I'm Taking My Eggs and Going Home: How One Woman Dared to Say No to Motherhood

Like many other difficult subjects, infertility is often taboo even between close friends. Lisa's memoir creates a platform from which these issues can be discussed. Her story is endearing with moments of gentle humor and humbling honesty. It really presses the reader to think about the way our culture defines womanhood, and what happens to a woman's identity when she finds she cannot reproduce. This is a definite discussion starter for your next women's reading group pick.

This book literally took me into the lives of Lisa and her husband. She weaves a wonderful story that has stayed with me, even a week after finishing the book.

The account of her struggle to become a mother, and her resulting decision not to have a child is gripping as it is understandable, and is as powerful as it is understated. She details the very personal emotions of going through this process, beautifully crafting story that many of us can relate to. It was so exquisitley written, but raw and honest. There are very few books that deal with this topic and she has done a beautiful job describing her journey and she is very brave to do so.

She is an important voice for those of us who are infertile and do not have children by choice.

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This book is a great read. I finished reading "I'm Taking My Eggs and Going Home" three days after I received it, staying up late and almost missing train stops because I was so caught up. I laughed out loud, cried, hoped, and shared Lisa's journey from mama-wannabe to sane childfree woman.

What I think you need to know is this isn't just some woe-is-me tale about infertility with a happy miracle-baby ending. It's a well-written, universal story about a woman trying to find her place in our world. Any woman can relate to her struggles. And if you have a friend, sister, or coworker who has been or is going through infertility, Lisa's story will teach you how to better support her and inspire you to listen with more compassion.

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This was a really excellently written, intelligent and heart-felt book. It was so good I couldn't put it down -I stayed up late and finished it in one day.

We haven't yet traveled as far down the IF path as the author (we're going to start testing in the next couple months), but all of the content leading up to the author's IF testing rang true and familiar to me (I'm pretty sure I recognized the website she talks about joining, having used it myself for a year and a half), and I found myself welcoming this wonderful lady into my heart as she lets us into hers.

It was also refreshing and validating to discover there are women like myself out there -women who are opposed to the drugs of IVF. I've never responded well to artificial hormones (ie all the many types of hormonal BC I've tried have made me a crazy-woman or made me very ill), and ever since I started thinking about what we would do if we had trouble conceiving naturally, I've been resistant to the idea of IVF and putting myself through all of that. It was good to see that I'm not alone in having reservations about this type of medical treatment.

For my own well-being, I've been working on embracing a future without children in it, because I know how uncertain the IF and adoption/fostering journeys are. Reading this book was, again, refreshing and validating. It was also helpful and informative -I've been dreading the pain and intrusiveness of IF testing, and reading about Lisa's experiences was informative and helped me prepare myself for what is to come. It also reaffirms my desire to always put my relationship with my husband first, to not lose touch with each other through this difficult journey, and waste years of our precious time on this Earth together.

I think I'll suggest that my husband read this too. Although he doesn't talk about it much, I know it's been hard on him too.

The cherry on top, is the website/support group the author has started and tells us about at the very end of the book.

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Wonderful book for the infertile community as well as for those trying to console friends or family.

I found her writing to be funny, insightful and a joy to read.

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Home-Based Fitness Training: Essential Martial Arts Exercises

I was keen to develop enough flexibility to do splits and this book has helped me do that. But it also teaches exercises for injury prevention and agility. Well set out and very easy to read

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New Sheets: Thirty Days to Refine You into the Woman You Can Be

By Norma Gail Thurston-Holtman Bible Teacher, Author, Speaker

"New Sheets: Thirty Years in Thirty Days to Refine You into the Woman You Can Be" by Cindy Sproles is a daily devotional book for women of every age, every stage, and every circumstance of life.

Cindy is a gifted writer and speaker, and an encourager. Her sense of humor sets you at ease and you feel as if you've known her forever. When I read "New Sheets", I got to know a side of Cindy I didn't know, not the ministry leader or speaker, but the real woman who has hurts, fears, and inadequacies just like the rest of us, but has learned to give them to the Lord on a daily basis.

"New Sheets" takes you from the depths of despair to the heights of hope as she shares from real-life experiences, how God uses life, as it really happens, to grow us into the people He designed us to be. It is for every woman who struggles to find out what God's purpose is, or perhaps if God is.

By using bed sheets bought in different stages of her life, Cindy makes you see that God is with you all the time, and will be there for the future. Her humor is based in her own experiences, as are her pictures of pain. From Muslin sheets, as a divorced mom of two little boys, to Supima cotton with adult children, Cindy weaves personal experience with scripture, anecdotes, and biblical truth to lead you through 30 days of growing closer to God.

"New Sheets" is a book to keep for yourself, but buy an extra copy for a friend, because someone you know needs to turn over a new sheet in life.

New Sheets: Thirty Days to Refine You into the Woman You Can Be

I love the smell and feel of crisp new sheets, and the satisfying feeling of tossing the dirty sheets into the laundry basket. Cindy's devotionals give me the same feelings-I will keep her observations and thoughts close to read over and over.

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Out with the old and in the with the new, right? Sadly, that's often easier said than done. Sure, it's a cinch when we're tossing the worn-out tennis shoes or replacing the dying the laptop. But what about when dealing with broken hearts, relationships and dreams? Is it possible to simply toss them aside like the aged, yellowed lampshade from the deceased great aunt?

The truth is that life is a journey, and as with all journeys, not every mile will be pleasant. There will be traffic jams and harsh winds, sour attitudes and torrential rain, flat tires and dead batteries. But in the midst of it all, there will also be God, giving us strength to make it another mile and then another and then another. Many choose to commemorate the end of such a journey, but as this journey will not end until our arrival in Heaven, author Cindy Sproles has decided to take a different approach. In her book, "New Sheets: Thirty Days to Refine You Into the Woman You Can Be", she opens her heart and exposes her method of marking each new milestone with a fresh set of sheets. From the cheapest of muslin to the most extravagant silk, Cindy's sheets tell the story of one woman's journey from pain and heartache to joy and acceptance.

What I love most about this book is that Cindy holds nothing back. She bears all, tells all, and explains all. She opens the eyes of the readers, helping each to understand that she is not alone in her struggles. While it pains us to read of another woman's heartache, there also great comfort to be found when we realize, "It's not just me. I'm not the only one who feels this way!" In her own unique way, Cindy displays the disappointment of a life that didn't turn out according to plan followed by a hope that comes from the knowledge that God has a plan for our pain and that He is working all things for our ultimate good.

Written in a conversational style, this book is a joy to read. Whether you need a boost to begin your day or a word of encouragement to calm your mind before bed, "New Sheets" will do the trick. Each of the thirty devotions is short, making it easy to fit into even the busiest of schedules.

Does life have you down? Are you at a crossroads and unsure which way to turn? Have you reached a new stage in your life and fear you don't have the strength the carry on? If so, I urge you to pick up a copy of Cindy's book, "New Sheets". I promise you that you'll not regret it.

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A friend told me that I must read this book. My heart was breaking, and it was as if this book was written for me. Thank you for understanding and giving hope.

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New Sheets: Thirty Days to Refine You into the Woman You Can Be, by Cindy Sproles, is both refreshingly simple yet often profound. The analogy that each change in our life can be acknowledged and accepted by getting a new set of sheets for the bed is unique. Sproles takes us through her life's journey of change and how she moved from muslim to percale to pima sheets and she divides the book into three sections based on these three qualities of sheets. Each devotional is short yet often poignant, sharing personal and pertinent experiences of the author. She also draws from various other people and ideas in life. Although the devotions are short and easy to read, they often leave a thought provoking idea lingering in the background that is worth spending time with, rather than rushing past.

This book can be a wonderful and worthwhile addition to your day and would make great gift idea. I'm glad I have spent time with it I think you will, too.

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Victorian Fashions and Costumes from Harper's Bazar, 1867-1898 (Dover Fashion and Costumes)

Extensive and detailed illustrations, with good captions (including dates), divided into four style periods (1867-1874, 1875-1882, 1883-1890, 1891-1898). Narrative introduction to each period gives the general style trends. Very useful: includes hairstyles, shoes, parasols, aprons, decorative details, children's clothing, etc.

What would romance writers do without Dover and their marvelous historical books? These books and even era paper dolls are inexpensive, and yet, thorough works that really can put you into the period. This book is stunning.

Victorian Fashion from Harper's Bazaar 1867-1898 is definitive book on Victorian fashions, however, while is stunning work, you should buy Full-Color Victorian Fashions from Dover Publishing as well. Together they are everything you need. This book goes in rich detail, just not the dresses but down to hair and accessories. It's broken down into four sections: 1) Bustles and Puff (1867-1874) 2) Natural Forma and Cuirass Body (1875-1882) 3) Return of the Bustle (1883-1890) and 4) Hourglass Figure (1891-1898). The drawings are detailed and cover every aspect of fashion of this era.

An absolute must for romance writers of this period. High recommended.

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Victorian Fashions and Costumes is eye candy for anyone interested in fashion history.

The arrangement of the book in chronological order by year makes it very easy to find historically correct garments, accessories, and hair styles. A brief overview of characteristics specific to the era is included in each section. Most pictures have captions that identify the type of garment and often the fabrics and colors used in a garment.

I used information in this book to create a bodice and bustle representative of the period for a skirt Mary Todd Lincoln wore in 1872 in England.

With all the historical patterns available in the major pattern books, the costumer or reenactor can find a basic pattern and add the correct construction details and embellishments. I enjoy browsing the book and wondering what life was like for the women who wore these clothes. If you are looking for information about the clothing worn by the common woman, you won't find it here. After all, this is from Harper's Bazar, the Vogue of the 19th Century.

Becky

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The book was filled with page after page of clothing and accessories, from swim suits to formal wear. The detail of how women adorned themselves and their outfits was very informative. I know that it catered to the upper-class, but it would have been nice to see more for women of a lower class. Also, there was barely anything for men of any class.

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If you're like me and can't afford to purchase thirty one years worth of original Harpers Bazaar publications, this will fill the void. I actually own two, one to cut up and photocopy, so I can play with coloring a dress before I make it. It covers all the minutia of Haute Couture. Gowns for different occasions, times of day, traveling, dressing gowns, nightwear and undergarments. It also has plates for accessories, shoes, jewelry, gloves, stockings, hats. There are hair combs, ornaments, extensions, and a couple styling techniques. Children's clothing is also included. The major fashion plates have fairly detailed descriptions of the garment features.

There is also a good glossary of terms and colors in the back of the book. Which is a great help for some of the more obscure descriptions.

Too bad there's no color plates.....leaves more for the imagination to fill in I suppose. And BOY will this book keep you dreaming!

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The Interval Training Workout: Build Muscle and Burn Fat with Anaerobic Exercise

This book discusses interval training and is a good starting point for anyone who is new to the concept. However it is basic, and unless you have no idea what is meant by "interval training" then you will not learn anything new. At its heart the message is, go really fast for a minute, then slow down for two minutes, repeat until done.

The most glaring problem is that the book only talks about interval training as manifested in the traditional cardio sports (running, swimming, cycling, etc.) It does not talk about ways to incorporate interval concepts into your strength training routines, and even worse does not adequately talk about how to incorporate your strength training with the interval program recommended.

I think this book is most useful for the type of people who "just run" (or just "whatever") at a steady pace for a predertmined time and have no plans to lift weights. However, if you are looking for a more holistic program that will cover more aspects of fitness, then I would suggest searching further.

Interval Training (IT) is systemic conditioning based on low intensity activity punctuated with bursts of high intensity activity. IT has an advantage over "aerobics" done at constant pace because the high intensity phase triggers growth hormone and other effects that are never quite achieved by extended low intensity training. This means that you can achieve benefits beyond those of aerobic training for athletes and also for weight control and general fitness. IT does not neccessarily replace low intensity training entirely, nor does it replace more specialized strength or flexibility work where needed. It is a concept with its own niche in physical training.

This book introduces the concept of IT and gives examples of how to set up a conditioning program for yourself with IT at the core. There is a lot of practical advice here for the novice and for those who have only a passing knowledge of physical conditioning. Those with moderate knowledge of conditioning including interval techniques will find most of this to be review or variations of ideas they alreay use. Trainers and those who use formal interval techniques already will probably not get much out of this, and should instead look to more advanced, more technical, or more specialized books.

An excellent practical introduction to interval based fitness.

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In my capacity as Medical Director of 2 Fortune-50 companies I have had the occasion to review numerous fitness and health promotion programs. Dr. Nitti's Interval Training offers a common sense approach to physical fitness which is applicable to the average person as well as to world-class athletes. It is refreshing to finally see a fitness program that is scientifically based and does not attempt to repeal the laws of thermodynamics or the principles of human physiology. I highly recommend this book to anyone serious about physical conditioning.

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I purchased this book with the hopes that it would have some hard core anaerobic workouts using intervals with bodyweight exercises, medicine balls and other non-standard methods of good all around functional or "combat conditioning" type training workouts. This is not a book like that. However it is a good book that will help you understand why interval training is important to include in your workout and can help you develop your own personal workouts.

The book mainly focuses on interval training for the runner, swimmer, or biker which I'm sure will help you a lot of you've become stagnant in your workouts. It does include workouts and good guidelines for these type of sports and has a basic section on weight lifting and stretching.

The book also includes short and concise reasons as to why interval (anaerobic) training is so beneficial. It didn't try to get too medical or scientific about it just plain old English as to how interval training works in your body.

Even though the book didn't include the type of training workouts I was looking for, it was still a worthwhile book to read and I will use some the principals from this book in developing the type of workouts I am looking for.

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