Book Review: Malibu Farm Cookbook: Recipes from the California Coast |One of my new favorite Cookbooks, can't wait to cook my way through it!

Situated at the end of the pier, Malibu Farm is a restaurant beloved for its spectacular Pacific Ocean views, the freshly sourced ingredients on its ever-changing menu, and its warm vibe. Chef-owner Helene Henderson opened the space after the once-intimate dinners she hosted on the grounds of her home grew too large. Now, in Malibu Farm Cookbook, she invites you celebrate the coast and mountains of Southern California with dishes like Ricotta and Pea Frittata, Butterfly Beef Tenderloin with Horseradish, Seared Fava Beans, and Grilled Chocolate Cake with Caramel Sauce. Helene captures the spirit of her own farm with recipes using the morning’s fresh eggs, the catch of the day, the luscious vegetables that grow all around, honey harvested steps from where it’s enjoyed, and olive oil straight from her grove.  Punctuated with luscious, vibrant photography, Malibu Farm Cookbook is a stunning sensory experience that transports you right to the edge of the Pacific.


My Thoughts:

I love this cookbook, oh who am I kidding...I love just about ALL cookbooks. I couldwan't it for the “Malibu Farm Cookbook” to arrive. I must say it has quickly become one of my favorite cookbooks.  I have read this book cover to cover and I am really inspired..and hungry. Every recipe in this book is simple yet gourmet,using the freshest of ingredients from Southern California.

Disclaimer:
I received this book free from bloggingforbooks.org in exchange for my honest opinion.

Book Review: Hairstyled by Anne Thoumieux

Spruce up any outfit with your best accessory—your hair!
You don’t need to be a professional to get show-stopping hair. Hairstyled presents 75 deceptively simple techniques for creating your favorite high-fashion hairstyles. Dress up your everyday look with a ballerina bun or accessorize with a scarf bow. Turn heads at special occasions with the woven crown braid or a regal bouffant. 

Each style has how-to photographs that are easy to follow, and chapters dedicated to a variety of hair lengths and textures help you update your look whether you have a pixie cut or long, curly tresses. With product tips and countless ideas for accessorizing your ’do and inventive variations on classic styles, Hairstyled is your guide to getting gorgeous hair every day.

My Thoughts:
Obviously since I'm a guy I won't be using this book on MY hair, but as a dad of three young daughters I thought this book would be helpful for my wife and myself. There are some hairstyles in there that our 12 year old says are "too girly", but our younger two LOVE. The pictures are really nice, & there are step by step instructions on how to do the hairstyles. 

I guess because I'm a guy and don't "fix" my hair in styles like this, I find it confusing. It would have been nice to have step by step pictures along with the instructions. 

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars

Disclaimer:
I received this book free from bloggingforbooks.org in exchange for my honest review. 

Paris Street Style: A Coloring Book | The adult coloring book is reinvented in a brand new format.

Wherever you’re off to, take this cheeky and charming coloring journal with you. Transport yourself to the corner pâtisserie, and give life to the stylish essentials laid out from your suitcase. Beautifully detailed outfits, accessories, and hairstyles complement the equally ornate cityscapes. Embellish whimsical, full-page patterns and classic dresses with your own style. Window shop the elegant stores of Paris while you give life to playful fashion.  Like a high-end journal, this sleek package has an elastic closure and a satin ribbon marker so you can dip in and dip out of your own French fashion week. With nothing more than some colored pencils, you'll be on your way to a stress-free, Parisian-chic day.

My Thoughts

This isn't my first go round with adult coloring book, I've gotten a few in the past for my oldest daughter. I did flip through the book before giving it to my oldest, and I really liked the Paris life scenes.I think for older people might find this book a bit frustrating rather than relaxing.

There is a nice variety of pictures to color including, Paris street life and shops, people,flowers and perfumes. 

Disclaimer:

I received this book free from bloggingforbooks.org in exchange for my honest review. 

4 Key Foods, 4-Minute Workouts, Four Weeks to the Body You Want

Discover the 4 key foods and the 4-minute workouts that will change the way readers look and feel in just 4 weeks. Celebrity trainer and former marine Erin Oprea's motto is "lean and clean." Her unique 4 x 4 diet shows readers how to get clean by reducing the 4 major hitches in most diets: sugar, starch, sodium, and alcohol. She also tells readers how to get lean, using her 4-minute tabata workouts: 8 repititions of 20 seconds of high-intensity moves, then 10 seconds of rest. Within 4 weeks, the average person will be able to reduce bloating and belly fat; gain increased muscle definition in the arms, legs, and stomach; improve cardiovascular endurance; and break sugar and sodium addictions. Complete with meal plans and recipes, the 4 x 4 diet is perfect for anyone looking to streamline their body and lifestyle.

My thoughts:

Erin has found a way to incorporate diet and exercise into our already busy lives, without having to add a ton of added expense or unrealistic expectations! The 4x4 diet is really simple and easy to understand, and Erin's ideas on a healthy lifestyle are very easy to implement. She eases you into the program slowly and each week is a new challenge. The recipes are absolutely delicious! I've tried a few of them already and I have loved every one! 

*Disclaimer*

I received this book free from bloggingforbooks.org

Create the cutest versions of your favorite dogs in just a few simple steps

Whether you adore dachshunds or dalmatians, you’ll be surprised at how easy it is to make charming miniatures of them with a felting needle and some raw wool. Great for beginners, the two dozen projects in Little Felted Dogs provide surprisingly life-like results—choose from a litter of golden retriever puppies, a pug ready to fetch, a begging bulldog, a protective chihuahua, and more. Even better, you’ll go from ball of fluff to perfect pooch in no time at all!

*My Thoughts*
This book is super cute if I may say so myself. I mainly got this book for my wife and 12 year old daughter. They are always looking for new crafts to try, and this book is just right! I can't wait to see all of the cute lil' pups they create! 

If you are looking for a new craft, I suggest you check out this book! 

*Disclaimer*
I received this book free in exchange for my honest review. 

Become your own budget wedding planner with this classic book—fully revised and expanded...

Become your own budget wedding planner with this classic book—fully revised and expanded to include advice on personalizing your event and using online planning tools

Designing a wedding that is priceless and perfect for you has never been easier. No matter how many guests you hope to invite or what kind of setting you choose, you don’t have to take on big debts to achieve your big day. 

For more than a decade, Priceless Weddings for Under $5,000 has helped couples craft unique and meaningful celebrations while saving money on every aspect—even the high-ticket items. Completely revised, updated, and expanded with more than 25% new material, this edition reveals the secrets and resources for planning a wedding like a pro.  You’ll learn how to make every detail and every dollar count with:

·         All-new chapters on envisioning your ideal event as well as using online resources and apps to find the most creative options and the best deals 

·         A questionnaire to help you decide—as a couple—on your top priorities for the day

·         Strategies for making—and keeping to—a budget 

·         Dozens of unexpected ideas for booking a low-cost venue

·         Tactics for negotiating with caterers, florists, musicians, and photographers

·         Advice on which elements you can DIY to save thousands (without risking your sanity)

·         Menu plans, recipes, and many other low-cost alternatives for the food and drinks 

·         Tips for finding stylish attire at a fraction of the cost

·         Real-life couples’ wedding stories, including complete budget breakdowns

Priceless Weddings for Under $5,000 proves you can create a celebration that everyone remembers forever, and still end up with plenty of money for the happy future.

*My Thoughts*

When I deployed in 2010,my wife took a course and is now a certified Bridal Consultant. It thought this book might help her out not only when helping others plan their wedding, but alsot help her(us) plan our vow renewal ceremony for our 10 yr anniversary. 

After skimming through the book, I gave it to my wife. We both found book to be wonderful! It has real-life solutions for brides-to-be. The average wedding in the U.S. costs tens of thousands of dollars and that simply too much if you ask me(and even if you don't ask, haha). In the 5 years that my wife has helpd couples plan their wedding I have learned that the he bridal industry takes advantage of brides who want their day to be a "once in a lifetime" event. Kathleen Kennedy helps you do just that, but with budget conscious ideas. This book is not about cutting corners. It is about making priorities and planning a wedding that truly reflects who the bridal couple is; that, as Kennedy explains, does not have to break the bank.

*Disclaimer*
I received this book free from bloggingforbooks.org in exchange for my review. 

Book Review - Asian Dumplings by Andrea Nguyen "Is there anything more satisfying than a well-made Asian dumpling?"

Plump pot stickers, spicy samosas, and tender bāo (stuffed buns) are enjoyed by the million every day in dim sum restaurants, streetside stands, and private homes worldwide. Wrapped, rolled, or filled; steamed, fried, or baked–Asian dumplings are also surprisingly easy to prepare, as Andrea Nguyen demonstrates in Asian Dumplings. 

Nguyen is a celebrated food writer and teacher with a unique ability to interpret authentic Asian cooking styles for a Western audience. Her crystal-clear recipes for more than 75 of Asia’s most popular savory and sweet parcels, pockets, packages, and pastries range from Lumpia (the addictive fried spring rolls from the Philippines) to Shanghai Soup Dumplings (delicate thin-skinned dumplings filled with hot broth and succulent pork) to Gulab Jamun (India’s rich, syrupy sweets). 

Organized according to type (wheat pastas, skins, buns, and pastries; translucent wheat and tapioca preparations; rice dumplings; legumes and tubers; sweet dumplings), Asian Dumplings encompasses Eastern, Southeastern, and Southern Asia, with recipes from China, Japan, Korea, Nepal, Tibet, India, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. 

Throughout, Nguyen shares the best techniques for shaping, filling, cooking, and serving each kind of dumpling. And she makes it easy to incorporate dumplings into a contemporary lifestyle by giving a thorough introduction to essential equipment and ingredients and offering make-ahead and storage guidance, time-saving shortcuts that still yield delectable results, and tips on planning a dumpling dinner party. 

More than 40 line drawings illustrate the finer points of shaping many kinds of dumplings, including gyōza/pot stickers, wontons, and samosas. Dozens of mouth-watering color photographs round outAsian Dumplings, making it the most definitive, inviting, inspiring book of its kind.

-My Thoughts-
I am a foodie, so I absolutely loved just about everything in this book. It brought back memories from when I spent 6 months in Korea. I cannot wait for my wife and children to try some of the items in this book. The photos are gorgeous and the recipies are easy to follow. If you are looking for a new cookbook, I highly recommend this book! 

*Disclaimer*
I received this book free from the pusblisher in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions on my are my own. 

Plump pot stickers, spicy samosas, and tender bāo (stuffed buns) are enjoyed by the million every day in dim sum restaurants, streetside stands, and private homes worldwide. Wrapped, rolled, or filled; steamed, fried, or baked–Asian dumplings are also surprisingly easy to prepare, as Andrea Nguyen demonstrates in Asian Dumplings.

Nguyen is a celebrated food writer and teacher with a unique ability to interpret authentic Asian cooking styles for a Western audience. Her crystal-clear recipes for more than 75 of Asia’s most popular savory and sweet parcels, pockets, packages, and pastries range from Lumpia (the addictive fried spring rolls from the Philippines) to Shanghai Soup Dumplings (delicate thin-skinned dumplings filled with hot broth and succulent pork) to Gulab Jamun (India’s rich, syrupy sweets).

Organized according to type (wheat pastas, skins, buns, and pastries; translucent wheat and tapioca preparations; rice dumplings; legumes and tubers; sweet dumplings), Asian Dumplings encompasses Eastern, Southeastern, and Southern Asia, with recipes from China, Japan, Korea, Nepal, Tibet, India, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

Throughout, Nguyen shares the best techniques for shaping, filling, cooking, and serving each kind of dumpling. And she makes it easy to incorporate dumplings into a contemporary lifestyle by giving a thorough introduction to essential equipment and ingredients and offering make-ahead and storage guidance, time-saving shortcuts that still yield delectable results, and tips on planning a dumpling dinner party.

More than 40 line drawings illustrate the finer points of shaping many kinds of dumplings, including gyōza/pot stickers, wontons, and samosas. Dozens of mouth-watering color photographs round out Asian Dumplings, making it the most definitive, inviting, inspiring book of its kind.