Sink Reflections
by Marla Cilley
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (01 October, 2002)
list price: $15.00 -- our price: $10.20
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Reviews (191)

With Mono and 2 boys under 2, it still works for me!
I didn't think there was ANY hope for me. I've been chronically sloppy all my life - I love to buy, and hate to get rid of things - but it's been even worse lately since I've been so tired with mono, and am still trying to keep up with my two little boys. But I signed up on flylady.net and started getting the e-mails, and they inspired me enough to get this book as well. Amazingly, my home is cleaner and more orderly than it was before I got sick!

One of Flylady's mantras is that "You can't organize clutter." So I took that to heart, and am slowly (babysteps!) getting rid of everything in my home that doesn't bring a smile to my face. So far I've gotten rid of hundreds of books, boxes of toys, and all kinds of impulse buys that I had to have but never got around to using. With the gentle and understanding encouragement from Flylady, I'm beginning to understand my REASONS for doing these things in the first place, and thus am more able to let go of them.

I would, without hesitation, recommend this book to anyone - but especially anyone who has a hard time getting on top of things and has to sort through piles of paper or STUFF to find what they need. This book will change your life!

I am ready to FLY!
Marla Cilley is the Dr. Phil of organizing- in her own sweet way. She tells you straight from the heart how things are... we SHE's (Sidetracked Home Executives) need to be told and reminded. She understands what it's like to live in CHAOS (Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome) and tells you how to dig yourself out. If there was one book that could be titled "Instructions For Living Happily" this would be it! I used to be a packrat and a procrastinator, but Marla has helped me see the light- and not whine about cleaning it! This book will teach you how to stop obsessing, start decluttering and Finally Love Yourself! I can't say enough about the wisdom of this system! It is so simple and can be adapted for ANY lifestyle. Whether you are a SAHM (Stay At Home Mom) or a Payroll SHE you'll benefit from Marla's wisdom and love. Join the website and you'll learn so much more from the Flycrew. There's recipes, daily missions and Q&A to keep you motivated and stop you from marathon cleaning for the rest of your life! If you find yourself yelling at your children, being late for or forgetting about appointments or buried under piles of clutter, YOU NEED THIS BOOK!

Help is here - you don't have to like the style to benefit!
I think I fall somewhere between the reviewers who love or hate this book. While I give it an unqualified thumbs up, that's not to say I like the style. I don't. I am spiky, cynical, irreligious and unsentimental. I cringe when Marla talks about "blessing the world" and "purple puddles" and her "DH". But here's the thing. This book works.

I am not a Stepford wife - I'm a senior executive for a national organisation and I have no family at all, no parents, siblings, partner or children - not even a pet. Because I have absolutely no time for myself and no priorities apart from work, my house was utter chaos. Thanks to Marla Cilley it is now livable and I am able to have friends over without drowning in shame and am gradually reclaiming my life away from the office.

This book contains practical ideas that made me completely rethink my approach to my home. I am not cleaning out of moral duty or to please someone else, but because I deserve a nice place to live. The concept that it is better to do something imperfectly than never to start completely changed my thinking. And permission not to finish - to just do 15 minutes worth and stop - has made a huge difference to my life.

And while I don't like the syrupy stuff, I also suspect that someone without that homespun sweetness could not or would not have written this book and offered this help. So I am just grateful, and Marla can be as religious and as honeyed as she damn well likes, because I truly appreciate what this book has helped me do, and only an idiot throws out a rare gift because the wrapping doesn't suit them - particularly when it is genuinely well meant.

And to the patronising cow who can't believe people don't have time to throw out old toothpaste tubes - not everyone has as much free time as you do, and not everyone has the self-esteem necessary to put their own needs first. Clearly you are lucky enough to have plenty of both time and ego. Perhaps you can now invest in some insight to match.

Thanks, Marla, for your generosity and common sense. ... Read more

Isbn: 0553382179
Sales Rank: 692
Subjects:  1. Cleaning & Caretaking - General    2. House cleaning    3. Inspirational    4. Motivational & Inspirational    5. Personal Growth - General    6. Self-Help    7. Self-Help / General   

The New Decorating Book (Better Homes and Gardens(R))
by Better Homes and Gardens
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (15 May, 2001)
list price: $19.95
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Reviews (75)

Unique
There isn't another book like this except for the newer edition of this book which came out recently. I felt this sense of relief when I found this book the first time because I thought finally here is the help I need. So many books have pictures but no information to help me. This book has all the great photographs but adds the information so I learn something more than just what I see in the photographs. I just bought another copy for a friend. This is the best decorating book on the market. It has made a big difference to me. I started out redoing our entrance hall using ideas from the book, and that looked so great and got such a good reaction from my friends that I then moved on to redoing the living room. I just keep using the book and going one room at a time through our home. I learned that sometimes it only takes a little thing like re-hanging pictures or re-arranging the couch and chairs to make a room look great. I love this book.

My favorite decorating book.
I looked at the last three reviews and decided to get this book. I'm so glad I did. I haven't begun to digest it all, but I've already spent hours just sitting and enjoying all the color photos. So far, I've used ideas to brighten up our outdoor deck furniture, rearrange the living room furniture, and now we're planning our big master bedroom redo for this all. What I like is the variety of ideas and the explanation of all the decorating basics. I know it's corny, but this book is sort of like having a decorator friend helping me. Thanks, Better Homes and Gardens.

Tells you what the pros know
This is my decorating "bible." It obviously features the work of top designers around the country, but then it tells you what they know about how to put a room together. By explaining those decorating principles and ideas, this book has empowered me to transform first my living room and currently our bedroom. My friends keep asking me what designer I hired. My "designer" is this book, which cost me under $25. This is a real bargain and filled with classic yet updated style. Like the book, the rooms it will help you create will last for years. ... Read more

Isbn: 0696213818
Sales Rank: 78141
Subjects:  1. Decorating    2. Decorating - General    3. Home Improvement / Construction    4. House & Home    5. Interior Design - General   

Book of Home Design Using Ikea Home Furnishings
by Anoop Parikh Joanna Dopestick Trevor Richards
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (01 March, 1995)
list price: $27.00 -- our price: $27.00
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Reviews (6)

Handsome but useless
I like IKEA stores very much, but this book is useless. Nice settings, fun furniture, but it's basically a catalog. And not everything you see is still available from IKEA, so it isn't even a very reliable catalog at that.

They don't tell you WHICH furniture comes from IKEA
This is a very nice design book with beautiful photographs but the author leaves out some very important information. He/She does not indicate WHICH pieces come from IKEA. Looking through the photos, I'd say the majority of the furniture does NOT come from IKEA. It was nice to look at but IKEA's in-house publication called Space magazine does a lot better job.

Finally! Just what I was looking for!
This book is ideal for anyone looking for fresh and creative ideas in a modern/contemporary style. Ideas for every room in the house accompanied with beautiful photographs and helpful text. Design focuses on form, function, light, and environmental soundness. This is just what the doctor ordered if the typical traditional/classic and country/cozy aren't your style. Works great for people moving into their first apt./house too- good, practical, easy to imitate ideas (and Ikea furnishings that are easy on your budget!). ... Read more

Isbn: 075675528X
Sales Rank: 858258
Subjects:  1. Crafts & Hobbies    2. Decorating    3. Hobbies/Crafts   

Betty Crocker's Cookbook : Everything You Need to Know to Cook Today
by Betty Crocker
Average Customer Review:
Ring-bound (September, 2000)
list price: $27.50 -- our price: $17.32
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Editorial Review

Betty Crocker's Cookbook is 50! In celebration, an updated and expanded ninth edition of this American classic reminds us once again of the value of good old-fashioned comfort food. The original Big Red Cookbook was immediately popular with a postwar audience seeking basic cooking advice and simple recipes that took advantage of several then-new convenience products. The ninth edition remains true to its roots, presenting exemplary instruction, savory mainstream dishes (that still make use of convenience foods and the products of parent company General Mills), and, most notably, standout chapters on baking and dessert specialties. New to this edition, which offers nearly 1,000 recipes, are grilling and vegetarian chapters; up-to-date nutrition information; additional color photos; and contemporary formulas for the likes of Brie with Caramelized Onions, Asiago Bread, and Tandoori Chicken with Chutney.

Instruction was and is the book's strongest suit, and any cook--novice to professional--will benefit from its many how-to features. These include step-by-step directions with photos, tips for kitchen timesaving, and troubleshooting advice. The book also includes several comprehensive glossaries (those on cooking terms and ingredients are particularly good). Standouts among the vast recipe collection, more than 300 of which are designated fast or low fat, include old favorites such as Macaroni and Cheese, Old-Fashioned Baked Beans, and Lemon Chiffon Cake. A few newer ones, such as Sun-Dried Tomato and Olive Bread, also qualify. Published, as ever, in a loose-leaf binder, the book celebrates American culinary know-how, a broad-based tradition of good home cooking, exemplary baking, and the conviction that food and commerce can meld to help people cook easier and eat better. Happy birthday indeed! --Arthur Boehm ... Read more

Reviews (22)

Just like Mom's but better!!!
I grew up learning how to cook using Mom's Betty Crocker cookbook. This book is just like Mom's, with all the basic recipes. Plus many more for today's busy cook. Bread machine recipes, vegetarian, etc. I bought it to get the basic recipes I have to call Mom for. But it has so much more! It has everything! This is the only cookbook I plan to buy!

Practical and Basic
This is the foundation cookbook for every American home. As a male, I have used my Betty Crocker cookbook for everything from pancakes to cookies to turkey dinners. This is a survival guide that includes so many recipes that are both practical and represent a broad spectrum of basic American foods that you will find yourself falling back upon this book again and again. There's nothing fancy here,and ethnic foods are somewhat limitied. But if you want a decent meatloaf or cake recipe, you can find it here.

I plan to buy another copy of this book to give to my son when he moves out on his own (I think he plans to do that someday).

I could not live without this book.
I have used Betty Crocker's Cookbook for over 28 years and finally it just wore out! I've purchased this one and it's as good as the old one with updated recipes and techniques.

This is not a gourmet cookbook, although there are recipes in it that could qualify. Instead, this is a basic, "how-to" and "chow-down" cookbook that I recommend to everyone - beginner and old-hand cook alike! ... Read more

Isbn: 0764560794
Subjects:  1. Cookery    2. Cooking    3. Cooking / Wine    4. General    5. Cooking / General    6. General cookery   

How to Be a Domestic Goddess: Baking and the Art of Comfort Cooking
by Nigella Lawson
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (14 November, 2001)
list price: $35.00 -- our price: $22.05
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Editorial Review

While the title How to Be a Domestic Goddess may at first make a modern woman bristle, the book itself is just as likely to inspire the woman who brings home the bacon to start baking cakes. And what's wrong with that? "This isn't a dream," writes British cookery deity Nigella Lawson in her preface. "What's more, it isn't even a nightmare." Lawson--the author of How to Eat, food editor of British Vogue, and star of her own TV cooking show, Nigella Bites--has been suspected of upholding the woman-laboring-in-the-kitchen paradigm, but there are lots of hard-working women out there who derive great satisfaction from cooking, even after a long day at the office. For those women, Lawson, who looks more Elizabeth Hurley than Martha Stewart, is the perfect guide to the wondrous world of baking.

"You know, I'm not a cook-to-impress kind of girl," Lawson says midway through the book, but she must admit there are few things more rewarding than putting a warm homemade pie or fragrant cake on the table--especially after preparing a home-cooked meal. How to Be a Domestic Goddess: Baking and the Art of Comfort Cooking makes just such a reward possible, in fact positively enticing, with its delicious selection of easy-to-make cakes, pies, cookies, breads, even jams, presented in Lawson's chatty, pleasantly glib manner. Turns out, you don't have be a Pierre Hermé to make to-die-for chocolate confections; nor do you have to spend hours "faffing around" with hot pans and jars to have jam at teatime. You just need to try baking once, then again, and next thing you know, you'll be turning out cookies and desserts every chance you get. Many of the recipes are hand-me-downs or adaptations from other sources, be it a favorite cookbook or a restaurant in some far-off region, but all are imbued with Lawson's wit and distinctive touch. Profiteroles, My Way are "monumentally impressively better" than the original, thanks to burnt-sugar custard and toffee sauce. Her Coffee and Walnut Splodge Cookies are "American-style cookies; in other words just dropped onto the baking sheet free-form," and so on.

A sophisticated female alter ego of British mop-top Jamie Oliver, and considerably more sly and comedic than most American gourmets, Nigella is sure to convince more than a few up-and-coming hostesses that baking is indeed women's work. --Rebecca Wright ... Read more

Reviews (74)

My First "British" Cookbook
I must admit that I am an "American Cookbook Snob" and I literally refused to even look at this book until my sister urged me to do so. Our satellite TV company does not get the Style Channel, so I am unable to see Nigella's show that my sister talks and talks about. Obviously, I gave the book a try (thanks to my public library) and I was very pleasantly surprised.

Ms. Lawson writes about food as if she is writing you a personal letter from her kitchen. She really does make the food sound attractive and "lures" you into baking something. . . anything! In addition, as a mother, I was extremely impressed at how often she talks about her daughter(s) and the joy she has with them in the kitchen - that was great to read. Most of the baking is divine. However, the cooking (savory) section is a bit too Brit for my taste; our family just doesn't eat that kind of food, but if you like that kind of stuff I'm sure you'd enjoy her recipes.

I am purchasing this book for myself for Christmas simply because those cupcakes and Madeira cake (without Maderia!) sound just too delicious to pass up.

Never used a book more
The absolute perfect book for the creative baker. Nigella gives ideas for different variations and always identifies which areas of the recipe can be played with and which can't. There is so much stuff jam-packed in this book that I can't see myself ever getting tired of it.

Embarrassingly enough, I couldn't find anything that I didn't want to try, so I just started at the beginning. The Easy Almond Cake was a favorite at my house, as well as the Victoria Sponge Cake (both the zucchini and the fruit version). I can't wait to try the Lavender Cupcakes.

The quality of the book itself is unsurpassable. I love the glossy pages and the beautiful photographs. Nigella always seems to take such personal care in her work, that it's like having a friend in the kitchen with you. The only problem I have with this book is that it doesn't fit into my cheap cookbook holder.

If, like me, you can't decide which you'd rather do more, eat one of Nigella's cakes, or hang out with Nigella herself - yet you balk at some of her entrees (I initially had Nigella Bites but exchanged it for this one) - this is the book for you.

mmmm
this book is great!! some recipes might not work out right (for example, i think the last reviewer coincidentally tried out all of the recipes that previous reviewers didn't enjoy..) but i know a lot of them are delicious!! it's sort of a shame that they happened to try the some of the only ones out of the book that happen to be bad. all books are bound to have a couple that aren't great or anything.. i've tried many recipes already and they are great. not hard recipes and the results are very delicious. for example.. the dense chocolate loaf cake is reallly good, as is the banana bread and cheese danishes that were easy to make b/c of the method she provides. and how about those schnecken, eh? just as the title states, this is comfort cooking and everything in here seems to scream out comfort. beautiful pictures, can't wait to try more. hope this helps! by the way, you really DO feel like a domestic goddess. :) ... Read more

Isbn: 0786867973
Subjects:  1. Baking    2. Cooking    3. Cooking / Wine    4. Methods - Baking    5. Cooking / Baking   

KitchenAid KSM150PSWH Artisan Series 5-Quart Mixer, White
Average Customer Review:
Kitchen
list price: $289.99 -- our price: $169.99
(price subject to change: see help)
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Editorial Review

KitchenAid's Artisan stand mixer is a substantial piece of equipment: 325 watts of mixing power make child's play of creaming butter, kneading dough, and whipping cream. The kid in you will appreciate how quick and easy it is to mix up a batch of cookie dough. This model comes with three attachments: a flat beater for making batter, meat loaf, and all textures in-between; a wire whip for egg whites, mayonnaise, and more air-infused creations; and a hook for mixing and kneading yeast doughs. All three are solidly constructed and easily secured to the beater shaft with a simple twist. This model also includes a pouring shield for guiding ingredients to their proper destination, and the bowl itself locks tight to the base. Standing about 15 inches high, jutting out a foot, and weighing more than a grown woman's bowling ball, this stand mixer isn't the sort of appliance you'll wipe down and put away. Better to find a square foot of free counter space for easy access; besides, this machine is as pretty as it is rugged--you'll want to show it off. --Betsy Danheim

From the Manufacturer

The Artisan mixer's strong 325-watt motor delivers the power to handle the heaviest mixtures, and mix large batches easily.

The 5-quart polished stainless steel bowl with ergonomic handle is big enough to handle large batches of heavy mixtures. Its ergonomically designed handle is contoured to fit the hand and makes lifting the bowl more comfortable.

Unique Mixing Action

The beater spins clockwise as the shaft spins counter clockwise; moving the beater to 67 different points around the bowl. This unique mixing action creates a thorough blend of ingredients and eliminates the need to rotate the bowl.

Multiple Speeds

10 speeds allow the user to select the right speed for the mixing job; from very high to very slow stir. It's easy to select the precise speed needed for a perfect mix.

Versatile Accessories

The flat beater, dough hook, and the professional wire whip add to the versatility of the mixer. The flat beater is the ideal accessory for mixing normal to heavy batters. From cake mixes to firm cookie dough, the flat beater mixes quickly and thoroughly.

The dough hook mixes and kneads yeast dough, saving both time and the effort of hand-kneading. The wire whip incorporates the maximum amount of air in whipped mixtures for fluffier whipped cream and angel food cakes.

All attachments are solidly constructed, and attach easily to the stand mixer.

Easy Clean Up

The pouring shield fits around the top of the bowl and prevents ingredient splash-out. The chute makes it convenient and easy to add ingredients.

The tilt-back mixer head allows for easy access to bowl and beaters. A lock lever holds the mixer head securely in place and the bowl fastens tightly to the base.

Optional Attachments

Optional attachments (sold separately) complete the package to make cooking a pleasure. From citrus juicer to sausage stuffer, KitchenAid stand mixers can handle just about any job in the kitchen.

... Read more

Features

• Measures 14 by 8-2/3 inches by 14 inches; 1-year warranty
• 325-watt mixer with 10 speeds; 5-quart stainless steel bowl
• Tilt-back head for easy access to mixture
• 2-piece pouring shield with large chute for adding ingredients
• Includes flat beater, dough hook, and wire whip

Reviews (131)

A wonderful appliance - good customer support
My wedding gift mixer (a Sunbeam Mixmaster) turned 33 a week before Christmas, and my husband thought it was time for me to have a new one. He gifted me on Christmas with the KitchenAid 5 Qt. Artisan in white. I love this mixer and leave it out on my counter, something I never did with the Mixmaster. I recently purchased the citrus juicer attachment from Amazon and am very pleased with it as well. I have not read all 109 previous reviews on this site, but I have read a few that were disgruntled because their Artisans did not mix well. I initially had the same problem with the beater/bowl clearance. It is very simple to remedy. There is a beater adjustment screw on the mixer and the manual describes how to make the adjustments. I got even better instructions by calling customer support at KitchenAid. The technician told me to drop a dime into the empty bowl, turn the mixer on (about setting 2) using the flat beater, and it should move the dime 1/4" to 1/2" each time it rotates around the bowl. This is the right clearance for the beater to mix everything at the bottom of the bowl, but not low enough to cause wear on the beater from constant friction with the bottom of the bowl during usage. I tweaked the screw setting 1/4 turn each time until I got that dime moving. At this setting, I can now beat a single egg white to stiff peaks in the 5 qt. bowl. That's impressive.
This mixer is as sturdy as a tank, and you can hear the quality as it mixes. Although I had previously purchased a KitchenAid mixer for my daughter as a gift, I would never have splurged on one for myself. I am so happy my husband thought I was worth it!

Art + Science = GREAT KITCHEN MACHINE!
My husband bought the "Empire Red" version of this for me for Mother's day. I picked it mostly because the color was intriguing (ok, I'm in to packaging). And the thing looks gorgeous in my kitchen-- my husband (ever the engineer) was impressed by its weight, all-steel construction and even commented that it was a "beautiful machine". I just thought it looked great on my counter.

Ok. Enough about the art. I do cook and I do use it. As much as possible. The machine is a joy to use. It's twice as efficient as a regular mixer (I used to have a sunbeam-- it broke), it's solid, and for heaven's sake, do NOT get in the way of that beater. It won't stop for ANYTHING. My mom has had her Kitchen Aid for 25 years, through six kids (both cooking for them and letting them use it). It's made to last.

By the way, an earlier comment about not mixing to the bottom of the bowl-- read the instructions-- there's a little screw you can adjust that will move the head up and down ever so slightly to get the beater to just touch the bottom of the bowl.

The Artisan 5 is a beautiful thing to use-- LOVE IT!

Never need anything else!
I love this KitchenAid mixer. The day it arrived, I was cooking up a storm in the kitchen. It is so easy to use and looks beautiful with any decor! I used to try to mix everything with a hand mixer...no more! Now that I have this stand mixer, things run a lot smoother in my kitchen. I bake everyday and I wonder why I waited so long to get this in the first place. The price is great, too. NO MORE hand mixers for me...give me the KitchenAid. I can't wait to see how my homemade cakes come out with this thing! After one use of this product I am totally thrilled with it. Buy this and you won't be disappointed! ... Read more

Asin: B00005UP2K
Subjects:  1. Small Appliances    2. Electrics    3. Stand Mixers    4. (Standmixers)    5. (Kitchen Aid)   

Everyday Food
Average Customer Review:
Magazine
list price: $29.50 -- our price: $18.00
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• Magazine Subscription

Reviews (8)

Super user-friendly
Before I discovered this fabulous magazine, I was never able to get into Martha Stewart Living publications because of the "do it all from scratch" style Martha preaches. However, Everyday Food isn't like that at all. It's always filled with pages of delicious and simple dishes, from appetizers to desserts, that aren't time-consuming to prepare. Perfect for a career girl like me.

This magazine is truly different from other MSL magazines and clearly is done with a specific target audience in mind: meaning those of us who love to cook, but aren't interested in doing everything from scratch.

Even my husband, Mr. Macho Guy, looks to this magazine for ideas when it's his week to cook. Whether you are a fan of creative new dishes, like me, or a fan of awesome comfort food, like my husband, this magazine is a great source to kick your meals up a notch!

Yummy yummy! Enjoy!

Wonderful!
I'm a big fan of Martha Stewart, AND her magazines, and I really enjoy "Every Day Food." Lets face it, no one has better ideas for cooking, or presents food in a more appetizing manner than Martha - and this magazine includes numerous practical, easy-to-make recipes for the busy family. From seasonal recipes to everyday meals, even the advertisements have great recipes!

This magazine is a must-have for those looking to expand their culinary repertoires without a lot of fuss. In particular, I appreciated her seasonal issue with the cranberry cake recipe. This was very well received in my house. Kudos to Martha Stewart and staff for putting together this easy-to-use, fun magazine!

Now we are talking
I am a good cook, when I feel like it. most of the time I pick up a cookbook or a magazine, I would like to try things but would have to go to the grocery store or buy a new pan, etc. Picked up my first "everyday food" from the checkout line. I liked that it was in a smaller digest size and the pictures looked appealing. I didn't expect to really be cooking from it right away. figured I could save some recipes for a holiday or a free weekend. I took it to bed with me that night and scanned it from cover to cover.

I have made 5 recipes from this first issue. and 2 of them I have made more than once. they were all simple to prepare, had ingredients I already had in my kitchen and didn't require massive amounts of prep work. the recipes were easy to follow, and turned out so delicious that I couldn't get over myself for making them. Most of them used one pan, one bowl one knife and less than 10 ingredients. my copy is already dog-eared and I have marked several other recipes I am going to try. delicious food that turned out looking remarkably like the photography (which is very nice)

here's the clincher. EVERY recipe has the nutritional breakdown for calories, fat, protein, carbohydrates and fiber. so no matter what sort of diet you are on, or even if you are not, you have the information.

I will be subscribing. it is a little on the expensive side for a cooking magazine. but I have already taken more from it than I paid for the news-stand price so I feel it is worth the money. I will probably base my thanksgiving and christmas menus off of this magazine, at least til I get the next issue. ... Read more

Asin: B0000ARXXS
Sales Rank: 84
Subjects:  1. Cooking Food & Wine    2. General    3. Home Economics    4. Food & Gourmet   

Taste Of Home
Average Customer Review:
Magazine
-- our price: $17.98
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Reviews (6)

Wonderful !!
This magazine is my favorite. I love all the real home cooking for the everyday house. I use the recipes regularly. I highly recommend this one.

Good old-fashioned home cooking
I get my copies of Taste of Home as hand-me-downs. I probably wouldn't subscribe to it myself, but I can see that it is a very good magazine if you like hearty home cooking and don't already have a broad repertoire of tried-and-true recipes to rely on. Taste of Home presents family-friendly comfort food; most of the recipes are submitted by readers with a note about their origin. Each issue is packed with over 80 recipes and contains no advertising. Most dishes are made from scratch (or as close to scratch as anyone does anymore) with readily-available ingredients and easy preparation. If you are looking for trendy or exotic food you won't find it here, but you will find a seasonal selection of roasts, stews, casseroles, soups, salads, appetizers and party food, simple but lively vegetable side dishes, and easy-to-bake desserts. You will like Taste of Home if you like to try new recipes and have fairly traditional tastes in food, or if you want to try cooking (nearly) from scratch but don't want to slave for hours in the kitchen. Check out the publisher's web site to see featured articles and the recipe index for the current issue.

I Love These Magazines
I love the TASTE OF HOME magazines for many reasons. There are color photos of nearly every recipe so you get an idea how the final product should look. The recipes are easy to prepare because most are made with ingredients the average household has on hand. (Nothing weird, wild nor exotic!) The paper is of a heavy, water-resistant quality. Each issue contains LOTS of recipes but not so many that you're overwhelmed. Most of the recipes are submitted by regular people, not concocted by a professional chef wearing a tall hat. And I like the homey-style. Readers can share their family's favorite meal blessing (Grace). There are cutesy stories about little kids. And although I never can find it, my aunts LOVE the toothpick contests. The best part....NO ADVERTISEMENTS!!! I can't tell much difference between the Light version and the original Taste of Home....so I usually buy both!!! If you like to cook and enjoy a quality collection of recipes, you will love the TASTE OF HOME magazines! Blessings from MenopauseLady! ... Read more

Asin: B00006KYZ9
Sales Rank: 289
Subjects:  1. Cooking Food & Wine    2. General    3. Home Economics    4. Food & Gourmet   

Better Homes and Gardens
Average Customer Review:
Magazine
list price: $41.88 -- our price: $15.97
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Reviews (16)

A Homeowner's MUST HAVE
I love this magazine. It is filled with many do it yourself projects that range from beginning crafters to wood working to delicious recipes. I love the Kid's Section that is full of fun ideas and activities for the whole family. There is a lot of practical advice about gardening and landscaping in very easy to read articles. I first subscribed to this magazine when I bought my first house 5 years ago and I have many many back issues that I look through for seasonal ideas and decorating tips. I have also given this magazine as a gift to 3 friends and they all have continued their subscriptions after my gift expired.

Beautiful photography, lousy articles, too much advertising
After hearing such good reviews of this magazine, I picked up a copy of this month's Better Homes and Gardens from the grocery store as a trial before subscription. The photography was wonderful, and it boasted some great ideas through the photography, but the articles were too brief and lousy. Moreover, I was thoroughly disappointed with the overabundance of advertisement that litters this magazine. I was very much disappointed. I was expecting more than just good ideas from pictures.

AKA...Better Homes and Advertising
I ordered this magazine recently only to cancel my subscription. There is way too much advertising in the magazine and none of the crafts or projects really enticed me to get creative. It's too bad. Go with Martha Stewart Living or Sunset magazines instead, both high quality. ... Read more

Asin: B00005N7OV
Sales Rank: 121
Subjects:  1. Home (Houses, Homes)    2. Gardening (Garden, Gardens)    3. Interior Decoration   

Rival 33511-C Round 5-Quart Crock-Pot, Chrome
Average Customer Review:
Kitchen
list price: $39.95 -- our price: $29.99
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Editorial Review

The original slow cooker, the Crock-Pot was first introduced by Rival in the 1970s and has proved to be much more than a fad. This convenient appliance helps you prepare delicious family-style meals while you’re working, running errands, hiking, or just relaxing around the house. The 5-quart, round Crock-Pot is large enough to cook four to six chicken breasts with vegetables or enough chili or soup for four to five people. The easy-to-use temperature switch flips to low, high, or a warm setting, which keeps food at the right eating temperature but doesn’t overcook it. The exterior of this Crock-Pot is contemporary chrome that matches the décor of most kitchens. Plastic handles provide a secure and comfortable grip for transporting the cooker. The Crock-Pot’s internal liner is made of durable stoneware that is attractive enough to go from cooker to tabletop to serve your meal. The liner also has a stick-resistant coating and is dishwasher-safe to make clean-up easy. The glass lid lets you peek at your food while it cooks and is also dishwasher safe. Rival offers a limited 1-year warranty on this stoneware slow cooker.--Cristina Vaamonde ... Read more

Features

• Dishwasher-safe glass lid; 1-year warranty
• 5-quart slow cooker makes family-style meals for 4 to 5 people
• Three heat settings, including warm
• Dishwasher-safe stoneware crock with stick-resistant coating
• SUREGRIP side handles for improved grip and comfort

Reviews (5)

Very disappointing
I've owned Rival brand crock pots since they've been on the market and wanted to replace my old one with this newer chrome model. From the very start I had problems with the water perking out of the lid and creating a mess on my kitchen countertop and floor. I tried placing a glass bowl upside down on the lid to hold it down but still had problems. The temperature seems way too hot for a low setting. Often my meal has completely dried out and burned. I usually put a meal on in the morning to have ready for dinner in the evening, but now cooking with this crockpot is a fire hazard. I've gone back to my old crock pot and plan to write the manufacturer. I wish I had read these reviews before I bought!

TOO HOT!!!!!
Had the water problem as stated by other consumers. Water
puddle in front of slow cooker and on the floor. Slip and fall
danger. Not a small puddle at all.
ALSO MAJOR temp problem. On LOW, my meat cooked in about half the time. 6 hours (3.5 lb. pot roast) recipe was for 10-12 hours. The warm feature was set by the manufacturer,still continued to cook my meal. Dangerous situation to say the least.
The Hot temp on low and the water spewing everywhere happened with 2 different Rival pots. returned both.,

Water leaks out from under the lid
This Rival crock pot is my third or fourth crock pot. All of its predecessors eventually stopped working. However, none of them experienced the problem I discovered when I first used this model: The lid is too light to keep water from building up around the edge of the pot. Eventually the lid begins to float on a layer of hot water around the edge of the pot. I had to keep mopping the water away from the rim of the crock pot in order to keep it from overflowing onto the counter--and that water was hot, as it was condensing from steam. I was using the low setting, so I'm not exactly dying to find out how fast the water builds up when I set it to 'high.'

The next time I use this pot, I'll try setting some kind of weight on the lid. If you purchase this model, beware of hot water leakage, and adjust for the fact that whatever you are cooking in the pot is going to be a little drier than you might have expected because of the escaping water. ... Read more

Asin: B00008I8NP
Subjects:  1. Small Appliances    2. Electrics    3. Cookware    4. (Cook Ware)    5. Slow Cookers    6. (Crock Pots)    7. (Crockpots)   

Three Black Skirts : All You Need To Survive
by Anna Johnson
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (01 October, 2000)
list price: $13.95 -- our price: $10.46
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Reviews (70)

All you need to survive? I don't think so.
Anna Johnson's style is fun and flamboyant, but you can't expect to get a basic grasp on important life skills from a two-inch-thick book. I'm only 20 and as a college senior, I already know most of this. The book may be helpful for younger readers, but some of her information is misguided, vague, or just plain wrong.

If you really want to give your daughter a grasp on life skills, try one of many books devoted to each important subject. For example, a good basic cookbook such as Joy of Cooking or a Good Housekeeping book is indispensable, and describes how to entertain, set the table, and cook basics (often with pictures). I love Cheryl Mendelson's "Home Comforts" - it covers not just cleaning, but buying items for your home, meal planning, and legalities, and is even well-suited to apartment dwellers. It's not as fun to read as this book, but far more useful. I see many people leave college without any idea how to maintain their home and finances; few people leave without a concept of fashion.

Basic finance books abound, and although I can't think of any fashion books offhand, anyone can pick up a magazine. Without any disrespect to Miss Johnson, her book reads as though she spends more time shopping than maintaining her office or home life.

Helpful Hints with Plenty of Humor
I highly recommend this book. It has both inspired and informed me.

I first looked at Three Black Skirts in a bookstore in Atlanta as a lark and then checked it out of my hometown library just to have a closer look. I then became so enamored of it that I purchased a copy for myself -- and one more for my sister!

Anna Johnson is a woman of many talents -- the pages of this book are artfully decorated with her whimsical drawings of women of all shapes, sizes, ages, colors, personality, and activity level. In additon to her art talents, AJ is also very wise. She states quite clearly in the introduction that she's no expert on the things that she provides information about in her book. But she is intelligent enough to know what important situations many women face and pragmatic enough to ask experts to help her with the information written in the chapters of her book.

The chapters on beauty and fashion are lovely, but the best parts of her book are the chapters which tackle issues such as basic nutrition, healthy body image, finances, sexualty, home repair, and being a responsible citizen of the world. I think all of these are key to being an adult (woman or man) in today's world, and I appreciate that AJ views her audience (women living in the west) as multifaceted and with interests and concerns which include lipstick choice and relationships, but aren't limited to these.

More authors who target this audience should probably pay attention to this!

The most beloved book of a bookworm
I was given this book in my last year of college, which is exactly when I needed it most. She's wise, and funny, and gave me hope that my wildly out of control life could be calm and interesting and together.. mostly by giving me the advice that I needed to get going. It's been a couple of years, and I'm considering ordering the book in bulk for christmas presents. It might keep my sister from stealing mine. Having this is a lot like having a fascinating friend who's just lived through her twenties, and gives funny advice about it. She taught me how to unplug a drain, what should be in my toolbox (and reminded me to get hands on about decorating, instead of just shopping) got me started on a great wardrobe (which was really helpful when I started my career), showed me that even really disorganized people can get their finances together.. and work life, social life & even love life. In most ways, she's obviously not trying to write an exhaustive manual, and will tell you how to find really good books that do focus on one topic, such as Suze Orman's great books on finances. However, some of the advice she gives can't be found in any other books I've read. The advice on friendship, and learning to live happily on your own is obviously hard won, and she handles both with the care and thoughtfulness they each deserve. Give this as a gift to your favorite young woman, especially if that's yourself. ... Read more

Isbn: 0761119396
Sales Rank: 44031
Subjects:  1. Conduct of life    2. General    3. Life skills guides    4. Personal Growth - Self-Esteem    5. Psychology    6. Self-Help    7. Self-esteem in women    8. Women   

The Lucky Shopping Manual: Building and Improving Your Wardrode Piece by Piece
by Kim France Andrea Linett Danielle Claro
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (06 November, 2003)
list price: $30.00 -- our price: $18.00
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Reviews (33)

Stylish, hip and fun wardrobe Made Easy
This book aims to be for fashion what the Joy of Cooking is for cooks...a bible and reference to help build and improve your wardrobe with the clothes you have (and new ones of course).

It is written by the editors of Lucky Magazine, and Lucky readers will find the same breezy and entertaining style here. The book also is greatly illustrated, making it fun and easy to read.

The book is broken down by clothing type- skits, shirts, dresses, sweaters, jeans, pants, suits, bags, underwear, swimsuit, coats etc. It also offers chapters on what to pack for a trip, classics to collect, taking care of your clothes, lucky rules of shopping and featured stores. A nice bonus is the lucky breaks discounts at the end (but be careful- they expire by the end of the year, not giving much time)

Each chapter is then subdivided into styles, must have pieces, styling tips, fashion tips, how to wear it etc.

The book also features several hip chicks with their recommendations on how to achieve the hip and fashionable look.

My one complaint is that they featured clothes that I wanted, but no link to wear i can get it!! I know its meant to be a suggestion to follow, but i really want that top on page 54 (the pink one).

Better Fashion Suggestions Than Lucky Magazine's
Lucky Magazine rarely features impressive fashion ideas. Their monthly fashion suggestions look too unkempt and rough around the edges to actually wear out in public. They never leave me with the feeling that I must rush out to a store or boutique and pick up a certain piece of clothing or accessory. Until Lucky Magazine refines their ideas about fashion suggestions, I will continue to consult In Style Magazine for fashion advice each month.

However, I will admit I was pleasantly surprised by The Lucky Shopping Manual. Kim France, et al., have some great fashion suggestions for all figure types. The authors encourage you to mark up their manual as you would one of their magazines and also to carry it around with you as you shop. The one thing I really liked about The Lucky Shopping Manual is that it offers it's readers stylish yet classic fashion advice. I think there are some excellent suggestions for building a work wardrobe and incorporating style into your weekend clothes. My advice to you is to skip the magazine and buy this manual instead. I'm looking forward to future editions and I feel this book is a good investment.

Warning: May Induce Shopping Frenzy
The best thing about this book is that it is chock full of pictures of every element of a woman's wardrobe: tops, skirts, dresses, work clothes, fun clothes, formal wear.

This book is extremely useful as an "idea" book. Maybe you're bored with your look and want something different. This book is great in helping you visualize how different pieces may go together. They give you tips about how to wear certain fabrics--leather, silk, tricky sweaters and lengths. I feel that I can be a little bit more adventuresome in my look. I found that I was able to take things that were already in my wardrobe and wear them in a different way. It's also a good book to look through before you go shopping if you're in a rut.

I feel that this book is geared more toward women who already have a sense of their personal style and what looks good on them. The tips provided go beyond the basics to things that take a "good" outfit to something more polished and chic. It might be a little overwhelming for those who are just starting out in creating a new wardrobe or look. With all of the ideas provided, I could see how a beginner might start buying without a driving principle and wind up with clothes that she does not feel comforable in. I would recommend a book like the "Pocket Stylist" by Kendall Farr in addition to this book for someone jsut starting out. ... Read more

Isbn: 1592400361
Sales Rank: 975
Subjects:  1. Beauty & Grooming - Fashion    2. Clothing and dress    3. Diet / Health / Fitness    4. Fashion    5. General    6. Handbooks, manuals, etc    7. Social Science    8. Sociology   

The Wealthy Barber, Updated 3rd Edition
by DAVID CHILTON
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (25 November, 1997)
list price: $14.00 -- our price: $10.50
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Reviews (59)

An outstanding, if corny, introduction to personal finance
The Wealthy Barber has been a treasured resource in my household since the first edition. It was given to each child, cousin, grandchild, etc., in their mid-to-late teens, and to anyone else who needed remedial help in understanding the basics of starting a financially sound life. While written in a fairly goofy style, the stories and characters make it a bit more palatable than a textbook, especially for youngsters. And it doesn't get into complex issues or try to sell you anything (a la Motley Fool) -- it simply provides a great starting point -- and if it were the only book you ever read on finance, it would be enough. I highly recommend this for all teenagers, college students, young newlyweds, or anyone else who needs to start at the very beginning.

Get Rich Slowly, Steady, and with Sure Success
There are a lot of books on how to manage your money. Most are too thick, few leave a lasting impression and almost none of them are fun to read. One of the first exception is "The Wealthy Barber" by David Chilton. It is really fun. You read this book like a novel with a trouble putting it down. But by combining the common sense and humor this "novel" in its dialog style shows that sound financial planning is pretty simple stuff. And it actually makes personal money management understandable and attainable.

I believe, plenty of years from now "The Wealthy Barber" could be remembered by readers. And they could remember Mr. David Chilton not as best-selling author, but as the guy who inspired hundreds of thousands of people to save their way to prosperity. In fact, for many readers, "The Wealthy Barber" is possibly the only book they need. If ever a financial planning was written for those without any financial backgrounds, this is it - "The Wealthy Barber".

Well-balanced advice
If you cannot decide whether you should own or rent a place to live in, the barber discusses this issue very thoughtfully, and this discussion will help you make the better decision.

The barber does believe that it is possible to make money in stocks. If you have discipline and courage, he thinks you can actually buy low and sell high. The barber tells you to buy undervalued stocks and then sell them later for a higher price when the real value of the stock is recognized by the market. The author does warn you that you do have to be able to tell the difference between an undervalued stock and one that is unhealthy. This is tough to do. So it is not the barber's fault if you lose money because he leaves it there for you to figure out.

What about buying low and selling high in real estate? On page 178 Mr. Chilton writes that sometimes it is possible to "buy it [real estate] at any price, sell higher." But in other parts of the book he writes that real estate prices won't always keep going up.

The 10% solution is not enough, it won't get the job done for many readers. There are signs that inflation, after a long absence, is on the way back. It should be a 15% solution.

I deduct one star because the book does not have an index. I think an index is very useful, and adds value to a book. However, on page 44, after discussing all the pros and cons of owning versus renting, the author says that buying the condo was a good idea. I became so happy that the barber put the new condo owner on the right track, I gave him back the star. ... Read more

Isbn: 0761513116
Sales Rank: 2555
Subjects:  1. Accounting - General    2. Business & Economics    3. Business / Economics / Finance    4. Finance, Personal    5. Investment Finance    6. Personal Finance    7. Personal Finance - Financial Planning    8. Personal Finance - General    9. Business & Economics / Personal Finance / General   

Self
Average Customer Review:
Magazine
list price: $35.86 -- our price: $15.00
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Editorial Review

Covering women's fitness, beauty, health, nutrition, and style in a breezy but authoritative tone, Self is a handbook for self-improvement. The magazine reads quickly, featuring loads of lists and short segments garnished with bright graphics and numerous product images. The exercise features are outstanding--clearly explained and illustrated moves accompany inspiring photos. Every issue contains creative routines and practical advice for staying motivated and preventing injuries. Self's signature "Flash" pages offer bite-sized bits of the very latest findings and trends for busy women. Usable features such as "Style Lab," in which wearable clothes are mixed and matched on nonmodels, and the "Eat-Right Road Map," with tips and healthful recipes, make this magazine more practical than the standard women's glossy. --Amy Horn ... Read more

Features

• Magazine Subscription

Reviews (22)

My self-help glossy mag of choice!
While I look to Glamour and Mademoiselle magazines for intelligent topics on women's interests and look to Cosmopolitan for sex and relationship advice and Vogue for the latest fashion trends, I look to Self for self-improvement. This glossy mag features articles on how to stay fit, eat healthy, look and feel great and delves into issues such as breast cancer and different types of painful menstruation as well as articles on what a difference it makes to eat strawberries instead of chocolate for snack and the importance of drinking water. (My skin is looking great for having started drinking more water.) It is the mag I look to to make me feel good! I have learned how to eat healthier snacks and different exercise routines by reading this gem. This is my first year as a subscriber to this magazine and I shall continue to subscribe to it every year!

The best magazine ever.,
This is the greatest magazine ever. It's all about fitness, beauty, health, self-confidence (as said before, most fitness magazines don't include this), and your mind + body. It's great for teenage girls and women who want to be healthier and achieve a better body. It's great for women who need motivation; it gives you tips on how to lose weight, how to eat right for life. In my opinion, the best part is the SELF challenge, when you have 3 months and a good planner to help you get ultimately stronger, leaner, and healthier. It's got great articles too and a little fashion and make-up-not so much that's like a teen magazine. In all respect, SELF changed my life.

I'm singing and walking!
This magazine is so inspirational! I've been working out regularly now for 4 months. I feel so much better about myself that I have started to do other great things like taking a cooking class and SINGING! I even bought a voice lesson CD to practice regularly (Voice Lessons To Go by Vaccarino-it's awesome). So I'm cooking and singing and walking. Next I'll be kayaking!! ... Read more

Asin: B00005NIOS
Subjects:  1. Health & Fitness    2. Women's Health    3. Women's Interest    4.  Women's Health   

Get with the Program!
by Bob Greene
Average Customer Review:
Spiral-bound (03 January, 2002)
list price: $24.00 -- our price: $16.32
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Editorial Review

Lose weight, get in shape, understand your emotions, and feel good about yourself. These are the interrelated goals of Get with the Program by Bob Greene, best known as Oprah's personal trainer and coauthor of Make the Connection.

Using this book is like having a personal coach working with you on emotional and behavioral changes as well as diet and exercise. Greene realizes that if you've had trouble losing weight, you need to understand your attitudes and obstacles before any diet or exercise program will work. So phase one of the program is a self-examination regarding changing your life, including written exercises to help you understand your emotions. Phase two adds aerobic exercise, without changing your diet, to rev up your metabolism. Phase three focuses on the emotional connection to eating habits, including identifying emotional eating triggers and working to overcome them. Phase four adds strength training and dietary changes.

Get with the Program is conveniently spiral-bound, so it's easy to fill in the written exercises and view instructions and photos of the physical exercises. It’s highly recommended for people who have had trouble losing weight and are serious about getting in shape--physically and emotionally. --Joan Price ... Read more

Reviews (36)

Easy, practical advice for better health
Greene's concept of physical fitness and health is simple: eat less, move more, and you'll lose weight and feel healthier. It's time to throw away stupid fad diets which cannot be maintained for life. Greene is candid and honest about what it takes to lose weight and increase fitness. This is not a diet, nor a strict exercise plan. Rather, the phased approach to gradually increasing health and fitness makes it easy for even a sedentary individual to make a positive lifestyle change.

Although my level of cardiovascular fitness is decent (I already do the amount that Greene suggests for the final phase), I have always struggled with emotional eating. So much of this book is devoted to simple, easy-to-understand discussion of why people are emotional eaters, and what can be done to change. It has been so helpful; I have completely curbed my emotional binge eating. It hasn't been easy, but Greene's recommendations on a healthy diet have really made a difference.

This book is intended primarily for those who are looking to begin a lifestyle change, but I believe it is appropriate even for those who are already working towards their fitness goals.

Realistic advice on how to get fit
Let's be clear up front: there are no major breakthroughs or miracles in this book. Most every American alive knows what it would take to get fit (exercise) and lose weight (eat less fat and junk). To a certain extent, therefore, "Get with the Program" is just a re-formulation of the hard facts we all know. What Bob Greene has devised is a realistic and relatively painless way of adopting those healthy practices into your life on a long-term basis. There are 4 incremental stages to the program which are simple and designed for each person to follow at their own pace. This means that you don't have to wake up tomorrow morning, starve yourself and run out the door for 2 hours at the gym. Step 1 is simple: start a minimum of aerobic exercise, basic stretches and some abdominal exercises a couple of times a week. Easy enough. Once you've thoroughly incorporated that into your life, you move on to stage 2 where exercise picks up a little. Not until you reach stage 4 do you begin to actively change your eating habits; that can be months or years later. This is a fitness program that isn't intimidating and isn't going to require you to drastically change your whole lifestyle immediately in order to get results and start feeling better about yourself. This means that a lot of people who haven't been successful in weightloss or exercise programs before are finally going to succeed in making long-term changes to their lives. Again, this isn't a radical fad diet (in fact, the nutritional advice is rather skimpy - follow Greene's principals, but don't hesitate to supplement the nutritional info if you need to)- it's about making gradual changes at a pace you can live with.

Motivating
Bob Greene's book should not be labeled a diet book, so much as a book about changing one's lifestyle. Using his four-step process, I was able to rejuvenate my exercise and diet regimen and managed to lose about 20 pounds. Much of this was fat, as the fourth phase of Greene's plan emphasizes muscle building.

This book is probably best suited for beginners. Greene's message addresses losing weight, improving cardiovascular health, understanding why you eat (emotional eating, ala Dr. Phil), and improving self-esteem. Greene also advises people not to eat after 7pm, which I believe may be based on the false premise that a person's metabolism shuts off during sleep. According to Greene's plan, you should change your lifestyle in fours phases: 1) find out where you are at, what got you there, and what you want to achieve; 2) implement an aerobic exercise routine; 3) get to know what emotions are working to cause you to eat in excess of your body's needs; and, 4) build muscle with anerobic exercise.

If you already exercise regularly and are knowledgeable of sound nutrition concepts, you may not need this book. However, if you're like me, you may find Greene's book motivational and thus worth the money and time. ... Read more

Isbn: 0743225996
Subjects:  1. Diet    2. Diet / Health / Fitness    3. Diets - General    4. Exercise    5. Health & Fitness    6. Health/Fitness    7. Healthy Living    8. Physical fitness    9. Weight Loss    10. Cooking / General   

Get with the Program Daily Journal
by Bob Greene
Average Customer Review:
Spiral-bound (04 June, 2002)
list price: $14.95 -- our price: $10.17
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Reviews (5)

Great concept, great franchise
Bob, I love your programs and your energy. I think just about everything you do is awesome! This book however isn't much more than a lab journal. It has us write down food/exercise like we are a science experiement. It is a lot like a lined paper notebook.

I got a lot more out of LifeChanger. Your exercise program, coupled with this self discovery tool enabled me to lose 185 pounds! I recommend every buys ALL of Bob Greene's other books, but pass on this one and get yourself LifeChanger instead! I found mine on eDiets.com's store.

Bob Greene is the BEST!
From Make the Connection to Get with the Program to Get with the Program's Guide to Healthy Eating to this Daily Journal, Bob Greene is down to earth, easy to understand, and is highly motivating and encouraging. I would recommend his books to anyone desiring to take better control of their health and fitness, and do it with a common sense approach. I see why Oprah likes him so much.

Essential Companion
If one is to spend money and time on reading the book, then they should use the daily journal to put "words into action." Set up into twelve week increments, this is enough time to record your progress and also see the results. With this notebook one can organize and record their fitness goals, exercise, and eating patterns. You can keep track of fat, sugar, carbo and alcohol intake. You can tell if your staying on track with your goals, progressing or slipping. Use it or lose it. ... Read more

Isbn: 0743238346
Sales Rank: 11576
Subjects:  1. Diet / Health / Fitness    2. Health & Fitness    3. Health/Fitness    4. Healthy Living    5. Reference    6. Weight Loss    7. Health & Fitness / General   

101 Nights of Grrreat Romance: How to Make Love with Your Clothes On
by Laura Corn
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (01 December, 1996)
list price: $29.95 -- our price: $20.37
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Editorial Review

Wow.One hundred and one complete blueprints for aromantic seduction scene.Once a week you and your beloved are supposed to pick a scenario fromthe book; they're packaged so that they can't be read until they're torn out and opened, so neither of youwill have a clue what the other has in store for you.(No cheating!)Icons on the front pages of each plan let you know the approximate cost, whether travel or food is involved, andwhether it should be chosen during a particular season. Have a grrreat time! ... Read more

Reviews (36)

a little spice in your life
I bought this book for fun for just me and my husband -- after being married 5 years. Just started with the book and some ideas are helpful but some can be time consuming to get together and plan, esp. for both full time working people and we don't even have kids yet. What's great is that although it is hard for both of us to plan one per week, we just give ourselves a longer time frame and it even sparks just doing other spontaneous or planned romantic things together and not exactly follow what they recommend - since you can't know what the other is supposed to do anyways, and just the idea of having to rip something open is fun and exciting. There were times I went ahead and just ripped out another if one was just not do-able -- ie. summertime event and it's already too cold to do.

another good book by laura corn is the one with greatest sex -- those are easier to plan and set up.

A refreshing book to motivate romance in your relationship!
My husband and I just got this book in the hopes of rekindling the thrill of "dating" that has fallen to the wayside since having children. It has offered some very refreshing and very creative ideas for sharing special time together. Any couple feeling the strain of everyday life can benefit from this book. It is great for putting the spark back into your relationship. Not only does it help to give you suggestions it encourages you to be creative. To be uninhibited. With the help of this book we have begun cherish each other more and to regain the feelings we had when we first got married. The elements of suprise, excitement, intimacy and careing for one another are all in there. Laura is very good at showing us that in order to have a truely satisfying relationship each person needs to give a little extra. That in taking you also give to your partner and vice versa. This book really is grrreat and we look forward to every page we open. Thank you Laura Corn!

101 Wet Blankets...
No, it's not a page from the book...

First, don't look for this book in the library--you won't find it, because you have to *tear out* the page in order to "do it." There are also coupons to cut out. The pages are sealed, too. Each page is a scenario for either the woman or the man to create in order to show their partner just how much they understand about romance.

I got 101 Nights of Romance about 3 years ago because I wasn't quite ready for 101 Nights of Grrreat Sex. Like many others, I was seeking a shot in the arm for my marriage. I thought I could start with something like romance, but be warned: the pages that the woman does for her man are about sex, because that's what guys see as romantic. The guy's pages aren't about sex, but guys get the idea that if they just follow the instructions, there'll be some noogie at the end.

The book was disastrous. From talking to many women who have this book or "...Sex", it's the *wives* who do most of the pages and then the men make some attempt at doing one or maybe two or NONE in the case of my husband.

I did about 4 pages before I realized that there was no way my husband was ever going to reciprocate. There was always an excuse why he couldn't do his page: time, props, whatever. It really was a sore spot. I brought it up in counseling. I mean, here I am, trying to liven things up a bit, trying to give him something to do, and he rejects it. Which the counselor said
was like rejecting me. Yeah, that's about how it felt. I can't even remember what he told her about it. That I just showed up with this book, and it so intimidated him. You know, I still get yucky feelings just writing about this. I mean, it's not like he ever said, "Gee, Hon, don't do your pages since I'm too intimidated to do mine." He loved my pages. And I looked at some of his pages. One was to be my waiter--cook a nice dinner or bring one home, and then set the table and wait on me. Now how hard is that?

So I don't know what my message is here. Maybe just don't show up with the book--discuss it first. Have clear expectations. Don't expect to teach an old dog new tricks. They just like to watch the performance. ... Read more

Isbn: 0962962821
Subjects:  1. General    2. Health & Fitness    3. Health/Fitness    4. Human Sexuality    5. Love    6. Love / Sex / Marriage    7. Man-woman relationships    8. Miscellanea    9. Sex    10. Sexual Instruction   

Ella for Lovers
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (28 January, 2003)
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Reviews (2)

Not Fond of This Compilation
Be advised that there are a lot of Ella's mono DECCA recordings included here and I did not expect that. Six selections alone are from the Decca Lp/Cd entitled "Pure Ella". Tha Cd is great, but it is not in stereo and the sound is off -- Ella's voice is recorded strangely and sounds much lower than it really was. These recordings simply do not fit in well with the others chosen. There are much better Fitzgerald compilations to chose, such as "The Jazz Sides" and the 3 cd "First lady of Song", both on Verve.

Very Romantic Ella
Since UMG united Decca and Polygram, the issues of Ella's catalog have been an interesting mix of her Decca and Polygram recordings, something thought not possible a few years ago. This cd is not the first to put these two studio recordings together, however it's the first to present songs with a singular theme. Intimacy is the name of the game, this is a collection of the most intimate songs Ella's recorded. There are no strings here, this music is Ella with trio only, culled from all her albums including the songbooks. The mastering of this disc is excellent; Ella had a tendency to sing really close to the mike and it seems the producer of this disc chose only those songs with Ella up front. The Decca sides are presented here with the best sound to date; the songs are not too sanitized with noise reduction, so listening fatigue is avoided. Overall this is a great summary of her most emotional readings, something not usually associated with her. ... Read more

Asin: B00007KN0N
Sales Rank: 45415
Subjects:  1. Jazz    2. Pop   

The Pianist (Music from the Motion Picture)
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (26 November, 2002)
list price: $18.98 -- our price: $14.99
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Editorial Review

Roman Polanski's telling of famed Polish composer-pianist Wladyslaw Szpilman's survival in the Nazi-controlled Warsaw ghetto can't help but be infused with the director's deepest passions: he himself escaped the Kraków ghetto as a boy of 7. The musician's status as a musical hero to the oppressed Polish Jews of World War II was surpassed only by that of Chopin, the composer who was at the core of Szpilman's repertoire. Thus this score revolves tightly around Chopin's music, with modern Polish pianist Janusz Olejniczak paying passionate homage to both his musical and national forebears, the haunting strains of the Nocturne in C-sharp Minor setting the film's historical and dramatic tone. The underscore of previous Polanski collaborator Wojciech Kilar (The Ninth Gate, Death and the Maiden) is represented here by the soulful "Moving to the Ghetto," a cue that helps anchor the soundtrack's troubling time and place with understated grace. The collection concludes with a rare, remastered performance of Chopin's Mazurka Op. 17, No.4 by Szpilman himself, recorded in Warsaw in 1948. --Jerry McCulley ... Read more

Features

• Soundtrack

Reviews (26)

An Inspirational, Stunning Soundtrack to a Brilliant Movie
Just as surely as Roman Polanski's "The Pianist" was easily the most powerful film I have seen during my four decades on this earth, so has the movie's soundtrack transformed (i.e., expanded) my musical horizons. As child of the sixties for whom a purchase of classical music would have seemed anathema only a few short years ago, the stirring echos of "The Pianist" and its magnificent soundtrack are akin to a groove in the soul....they remind us all of the transcending power of music, the enduring goodness and presence of humanity in the midst of bestiality...the staggering gifts of the protagonists (Wladislaw Szpilman and Frederic Chopin) as they conjoin to vanquish unspeakable evil and degradation. Not only a director of subtle genius and commanding skill, Roman Polanski also escaped the Nazi terror at a heartbreakingly tender age (seven). Having lost his mother to Auschwitz, Polanski survived intermittently on the kindness of strangers and his own wits, but miraculously prevailed. Speaking words of surpassing eloquence, Polanski gives credence to the Polish pianist (Janusz Olejniczak) whose brilliant majesty pervades this soundtrack. As an accomplished pianist in my own youth, I know - keenly - that 90% of the works on this soundtrack are adequately performed by only the most able of musicians. Olejniczak does that - and much, much more. Track #9 - "Grande Polonaise in E-flat Major" is, in a word, breathtaking. Polanski wisely chose this piece as the backdrop to the film's climactic final scene. It had the audience (including myself) standing in rapt attention until the very last second - and applauding joyously at its conclusion. In conclusion, if the true measure of a film and is soundtrack is the ability to inform and influence others - then this stellar work has achieved this goal for this discerning film and music fan. I ceased performing on the piano years ago (1971), yet the ability to play never left me - until the summer of 1992, when I tried to play an old standard from my youth - and could not do so. Nor could I remember a single chord from even the simplest sonata - the ability to play had left me. Or so I thought. But "The Pianist" and its spine-tingling soundtrack have inspired me. I have vowed to try anew - to attempt to re-learn the ability to play. I may fail miserably - or my abilities may be all for naught. But I'd like to try. Don't get me wrong - I still love the Beatles. I still savor the sonic splendor of The Deftones and the inventive harmonies of Sonic Youth and Coldplay. But, like the very finest works of art, the soundtrack to "The Pianist" is something to be savored - slowly, like manna from the highest heavens. The visceral Valhalla and propulsive immediacy of the best rock 'n roll is still precious to this music buff, but age brings wisdom - and appreciation. My deepest thanks to Roman Polanski, Frederic Chopin, Wladislaw Szpilman and Janusz Olejniczak for the gift of "The Pianist." May its legacy endure - forever.

Beautiful music that is the soul of the film
The Pianist soundtrack is a wonderful collection of Chopin's songs that accurately and effectively reflect the songs Szpilman played during one of the most tumultuous times in history. Though only one song is authentically performed by Szpilman, the songs played by Janusz Olejniczak genuinely project Szpilman's emotion with his musical interpretation. His interpretation of the music appropriately fits the film's pathos to its greatest potential through musical elements of crescendos, decrescendos and tempo changes. Szpilman's emotion and passion for music are fully realized in one of the most poignant scenes of the movie, when he plays his heart out for the SS officer to prove he was and still is a pianist. This not only is a great starter collection for those who are not familiar with Chopin's music, but is also a vehicle for us to transcend ourselves back to this heart-felt and truly moving film.

Chopin and World War II
The film score to "The Pianist" has to be the best Chopin collection ever made for film and comprises one of the better film scores of recent years. The Chopin selections are all thoughtful and connect powerfully to images presented in the film. Pianist Janusz Oleiniczak is an extrovert Chopin performer captured in exemplary DDD sound. I think this is not only one of the better film scores for classical music, it is one of the better Chopin collections from recent years. The music is scrupulously selected to represent the emotions generated in the stark visual imagery -- from the melancholy Nocturne in C-sharp minor that represents the beginning of the end for thousands of Jews...to the powerful Ballade No. 1 played to a sympathetic German officer...to the Andante Spinato and Grande Poloniase Brilliant that triumphantly ends the flim over closing credits. "The Pianist" is a remarkable film that deserves its many plaudits and its score adds much to its reputation. The two are indispensable parts of an unforgettable artistic experince. ... Read more

Asin: B00007E8SQ
Subjects:  1. Classical    2. Soundtracks & Film Scores   

The Girlfriends' Guide to Surviving the First Year of Motherhood: Wise and Witty Advice on Everything from Coping With Postpartum Mood Swings to Salva ...toFitting into That Favorite Pair of Jeans
by Vicki Iovine
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (01 October, 1997)
list price: $13.95 -- our price: $10.46
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Editorial Review

Just had a baby?Lie down, rest your weary womb, and muster up a rousing cheer! (Shh! Don't wake the baby!)Now, from the author of The Girlfriend's Guide to Pregnancy, comes the book all new moms have been waiting for, whether they know it or not.Vicki Iovine talks turkey ... and stitches, and weight loss, and depression, and sex (trying it for the first time after labor and delivery? "Inebriate and Lubricate"). Vicki--yeah, I know I'm calling her by her first name but after reading this book you'll be on a first-name basis with her, too--is funny, informative, and utterly (udderly?)irreverent.New mothers have never had it so good. ... Read more

Reviews (139)

Finally a book that tells it like it is!!!!! A must Moms!
I have to say that the 1st book I read by Vicki (that is how you feel after reading her books - that you can call her by her first name!) was the pregnancy survival book which I found fun, hilarious and informative - but it was the 1st year of motherhood that for me was a very importrant part of my post partum recovery - I read the book before I had my daughter and after - not til after I had dd though did I realize how on the nose she is...and the book helped me thru hard time - not with facts or medical info....with down to earth, funny wisdom that what I was going thru was normal......when I felt some symptoms of PPD, I read her chapter over and over...when we had sleep issues, I would go over her chapter - not for info. but for SUPPORT...for a laugh....to know these things would get better.....I had friends and family but this was just another outlet....

I would recommend this book for all Moms to be.....I think there is nothing to lose by knowing the truth......and if you never have some of the issues Vicki explains in her book, then good for you!

What is with all the negativity????
I realize that this book offers a witty, tongue-in-cheek approach to pregnancy and mothering, but I found it to be so negative! If a woman contemplating pregnancy reads this book before having children, she might think twice about actually taking the plunge. The author makes natural childbirth seem impossible and she basically scoffs at the notion that you can get your body back into shape after giving birth. It is amazing that she chose to have so many children based upn all of the negative things she associates with pregnancy. I prefer a more positive appraoch to the birthing process. After having my first baby 4 months ago (naturally), I eased into motherhood with the no