The Complete Karen Katz Collection

Last year, I saw these books at Costco. My favorite section at Costco is the pre-made meals which is second place to the book section.

Although, I bought these for my near one year old. They would make a great gift for a smaller baby or even a two year old.
My nearly four year old loves them as much as her little sister. She has them memorized and actually reads them to us.
The collection included 8 books. When taking the pic,I could only find four. The girls love them and carry them around the house. As of late, we read "Pop" (Grandpa and Me) and "Gramma" (Grandma and Me) every. single. night. for the past two months.
The pictures are bright, vivid, colorful. The flaps (they are flap board books) are sturdy, however, several have been ripped off and put back together with tape.
They are very simple books. For example, on the Grandma and Me it says
"Someone special is at the door, who could it be?"
Under the flap it says "Surprise It's Grandma!"
Derci would not hold still when I started reading to her before bed at 17 months. These were the life saver. Now she is good through Dr. Seuss style books. We read for the recommended 20 minutes minimum every day.
They are all delightful.
"Where is Baby's Belly Button", "What Does Baby Say", "Mommy and Me", "Daddy and Me", "Peek a Baby" are the titles. I have seen them also sold separately.

A Walk To Remember/Nights in Rodanthe-Nicholas Sparks

That dang Nicholas Sparks.
There is a reason I rarely read fiction.
This is one of my favorite movies. I saw it on the shelf at the library while looking for some books for MasterChef the book inhaler.
I thought 'I should read the book!'
One night I read several pages. Couldn't fall asleep for I knew how the book was going to end.
Turned on the light, stayed up til 2am and finished it.
All I can say is that was the perfect time for me to read it since I was crying hysterically before they even fell in love. Contacts were out and no one to ask "Why are you crying Mommy?"

A love story when you are in high school just gets me every time. Why is that? Is it because when you are young you think differently and everything is so..so deep and passionate and heck I don't know what words to use.

The reason this is one of my favorites ( the novel does not disappoint btw) is because my Dad died of cancer, and I just want to be a better person after reading something like this. Even though it is so sad and gut wrenching. You see how many blessings you have and how important it is to live life. Live life kindly and graciously. It's like a little pep talk.

This is one of my favorite movies. It and Disney's Iron Will. Is a prerequisite for my favorite mean- I have to cry deliriously each and every time I watch it, because I do, even though I've seen them a zillion times.

So up on returning, A Walk to Remember, I checked out this


Yes. I am a glutton for punishment and yes, I finished it in one night.
I am going to rent it at Blockbuster while Lovie is hunting. So I can cry by myself. It is so embarrassing. dang it!

While I liked A Walk to Remember more. It was still a good book that left tears in my eyes.
Nights is about a mom whose husband leaves her for another woman and is asked to take care of a friends bed and breakfast for a weekend when there is only one guest....
Yeah. uh huh. We don't see what's going to happen here.
No disrespect. I can totally relate to Nicholas characters, I think most women do, that's why we love him.

Organize As You Go by Marie Ricks

It's true. My favorite pass time is reading Organizational, Parenting, Self Help and newly, Political/Government books. I just can't get enough of them.

I picked up this book on one of my "Seagull Runs". It just popped out to me. Ironically, I have two other organization books by Marie Ricks I haven't read yet!

This is a great book. I have read soooo many and this one is awesome.
First of all, the chapters are really short. So you can read one a day to help motivate you. Marie is fun and light hearted, but encouraging none-the-less.
Secondly, she actually gives advice that I have never head heard before. This is why it popped out to me. With chapters titled"Regroup When They Get Grumpy","Bad News to Good Progress","Deal with Double Discouragements","Maintain Functional Chaos","The Oops Syndrome". How could it not be good??!
There is a little "FLYlady" in here, but I am sure it is her own. Instead of 15 minutes, its "90 Minute miracles".
Take a look!

Mother Warriors By Jenny McCarthy- Autism's False Prophet's By Paul A. Offitt

This book is about how celebrity Jenny McCarthy is handling getting her message out about Autism and stories of other mothers who have had success treating their children's Autism with alternative methods.
She states that by diet you can cure Autism.
I am also reading "Autism's False Prophets" along side of it. They are totally different approaches. While Jenny's book is a more in the trenches and an emotional approach. Offitt's book is purely scientific studies. So you have to go where your belief style is.
On this subject, I am more inclined to take Jenny's side. Why? Because I have seen alternative medicine fix things that traditional medicine told me there was nothing to do.
I have never seen or heard Jenny McCarthy on any of the talk shows, so I went into this being blind. But I had heard, many years ago,that through diet you can help this condition. If you have an autistic child, it would be worth the $13.00. What is it going to hurt to get your child B vitamins and no dairy to see if they improve.

My pediatrician suggested I read "Autism's False Prophets" to help convince me of the safety of the MMR shot through studies not linking MMR vaccinations to autism. Although all of the evidence or studies are there, But of course, anyone can do studies to the be convincing of the result they intend I still do not have the peaceful feeling about inoculating my children with this shot. I think it's called "Mother's intuition".
Autism's False Prophets is written by a doctor who worked to help concoct the rotovirus vaccination. Which leads me to the question "Why is an expert on infectious diseases writing a book on treatments for a non-infectious disease?" Actually, all he is doing is trying to dispel all non traditional methods of treating autism. He says he is not apart of the "big Pharma" but really? Honestly, his attitude is a downer. It's like he's slamming the studies in your face and saying "It's not our fault, ain't nothing you can do about it, don't let the door hit you in the butt on your way out."

Both of these books are generated more to parents who have an autistic child, which I do not. I read this book to see if I could ease my fear, to get the MMR shot, it did not work. I still feel the same. This is a personal decision we all have to make.

By The Way: For two of my pregnancies I was not immune to Rubella. My second and my fifth children. They are 13 years apart. My point: the efficacy (how long it lasts) and that shot REALLY stings and hurts even for a tough broad like me!

100 People Who Are Screwing Up America By Bernard Goldberg

The author straight out tells you this is HIS list, no polls were taken. He didn't care what party affiliation, he just calls them as he see them.
Ingrid Newkirk co founder and President of Peta, Enimen, Neal Shapiro Pres. of NBC News, Diane Sawyer, The Barbara's: Walters and Streisand, Ludacris, Howard Stern, Michael Savage, Phil Donahue, Jimmy Swaggart, Barbara Kingslover, Kitty Kelley, Ted Kennedy, Al Gore,

My Favorite I'd never heard of before:
Laurie David a very rude environmentalist who has no problem yelling in the faces of perfect strangers for driving an SUV, BUT has no problem flying to NY for the weekend in a private jet that uses as much fuel for that trip as a SUV for an entire year.
Amy Richards. A feminist who becomes pregnant with triplets and chooses "to get rid of" two of them (twins) by shooting Potassium Chloride into their hearts because of the inconvenience three babies will bring to her. No remorse. Totally sickening.

Although some subject matter, such as Amy Richards and Howard Stern is quite disturbing.
For the most part it is quite entertaining. It shed a whole new light on some of the rude, offensive and ignorant people we have in our great nation today.
It also helped me with several celebrities. Knowing who I should boycott for their 1) stupidity 2) America Bashing 3) Far left political views and disrespect for people I admire.
I buzzed through this book in a just a few days.

Redefining Joy In The Last Days By Chris Stewart

I was drawn to this book because 1) Chris Stewart's Great and Terrible Series is awesome 2) great title and 3) Its little and cute and a quick read.

I was feeling pretty depressed after eating nothing but vegetables (to get my liver cleansed you know...) and then gaining 2 lbs.
It's so awesome when the Lord answers your prayers.
Its so awesome when the Lord answers your prayers really fast.
Sure enough, the first chapter is what I needed to hear.
Satan knows how to rob me of my joy and by golly he has done a great job in some aspects. Lucifer will steal our happiness if we let him. It's not a new concept, but it was what I personally needed to hear that evening.
Other chapters discuss man v. morality,re evaluating our expectations, true gifts and demanding perfect water. I really liked the gifts and perfect water chapters as well.
Being only 60 pages and about 4x6 inches, it's a small quick read. Although I may not purchase it, if I did I would re-read it periodically. I am going to suggest it for my book club when we need a small, easy read.

The Stripling Warriors and Warriorette Workout By Shane Barker

We are reading this as a family every night and quite enjoying it. The author has good stories that are connecting with my 16 and 14 old sons especially. It's so hard to be a young person right now. I suppose it always has been, but I'm a pretty young mom and even the stuff I went through and my oldest (23) is nothing like now. It could be because we have moved and it's definitely different in South Utah County versus Draper. In Draper is was "cool to be good". Here it is not.

Some of the chapter titles are: Being a Valiant Teenager, Keeping Yourself Clean, Becoming Pure in Heart, Being Courageous, Being an Example and Developing Integrity.
At the end of the chapters he itemizes it and lists "Warrior Workout Tips".
In the Keeping yourself Clean chapter, he outlines the steps to repentance with out sound preachy.
I actually bought this book last Christmas and forgot I had it. We read it fairly quickly and I know it is the right time to read it. I really feel like the spirit is working on my son who always is "pushing the envelope".
I highly recommend this book, if your teens won't read, then read it to them, just a section or chapter every evening. So far this is my second favorite gospel teen book (Righteous Warrior by John BytheWay, all time fav. Read it twice to the kidlets). Easy and enjoyable to read.