Book Review: Total Blueprint For World Domination

Total Blueprint For World Domination

By: Jolene Stockman

Target big dreams and build a plan to achieve them! You've got one life, one shot, and all the power to make it happen. Get ready to dream big and live big. It's all up to you. And it starts now.

Total Blueprint for World Domination (17,000 words) is a powerful life-planning book for teens that will inspire. The book lets readers:
*Explore hidden passions and find direction.
*Create heart-pounding, toe-tingling goals.
*Recruit an army for support.
*Design a dream world and make it happen.
*Achieve world domination step-by-step.

Full of tips and tricks for tackling life's challenges, Total Blueprint for World Domination is a book that will motivate readers to take their life to the next level.

Anything is possible. And anything is possible for you. Believe it. Total Blueprint for World Domination takes you from this very second to your greatest dreams. So, are you ready?

**** 4/5 stars!  I really liked this book. Although it is geared towards teens, I totally felt like it applied to my life now. This book has great positive energy and is so motivating!! Stockman does a great job of walking the reader through setting up a life plan/goal and then showing how to accomplish that plan/goal.

I am definitely going to be reading this again in about 6 months when I am ready to re-evaluate my life plans and goals!!

Some of my favorite quotes:

"Your Personal  Vision

Start by thinking about what makes you Super You.  Ask yourself:
-What am I good at?
-What do I feel strongly about?
-What do I like doing?
-What makes me special?
-What are my passions?
-What do I want to do with my life?"

"Make your goals challenging, but possible!"

"Enthusiasm is infectious - give it to everyone you meet!"

"I will create win-win relationships by being true to myself, and appreciating others.  I will learn about myself through my relationships."

"Your intentions are like your personal vision, they are just for you.  So when you write them, be honest, kind, and true."

 This book really got me thinking about my life and my life plan.  It would have been great to have this when I was a teen so that I had more of a direction going through high school and college but I'm glad that I now have it as a resource to help direct and focus my life moving forward.

I recommend this book for teens and adults alike but caution that there are a few light swears.

I will be reading and reviewing Jolene Stockman's "The Jelly Bean Crisis" and  "Jawbreaker: Unlock the (U)niverse" and then will probably end with an author interview.  Read along with me so that you can submit any interview questions you may have.



Have you already read Total Blueprint For World Domination?  Comment and let me know what you thought.


Follow At The Beech House on Facebook. 

 

One Year Out Of Work

On October 5, 2012 I found out that I was going to be laid off as an Inside Sales Account Manager at UPS Freight.  I had worked there for just less than 5 years.  November 30, 2012 was my last day of work there.  It has now been one year since I have been out of work and I thought that I would share some of my reflections with you.

Not having my own income is suffocating.  I used to be able to run to the dollar store or Smith's two or three times each month and spend $20 and it was no big deal.  I could go out to lunch a few times each month and  get take out/eat out a few times each month and it was fine.  It was my money and if I wanted to spend a little, I would.  I wouldn't consider myself a big spender but I do miss being able to buy holiday decorations and whatever else without feeling like I have to clear it through my husband.  I do have savings that I have been able to use but I don't want to spend any more of it.  From here on out, I'll have to beg money from my husband and hope he gives me some.  (He totally will give me some when we have extra in any given month.  He really is a great guy and not too much of a money grinch.)

Being a stay at home mom is awesome.  I love being able to be there for my kids and being a part of their lives.  I love being able to do play dates, go to the park, and volunteer at Talon's preschool.  Snuggling with my kids is one of my favorite things in the whole world.  It's nice being with them in the morning when they are pleasant instead of just at night for a couple of hours when they are tired, hungry, and just plain grumpy.  It's nice being able to take my kids to the zoo and the aquarium and all those fun places during the week when it is less crowded.  I get to take naps most afternoons!

Being a stay at home mom is terrible.  There is never enough time in the day and yet the days drag on and on.  I get sick of my kids every single day and I can't  wait until my husband gets home at about 7:30is each night to help me take care of the them.  I feel trapped like I can't go anywhere, despite being home and having no other obligations, because it is so miserable to haul the kids around places.  I feel super unproductive so often.  Being covered in other people's bodily fluids gets old fast.

There are a lot of other perks, too.  I like that when I am sick I can just stay at home and not have to worry about sick time or missing too much work.  I love being at home during the day so that I can help others by doing things like bringing meals to new moms, which was super hard to do when I would get home from work at 5:30.  Being able to wear my sweat or yoga pants all day long long is one of the best things ever.  I can eat real food, snack, and bake cookies whenever I want.  I have time to do random stuff like blog.

I really do enjoy staying at home and the benefits far outweigh the bad stuff.  I do plan on going back to school and going back to work eventually, but for now, this is me.

Do you stay at home?  Do you work?  Share some of your thoughts and experiences!

Find out what's going on At The Beech House by following us on Facebook. 

Recipe: Bone Broth

Bone broth is super easy to make! Apparently, it is one of the most healthful foods out there, too. I have been making mine with turkey carcasses left over from Thanksgiving but it can be made with chicken, beef, etc.

The recipe is pretty loose and it is better to make the bone broth from what you have on hand, than not at all. 

I chop my veggies smaller than they need to be because I plan in eating them with some of the broth. You'll especially want to do this if you are going to be making soup with the vegetables included. 

You just throw it all in the crockpot, fill it up with water, and turn it on. 

Yummy soup!

Ingredients:

2 carrots (I use a handful or two of minis)

1 medium onion

2 celeries

3-4 sprigs fresh parsley 

1-2 sprigs fresh thyme

1-2 cloves garlic

1 bay leaf

1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

Salt and pepper

Water

Put the bones/carcass in the crockpot. Roughly chop the carrots and celery and then slice and quarter the onion. Throw the veggies and garlic in the crockpot. Pull the leaves of the herbs right off into the pot. Add the bay leaf, vinegar, and any salt and pepper you might want (I usually add just a bit of pepper and wait to add the rest later).  Fill the crockpot with water leaving about 1-1/2 inch space at the top so it doesn't boil over. Turn it on low. Leave for 8-10 hours turning carcass every couple of hours.  (Warning: Your house will smell delicious!!!)

When it is done cooking, strain the broth with a fine wire strainer into a pitcher then pour the broth into your storage containers. Refrigerate until cold, scoop off the layer of fat, then seal and store in the freezer.

-The first time I made bone broth, I only used onion, carrots, celery, and parsley and it was still great!!

What do you put in your bone broth to make it delicious?




References:
100 Days of Real Food, Primally Inspired, Weed'em & Reap, Chow

Stay up to date with At The Beech House by following us on Facebook!