Goat Milk Soap Making by Daniel A. Hart

 

Source:  I purchased a copy

Genre: Informational

When my husband announced a year ago  he was going to start making soap I was excited.  I had no idea how difficult it was. He wanted to start easy so he bought a melt and pour "kit". After weeks of of sitting on a rack in our house it never did get hard. We learned the humidity was too high in our house. Since my husband wants me to join him in this endeavor when I finally retire from teaching. I learned from watching videos and reading other books that this was going to take a while to learn. So why am I so interested in soap making? It isn't just soap making. As a beekeeper my husband has was and honey and other byproducts from his beekeeping. I have psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. We are constantly trying different soaps. Some make my psoriasis worse. The above mentioned book takes you from learning about the benefits of goat milk to the different types of oils you can use in soap making.  The book also tells you about the benefits and properties of each type. One thing it talked about was how to measure ingredients to make it work out.  I have chemical allergies so for several years I have been using certain essential oils.  Knowing what goes into my soap because it is something we have created is the best of both worlds.. It protects my body and I have the pleasure of knowing exactly what is in it. I prefer to use all natural things when possible. 

For me this process takes me back to my childhood, growing up on a farm. We produced most of our own food. We also processed it, canned it and shared with our neighbors.  In a world where people want things right now, even if it isn't good for them I prefer to create something that is natural for my body, even if it takes a bit more time. This book is just one step toward a lifestyle that is more natural.

At the end of the book there are many more resources I plan to check out. I can use all of the information I can get. After all I have two years before I retire. I can plan for my role in my husbands business and learn along side him.  I highly recommend this book if you are interested in learning to make soap.

Keep on Glowing by Robin Emtage

 

Genre: Inspirational

Source: I received an ARC to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

             This book is to be released at the end of June.

When the author told me this was a book for women 40+, I told her I definitely fit that category.

She also told me this wasn't an anti-aging manual I was intrigued.  She talks about finding our inner glow. The thing that stood out the most was making sure we give ourselves permission.  This may seem strange to some.  This was the second time this week I was told that we often don't do what we should, could or want because we as women don't give ourselves permission.  I had never thought of that. 

I have always had a positive outlook on life. My mom used to say when someone would tell her she couldn't, to stand back and watch her. She passed away at the age of 86. Most people didn't realize she was that old because she didn't look it, and she never mentally acted it.  She had a lot of physical obstacles, but that never stopped her. She had what this author calls her "glow".

  The first chapter of this book is about your mindset. I guess I have had that down for quite some time without knowing it was a “thing”. As a middle school teacher the question I get asked at the beginning of each year is how old I am. I always have that one student who announces you are never supposed to ask a woman how old they are.  My reply, “Why? I'm as old as God made me and as of today I am…”  They look shocked and usually reply with something along the lines of, “You’re older than my parents.” I tell them that age is just a number.  I don’t feel 67 and they say I don’t act it.  Since I was 17 or 18 my parents set me on the path of believing in myself, keeping a positive attitude about everything.  I try so hard to distance myself from those who would bring me down. Since God made me unique I don’t compare myself to others.  I have been a writer since I was young.  My dad gave me a notebook when I was very young and told me to write down what frustrated me. He then told me to rip it out and flush it down the toilet. I still keep a journal and I do what I call mental flushes.  When I am frustrated, angered or experience any other negative emotions I write about it. I re-read it and then do a mental flush.

This is pretty much the essence of  her first chapter.  The book gets better. It addresses mental and physical areas as well as relationships.  Areas I need to definitely work on are overcommitting myself. I am a people pleaser.  I want to be so helpful that often I overcommit myself then find my energy lagging because I have not fully learned to set boundaries.  I have learned to take more time for my creative side. This helps me find the balance I need to be the best me. This is exactly what this author talks about. 

This book came to me at the right time.  I started out with a strong glow in my 20s. Somewhere around my early 30s my mindset went the other way. This was so against the way I was raised.  Although I practice so many things already mentioned in this book there was one thing that was pointed out that I was not doing.  I am reaching retirement. I have stayed in my position partly because I love it, but was putting my dream on hold. Why?  Fear. What if I’m not good enough? What If I don’t deserve it. I DO DESERVE my dream. I don’t know EXACTLY how I will get there but I have started working toward it. I have a husband who has told me for the 32 years we have been married that I deserve the best of everything. He is part of the mindset that got me back on the path to glowing. He is the reason I have started reaching for my dreams.  I have started back on the path to better health.  I walked into class last year with my cane. This shocked my students. I told them it was a temporary thing until my body decided to cooperate. I no longer look down on myself when I have to use an aid such as my cane. Three major diagnoses this last year started me on the “Oh, I’m getting old” path. I allowed myself to have a pity party for about a week.  When I announced to myself and my best friend that I wasn’t old I was just taking a new path to getting better, I found my mindset changed and my body and mind felt better. That doesn’t mean I don’t have physical issues anymore.  I have three different auto-immune issues playing around in my body. My goal each day is to let my body know that I am in charge.  It may look different each day, but it's my body, my mind.  I have gotten off the path of glowing at different points throughout my life. This book came along when I needed to remind myself of ways to glow once again.  This is an awesome book and one that I will read time and again as a reminder. It comes out sometime the end of June. I highly recommend it to women where ever they are in their life.

Day 2 - Review of Books by Emily Hartmann

 Here is my second day of picture books.  All of today's books will be picture books created by Emily Hartmann.  I hope you enjoy them.

How to Make Choices – Emily Hartmann

Come along with Max and learn how your little one can learn to control their anger.  This is one of the hardest things for the youngest child to learn. They want immediate gratification and things their way. This book is a tool parents can use to help them learn to control those outbursts. This book teaches just one simple technique and it is easy enough for the youngest child to do.

I’m Mad – Emily Hartmann

This is another book about dealing with your emotions. It shows how you make the other person feel. It also shows you how to deal with those feelings. One other thing it does is shows your child how to make someone else feel better when they have been hurt by another person. Great and simple.

 

I’m Mindful – Emily Hartmann

Teaching children how to deal with their emotions is important. Explaining to them that feeling sad, anxious and angry is normal is one thing. As parents we need to show them techniques for dealing with them.  That is what this book is all about.

 

Me and My Anger – Emily Hartmann

This books shows another technique for getting rid of, or managing those feelings of anger. In this book there is more of a visualization technique.  Even though many of these books have the same theme, I believe it is important to read them all because no two children are alike. What works with and for one child may not work with a different kid.

 

Me and My Choices – Emily Hartmann

Max is excited to go to school. He can’t wait to enjoy all of the new experiences and make new friends. However, Max bows to the pressure of his new friends and finds his first day is not all that special. That night he thinks about what he likes. He decides not to follow the crowd because “they” say so. He will be himself and have fun.

 

Me and My Frustration -Emily Hartmann

Max, like a lot of kids gets frustrated when he can’t do what other kids do. He wants to be the best, win the race. This is perfect for teaching kids that it is okay to be frustrated when you don’t reach your goals. The idea is to keep trying.

 

Me and My Worry – Emily Hartmann

Max wakes up to a sunshiny day. As he prepares for his day he begins to worry. Instead of telling anyone about his worries he holds onto those feelings and they grow throughout the day and into the night. The next morning Max shares those feelings with his parents. They help him understand that it is normal and how to deal with them.

 

Me and the Word NO – Emily Hartmann

Josh is getting frustrated in the grocery store and his mom recognizes it. She tells him when she has to wait she pretends she is a big dinosaur and roars.  Josh uses this in different circumstances throughout the day. When it is time to go home he is not happy.  His sister plays another game that helps him cope with his feelings.

 

My Chatty Dinosaur – Emily Hartmann

If you have ever worked with children you know one thing for sure, they love to talk. Finn wakes his friend Rawr up and the minute he does, Rawr begins talking. Finn can’t say anything.  The next morning when Rawr wakes up  he can’t speak.  Instead Rawr listens to everything Finn has to say. A wonderful book to teach children the importance of listening instead of talking all the time.

 

My Grumpy Dinosaur – Emily Hartmann

When Rawr the dinosaur wakes up with the grumpies he doesn’t know what to do. His best friend Finn teaches him some things he can do to get rid of the grumpies. Cut book about how to reset your mind and day when the grumpies come and visit you.

 

Stop, Think, Go! – Emily Hartmann

 When Rawr the dinosaur wakes up with the grumpies he doesn’t know what to do. His best friend Finn teaches him some things he can do to get rid of the grumpies. Cut book about how to reset your mind and day when the grumpies come and visit you.

Just Wait! – Emily Hartmann

Rawr is an impatient dinosaur. He wants everything to happen now. He doesn’t want to wait. He bakes cookies and turns the oven up too high and burns the cookies. He doesn’t want to wait for his paint to dry and ends up making a mess.  Great way to teach children about waiting.