Color Yourself to Tranquility

Color Yourself to Tranquility And Reduce Stress With These Beautiful Artworks of Trees
Original Art by Melissa Launay
Published at  CICO Books

About the book

Reduce stress and find inner calm by coloring in these beautiful trees, drawn by artist Melissa Launay.

Get in touch with nature and discover a world of tranquility by coloring in these beautiful illustrations of trees. Coloring provides a gateway to a peaceful state of mind: it has become a form of art therapy, as well as a way to help you explore your creativity.

Here Melissa Launay’s stunning hand-drawn artworks draw you into the natural world. More than 90 trees are portrayed, from the cherry trees with its ethereal blossom to the steadfast oak, and from the simple apple tree to the exotic dragon tree, all in intricate detail, ready for you to color in.

My Thoughts

I love using coloring as a way to relax and reduce the worries in your life.  I personally enjoy doing bible art journaling and illustrating scriptures.  But not everyone desire to develop their skills in illustrating themselves something and ultimately prefers to just be creative in adding some color to an already designed page. 

So this book is perfect for coloring the already designed illustrations by artist Melissa Launay. 

As you can see the images are all about trees.  You will in fact have more than 90 trees illustrated in this book.   Personally, I think it is a bit too much.  I would prefer a variety of illustrations like flowers, mountains, animals and so on.   The whole book has a theme based on trees.   If you like this then you will not have an issue with it.  Mind you trees are peaceful and you can relax quite a bit under the shade of a tree during the summer time.   But I prefer having a variety like I said.  In the end, there will be a lot of green colored pencils that will be use in your box and the rest not as much.   I guess you could be creative a bit and do leaves of different colors if you desire so – like a purple tree for example.

If you know someone who loves trees and enjoy spending time coloring at their own pace, this book is perfect for them.  It could also make a great gift to someone who enjoy coloring for relaxation.

Color Yourself to Tranquility is available for purchase at your favorite bookstore, even on amazon.ca and amazon.com.

 

Disclaimer: Thanks to Thomas Allen for sending me the above mentioned books for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

LEGO DC Comics Super Heroes The Awesome Guide

LEGO DC Comics Super Heroes The Awesome Guide – Discover the LEGO DC Comics Super Heroes Universe
Published at DK

About the book

Discover everything there is to know about the LEGO® DC Super Heroes and Super-Villians, and add an exclusive Wonder Woman™ minifigure to your collection.

Ever wondered where Superman™ got his powers, or how The Flash became so speedy? Or why Wonder Woman™ flies an Invisible Jet, and why Batman™ has so many cool vehicles? All the answers and more can be found in this totally awesome guide to LEGO® DC Comics Super Heroes.

Discover the origins of the Justice League™ and their secret identities. Gasp at the amazing superpowers and learn all about their incredible collections of gadgets and vehicles.

Who will win the fight between good and evil?

It's time to find out!

My Thoughts

Do you have a child who really love the LEGO DC Comics sets and enjoy learning more about the super heroes in the DC Universe?  If so I just have the book for you.  This gem of a book will provide all the information on the DC Heroes with the twist of LEGO mini figures.

Not only will you child be able to learn more about the greatest heroes and where they came from but he/she will be able to read more about the villains themselves.   A fun two pages spread will allow him/her to discover who is his/her alter ego by answering quick questions and following the arrows.  A complete list of the DC sets in LEGO is also included at the end of the book. 

The best part I find is that this book contains an exclusive minifigure – exclusive as in not available anywhere else by the way….  exclusive as in unique…. exclusive as is priceless.   This minifigure is only available on the regular edition of the book – not the library binding version so be careful when purchasing…  This minifigure is Wonder Woman and it also has her golden lasso.  So if you desire to possess a unique minifigure – you need to purchase this book!

The book is perfect for kids (and adults).  But I find it could be a good incentive for reluctant readers who loves anything about DC and LEGO.  I find that in order to be interesting a book needs to be about something we enjoy reading about.   And this book contains information about DC Super Heroes and Villains as well as LEGO minifigures images.

This would make a great gift for a birthday or Christmas.

The LEGO DC Comics Super Heroes The Awesome Guide is available for purchase at your favorite bookstore, even on amazon.ca and amazon.com.

  

Disclaimer: Thanks to DK Canada for allowing me to promote these books. I was not monetarily compensated for this post . Please note that the post was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Coinhole

Coinhole – The Tabletop Coin-Bouncing Party Game
From Hasbro

About the game

It's the tabletop coin-bouncing party game! Players bounce the included Coinhole coins onto a table as they attempt to sink them through the Coinhole board hole. Multiple gameplays allow players to compete individually or in teams. With the Coinhole game, turn a tabletop into an instant party!
• Includes 2 Coinhole boards, 4 Coinhole coins, carrying case, and instructions.
• The tabletop coin-bouncing party game
• Multiple ways to play
• Compete individually or in teams
• Excellent for parties
• Bounce the Coinhole coins and try to sink them in the game board hole
• Ages 8 and up
• For 2 or more players.

My Thoughts

I wasn’t too sure about this game.   My husband thought it would be a great challenging game for get-together or to play with our kids.  So when we received it I was curious to say the least.  And yet this simple game could be the fun during a get-together with friends or challenge your kids and spouse to see who in the family is the best. 

Mind you this game comes with two board and four coins (two coins per side), so if you plan to do a bit of competition with the family, you will have to take turns.

Three games can be played with it…

Relay with two teams: The goal of this game is to the the first team where ever team player bounces a coin into the hole.   You will have to form two even teams and stand on the same side of the table as your team.  Players will have to attempt to bounce their coin through the hole as quickly as possible.  The team who finish first, then needs to place their board on top of the other team with the holes aligning.    The other team gets one chance to sink the coin through the top hole.  If they miss, they loose the game.  If they can make it, then the opposing team has to make the shot.  This will go on until one team misses.

Team coinhole – 2 teams:  The objective of this game is to be the team with the most hole sinks or coins on the board.  The first team to 21 points win.  This game is played with two teams of two players with one teammate stading on the opposite side across from their partner. If the coin lands in the hole you score three points.  If the coin land on the board you score one point.  

Speed Chase: This particular game is for more advanced players.   The goal is to win everyone’s coin at the table by bouncing coin into the hole and be the last player standing.  This game is players with four players.  Each player begins with one coin.  In this game, when you sink the coin in the hole you pass the board around the table.  If the boards catch up to each other, you have to stack them up and tins the coin through the top hole.   If you miss you are out of the game.  If you are able to do it, they you pass the stacked boards to anyone of your choosing.  You pursue the game until only one person remain.

I think this game has potential.   I am pretty sure my husband will come up with other ideas of games for it.   Still this game can be challenging and stressful at the same time.   The competition in it can make this game a great party game with friends.

Coinhole is available for purchase at your favorite store, even on amazon.ca and amazon.com.

Disclaimer: Thanks to Hasbro Canada for sending me the above mentioned product for review purposes . I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Wonder Woman

Wonder Woman – The Ultimate Guide to the Amazon Warrior
Published at DK

About the book

Celebrate 75 years of the legendary Amazon princess and explore all aspects of the world of Wonder Woman™, from the Golden Age to the Rebirth story line.

DC Comics: Wonder Woman: The Ultimate Guide to the Amazon Warrior showcases stunning Wonder Woman comic artwork and examines iconic characters as well as key issues and story lines. Packed with information on allies, enemies, locations, and much more, DC Comics: Wonder Woman: The Ultimate Guide to the Amazon Warrior is a must-have book for fans of DC Comics, Wonder Woman comics and characters, and the Justice League of America.

My Thoughts

This past year, we have been blessed with numerous good movies in theaters and one of them is definitively the Wonder Woman movie.   I thought it was a great movie to see and I think that Wonder Woman is a great comic book character.   But how does someone who is not into comics that much can learn more about this specific character?   How can a young girl who desire to learn more about Wonder Woman can do it without spending a ton of money in older comic books issues?   Well search no longer because DK has published a marvelous book where you will be able to read and discover all you need to know about Wonder Woman.

In this book, you will learn about the key themes and storylines in the comics as well as discover detailed character studies and much more.  The book provides information about Wonder Woman as well as her allies and enemies, her history, her mother, the Amazonian warrior, her apparel, and more.   Honestly I could provide a detailed list of what is covered in the book but there is so much in it that it would be long to write.   However, the following ages (in comic books a new series is referred to ages depending of the time period it was published): Golden Age (WWII period of time), Silver Age (late 50s to 60s), Bronze Age (70s and 80s), Dark Age (90s), Modern Age (2000s), New Age (after Flashpoint event (2010s).   With the reboot of the series which happened a few times through the years, it makes sense to divide the book into the specific ages.

The pages are pack with facts, images and information about the favorite Amazon of all time.  In it, you will be able to travel through the ages of the publications of Wonder Woman comics and learn the differences between them.  

This book is perfect for anyone who loves Wonder Woman.  I would also like to highlight the fact that this book could be a great for a child who is struggling in reading but loves Wonder Woman.  I believe that putting the appropriate book in a child’s hand who is reluctant in reading can help tremendously in developing the love of reading.   This book can be a great one for someone who loves the character and desire to learn more about her.

Wonder Woman The Ultimate Guide to the Amazon Warrior is available for purchase at your favorite bookstore, even on amazon.ca and amazon.com.

 

Disclaimer: Thanks to DK Canada for allowing me to promote these books. I was not monetarily compensated for this post . Please note that the post was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Scribe Bible

The journaling Bible community keeps growing every day.  What is a journaling Bible you might wonder?  Well essentially, it is a bible with margins on the side of the page where you can jolt notes, prayers, illustrate a scripture and much more.   The people who know me would testify that I am illustrating the scriptures in my bible but a journaling Bible can be more than that.   There are a wide variety of journaling Bible on the market – some with margins on one side, others with margins on both side, even an interleaved version where you get a full blank page for each page of the Bible.   You will find version with drawings that you can color in and other ones where you can let you creativity flow completely.    Today I would like to present you a new journaling Bible that has come on the market – the Scribe Bible which features The Message.

Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to review The Message Canvas Bible which contains illustration to color in as well as black areas for jolting down notes, prayers, or do your own “illumination” (illustration of a scripture). The Scribe Bible is different because there are no illustrations already included in it.  This one could stretch the artist in you in many ways as you are not limited with already printed illustrations.   However, for someone who do not desire to color in the Bible, you will have plenty of spaces to write your own thoughts, the impact that scriptures had on you, prayers for your loved ones and much more.

The Scribe Bible comes in two different format – the leather-look with brown linen weave and the hardcover dark walnut.   Both are great and it would only depend on your on what style you prefer.   

As I looked at the pages in these Bibles, I decided to compared them with my ESV Journaling Bible and a NIV Journaling Bible that I am working as a special project.  As you can see on the pictures below, the color of the pages are similar – light beige.   I have also measured the size of the margins and all three bibles are somewhat similar (about 2”).   As for the lines in the margins,  the ones in the Scribe Bible are a bit darker than the other two Bibles.  Nevertheless, I think there is a lot of potential for The Scribe Bible for journaling and/or illustrating.

Note that the top Bible with the girl holding the bow and arrow is the NIV journaling Bible, the middle one is The Scribe Bible, and the one below is the ESV journaling Bible.   As for the other picture the bottom one is The Scribe Bible.

On the back of the case where these bibles can be protected, a scripture has been written.   Exodus 17:14 says “God said to Moses, “Write this up as a reminder…”  I think this scripture is very true in many ways.  Since I started bible journaling I find I am able to recall scripture more easily and rapidly than before.  In a way illustrating scriptures helps me to memorize them and hide them in my heart.  

The Scribe Bible also comes with a guideline to help you to start a chain reaction that would affect all the areas in your life  marriage, parenting, friendships, workplace, and more.   First you are encouraged to read the contemporary version of the scripture.   After you have done this, you can record notes and prayers (and even illustrate if you want to) using the margins.   You can also pray as the Holy Spirit inspire you.   Finally, after you have done this, you will have the ability to remember God’s faithfulness in your life when you take the time to look through your notes and prayers in the months or years to come.

In the end, this bible can become a Legacy Bible for your family in the future as your children or grand-children have the possibility to see how God spoke to you and how you prayed for your loved ones.

The Scribe Bible would make a great gifts for anyone on your Christmas list – mom, dad, children, friends, … 

The Scribe Bible is available for purchase at your favorite bookstore, even on amazon.ca and amazon.com.

 

 

Disclaimer: Thanks to Tyndale for sending me the book for review purpose. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.