Wednesday 31 August 2016

The Brain Fog Fix

The Brain Fog Fix
Author: Dr. Mike Dow
ISBN: 9781401946470




Hi Everyone,

Anyone who knows me, will know that I have a fascination with the brain.  I drive my kids nuts at times when I get going with some new piece of information about our brains.  So to drive them even more insane I grabbed the opportunity to read this book.

It exceeded my expectations.  This seems to me to be a well researched book.  Now take into account I am no expert and I offer no advice other than my opinion on all my findings.  But, I really think this book is worth reading.

If you wake up feeling like you have scatter brain then it may just be what you are feeding it.  What are you doing to keep it developing and excited about life?  The age old saying: 'You are what you eat'  may just be proven within these pages.  Dr, Mike Dow looks at all the impacts of foods we crave or over indulge with.  He writes about all the logical dietary influences we have been bombarded with over the past decades and puts them into perspective.  What you put into your mouth needs to feed your body and your brain, it's not all about dieting!  He explores these impacts in such a readable way, I struggled to put it down and digest the information.  Then there is the movement and spiritual side of things.  Both of which are common sense and not over done in anyway that I was left thinking rather than judging. 

The last section gives you a plan to incorporate all the information into your daily life, for the rest of your life.  I need to go back and read it all again now.  I want to take my time reading it, and absorb every piece of information.  Then I will look at the plan and see where I can make little improvements so that I can enjoy the other end of my life.


Description:

A new epidemic is sweeping the country. Some people call it “ADHD,” “scatter brain,” or “brain fog.” And some people simply say they “just don't feel like themselves”—and haven't for a long time.
People are thinking and feeling worse than ever. Why? Because our brains are not getting the support they need to produce the essential brain chemicals that keep us energized, calm, focused, and inspired. In fact, if you look at the way that most of us live, it's almost as though we had chosen a lifestyle deliberately intended to undermine our brain chemistry.
Fortunately, there is a solution. The Brain Fog Fix is a three-week program designed to help you naturally restore three of your brain's most crucial chemicals: serotonin, dopamine, and cortisol. Rebalancing these three brain chemicals will, in turn, enable the rest of your brain's chemistry to reach optimal levels. You will find yourself thinking more clearly, remembering more accurately, learning more quickly, and unleashing the floodgates of your creativity. You will also find yourself feeling more optimistic, calm, energized, connected, and inspired.
The good news is that this is easier than you think. Instead of trying to ambitiously overhaul one aspect of your life entirely with some difficult-to-maintain resolution, begin by making small and achievable changes in many different areas of your life.

“If I've learned one thing from the thousands of people I've treated, it's that you have to take the whole person into account if you want to think and feel better.” —Dr. Mike Dow


This is available from: Amazon, Fishpond and Book depository


Happy reading





Tuesday 30 August 2016

Tuber of the month

Hi Everyone

I was grabbed more this month by the Ted Talks on youtube than by booktubers.  I found this interesting woman, Rebecca Bellingham.  She has a point.  One of which I will shout from the mountain tops.  We should read to children aloud!  My kids still love to be read aloud to.  Sometimes they sit on their computers while I read aloud, and they still tell me what the story was about.  It is never too late to read out loud to your kids and give them a wonderful experience of the written world.

Take a look at this clip by Rebecca and she what she has to say about reading aloud.  I agree totally with what she has to say.  I was one of those children that struggled to get into the book but was good at decoding.  I had one teacher that read to me out loud and I wish there had of been more, especially in my teen years.







Now go ahead, pick up a book and start reading to your kids!

Happy reading


Tuesday 23 August 2016

Caribbean Vegan

Caribbean Vegan
Author: Taymer Mason
ISBN: 9781615193608
Publishing date: 29 November 2016


Hi Everyone

First I would like to thank Taymer Mason and the publishers for allowing me to view this fabulous book.  I love vegan food, my kids gain pleasure from calling me vegan-ish.  I first started looking into vegan recipes because my kids are allergic to nuts, milk and egg.  Vegan recipes accommodate for no egg and milk while incorporating loads of vegetables.

When I saw this book I was excited by 'Caribbean' as we come to the end of winter in my country, the sound of sun and food tempted me.  

Upon opening the book, I became even more tempted.  This book is beautiful and 'full' of recipes.  I have tried a few and they were easy to prepare and turned out divine.  Tonight we are having curried rice.  I am sure we will enjoy this as much as the other recipes I have given a go.

I am impressed by the flour recipes and the herbal tea recipes.  I am planning on trying most of these out as soon as I finish the assignment I am in the middle of writing.

The treats and dessert recipes have also grabbed my eye as all sweet food tends to do. 
Roll on summer when I have all the summer fruits to compliment these recipes.

Overall my opinion of this book is very high.  With beautiful pictures to compliment the fabulous 175 recipes that are easy to prepare, this is a book I would purchase for friends and family for Christmas.



Description:

Now in color and with 50 recipes new to this edition—vegan Caribbean fare that's delicious, spicy, and authentic

There's so much more to Caribbean cuisine than pineapples and coconuts. The real secret is in the herbs and spices: With the right sauce or seasoning blend, everyday ingredients transform into unforgettable Caribbean delights.

A native Barbadian, Taymer Mason welcomes vegan home cooks to this rich tradition that combines African, French, Asian, and Indian influences with an unmistakable local flair. Covering a remarkable variety of tropical flavors and ingredients, Caribbean Vegan serves up 175 recipes—for every meal—that will spice up your diet like no other cookbook.
Sample the local flavors of Barbados, Saint Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Grenada, and the French West Indies.Island Tips explain the key ingredients, equipment, and techniques of Caribbean cuisine.50 all-new recipes include Caribbean Sushi, Beachside Fish Tacos, Apple Guava Crostata, and much more!



Happy reading






The earlier publication of Caribbean vegan is available through Amazon but I would recommend picking up a copy of this new edition which contains more recipes and would compliment your kitchen, where ever you live in the world.

Friday 19 August 2016

Good morning, Everyone

I woke up this morning, got my breakfast and went back to bed to read my book.  But, I have to admit I got a little distracted along the way and found this Facebook.  I like the little quotes and pictures that Titlewave put up on their Facebook page, hence I would like to give them a little 'shout out' of thanks and a highlight link to their page.



I have a book awaiting me now. 
Happy reading




Tuesday 16 August 2016

The Wine and Chocolate Workout

The Wine and Chocolate Workout
Author: Greta Boris
ISBN: 9780692323731



I have found the perfect workout dietary book!

I love chocolate and I love health and fitness.  Wine, I can give or take.  I know there are health benefits to wine but I have never had more than the odd one, mainly at Christmas.  I did find the information about wine very interesting.  I will look more into the health benefits of the odd glass of wine after reading this book.  Still, I will remain a small wine drinker.  As for chocolate... I am totally convinced there are health benefits to dark chocolate especially in my diet. :)

This book is extremely well written.  I always enjoy a good health book and this one is just that.  Years ago I read a book titled 'Diet no more'.  It was the best diet, or rather non-diet book, I have ever read.  This book is right beside that book on my list.  Greta Boris takes chocolate and wine, and adds it (in small doses) to a healthy living life style.  It is an action plan for life.  Just what I like!  Diets do not work!  I have seen so many people jump from diet to diet only to head back to where they came from.  I have seen my slim friends stay slim by not dieting.  They don't over eat, they simply enjoy a healthy life style, one of which they have had since... forever.

I found it refreshing reading this book.  It is meant to be read and implemented over several months, but I read it over the weekend.  I had to keep reading, as each chapter inspired me.  I have spent the last 6 weeks unable to exercise due to an injury, so reading this book was the next best thing.  I will pick this book up over and over again to remind and inspire me to remain on the healthy living journey that I have enjoyed since I read 'Diet no more'.  For all of you out there that are tired of dieting.... read this book.  There is nothing better than finding a lifestyle that you are happy to sustain for a life time.  You are worth the journey.


Description:

Diets take all the fun out of life. Greta Boris, Health Coach and Personal Trainer for close to 20 years, soon realized her clients weren't going to give up all their favourite treats (like wine and chocolate) and they didn't have to. Learn her secrets to a healthier, lighter life in this fun, easy read.



Happy reading






This was available from: Amazon, Fishpond and Book depository

Friday 12 August 2016

As Man Thinketh

As Man thinketh
Author: James Allen


'A man is literally what he thinks, his character being the complete sum of all his thoughts'


This book was originally writing a century ago! 

Taking this into consideration I was drawn to reading it, to compare the thoughts of yester-years inspirational writers, to todays.  There is a self-help book, blog, tweet, for everything under the sun; for every personality type and circumstance; available on the net and the book shelves of every library and book store.  We are pampered with wisdom today, yet seem emotionally worse off than our forefathers.

Hence, when I come across this in my Kindle store I had to click - buy.

I was pleasantly surprised by the similarities of todays writers to the past.  We haven't come that far!  That is not to say that I have read a load of self help books, but I have looked ta many for authors and I am always drawn to quotes (have been since my teen years). 

Is it really that we are more emotionally distressed today?  Are we more stressed?

Think about it.  We have technology for everything; washing machines for everything; a machine for every job in the kitchen; electricity to enable us to work the night away; television and computers to enlighten us in our spare time (what spare time!).  

In my opinion, every generation will have their issues.  They will be more stressed than the past.  But in reality we have no 'real' reality of the feelings and stresses of the past generations, as we have not lived in their shoes.  Then again many of the past generations didn't even have the glorified 'shoe'

Now considering I have just got out of bed, and write this while I eat my breakfast, I have to stop here.  This is making me think too hard for such an early hour!

As a man thinketh... Each generation will have its thoughts and opinions.

This books makes me think we will still have similar views in the future, as yesterday, only we will not realise so.


Description: 

"As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he."" With that simple but profound philosophy and the right application of thought you can overcome obstacles, reach goals, improve health, and achieve serenity. Since its initial publication a century ago, millions around the world have responded to James Allen's powerful message of positive thinking and have used it to achieve their maximum potential. Included in this edition are Allen's insightful "Morning and Evening Thoughts, " a collection of beautiful daily meditations that feed the mind and soul."

This was available from Amazon.com and Book depository


Happy reading
 


Tuesday 9 August 2016

Educational Flash Back

Hi Everyone,

How much do you know about your country's education system?

I am on my last education paper, towards my degree, and I think it is almost the most interesting.  I went through my country's education system, being educated at a primary, intermediate and secondary school before entering tertiary education.  I was just the same as any 'normal' state educated child.  Now I am studying the history of our Education Acts. 

If you haven't looked into where your education evolved from, research it.  You might find it quite interesting.

I am finding out that although it seems a lot has changed in education, maybe very little has.  We are still battling the same issues that were argued in our original Education Act.  I was one of the students that was educated during the 'Tomorrows schools' and 'No child left behind' arguments.  I have also home educated and tutored, seeing education from the other side of the fence (one of which I originally questioned).  As I research more of our Acts and movements, I am finding myself becoming more interested in my country's history.

We all know of our country's wars... but do we really know what has shaped the people who entered such wars.  What do we know of their education and social backgrounds?

Why did you go to school?

Why did you learn the core subjects?

Why do we place standards on core subjects more than ever today?

Is there more testing today than there was 100 years ago?  It's looking like there was heavy testing and teacher evaluation a century ago.  It was removed, only to return during my lifetime.  Now as I prepare to enter the world of teaching in a state education system, I will face the same arguments for and against standardisation that our forefathers did... Interesting!


Anyway this is what is running through my head at the moment.  I am busy reading documentations rather than some of the books that have mounted up beside my bed.  But I have not lost the plot!  I still read for pleasure.  What passionate reader can resist the books beside there bed... really.

Now go read your book.

Happy reading





Friday 5 August 2016

The Descendant

The Descendant: Guardians of the Worlds
Author: Ally Capraro
ISBN: 1-943386-12-9


Hi Everyone,

One of the first things I loved about this book was the cover.  Yes, the cover.  As a child I was always told to never judge a book by it's cover.  How can any girl who loves all things girly, not pick up this book because of the cover.  It was an instant draw card for me.

In the first few pages I wondered what I was about to read, but I was not disappointed.  The book was brilliantly written with clever background themes.  It was the background themes that I recommend this book for.  The way the connection with 'stream' was explained, was very well done.  If we could take the insights of good verses evil from this story into the dynamics of real life, some of the results could be interesting.

I enjoyed the beauty and freedom of the new realm Ava entered, I would love to go live there.  I enjoyed all of the characters.  I liked the reconnection of the family unit as Ava found out about her Aunty and parents.  The way there was only a little, innocent romance, also made the book readable.  I have to admit that I do not think every book, especially young adult books, need to have so much romance to make it an enjoyable read.  So overall this book has my recommendations scattered all over it.

Thank you Ally Capraro for gifting my a copy of your book.  All the best with your future novels you have the makings of a top author.

Happy reading









This was available from: Amazon and Book depository