Sink Reflections
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (01 October, 2002)
list price: $15.00 -- our price: $10.20
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Reviews (234)

Best Method for establishing routines
This book has three strong points which make it a worthy purchase:
1.Her method for establishing and keeping home routines running smoothly is simple and effective. There is not a better method on the market that I am aware of (and I collect home management books).
2.Online support is available for those who wish to use her program and methods.You will be e-mailed several times a day with assignments and "encouragement" (see note 1 under weaknesses).
3.Her method assumes a very low starting point (cluttered home, sink full of dishes) and encourages steady, gradual improvement. (She refers to her method as "baby steps".) This is in sharp contrast to the massive whirlwind cleaning efforts that most people try on their own.

The book, like most also has some weaknesses.
1.The author mixes a pseudo-Christianity and eastern mysticism (feng shui) to create her own little religion which she preaches throughout the book.This was a HUGE turn-off for me.
2.The author's focus is getting rid of extra clutter.She gives very little direction on organizing and maintaining what is left.I highly recommend "Organizing from the Inside Out" by Julia Morgenstern and/or "Confessions of a Happily Organized Homemaker" (especially if you have school-aged children) in conjunction with this book.
3.Like every other organizational author that has pulled herself/themselves out of a horrificly dirty and cluttered home, she has a set of quirky "rules" that she feels are essential.Take these with a grain of salt.I feel no compulsion to shine my sink to a mirror-like finish, set out my outfit the night before, or even throw away 27 items at regular intervals.Other authors have equally bizarre rules that dealt with their specific trouble areas but are far from mainstream home management skills.

This book is worth the purchase price simply for the method she uses to establish and maintain household routines.Anything else you gain from it is gravy.

I liked it!
I have been to the web site and have been receiving numerous emails a day about my sink, my shoes, my laundry and finally when I should go to bed.I was just about to scream, when a neigbor suggested I read this book.And finally, I get it.Life should not be difficult, we should treat our famlies, our homes better then how we treat company.So much of this book is common sense, but when you see it in black and white it puts everything in perspective.This is a very good book, and reminds me a little of every woman I have ever met.So much so I have bought one for my mother.My mother has spent 50+ years running around like a chicken with her head off, and I think it is time for her to let go of the chaos.

Mildly useful
Ok, I am clearly in the minority here because of all the "FlyBabies" making the reviews, but here it goes...
The Sink reflections is 223 pages long and what is contained on those pages is this:
48 pages of letters from FlyBabies
7 completely empty pages
3 pages with instructions about how to shine your kitchen sink
4 pages about importance of picking your clothes evening before and wearing shoes even inside a house
7 pages about how chaos is the consequence of perfectionism
15 pages about what clutter is and that you can't organize it. Suggested ways of dealing with it are:
* 27 fling boogie (go through the house and pick 27 items to throw away)
* hot spot fire drill (unclutter the most cluttered spot in the room)
* 15 min de-clutter sessions (go into a room and spend 15 minutes tidying it up)
8 pages about the importance of taking care of yourself (doing "just for you" rituals regularly)
8 pages on how to get the rest of the family to help
2 pages about the author's definition of a good marriage
6 pages about doing the laundry - well not actually about doing it, rather about the importance of not letting it pile up
8 pages about organizing your paper clutter
4 pages about planning the menu for a week
9 pages about what to do if you are going on a vacation
16 pages about how to plan and what to do if you are moving
5 pages of her closing thoughts
So, when you do the math, it leaves exactly 73 pages that I couldn't categorize. Don't raise your hopes that there is something more than mildly useful on any of them.
... Read more

Isbn: 0553382179
Sales Rank: 748
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))
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (15 May, 2001)
list price: $19.95
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Reviews (78)

I received it only 45 minutes ago...

..and I'm already loving it!! I've only looked through the pictures, havent' read the text yet but it is sooo inspirational that lots of great ideas popping all over in my head! This book soo worth the price. The photos are all up-dated (I own a few Better Homes and Gardens dec. book) but I haven't met any of these photos before so these are new (I bought the 8th edition)!

I agree with one of the reviewer that these pictures mostly country/cottage and traditional designs but the style is very today, up-to-date. However there are a few modern/contemporary styles in it too (not much though)!

I'm gonna start reading this book soon so we'll see about the info it contains so I'll update this review but I feel that the photos already, alone worth that $17 I paid!

Very good book!
I really recommend this book, because it's easy to find your own decorating style in it. The book includes a very helpfull test in which you can discover the best decoration style for you , based on your personality (formal, sleek, etc).
The photographs are very good and it contains information about colour, fabrics, ilumination and other very important issues to consider when you want to decorate a room.
It has modern decorating ideas combined with good taste and common sense. Very good!

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, whichcost me under $25. This is a real bargainand filled with classic yet updated style. Like the book, the rooms itwill help you create will last for years. ... Read more

Isbn: 0696213818
Sales Rank: 185003
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
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 doctorordered if the typical traditional/classic and country/cozy aren't yourstyle.Works great for people moving into their first apt./house too-good, practical, easy to imitate ideas (and Ikea furnishings that are easyon your budget!). ... Read more

Isbn: 075675528X
Sales Rank: 406366
Subjects:  1. Crafts & Hobbies    2. Decorating    3. Hobbies/Crafts   

Betty Crocker's Cookbook : Everything You Need to Know to Cook Today
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 (27)

Excellent cookbook - A staple!
I reach for this cookbook over and over again.The recipes are simple and comprehensive, ideal for a young person learning to cook.The cookbook includes all the standard items of American cooking (like meatloaf, pot roast, mashed potatoes, potatoes au gratin) plus more (coq au vin, fajitas, etc.).Some of my favorite recipes are the chocolate chip cookies (the first time I made them, they tasted like an old family recipe), scalloped potatoes (simple to do, perfect for guests), and the oven fried potato wedges (fast and easy for every day).If you must own one cookbook, this is it.

The recipes don't call for strange ingredients - as long as you have a collection of all the basic spices, you're fine!Recipes are cheap to prepare because I typically have almost all of the ingredients on hand.

one of the greatest
i love this cookbook!almost all the recipes i've tried in here have been fantastic.one of my favorites is the hot sundae cake, yuuummy. i initially bought this book for my sister but ended up keeping it for myself. hehe. but i WILL buy one for her soon!
what i also love about this book are the little tips, how to buy veggies, use spices, what types of pastas there are, etc. lots of pics. highly recommend!

Betty Crocker enters the 21st Century
Vegetarian recipes, Tandori chicken, Chai, tofu even!! Most of the recipes are from scratch using fresh ingredients, yes this is not your grandmother's Betty Crocker Cookbook.It will be hard to find a recipe that calls for a can of cram of mushroom soup!Heck, one can even try his or her hand at making a variety of pastas from scratch!That said, fear not all the favorites are here too, meatloaf, muffins, breads, mac and cheese, tuna casserole... all in the straight forward comfort food versions we cherish and love.That is what I love about Betty Crocker, all the food is good, but not a hint of being pretentious, scaring the cook with hard to find ingredients.

My family always seemed to have a Betty Crocker cookbook given to them as a rite of passage into adulthood, I bestowed the honor upon my sister this year for Christmas.I am quite impressed with the latest edition.There is a new section on grilling and also for vegetarians.

The recipe layout is very easy to read, pictures showing how scarmbled eggs, rice, etc should look as well as what they shouldn't look like (with an explanation of what the cook did wrong)The pages are very colorful with plenty of hints and inspiring photos.The writing "voice" is very patient, and understands the fact that the reader may not know how to even boil water.It's OK here, the novice cook will not be spoken down to.For the more experienced cook who may be bored to tears, the layout is such that he or she çan bypass those sections.

It shouldn't be a surprise that these books stay with the owner forever and even as one gets better at cooking, this is the book that one turns to over and over.I have owned mine for more than 10 years and still use it on a regular basis.Many great culinary memories await within the pages of this "Rite of Passage" book! ... 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
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 (79)

Inspiring... but the recipes could have used more testing!
I've tried quite a few of recipes and have made some more than once.They are not terribly clear and if one hasn't any baking experience, disaster could ensue.The lime pound cake is simply terrible.The cranberry cake is excellent.The recipes remind me a lot of Martha Stewart recipes; they sound good but are not at all reliable.

Great jumping off point
Bought this to add to my limited cook book shelf. Some of the rescipes do not work, gave up on the piecrust with cornmeal after three tries. My family wanted to know the pie crust had sand in it. Went back to my basic betty crocker pie crust that I have made for years, happy family.
I use this for inspiration, but don't even try to follow a lot of the directions, since they don't work well. Last night I had pizza dough and wanted to make calzone/something. By looking at three pages of rescipes, I knew what I could make with what I had in the fridge, potaote, spinach, cheese mushroomwith pesto sauce was the happy result.
The writer likes "tall" food, so she uses her springform pan endlessly, it makes for good pictures. I do not need another pan, so I substitute pans a lot.
Will I keep this book? Yes, despite the noted flaws.The pictures often inspire me to cook.

Great book for starting out
I have made many of the recipes in this book, and all have been fantastic.This is a great starting out point for someone just getting into baking.Nigella's writing tone really is as if she is standing next to you in the kitchen; it's written as if your best friend has written down a recipe for you.If you like the recipes in this book, please try her book 'How to Eat' (the gooey chocolate puddings are a decadent and easy treat) and try the Chocolate Raspberry Pavlova recipe in her 'Forever Summer' book (by far, the most requested recipe at family gatherings!).I am looking forward to her new book, 'Feast' - it is already on my wishlist! ... 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: $249.99
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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 (172)

Buy one for your significant other!!!
I bought one as an X-mas gift for an ex-girlfriend that I have a rocky friendship with and now she cooks up good stuff for me all the time!It makes hanging out with her a lot more enjoyable, and she freaked out about the color and it gave her an excuse to deocrate her whole kitchen pink and white.If you gave one of these to your current ladyfriend I bet that you would reap the benefits multiple times a day for a very long time.

It was a very very high quality product and I will look to the KitchenAid brand first whenever I have to buy kitchenwares/appliances in the future.Great color selections, great quality, very good power.

Would highly recommend.

Great essential for the baker in your life....you!
I love the mixer's power, capacity and ease of use. It makes even garlic mashed potatoes heavenly. I selected a black model to match my Viking kitchens without realizing the color would need more frequent cleaning. If you use this mixer every day buy a cover or another color to save time.

Fantastic!
I got this mixer about a month ago. I've wanted one for years, but always talked myself out of it (too expensive, too big, etc.) After finding a great deal here on Amazon, I finally caved in and let me say, I'm glad I did. I love this mixer! I was worried I wouldn't use it very much, since I already have a very nice bread machine (a "Zo"). I find that I'm using it all the time though. It really is like having an extra pair of hands in the kitchen. Cookie dough is so much easier. I'm also making bread with it constantly. It's just so simple to throw the ingredients in the mixer and let it do all the kneading. I've been making fresh bread and bagels every week and it's been no hassle. It handles the dough very well and stays put. It's a big heavy machine. The only problem I was having with it was I was finding it very difficult to remove the bowl to clean it after I was done mixing something. My husband suggested rubbing some vaseline on the bottom edge and that has solved the problem completely. Now I can pop the bowl off with one hand. Anyway, if you've been wanting one of these and if you like to bake at all, do youself a favor and get one. You will be amazed at how much easier it will make your life. I only wish I'd gotten one years ago! ... Read more

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

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

• Magazine Subscription

Reviews (15)

I've subscribed to this magazine!
I never subscribe to anything! This magazine is great. There are usually quite a few recipes with ingredients that are easy to find and a nice mix of healthy recipes and indulgent recipes.I'm on a health kick right now and findmost cooking magazines aren't that useful to me. I might enjoy reading them but I don't actually use their recipes. I've made 4 of the recipes out of this last Everyday Food issue and they were very healthy (lots of veggies, chicken, brown rice, salmon etc.) tasted really good, and were also fast which is a bonus for me. I'd give this magazine 10 stars if I could :-)

Everyday Food is extraordinary!
As an author and food historian at www.CookingUpHistory.com I collect and read dozens of foodie magazines. This is a favorite because it pertains to how real people eat...meaning the kinds of foods we like to eat on a daily basis. Yet, there is enough variety of recipes and how-to's to keep it inetresting. Great as a gift for a host or hostess.

BEST Magazine ever!
On a friends recomendation, I got a subscription to this magazine. I LOVE IT! I am always looking forward to new issues.

When I first subscribed, I thought it would take a long time to get an issue. I received one within a month, and then another in a week. (they sent me the current, and then following issue)
I was in heaven!

I go through them all, and put sticky notes on the recipes that I like for easy access. This entire weeks dinners have come out of their menus.

As for the Adobo Chili girl, it took me awhile to find them, but once I did I understood why they always use them. What a great flavor!

A great magazine for someone that can cook, or someone that is kitchen inept. I have recently gotten a friend addicted that could burn a pot of water, and now she is using recipes and calling me all proud. ... Read more

Asin: B0000ARXXS
Sales Rank: 110

Taste Of Home
Average Customer Review:
Magazine
-- our price: $17.98
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• Magazine Subscription

Reviews (10)

Edited by 1000 Cooks...and Has No Ads!
I first came across Taste of Home Magazine about 10 years ago. Some friends of mine were quite the experimental couple who loved to try out new recipes. As the recipient of tasty appetizers, dips, and desserts, I asked them for the recipes. It was then that they shared this magazine with me...and I've been a subscriber ever since!

Each magazine features several special features, as well as mainstay departments such as Potluck Pleasers, My Mom's Best Meal, Getting in the Theme of Things, and Super Snacks and Appetizers. Arguably the best part of this magazine is their clip-and-keep section of recipes which feature color photos of the dish. Just cut out the recipe, and ouila! it's ready for your recipe box.

Other information-packed sections include Ask Our Food Editor, Touring Country Kitchens, Ted's Toothpick Contest, Lively Leftovers, and more. Each issue also features a recipe contest to win cold, hard cash.

Some of the great recipes that are in the most recent issue include:

Swiss-Stuffed Porkchops
Open-Faced Turkey Tacos
Spinach Shrimp Fettuccine
Coffee 'n' Cream Brownies
Cucumber Potato Salad
Asparagus Chicken Crepes
Hearty Jambalaya
Barvarian Strawberry Pie

and many more. Besides being tasty dishes, one of the great things about the recipes in Taste of Home is that they don't call for some exotic ingredients. Rather, they feature ingredients that can be found in any department store...even if you live in an out-of-the-way rural area!

Some of the recipes aren't exactly "quick", which is why I give it four stars. There are certainly quite a few quick and easy recipes, but there are also some that take quite a bit of prep work. If you're looking for a magazine with mostly quick recipes, try their sister publication, Quick Cooking (I subscribe to that one, as well...and actually like it better.)

Taste of Home has NO ads (amazing!), so it's nice that the magazine is chock full of recipes and information--not fillers and ads. This magazine also is very "country", so if you're looking for something trendy and cosmopolitan, this mag may not be for you. But if you like down-home country cookin', you'll likely love this magazine.

Home Cooking with Creative Flair
Imagine making a Beehive Cake or a Honey-Citrus Iced Tea. When looking through this magazine you need a good cup of tea and a pair of scissors. You will be cutting out a lot of recipes! In fact, I'm sitting here cutting out recipes in between typing. There are 16 pages of recipes in a "card" format.

The Favorite Meal section and Cooking for One or Two is always of interest. It shows you how to put an entire meal together and all the recipes are included.

There is also a section where you can view enviable country kitchens. Then you can learn how to make ordinary foods extraordinary. Add curry powder to chicken salad or add brewed coffee to cookie dough.

The "Men Who Run the Range" section is a series featuring men who love to cook and then you can also find out what people are eating in various states across the country. These are ideas and recipes from real cooks across America.

One time I looked in the "Does Anyone Have...?" section and found a note about a woman who was looking for specific items. After sending her a small box, she then reciprocated and sent me the most beautiful framed pressed flowers. It is a fun section where you can read about recipes people are looking for and if you have the recipe, there is an address where you can mail the item. I recently learned how to make rosemary crackers and someone is looking for a recipe for various crackers.

This magazine also has info on cooking schools all over the country. You could also be a Field Editor and share your recipes, cooking tips and other ideas with the home-office staff. You could literally end up in this magazine!

Some of the delicious recipes I've been clipping from this magazine include:

Grilled Sirloin Steak
Crispy Fried Chicken
Herbed Seafood Skewers
Chicken with Rosemary
Vegetable Cheese Tortellini
Grilled Turkey Burgers
Beehive Cake
Honey Citrus Iced Tea

Tonight I made a chicken dish with homemade stuffing and a mushroom gravy that my husband really loved. I think this magazine inspires me to cook more and I have never read this magazine without tearing out pages galore. Now I'm dreaming about the Pear Crisp with Lemon Sauce and the Raspberry Cheesecake Pie.

~TheRebeccaReview.com

Publication needs customer service
I have received this magazine from it's start and have always found it to be full of great recipies, however, the company that produces this magazine has horrible customer service.I have battled with them for over a year about a billing mistake on their part and they still have yet to make it right.I have cancelled all subscriptions with them and refuse to do business with them any longer.If you subscribe be very cautious about ordering any books from them! ... Read more

Asin: B00006KYZ9
Sales Rank: 148
Subjects:  1. Cooking Food & Wine    2. General    3. Home Economics    4. Food & Gourmet   

Martha Stewart Living
Average Customer Review:
Magazine
list price: $59.20 -- our price: $28.00
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Editorial Review

Even if you will never make a "gourd candle" or a "Fortuny-inspired tablecloth," Martha Stewart Living can't be beat for its wealth of ideas concerning what Martha calls "good things." A crafter for craft's sake, and an obsessively organized woman (just look at her personal calendar, included in the first few pages), there is no concept or task that is too mundane for Martha. Like Martha herself, the magazine is impeccably organized--recipes and decorating instructions appear with full-color photos, each filed in their own sections of "cooking," "keeping," "crafts," "home," and "collecting." Learn to slip matched sets of bed linens into one of their pillowcases for easy and convenient shelving, make washcloth mitts, and coordinate mismatched towels with decorative ribbon. A whiz at flower arranging, dinner parties, card and sewing crafts, and decorating, Martha covers and conquers all areas of the home--plus weddings, baby showers, and holidays. --Daphne Durham ... Read more

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Reviews (64)

inspirational but...
I have had a hard time, not only finding the ingredients for recipes and crafts, but also getting them to work out the way they claim they should in the magazine.

style for the masses
This is a fine magazine with truly scrumptious recipes if you're into the kitchen/food thing, home ideas that one can actually use (or that will inspire one to do something similar), and exquisite photography, usually quite stark and simple, of ways to enhance the aesthetic beauty of one's life.
One can serve a plain meal of soup and bread, and make it look like a feast, if you get into Martha's way of looking at things, and it does not take a spending spree to have a "Martha Look". Her basic table settings tend to be white china (one can use mix and match white plates from the local thrift store), clear glass, and colorful fabric...add some well shaped twigs in a glass vase for a centerpiece, and voila ! you have a table that could be shown in this lovely magazine; a rule for "The Look" seems to be the absence of clutter.

Of the regular monthly articles, I like "Ask Martha", which solves problems posed by readers, from health issues to how best to clean your eyeglasses, to "How can I get the coating on my chicken to stay in place when I am frying it ?".
"Clip-Art Craft" is another I appreciate, where in the August '04 edition for example, there are attractive templates for postcards, which one can copy onto card stock, glue a 4 x 6 photo to, and send to your friends. It's another grand idea from Martha !
You'll find articles on antiques, pets, gardening, seasonal fruits and vegetables, and much more, and on the last page, the yummy "Cookie of the Month".

Martha Stewart has brought style and good merchandise at affordable prices for those of us who are budget conscious, but like nice things. I have bought her bedding, and her bathroom accessories have graceful shapes and are an excellent value, and this magazine is one of my favorite aspects of the "Martha industry". The Patricians I know are not usually kind to Martha, but Proles & Plebes like me tend to greatly appreciate her.
Martha, we're going to stick by you through thick and thin !

i love it
This is the most well rounded magazine. Outstanding photography and truly well written articelsmake this a one of a kind. ... Read more

Asin: B00005NIOA
Subjects:  1. Home (Houses, Homes)    2. Food & Gourmet    3. Home & Garden    4. Crafts   

Better Homes and Gardens
Average Customer Review:
Magazine
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Reviews (17)

I love this magazine but...
most of the beautiful gardens I see are in Washington or Oregon or back east somewhere.Having lived in Washington, I do enjoy seeing some of the plants that I am missing here in Colorado, but it would be nice to see a more varied selction of gardens becasue we all can't live in the Pacific Northwest.I have a subscription to Sunset so I guess that will have to suffice, but I do wish BH&G would take that into consideration.

Otherwise, I LOVE this magazine.I used to get several magazines, but this was always my favorite.It is chock full of ideas that we can really use.And I love the photography.What sets BH&G apart is that you can see a hint of life in these beautiful houses.Slippers on the floor, newspaper on the table and often the owners of the home are in the pictures too.They are sometimes blurred from movement which is actually nicer than a posed shot.It helps set the feeling that this home is lived in and is attainable.

I would say get this magazine right away.I would have given it 5 stars except for the whole garden thing.

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.

Hello...
For those of you that complain about advertisments in magazines, what are you whining about? How do you think
magazines get a nice chunk of their funding? They have companies pay to have their products advertised in the mag.
so shut up.

On a happier note, I love this magazine. It has wonderfuly lovely ideas for make your house look beautiful though some of the ideas do seem a little pricey. ... Read more

Asin: B00005N7OV
Sales Rank: 130
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 (7)

Do not buy!!
This thing is a fire hazard. It gets so hot it cooks off all the liquid. Even on low the water boils out and collects around the unit making a big puddle. The outside gets so hot on low that if you were to touch it it would burn you. I cannot belive this unit has not been recalled. What ever you do dont buy this model crock pot!

WAY too hot!
I had heard great things about crockpots, and bought this one. There are now 4 of us and I work, so the convenience sounded great.In 2 weeks I have used it 3x.Once for a thick bean soup, once for a chicken dish with fruit, and once for a beef in gravy dish.All were AWFUL because the darned thing just gets TOO HOT!In an hour or two everything was at what I would call a medium boil. With the chicken I came home, turned it to "warm" when I saw it was cooking 'real quick, and then took the dogs out. When I got back 45 mins later, the chicken was BOILING on "warm".I added large chunks of apples and they were all cooked very soft in about 15mins. Where's the SLOW in this slow cooker?

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! ... 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
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (01 October, 2000)
list price: $13.95 -- our price: $10.46
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Reviews (72)

Fabulous!
I love the humorous & light hearted way in which this book was written. It's very informative & is perfect for those in their twenties who are just starting out. It gives you advice on everything from the light hearted to the very serious. What would I do without this book?

Doesn't live up to expectations
After reading the reviews that others left, I excitedly ordered this book & then impatiently waited for it to arrive.I dug in as soon as I got the package opened, but I was sorely disappointed when I read through it.To me, it was a very shallow book with very little of substance to it.I was looking for something that would truly be helpful to me in choosing clothing for my job, in getting relationship advice, in knowing how to be a success in my 20's........all I can say is that I am disappointed in myself for believing the reviews--that these things could be found in this book.I'd recommend checking it out of your local public library for free before buying it.That way, if you end up not liking it, you won't have wasted money on it like I did.

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: 24157
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    9. Self-Help / Self-Esteem   

The Lucky Shopping Manual: Building and Improving Your Wardrode Piece by Piece
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (06 November, 2003)
list price: $30.00 -- our price: $20.40
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Reviews (47)

Truly a shopping manual
This book contains information about everything a wardrobe should have: skirts, T-shirts, tops, dresses, sweaters, jeans, pants, suits, bags, shoes, jackets, undergarments, swim wear, outerwear.

Each chapter covers one piece of wardrobe and begins with a list of different kinds of it along with pictures. Next, you get advice about what lengths and kinds are generally most flattering and which should be avoided and why. Then, you get recommendations about what kinds work best to hide particular flaws. Next, you get advice about must-have's in order to be totally covered and how to further improve your collection. This is followed by many examples of different combinations - how a same piece of wardrobe can be worn in summer and winter, and how it can be dressed up or down to achieve different looks by using other clothes and accessories. Next, you are advised how to make sure the garment fits. Finally, you get recommendations about when to splurge and when to save.

This book will have you checking your existing wardrobe, getting rid of things you have no use for, making a list of what to buy and going shopping, bringing the book along as a reference.

Just what the syle doctor (and husband budget mgr) ordered
I've owned this book for two years and it sits on my nightstand with my collection of 'What Not to Wear' books by Trinny and Susannah of BBC America.I use the WNTW books for covering specific issues, and I use the advice I get from the Lucky Shopping Manual every time I purchase clothing and accessories according to the rules.I constantly refer back to it for other reasons as well, including offering advice to others on what items to have in their wardrobes.

I even used it immediately and found it very useful in cleaning out my closet so that others that might be able to use the clothing that doesn't flatter me but would flatter someone else that needs them more than I.

Particularly helpful are sections for each type of clothing item, with hints on styles for balancing out figure 'challenges', great expertise on how to combine the clothing to create a look, and how to get more wear out of what we once would refer to as a seasonal item.The book allows for some trendy pieces, but really helps the reader understand strong wardrobe staples that can be mixed into the trends in a classy way.

This book has changed the way that I put myself together every day, and my self-esteem and the way I feel about myself has increased tremendously.It has also radically changed the way that I shop. I no longer purchase due to a 75% off sale; I shop for something that will flatter my figure.A sale-priced purchase does not make a bargain if it hangs in the closet because it doesn't fit right and/or you don't have anything to match it to.

A definite must have!

best wardrobe book ever!
This book makes a lot more sense than any capsule wardrobe book or 'fashion guide' that I have ever read - and I have been reading them since I was 8! This is a best bet for anyone confused about what to buy. Perfect for twentysomethings. ... Read more

Isbn: 1592400361
Sales Rank: 1529
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
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (25 November, 1997)
list price: $14.00 -- our price: $11.20
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Reviews (63)

Simply the best book i've ever read on Personal Finances
Buy a copy of this book for your friends and family.I have given a copy to most of my friends and family as wedding gifts.

In a clear, easy to follow manner it lays out the basics of personal finances that most anyone can follow.Perfect starting point for everyone.Enough information to make plenty of decisions for most people, for the rest of their lives.

You could read lots more after this, but you won't learn much more beyond what it covers.

like finding an accountant with personality
Did you ever go on a class field trip - the zoo, a museum, a park, and find yourself learning more, simply because you were outside a stuffy classroom setting?Here the trip is to a barbershop, and the potentially intimidating and/or boring topic of financial planning is softened and simplified to make learning fun.

The Wealthy Barber has been written primarily for those who aren't fond of numbers, charts and graphs, and who usually shy away from learning about financial planning.While this may leave serious number-crunchers wanting more, it does present the basics of financial planning in a way that many people will be able to absorb and appreciate for the first time.

Written with a great deal of humor and believable dialogue, it explains the virtues of paying yourself first, wills, life insurance, retirement savings, purchasing a home and minimizing your income tax.If you or someone you know wants to learn more about financial planning but have lacked the confidence to proceed, here's the place to begin.

Larry Hehn, author of Get the Prize: Nine Keys for a Life of Victory

Excellent beginners guide to financial planning
This book was required reading as part of a Master's course on Personal Financial Planning. The book is an excellent beginners guide to financial planning. The format of the book can either be pleasing and interesting or wordy and rather boring, depending on the background of the reader.

Unlike many financial planning books, this book has a plot. The plot revolves around 3 people, the main character (Dave, a teacher), his self-employed, wealthy sister (Cathy, Landscape Business owner), and their friend (Tom, a plant worker). Dave goes looking for financial advice and after asking his father, he is pointed to Roy, the town barber. The 4 of them have monthly meetings as they get their hair cut, where Roy teaches them a tidbit on financial planning at each meeting. The topics covered include The Ten Percent Solution (fun money for retirement), Wills and Life Insurance, Planning for Retirement, Real Estate Investment, Saving, and Taxes.

The book is somewhat like giving an appetizer to a person who has not eaten in a week, it helps, but it is not enough. The book does cover many excellent points, such as compound interest, one of the most important concepts in saving. The idea of a Ten Percent Fund is outstanding and is something I would not have thought of. The book then does an admirable job explaining why a person should have a will. The book begins to trail off with the life insurance section. This is the first point in the book where the reader should be calculating numbers. However, there are no worksheets, poor and insufficient examples, several suggestions, and no equations to make your own calculations; in short, if I was not aware of how to calculate how much life insurance to get, I think I would have still been clueless after this chapter. The planning for retirement section does an admirable job explaining various retirement savings vehicles, but there is little or no mention on figuring out how much a person should save. Once again, there are no worksheets or equations to walk a person though calculating or estimating how much they should be saving for retirement. The chapters on real estate and taxes were informative and were definitely worth reading. The chapter on saving was ho hum; it covered some points, but was mostly common sense.

I think the book could have benefited from a chapter dedicated to changing your investment types as the date of a goal approaches, such as retirement. The information on asset allocation is spread throughout the entire book. I also think the book could also greatly benefit from some detailed examples, especially on the life insurance sections and retirement sections.

The book starts out making it sound like life could be good if a person could save 10% and invest is wisely. By the end of the book, the ten percent fund is separate from retirement savings and saving for your children's education. Though no numbers are used after introducing the ten percent fund, I estimate a person needs to save and invest 20% of their income to save for play money, retirement, and children's college education. I think most people would have difficulties saving that much.

The book is an excellent beginning point in the world of financial planning. I feel the book discusses the items most people would be interested in; however, I think the book could benefit from more detail. The plot makes the reading interesting, but slow and inconvenient to locate information in past chapters. I think the book is definitely worth reading for people who are inexperienced in planning their finances for the future, especially young people just getting out into the world. The earlier saving starts, the less painful it is.
... Read more

Isbn: 0761513116
Sales Rank: 8214
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

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Reviews (26)

This is the best magazine ever!
I have been a faithful subscriber for approximately 10 years.This is the magazine that impatiently wait for every month.It has beauty tips, interesting articles, fitness information, etc.I even gave my mother a gift subscription.It's the best.

inspiring and user friendly!
Self is one of the most inspiring magazines I've ever read. Its gorgeous fitness photos make me want to go out and get moving, and its great variety of newsy health info is so user friendly, I feel myself getting healthier every day. It's totally fun and easy to follow the eat-right and beauty advice. Meanwhile Self just launched the selfdietclub, an online calorie tracking website, and I've already started changing the way I am eating and thiking about food. Hello energy! I love Self for the smart writing, beautiful photography and intelligent-woman approach to being my all-around best. It has everything I need: fitness, beauty, diet, health, happiness and style, and I really don't need any other magazine.

Changing....
I tend to favor Self magazine over the rest of the fitness magazines out right now.One reason is the variety.I love that Self doesn't just focus on physical fitness but also on your mental, emotional and inner fitness.I have had a self subscription for a little over 5 years and still am happy with the quality.

I will say though if they keep turning it into a magazine about actresses (which my last 4 issues have been) then I will discontinue my subscription. As I already subscribe to those magazines already and I want my fitness magazines to be about fitness.

**Also a warning I get almost all my issues the month after they have came out!This is new as they used to be one to two months early!**
... Read more

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

Get with the Program!
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 (39)

Basic Diet Stuff
If you have never read a diet book before than this one is as good as any.The author addresses all aspects of dieting and exercise.My disappointment was that you have heard it all before.I have had success on Weight Watchers, Body For Life and the South Beach Diet.My problem is that after the initial excitement wears off, I don't maintain the program.I was interested in this book because the other reviews indicated that it addressed emotional aspects of over-eating.Specifically, boredom, stress, etc.But I was really disappointed when he discussed these issues because he wrote a little blurb on each aspect and then gave some personal story.To me it was childish psychological advice.

For example, he discusses binge eating.Now I am only about 10-15 pounds overweight and I can eat properly all day and then right before I go to bed ruin my diet and eat 3 doughnuts or some other high caloric food.His belief is that it is often related to some childhood trauma and that seeking professional help may be the answer.I dont know about you but I am not going to seek professional help to lose 15 pounds.

Then he suggests to eat wisely.He has a chart that actually says if you want to eat fudge, then choose fruit.If you want cake, choose skinless grilled chicken breast.Duh?I did not make that up.Here's another one.If you want to eat pie, then choose soup.Is he kidding?I guarantee that I will never eat chicken breast instead of accepting a piece of birthday cake.

Okay I don't want to just bash the book.Everything he writes is probably dietetically correct.It's just that I have read them all and done most of them and I have yet to experience one that worked long-term.The one that I had the most success is Body For Life of which I lost 40 pounds and as I mentioned I have put back 10 to 15.

Good luck.Nothing new to report.

Unscientific and improvised analysis
Like many fitness gurus who resort to training as an escape from learning science, math, and the other related disciplines, yet believe that they could master the complexity of these integrated fields, without even touching a text book, Bob Greene embodies such naïve and simplistic approach.In this book, he improvises many flawed information, believing that the folks training for fitness are the last people to discover his lazy and flawed interpretation of the physiology of fitness.

Although he states that this book is not about fitness or diet, yet he deals solely with fitness and diet claiming to enhance health and emotional well being. He describes FOUR phases for accomplishing that goal as follows:

(1)Phase One is preparation in which he recommends drinking a minimum of 6 glasses of water daily.
(2)Phase Two is revving up your metabolism in which he recommends drinking a minimum of 7 glasses of water daily.
(3)Phase Three deals with emotional eating in which he recommends drinking a minimum of 8 glasses of water daily.
(4)Phase Four deals with emotional well being in which he recommends drinking 9 glasses of water daily.

So, if the 6, 7, 8, and 9 numbers do not raise your suspicion about the irrationality of this author, hold your breath, for you will have to unlearn all common knowledge and relearn new flawed information from this book, as follows:

(1) On page 59, the author states:
"Physically fit individuals store considerably more water than unfit individuals. This explains how a very fit person can weigh much more than their appearance would suggest".

He does not cite a reference for such simplistic explanation. One would assume that a physically fit person has better cardiovascular condition that manages water storage more efficiently without accumulating body fluids. He explains that based on the glycogen contents of fit muscles, while ignoring the increased calcium storage in fit people that adds to their bodyweight.

In that page also, he states: "daily, weekly, monthly, and seasonal water cycles fluctuation is not fully understood" without citing any reference for such bizarre phenomena that he alone believes in.

(2) On page 66, he defines "metabolism" as the rate that your body burns calories and that `rate' is the key word. He thus does not understand that metabolism is a process of assimilating biological products.

(3) On page 67, he erroneously states:
"There is no way to measure the rate of burning calories directly other than feeling perspiration and getting clothes more loose after exercise."

He thus does not understand the basic physiological experiment of measuring caloric expenditure that many high school kids learn in high school.

He erroneously states that "when you're dehydrated, you eat more" and calls that "artificial hunger". That is very bizarre way of interpreting physiology.

(4) On page 107, he claims that research proves that 30 to 40 minutes per week of aerobics is adequate, without citing any source for that research.

(5) On page 109, he erroneously claims that low intensity exercise burns lots of calories but makes you get "very hungry" and eventually eat back all of the burned-off calories.There is no justification for that false claim.

(6) On page 117, he states that alcohol contains 7 calories per gram without stating which type of alcohol. The USDA National Nutrient Database gives less than 3.83 Calories/ gram of WHISKEY, other alcoholic beverages contain less than that.

(7) On page 152, he claims that starting training with weights in phase One will increase your appetite, which is another bizarre discovery.

(8) The book has 72 blank sheets, for the reader to fill in, out of 200 pages of the whole books. There are no references.

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
Average Customer Review:
Spiral-bound (04 June, 2002)
list price: $14.95 -- our price: $10.17
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Reviews (8)

Very Practical and Helpful!
This journal is a perfect complement to Bob Greene's book. Very practical and well-balanced.

After eliminating my coffee habit with the help of a wonderful coffee substitute made from soya beans called "Soyffee", I'm feeling so much better. My doctor recommended it to help lower my cholesterol and promote strong bones. It's available online at www.S o y c o f f e e.com to find it.

I like how he focuses on both the emotional and physical, and recommends steady lifestyle changes you can live with.

Great Journal w/ or w/ out the Program
I bought this when I was reading Get With the Program but it is actually a great journal.

The front and back cover w/ Bob Greene's face can be removed w/ out hurting the journal. You then have a nice spiral bound journal that says "Daily Journal" on the front in blue lettering on white with a white cardboard back that is hard enough to let you write well in the journal.

The book has a good two page daily lay out where you can record you cardio, weights and eating habits w/ or w/out the program. There is also enough space to write your daily thoughts and/or listing of foods if you are keeping a food diary.

It is a great size and just a nice item if you are tracking your health!

Buy the author's photo and an empty notebook for $14.95
If you live in a rural community, away from major bookstores, and happen to mail order these deceitful publications, you will be disappointed as hell. Many of these paranoid fitness gurus prey on unwary consumers who seek help to better their life. In this empty notebook, Bob Greene does not shy from sticking his photo on the front cover in order to impress you with his beautiful green eyes, for the price of $14.95. ... Read more

Isbn: 0743238346
Sales Rank: 6475
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
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (01 December, 1996)
list price: $29.95
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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 (40)

101 Nights of Grrreat Romance...
Corn is a master of inventive, sensual surprises.This book, like the rest in her series, is a must for the lover.My hubz & I love it!

Tear out a page - no turning back!
I picked up this book for my husband and myself for Christmas because I thought it would be a fun thing to do together.It is!Each week one of us takes an assignment from the book - something to do for the other.Not all the ideas and assignments are completely doable, but I think the most appealing thing about it is that once you tear out that page with your assignment on it - there's no turning back!Lots of times you feel like doing something nice for your spouse, but seldom follow through.

The most valuable part of this book is the fact that it forces you to follow through with those impulses, because (1) you accepted the assignment by doing a permanent thing - ripping it out of the book, and (2) your spouse knows that you have an assignment so while he or she won't necessarily sit there and expect great things, they know you should have something in the works and it would be a great disappointment at the end of the week if nothing has been done.

Another reason I like the book is that it gives many specific directions for things to do (so you don't have to be that creative and think of it all on your own!), but there is always room for customizing or changing the assignment to fit your situation and your spouse's likes or dislikes.Obviously there is no hard and fast rule that says you have to do exactly what the author suggests, but what she recommends often is a great springboard for other ideas of your own.

I have recommended this for several of my friends and they have enjoyed it too.Have fun, it is a great way to keep the mystery and surprises alive throughout marriage.

Great Gift
Believe it or not I gave this book as a baby shower gift.It was a huge hit.My neighbors are having their first child and, having a baby myself, I thought this would be a great idea for them to remember that they are a couple, not just mommy and daddy.They loved it! ... 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)
list price: $11.98 -- our price: $11.98
(price subject to change: see help)
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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: 134794
Subjects:  1. Ballads    2. Jazz    3. Pop    4. Standards    5. Traditional Pop    6. Vocal Jazz   

Pianist [Original Score]
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 (31)

Felt the movie,now feel the music that truly inspires..
The Pianist is a great and "fantaztisch" movie itself! Note the great actors Adrien Brody and Thomas Kretschmann. Now, how would the movie be without the music itself that inspired and still inspiring thousands of people who listened to it.

All the piano works are classical and have a story of it's own.
From the Nocturnes; sad, moving and played on the first part of the movie (yes, the intro) and when the jews are fighting and facing their nightmares.
To Ballade 1 & 2, which was played by Spilzman (adrien brody) in that movie when he met up with the german officer Hosenfeld (thomas kretschmann)..

Just by listening to the soundtrack you could already see and feel the whole movie. Especially the Nocturnes... very touching.. recommending this album to those who fell in love to the piano works in the movie like i was, just by listening it for the first time! :)

A Too-Easily Dismissed Artist
A previous reviewer very considerately corrected others who are perhaps not as well-versed as he is about classical music. That reviewer also quite cavalierly dismissed the playing of Janusz Olejniczak, chiefly it appears because this is a movie soundtrack.
A number of eminent pianists - Rubinstein, Bolet, Moravec, Ax, among many others - have recorded movie soundtracks. And, like them, Olejniczak has recorded a great deal more. For instance, his albums for the Opus 111 label, which also recorded Sokolov, should be heard by all lovers of Chopin, if only because Olejniczak can be heard playing on one record an Erard piano from Chopin's time, and on another an even more remarkable Pleyel. It's fascinating to hear how the Erard really does have what Chopin called a "ready-made" tone; the Pleyel by comparison is a revelation.
But then so it the playing of Olejniczak. He was not discovered by Roman Polanski. Olejniczak was a prize-winner of the Warsaw Chopin competition at the age of 18. He is greatly respected in his native Poland and in Japan, which both know something about great Chopin playing.
Olejniczak is a forceful artist who nevertheless never pounds; one frequently is put in mind of how Chopin envied the powerful way Liszt played his etudes. Olejniczak's Polish "accent" is, of course, entirely appropriate for Chopin, as is his wonderful voicing of chords and sure but free rhythm. Olejniczak plays with a full-throated lyricism -- it is the Bellini of "Norma" rather than "Sonnambula"-- but the pianist can also be touchingly tender. Above all he is dramatic in the fullest sense, vividly characterizing each piece. It's easy to see why Polanski and other film directors have been drawn to him. Chopin clearly is Olejniczak's life blood.
That previous reviewer may sincerely prefer such very different musicians, one to the other, as Rachmaninoff, Rubinstein, Cortot and Argerich, but I hope no one will hold it against Olejniczak (who, by the way, I don't know personally -- no special pleading here!) simply because - for whatever reason -- he is not as widely known as some other pianists. He is a genuine find, and Polanski should be thanked for sharing a superb talent with a wider public.

Refreshing
I found the peformer on this CD to be very top notch although they are not a necessarily "well-known" pianist.Although I am a musician, I am not a pianist.I appreciate the interpretation of Chopin's works.The movie and book which the film is based are very moving, and this CD is a wonderful compliment to the two. ... Read more

Asin: B00007E8SQ
Subjects:  1. Classical    2. Concerto    3. Film    4. Keyboard    5. Original Score    6. Soundtracks & Film Scores