About Carmen

Wife, mother, and avid reader

Sew Everything Workshop

Posted on March 14, 2013 by Carmen

Photo credit: *Leanda / Foter.com / CC BY-NC

I’m new to the sewing world, so I thought I’d share a book with other beginners out there: Sew Everything Workshop: The Complete Step-by-Step Beginner’s Guide. I know that there are plenty of beginning sewing books out there. I chose this book, you may choose to use another. This book helped me conquer a lot of my sewing-related fears. Diana Rupp includes background information such as supplies, terminology, and types of fabric, but also plenty of sewing projects to keep you busy. I’ve made several of the projects using the instructions she gave: pincushion, sewing machine cozy, & kitchen apron. I’ve also used the project instructions as sort of a guide for projects I’ve made on my own – a pencil skirt and a patchwork quilt. Diana includes 25 projects, 10 of which have paper patterns.

I like many things about this book, such as her writing style and helpful photos, but perhaps the thing I like most is the variety of projects and their timeless quality. Diana includes four types of projects: clothing, accessories, home, and gifts, and although this book is several years old, I don’t look at the projects and think “Wow, that is so outdated.” If you want to see photos of what other people have made check out this Flickr group (I’m too lazy to take photos of my own work. . maybe someday.)

Do you sew? How did you learn? Any sewing books you’d recommend?

Fiction Suggestions?

Posted on March 8, 2013 by Carmen

: Joe Crawford / Foter.com / CC BY

I’m realizing I don’t own many fiction books, and I often struggle to find fiction that I really get into (besides children’s books – haha!) or that I don’t feel like I need to take a shower after reading. I enjoyed Neta Jackson’s Yada Yada Prayer Group series, most of Francine Rivers‘ work, and classics such as Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. I did read the Hunger Games this past year, but I don’t think I’ll feature it since it doesn’t seem to qualify as “nourishing” in my mind. I’m working through Susan Wise Bauer’s list, but I’m stuck right now in the middle of Don Quixote.

Does anyone have any suggestions for great fiction?

Book Review: The Cook’s Herb Garden

Posted on March 8, 2013 by Carmen

Photo credit: suzettesuzette / Foter.com / CC BY

My in-laws gave me The Cook’s Herb Garden for my birthday. (Thanks guys!) I’ve enjoyed skimming through it. I’m excited for warmer weather and the chance to work in my herb bed.

Organization and Features

The book contains four main sections: choose, grow, harvest & store, and cook. The choose section features an herb catalog with photos and information. For each herb, the authors include information for growing, harvesting, and cooking. If you are new to gardening, the grow section will help you get started without feeling overwhelmed. The harvesting and cooking sections were of course my favorites. I want to try rosemary oil and oregano butter. At the back of the book, the authors included some charts of foods and what herbs you can partner with the foods. For example, pair figs with cilantro or lavender, or grapes with cilantro or lemon.

Something I learned

: Jonathunder / Foter.com / CC BY-SA

I learned something new. You can freeze garlic by separating into cloves, shaping in a roll and covering in plastic wrap. You don’t need to include water or oil. I will have to try that. I am very lazy when it comes to garlic. I frequently use garlic powder so I don’t have to deal with peeling and mincing.

Something I would change

Add a list of recommended resources for learning more about herbs – herbs as medicine, more recipes, etc.
More recipes – especially recipes that kids would be into (or at least willing to try)

Things I love

Awesome photos
Organization
Great size, and just the right amount of detail

Do you enjoy growing or using herbs? Any resources that you would recommend?

The Fresh Egg Cookbook: From Chicken to Kitchen

Posted on March 5, 2013 by Carmen

The Fresh Egg Cookbook Photo credit: Piasoft / Foter.com / CC BY-SA

I really want a flock of feathered friends. I’m not sure when it all started, but there have been several things that have contributed to this desire. First, Josiah began eating 4 eggs for breakfast every morning. That means that I need to buy about at least 3 dozen eggs a week for our family. That’s a lot of eggs. Second, I went to a chickens seminar at a local pet store, and I was hooked. Third, backyard chickens have become some sort of fad, and we know plenty of people who have them. Unfortunately, we live in a town that does not allow chickens. Someday. . .

I found The Fresh Egg Cookbook on the new book shelf at our library. Actually, I check the new book shelf every week when David and I visit, and I saw the book there each week for about a month. And I said to myself most weeks “Oh, that looks like a neat book, but I have enough egg recipes.”

I was so wrong. I’m not sure what finally persuaded me to take the book off the shelf and take it home with me, but I’m glad I brought the book home. The author, Jennifer Trainer Thompson, shares from her experience of raising backyard chickens. She shares helpful info about caring for chickens as well as fun stories from her family and their flock.

And, I never knew there was so many different ways to use eggs! I usually stick with quiches, breakfast casseroles, frittatas, and an occasional souffle. Now I am inspired to try migas, poached eggs, and hollandaise sauce. I would say she includes at least 100 different recipes using eggs.

To be completely honest, I have not tried any of the recipes yet (I will have to update when I do!), but they look pretty easy and use basic ingredients that I’d generally have on hand.

Do you raise chickens? Have any egg recipes you want to share?

Parenting Book Review: Wild Things

Posted on February 28, 2013 by Carmen

Parenting Book Review

“Boyhood is a most complex and incomprehensible thing. Even when one has been through it, one does not understand what it was. A man can never quite understand a boy, even when he has been the boy.” – G. K. Chesterton

Wild Things: The Art of Nurturing Boys, by Stephen James and David Thomas, is perhaps the best parenting book I’ve read in awhile. I had “borrowed” it on my Kindle through Amazon Prime’s Lending Library, but after reading it, I decided to permanently add it to my collection. I want to have it on-hand as I parent David and whatever other children God gives us.

General observations:

This book is readable and well-organized- not too technical
The authors write graciously. They don’t place unreasonable expectations on parents
I’ve read plenty of parenting books and I was pleased that this book doesn’t just re-hash things I’ve read elsewhere

Reasons I found this book to be helpful:

Stage-by-stage sections on boys’ development – what to generally expect and some parenting strategies. I particularly found this helpful as a mother, since I am sometimes at a loss for understanding the male world!
Practical suggestions or ideas of what other parents have done. Here are several examples:
- “Race time” – Encourage young boys to run laps around the house when they seem rambunctious, sometimes backwards or sometimes with obstacles
- Invite a son do a chore with you instead of a time-out: help channel their energy instead of confining them (but time-outs can sometimes be effective!)
- Post a picture chart for daily routines to help keep young boys focused
- Join with other families who have boys the same age to do things such as service projects
The authors addressed difficult issues – such as the use of pornography – and gave suggestions for how to parent well in those situations
Recommended resources I can turn to for more suggestions. Parenting with Love and Logic, What Stories Does My Son Need?, and The Best Old Movies for Families are just a few of the resources mentioned

Something I would change about this book:

Include more on the faith development of boys

What about you? Have you read this book? Have you read other books specifically for parents of boys?

I’m Back to Blogging (Never Stopped Reading)

Posted on February 21, 2013 by Carmen

: » Zitona « / Foter.com / CC BY

I’m coming back from a little blogging break -I’ve been working on some projects around the house, trying to figure out Photoshop so I can do more with photos/design with this blog, and chasing a toddler. I have not not been taking a break from reading, however!

Several of my recent reads include: a whole slew of books on digestive health including Digestive Wellness, Restoring Your Digestive Health, and Healthy Gut Workbook; Wild Things: The Art of Nurturing Boys; and of course a bunch of fiction books. I had wanted to see why people were into Karen Kingsbury, so I did read some of hers that our local library had. I did enjoy some aspects of her books, but I find myself getting tired of boy-and-girl-finally-get-together type books.

Next up to read: Gut and Psychology Syndrome and Family Driven Faith. I found Family Driven Faith at a local thrift store for $1 and I am very excited to read it.

Expect a review shortly on one of my new favorites – Wild Things: The Art of Nurturing Boys. I’m excited to share how much I enjoyed it!

3 Books for My Preggo Friends

Posted on January 16, 2013 by Carmen

: nathansnostalgia / Foter.com / CC BY-NC-ND

I currently have multiple special people in my life who are expecting, so I’m thinking a lot about pregnancy and babies, and remembering my time of carrying David. Here are three books that I turned to frequently during my pregnancy with David:

1. Birthed in Prayer: Pregnancy as a Spiritual Journey by Barker, Meillon, and Harrison

I do not know how I came across this book, but I’m glad I did. It seems like most pregnancy related books focus on the physical health of the mother and child, and, while that is important, there is so much more to pregnancy than just growing another body inside your body. The authors focus on the spiritual/emotional part of pregnancy – and using Scripture, reflection, and prayer to prepare yourself. Some chapter titles include: “Releasing the Way Things Were,” “Facing Fear,” and “Encountering God.” I love how the authors included other women’s stories, Scripture, and reflection questions.

2. A Child Is Born by Nilsson and Hamberger

This book is for the visually-inclined: a picture-journey from fertilization to birth. I love it. The book shows a glimpse of what God must see! I plan on using it when I talk to David about what babies are like when they’re inside the womb. I may have even used it with our foster girls when I was pregnant with David. I can’t remember. Thanks to the Metzlers for this recommendation!

3.Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn (4th Edition): The Complete Guide

The title basically tells you what this is: a guide through pregnancy, childbirth and newborn care. Although I love the websites for gleaning information, there is something about having all the information in one place. This book helped me as a first-time mama to understand pregnancy-related vocabulary and things like what to expect. I’m sure there are comparable books out there, but I personally found this one helpful. Check it out if you need a start.

What are your favorite pregnancy/baby books? Or what websites did you find helpful?

More things = more happiness?

Posted on January 9, 2013 by Carmen

: Ian Koh / Foter / CC BY-NC

I don’t know what it is, but every year around this time, I get really into organizing and de-cluttering. I think that this year it may be even worse because of all I’ve been learning about poverty and oppression in the world around me.

Here is one of my favorite children’s books that celebrates simplicity and the joy of giving:

The Quiltmaker’s Gift by Jeff Brumbeau and Gail de Marcken. I haven’t read it to David because I don’t want him to rip the pages.

Here’s the ~~synopsis~~ main part of the story without the ending:

A woman makes beautiful quilts to give to the poor and needy. A unhappy king who already has everything wants a quilt. But the quiltmaker will only give him one if he makes presents of everything he owns.

I will leave you to guess what happens, or read it to find out.

Things I love about the book:

Beautiful, detailed illustrations
Message that happiness does not come from what we have

Something I would change:

Illustrations just feature people with pale skin

Appropriate for:

Adults who like reading picture books (people like me)
Elementary age children for read-aloud/independent reading (you know your child’s abilities better than me)

A 10-year-old Divorcee

Posted on December 27, 2012 by Carmen

I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced by Nujood Ali with Delphine Minoui

I discovered this book when I was searching for books on human trafficking on Amazon. Fortunately, our local library had a copy so I could check it out.

Nujood Ali, a 10-year-old girl from Yemen, tells her story of being married, abused, and divorced, all before the age most American girls have a boyfriend. Apparently it is common in some areas of Yemen for very young girls to be given in marriage, with the understanding that the husband will wait for sexual relations until the girl reaches puberty. Nujood’s husband did not wait. He also abused her physically and verbally.

I wish I could say that Nujood’s life got immediately easier and better after her divorce, and maybe today she is doing well.This CNN article shares more, but even that was written in 2009. I pray that Nujood would continue to be a courageous woman who inspires many.

What I learned or gained from this book:

a window into life in rural Yemen
a sense of compassion for families like Nujood’s, who find themselves in very difficult circumstances with difficult choices
a reminder of the incredible gift that my childhood and education was AND how precious my husband is
a desire to look into ways to help others. . . especially women. This ties into what I’ve been learning about Hope International and their small business loans. How can I really help people around the world, instead of just giving easy hand-outs?

Cooking Seasonly: Simply in Season

Posted on December 20, 2012 by Carmen

: Monado / Foter / CC BY

I’ve really been trying to eat seasonally, in the sense that I try to eat things that are currently being grown or harvested (or I’ve preserved myself). Winter has been hard for me, because there are less seasonal fruits and vegetables (and I have not frozen or dried as much as I had wished).

I thought I’d share my most-turned-to cookbook that has really helped me to know how to prepare fresh and local produce:

Simply in Season Expanded Edition (World Community Cookbook)

Organized by seasons, the recipes include typical things like quiche and muffins, but also new things to me such as Strawberry Souffle and Upside-Down Pear Gingerbread. I’ve been trying to cook through this over the past couple years. My most turned-to-favorites are the white chili and the potato soup.

Things I like the most:

An index of recipes by produce featured. For example, if I have a bumper crop of backyard tomatoes, I can look up tomatoes and find every recipe that contains tomatoes
Fruit and vegetable guide. If I am not sure what a rutabaga is, or how to use it, there is a photo guide for produce that includes what season the item will usually be available, and how to select, store, and prepare it.
Easily adaptable recipes with possible variations noted. I often use these recipes as a base and then add or subtract from the ingredients based on what I have on hand.

Something I would change:

I would love to be able to see photos of completed recipes. I just like visuals.

If you’re interested in some more of the recipes from Simply in Season, check out The Local Cook blog. She featured a lot of the recipes in her quest to cook through the book. And yes, she includes photos!

What about you? What are your most-turned-to cookbooks?