Book Review: Praying Through Your Pregnancy

My friend was telling me I should pray for my unborn child and emailed me some material which consists of praying a part of the baby weekly. Hence, since she only e-mailed me in my 2nd trimester, I thought I should get a book which will guide me to pray weekly for my child. Finally, in the beginning of my 3rd trimester I managed to go to Canaanland and found a book which fits my requirement. Better late than never!

Praying Through Your Pregnancy

I've started reading from week 28 onwards to now week 39.
Gosh time flies...  initially, my doctor mentioned my baby is underweight and might deliver early but during a growth spurt in between week 30 and 35, I managed to gain 3kg myself which consists of 0.7kg for my baby making him no longer underweight..

Phew, but now doctor says he might be big!! Argh.. never ending worry and he might come out late. My doctor requested I walk more and do more housework to allow a more smoother delivery... Here comes the worries.

Hence, reading this book, has helped me understand other expectant mother's worries too as shown in the short experiences at the beginning of each chapter. For example, I'm worried about delay so I skipped to week 41 in the book which the authoress shared her experience of delayed birth. She shared God's plan and time in when her baby will be borne. I learn to be patient and respect God's plan too for my child.

In fact, when I heard about my friend's baby in breach position at the week 36 which caused her to have a C-section, I was worried. Reading chapter 38 shows the miracle whereby the authoress' baby turn at the last minute so that she didn't need to have a C-section delivery. Praise the Lord! :)

Excerpt of the contents taken from Amazon.

I do highly recommend this book or anything similar to help you focus to pray your baby in your womb and yourself too as it reminds you that God has already plan everything for your child. You should not worry and leave it to God. :)

I pray God will give me a smooth delivery of my baby boy and pray He will learn to listen, respect and fear God. I pray God will use my child to His purpose. Thank you for protecting me and my child during these past 39 weeks and I hope God will continue to cover us with the blood of Jesus.

Other reviews can be found in Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Jennifer Polimino's website.

Book Review: The Girl Most Likely To (Little Black Dress) *spoiler alert

 Book Description:

When Kat Cavanaugh was sweet sixteen she was dumped by her boyfriend, found out she was pregnant and got kicked out of school – all in a single afternoon. She hitchhiked out of West Virginia the same night, vowing never to return.

Now, twenty years later, Kat’s back: beautiful, rich and looking for an apology from just about everyone, especially Riley Bohland, the boy who knocked her up and broke her heart. But funnily enough, Riley’s looking for an apology from her… 

Well, it looks like I'm in a reading spree! :) Yay! Time to clear the books and perhaps my hubby will bring me buy new books??? *hopeful doe-eyes*

This book is more entertaining than the other book I just read. The story flow was good and interesting enough with some romance and humour. Susan Donovan wrote from the perspective of the hero and the heroine and slowly unravel the history behind the flashback of memories.

It started with a simple act of revenge due to hurt and false pretenses from the families. Kat learns to forgive and asked for forgiveness before admiting to being in love with Riley. It might seemed like a  simple reunion of the family after 20 years but no, the authoress tries to hint some further storyline with childhood flashbacks by Kat.

I like the way she introduced the variety of character to firm up the background and history of Kat. Obviously being a romance novel, description of some scenes to spice up the story helps. I finished the book in few hours so it is a light entertaining book. The authoress leave the reader with the realisation that things happen for a reason and how sometimes, we are still human as we make decisions we think was best at that moment.

Have a go at this book if you need a little laughter and romance. :)

Book Review: The Trophy Girl (Little Black Dress) *warning: spoiler alert*

The Trophy Girl (by Kate Lace)

I haven’t been really reading many books of late. However, getting bored of my mindless applications and games in Ipad2 and looking into reading a good book. Bought this book few years back when Little Black Dress novels just hit the market in Malaysia. 

Book Description

When Lucy Carter lands a job in a stately home she feels that all her dreams have come true. Not only is she in fabulous surroundings deep in the country but she is also working for the Earl of Arden. He was once married to the beautiful Becca Hetherington, a gold-medal-winning three-day eventer, and together they were Britain's golden couple – until Becca was killed in a tragic accident. Now a widower, the Earl is a brooding, romantic figure and there are many women, one in particular, who have their sights set on becoming the next Countess. As Lucy settles into her new job, she finds herself increasingly drawn to the Earl, and she isn't alone; all the staff adore him and are fiercely loyal. But as Lucy glimpses behind the money and glamour, she realises that the Earl's past isn't the fairytale everyone believed...

I am an avid fan for historical romance. Hence, when I read the synopsis at the back of the cover, I thought it was one of those Regency historical romance type. However, I was wrong ; this is a modern day romance with an Earl.

The authoress spend a lengthy time describing from the perspective of Lucy while she adjusted to the life as a nanny in the country side with little bits of snippets to a murder mystery by revealing a different character of Becca (the Earl’s late wife). She goes on with references to our current events such as the marriage of Princess Diana and Prince Charles.

What annoys me in this book is that it seemed the authoress got carried away with the description and tried to squeeze in the last 2 chapters of few pages with a murder mystery solved ;whereby Lucy suddenly found out how Becca really died and she didn’t even mind that the murderer was in love with her. Go figure. It was an abrupt ending which would have been nicer with the typical internal turmoil of the heroine before she finally forgives the Earl and decides to marry him.

Other than that, I can say I really miss old historical romance books which are no longer in the local market here. I only realised I like such books after noticing my tendency to buy books with these kind of setting. The old school- romantic heart whereby you wish a “knight in shining armour” plus a little wild naughty side comes and save you in a fairytale ending.

Obviously, life is not always like that but that’s why we have romance novels, romantic-comedy movies and everything sweet and nice to flutter the woman’s heart.  :)

No harm having a read though.

Book review: Yes, You can Look Slimmer (by Sheila Wong)

I was curious on dressing right for my body shapes and looking for tips in books. Hence, I thought I'll give a local writer a chance.

This book: Yes, You can look slimmer, by Sheila Wong caught my eye.

Price-wise
Personally, for a thin book of 1 cm, half an A4 sized, I think RM39.90 is a tad pricey. Perhaps it needed more cost for the glossy pages.

Content
1. Body Shape
Body shape explanation was rather brief and diagrammatic. This make it more like a quick reference than understanding your body shape.

2. Body proportion
Very brief one page explanation and a diagram which most art student would have learnt. Interesting enough, there was further few pages to give suggestion on the type of top or bottom to wear based on proportion. (This is something I have not seen described in books like Trinny and Suzannah)

However, it would have been better with more examples to suit to the current trends.

Shoes selection was pathetic: merely a few sentences. I would have suggested if this was not mentioned at all. It showed no substance and research. Mere common observation which can be done by anyone.
Additional info was a 2 pages face symmetry description.

3. Accessories for different face shapes
Again, a pathetic 2 page explanation without any examples/diagrams. Perhaps the author should have just focused on body shapes instead of trying to cover everything without substance.

4. Clothings in types
Good to point out are parts of clothing like:
i. Collars, necklines and sleeves
ii. Skirts
iii. Tops and blouses
iv. Jackets & coats
v. Sheath dresses
vi. Ensemble
(Disappointingly, 2 pages minimum of diagrams for each topic shows a very rough summary; which applies for the rest of the topics)

5. Accessories
i. Shoes
ii. Bags
iii. Styling scarf (including scarf for Muslim ladies)

6. Special occassion clothings
i. Special characteristics
ii. Pattern & print
iii. Capsule Grouping (matching of clothings with accessories)
iv. Business Formal (typical old style matching - should be modernised)
v. Business Casual
vi. Business Evening
vii. Party dresses
viii. Formal Evening Wear
ix. Tudung (head wear for Muslim ladies)

7. Subjective topics
i. Psychological Language of Style
- Quite meaningless 2 pages which reminds me more of a feng shui description i.e. vertical line means alert, stately, stable, poised, strong, upright, commanding. Yes, she wrote ALL those description. No offense to the author.

ii. Body Image Personality Type
- Another meaningless topic such as: Quester means you are always searching, always buying and never satisfied or Clueless: you want to work with what you already have in your wardrobe. ? ? ?

iii. Your Business Wardrobe
- This is an interesting general topic which highlights the basic item you should have in your wardobe like the white blouse and a few advise on clothing care

Again, all these are 2-pages description.

Conclusion
IMHO, I think it's not worth paying RM39.90 for a general description of things most people know. There are a few pages of interesting points to note but after reading this book, I felt cheated. Hence, I don't really recommend getting this book unless as a simple reference or a nice glossy book for a gift.

Excerpt Book Review: Mentoring Paradigms (Edmund Chan)

I bought this book during the last seminar by Edmund Chan which I attended a few years back. I've taken into reading books with short chapters during the traffic jam while driving to work. This book is called Mentoring Paradigms (by Rev. Edmund Chan)

This book has 30 paradigms on mentoring which is about 4-5 pages long each; it's easy to read but requires personal reflection. I try to read and ponder on each paradigms while I drive to work/stuck in the traffic jam.

Hence, today I shall share with you Paradigm no. 6- Mentoring with The End in Mind:Perspective, Posture, Pragmatics and Power

(Note: It is hard for me to paraphrase the words he used because I find that Edmund Chan's words have expressed the true meaning very effectively. I'll be quoting a lot of his words in italics in this review.)

 A Certain Kind of Perspective
"We need to encounter the truth, experience the truth and embrace the truth."

We are being mentored by the Scriptures. This is the way to renew the mind by our daily devotion. Rev. Edmund continue to stress that there is no short-cut to this. It is a daily investment to allow the Scriptures to tutor our hearts to obey it (in his words).

A Certain Kind of Posture
There is a certain receptivity and meekness that marks true disciples (Isa 66:2)

He continues to explain that meekness is not weakness. I perceive the meekness here as humbleness. I like the way he explains the posture in terms of three aspects: brokenness, meekness and openness.

A certain kind of posture is thus about a brokenness of heart before God, a meekness of heart in God and an openness of heart to God. (by Edmund Chan)

A Certain Kind of Pragmatics
Pragmatics is intentional skill development -a disciplined and growing competence in both life-skills and ministry.

I like that this sentence he used "Life is too short to be lived without thoughtful, skilled competence". He stressed the importance of this skill to have the emotional reservoir and capacity to deal wisely with them-not react to them."

A Certain Kind of Power
God's very presence is His very power!

Rev. Edmund explains that power belongs to God. Power in man is a by-product. Hence, sadly, fallen humanity has tried to grab power through pride or shun God's power through unbelief and sometimes do both.

Conclusion
I must remember to let the Scripture mentor me daily to remember the right perspective so that the Holy Spirit can nurture me to grow in the right posture to learn the right skills needed to be used by our Father God. I pray, I'll remember not to stray from the path.. :)

Book Review: The Body Shape Bible

I stumbled upon this book by Trinny and Susannah while browsing in BookXcess in Amcorp Mall and just thought I’d get it. Why?

Well, we all know the 4 basic body shapes of apple, pear, hourglass and banana (rectangular). But somehow, it’s not exactly like how they describe per se. Your body do not conform to the typical specification of the basic body shapes.

Hence, the Body Shape Bible elaborates further with 12 types of body shapes: hourglass, cello, vase, bell, skittle, goblet, pear, lollipop, cornet, apple, column and brick (literally taking the object’s outline to describe your body)

Images googled online

In each body type, Trinny and Susannah got models in undies to show their body type . It is defined as follows: (a summary of this can be found here with images)
1. HOURGLASS – big tits, small waist, short waist, big hips, generous thighs
2. CELLO – big boobs, short waist, big hips, big bottom, big thighs, slim lower legs
3. VASE - big tits, gently curving longer waist, hips equal tits, slim thighs and legs
4. BELL – small shoulders, small tits, small waist, big thighs, big bottom
5. SKITTLE – average tits, slim waist, ok tummy, big thighs, chunky calves
6. PEAR – small tits, long waist, flat tummy, saddlebags, heavy legs
7. LOLLIPOP – big tits, slight waist, slim hips, long legs
8. CORNET – broad shoulders, small boobs, no waist, slim hips, long slim legs
9. GOBLET – broad shoulders, big boobs, no waist, narrow hips, long legs
10. APPLE – average tits, tummy bigger than tips, quiet flat bottom, OK legs
11. COLUMN – shoulder width the same as hips, slight waist, longer legs
12. BRICK – Broad shoulders, no waist, average tummy, flat bum, chunky thighs, chunky calves

Images googled online

In each type, they show how the model is dressed to illustrate the do’s and don’ts in dressing their body type; from the right top to pants and even shoes. It’s a little disappointing that the additional dressing advice is not standardized with some body types having more tips. (Coincidentally which is not mine! ☹ )

However, a word of caution, sometimes God just made us different and despite all these types and descriptions created to describe a body shape – I still can’t find the right one to describe myself. I’ve looked in the mirror and find myself under a combination of 2 types here.

Hence, I’ll try out the advice on what to wear and not’s… instead. As that was initially the intend of me getting this book! ;)

Another review of this book is worth checking out to see other readers' comments.