Lessons From Stanley...A Review!!!

Lessons From Stanley The Cat

Nine Lives Of Everyday Wisdom

By

Jennifer Freed

Illustrations

By

Tone Gellerstedt

I told Dorothy from TheWritersLife that I would happily review this book.

It was about cats…it was sweetly short…it had very cute simple illustrations. I loved it.

This book is sort of like reading a really serious how to live your life book. The best thing about these serious rules and how to follow them is that they are told truthfully and matter of factly by Stanley…the illustrated star of this book.

The book is divided into four main sections…

You and Yourself

You and Others

Love and Lust

Healthy Habits

The author has divided each section into subtitles and then proceeds to explain each one. And again, they are sort of punctuated by these great illustrations. Actually…you have to keep in mind that Stanley is explaining everything from his perspective which is that of a cat….a very wise cat.

One of my favorite Stanleyisms was…

Be kind to the aged and the dying. They do not have many advocates or visitors, and it takes so little to let them know you are their friend. Stanley explains this one by saying we should take time to enjoy those who might not move as quickly as we do.

Another favorite was…

When someone is on the computer too long, help them by distracting them, or walk lightly on the keyboard. The reality behind this one is that we are too occupied with machines and we are not enjoying the “splendor of human contact”.

And yet one more favorite was…

Take time out of your day to take time out of your day. Stanley explains that we should just spend some time sitting and reflecting. Again, this is accented with a great illustration.

So…this is a sweet yet wise book. It is one that I am keeping on my night stand for a while. You can pick it up and reread parts very easily. I will put it on my husband’s night stand, too. He will laugh at Stanley and hopefully it will remind him to slow down a bit, too.



Waiting For These Books And Why I Love Target!!!

First...of course...books!!!

I can't wait to read this book.  The synopsis and early chatter make me want it right now.  Check out this link for a book description.  It is at Bookreporter.com and there is a form to fill out if you want to snatch up one of fifty early review copies.

This one sort of reminds me of the era that The Help was written in.  Florida, the fifties, and the maid that keeps the family together.  Read more about it on goodreads.  It sounds warm, sad, heartbreaking and intensely interesting.

Early reviews seem to place this in that scary spellbinding page turning niche.  Check it out at goodreads, too.

Now to Target.  I am amazed at how many different kinds of things can be purchased at Target!!!  Today was a busy errand day.  Lucy needed catfood and that meant a trip to Petsmart.  My little zebra finches needed millet and new Martha Stuart puppy pads to line their cage.  Those are at Petsmart, too, but our Petsmart happens to be next to a Target. 

It is Easter inside Target!!!  It is Spring inside Target!!!  There is a grocery store inside Target and they carry Amy's Organic frozen entrees and burritos and enchiladas!!!  Orange juice, Pellegrino water and Peter Pan Peanut Butter!!!

These just happen to be the supplies I needed...so I stocked up on them!!!
Plus...Target has that lovely red card that takes 5% off of your bill!!!
I have begun to buy ketchup and mayo and Cheerios at Target!!! 
I also love all of their Method cleaning products and Burt's Bees shower gels.

Plus...this is what I have been told at my Starbucks...the one right inside of my Target...if you use your Target card to buy a Starbucks coffee...it takes 5% off of your Starbucks order, too.

I find this information fascinating.

Do you love your Target store as much as I do?

The Pioneer Woman...and Pie!!!

Have you ever heard of The Pioneer Woman?

I am new to her blog and I am totally fascinated with it.  Her recipes are amazing.  I made her recipe for Potatoes Au Gratin last week and it was so delicioius.  I am going to make this for my husband on Thursday.  She calls this an almost key lime pie but it looks like key lime pie to me!!! 

Plus...you don't even need key limes to make it.  And it calls for sweetened condensed milk...isn that the stuff that is really really thick when you try to get it out of the can?

Plus this pie is sort of green in color and perfect for St. Patrick's Day!!!

Speaking of which...do you do anything special on St. Patrick's Day?

Book Mail...I Love Book Mail!!!

These came in the mail for reviews...

For review...

Blood Of My Brother by James LePore...This author will have a special promotion for his fourth book soon.  I just read and loved his first book.

Friendship Bread by Darien Gee

The Source Of All Things by Tracy Ross
The Life You've Imagined by Kristina Riggle

Iron House by John Hart...not released yet...

And of course...I just had to Kindle...

I have heard amazing things about The World House. It is described as blending of fantasy and adventure.  The Strip and The Heat are 99 cent Kindle books and are a part of a series called The Big Bad Wolf Series.  I just had to get them.  I adore Simon Beckett...an English writer who writes about murder and mayhem in quaint English villages. I have read his three other books and I love them.  Unnatural is another book I have been reading much about and really want to read.  Boarding school with a few vampires tossed in the mix...and an identity crisis...can't wait for this one.

I have my hands full this week.  I have to figure out how to read faster than anything!!!
I love my UPS man and our mail lady? person? girl? I don't know how to say this politically correctly!!!  I have to restrain myself from hugging my UPS man every time he comes...I am sure he thinks I am quite odd.

I am expecting jam and clothes this week.  Some lovely tees and pants from a new online site I have found called Mikkat Market.   I have ordered bottoms and tops and tunics from them...all amazing and all nicely priced.  They have everything.  Quirky kind of Indie clothes which I adore...everything I bought is amazing and fits perfectly.
Do you absolutely love getting things in the mail?  Do you ever feel like hugging your UPS man?  Teasing...

Happy Sunday...

Beth Rivas is offering all of these to a lucky winner.   All you have to do is share this with a friend.  Or tweet it...I am going to tell my friend June about it...

So...go to Beth's website and enter!!!