5 comments about Chocolate for a Woman's Spirit: 77 Stories of Inspiration to Life Your Heart and Sooth Your Soul (Chocolate).

1. Love reading these stories at the end of the day. It helps me make sense of life to hear other women's stories. We can learn so much from each other. Chocolate for a Woman's Spirit inspires me to listen more carefully to spirit, to trust my intuitions.



2. Kay Allenbaugh's Chocolate Series of books are warm and wonderful. Kay and her collaborators help woman find that place of compassion and knowing. . .that place that's soft and strong and worn of time. Kay reminds us of the wisdom we've developed from showing up for life. . .thank you. Kay, for reading that means I am connected with other women who love and feel and grow and learn to live from white to dark and sweet to bittersweet--who grow tastier with every day and year!



3. Just wonderful! I connected with so many of the stories. I enjoyed it immensely.



4. The "Chocolate" books continue to be a delicious way to sit back and fill up with stories that delight and fulfill. I recognize myself and the women in my life in each of these delightful stories. What a treat to invite these wonderful women into my home like a cherished group of old friends! Like their namesake indulgence, these stories might not be the most "sensible" reading a girl could do, but they are certainly some of the most satisfying . . .

   Adrienne Wiley, editor of the upcoming book "For This I Am Grateful" from Everyday Wisdom Press.




5. All I have to say is: read the story about the waitress and the pilot.... it's a true story and will have you believe in love, even if you are a total skeptic just like me who calls love a form of psychosis.
   
   LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT
   Kim Champion
   
   Many years ago, my uncle owned a restaurant at a small airport in Illinois. My mother was the assistant manager and I was the hostess. One afternoon, my mother and I went to a diner for lunch. Our waitress, Debbie, was so sweet that we took an immediate liking to her, and my mother offered her a job at my uncle's restaurant on the spot. Debbie accepted.
   
   We invited her to our home for dinner that evening and during our conversations with her, we learned that she had never married and that she had no boyfriend. She told us that five years before while on a flight back east, she met "her pilot" and that it was love at first sight.
   
   She was very nervous as she was boarding the plane and the pilot was standing in the doorway greeting passengers. He must have noticed how afraid of flying she seemed, and he struck up a conversation with her. They spoke less than ten minutes, and he assured her he would fly her safely to her destination. She told us it was "love at first sight," and we told her there was no such thing. Although she never saw her pilot again, she never forgot the feeling she had in her heart when their eyes met.
   
   Mother and I had a plan. Since she was so in love with her pilot, we decided to fix her up with one of the many single pilots that came into the restaurant to eat in between flights. We approached John, one of the pilots, and told him about Debbie. He agreed to meet her for a dinner date on one of his nights off.
   
   We sat him at a nice table with candlelight and fresh flowers. When Debbie arrived, we walked her to the table to introduce her to her date. As we approached, Debbie stopped dead in her tracks, tears welled up in her eyes, her hand went to her heart, and though I couldn't believe what I was hearing, she said, "My pilot, it's my pilot!" He stood dumb struck and embraced her.
   
   We later learned that he, too, had fallen in love with "his passenger" five years ago on that flight back east.
   
   The last we heard from Debbie was in a letter from Guam. When people tell me there is no such thing as love at first sight, I tell them this story and show them the photo Debbie enclosed with her letter, a photo of her family, her husband, John, in his pilot's uniform and their two beautiful daughters.

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1 comments about Reclaim Your Life.

1. Reclaim Your Life offers important lessons that remind us that the power to seize happiness and success lies within each one of us, and how we can access that power. I particularly like the way the book organizes capsules of advice that can immediately be put to use in small chapters. I think Jim Donovan is truly a master at helping people to re-frame fear into power, personal loss into fuel for success and the general feeling that things are not as good as they could be into the start of a new and exciting way of living. This is the type of book that you keep handy for a quick re-read whenever you sense the need for a personal energy tune-up. Thank you Jim.

5 comments about Inner Security and Infinite Wealth: Merging Self Worth and Net Worth.

1. This book is part instruction manual, part inspirational guide. It offers the reader new definitions of traditional financial terms, in order to reach a deeper level and experience of security and wealth. I really love the way the authors take each chapter and focus on one aspect of wealth and how we can embody it more fully or possibly for the first time ever in our lives! This book needs to be read by anyone interested in altering, for the better, the way they view wealth, abundance, security and prosperity.



2. This book has changed my life! I am free from worry about the future because now, when I start to worry, I now have the awareness to choose beliefs that support me... in a heartbeat. Thank you, Mr. Zimmerman and Mr. Rosen



3. It's encouraging to see two people involved with finance and business and such go to the effort to write something like this. They've done what no one else, to my knowledge, has yet been able to do: strike a realistic, achievable balance between the American drive to succeed and acquire, and our tendency to try and do so in the most ignorant, ham-handed way possible. They teach that it is possible to earn and amass money while still living true to all the lofty ideals we had in college. The only thing that bums me out is that too many people will thumb through it and immediately think "ah, bunch of hippy dreamers." Trust me, the hippies wish they had a vision this clear and universally applicable.



4. It's nice to see a 'money' book that's about more than money. When life becomes all about how to make and hold on to cash and lucre, something has gone wrong. This book showed how to rediscover things beyond office/work culture. Sure, make money and be happy - but don't think that making money MAKES you happy. I'm the child of depression era parents, and I know that money does not equal happiness.

   The financial terms applied to everyday life work nicely. This is a good way to teach people to be good to themselves and eachother again. I'm glad I got this.




5. Just about everyone seeks out some sense of security and wealth in order to lead a fulfilled and happy life. The problem lies in how we define security and wealth. We all have various concepts of security and wealth that have been defined by our culture, our parents, our friends, and our experiences. This is a shaky foundation on which to base your happiness.

   In "Inner Security and Infinite Wealth" the authors examine the concepts of will, inheritance, ownership, value, trust, allowance, investment, appreciation, and exchange and redefine them into deeper concepts instead of being only related to money. They recognize that money is an important part of net worth, but reframing the above concepts can change an individual's relationship with money. Enlightening, well written, and powerful, this is easily one of the best books of the year in the area of self-worth and a highly recommended purchase.

5 comments about Simple Pleasures: Soothing Suggestions and Small Comforts for Living Well Year Round.

1. I love the soft illustration on the cover. The image of the wicker chair and wide open front porch invites the reader to come sit for a while. This book is perfect for the women in your life who needs to learn how to 'live in the moment'. Most of us are too busy being busy that we forget what's important in life, what will truly matter in the long run. The authors offer suggestions on how to slow down the world in their recipes, tips and the stories they've selected for the book.



2. Relaxing and inspiring ideas are contained in this lovely little book. It was very refreshing to see such simple ways to treat yourself or sooth your soul. I am definitely stocking up to give as bridal shower gifts, etc.



3. The cover could be a metaphor for the book: the soothing comfort of sitting in a sunny country garden enjoying flowers or the meanderings of a stream. This book is a collection of experiences, recipes, ideas, and quotes on savoring life's simple pleasures: warm socks, homemade vanilla ice cream, beading, etc.. Separated into seasons, this is a wonderful book to browse around through when you need to take a mini-vacation from the hectic schedules and stress.

   Within the four Seasonal sections (Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter), there are four categories: Home... Garden & the Great Outdoors... Body & Soul... Family & Friends. These are further broken down into sub sections sprinkled throughout the categories:

   - Things To Do, for example, has recipes, crafts, and suggestions for taking advantage of the season. These are easy to follow, even offering suggestions for upkeeping the house and getting the family involved.
   - Stories of simple pleasures are very short, almost like thoughts, but are presented in the form of advice or wisdom.
   - The quotes remind us to take things slow and enjoy life.

   Easy to read, and wonderful to poke around through. I recommend it to anyone whose ever had one of those "nothing is going right" days. You don't have to read it every day, or even every month, but even a chancing glance after a hard day made this a worthwhile purchase for me.




4. I facilitate support groups for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. This book is wonderful for closing the group when we've done some really hard work, and we want to end with something positive. One of my favorite stories to use is the "Stuffed Animal Support Group". This book is such a refreshing reminder of how to incorporate pleasure into our lives. It has stories for every season of the year. If you need a mini retreat, curl up in the corner with Simple Pleasures and a cup of tea. You won't regret it!



5. I got this book at an AAUW booksale that I work at each year. It probably cost me $.50 and it is definitely the best book buy I have ever made! Even though I have not followed through with many of the suggestions, just reading them makes me feel better. When I have the time, I am planning on trying out each idea because they sound so great, and easy! I'm sending this book to all my closest girl friends.

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5 comments about The Female Power Within: A Guide to Living a Gentler, More Meaningful Life.

1. Collaboratively written by Marilyn Graman and Maureen Walsh, and with the assistance of Hillary Welles, The Female Power Within: A Guide To Living A Gentler, More Meaningful Life is an insightful and highly recommended guide to developing inner strength, offers a step-by-step process to release personal power, and taking charge of one's own life. From identifying with our inner child, to visualizing the future and learning to enjoy life, The Female Power Within is an excellent and commended instructional to cultivating one's strengths and pursuing happiness.



2. ...if I had found this book before I found and bought and read a whole bunch of other self-help books related to this topic. This is a wonderful synthesis of lots of ideas that had been dancing around in my head for a year or two. When I read what Marilyn and Maureen said about these issues, I thought "Yeah! That's what I've been trying to say but I didn't know quite how to say it!" Although 'the work' that they describe isn't easy work to do, it will be a lot easier if you follow their gentle encouraging approach instead of stumbling around like I did. Don't just buy this book...buy two or three, because somebody you love will love it as a holiday gift.



3. I have to admit that the title is what originally piqued my interest in this book. "The Female Power Within" is not a male-bashing book or anything like that. It is a book on being true to yourself no matter where that takes you. In a world that defines power and success in terms like paycheck size, job title, number and size of deals closed and similar measures it is okay for you to define success and happiness by your terms. In fact, isn't your definition the only one that really matters to you?

   "The Female Power Within: A Guide to Living a Gentler, More Meaningful Life" guides the reader in learning how to achieve peace and happiness by realizing that "power" does not necessarily mean "aggressive" but greater power can be achieved through cooperation and communication, two of the traits more commonly found in women. The very factors that others define as power, such as aggressiveness, can be the same factors that actually limit your power. Be yourself, seek your goals, follow your own destiny and realize your power by doing so. This is a well-reasoned exposition on how to make your life more meaningful by being your "authentic" self. A recommended read not only for women but also for men that are not caught up in the "macho" image and are free to be their "authentic" self.




4. THIS BOOK IS THE KEY TO WOMEN COMING INTO OUR OWN--
   Truly a must read for any woman who wants to have more of what she wants in her life--notice that I said 'have' and not 'get.' Having what you want is a much more female way of handling life, 'Getting' would be a more aggressive or male way. Neither are wrong, but one is definitely more suited energetically to us women, and this is just one of the many interesting and insightful points that Marilyn Graman and Maureen Walsh discuss in this groundbreaking book. I am reading it for the second time and seeing things that I didn't even pick up on the first time through! This would be a great book for younger women to learn from as well to help them on their journeys in life. I know that I would have appreciated hearing some of this wisdom sooner rather than later.



5. This is probably an odd question to ask, primarily because the authors concern themselves with "female" psychology, and not with any real sociobiological arguments. However, after reading this oh-so-sexist tome, I'm forced to wonder if, somehow, after decades of feminist struggle, we've been forced yet again to equate our biological nature with the nature of our "selves."

   I started to read this book to understand my mother-in-law better; she's very into chakras, and the circular nature of female time. She says things like, "A woman is tied to the Mother Earth by the very nature of her cycle." And I'm left confused, baffled, and as otherwise befuddled as a "masculine" "logical" and "driving" woman would be when faced with such topics of conversation. I am, in the implications of the authors, "stuck in the masculine world." And I like it there, because, fundamentally, it is me.

   I started to read it, and was put off by one of the authors' intial analogies. Like female sexuality, you should read this book by "just lying back and letting it all happen." Really. In this day and age, to argue that the nature of female sexuality, let alone "female nature," is for the woman to be biologically inclined to be "receptive" and "nurturing," is more than a little old-fashioned. Female sexuality runs in a continuum from the old joke, "I'm not sexually active, I just lie there" to hard-core domination of males. To force a single model onto all women, which is my main objection to this book, is just hearkening back to the 1950's, when women were supposed to be happy in their nurturing roles as housewives. Housewives who sat back and did nothing during sex, except to "receive," because it was "their female nature." Women who HAD to have children to be geniunely happy. And I'm not even beginning to address the marriage issue. Of course, a woman is happiest when she is paired up, because she is being "authentic."

   I'm ranting, and I'm more than a little disturbed by this book. I tried to "sit back" and "receive it" without criticism, but as I read more and more, the "soothing" approach the authors attempted to use ticked me off, and nauseated me. Maybe it's my AUTHENTIC SELF speaking up, but I find that the model that the authors would have you believe fits you as a generic "woman" fits me as badly as an extra-large jockstrap.

   I just felt like I'd been propelled back in a time machine to an era where women were expected to fit into a single "nurturing, gentle, and receptive" mold. Maybe it's that I'm not a typical woman, but I have to think that I'm not all that unusual in this world. It was against this sort of typecasting that feminists fought in the 50's and 60's, and to see it resurface in the new millenium is more than a little disturbing.

   Just call me phallocentric. Or thought-dominated. But don't say that my own model of "female power" isn't anywhere nearly as valid as these two throwbacks to the mid-20th century! My heart does not rule my mind. My thoughts are not subordinate to my feelings. And that's the way it should be, at least for me. I'll be glad to accept anyone's way of living should they be my philosophical opposite, but for them to speak out and invalidate my ideal existence is more than a little absurd. The authors have done just that.

   And it pisses me off, frankly, no matter how "soothing" and "nurturing" the approach.

4 comments about Thoughts From Within: A Guide To Inner Peace In A Crazy World.

1. This easy to read book is the perfect way to begin the journey on the road to leading a happy, healthy life. Through Bonnie's own personal experiences, she allows us to see that it is possible to overcome the obstacles that may be holding us back from living life to the fullest- instead of living in FEAR. She covers everything from self love,relationships with others,the mind -body connection and understanding how to be "present" in all that you do. Bonnie helps you change your perceptions and see all things- even tragedy- in a different light. I am going to give this book to everyone that I love and care about. It's worth reading over and over again!



2. Thoughts From Within: A Guide To Inner Peace In A Crazy World
   
   This book is an enjoyable and insightful read that provides an increased understanding in how to change our thoughts; to trust; to manifest our dreams; and more importantly, to love ourselves. Embracing each challenging experience, no matter how difficult, as an opportunity to refine ourselves as balanced spiritual beings releases fear, anxiety and stress. Self-knowledge is essential to living life with love, joy and peace.



3. this little book is quite a gem, and really spoke to me. Bonnie is giving us the recipe to open up and live the life we were created to live. Not a life of human negative emotions that we inflict upon ourselves, but how to be happy in the moment. I have read The Secret (which was no secret) and God Winks and The Four Agreements, The Twelve Pillars, and many, many more. Bonnie's words spoke to me on a much more personal level, and really connected. A suggestion to readers. Affirmative Self Talk is really important to changing your thoughts. Make your own list of daily self affirmations and repeat them every morning to yourself in the mirror, every day. Start with 50-100 self affirmations, and the list will grow. This positive action of self love will take you farther than you can imagine as you awaken to who you really are. I am going to purchase several more copies as gifts for friends. She is awesome on the page, and in person. And the best part is I can notate on the pages of my little book, and carry it with me for reference. Its a treat to read.



4. We would all be happier people and the world would be truly a better place if we all put into practice what we can learn from reading this book. We don't have to spend our time here on this earth as constant victims. We aren't living life if we do that. WE do need to live in the present and we all must be aware of what we need and most importantly how we must love ourselves first so that we are free to love others.There is so much here to digest... so read and re-read this book. You will find it extremely inciteful and the book will help you to give yourself permission to live a better and happier and more fufilling life. Try It.. You are gonna LOVE IT!!!!! Thanks Bonnie for your love for everyone and especially people that are in your life. WE all appreciate you and love you back..

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