Matthews

How to See Faeries by Brian Froud and John Matthews is a fully enchanting pop-up and pull-out book all about seeing faeries. The artwork is beautiful and the story that goes along with it makes this a perfect book for everyone who wants to see faeries.


Book Description
“International bestselling artist Brian Froud and New York Times bestselling author John Matthews come together for the first time to create a spectacular interactive book that opens the doors to the enchanted world of Faerie. How does one discover faeries in one’s backyard or a garden, forest, or meadow? Through insets, hidden messages, magical signs, reflective mirrors, and other paper mechanics, Froud and Matthews reveal how anyone may discover the way to the land of Faerie. All you need is to believe and to own this book!” – How to See Faeries


My Thoughts
How to See Faeries is a mystical book all about seeing faeries. It is quite enchanting and will easily have you read through it in one sitting, but many times. It is a fun read and all of the hidden messages and pop-ups and pull-outs really make it an interactive read that will leave you wanting to read it again and again.

Unlike some of Brian Froud’s artwork, this book does not include any nude faeries (at least from what I could see). So, it is perfectly fine for kids to read. It is written in a rhyming sort of way that kids would very much enjoy being read to while searching in the pictures for faeries. Some of the pop-ups and pull-outs could be destroyed by younger kids that don’t value books yet, so leave them alone with this book at your own discretion.

I highly recommend How to See Faeries to everyone that loves faeries and needs a little help in seeing and hearing them. If you try, you may just start seeing hidden faeries in your life after reading this book.



* Thank you to the publisher of How to See Faeries, Abrams, for providing me with a copy of this book for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Update and Pictures from the April 27, 2011 Tornadoes in Alabama

Thank you so much to everyone that has commented on my previous post about the tornadoes, sent me e-mails and messages and has also sent prayers or support in some way to the victims from the tornadoes in the South.

I honestly don’t even know where to begin writing this post. So, I’ll give some updates on what it is like here and also share some pictures of the damage around where I live.



This is a picture I took outside our house probably about 5 minutes before we heard the tornado come through. The trees behind where you see the house, it looked like a war zone after the tornado. To the right of there and across the river they also saw complete devastation. Shortly after it went through, we saw many red, white and blue lights flashing in the distance for hours. The next day we found out they were searching for people, some were fished out of the water.







Where I live, our road was extremely lucky. We live just one street away from an area that was completely devastated. The trees that were down on our road that hit power lines and fell on some houses didn’t kill anyone. We lost water for 4 days and power for almost one whole week though.

Everything that happened almost two weeks ago is still so unreal. You see national disasters on the news, but until it is in your own backyard (quite literally) you just don’t grasp how devastating it can be for people. The following pictures are of the debris still floating in the river by our house and some shots of the area that was hit so hard by where I live.







When I was driving back home from the store a few days ago, I clocked just how wide the destruction from that tornado was. 1.5 miles wide. For what was once such a beautiful country road, it will never look or feel the same again. Of course, that can be said for everywhere the tornado hit that was 200 or 300 miles long of destruction.

If you can possibly donate anything to the Red Cross or other organizations that are helping the victims from these tornadoes that went through, they do still need much support. If you can’t donate money, prayers are of course always welcome and much needed for people too.

100 Recipes Every Woman Should Know by Cindi Leive and the Editors of Glamour

100 Recipes Every Woman Should Know by Cindi Leive and the Editors of Glamour isn’t just a cookbook, this is a guide for women on how to move through life – and eat great while doing it.


Book Description
Once upon a time, there was an easy roast chicken recipe, handed down by a fashion editor at Glamour magazine to her assistant, who was in search of a dish to prepare for dinner with her boyfriend. She made the chicken. Her boyfriend loved it. He had seconds. And shortly thereafter, he proposed. But that’s not all: Three more young women at the magazine made the chicken for the men in their lives who then, in short order, popped the question. Glamour published the recipe—dubbing it, naturally, Engagement Chicken—and since then, the magazine’s editors have heard from more than 60 women who have gotten engaged after making the dish.

Commitment-phobes be warned: This bird means business!

Of course, there is more to life than weddings. And there’s more to this cookbook than Engagement Chicken. 100 Recipes Every Woman Should Know also includes 99 of the magazine’s other most-loved, best-reviewed dishes, all designed to get you exactly what you want in life, exactly when you want it. From Prove to Mom You’re Not Going to Starve Meat Loaf to Impress His Family Chardonnay Cake, these recipes will help you cook with passion and persuasion. And they’re all written with your real life and real needs in mind. Because whether you’re a novice or an expert, cooking should never be intimidating—and it should always be fun.

Don’t miss these easy, essential recipes:
• He Stayed Over Omelet
• Skinny Jeans Scallops
• No Guy Required Grilled Steak
• Let’s Make a Baby Pasta
• Forget the Mistake You Made at Work Margarita
• Bribe a Kid Brownies
• Hers and His Cupcakes
– 100 Recipes Every Woman Should Know


My Thoughts
100 Recipes Every Woman Should Know is a collection of some of the best recipes you will ever need to prepare. If you are a woman that doesn’t cook very often, this is really for you. It is a pretty cookbook and even though there aren’t intimidating pictures of all of the recipes, it is very helpful. The recipes are easy enough to master after a few times preparing and without that picture perfect version of what it “should” look like, it really doesn’t seem so scary to try them.


I wouldn’t start out trying the “Engagement Chicken” recipe first, though you could if you really want to. Some of my favorites that I tried out for myself include:

All-Grown-Up Deviled Eggs
Beyond Basic Broccoli
Complexion Soup
Fancy Pants Coffee and Ice Cream Sundae
He Stayed Over Omlet
Season Finale Shrimp
Sexy City Cocktail
Yes, I Make My Own Salsa

If you love to cook or if you are just starting out cooking, this is a fantastic book that will have you cooking some seriously delicious recipes in no time. I highly recommend this cookbook to all of you.


* Thank you to the publisher of 100 Recipes Every Woman Should Know, Hyperion, for providing me with a copy of this book for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

63 Documents the Government Doesn’t Want You to Read by Jesse Ventura

63 Documents the Government Doesn’t Want You to Read by Jesse Ventura is a must read book for every American. These aren’t unfound “conspiracies” in this book. It features 63 documents that you can look up for yourself and read in full to see the truth for yourself.


Book Description
“The official spin on numerous government programs is flat-out bullsh*t, according to Jesse Ventura. In this incredible collection of actual government documents, Ventura, the ultimate non–partisan truth–seeker, proves it beyond any doubt. He and Dick Russell walk readers through forty–seven of the most incriminating programs to reveal what really happens behind closed doors. In addition to providing original government data, Ventura discusses what it really means and how regular Americans can stop criminal behavior at the top levels of government and in the media.

Among the cases discussed:
•The CIA’s top-secret program to control human behavior
•Operation Northwoods—the military plan to hijack airplanes and blame it on Cuban terrorists
•The discovery of a secret Afghan archive—information that never left the boardroom
•Potentially deadly healthcare cover–ups, including a dengue fever out–break
•What the Department of Defense knows about our food supply—but is keeping mum

Although these documents are now in the public domain, the powers that be would just as soon have them stay under wraps. Ventura’s research and commentary sheds new light on what they’re not telling you—and why it matters.” – 63 Documents the Government Doesn’t Want You to Read


My Thoughts
63 Documents the Government Doesn’t Want You to Read is a book that may have you start questioning the government, if you haven’t already started to do so.

Jesse Ventura writes the intro to the documents as he would explain about them on his show Conspiracy Theories. This sets the tone for what you are about to read in the government document for that chapter.

The book is divided into five categories:
• Our Scandalous Postwar History
• Government, Military, and Corporate Secrets
• Shady White Houses
• 9/11
• The “War on Terror”


Each of the categories featured have documents that should be read by everyone. Some of my favorites from the book include: U.S. Capabilities in Chemical and Biological Warfare, Putting War Criminals to Work in America, Gulf War Illness and our Veterans, “Emergency” Detention Camps and Civilian Inmate Labor Program, and An Internet “Kill Switch”?

This isn’t an anti-America book. Ventura loves his country, but the shady practices going on with the government isn’t something he could just ignore. He is a voice for the people, and in these times we need that more than ever. Someone actually willing to stand up for us and let us know what is going on.

I highly recommend this book to everyone reading this right now. The time for us to be silent and oblivious to these things is over. Read this book ASAP!





* Thank you to the publisher of 63 Documents the Government Doesn’t Want You to Read, Skyhorse Publishing, for providing me with a copy of this book for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Astral Projection and the Nature of Reality by John Magnus

Astral Projection by John Magnus is all about the topic of having an “out of body experience” also known as an OBE or astral projection. If this is something you are interested in trying out or if you just want to know more about this topic, read my review and then go check the book out for yourself.


Book Description
“Go farther than ever before in your journeys to other realities.

Astral Projection and the Nature of Reality goes beyond preconceived notions about how to get out of the body and then back in, as well as the dimensions to which the out-of-body adventurer can travel.

Magnus starts with a brief history of astral projection and then guides the reader through a step-by-step course for reliable projection. He explains how, once out-of-body, we create our own astral world, and he offers techniques for understanding our mind and the nature of reality.

Magnus offers detailed exercises and proven techniques for:
• reliably exiting your body
• confronting the basic fears that can hold you back
• taking advantage of psychic side effects
• taming your mind
• navigating a world in which you have the ultimate power to create
• integrating the lessons you learn from OBEs into your everyday reality
• replenishing your energy...and much more.

Plus, incisive journal entries of his many out-of-body adventures will convince you that it can be done and give you the inspiration to go farther than you ever thought possible.”
– Astral Projection


My Thoughts
Astral Projection is not a book that you will likely read in a night (or even in a week). It is setup so that you can try out the techniques used to prepare to have an OBE and then actually have one. Most of these you would try at night before bed, so it limits how quickly you’d read through the book if doing one each night. You could of course read ahead without doing the exercises though.

Magnus does a worthy job explaining what this is all about and how if you are interested and dedicated can do this too. It may not be an easy or fast road to actually astral projecting, but it could be worth it to explore. Think of it as dreaming, but being in control and maybe actually learning something while sleeping.


The journal entries shared in the book are the author’s own experiences with OBEs are sometimes fun, always interesting, and sometimes quite strange. The astral world is quite different, and learning more about it (even if you may not be so quick to believe in it all) is fascinating.

I tried a few of the techniques featured in the book. Unfortunately, I don’t think I had an OBE. If I did, I don’t remember and it turned into just another dream (which according to Magnus is a part of the astral world too). I’ll keep trying though and hopefully I’ll remember it if I have one soon.

I recommend this book to everyone who wants to explore a new dimension right in the comfort of their own bed and also of course enjoy this type of “New Age” reading.



* Thank you to the publisher of Astral Projection, Hampton Roads Publishing Company, INC., for providing me with a copy of this book for review. All opinions expressed are my own.