Jonathan Adler's Book Signing and Book Review *H*A*P*P*Y*

The one thing I LOVE about doing book reviews, is that sometimes you get to meet the book authors!  A couple of weeks ago I attended a book signing at Kuhl-Linscomb in Houston with Jonathan Adler.  He is so dreamy, nice, funny and larger than life!

Here is some of his pottery...

After shopping some of his beautiful creations, I lined up to meet the legend. He was so personable!

And let's not forget the real reason for my visit...

Jonathan Adler on Happy Chic Colors
Jonathan Adler on Happy Chic Accessories
ISBN: 978-1-4027-7431-7
ISBN: 978-1-4027-7430-0
Sterling Publishing Co.
*Thank you Anwesha for the opportunity to review*

My Review:

From the Publisher:
No one has a happier sense of hue and pattern than Jonathan Adler! Inspiring readers to be fearless in their decorating choices, Adler guides us through color-drenched rooms, from True Blue and Going Rouge to Champagne Sparkle. Every chapter is devoted to his thoughts on one color scheme, and he reveals his go-to paint chips, favorite fabrics, and personal color muses, like Diana Vreeland and Grace Jones.

Chic with humor and style—that’s Jonathan Adler’s way, and here he reveals the secrets of achieving his unique look. Crafting sentences as dexterously as he does ceramic vases, Adler takes us on a whirlwind tour through gorgeously styled interior. Organized by type of furniture (bed, bookshelf, dining table, dresser, table), Adler divulges all the tricks and tips needed to artfully arrange anything in one’s home.

XOXO-

Resources:
Shop Jonathan Adler

At Home with Town and Country

At Home with Town & Country
by the Editors of Town & Country
Hearst Books / Sterling Publishing
September 2010
ISBN: 978-1-58816-697-5

*Thank you Caroline for the opportunity to review*

My Review:

From the Publisher:

At Home with Town & Country, the first-ever home book from the magazine that is the last word in defining the affluent lifestyle, opens the doors to 30 distinctive dwellings, providing rare glimpses of lives being lived in sleek urban showplaces and luxurious rural retreats alike-and offering advice and inspiration for creating stylish, soul-sustaining spaces of your own.

These remarkable homes, lavishly photographed to the publication's singular standard, reflect the latest developments in residential architecture and design, including the “Invisible House,” Tadao Ando's avant-garde dwelling for the Benetton family in northern Italy and Antoine Predock's art-filled Dallas retreat for Deedie and Rusty Rose. But classic design also plays a part: here, too, are Chatsworth, the 400-year-old ancestral seat of the Dukes of Devonshire; Ralph and Ricky Lauren's 1920's-era family estate in Bedford, New York; and Spike and Tonya Lee's historic Manhattan town house. Each of the chapters concludes with a practical guide to a universal aspect of design, from planning the perfect cook's kitchen to building a second home.

This sumptuous book is sure to grace the coffee tables of the most fashionable homes.

Inside the Book:

Photo by William Abranowicz, Courtesy of Hearst Books

Photo by Lauren Resen, Courtesy of Hearst Books

Photo by Jim Wright, Courtesy of Hearst Books

Photo by Maura McEvoy, Courtesy of Hearst Books

Photo by Fernando Bengoechea, Courtesy of Hearst Books

Photo by Oberto Gili, Courtesy of Hearst Books

Photo by Oberto Gili, Courtesy of Hearst Books

~XOXO~

Homemade Living Series by Ashley English and GIVEAWAY

    

Keeping Chickens / Canning Preserving

by Ashley English

Homemade Living Series

Lark Books/Sterling Publishing

ISBN 13: 978-1-60059-490-8 / ISBN 13: 978-1-60059-491-5

Today's lifestyle movements are all about sustainable living, eating local, growing your own, making your own, restoring, recycling and repurposing. I love this Homemade Living series by Ashley English and so will you.

Keeping Chickens: Thanks to Martha Stewart, I thought owning chickens would be glamourous. Thank goodness I read Ashley English's Keeping Chickens. This book keeps it real. I found the information included in this book to be incredibly resourceful, informative and actually a delight to read. I found myself on several occasions spouting off facts to my husband in amazement (Did you know that cannibalism is common among chickens??). I also loved that in the midst of all the instruction & supply list are these great human interest stories: Portraits of a Chicken Owner.

This book covers all details of keeping chickens under these main subject chapters: What to Consider, Selecting a Breed, Obtaining Chickens, Housing, Feeding, Hatching Eggs, Raising Chicks, Health & Wellness, Eggs and Recipes.

I honestly can not say enough about this book and how well written it is. If you are considering chickens then you must read this book!





























Canning & Preserving: Canning to me has always been intimidating. I always thought you either needed a degree in chemistry or you needed to be born in the 1920's. I can remember my Grandmother Tucker canning in her small kitchen in Alpharetta, GA. Canning brings back memories and traditions in my mind. I would love to learn canning so that I could preserve my garden all year around. I believe Ashley English is going to help me learn canning with this book.

Ashley has such an easy way to her writing. I honestly believe that nobody writes about homesteading like Ashley. Of course, this book does not disappoint.  The book is divided into the following chapters: Why We Can, Tools of the Trade, Canning Concepts, Ingredients, A Jam/Jellies/Preserves Primer, A Pickle/Relish/Chutney Primer, A Whole Fruit/Vegetables Primer and Seasoned Recipes. Again, Ashley adds human interest stories in her Portrait of a Canner, Canning parties and Trouble Shooting.

I honestly believe that this is the only book you need to learn canning - Yes, it is that good.
















Both Books: 5 Stars

~GIVEAWAY~

Now for the GIVEAWAY!! Lark Books/Sterling Publishing (Thank You Meaghan) has graciously offered one lucky commenter a copy of Keeping Chickens and Canning & Preserving. How to enter (any of these entries will work):

1. Leave me a comment with your email address. +1
2. Tweet or Facebook about this giveaway. Leave me two comments that you did. Suggested Tweet: (#giveaway #bookreview Keeping Chickens/Canning & Preserving @steringbooks @ashley_english @beachbrights). +2
3. Open to US, No PO Boxes.
4. Contest ends Fri. May 7th.

Resource Links:
Ashley English's Blog
Facebook
Twitter

~XOXO~

Restore. Recycle. Repurpose.

Restore. Recycle. Repurpose.

by Randy Florke

Hearst Books / Sterling Publishing

ISBN-13: 978-1588167699

Just give the video a chance. Yes, I know it's long. Yes, I know the sound of my voice is irritating. But, you are going to want to "see" what's inside this book. This book is very cool and you are going to want a copy. So yes, check it out. You might even win a copy :)

*5/5 STARS*

~GIVEAWAY~

Now for the GIVEAWAY!! Hearst/Sterling Publishing (Thank You Anwesha) has graciously offered one lucky commenter a copy of Restore. Recycle. Repurpose. How to enter (any of these entries will work):

1. Leave me a comment with your email address. +1
2. Tweet or Facebook about this giveaway. Leave me two comments that you did. Suggested Tweet: (#giveaway #bookreview Restore.Recycle.Repurpose. http://bit.ly/asBLfm  @SterlingBooks @HearstHomeGroup @beachbrights). +2
3. Open to US, No PO Boxes.
4. Contest ends Fri. May 11th.

~XOXO~

A Very Modest Cottage and GiVeWaY

A Very Modest Cottage
by Tereasa Surratt
Hearst Books / Sterling Publishing
April 2010
ISBN: 978-1-58816-797-2

My Review: I read this little book, cover-to-cover. I was so touched to know that the author, Tereasa Surratt felt the same nostalgic feelings about cottages as I do. I had a kindred spirit connection while reading this book.  My favorite part of the book was reading the story of how her brother and husband traveled by trailer with this little cottage, across two states. You will also love the photos included in this book. They tell a their own story complimented by Tereasa's words.

This is a story of a love affair with a house, its past and now future.  This book would make a great gift for anyone buying their first home, anyone who loves to restore/remodel or anyone who loves cottages!

5 STARS

~Giveaway~

Thank you Anwesha (Sterling Publishing) for the opportunity to giveaway a copy of this special book. 

How to enter (any of these entries will work):

1. Leave me a comment with your email address. +1

2. Tweet or Facebook about this giveaway. Leave me a comment that you did ("..a love affair w/a cottage.."#bookreview A Very Modest Cottage by Tereasa Surratt http://bit.ly/b3x2F9 @SterlingBooks @beachbrights). +2

3. Open to US/Canada Only, No PO Boxes.

4. Contest ends Wed. April 30th.

~XOXO~

Check these out:

A Very Modest Cottage

You Tube Review

Wandawega

A Very Modest Cottage Blog

The Great Christmas Cookie Swap

Good Housekeeping

Hearst Books/Sterling Publishing

November 2009

Specs: 160 pages, Hardcover, Spiral Bound, 5x7

ISBN-13: 9781588167576

My Review:  This book is the "go to" for all things cookie swap.  Not only does the book give you tips for how to organize and host a cookie swap but the book also gives you great tips on baking the best cookies at the swap!

The book is a very manageable 5x7. It is spiral bound and lays flat for easier reading when cooking (I love these kinds of considerations).  I would like to have seem more photos included with the recipes but they did write the recipes "large-batch" to make cooking and giving easier (another great consideration).

It is no secret that I can't bake. Cooking yes, Baking no. There is a difference!  From now on when I get invited to a cookie swap, I am going to use this book and cook all the delights: Coconut Macaroons, Cinnamon Spirals and Nut Cresents. I will have those "cookie swap church ladies" swooning with cookie envy!

This would make a great stocking stuffer or better yet, a great addition to a gift basket. Just add the book with a batch of cookies in a cute basket - all tied up in a bow. Perfect!

5 out of 5 stars.

Publisher's Review: Butterscotch Fingers, Chocolate Crinkles, Gingerbread Cut-Outs, Peppermint Meringues: all these Christmas cookies sound delectable, but nobody can bake dozens of recipes at the same time. The solution? A swap! All across America, families, neighbors, community, and church groups gather at Christmas cookie swaps, where each participant brings a large batch of his or her favorite recipe to share. Everyone fills a plate or tin with samplings of the tasty treats; the more people, the merrier—and the more kinds of cookies to try. It’s a fun way to enjoy a variety of Christmas tastes without doing all the work yourself—and to celebrate with those you love.
Good Housekeeping helps home bakers enter into the joy, camaraderie, and pure deliciousness of this tradition with a new collection of 60 favorite Christmas cookie recipes from around the world—each configured to make batches of at least eight dozen cookies. Choose from holiday classics and contemporary twists; they’re easy to make with everyday ingredients. And each recipe has been triple-tested for success in the famed Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen, so you can bake with confidence. For extra help, there are also great tips on techniques and shortcuts, as well as fun ideas for throwing the best cookie swap ever. Finally, as a special bonus, the book features removable blank recipe cards in the back—so you can pass along the recipe.

You can buy The Great Christmas Cookie Swap from Amazon.

XOXO-

**Thank you Caroline from Sterling for the opportunity to review**