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Showing posts from 2016

Book Review 'Between You and Me: Confessions of Comma Queen' by Mary Norris

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Although this book should appeal to anyone and everyone that picks up a pen or types a message into an electronic device, it won’t. However, if you are a person that believes the rules of grammar are “rock solid” you most assuredly would benefit from this delightful book.

Happy Pi Day

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Emotional Intelligence Theory & Book Review

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According to the authors, if you fall short of IQ or are unsuccessfully using your intelligence, you can increase your EQ (Emotional Intelligence) and live a happier more productive life.

Book Review ‘Blue Nights’ by Joan Didion

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We live with a certain expectation about the possibility of burying a spouse and even more certainty about out living our parents, however, most of us do not even entertain the idea of outliving one of our children.

Book Review ‘Always Returning, the Wisdom of Place’ by D. A. Hickman

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The author conveys a simple, calm as she paints a gorgeous picturesque parallel between earth from her physical point on the map and the makings of our individuality. To demonstrate, the prairie of South Dakota represents the macrocosm for the spiritual self. Free of dogma, it is a beautifully written spiritual guide for self-exploration, the images and lessons are brilliantly simple, yet complex in their representation.

‘Barefoot in the Park’ Audio Performance

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A sweet revival… All things considered, Neil Simon is a marvelous playwright with an extraordinary resume.  Namely, a popular favorite, Barefoot in the Park , first appeared on Broadway in 1963 starring Robert Redford and Elizabeth Ashley.  Later in the decade on May 25, 1967, it debuted in theaters starring Robert Redford and Jane Fonda. Even though some of us were too young or not yet born, it is a classic romantic comedy and decades later, people continue to enjoy the display of humor in the newlyweds’ relationship.

Audio Book Review 'Looking For Me' from Bestselling Author Beth Hoffman

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Beth Hoffman gained an audience with her International Bestseller Saving Cee Cee Honeycutt . Her fans yearned for another and it was well worth the wait. Looking For Me reflects Beth Hoffman’s methodical and elegant style.  Fortunately, I have had the opportunity to exchange thoughts with her a couple of times and she is a delightful woman. There is a strength that emerges from within her southern roots, a former interior designer, she has an eye for detail and a heart filled with hope for even the most blemished. Beth’s stories bring us strong, determined women that are a reflection of her.

Audio Book Review ‘The Last Anniversary’ by Liane Moriarty

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Literature without a clear purpose often disappoints me. Despite an author’s extraordinary storytelling ability, for me, dark novels void of even a quasi-hero are less than satisfactory reading, I cannot seem to shake the feeling that I am somehow missing the point and maybe I am.

Book Review 'The Year of Magical Thinking' by Joan Didion

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Joan Didion was a Renaissance woman in the 60s and 70s, the early days of the subjective literary news penned New Journalism. In effect, this style of reporting embedded the writer, so deeply into the story that the author became part of it. Clearly documented, Ms. Didion’s literature as well as her life exhibited a level of strength few women were brave enough to display in those days. Generally speaking, her work continues to be an important contribution to the changing ideal of the modern women in the United States and Europe.

Book Review 'Freud’s Mistress' by Karen Mack & Jennifer Kaufman

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Sigmund Freud remains the father of modern day psychoanalysis, regardless of his notoriety and contributions, Freud suffered from several addictions from tobacco to cocaine, nevertheless, there is reason to conclude he suffered from another.

Book Review 'Killer, Come Hither' by Louis Begley

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The circumstances beg the reader to examine... What would you be willing or insane enough to risk to avenge the murder of the most important person in your life?

Audio Book Review ‘Girl On The Train’ by Paula Hawkins

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The top-selling psychological thriller for 2015 is none other than Paula Hawkins’  The   Girl on the Train. In a genre historically dominated by men Paula Hawkins among other notable female writers are moving in and they are not sitting at the back of the train.

Yosemite: A Bird's-Eye View

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With an eye in the sky, this drone video by Falcon Media Solutions, provides a stunning look at the gorgeous nature America proudly preserves and protects at Yosemite National Park.

Book Review ‘The Stranger’ by Harlan Coben

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The internet is a scary frontier and not a day goes by that we do not learn of a negative incident involving the web.

Decadent Gluten Free Flourless Chocolate Cake

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Divine Chocolate & Almond Gluten-Free Cake 1 cup whipping cream 1 cup plus 2 Tablespoons sugar 10 squares( 1oz each) unsweetened chocolate 6 squares( 1oz each) semisweet chocolate 6 eggs, at room temperature 1/2 cup strong coffee 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/2 teaspoon almond extract 1/4 teaspoon of salt 1/2 cup sliced almonds

Book Review ‘Baltimore Blues’ by Laura Lippman

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Tess Monoghan is ritualistic, quirky, and unrefined, not quite as brash as Janet Evonovich’s, Stephanie Plum, but, a strong no fuss female who finds comfort in searching out the negative in everything and everyone. In Tess’s world, all this, combines with her clever, observant qualities, and equals an entertaining character.   

Book Review ‘The Way of Men’ by Jack Donovan

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Is the author, crazy, extreme or realistic? How important is the traditional male role? Is masculinity critical? Is there a tribal instinct that drives heterosexual men to strive to impress one another rather than women?

Gluten Free Cauliflower Fried Rice with Red Curry

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Considered a super-food by experts, cauliflower packs a bunch of benefits that few foods can top. One of the best benefits is its versatility.

Book Review ‘The Visitant: A Venetian Ghost Story’ by Megan Chance

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Winter’s nights are long and it’s only natural to pull out a good ghost story to set the mood and this Venetian ghost story does the job, well. 

Healthy Gluten Free Pancakes

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The recipe base consists of only two ingredients and both are super healthy.

Book Review ‘The Neon Lawyer’ by Victor Methos

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If you enjoyed John Grisham’s, The Rainmaker , you’ll like The Neon Lawyer . However, I would be remiss if I did not warn; unlike Grisham’s, the crime against the child in The Neon Lawyer is disturbing and gruesome, but please understand it is detailed, briefly.

Springtide: A 2-Ingredient Gluten Free Healthy Beverage

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For the most part, commercially processed and packaged yogurt is of late a disappointing disaster for the health conscious consumer.

Audio Book Review ‘Beautiful Ruins’ by Jess Walter

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Critics love this novel, named book of the year by several literary entities, it is a winner. I wish I liked the story, but I don’t.

Bestseller: Audio Book Review 'Fates and Furies' by Lauren Groff

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Bestselling, multiple award winning , Fates and Furies is a deviation from modern literary tradition that proves to deepen an intensely emotional tragedy.

Delicious Gluten Free Sangria Stew

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This stew is not only tasty with a mild sweet flavor, but gorgeous with lovely red tones that serve as a perfect background for the colorful veggies. Gluten Free, Paleo, it is a wonderfully healthy dish that is absolutely delicious!

Audio Book Review ‘The Secret Chord’ by Geraldine Brooks

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Written by a Pulitzer Prize Winning Author! The Hebrew Bible claims; God loved King David most. Whether you view The Bible as a religious guide, history book, or a timeless work of literature, you likely find this idea perplexing enough to have a few questions pass through your mind’s eye. After all, King David was a warrior, a military leader that was responsible for many deaths, albeit to claim an earthly kingdom for God, many shed blood.

17 Beauty Hacks for Stunning Results

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Fun and effective hacks to make the most of  your attributes for a special evening out, a job interview or an important meeting. Relax and enjoy, Shani Grimmond has got you covered.

Book Review 'Six Years' by Harlan Coben

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No doubt about it, Harlan Coben has “got it goin’ on;” a new novel every year, movies, No Second Chance , a six episode, French television crime drama, and The Five , a 10 episode series in Britain. Surprisingly, he claims to love writing for tv, so much so that it sends his movie adaptions somewhere down on the list of priorities.

Book Review 'The Bullet' by Mary Louise Kelly

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On the surface, Caroline Cashion is gorgeous, smart, and successful; dig a little deeper and find she is a bit too isolated, enjoys sex without strings, and fears commitment. 

Gluten Free Meatless Vegetable Moussaka

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Moussaka is a Mediterranean dish made popular by the Greeks. Studies show that Mediterranean cuisine is perhaps among the healthiest. This gluten free, meatless, dish is satisfying and rich with flavor.  

Book Review ‘Margot’ by Jillian Cantor

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What if Anne Frank’s sister, Margot, lived and made the journey to begin a new life in The United States? Furthermore, delving deeper into speculation, Anne Frank mentioned her older sister also kept a diary, what would we learn from Margot’s perspective if her diary surfaced?

5 Ancient End-of-Times Myths that Really Happened

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In recent years researchers and scholars have begun to give ancient myths a fresh eye and it seems that our ancestor’s colorful use of hyperbole and metaphors often fooled us into confusing fact as fiction. This video by Dark5 defines five actual events that we once believed were wild myths.

Bestseller: Audio Book Review ‘Our Souls at Night’ by Kent Haruf

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Age or die young, for everyone, this is a grim reality. Our Souls at Night is a beautiful story about a relationship between two aging adults who form a unique friendship in order to alleviate the devastating loneliness in their lives.

Gluten Free Roasted Asian Chicken Tenders

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Quick and easy with a lot of flavor, make a few for yourself or a bunch and feed a crowd, use a fork, chopsticks or just your fingers, it’s all good.

10 Unsolved Desert Mysteries

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Crop circles, fairy circles, and more secrets held by the deserts and shared by G Facts. A hot bed of unexplained phenomenons to intrigue your inner conspiracy theorist.

Book Review 'The Governor’s Wife' by Michael Harvey

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No less than four Illinois Governors have received prison sentences. Admittedly inspired by former disgraced Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, the premise is magnificent, but there are some fundamental issues that disrupt an otherwise potentially fabulous mystery.

Audio Book Review 'The Rocks' by Peter Nichols

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Written by a former sea captain, the novel begins with a philosophical message about the journey to Homer’s Ithaca, profound; the recurring theme uniquely becomes a parallel to the eccentric characters’ lives in this epic story.

Gluten Free No Bake Peanut Butter & Chocolate Bars

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It’s that time of year; sweet treats take center stage at parties and family gatherings.  Gluten free doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the fun or deny yourself a few sweets. Here’s an excellent treat I put together to take to a cookie exchange.

Celebrate National Peanut Butter Day with 10 Sticky Facts

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American’s love peanut butter, so celebrate National Peanut Butter day 2016 by gaining a peanut butter education with 10 sticky facts provided by Geobeats.

Watch an Impressive Collage of Drone Video

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A flowing stream, a child in a forest, the construction of bridges, and a dam, this video is a hodgepodge of fabulous footage caught at vantage points only possible by a drone. Thanks to Adrien Olivier for giving us the opportunity to experience the wonders.

Chocolate Brownies: No Gluten, No Dairy, No Egg, No Oil-Only 2 Ingredients

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We love brownies! Originating in Chicago at the Palmer House Hotel in 1893, the delicious marriage of the cake and the cookie is undoubtedly an all-time favorite. Unfortunately, for health and ingredient conscious individuals, replacements often lack the flavor we crave. So, when we say, only two ingredients without the usual allergens, the first concern is taste. Fear not as this gooey chocolaty treat is not lacking any taste; in fact, it tastes better than most.

Audio Book Review ‘The Forgotten Room’ by Lincoln Child

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Imagine: tasting color, seeing sound, and hearing food; euphoria or a window into Hell? The Forgotten Room is modern day science fiction mingling with the paranormal. This is my first Lincoln Child book; my initial reaction is wow-what a unique writer. A lover of fine flowing literature done well, I’m in awe of his no-nonsense style of writing, so tightly suffused with an intellectual peculiarity that drives the premise like a well-tuned machine, simply said: the author’s skill is effectively eccentric, much like the cast of science minded characters in the novel.

15 Scientific Discoveries in 2015

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2015 was a productive year in science with the discovery of 211 previously unknown species in the Eastern Himalayas, alone. We are apparently just beginning.  In addition, scientists learned to control the speed of light, and grow vegetables in space with evidence suggesting water on Mars the possibilities are endless. Beyond Science captured these and many more in this summary of 2015, a year of scientific breakthroughs that promise to make life on Earth and beyond better.

Hot Apple Pie an Adult Drink to Warm You

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This delicious cold weather beverage will warm you straight through winter. It is easy and tasty and you can make some and place it in a thermos to heat up your tailgate party.

Audio Book Review 'The Lightning Stones' by Jack Du Brul

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The action-packed novel definitely lives up to the hype. Clive Cussler’s co-author of the popular, New York Times best-selling series, Oregon Files, has stepped out on his own with a science fiction thriller jam packed with suspense, adventure, and action.

Sassy 2-Ingredient Gluten Free Dipping Sauce

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Great for French fries, chicken, veggies and more, with an appetizing appearance and mildly sweet initial taste that gives way to a slightly spicy kick, it is perfect for game day or any day.

Audio Book Review ‘First Frost’ by Sarah Addison Allen

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A bit of magic and a lot of family support in a story with an emphasis on the positive. Sometimes it’s a pleasure to read a bit of fiction and appreciate a low-drama situation, even though, it’s obvious that circumstances are going to turn out for the best.

Audio Book Review 'Rogue Lawyer' by John Grisham

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The Rogue Lawyer is Sebastian Rudd, a daredevil who struggles with ethics; he is a signature headliner with charisma.

Don Henley Releases Heartbreaking Statement on Glenn Frey

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