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Hope With Eating Disorders – Book Review

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front cover of book Hope with Eating disorders - plain white background with text and big yellow butterfly.

Title: Hope with Eating Disorders, 2nd Edition
Author: Lynn Crilly
Genre: Health, Mental Health, Self-Help, Family
Publisher: Hammersmith Books
ISBN: 9781781611456
Publication date: February 19th 2019
Price: £15.99
Availability: Paperback, eBook

The Blurb

In this second edition, which maintains Lynn Crilly’s warm, non-judgemental, family-friendly approach, the more recently recognised eating disorders have been included, the range of treatment options – both mainstream and alternative – has been fully reviewed and revised, and the impact of social and technological change has been fully accommodated, with the role of social media for good and ill to the fore. New case histories highlight key issues, and throughout all references to research and stats have been reviewed and updated. Men’s eating disorders are now addressed by contributing author Dr Russell Delderfield.

Since originally writing Hope with Eating Disorders, Lynn has experienced seven years of counselling practice and seven years of her own daughter’s recovery from an eating disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder, underpinning her realistic insight into what recovery actually is and means. Hope with Eating Disorders is a practical, supportive guide for anyone helping someone with an eating disorder be they a family member, teacher, sports coach, workplace colleague or friend.

TheAuthor

Since the first edition of Hope with Eating Disorders was published in 2012, eating disorders have become more widely recognised and treatments have progressed, as have attitudes to this most dangerous of mental health problems.

Lynn Crilly became a counsellor when one of her beautiful daughters fell into the evil trap of Anorexia Nervosa and OCD, at the age of 13. Lynn explored every avenue and source of help, but they were not right for her daughter or them as a family. Watching her daughter disappear before her eyes, and the huge impact it was having on the rest of her family, especially her twin sister, Lynn felt she had no option but to educate herself and learn as much as she could about eating disorders and mental illness. Some years on, a lot of hard work, determination and many tears shed, and with the unconditional support from close family, friends, our GP and their school, their beautiful girl is now recovered, enjoying life to the full and Lynn’s family are stronger than ever together.

With her new found knowledge, personal experience and most of all her passion and love; Lynn has been able to use her gift to help others.

Lynn Crilly lives in Surrey with her husband and their twin daughters. Through using her unique and very effective form of counselling she has now established herself as one of the country’s leading private therapists, working with people from all walks of life, ages and genders. She is admired for her passion and understanding – something she attributes to the strength and loyalty of her family and friends, with whom she spends as much time as possible.

My Verdict

This is such a well written book on what is often thought as a taboo subject.

It covers everything from all the different kinds of eating disorders, how to recognise an eating disorder, how to approach someone you think may have an eating disorder, how to support them and find the proper medical help they need.

It give in depth detail about the therapies that are available and talks about self help techniques. The book describes how eating disorders can be connected to other mental health problems and how to go about tackling them.

The book looks at all the myths about eating disorders and discusses the facts.

In fact this is a very concise, detailed book which explains everything you need to know about eating disorders and gives real hope in tackling them and recovery. It’s a fantastic resource for someone who cares for a person with an eating disorder and for those who suspect they may have a problem.

The facts and details are interspersed with real life accounts and experiences. The whole book is set out in an easy to digest form.

Find Out More

Author website: https://lynncrilly.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LynnCrilly

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HOPEwithMentalHealth/

Disclosure: I was given an e-copy of this book so that I could write a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Dinosaur Craft Book

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The Dinosaur Craft Book by Laura Minter and Tia Williams.

A meteoric craft book from the amazing award-winning bloggers Little Button Diaries


Front cover of the Dinosaur Craft Book, 15 Things a Dino fan can't do without
  • Paperback: 54 Pages
  • Authors: Laura Minter and Tia Williams
  • ISBN: 978178944841
  • Publisher: GMC Publications
  • Publication Date: November 2018
  • Price: £5.99 on Amazon

The Blurb

Out of the pre-historic mists emerges two mighty terrors that will stupefy and astound! It’s the award wining Little Button Diaries bloggers and crafting mums Laura Minter and Tia Williams who return this season with an amazing children’s craft book for all dino-mad kids out there – The Dinosaur Craft Book!

These pages have all the items your little budding palaeontologists and dinosaur hunters could dream of – whether they want to study dinosaurs or BE dinosaurs this book has it all. Containing 15 different dinosaur themes projects to make, the Dinosaur Craft Book will get your little ones crafting and creating in no time. Aimed and boys and girls aged 3+ years all of the projects can be made either from readily available items or from easy-to-source materials. Parents can have little to no crafting experience to help. As well as dinosaur costumes to wear and essential accessories,t here is also an epic Volcano Cake, perfect for any Party-saurus! Projects include: Dinosaur Paws, Pterodactyl Wings, and adorable snugglesaurus Cushion, a Spino Dino Cape, a Fundy Triceratops Pen Pot and a matching Magnetic dinosaur themed Pen Case.

So get ready to hunt down some terrible lizards with The Dinosaur Craft Book because there’s a Giganotosaurus amount of fun to be had with this book.

Our Verdict

Having reviewed some Little Button Diaries Craft books before, like The Pirate Craft Book and The Super Hero Craft Book. We were keen to take a look at the Dinosaur Craft Book.

As usual with these books the features we love such as big bright colourful photos and easy step-by-step instructions were on every page. However, with this book there are a bigger number of activities where the children can get involved. 

My Little Man is super keen to make a Papier-mâché mini jurassic land. This looks super fun and doesn’t need loads of materials that you probably don’t have lying around. The only thing you might need to buy is some green felt.

For younger children the footprint stamps look super easy and fun and great for the little ones to get involved.

I was taken back to the 70s with the nail and string art. This one is a little more complicated but I’d loved to make a board for my older girls to have a go at ‘stringing’ a picture. 

As always, the book ends with some great party ideas including decorations, games and food and fabulous Volcano Cake. Brilliant if you are planning a Dinosaur themed party. 

Disclosure: I was sent this book to review which I have done honestly.

Linking up with Talk of the Town from Jera’s Jamboree and Bookboodle

Teach Your Child Meditation

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Teach Your Child Meditation, by Lisa Roberts. Book review.

Front cover - Teach Your Child Meditation

The Blurb

Even Children need to learn ways to calm and centre themselves. With its hands-on exercises, Teach Your Child Meditation gives kids ages 5-12 important tools to relieve anxiety, cultivate mindfulness, and gain confidence. More than 70 illustrated exercises, which all have fun names like ‘Funny Bunny Breath’ and Elephant Shower’, are organised to highlight their special benefits: Choose from such categories as ‘Hocus Pocus, I Can Focus,’ ‘The Chill Zone,’ Stress Busters’ or a sections with group exercises that teachers and parents alike can use.

Whether the goal is for a child to sleep better, concentrate before a big test of game, or enjoy some much-needed relaxation, this guide helps anyone who loves an plays with children to introduce them to the many benefits of meditation.

About the Author

Lisa Roberts is a registered yoga teacher and a registered children’s yoga teacher, and holds a certificate in children’s yoga therapy. She has worked in the paediatric wellness field since 2006 and currently runs the inpatient yoga program at the St. Louis Children’s Hospital. Lisa offers professional training teaching kids Adaptive and Accessible yoga for paediatric professionals, parents and yoga teachers. In addition to Teach Your Child meditation, she has developed a line of teaching tools for paediatric yoga teachers, parents, and kids.

Why We Love This Book

I started teaching my older kids meditation when they were young to help them sleep and release their stresses. It was natural for me to continue this with my younger kids  years later.

I truly believe that all children should learn at least a few mediation techniques as it is a really useful tool to have at all times in life.

What I loved about this book is it’s simplicity. Each Section gives you the focus of the meditations and why they should be done. For example, breathing, focus, chilling, energy equalising, connecting and stress busting meditations. Then the exercises are set out in a real simple format spread over only two pages. It makes it so easy to just get stuck in.

Balloon Breath: What is balloon breath? How does it help? Simple Steps for kids.
Balloon Breath

Balloon Breath

What is Balloon Breath?

Balloon Breath is a breathing technique that slows down the breath while encouraging full and deep inhales and exhales to cam the mind and body.

How Does it Help?

Balloon Breath is great to use as a quick exercise to centre and calm oneself during activities or to refocus before or during class. Linking physical movement to the breath encourages mind-body concentration and self -regulation. The physical movement of raising the arms up overhead in this exercise allows more space in the torso to accommodate fuller and deeper breaths

Simple Steps for Kids

  • Begin sitting comfortably, either on a chair or on the floor with the hands resting on the thighs. Relax the shoulders, arms and face.
  • Or, begin standing, feet hip-width distance apart, arms resting by the torso, shoulders and face relaxed.
  • Begin to breathe in and out through the nose
  • Inhale, sweeping your arms up overhead. imagine you are filling up a giant balloon.
  • Exhale, slowly lowering your arms to resting your lap or by your side.
  • Repeat for several rounds.
  • Get creative: Imagine the colour of your balloon as you inflate it.Does thinking of a certain colour make you feel more relaxed? Visualise releasing your balloon into the sky as you exhale. Where does your balloon go?

Meditation and mindfulness is very popular these days and if you are thinking that it’s something that your child would never do then this book will teach you otherwise. In just five minutes you can make your child more relaxed or less stressed with these simple exercises that any child would find easy to acheive.

The book contains 70 of these fun and so simple ways to help teach your child the basics of meditation. They will learn how to control their breathing in stressful situations and how to relax when worked up, plus much more. 

Teach Your Child Meditation is dedicated to those who dare to teach beyond the mind and awaken the soul. 

Lucy At Home UK parenting blogger

Disclosure: I was very kindly sent a copy of this book to review, which I have done honestly. This post may also contain affiliate links.

24 Hours in Nowhere – Book review

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book cover for 24 hours in Nowhere, a desert background with a silhouette of children in foreground
24 Hours in Nowhere by Dusti Bowling

The Blurb

When you come from Nowhere, can you ever really make it anywhere?

Welcome to Nowhere, Arizona, the least liveable town in the United States. For Gus, a bright 13-year-old with dreams of getting out and going to college, life there is made even worse by Bo Taylor, Nowhere’s biggest bully. When Bo tries to force Gus to eat a dangerously spiny cactus, Rossi Scott, one of the best racers in Nowhere, comes to his rescue – but in return she had to give Bo her prized dirt bike.

Determined to buy it back, Gus agree to go searching for gold in Dead Frenchman Mine, joined by an old friend, on of Bo’s cronies, and Rossi herself. As they race to find the treasure before the most important biking competition Nowhere has ever had, they bond over shared stories of how hard life in Nowhere is – and they realise this adventure just may be their way out. Author Dusti Bowling (Insignificant Events in the Life of  Cactus) returns to the desert to create a gripping story about friendship, hope, and finding the power we all have within ourselves.

My Review

This lovely story is aimed at young teens who can all relate to friendship troubles and bullies. I loved reviewing Dusti Bowlings last book, The Insignificant Event in the Life of a Cactus, so I was happy to be able to review this book. I think they are both suitable for my girls aged 11 and 13 years. Boo has already read The Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus and enjoyed it.

As with her previous book, Dusti has left her chapters short and easy to read. More complicated words are introduced in a dictionary form. For example;

Abyss: a deep or seemingly endless chasm

These are not really a learning aid, they are presented as part of the story and the main character’s personality.

The four children undertake a difficult and dangerous expedition into a cave which collapses. The journey of their hopes and dreams is just as difficult and it’s interesting as they work out the answers.

If your child would love to join Gus and the Gang on their adventure in Nowhere the book is now available on Amazon in hardback edition for £12.99

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book to review for free but all thoughts and opinions are my own. The Amazon link is an affiliate link which will not cost you anything to click but may earn me a few pennies, so thank you.

cadburys gifts

Unseen Academicals – Terry Pratchett Review

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Way back around 1994 I found a Graphic Book in the staff room of the Elderly Persons Home in which I was working. It belonged to a fellow workmate and when he caught me reading it he kindly loaned it too me. The Book was ‘The Light Fantastic’ the second book of Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series. I loved it and went on to read the first book ‘The Colour of Magic.’ And so it began, my love of Sir Terry Pratchett and his beloved Discworld.

I read Unseen Academicals some years later, but along with the blur of all the other books I was never able to pick a favourite. When logging into my Audible Account last month I decided to spend my monthly credit on the audible book of Unseen Academicals. It took a while to whither down my list and get around to listening to it, but when I did it didn’t take long to finish it.

I do love my audio books, it’s great to be able to crochet and listen at the same time, it’s like completing two hobbies at once. I love the story telling but this is the first book that I’ve listened to that is described as a drama. I wasn’t sure that I’d enjoy it but even though it didn’t stick to the actual story it was a fun listen. If you are not a Terry Pratchett fan then you would enjoy the drama. If you are a true fan then you may not like the changes to the book and characters, and even feel that it’s not in true Pratchett style. It’s been a long while since I actually read the book so now I have to the urge to re-read it to fill in the gaps.

Unseen Academicals

Sir Terry Pratchett loved to losely base his Discworld stories on Shakespearian ideas. Wyrd Sisters draws on Macbeth, Lords and Ladies on A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Unseen Academicals on Romeo and Juliette. 

But there is no Romeo, he is actually a footballer called Trev! 

Here’s the blurb from the book.

Football has come to the ancient city of Ankh-Morpork. And now, the wizards of Unseen University must win a football match, without using magic, so they’re in the mood for trying everything else. This is not going to be a gentleman’s game.

The prospect of the Big Match draws in a street urchin with a wonderful talent for kicking a tin can, a maker of jolly good pies, a dim but beautiful young woman, who might just turn out to be the greatest fashion model there has ever been, and the mysterious Mr Nutt (and no one knows anything much about Mr Nutt, not even Mr Nutt). As the match approaches, four lives are entangled and changed for ever. 

Because the thing about football – the important thing about football – is that it is not just about football.

Here we go! Here we go! Here we go!

My Thoughts

Although the drama did not stick faithfully to the original book I did enjoy the presentation.  David Jason was the narrator with Jon Culshaw, Matthew Horne, Josie Lawrence and Jaime Winstone voicing the characters. It made me chuckle out loud at times and I really got in to the football match which was so well presented you could feel as though you were there watching. Although to be honest, I’m rather glad I wasn’t. I certainly wouldn’t be buying anything off ‘Cut me own throat Dibbler!’

I would like to listen to another drama on Audible, I’m just not sure I will listen to another Discworld one. It was fun, but I don’t like that it did not give you the full Pratchett experience.

Audible

I currently have a credit sitting in my account and I haven’t yet made up my mind on what to use it on. I’m not sure if I want to go for a psychological thriller, which is my usual choice, or to go for something different. It’s a bit of a dilemma for me at the moment, but it’s a nice dilemma as I know I’ll be looking forward to plugging in my ear phones and getting stuck in a new book.

Some of the books offered to me this month are:

The Girl Before by JP Delaney

Sometimes I Lie by Alice Feeney

Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin

Which one would you choose? 

Have you ever tried Audible? You can sign up now for a free trial! 

Disclosure: I am an affiliate for Audible and this post contains affiliate links. They won’t cost you any extra to click but may earn me a few pennies. Thanks.

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