Holiday gifts: Great books for grand kids

/
Holiday gifts: Great books for grand kids

What kid doesn’t love receiving books? And what grandma doesn’t love giving books?

Not many, I dare say, on either count.

Here for gift-giving consideration are great books for grandkids of various ages and interests, books Benjamin and I recently received free for review and wholeheartedly recommend.

Read More

New 2nd Edition of All Fish Faces includes new photos, facts, and tips for saving our oceans (guest post)

/
New 2nd Edition of All Fish Faces includes new photos, facts, and tips for saving our oceans (guest post)

I am excited to announce the release of the 2nd Edition of my children’s picture book, All Fish Faces! The first edition was reviewed on Grandma’s Briefs in 2017, and I wanted to introduce the 2nd Edition to Lisa’s wonderful blog community. The 2nd Editon includes a lot of new information, new photos, and has a brand new look guaranteed to interest kids of all ages.

Read More

Brief book review: Unconditional Love by Jane Isay

/
Brief book review: Unconditional Love by Jane Isay

I recently noticed a new "guide to grandparenting" book making the review rounds on several of my favorite grandma blogger sites. Soon after perusing their thoughts, I was offered the opportunity to check out the book myself.

The book, Unconditional Love by Jane Isay, features the intriguing subtitle, "A guide to navigating the joys and challenges of being a grandparent today."

Upon reading Isay's thoughts and interviews with numerous grandmothers, it seems Unconditional Love can be wholly…

Read More

Positive, powerful pick-me-up: My thoughts on 'I've Been Thinking...' by Maria Shriver

/
Positive, powerful pick-me-up: My thoughts on 'I've Been Thinking...' by Maria Shriver

I've long been a fan of—and subscriber to—Maria Shriver's The Sunday Paper. In her weekly e-newsletter, Shriver shares empowering, encouraging, inspirational thoughts and information on people making a positive difference in our culture, our world.

Shriver opens each newsletter with an engaging personal message  titled "I've been thinking...," on a range of topics relevant to world events and concerns. She follows up with powerful articles and tidbits by and about various "Architects of Change," as she calls the passionate "changemakers moving humanity forward." 

The Sunday Paper never fails to open my eyes and heart to the positive possibilities in our world today despite the doom, gloom, negativity, and nastiness proliferating online and off.

So when I was offered the opportunity to review I've Been Thinking... Reflections, Prayers, and Meditations for a Meaningful Life, Shriver's most recent book, inspired by the messages she writes and shares in The Sunday Paper, I naturally responded, "Heck, yeah!"

Read More

Brief book reviews: Two school story series for boys and girls

/

Award-winning children's author Rachel Renee Russell — along with daughters, co-writer Erin and illustrator Nikki — offers an update to her bestselling Dork Diaries series and a brand-new series boys will love, too.

Meet Max and the "Super Squee Edition" starring Nikki:

THE MISADVENTURES OF MAX CRUMBLY: LOCKER HERO by Rachel Renee Russell

max crumbly

Read More

Cookbook review: 175 Best Air Fryer Recipes by Camilla V. Saulsbury

/

Do you have an air fryer? I reviewed one last year, and it quickly became one of my favorite appliances. I was quite pleased with the way french fries, chicken tenders, BBQ drumsticks and much, much more cooked up fast and oil free. And delicious.

Thing is, I had trouble finding recipes that went beyond the basics, beyond those things mentioned above. So I don't use my air fryer as often as I would like, as often as I could and should.

Enter 175 Best Air Fryer Recipes by Camilla V. Saulsbury, freelance food writer and author of more than 20 cookbooks (including this one I previously reviewed). I received a copy of the glossy cover paperback for review and instantly fell in love with it.

175 best air fryer recipes

Inside the glossy cover of 175 Best Air Fryer Recipes the pages are primarily...

Read More

9 Must-Share Picture Books Packed with Christmas Cheer

/

Christmas picture books

Can You Say It, Too? Jingle! Jingle! by Sebastien Braun (Ages 0-3, $8.99, board book, Nosy Crow — an imprint of Candlewick Press) A colorful Christmas book for kiddos just beginning to talk. What's by the sleigh? In the cave? Behind the door and more? Little ones repeat...

Read More