Review - I Graduated: Now What?: An Essential Guide to Adulting and Life Skills

  #partner @penguinrandomhouse Thanks for the free book

I read this book with great interest. I was firtunate to have a mother that really prepared me for living on my own. I was taught about budgeting, taxes, shopping, contracts and other boring items when I was a teenager. What seemed really boring as a 13 year old, proved to be very helpful when I was on my own starting at age 18. I knew about credit rating and how to open bank accounts. I could budget my student income and knew how to sign a contract. 

The author structures this book to cover the main topics that a young adult on their own for the first time needs to consider and also learn to be familiar with to make intelligent decisions. 

Starting with living on your own, going shopping cooking and maintaining your own little place. Moving over a job versus your own business to financial wisdom such as how to maintain a budget that works for you. This first part is covering all the basic and should be a must read for anyone starting out on their own for the first time.

 

                                                    The book is available on amazon.com

The next part is more a focus on life balance. Figure out what is important to you and whoat you want to achieve and then achieve a balance that works for you. This, I may add, can change over time. What was my balance in my 20s has changed now that I am almost retired. But you only live once, so you need to figure out what is important for you and makes you happy, while acknowledging that most of us have to work to earn a living and achieve our goals towards happiness. 

Overall, a well written book that comprehensively address adulting, while being concise enough that you can have a quick peak if you need guidance as an adult.

Review - Would You Rather? Junior: Super Silly Edition!: Goofy Questions to Make You Giggle

  #partner @penguinrandomhouse Thanks for the free book

 This is a fun book to keep kids occupied on car tides or play with them on a rainy day at home. Using the approach of would you rather - the author then provides more than 120 pages of options. A good way to have your child understand choices, articulate a decision and have a conversation about life and where is should go. But the approach is light hearted, while the child is still learning to think and consider. 

This book is available on amazon.com

Age appropriate for the range of 5 to 8, this book is something I would certainly take on vacation, especially if the trip involves plane rides or being cooped up in the car for several hours. 

You can debate such fun questions as to whether you prefer a superhero cape or mask? Alternatively, maybe you prefer to wake up in a comic or a fairy tale. Both adults and kids can enjoy debating these questions together.

Review - Guided Numerology Workbook: A Beginner's Guide: Understand Yourself and Unleash Your Potential through Your Numbers (Guided Metaphysical Readings)

  #partner @penguinrandomhouse Thanks for the free book

This is a good introductory book to teach the reader about the power of numbers.  Using hands-on lessons, the author is doing a very good job to show the reader how numbers can be obtained for each person and then used to tell us something about that person. Using information that most people will be willing to share, the author first teaches the reader how to use that information to obtain a specific number about the person meaningful in numerology. Then building on that initial number, the reader will then learn what that number can tell you about a specific person.

                                                        This book is available on amazon.com

I was really fascinated by this approach. My great-grandmother used to have a side-gig as a fortuneteller about a 100 years ago. But she used dreams and  tea leaves for her craft. So this is a related, but very different approach to generate knowledge about people.

Review = Science Magic Tricks for Kids: 50 Amazing Experiments That Explode, Change Color, Glow, and More!

  #partner @penguinrandomhouse Thanks for the free book

 If you have a budding scientist that wants to expand these principles into an area that can be entertaining for others, this book is perfect. Who does not enjoy some cool magic tricks? Most kids do and this book is the perfect combination between science and magic. The book has 50 experiments that work like magic by showing such phenomena as a flame seemingly moving through the air from candle to candle. Adult supervision is recommended, but the tricks are perfect for home use since no specific laboratory equipment etc is required.

The recommended age for kids is 8 through 12 years of age and magic tricks can be done using regular household materials. Not only are these tricks fun, but they are also useful to reinforce the scientific principles learned in school by using them in tricks. The instructions are easy, can be followed and understood by kids of this age group and the author has even included some questions so that the budding magician can talk with the audience during the magic show. This last part is great to also help shy kids overcome some of the fear of talking in public. Providing guidance on what to talk with the audience during the magic show can teach these kids that being in front of an audience is nothing to. be scared about.

Overall, a very entertaining book that is also good for teaching sciences in its practical applications.

This book is available on amazon.com and is currently available for a discounted price.

Re4view = Fun with National Parks: A Big Activity Book for Kids about America's Natural Wonders

 #partner @penguinrandomhouse Thanks for the free book

Whether you are visiting National Parks in the near future or simply want to teach your kids about these wonderful resources, this book is perfect for parents to explain to kids the purpose of National Parks and how important of a resource they are. If you visit a National Park, even better to have your child do the activities in preparation for the visit, but these activities are great even when maybe watching a documentary on National Parks. 

This book covers activities for all National Parks and we have 63 of them currently. The activities focus on history, landscapes and animals that we find in these locations. Maybe use a map of the US to explain to your child why parks have different animals depending on whether they are located in Alaska or are in Florida. This activity book can be a great learning tool for geography and history as well as biology and teach kids in a fun way.

 The book is available on amazon.com and has 125 suggested activities for the US national parks.

Review = Logic Puzzles Book for Brain Fitness: 90-Day Challenge to Sharpen the Mind and Strengthen Cognitive Skills Enlarged Print, Easy to Hard!

  #partner @penguinrandomhouse Thanks for the free book

This paperback book is great to work your brain at any age and with its large print is also great for senior, who may deal with some visual problems. The puzzle types include sudoku, my personal favorite type, as well as logic grid puzzles, calcudoku, battleship, kakuro, and masyu.The puzzles range in level from easy to difficult and so if you are new, you can monitor your progression as you get better with more practice.

The book has also some space for notes as you work through the puzzles. Overall, a fun book to keep your brain busy without screen time and the time commitment is perfect for waiting rooms or brief work breaks. I highly recommend this book for people that want to exercise their brain without worrying about spending too much time on puzzles.

This book is available on amazon.com and comes with an answer key, so figuring out puzzles does not end in frustration.

Review = Crystal Healing for Women: A Modern Guide to the Power of Crystals for Renewed Energy, Strength, and Wellness

 #partner @penguinrandomhouse Thanks for the free book

This review hit close to home because my family has always collected gemstons and I learned as a child already about the healing power of crystals. 

The author does a great job of introducing the reader to the various crystals with photos and a general summary that includes available color, location of origin and then listing chakras as well as possible pairings with other crystals. 

The page also has a summary of the healing powers for each crystal as well as a brief recommendation in what form to find it and how to use it, such as a tumbled crystal that can be carried in a pocket or hand. The listing of crystals ends chapter one that also contains a general introduction to crystals as healing objects and how to care for them.

Chapter 2 is organized by health impact. Therefore, if you are looking to deal with recovery from a miscarriage, the author will provide you guidance on rituals that can support your healing using crystals. Supporting information includes duration and frequency as well as a which crystals to use and then provides a stepwise guidance on how to use the crystals in the recovery effort. 

Overall, a well written and concise book that is perfect for someone just getting started in exploring the healing power of crystals.

The book is currently available on amazon.com with a Kindle price is less than $1. I recommend this book to anyone interested in the healing power of crystals, but also a nice addition to any library for a fan of geology and mineralogy.