*DISCLOSURE* Thank you to the publisher for providing product samples in order to facilitate this post. All thoughts are strictly my own.
Check out some of our favorite book ideas for Mother's Day this year:
The Friendship Series by Shari Leid
We all have friendships that we have maintained over the years. But now more than ever it’s easy to lose connection with those who you care about—and the uncomfortable feeling of being disconnected from our friends is all too common.
The 50/50 Friendship Flow offers a conscious path to not simply maintain friendships, but to deepen those relationships to support connection and bring joy and a sense of purpose to both of you.
As you read The 50/50 Friendship Flow you will discover
That everyone you meet is both your teacher and your student
A feeling of wellbeing and happiness as you deepen your friendships
The power of the one-on-one meeting
The purpose and impact that each person brings into your life
The 50/50 Friendship Flow encourages each of us to give one another the gift of time. It reveals the power of sitting down one-on-one with a friend for the sole purpose of letting her know the positive impact that she has made in your life.
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We’ve all had unique—and often messy—life journeys. You know … the good, the bad, and the ugly. But what if your “messy” life experiences have hidden meanings—that if uncovered could help you have mind-blowing insights about your life’s purpose, and deepen your friendships?
In this second book in The Friendship Series, life coach Shari Leid chronicles a round of dates with her girlfriends where she asks the question “What is the mess that became your message?” And the responses are astounding!
Make Your Mess Your Message encourages each of us to not only give one another the gift of time but to have meaningful life-changing conversations to deepen your friendships and gain insights into your own life journey.
Click 'Look Inside’ or download a free sample above to begin reading today.
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Easy Does It by Brooke St. James is the first of nine full-length
novels and one Christmas-themed novella (book 2.5) in her popular, multi-generational romance series, the Bank Street Stories.
Easy Does It introduces readers to Tess Cohen, a 23-year-old
aspiring artist with dreams of painting beach scenes. She longed to
leave the small town of Starks, Louisiana, and head for California
to make a go of it as an artist. Instead, she compromised with her
parents and decided to spend the summer of 1968 on Galveston
Island with her younger sister, Abigail.
Once the extended summer vacation ends, Abigail would return
to college in the fall and Tess would finally settle down for good
in Starks. But then a chance encounter with ‘Easy’ Billy Castro
changed everything.
Billy had a troubled past and was orphaned at the age of 16. No
stranger to conflict, he’d been using his natural talent for fighting
to scrape together a living collecting debts for a local gambling
organization. When boxing legend Marvin Jones finds out Billy has
roughed up one of his fighters, he presents him with an opportunity
to turn his life around.
Thankfully, Tess also sees his potential, and the love that grows
between them that summer will only serve as a catalyst for his
drive to become a world champion boxer.
Brooke St. James unfolds this timeless story at a leisurely Texas
pace, and Galveston Island serves as the perfect beach background in a love story that pulls out all the stops.
Test your knowledge of the British royal family—from fun facts like the names of the Queen’s corgis, to the heartbreaking story of the late Princess Diana—with this ultimate trivia book perfect for fans of The Crown or anyone royally obsessed!
From Queen Elizabeth II to Prince George, there’s a lot of news to keep up with regarding the royal family. This fantastic compendium of fascinating facts and stories about the British monarchy will keep you in the know about your favorite modern royals. From iconic weddings, fashion moments, philanthropic events, and the birth of new royals, this book has the latest and most interesting tidbits perfect for any enthusiast. Inside you’ll find the royal scoop, including:
The official line of succession to the throne
The royal family’s favorite designers and artists
Amazing details about coronations, weddings, and other ceremonies
Jaw-dropping facts about the Crown Jewels
And much more!
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Pour yourself a drink and discover your latest true crime obsession with this cocktail book that pairs deliciously chilling cocktails with the infamous true crime stories that inspired them.
From terrifying serial killers to baffling cold cases and secretive cults, murderinos can’t get enough of true crime. Now, you can have yet another way to dive into these horrifyingly true stories with a first-of-its-kind cocktail book that gives a new meaning to the phrase “bad and boozy.” This cocktail book is your go-to resource for true crime info and delightfully boozy drinks, including:
Fugitive Fizz
Sazer-Ax Murderer
The Perfect Lime (Mojito)
Amityville Amaretto
Colada Confessions
In Cold Blood Orange
And More!
Mixology and Murder is the perfect gift for any true crime junkie who knows that, sometimes, the best way to deal with the excitement of a serial killer finally getting caught or the frustration of finding out that case is still unsolved is a good, strong drink.
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Navigate the worlds of cannabis and parenting with this essential guide for women interested in learning more about THC, dispensaries, micro-dosing, edibles, and how to incorporate it all into a healthy family life.
With national marijuana legalization on the horizon, more and more mothers are looking for information about how to safely and responsibly use cannabis. Known as “weed moms,” these trailblazers are breaking down the social stigma surrounding cannabis and parenting, creating a modern culture all their own.
Weed Mom is the first and only book for these mothers, celebrating how weed can be a safe and healthy way to relax, destress, and improve their social lives and relationships. As mothers find themselves on the frontline of a societal shift, this book is more timely than ever. Packed with information for both the seasoned and first-time user, this book offers friendly and practical advice including:
the basics of THC and CBD
what to look for at the dispensary
tips and tricks for various intake methods
micro-dosing
cannabis-friendly talking points for family and friends
how to use cannabis to improve your romantic relationships
and much more!
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Practice self-love, embrace mindfulness, and build a positive daily ritual with inspiring prompts, meditations, and reflections just for Black women.
You’re aware of the way you talk to others, but how do you talk to yourself? Is your self-talk in need of a kindness boost? Improve your self-esteem and love the woman that you are with these powerful affirmations. A celebration of Black female identity, this book contains a huge dose of confidence in a small, convenient package. Inside you’ll find:
Quotes to empower you and fuel you for success
Reflective prompts that challenge you to live as your most authentic self
Inspiring words of wisdom on today’s Black female experience
These words and practices of self-care will encourage you to honor your true power, live life to the fullest, and show strength in everything you do.
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Celebrate your favorite songs, performances, and music video moments with this official Britney Spears coloring book.
From “…Baby One More Time” to the Las Vegas stage, there’s no shortage of iconic Britney Spears moments. Now, color your way through the late 1990s to today with these gorgeous coloring pages based on the best of Britney. This book includes classic song lyrics, unforgettable album covers, stunning performance looks, and more!
The Official Britney Spears Coloring Book is the ultimate way to pay tribute to the Princess of Pop and the perfect gift for any Britney fan. So hit that Britney playlist one more time, grab your pens, and get coloring!
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Drop right into the heart of Grosvenor Square with this unofficial coloring book featuring 20 original, hand-drawn illustrations inspired by the cult-favorite sets of the hit Netflix show Bridgerton.
This year’s social season has finally arrived. Meander through grand ballrooms, exquisite mansions, manicured gardens and lavish promenades inspired by the breathtaking sets from Netflix’s most-watched show of all time—Bridgerton. From bestselling coloring book illustrator, Valentin Ramon, Social Season offers 20 unique, original, hand-drawn illustrations that you can bring to life in vivid color and get a hands-on feel for the décor belonging to Duke, Daphne and Eloise as you travel through the intricate details of Grosvenor Square.
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Letter from the heart with this first-ever calligraphy-meets-self-care guide packed with fun and easy projects each designed to soothe anxiety and decrease daily stress while creating beautiful art.
Learning calligraphy and hand lettering is not only a fun hobby, but also a calming self-care practice—no prior experience required! With simple and mindful practice, you’ll cut down on stress, make time for yourself, and learn a new skill. With an easy-to-follow guide on lettering, explanations of the common tools you’ll need, and tips on how to establish a routine for regular practice and creative time, you’ll be relaxing before you know it! From brush pen lettering to calligraphy, you’ll learn how to create your own unique style even if you’re a beginner. To help you along your self-love journey, Hand-Lettering for Self-Care includes:
Fun and inspiring projects
Exercise prompts
Step-by-step instructions
Practice sheets
And so much more!
Written by educator and lettering-artist Lauren Fitzmaurice (@renmadecalligraphy), this book offers plenty of tips and advice to show you not only how to improve your lettering but also how you can use lettering to find peace and calm.
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Relax and dive into the ultimate guide to creating watercolor paintings of your favorite flowers! From bright red roses to deep green cacti, this gorgeous, easy-to-follow book will show how anyone can paint luminous watercolor flowers and botanicals. Noted artist and instructor Rachel Eskandari details how anyone can paint a garden of bold, creative watercolor images. Featuring colorful step-by-step images, this book shows how to master the basics of watercolors and then expand your color palette to create boldly unconventional floral artwork. Watercolor Botanical Garden features everything you need to know, including:
*Color theory and mixing for unique shades
*Utilizing the skills of blending, gradients, and shading
*Lesson for creating 25+ different plants and flowers including roses, cacti, peonies, nigella, agave, anemones, queen of the night, leaves, and more
*How to incorporate multiple botanical images for a gorgeous landscape painting
Watercolor with Markers: Learn to Paint Beautiful Creations with Brush Pens by Jessica Mack ($24.95)
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Go beyond lettering and learn to use your brush pen markers to create vibrant, colorful watercolor paintings! In this easy-to-follow guide, noted artist Jessica Mack teaches all the techniques you need to get started and practice through a series of fun projects.
Markers are vibrant, inexpensive, and extremely versatile. They’re also less messy than paints, and require less equipment to get started, making them the ideal tool for creating at home or on the go. And when you blend them with water you really unleash their magic!
With over 35 projects you’re bound to find something that suits your mood. From fashion illustration to florals, galaxies to food, each project will help you hone your painting skills, and you’ll have a beautiful, finished piece of art at the end. Whether you’re new to painting, or looking for another way to use your markers, these fun projects will provide you with a relaxing and enjoyable way to grow your skills.
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Relax and take a bite out of this tasty guide to creating watercolor paintings of your favorite treats!
Watercolor Snacks is for food lovers, beginning artists, and anyone who wants to explore the world of watercolors through easy and accessible prompts and exercises. This colorful guide walks you through basic watercolor techniques and how to apply them to create beautiful, delicious-looking paintings.
Noted artist and instructor Volta Voloshin-Smith details everything needed to create mouthwatering images for every meal of the day, from a syrup-drenched stack of golden waffles and steaming cup of coffee at breakfast to a brightly colored sprinkled donut and a rainbow of popsicles for dessert. This first-ever watercolor food guide also includes:
• Easy watercolor tips, tricks, and techniques
• Recommended supplies (the “ingredients”)
• Color theory basics
• Maximizing mindful benefits of watercolor
• How-to lessons for 30 foods from breakfast to dessert
And much, much more! Whether you’re a beginner interested in learning a fun new skill, or an experienced painter ready to explore a fun new subject, this book will give you everything you need to create adorable paintings.
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Gardens are everywhere, all around us. In this long-awaited guide to garden and flower photography, noted photographer and author Harold Davis tackles the subject of garden photography with an expansive brush. In this book, you’ll find techniques ranging from photographing vast formal gardens to photographing flowers for transparency on a light box. You’ll learn about closeup photography and how to become a better landscape photographer.
Whether you’re photographing tiny flowers or grand landscapes, wandering outside in the garden or bringing the garden indoors, your photography will be enhanced using the many techniques in Creative Garden Photography. Garden photography includes a huge range of photographic styles and technical information that can be applied to almost any kind of photography. In this book, you will learn to use an incredible range of tools from one of the acknowledged modern masters of photography.
•Explore gardens, types of gardens, and how best to photograph them
•Learn about light, light direction and quality, and controlling light in your photography
•Work with your camera and tripod to achieve optimal focus
Use creative exposures to make beautiful imagery
•Photograph flowers on a light box for transparency
•Learn techniques for creating impressionistic photos
•Master close-up focusing, depth of field, and focus stacking
•Explore complete exposure data and the story behind every photo
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Create colorful masterpieces with the official guide to using Unicorn SPiT!
Unicorn SPiT is a paint, gel stain, and glaze concentrate all in one bottle! It creates a multifaceted, 3-dimensional effect on wood, glass, metal, fabric, pottery, wicker, concrete, laminate, and more. Fans love that it’s nontoxic and comes in a variety of outrageous colors. Now, for the first time, Unicorn SPiT inventor Michelle Nicole spills the secrets about the best tips and tricks for using this magical substance to create all-new works of art. This book details everything you need to know, including:
• How to use Unicorn SPiT as a paint, alcohol ink, glaze, stain, dye, antiquing agent, watercolor, resin tint, and beyond
• Over 50 projects for transforming any object, including: furniture, clothing, glassware, decorative wood, metal, and more
• Handy instructions for mixing colors to create unique new shades
• Detailed charts showcasing how Unicorn SPiT can be used on a variety of wood types and surfaces
And much, much more!
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Test your shutterbug knowledge with this fun deck of trivia cards!
Think you know photography? Quiz yourself and friends with this deck of cards packed with fascinating facts and mind-blowing trivia all about photography history, famous shooters, and technical equipment and knowledge.
Each card features a variety of questions of varying difficulty and subjects. Whether played as a game with others or as a personal challenge, players will learn more than they ever thought possible about photography. The Photography Trivia Deck makes the perfect gift for any camera enthusiast.
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Anyone who has photographed children knows: kids don’t really do posing. But, as the photographer, it’s your job and your responsibility to deliver lasting, impactful images in which kids look great. More importantly, the goal is to create photographs of kids that are authentic, engage their spirit, and convey their unique personalities.
So how do you get beyond the “cheese” smile? How do you harness the wild energy of a kid who won’t stop moving? How do you create energy and dynamism with a kid who just seems…bored and not into it? How do you do all that and achieve a compelling composition with flattering light and the proper exposure?
Tamara Lackey has been photographing children and families for years, and in The Posing Playbook for Photographing Kids, she teaches you her strategies and techniques for successfully posing and photographing children. The book begins with a discussion of “organic posing,” an approach to directing the subject that focuses on making small adjustments that build up to a successful shot. Tamara moves on to the psychology of photographing children, covering how to read your subjects, work with different personality types, and elicit genuine engagement. She also discusses gear, accessories, composition, lighting, and camera settings.
Then, in five chapters that are the real core of the book, Tamara tackles typical shooting scenarios and works through each kind of shoot, explaining what worked, what didn’t, and how each shoot progresses from start to finish. Covering the real-world challenges you’ll face when photographing children, Tamara discusses photographing children in the studio, in urban settings, on commercial and fashion shoots, in outdoor natural settings, and in groups. At the end of each of these chapters, she provides a handy reference guide of poses to fuel and inspire your shoots.
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A guide to devising, completing, and sharing a 100-day creative project.
There’s a creative person inside every one of us! You don’t have to consider yourself an artist to create and share fun or expressive work; sometimes all it takes is commitment. Enter the 100 Day Project, a global phenomenon in which people choose a creative pursuit to practice every day for 100 days. The results of your project can be shared online with the rest of the #100dayproject community.
There is an official 100 day project annually, but you can start your project any day that works for you. Your 100 day project can be anything that inspires you, from painting to writing to baking to embroidery. Or you can run a mile, write postcards to friends, or make your bed. Even a small amount of time—5-10 minutes every day—will encourage and cultivate the creative spirit, and lead to explosive creative growth!
This Perfect 100 Day Project workbook provides support and inspiration on your 100-day journey. Whether you’re struggling with deciding on a project, starting your project, or successfully finishing and sharing your work, the information and exercises in this workbook will help you grow your creative habit, organize your thoughts, and use your imagination. Create your perfect 100 day project, and share your incredible results.
No matter what your mom loves, a book from this awesome list is sure to make a great gift this Mother's Day!
Disclosure: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
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