I'm a vegetarian. I wasn't always and I admit I still miss beef jerky and roast beef, but after reading Eating Animals and The Food Revolution, I knew I couldn't do it anymore. I could give you a list of emotional arguments about why I made this choice but as a fan of the mantra facts, not feelings, I'll encourage you to read The Humane Economy, instead. Because The Humane … [Read more...]
How to Declutter, Tidy Up, and Get Happy
When it comes to cleaning, I think I hate it as much as the average person with an aversion to it. It pains me to vacuum and mopping is pretty much unheard of (luckily my husband doesn't feel the same way). But when it comes to organizing and tidying, I love it. I can spend hours reorganizing my bookshelves and my closet and was that child who actually wanted to … [Read more...]
Could You Be Happier? Maybe You Need a Happiness Project
If you were to ask me if I was happy when I first started reading The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin, I would have said yes. I have a great husband, great friends, a job that I like, and a comfortable life. Still, there are days when I curse the day ahead simply because the sun had to rise and I have to get up and face the it. This is usually when the guilt kicks in … [Read more...]
Survival Wins in Remini’s ‘Troublemaker’
Before listening to Leah Remini's Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology, I had a general idea of who she was. I've watched King of Queens in syndication and liked what I knew about her. I didn't know she was a Scientologist and, as someone who doesn't follow a lot of entertainment news, only had vague recollection of the frenzy surrounding her leaving the church. So … [Read more...]
Exploring the Power of Ideas in ‘Originals’
Note: Although this is non-fiction and there's no plot to spoil, I do discuss topics contained within the book.When I was in elementary school we were tasked with inventing something. This was before everyone had a computer and well before smartphones so I'm sure some of our inventions would seem benign now but I remember being very certain that my idea would take off … [Read more...]