2 comments about The Everything Breastfeeding Book: Basic Techniques and Reassuring Advice Every New Mother Needs to Know (Everything Series).

1. I can't believe nobody has wrote a review for this book! I first bought The Breastfeeding Book by Martha and William Sears. That book was boring and awful. They are negative people. I had already read The Everything Pregnancy Book and The Everything Baby's First Year Book and LOVED them both so I decided to buy this book. I couldn't put this book down. The information in this book is very helpful and I still look back in it. My baby was in the NICU and her first night she was fed formula in bottles. The second day she was fed my pumped breast milk and formula because my milk was still coming in. She got used to the bottles and made it VERY CLEAR she was not interested in learning how to latch on. I use the nipple shields made by Medela so I can breast feed my baby. Even though I use the shields I still have questions and this book answers them all! You WON'T regret buying this book!



2. This book is wonderful. Being the oldest of nine breastfed kids, I've been around breastfeeding all of my life and thought I knew everything. Little did I know once I had my own daughter and started breastfeeding. I've learned so many interesting things and gone, "Oh, so that's why this is happening" while reading this book! It is very easy to read, has instructions from a lactation expert and gives examples of positions, milk storage, how to treat sore nipples, etc. Really, everything you need to know about breastfeeding is included.
   
   It's a must have for any mom who plans or is breastfeeding her children. It's comforting too as you find out that you're no the only experiencing things and the book explains why it's happening. I've already loaned out my copy to a friend and will start giving this out to any friends at baby showers. It's just that good!

5 comments about Win the Whining War & Other Skirmishes: A Family Peace Plan.

1. This book is an excellent resource for parents and educators alike. Written in clear simple language the book offer practical solutions to everyday problems we face with young children. Principles of behavior modification are universal and apply to all ages, however, specific techniques vary. In Win the Whining War book Ms. Whitham offers both, theory and practice. For the last ten years I've been recommending this book to my patients' parents with consistent success.



2. "You may have chosen to be a parent, but you did not choose to give up your mental health in the process. I believe parents have a right to no-fuss mornings, tear-free bedtimes, low stress errand-running and time for themselves." ~Cynthia Whitham
   
   Do you want to learn how to stop: whining, tantrums, dawdling, bad language, name calling, teasing, spitting, biting, talking back, interrupting, complaining, sulking and fighting, this is your guide.
   
   Cynthia Whitham is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who specializes in parent training. She also gives workshops for parents, teachers and therapists. She uses the ideas in this book at home with her own children.
   
   Cynthia makes an excellent point about children finding negative ways to get attention. She recommends complimenting the good behavior and seeing if that helps change the situation.
   
   "The more positive attention you give, the better things get."
   
   This is a very organized book. Not only can you organize the behaviors you love, dislike and want to stop, you can also pick them right off a nice list.
   
   I also loved her ideas of "do say and don't say." There are things that will encourage a variety of behaviors you might not want to encourage even when you are being positive. This has to do with sibling rivalry and making a child successful at the expense of others. Being compared to your brothers and sisters just isn't fun.
   
   You will also see the value of:
   
   Making praise a habit.
   Making Big Tasks Manageable
   How to use "Ignore" to the best advantage.
   Offering choices (oh, this is a good one and it works)
   Making a better behaviour chart
   Setting limits
   Time-Out
   Battle Plans
   
   This book presents practical solutions to everyday problems. This is an excellent resource for parents, grandparents, teachers, babysitters and day care workers.
   
   According to Cynthia, "spanking and screaming" are not options you have to engage in. You can really focus on the positive aspects and see amazing results.
   
   Highly Recommended! 20 Stars!
   
   ~The Rebecca Review



3. My husband and I first became familar with this book when we attened a parenting class at UCLA which Cynthia Whitham taught. It was based on the principles of this book. Our son, four, at the time was diagosed with ADHD. After appling the things we learned from Cynthia in everyday life, our son was re-tested and found not to have ADHD. I believe it's commonly misdiagosed and this book really gives you the tools to handle a child that might just need firm limits and not medication. I belive this book is a must for EVERY parent. I have recommended it and passed it on to various friends for 3 years now. If kids came with an manual this would be it!!



4. This book has the idea that if you ALWAYS ignore bearable but unwanted behavior, it is discouraged and wil decrease. Intolerable behavior, that which must end is described as that which threatens the safetly of yourself and others (ex. playing with matches, etc.).
   
   Although I am sure that ignoring leads to a decrease in unwanted behavior, it needs to be coupled with explaining to a child what NOT to do as well as what is expected of him or her. This book does not teach the child what not to do, but expects the child to decrease the behavior, not because they are told or explained why that behavior isn't tolerated but because she will be ignored.
   
   The author believes that EVERYTHING the child does is an attempt to attract attention (which is not necessarily so) and that if you withdraw that attention, the child will stop doing it. This is a good technique to use in some situations. However, some intolerable behavior needs to be explained to children and have consequences as well. For example, I have to teach my kids what not to touch around the house and don't believe that ignoring them when they touch something that might break will end that behavior. They are doing it out of curiosity, not necessarily to call on my attention. It is important to identify when a behavior is a call for attention and when it is not, so you know when to follow this book and when to apply a different technique.
   
   The book "Setting Limits" is great in helping to avoid repeating yourself as well as raising your voice in order to be "heard" and not "tuned out."



5. I was over sea having 5 years old son, who was a bit out of control. I looked for help in this book. Well, I guess working with children, nothing is easy and simple, there isn't one answer what to do to correct child behavior. Coming back to United State, his behavior got much better, I guess being in the different country, away from home, it created large amount of stress on him to miss behave. It's good book, but have lot of work to do.

5 comments about Tremendous Toy Trucks: With Step-by-Step Instructions and Plans for Building 12 Trucks.

1. I'VE BUILT 7 OF THE 12 TRUCKS AND THEY ARE FANTASTIC. I PLAN ON DOING 11. PLANS ARE VERY DETAILED AND EASY TO FOLLOW. THERE IS SUPRISINGLY FEW ERRORS FOR THIS TYPE OF BOOK CONSIDERING THE NUMEROUS MEASUREMENTS ETC..IT DOES TAKE A FAIR AMOUNT OF TIME FOR EACH BUT THE RESULTS ARE VERY SATISFYING. YOU WILL NEED AT MINIMUM A BAND SAW, DRILL PRESS AND COMBINATION BELT/DISC SANDER WHICH CAN BE OBTAINED FOR UNDER A HUNDRED DOLLARS. I HAVE NO HESITATION IN GIVING THIS 5 STARS!!!!!



2. I was surprised by both the quality of the book and the detailed guidance. I found the illustrations and the the designes to be of high quality in both details and attractiveness. I am happy with this purchase.



3. I do most woodworking in the winter. This book has been extremely satisfying. I've made all of the projects & several of the semi-tractors & mmonster trucks. Would like to purchase more projects by this author. Great book! Thank you, Ed



4. An easy to use, well documented series of innovative life-like wheeled toys that can all be made with a basic set of woodworking tools and limited woodworking equipment - Drill Press, Disc/Belt Sander and Bandsaw.
   Excellent advice on sourcing off-cuts of highly coloured timber to create the effect of tyres, headlights, fuel tanks etc.
   If you have a wood lathe many of the wheels and fuel tanks can be turned to add to the enjoyment of making these TOYS - not models.
   
   Highly recommended to all woodworkers as the ideas presented in this book can be applied to all fields of woodworking.
   
   Without question this book should be in every woodworker's library.
   Paul



5. I have only been woodworking for about a year, but I have already built about half the trucks in this book. They are not only fun to build, but not too difficult. Every kid I've shown them too has gone nuts over them! I can't recommend this book enough as a great learning tool for the entry level woodworker. It's a great confidence builder.

5 comments about Fru Living for Dummies.

1. Just a quick reminder for all of those reviewers who seem to have forgotten this one little fact: "FOR DUMMIES" books are written for self-proclaimed "Dummies" ... people who know nothing about a given topic, but want to learn the basics.

   For example, when I wanted a basic book on birdwatching (because I knew NOTHING about the topic but wanted to get a good, solid start with basic, accurate information) ... I bought "Birdwatching For Dummies". When my teenage daughter needed help with her classes in Algebra and Biology ... I bought her copies of "Algebra For Dummies" and "Biology For Dummies".

   These "FOR DUMMIES" books have a particular place in the book market ... they're written for BEGINNERS -- people who know absolutely NOTHING about a topic. "Frugal Living For Dummies" accomplishes exactly what it sets out to do ... it provides a basic introduction and simple framework for people unfamiliar with frugal living basics.

   Keep in mind when reading reviews of this book that say things like, "It barely scratches the surface of frugal living," that this book is part of the trademarked "FOR DUMMIES(R)" series ... it's a book that's obviously NOT written to people who've been living frugally their entire adult lives and already know a-thousand-and-one ways to recycle styrofoam meat trays.

   If you're a long-time frugal person, buy a copy of "Frugal Living For Dummies" as a gift for your spendthrift friends ... but if you've read every frugal book on the market, you'll honestly be happier just sitting around hugging your Tightwad Gazette books.

   REMEMBER: Don't buy a "For Dummies" book on ANY topic if you're not looking for a simple overview of the absolute BASICS! I just hate seeing people bash a perfectly good book just because they don't "get" the purpose of the book. Silly, silly people. What are they thinking?

   But ... if you're brand new to frugal living and are looking for a basic introductory overview, then THIS, my friend, is YOUR book! If you have a sense of humor, can laugh at yourself a bit, and need a simple introduction to frugality, run -- don't walk! -- to the "Buy Now" button on this webpage. You won't be disappointed!




2. I see this book as an intoduction to frugality. In the last 2 years I have read everything I could get my hands on frugality. I am now debt free, my only bills being my mortage and utility bills. No credit card debt! I think this book is an introduction to being frugal. It is not as comando as the tightwad gazette, and the ideas can be easily adapted for a newby.
   Geting started is always the first step, and this is a friendly introduction to the concepts of frugality. I think it is laid out well. And can help anyone it does not seem so radical. A lot of these books make the reader feel deprived, this book does not, it is an alternative. When ever we feel deprived we don't stay on track. Thats budget wise, diet wise, or anything else in our lives we want to change. This is the book for you if you want to change your spending habits. I would buy it if I were new to frugality, if you have been frugal for a while you may want something diffrent as this book has a lot of ideas I have read in other books. I think it is great for a beginner, but not for advanced frugal zealots.



3. If you're new to frugal living then I'm sure this book will be of great help to you. I've been living a frugal lifestyle for a few years now and was hoping I might get a few new suggestions by reading this book but unfortunately I was wrong. I would recommend this book to those who are interested in saving a bit here and there. Frugality doesn't mean that you need to move to a teeny tiny apartment, clip coupons and eat rice for every meal. If you're looking to get out of debt or maybe try to simplify your way of living, this book would be a great start.



4. This book has tons of great tips and overall is helpful to anyone looking to become more frugal and live more simply. Highly recommend.



5. This book would be great for "beginning" to live and think frugally. If you've got a home, and kids then this would be a good book to just look at if you are thinking about becoming more frugal.
   
   I guess I would refer this book to people who definitely have a budget to live off of - and maybe those who really aren't hurting that bad money wise.
   
   And, you don't have to be a dummie to read this book.
   
   The introduction was probably the best part of the whole book.

1 comments about Is There Life After Housework?: A Revolutionary Approach to Cutting Your Cleaning Time 75%.

1. If you're only going to buy one book on cleaning, get this one! Best book I've read so far on tips for faster, better cleaning. I highly recommend it.

5 comments about Cleaning Plain & Simple: A ready reference guide with hundreds of sparkling solutions to your everyday cleaning challenges.

1. 
   This book has great pictures and is
   
   also very well organized. There is a
   
   glossary in the back to easily find something
   
   you need help or advice on such as vaccuming and
   
   how to get certain stains out of your white shirts fast.
   
   
   ~Skurvy



2. Tons of useful information, not only for cleaning, but also for getting organized in general.



3. I like Donna's books. I have several of them. I guess it's the way she puts things. She just makes you feel good. She doesn't try to talk down to you. Nor does she make you feel like your a dummy. Or just over do it. I have many organizer books. I think she has the best way to clean & de-clutter. I hope you like it as much as I did.



4. I cleaned my windows today using the Grandpa's Best Window-Washing recipe and it beats any other window cleaner I have used. For that alone I give this book 5 stars.



5. This book is the best! I've cleaned all the big chores (in a weekend), the walls, the stove, the fridge... Every method used in this book works great!

5 comments about Creating Vintage Style: Stylish Ideas & Step-by-step Projects.

1. This is a well-written book with well-explained, lovely projects. I especially loved the vintage fabric sections. There are sections for living rooms, kitchens & dining rooms, bedrooms, bathrooms, children's rooms, workrooms and outdoors. There are templates and sources given. The book makes you feel good about having your own style and tastes. Although it contains "stylish" ideas, they are not just for the rich and crafty people. It gives you an idea about how to select and place items with an "eye" for taste.
   Very nice book!



2. You'll generate a lot of great ideas for creating the space that you've always wanted, and you won't need a million dollars and a personal designer to do it. It's filled with easy to follow ideas and tricks to spruce up any element of your space.



3. The book is nicely presented and has some great ideas on mixing and matching various vintage objects as well as a few how-to projects (the ethereal throw and retro kitchen apron are nice projects). My only gripe is that there are quite a few images that already appear in the book "flea market style" which preceded the publication of this book by one year. I'm sure that the author has the copyright issues sorted out it's just that it's disappointing to see exactly the same images in two books on the same subject.



4. I love the explanations and writing...and the pictures are lovely!! Almost all of the projects are on my list to try out!



5. This is a lovely book with great ideas and beautiful photographs. I did however find it very similar to her other book and some of the ideas are duplicated in this one so if you already have Vintage Fabric Style then you might want to buy something different.

5 comments about The Septic System Owner's Manual.

1. If you want to know what are the various kinds of septic systems and how they work, this is a good book. If you have a problem and want to know how to diagnose or solve it, you'll be disappointed. Overall message on how to maintain a septic system seems to be, "the less you use it, the better." Index is inadequate.



2. This book has been really helpful to me as a planning commissioner in trying to analyze our local ordinances as most of our county is rural with homes served by well and septic systems. It has been very helpful in allowing me to understand how it all works (or should work when all is well).



3. As a practicing Environmental Health Specialist and homeowner with an onsite sewage disposal system, I can say with some authority that these authors know their s***. As a former Bug owner I can also say that the drawings by Peter Aschwanden, who got you through your first VW repair in Muir's classic, don't hurt one bit. Somehow car repair and septic repair gets your hands really dirty, in a Zen-like way. But I'll stop there before I dig too deep.
   
   It's all here for the novice: standard gravity fed drainfields, septic tank sizing, gravel-less trenches, alternative and gray water systems, frequency of tank pumping, what not to dump down the drain, designing your own system, and the history of septic systems.
   
   For $6 used you'll learn enough to avoid the ultimate nightmare: a failing septic in the winter. And even if that occurs, you'll know how to keep from giving your hard-earned buck to that "Waste of Time" Septic Engineer in the yellow pages.



4. Informative with basic information for those who have or are new to the world of septic tank maintenance. Could save you lots of money and headache over the life of your tank.
   Fun chapter on history of waste disposal systems throughout the progress of civilization. Also, some political background if you are being forced to make a change in your system that works -- the septic tank. It's worth the price even though much of the information can also be found searching the Internet but who has that much time?



5. This book is THE cookbook for septic systems. If you want to do it yourself or want to do your homework prior to having one put in or if you just want to know everything you wanted to know about septic systems but were afraid to ask, this is the book for you. It is well illustrated and easy to read and understand. I have put in several septic systems and have found this to be the best reference guide out there.

3 comments about Mommy Diaries, The: Finding Yourself in the Daily Adventure.

1. If you are a fan of Chicken Soup for the Soul books, you will be enjoy The Mommy Diaries. This is a collection of stories from famous (and not-so-famous) moms sharing their ups and downs in their own mothering adventure. Some of these stories will make you laugh, some will make you cry, and others will make you think. Young or old, if you were ever a mother...or are contemplating becoming one, this is a must read.



2. I'm not really into self-help or self-improvement books, but this book was on the list of possible choices for my mom's group so I previewed it for the group. After reading the book, I decided it would be the one our group would read. I have to say that I really enjoyed it.
   
   The book has just the right combination of mommy common sense and religion without being too preachy or religion-y. It seemed like it was a fast read because every couple of pages there was a different mom telling you her story. The questions at the end of each chapter were thought-provoking without being cheesy.
   
   The only negative thing I can say about the book is that at the beginning of each chapter the author uses sports analogies to set up the mom stories that follow. If you don't enjoy sports, then that component of the book might bother you.
   
   Overall, I would recommend this book to all moms. There are little kernels of information and nuggets of truth throughout that will help you as you travel down the road of mommy-ness.



3. Wow! I just finished reading The Mommy Diaries Book. Our Mother's Of Preschooler's group will be using this book along with our Curriculum this year. This book is fantastic! There are six chapters filled with 9 to 11 short stories. With all of us having kids underfoot it makes for easy reading. These testimonies are heartwarming and will help you grow as a wife, mother, sister and friend. Don't be surprised if you shed a tear along the way!
   We will be including this book into our meetings by setting aside discussion time to discuss the stories we have read.
   I love this book so much I already have plans to give a copy to the mom's that graduated this past year, family and friends. What a great year we are all going to have!

5 comments about Organize Your Office In No Time.

1. Great tips in this book, that can easily be picked out, even if just skimming through the pages. I like how the chapters are spelled out, written in a pleasant, "talking just to you" style. Monica Ricci breaks down the tasks into do-able chunks, allowing for the different types of people out there. She has a section, in the beginning, that helps one I.D. one's own type, and then uses each of those types throughout the book to suggest how best to deal with the different organizing challenges. I have read the whole thing, but find I continue to pick it up as a reference, using it as a guide as I tackle the next office organizing challenge! It's a keeper.



2. Monica Ricci is a great personal Friend of mine. Her Book has helped me organize my office and Life in General. Her down to earth organizing tips were very helpful to me in my Organization project of my office.Anyone interested in getting organized would be greatly helped in reading Monicas Book. I recommend it very highly to everyone.
   
   
   Ashley the Eagle Motivator



3. Several years ago, my office disorganization had overwhelmed me. Rarely could I find what I wanted instantaneously--and sometimes I never found the missing items. Besides losing time, I was burning energy, especially as I became more frustrated.
   
   
   
   Fortunately, I found a solution. I contracted Monica Ricci to spend a half-day in my office, and suggest the steps I should take to gain control of the massive information I had accumulated but not sorted. To my delight, the plan she devised served me well then, and still does.
   
   
   
   That's why I was eager to read Organize Your Office. . .In No Time. I knew I would get additional tips that help me manage my office systematically. Already, I have underlined my favorite definitions and ideas. Examples:
   
   
   
   "When organizing your life, remember that anything you can take a few extra seconds to do now, to help you remember or eliminate a step later, is always worth doing! It's always better to invest an extra tiny bit of work in the present because it will pay off down the road in time, money, headaches, or effort saved."
   
   
   
   "Clutter is a collection of unrelated objects living together."
   
   
   
   "Fear-based saving is a major cause of paper clutter for many people."
   
   
   
   In addition to these specific gems, the book offers numerous helpful features: It is very well organized, which we expect from an organizational expert. The writing style is clear and often folksy, such as: "Imagine going into a supermarket, finding the canned food aisle, and discovering that none of the cans had labels." The illustrations, including photos, bring to life the products Ricci recommends.
   
   
   
   Organize Your Office appeals to small business owners who work from a home office, and to executives with larger work spaces. The chapters on computer organization and how to streamline your travel will benefit even the most seasoned executives.
   
   
   
   Readers will welcome the detailed suggestions, with pointers on the best organizing products to acquire and where to get them.
   
   
   
   The time you invest in reading this book could revolutionize your work place, once you implement Ricci's action steps. Soon you will get more done more easily. Isn't that worth a few dollars and a few hours?The Complete Communicator: Change Your Communication-change Your Life!



4. I loved this book. It is comprehensive yet easy to follow.
   Got great ideas and solved some of my organizing issues.
   Highly recommended for the do-it-yourself organizer.



5. A Wise Investment. The most Organized person can learn from this book! Many of us can drive a car - but can we organize! Basic, easy to follow with examples, from your computer, to office desk to custom filing - great learning tool for all ages, occupations and careers. Should be taught in schools! Enjoy!