Books, Books, Books, and What I'm Currently Reading

I am a big lover of my local library and make a trip there every week. As much as I would love to buy and own all of the great books out there that I like, of course my budget doesn't allow that.
But I can check out as many books as I like, and that makes my heart sing.

I love this great book called Books Make A Home. For me, books really do play an important part of my life, my home and myself. The book is filled with great ideas and beautiful pictures of how to store and arrange your books. If you love books and love having them in your home, this a beautiful and inspirational guide.

Flea Market Chic is one of the best books I have ever found about collecting and decorating with vintage or thrift store and flea market treasures. I love shopping for household items and clothing, and love the thrill of the hunt. Flea Market Chic is a beautiful book that will inspire you to make the most of your thrifted items, and will definitely make you want to hit up your local flea market.

It's not that I really believe in astrology, but I do enjoy reading about what is supposed to be coming for me in the future.

I always enjoy any book written by Andrew Weil. He is a Harvard M.D. who has taken a rather alternate and holistic view of maintaining a healthy mind and body.
The Healthy Kitchen is filled with wonderful information about healthy eating and dozens of delicious recipes.

This is my own book and I read Diane Keaton's Then Again when it was first released. It is a truly lovely book with insights into the actress's life and her mothers.
If you like Diane Keaton, this is a wonderful autobiography to read, and it made me happy to read it again and it was even more enjoyable the second time.

On My Mother's Day Wish List - New Audrey In Rome Book

 

 

 

Since Mother's Day is only ten days away, I thought I would put together my own wish list of what I would like to receive.

 

Every year my children always ask me what I would like for a Mother's Day gift and I always say "Oh you know me, I love everything" to which they either roll their eyes or say something like "No you don't, you are the pickiest person I know".
I think that any gift given with heart is a good gift, and after 35 Mother's Days, let's just say I have received some interesting gifts that I still loved.

I would actually love to receive this new book called Audrey In Rome. I have always been fascinated by Audrey Hepburn, along with the rest of the world, not just by her beauty and acting, but by some inner light that she seemed to possess. When My Fair Lady came to the movie theaters in 1964, I was seven years old. My parents took me to see it and it made an impression on me that has lasted a lifetime. I simply fell in love with Audrey Hepburn.

Audrey In Rome is a gorgeous coffee table book with over 200 candid photos from the 20 years she spent living in Rome. It shows off her beautiful fashion sense, whether she is wearing a Givenchy suit, or a plain little black dress.
The book is edited by Audrey's son, Luca Dotti, who is a film and theater writer and producer. Many of the photos in the book have never been published before.
What a great Mother's Day gift this would make for all the Audrey fans out there.




I Love The Library and What I'm Reading This Week

It is no secret that my love for books is legendary in my family. What can I say, I love to read, and there are certainly worse addictions I could have picked up through the years, right?
I do buy books as often as I can, and a gift certificate to Amazon or Barnes and Noble or my local bookstore is always a great gift for me.

But the library is still one of my favorite places to spend a couple of hours each week and I always come home with my book bag stuffed with some treasures. I thought I would share what I picked up to read this week. It's a mixture of fiction and non-fiction, as it usually is.

1. Barefoot In Paris is by one of my very favorite cookbook authors, Ina Garten. This book is all about easy French cooking that you can do at home. I have all of Ina's other books, but somehow I never managed to buy this one. I love the gorgeous pictures in this book and I'm looking for an easy recipe to make from it.

2. The Healthy Back is all about what you can do to keep your back strong and healthy throughout your life. There are easy exercises and yoga poses that can help, and lots of good tips. A few years ago I hurt my back and the pain was agonizing. I was happy to find this book and incorporate the information into my daily life.

3. Trader Joe's Cookbook is from one of the grocery stores that I really love, Trader Joe's. The recipes are all very easy, with an emphasis on portable lunches and picnic food.

4. The Last Lovely City is fiction, and it's a book of short stories by one of my favorite writers, Alice Adams. These nine stories take place mostly in San Francisco, and the characters in them stayed with me long after I closed the book.

5. Aging As A Spiritual Practice is a book that caught my eye and is written by a Buddhist Priest who tries to impart his wisdom into something we all face, aging. I can use all the help I can get, and I'm loving his kind and practical words on this often difficult path.

6. Urban Pantry is written by a Seattle author and it's all about keeping what you need to keep on hand to have a well stocked and interesting pantry. I love her writing style and great recipes.

7. What Can I Bring Cookbook is about what you can bring for a potluck, holiday dinner, picnic, or anywhere else someone might ask you to bring a dish to share.


I didn't realize I had brought home so many cookbooks. But the great thing is, I can take them all back and get new ones that interest me.
I always encourage everyone to use the library. It's free, there are great free programs for adults and children, too. And it's a great place to spend an afternoon.

On My Want List, Paris in Color

By Patricia

I know it may be a cliche, but I have always wanted to visit Paris. With the help of the internet and Pinterest, images of beautiful Paris are easily found.

And it stirs up my desire to go there all over again. When you are young and have a family, one doesn't run off to Paris. And when you are older, and life turns unexpectedly, the chance is still not available.

But I never say never anymore, so who knows, right? I could go to Paris!!

Meanwhile, I have discovered this lovely book called Paris in Color. The author is the blogger Little Brown Pen, and she writes about her life there. Hop on over to her blog for a sweet dose of inspiration and beauty. This book is the very next book on my list to buy and I can hardly wait.

Books are your Friend

 ~ By Samantha ~


Summer is in full swing around here! We have been so busy and on the go that a little "down time" is needed. I think that Liam agrees with me because this morning I caught him sitting in the chair enjoying his books.

Books are so important in our family. My Mom always told us growing up that "book are our friends". A little funny but that was her way of saying to treat a book as well as you would your friends, a book is always there, and you can also turn to book for answers, just like a true friend.