Saturday 29 November 2014

Do hard things



Do Hard Things
Authors: Alex and Brett Harris
ISBN: 978-1-60142-154-8
Pages: 241

Do Hard Things: A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations

A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations

Hi every one.  This book came with the recommendation of my daughter and her friends.  Once my daughter had read it there was no going back... I was made to read it.  I am glad I did.  This book is a fantastic inspiration for teens everywhere.  When did the invention of the word teenager even enter our culture?  Really I had given this little thought.  I grew up in the age of teens.  It has always been in our culture... well as far as I was aware.  Take a step back in time and you will find that children went from children to the adult world.  Working to keep the farm and family going.  Helping the father and mother as they transitioned very quickly to adults.  Not today.  We have given teenagers a stage to be, anything.  Often that means parties, alcohol and many more options that effect the brain, development, emotions and our future culture. 

Alex and Brett Harris are young adults that are changing this movement.  They believe that teens have the power to do great things.  Extremely huge, awesome things.  The movement they have encouraged is inspiring some dynamic teens to step out and change their environment. 

They have a website that has become one of the biggest websites for teens.  http://therebelution.com/

I never gave this much thought until reading this book.  I do think we give teens mixed ideas about being teens.  We expect them to study and go to university/college more than ever before, but at the same time we encourage them to be idiots with their time.  Really... think about it.  They can do hard things and they can do great things with their time.  They are awesome young adults, just give them a chance.

I highly recommend all teens and parents read this book.


This was available from: Book depository, Fishpond, Amazon and The Rebelution website


http://www.fishpond.co.nz/Books/Do-Hard-Things-Alex-Harris-Brett-Harris/9781601421128

http://www.amazon.com/Do-Hard-Things-Rebellion-Expectations/dp/1601421125/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417253217&sr=8-1&keywords=do+hard+things


Wednesday 19 November 2014

From the mixed-up files of Mrs. Basil E Frankweiler

 


From the mixed-up files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
Author: E. L. Konigsburg
ISBN: 978-0-689-71181-7
Pages:162

From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs Basil E. Frankweiler
 
Two-time Newbery medal winner
 
 
Claudia decides to run away and talks her brother, Jamie, to going with her.  They stay at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  The museum brings more adventure and mystery than they ever imagined.  They learn something each day, not only about history but also about themselves.  When a statue of an angel arrives at the museum, they study the histroy of Michelangelo to find out if it was made by him.  The mystery leads them to Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler who is a collector of secrets. 
 
An intriguing story.  I liked they way the children planned and structured each day.  They had to figure out ways to survive.  They had to find out about each other and themselves.  They battled the inner reasons for running away in the first place.  They found beauty in a statue and life.  I enjoyed listening to my son read this aloud to me.  I had to contain myself from reading ahead, just a little.  As the ending came together and the mystery was solved, they had to keep their own secret for the sake of the statue and the elderly woman, Mrs.  Basil E. Frankweiler.
 
Although I disagree with children running away, I loved the learning and principles, that the children encountered.   We all enjoyed this book as we sat each day to hear a little more. 
 
This book is now also a movie.
 
It was available from: Fishpond, Book depository and Amazon
 
 
 

Thursday 13 November 2014

I am in here


 


I am in here
Authors: Elizabeth M Bonker and Virginia G Breen
ISBN: 978-0-8007-2071-1
Pages: 233

I am in Here: The Journey of a Child with Autism Who Cannot Speak But Finds Her Voice
 
 
Elizabeth is a young girl with autism who cannot speak but writes the most amazing beautiful poetry.  Elizabeth and her brother were normal children until they received their vacinations.  The result was a life with autism.  Through the help of a great teacher she was shown how to write on  a keyboard.  This girl wants to help the world understand autism and through this book and her poetry she has, at least, enabled me to see autism differently.  Her poetry says "I am in here".  That touched my heart.  How often do we look at people who have disabilities and think of the as not all in there.  I think if we were all honest we have all thought differently of people who cannot talk fluently, or those who are not the same as what we class as normal.  Reading this book I would say Elizabeth has more to offer the world, even without speech, than many other individuals around.  Take a look at this book for understanding of autism, but also for the poetry of a girl who speaks loudly through the written word.  She has a beautiful heart.
 
Me
 
I sometimes fear
That people cannot understand
That I hear
And I know
That they don't believe I go
To every extreme
To try to express
My need to talk.
If only they could walk
In my shoes
They would share my news:
I am in here
And trying to speak every day
In some kind of way
(age 9)
(Page 23)

 
 
So Much to Do
 
 
There was a girl
Who spent her life in a whirl
Going here and there
With no time to spare.
She missed the times
When the bells would chime.
Anxious to fill her day
She did not see the flower blooming
Or the airplane zooming.
She missed some of the best of life
In her strife
To do it all.
(Page 47)
 
This was available from: Book depository, Fishpond and Chirstan manna stores
 
 

 


Wednesday 5 November 2014

My favourite cookbooks!

 


I have been so busy studying and sitting exams, that the only reading I have achieved is academic.  I don't want to put you to sleep so, I thought I would talk cooking.  Who doesn't like food!

 
 
Edmonds Cookery Book
 
The Edmonds Cooker Book.  Old but tried and I have to say it has always been in my home.  I learnt from this cook book.  It was the only cook book I used apart from my mothers hand written cook book, until I left home.  To be completely honest with you, I never touched another cook book for years after I left home.  My daughter uses this now to bake.  She hasn't touched any other recipes in this book but she keeps going back to it for baking.  This is one book I would give to anyone leaving home who doesn't do much cooking.  It has been around so long that the ingredients are kitchen staples.  One highly recommended, old but true cook book.





Nourishing Traditions
 
Nourishing Traditions, this is more than a cook book.  With over 600 recipes you cant really go wrong.  I have tried quite a few recipes in this book and I especially love the Moroccan chicken.  I love the left overs the next day on pizza with loads of vegetables.  The reason I love this book though is the nutritional information.  It is packed with information.  It isn't any normal recipe book. Looking at all the diets out there today that talk of going back to the traditional diets... Nourishing Traditions has been giving readers this insight for years.  But it also explains all the nutritional facts and traditional cooking interventions that have long been forgotten, but are coming back into fashion today as people question the processing of foods.
 
 
 

The Revive Cafe Cookbook
 
Now for my new favourite!
 
The Revive Cafe Cookbook.  I can not speak highly enough about this book.  And... there are four in the series so far!  I keep collecting.  The recipes are Divine, and ever so healthy.  I have a whole new way of cooking thanks to the revive cookbooks.  I am longing now to get my hands on book 4 that has just hit the shelves in town.  What I really like about this book is the fact that I have 95% of the ingredients in my cupboards.  I get really annoyed when I get a recipe book but cannot source the ingredients.  Not so with this one.  The recipes are vegan but easily adapted by putting in chicken or any other substitute.  To be honest with you though it has opened my mind to vegetables.  I have never had so many recipes, to entice my family with, that are vegetable based.  The kids love dinner time now.  No more meat and three veg in our house anymore.  The table is full of Divine meals based on veges.  Yum!  I cannot wait until tea time now.