Ellen Christian - Castleton, VT (57 books)

Ellen Christian gave

to:

Dollars & Uncommon Sense: Basic Training for Your Money
by Steve Repak

read in February, 2012

My rating:

Dollars and Uncommon sense will help you change the way you think about money. You’ll go through basic training where you learn to realistically asses your situation and you’ll learn the six traits of wealth builders. You’ll learn to create principle...more

Ellen Christian made a comment on her review of That Used to Be Us: How America Fell Behind in the World We Invented--and How We Can Come Back

"Honestly, I do agree with a lot of it and they do offer some solutions - not that I think most people would be willing to make the sacrifices necessar...more"

Ellen Christian gave

to:

That Used to Be Us by Thomas L. Friedman

That Used to Be Us: How America Fell Behind in the World We Invented--and How We Can Come Back
by Thomas L. Friedman

read in January, 2011

My rating:

That Used To Be Us was written by Thomas L. Friedman (a New York Times columnist) and Michael Mandelbaum (Director of Foreign Policy at Johns Hopkins). That Used To Be Us is a call to action. It's a bucket of cold water meant to wake up Americans and...more

Ellen Christian gave

to:

From Fat to Fit: Turn Yourself into a Weapon of Mass Reduction
by Carole Carson

read in December, 2011

My rating:

Now that the holidays are pretty much over for a while, people start thinking about the New Year and New Year's resolutions. One of the most common resolutions I hear (and make) is to get into better shape. Since many of us pack on five or ten pounds...moreNow that the holidays are pretty much over for a while, people start thinking about the New Year and New Year's resolutions. One of the most common resolutions I hear (and make) is to get into better shape. Since many of us pack on five or ten pounds with Thanksgiving dinner and holiday gatherings, I suppose this only makes sense. Did you know that sixty-four percent of Americans are overweight? That's certainly a statistic that frightens me! Carole Carson is the Coach to the AARP Fat 2 Fit Community Weight-Loss Challenge and is sharing her weight loss of 62 pounds in her new book From Fat to Fit. She explains how she went from a size 18 to a size 6 and you'll learn how you can do the same thing regardless of your age!

From Fat to Fit starts off by introducing you to Carole and how she began her journey. At almost sixty years old, she found herself weight 182 pounds at 5'1" tall. She realized she needed to change and started interviewing trainers at local gyms. One thing led to another and her journey became a regular column in a local newspaper. From Fat to Fit shares her journey with pictures, progress reports, and what you need to do to implement her program in your life.

I really enjoyed reading From Fit to Fat. I love that Carole gives a realistic look at weight loss from a *not 20 year old's point of view*. Sorry but what I could do at 20 is not what I can do at 45 even if I want it to be. She also gives a very realistic look at the costs associated with weight loss. Fitness equipment costs money as does a gym membership however Carole also explains the hidden costs of being overweight including added medical expenses and prescriptions for things like high blood pressure and diabetes. I also appreciate that she shares what didn't work for her - like the yoga class she didn't enjoy taking. Sometimes fitness/health books make everything seem so easy when for me and many other women, it really isn't.

To help you understand that what she's done isn't impossible, this book also shares stories of other men and women who have gotten in shape in middle/later age. She also shares stories of several people with disabilities that have made the journey as well which is particularly motivating. She even shares information on whole communities that have taken the challenge. The back of the book has a bunch of great resources that you can refer to in order to find more information and resources in your area.

This book is definitely inspiring and a great way to get in the mindset of weight loss and healthy living. I would have loved a few meal plans or recipes as well because sometimes I run out of ideas and lack inspiration.(less)

Ellen Christian said "maybe" to attending the event: GOODREADS GIVEAWAY 5 Copies of THE JUDGING, A Christian Horror/Vampire Novel

date: December 31, 2010 08:23AM
location: Online Goodreads, The United States
description: THE JUDGING is a strange new way to tell the vampire tale and is already garnering praise across the board. I'd love to have you win one of these 5 free copies of my strange and wonderful new book!

Ellen Christian gave

to:

Sock n Boots - Share (#1)
by D.K. Smith (Goodreads Author)

read in July, 2010

My rating:

Sock 'n Boots Share is an adorable children's book that teaches children about sharing. The book begins with the question about why we should share. The story then explores that question by following the antics of Sock and Boots as they go off to p...more

Ellen Christian gave

to:

Raven's Ladder: A Novel (The Auralia Thread, #3)
by Jeffrey Overstreet (Goodreads Author)

read in March, 2010

My rating:

Raven's Ladder is the third book in The Auralia Thread which also includes Auralia's Colors and Cyndere's Midnight. I have not had the chance to read either of those books. In Raven's Ladder, The House of Abascar was destroyed in a huge earthquake...more

Ellen Christian gave

to:

At Witt's End (Sadie Witt Mystery, #1)
by Beth Solheim (Goodreads Author)

read in March, 2010

My rating:

I have to admit that this is one of the best mysteries I've read in a long time. The characters are funny and endearing. They mesh together in a way that makes sparks fly every time they interact. I just could not help but picture each scene in my...more

Ellen Christian gave

to:

The Italian Farmer's Table by Matthew Scialabba

The Italian Farmer's Table: Authentic Recipes and Local Lore from Northern Italy
by Matthew Scialabba

read in February, 2010

My rating:

The Italian Farmer's Table is more than cookbook, it's a journey through Northern Italy. The Italian Farmer's Table is a paperback cookbook measuring 8 1/2" x 8" and contains 320 pages. This cookbook contains 150 authentic recipes and local lore f...moreThe Italian Farmer's Table is more than cookbook, it's a journey through Northern Italy. The Italian Farmer's Table is a paperback cookbook measuring 8 1/2" x 8" and contains 320 pages. This cookbook contains 150 authentic recipes and local lore from different areas of Northern Italy. It has eight chapters each of which focusses on a different area in Northern Italy.

The chapters included are Liguria, Piemonte, Valle D'Aosta, Lombardia, Trentino-Alto Adige, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Veneto, and Emilia-Romagna. Each of these chapters includes a beautiful colored map so you can see exactly where each area is in Northern Italy. There are several paragraphs at the front of each chapter that describe that region along with a number of beautiful photographs.

The recipe title is written in both English and Italian which lends to the exotic feel of the cookbook. Each recipe offers a list of ingredients with the measurements in both metric and U.S. equivalents. The instructions are well written and very easy to follow. There's a nice variety of types of recipes including main dishes, soups, salads and desserts.

Some of the recipes call for meats that some cooks may not be familiar using like rabbit and duck. There are a few gourmet cheeses that may be difficult for some cooks to find but substitutions (when available) are listed next to the ingredients list. Throughout the cookbook, there are a number of discussions of wines of the region. The photograhs included are not only of the dishes themselves but of the area farms, kitchens, produce and animals.

The 150 authentic recipes include: Swiss Chard and Ricotta Tarts, Fried Butternut Squash Ravioli, Lavender Encrusted Chicken with Pancetta, Rabbit with Olives and Pine Nuts, Frozen Chocolate Ricotta Cream Cake, Carpaccio with Gorgonzola Sauce, Pears and Walnuts and many more succulent appetizers, side dishes, main courses and desserts!

This cookbook is easily a collector's item. The Italian Farmer's Table will wow you for not only the photograhps and articles but for the scrumptous Italian recipes it offers. It's one of those cookbooks I curl up in a chair with to read.(less)

Ellen Christian gave

to:

Faithful Heart (Angel of Mercy Series #2)
by Al Lacy

read in February, 2010

My rating:

Faithful Heart is book two in the Angel of Mercy Series written by Al Lacy. Book one is Legacy. This is the story of Breanna Baylor as she travels west as part of a wagon train to see her sister, Dottie, in California. Because this is a Christian b...more

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Ellen Christian gave to: Dollars & Uncommon Sense: Basic Training for Your Money by Steve Repak read in February, 2012	My rating:
Dollars and Uncommon sense will help you change the way you think about money. You’ll go through basic training where you learn to realistically asses your situation and you’ll learn the six traits of wealth builders. You’ll learn to create principle...more
20 hours, 27 min ago · see review
Ellen Christian made a comment on her review of That Used to Be Us: How America Fell Behind in the World We Invented--and How We Can Come Back "Honestly, I do agree with a lot of it and they do offer some solutions - not that I think most people would be willing to make the sacrifices necessar...more"
Feb 09, 2012 11:59am · see review
Ellen Christian gave to: That Used to Be Us: How America Fell Behind in the World We Invented--and How We Can Come Back by Thomas L. Friedman read in January, 2011	My rating:
That Used To Be Us was written by Thomas L. Friedman (a New York Times columnist) and Michael Mandelbaum (Director of Foreign Policy at Johns Hopkins). That Used To Be Us is a call to action. It's a bucket of cold water meant to wake up Americans and...more
Jan 05, 2012 05:12am · see review
Ellen Christian gave to: From Fat to Fit: Turn Yourself into a Weapon of Mass Reduction by Carole Carson read in December, 2011	My rating:
Now that the holidays are pretty much over for a while, people start thinking about the New Year and New Year's resolutions. One of the most common resolutions I hear (and make) is to get into better shape. Since many of us pack on five or ten pounds...more
Dec 28, 2011 02:01pm · see review
Ellen Christian said "maybe" to attending the event: GOODREADS GIVEAWAY 5 Copies of THE JUDGING, A Christian Horror/Vampire Novel date: December 31, 2010 08:23AM location: Online Goodreads, The United States description: THE JUDGING is a strange new way to tell the vampire tale and is already garnering praise across the board. I'd love to have you win one of these 5 free copies of my strange and wonderful new book!
Dec 30, 2010 05:02am
Ellen Christian gave to: Sock n Boots - Share (#1) by D.K. Smith (Goodreads Author) read in July, 2010	My rating:
Sock 'n Boots Share is an adorable children's book that teaches children about sharing. The book begins with the question about why we should share. The story then explores that question by following the antics of Sock and Boots as they go off to p...more
Jul 24, 2010 03:25am · see review
Ellen Christian gave to: Raven's Ladder: A Novel (The Auralia Thread, #3) by Jeffrey Overstreet (Goodreads Author) read in March, 2010	My rating:
Raven's Ladder is the third book in The Auralia Thread which also includes Auralia's Colors and Cyndere's Midnight. I have not had the chance to read either of those books. In Raven's Ladder, The House of Abascar was destroyed in a huge earthquake...more
Mar 09, 2010 08:57am · see review
Ellen Christian gave to: At Witt's End (Sadie Witt Mystery, #1) by Beth Solheim (Goodreads Author) read in March, 2010	My rating:
I have to admit that this is one of the best mysteries I've read in a long time. The characters are funny and endearing. They mesh together in a way that makes sparks fly every time they interact. I just could not help but picture each scene in my...more
Mar 03, 2010 09:54am · see review
Ellen Christian gave to: The Italian Farmer's Table: Authentic Recipes and Local Lore from Northern Italy by Matthew Scialabba read in February, 2010	My rating:
The Italian Farmer's Table is more than cookbook, it's a journey through Northern Italy. The Italian Farmer's Table is a paperback cookbook measuring 8 1/2" x 8" and contains 320 pages. This cookbook contains 150 authentic recipes and local lore f...more
Feb 23, 2010 05:42am · see review
Ellen Christian gave to: Faithful Heart (Angel of Mercy Series #2) by Al Lacy read in February, 2010	My rating:
Faithful Heart is book two in the Angel of Mercy Series written by Al Lacy. Book one is Legacy. This is the story of Breanna Baylor as she travels west as part of a wagon train to see her sister, Dottie, in California. Because this is a Christian b...more
Feb 22, 2010 06:36am · see review

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