Spice Up Your Holidays with Mango / Cassandra's Blog

Spice Up Your Holidays with Fun and Fabulous Reads

Badass Affirmations: The Wit and Wisdom of Wild Women by Becca Anderson

If you affirm yourself every day, you can rule the world. More importantly, you can live a life filled with love, joy, fulfillment, and satisfaction thanks to your own positive self-regard. Badass Affirmations is the ultimate motivating, encouraging, and uplifting book to enjoy and share. Create your own ideal life and build your self-esteem with positive daily affirmations. These very wise words have the power to touch our hearts, build confidence, make us laugh, and alleviate our stress―all while realizing the vast potential life has to offer. Becca Anderson, bestselling author of The Book of Awesome Women, serves up a memorable and inspirational banquet of positive self-affirmations, delicious bon mots, quips, and unforgettable quotes from movie stars, musicians, politicians, and women writers. Everyone from Malala to Madonna to Michelle Obama weighs in on the meaning of life with badass wit and timeless wisdom. View this book on Amazon!



The Crafty Gardener: Inspired Ideas and DIY Crafts from Your Own Backyard by Becca Anderson

The perfect gift for any gardener! Gardening allows us to live in a much more human way, grounded in nature and connected to Mother Earth and all she provides. It adds pleasure to your life and gives you a sense of calm. With your garden, you are quite literally growing a bounty of blessings. Lifelong gardener and bestselling author Becca Anderson has put her love of crafting and of gardening together in this book of inspired DIY ideas. Along with gardening tips and secrets for growing flowers, herbs, and veggies, Anderson shares dozens of how-to's in this delightful guide on making candles, potpourri, bath salts, essential oils, floral waters, tinctures, liquors, pickles jams, and even fountains, birdhouses, and fairy doors. Even if your garden is just a hanging basket of cherry tomatoes or a windowsill filled with herb pots, you will still reap the benefits of gardening. View this book on Amazon!


Designology: How to Find Your PlaceType and Align Your Life With Design by Sally Augustin

Are you an adventurer or a visionary? A maverick or a maven? Designology makes design personal through author Sally Augustin’s 8 personality Placetypes that characterize the different ways we can relate to the space around us. Bust through the design paralysis that affects so many by applying verified science-based insights. This book will help you regain control of your design-related efforts with suggestions customized to your personality and needs.

Designology teaches you how smells, textures, and other factors in your home influence your happiness. It shows you how your personality and ideal design styles are really related. It illustrates how to soundscape a place according to whether you need to concentrate or think creatively—and much more! Take on your intimidating design tasks with confidence using this practical, personalizable how-to guide. View this book on Amazon!


The Cocktail Companion: A Guide to Cocktail History, Culture, Trivia and Favorite Drinks by Cheryl Charming

The Cocktail Companion is a compendium of all things cocktail. Cheryl Charming, creator of the Midas Cup and bar director at Bourbon O, Ryan Reynolds’ home base for his new gin distillery, has culled together well-known bartenders from around the country who offer up advice on everything cocktail.

The Cocktail Companion starts with a walk-through of the cocktail's curious history―from its roots in beer-swilling 18th-century England through the illicit speakeasy culture of the United States Prohibition to the explosive, dynamic industry it is today. Learn about famous cocktails from around the globe, how ice became one of the most important ingredients in mixed drink making, and how craft beers got so big.

Cheryl then dives into the recipes. She teaches how to make classic cocktails along with their variations and accompanied with tips to make your drinks perfect. From the importance of finding artisanal bitters to creating perfect cubes of ice that will help create intriguing, balanced cocktails, The Cocktail Companion is a wealth of knowledge from every corner of cocktail culture. View this book on Amazon!


Movie Quotes for All Occasions: Unforgettable Lines for Life's Biggest Moments by James Scheibli

We all do it. Every day, with or without noticing, we quote movies. Hit a search engine and you can find thousands of lists of the best movie quotes of all time. From Rhett Butler to Obi-Wan Kenobi, movie quotes have become an integral part of expression. However, the movie quotes that often show up on these “best of” lists rarely lend themselves to important moments in life. Nor are they meant to provide personal motivation.

That’s where Movie Quotes for All Occasions comes in. Author James Scheibli has scoured the movie world to track down the most appropriate, best movie quotes for every occasion. From weddings to pre-game pep talks, James has found the quotes that are moving, inspirational, or just plain hilarious that do more than just remind of the movies they came from. These quotes transcend their stories and enrich your life. View this book on Amazon!


A Pebble for Your Thoughts: How One Kindness Rock at the Right Moment Can Change Your Life by Megan Murphy

It all started with a single stone on a beach in Cape Cod, and now the Kindness Rocks Project spans the globe. Founded by Megan Murphy, the Kindness Rocks Project is based on the profound truth that one kind message at the right moment can change someone’s day, their outlook, and their whole life.

Through visual photos of inspirational Kindness Rocks and encouraging messages, A Pebble for Your Thoughts will inspire you in the same way that the Kindness Rocks Project has encouraged thousands of people worldwide. Learn how to cultivate compassion and connection, how to grow through hard times, and how to share kindness with others, one small pebble of kindness at a time. View this book on Amazon!

The Healthy Teen Cookbook: Around the World In 80 Fantastic Recipes by Remmi Smith

Who knew healthy cooking could be so awesome and delicious?! This Chopped kid chef and entrepreneur is on a mission to bring healthy food options and easy-to-cook scrumptious recipes to a busy and heavily-scheduled generation of teens. The Healthy Teen Cookbook is not your typical teen cookbook: it’s written “for kids by a kid,” and is filled with tried-and-true recipes with budding cooks in mind, using limited ingredients and steps. Through the colorful, easy-to-read book, Chef Remmi sets out to inspire her peers to adopt healthy eating habits by introducing them to the glorious pastime of cooking. The Healthy Teen Cookbook takes you on a culinary journey across the seven continents, highlighting countries and their top foods. Each section features a map, a full menu (from appetizer to dessert), fun facts, helpful tips, and fantastic recipes―making it a geography lesson, a cookbook, and a social studies class all in one. View this book on Amazon!


Making a Difference: Teaching Kindness, Character and Purpose by Cheri J. Meiners

Through positive and motivating text, Making a Difference assures children that they are important, and that what they do matters. Boost your child's confidence and sense of purpose as you read and affirm that their hopeful thoughts, kind words and good choices can make a difference to themselves and others. Making a Difference is a book that can help build social skills and character, teach life lessons to your children, and put them on a pathway to kindness, courtesy, respect, and purpose. Beautiful hand-drawn illustrations accompany author Cheri's purposeful storytelling as she shows us once again how children can help to make the world a better place. Back pages include discussion questions, scenarios, games, and role-play activities that help adults reinforce the book’s positive message. View this book on Amazon!


I’m So Full of Happy Today: The Hygge Wisdom of Children by Martin Andersen and Moira Tuffy

Is there anything more likely to make you laugh and put a smile on your face than the innocent and funny remark of a child? The Danes have a word for the feeling of happy delight that you get from simple things in life: hygge. I'm So Full of Happy Today is a heartwarming collection of the remarkably observant, funny, and wise things said by children, aged two to ten years, to provide hygge moments in your own life. All of the stories have a very real and personal feel—and include the name and age of each child. These playful, sometimes tongue-in-cheek tales straight from the minds and mouths of kids will have you learning and laughing long after you’ve turned the last page. View this book on Amazon!


The Woman's Book of Prayer: 365 Blessings, Poems and Meditations by Becca Anderson

We are constantly communing with the Divine throughout our daily lives―even in the most ordinary activities. Sitting in silence, walking in meditation, using prayer beads, or folding your hands every night and talking to God are all forms of prayer. If you want something different in your life, you must pray a different prayer. The Woman’s Book of Prayer will show you all the ways you can pray, so you can find the methods that work for you. Comprised of mindfulness meditations, prayer practices, and selections of sacred texts, poems, and blessings, The Woman’s Book of Prayer gathers words of encouragement, comfort and sustenance for women.

Author Becca Anderson credits her recovery from a serious illness to the power of daily prayer. But she had to change the way she prayed and set off on an exploration of the myriad methods people use and uncovering the world’s best prayers. The Woman’s Book of Prayer shows how to change your life by changing your prayer. By carefully and consciously choosing affirming thoughts and deliberately looking for blessings at every opportunity, you will literally create a new life
 yourself. View this book on Amazon!

Say It Now: 33 Ways To Say I LOVE YOU To the Most Important People In Your Life by Sherry Richert Belul

We never know how much time we have left with our loved ones. If there’s someone you care about deeply―a parent, grandparent, child, friend, colleague, teacher, or neighbor―don’t wait to express how you feel.

But sometimes it’s difficult to find the right way to say “I love you” to the people you appreciate the most in life. The emotions are there, but the words don’t come. Say It Now shows you how to put your feelings into words―and actions, too. From activities that take just a minute, to love letters, joy jars, tribute videos, surprise parties, and more, this book helps you celebrate the most important people in your life. View this book on Amazon!


u & i: A Love Letter in Illustrated Poetry by Michael Hall

The illustrated poetry of u and i begins with a physical attraction that blossoms into a full-blown love affair. i imagines a marriage with u that includes world travel, children, and the joy of watching those children grow. But things don’t go quite as planned. Follow the relationship’s ebb and flow in a series of frank, funny, and surprising typographic illustrations paired with brief text that tells the story of attraction, marriage, family, frustration, antagonism, and ultimately, the deep appreciation of a lifelong partner. u & i offers a comforting and realistic perspective on marriage. It takes you through the ups and downs of a long-term relationship in a whimsical, raw, and creative way. As a gift to your spouse on your anniversary or to newlyweds on their wedding day, u & i is a reassuring glimpse of the enduring spark of love. This is poetry—but in an entirely different package. View this book on Amazon!


You Can Do All Things: Drawings, Affirmations and Mindfulness to Help With Anxiety and Depression by Kate Allan

When you have anxiety or depression, you can feel deeply alone. Sometimes it feels like you’re the only person on the planet who’s struggling with weird worries that won’t go away, who can’t go grocery shopping without getting sweaty and panicked, who fears everything.

When we feel this way, one of the greatest gifts we can receive is the knowledge that there’s someone out there walking a similar path, someone who understands the sorrow, the struggles, the symptoms, the hardships. Someone we can relate to, someone who shares their story, with vulnerability and without filters. With You Can Do All Things, Kate Allan, the artist behind TheLatestKate Instagram, has given us such a gift. In this book of helpful tips and inspirational illustrations, Kate reminds us that we are not alone.

Through her honest words, uplifting pictures, and actionable suggestions, Kate encourages us to keep trying and to keep going. View this book on Amazon!

We Don’t Know Either: Trivia Night Done Right by City Trivia

Building on the increasing popularity of pub trivia and mobile trivia apps, We Don’t Know Either brings you the entertainment of City Trivia anywhere you go. City Trivia’s unique format is packed with five rounds of trivia entertainment. It also includes puzzles, pictures, fill-in-the-blank challenges, and even music rounds. Divide into teams, pick your most (or least!) entertaining friend to host, and prepare for hours of fun. You just might learn something interesting to say when you’re out and about next weekend.

Packed with exciting, fun, head-scratching trivia to play and laugh with, We Don’t Know Either: Trivia Night Done Right is your how-to guide for a lively and humorous night of trivia at home or at your favorite bar. View this book on Amazon!

I received complimentary copies.
Thank you to Brenda and Mango Media

I had fun spending time with each book as they all have different and fantastic ways to pass the moments.  I loved all the beautiful illustrations, the fun and inspiring quotes and all the trivia.  This collection would make the perfect holiday gift but would also make a great gift any time of the year.