Whether you want to double your living space, replace a heating system or make simple cosmetic changes, if you love your house’s architectural details then read this book before starting your project. The editor of Old-House Journal teams with an award-winning preservationist for fabulous period residences that have old-world character but still function as family homes. After all, that 60-year-old plumbing has to do more than just look charming. “Richly illustrated with color photos, plans, and drawings”

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 Can it, bottle it, smoke it : and other kitchen projects

“The eagerly anticipated follow-up to Jam It, Pickle It, Cure It offers more ideas for adventurous culinary DIYers to stock the larder with artisan food and drink, kitchen staples, tasty snacks, and gift-worthy eats. Want to make your own Plum Catsup (can it!), Strawberry Black Pepper Soda (bottle it!), and Chipotles in adobo (smoke it!)? Join food writer Karen Solomon in the culinary revolution that has changed the way people think about the boxed and jarred food on the grocery shelf, by trying these recipes and techniques for making homemade jams, relishes, pickles, bagels, popsicles, muesli, chips, pastrami, smoked nuts, sauces, syrups, and much more. Perfect for people who want to eat organic, local, and sustainable without giving up favorites like pretzels and sodas, this book will have weekend warriors whipping up mouthwatering foodstuffs for their pantries –and their friends–in no time”–

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A perfectly kept house is the sign of a misspent life : how to live creatively with collections, clutter, work, kids, pets, art, etc.– and stop worrying about everything being perfectly in its place

June 6, 2011

Carter, Mary Randolph.

New York : Rizzoli International Publications : Distributed by Random House, 2010.

“How to make your house a home filled with comfort, ambience, informality, personality, and a welcoming spirit– while living beautifully with all the things you love”.  For all those who choose to live with the messy things they love, this book shows how to do so creatively, happily, and with considerable style ideas. If you have been influenced by the art- and book-filled house of Vanessa Bell, this unique style book will stimulate you with its creative ideas. This volume explores how real-life tastemakers (photographers, textile designers, fashion designers, writers, artists) integrate their life and interiors to live well with their passions, histories, conveniences, and inconveniences. Combining practical tips with liberating philosophy: “Don’t scrub the soul out of your home”; “Make room for what you love” this volume celebrates living beautifully and happily, not messily. Lavishly illustrated with intimate photographs.

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 Italian cooking : at home with the Culinary Institute of America

June 13, 2011

Scappin, Gianni.

Hoboken, N.J. : Wiley, c2011.

Authentic, amazing Italian cooking made easyThis sumptuously photographed guide to cooking all things Italian in the home kitchen will win over both beginning and experienced cooks with authentic and inventive recipes and step-by-step guidance from the experts at the CIA. Covering a variety of dishes from snacks, pickles, and preserves to pasta, meat, fish, and dessert, Italian Cooking is the perfect primer for fresh and flavorful Italian cuisine. With rustic focaccias, long-simmered soups, and entrÉes with aromatic herbs, these vivid recipes are irresistible. Wine suggestions and mouthwatering photographs accompany the recipes. Includes more than 150 fantastic, approachable Italian recipes Covers chapters on Gli Spuntini (Snacks and Little Bites), I Crudi (Raw Dishes), Le Minestre (Soupe), La Pasta Secca (Dry Pasta), La Sfoglia (Fresh Pasta), I Pesci (Fish), Le Carni (Meat), and more Features tantalizing photos by Francesco Tonelli that illustrate cooking techniques and provide plenty of inspiration for the home cook Italian Cooking offers a grand tour through Italian cuisine, covering regional cuisines, wines, and histories along the way.

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Jamie Durie’s the outdoor room

June 22, 2011

Durie, Jamie.

New York, NY : Harper Design, c2011.

Taking readers behind the first season of the HGTV show “Outdoor Room with Jamie Durie,” this edition reveals the secrets behind Durie’s creations and how his signature methods can help anyone create a beautiful outdoor room, no matter the size of the space.

If there’s one thing Ivanka Trump knows, it’s business.  Ivanka’s book, The Trump Card, is far more than stories from a spoiled little rich girl.  Her parents have groomed her into the successful businesswoman she is today.

Surprisingly far more than a story of nepotism at its finest, Ivanka is a credentialed and intelligent woman following in her father, Donald Trump’s, footsteps.

Ivanka, a former runway model, also has an eye for stunning business attire as well.  She is a perfect balance of business meets femininity.  If you want to emulate a businesswoman with fabulous style…Ivanka’s your girl.

What steps will you take to make next year the best ever?  Don’t know where to start?  Contemplate this progression of actions as depicted by A Mindful-Based Stress Reduction Workbook:

1. Intention shapes our thoughts and words.
2. Thoughts and words mold our actions.
3. Thoughts, words, and actions shape our behaviors.
4. Behaviors sculpt our bodily expressions.
5. Bodily expressions fashion our character.
6. Our character hardens into what we look like.

Teresa Giudice (Real Housewives of New Jersey) has just written an incredible book on the art of Italian cooking.  More than just a cookbook, this is more like a great book with recipes, because there’s lots of dialogue and pictures to go along with the amazing recipes.  I especially love the pictures she shares of her house and family (four darling little girls and her juicy husband, Joe.) 

I was so impressed with Teresa’s book.  I mean, who doesn’t want to have access to a girlfriend whose parents are straight from the old country and taught her everything they know about old-school Italian cooking?

I adore that she believes so strongly in her heritage.  I adore people of any culture that maintain their roots and are deeply proud of being Italian, Swedish, German, etc.  I love tradition.  It’s something I wish I had in my own family.  Truth be told, I really have no idea where I came from.  I’m blonde, blue eyed, and not exactly what you’d call dark complected.  I know that originally my family came from France.  Beyond that,  it’s a bit unclear.  I’ve always found it to be so interesting to listen to people who have deep heritage.  I need to visit Ancestry.com. 

Teresa shares recipes in her new book, Skinny Italian, that have gone back many generations.  She shares all of her bag of tricks…all the while doing it with her Jersey-Girl attitude and sass! 

I have literally not been able to put this book down for two weeks.  Teresa has even inspired me to try my hand at canning this summer (there’s a whole section on this in her book along with step by step instructions.) 

Admittedly, the Real Housewives franchises have tried to market almost every one of their ladies into a brand…(think Vicki Gunvalson with her new book or LuAnn the Countess with her singing.)  With all the personal branding  promotion, I admit I looked at Teresa’s book with a side-eye, ala Tardy For the Party. 

But Skinny Italian is the real deal.  Real authentic recipes taught by real authentic Italians.  Teresa, I love, love love your new book.  Super-impressive work, Jersey-Girl!

The phrase, “tough cookie” comes to mind when thinking of Lee Woodruff.  After meeting Lee, there’s no denying her fighter spirit.  Lee Woodruff was in Cincinnati with Smart Talk Connected Conversations to talk about her experiences over the last few years, and needless to say, this girl has had her fair share of hard knocks. 

Lee’s life turned upside down when she received a call in 2006 that her news reporter husband, Bob Woodruff, (the one with the dreamy blue eyes) had been injured while covering the war while in Iraq.  And we’re not just talking “injured”, Bob was thisclose to losing his life. 

While her Bob lay in critical condition for days upon days, months, in fact,  Lee watched in horror as her beautiful husband’s head swelled to the size of a rugby ball.  She had no idea if he’d wake up again.  Even then, she had no idea if he’d remember her or their children after he did wake up.  Fighting back a tsunami of tears and emotion, Lee asked Bob’s doctor “will he still love me when he wakes up?”  His doctor assured her “yes, he will!” 

Through a long and grueling healing process, Bob Woodruff slowly reemerged to nearly 100% of his former glory.  Physically, he looks unscathed.  Bob is back on the news and looks as gorgeous as he once did.  Lee says his only residual issues remain with word-finding abilities (for instance, he referred to a breast augmentation as a breast explosion.) 

To endure what Bob did and to come back so strong was surely a gift from God, one that Lee clearly acknowledges.  Lee’s faith is what helped carry her through.  And really, when things are catastrophically bad, faith is all you have to cling on to.  And cling she did. 

To fully delve into Lee’s horrific turned joyous experiences, you can read her book, Perfectly Imperfect.  Lee is not only an amazing speaker, but she’s also knows her way around the literary world.  She also has an amazingly fun side to her as well.  I promised her I’d include Flannel Nightgown video (see below.)  The flannel nightgown stems from an incident one night when Bob threw her flannel nightgown over the balcony into the street!   In no uncertain terms, Mr. Woodruff let it be known that he’s not on board with the comfy flannel look. 

To read more about Lee, her work and her life’s experiences, visit her website at www.LeeWoodfuff.com 

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niiu4MqDVNQ

“I have a history of making decisions very quickly about men. I have always fallen in love fast and without measuring risks. I have a tendency not only to see the best in everyone, but to assume that everyone is emotionally capable of reaching his highest potential. I have fallen in love more times than I care to count with the highest potential of a man, rather than with the man himself, and I have hung on to the relationship for a long time (sometimes far too long) waiting for the man to ascend to his own greatness. Many times in romance I have been a victim of my own optimism.”
— Elizabeth Gilbert (Eat, Pray, Love)

When I’m asked if I’m having as much fun as it looks like I’m having at the Smart Talk events in Cincinnati…the answer is an astounding, yes!  Last night Smart Talk brought the brilliant and hilarious Patricia Heaton to Cincinnati for their Smart Talk Connected Conversations series.   

Patricia was bubbly and so interesting.  She’s definitely a girl’s girl.  She feels like one of your girlfriends.  Best of all, she’s from Ohio!  (No wonder she’s so sweet!) 

She’s not a fussy diva actress.  In fact, she was forthright about the “work” she’s had done to her body, some of which are, collagen fillers, Botox, veneers on her teeth, tummy tuck, breast lift, fake nails, fake eyelashes, amongst many other treatments.  Hey, she is in Hollywood after all.  Of course she feels the pressure to be beautiful.  She even jokingly talks of the new hairs that are growing on her face now that she’s hit menopause.  …see, I told you she was open to sharing everything! 

She’s been married …to the same man, gasp…for almost 20 years!  She has four sons that seem to make her world go around.  After an incredible successful run as the wife/mother on Everybody Loves Raymond, she’s now on The Middle, which is also enjoying it’s share of newfound success. 

She shared with us the trials and tribulations of Hollywood and Motherhood.  For instance, at a casting call, a director pulled her aside and said, “look, honey, I want to be honest with you, we are looking for an extremely attractive actress.”   Ouch!  It takes some thick skin to endure that type of torture.  She also speaks about Hollywood’s beautiful people “starving themselves.”   She said when she was broke and had no money, her refrigerator only had yogurt and Grape Nuts.  Now that she’s a successful actress…her refrigerator only has yogurt and Grape Nuts.  Actresses have to starve themselves to remain viable in Hollywood.  Hunger would definitely be a downside of fame. 

One of the most endearing things I love about Patricia was that she’s deeply spiritual.  She “gets” the mind/body/soul connection.  She attends church regularly.  She has gone on missions to help those less fortunate.  

Our girl, Patty, has it all, and she’s worked hard to get it.  Congratulations to yet another fearless female leader of our time.  For more, read her book Motherhood and Hollywood, How to Get A Job Like Mine. 

Cathy Erway’s new book, The Art Of Eating, depicts her two year journey of swearing off restaurant fare.   Cathy’s blog, Not Eating Out In New York, was the inspiration for her book.  Not only did Cathy lose 10 pounds within a few months of eating in, but she cherished the act of making delicious dishes.  She says it slowed her down and lowered her stress.  Turns out, eating in is ultra-frugal as well.  Cathy says she ended up saving about $75 a week by eating in.  Not only did she learn confidence in the kitchen, but she learned she had a great deal of discipline to say no to the restaurant scene for two years.  This book is such a fun, informative read.  Highly recommended!  Think you could swear off restaurants for two years?

Here’s a new concept for you…Extreme Self Care.  Cheryl Richardson, a New York Times best-selling author of books like Take Time For Your Life, Life Makeovers, Stand Up For Your Life, etc., (perhaps you recognize her from her numerous Oprah visits), is challenging us to a new concept, and it’s Extreme Self Care.

The trappings many of us fall into, especially women, is the caring and nurturing of everyone around us while we tend to let ourselves fall apart from lack of care.  Cheryl’s book, The Art of Extreme Self Care is a guide that helps you transform your life one month at a time.  In essence, it pulls you out of your own body and forces you to look at yourself from 1000 feet.

A chapter that hit home with me was the Absolute No List.  See if you can relate….here are a few of Cheryl’s Absolute Nos from her list:

MY ABSOLUTE NO LIST:  I NO LONGER:

*Jump out of bed in the morning.  I give myself the time and space I need to start the day in a serene and relaxed state.

*  Keep anything in my home that I don’t love or need.

*  Tolerate or participate in gossip.

*  Go to work when I’m sick.

*  Invest time in relationships that aren’t aligned with who I am and who I want to be.

*  Keep clothes I hope to fit into “someday.”

*  Throw away anything that can be recycled.

*  Get caught up in other people’s drama.

*  Eat when I’m not hungry.

It’s statements like these that get your mind moving in the right direction.  Decide what’s on your ABSOLUTE NO list and stick to it.  Not only is it empowering, but it brings an ultra-sense of calm and relaxation to your mind.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFoUvxEatpc