Country Woman Magazine

I am currently reading a back issue copy of Country Woman magazine over breakfast. I really love that magazine! I enjoy reading it and I learned a lot about country living. More so, I learned how it is to be a "country woman" in deeds and spirit. It also gives me a lot of inspiration and motivation. I lived in the city (since I was born and) until I got married nine years ago. My husband came from another province, which is in the countryside and we have decided that we will live in his hometown since there is a house and a property already. So, I quit my job and moved. Also, I was not really domesticated at that time, especially when it comes to cooking, furnishing and decorating the house. So, I re-read my country woman magazines for ideas and they helped me a lot. It was also a good thing that I do love country style decorating.

Anyway, since they were special magazines and I am considering them one of my collections already, I keep them in a shelf in my bedside table. Sadly, two years ago, a very strong typhoon caused severe flood and our house was deeply flooded. I was not home that time and my brothers-in-law only saved appliances and furniture. I was so sad when I saw my magazines!

How I wish it is just easy and cheap for a subscription here in the Philippines. I only buy my copies from a bookstore that sells second hand books and back issue magazines. I first got my copy way back 2002 and I instantly fell in love with it. Since then, I hunt for other copies in the said bookstores. They were also being sold in a reasonable price. Some copies were even way cheaper. Of course, I also saw one from another bookstore where the price is way higher, but then, I really want it so I bought it!

I can say that I must have collected about 10 to 15 already. But now, I only have two! There is no bookstore like the one I mentioned above here and I just got my two copies during my recent trip to my hometown. This is why I am so happy when I am finally reading a copy again over french toasts and a cup of strong black coffee! Such a blissful morning!

Booksale Finds!

Recently, I find myself wanting and planning my very own recipe book. The recipes that I would include are those that I have cooked already, so I am thinking of making an art journal type wherein I will just print the recipes on the printer then paste them on a cardstock. I think I'm a little lazy to hand write everything right now! I hope I can start on it real soon, well, as soon as I decide how I would finally do it... on a ring binder or on a binded notebook! Decisions, decisions!

Since, I was looking for ideas on DIY recipe books over the internet, I also found myself obsessing with cookbooks. A trip to the booksale gave me these three great finds! They are second hand books but they are in great shape. Well, the Campbell, being vintage, seems to have seen some better days.

I am so happy when I found this Campbell cookbook. It's vintage and it's red! A real great buy, only 35 pesos!

Linking to blog parties:

Recent Book I Read

I just finished the book "Back to Blossom Street" by Debbie Macomber. I love it! I love the characters. It was a good and heartwarming novel. I think, a very recommendable book for arts & crafts lovers. Debbie Macomber really writes beautifully. I'm looking forward to my trip to the bookstore to get another book.

Review: The Secrets of Rosa Lee

Since I was so into crafting activities the past couple of weeks, my reading time has taken a little back seat and I only get to read just before I sleep. The other night, I finally finished the novel "The Secrets of Rosa Lee" by Jodi Thomas. It was a good book and the story is interesting. Of course, it has a mystery and detective sense so I enjoyed it.

Now, I'm on to a new novel. "Quentins" by Maeve Binchy. Quentins is a restaurant featured in Tara Road so I am curious about it's own story.

Books and E-books!

The other night, I was lurking at the girltalk forum where the topic is e-books. The girls were comparing the e-books they have, as well as, telling each other how and where they got theirs. Most of which, they said were free so they started to collect. I also have some e-books, but they are mostly cookbooks and arts & crafts. I love them because they were well illustrated and has very user friendly instructions. Anyway, the girls mentioned about some interesting novels, so I searched for them. I did find the novels, but when I started reading it, it doesn't feel like the real thing. I mean, it doesn't feel like I'm reading a novel. Of course, the story is the same, but I would still very much prefer holding and flipping a soft bound pocket book!

Booksale Good Finds

Another trip to the Booksale has given me three good find books! After finishing Tara Road by Maeve Binchy, I still felt like reading some more of her novels. So today, on my trip to the mall, visiting Booksale is one of my top itinerary. After about an hour of browsing the shelves (with a little bit of crouching to see what's on the lower shelves), I settled to get three novels. Two of which were by Maeve Binchy, the "Silver Wedding" and "Quentins" (which was featured on Tara Road, so it really got my fancy). The other one is "The Secrets of Rosa Lee" by Jodi Thomas. I was really happy with the price... a good 80.00 Philippine pesos for the three books! Some books of the same author are still being sold at 75 to 105 per book. Can't wait to read them and see if they're worth it...lol... because I'm actually pretty sure they are!

Goodbye... Tara Road!

Today, after two long nights of reading Tara Road by Maeve Binchy, I am putting it to the bookshelf. It was really a good read and I'm actually sad that I finished it already. The story is quite interesting and very engaging, that I can't seem to put it down even if it's already around three in the morning! Today, I am still yearning to read more. I can't seem to wait to go to the mall and look for another novel!

Tara Road... First Chapter

Started reading Tara Road today. It was a novel by Maeve Binchy. It was one of the books I bought at the booksale three days ago. It's pretty good, well, I couldn't really say so since I'm still in chapter 1. But in any rate, the story seems interesting. Looking forward to continue reading it in a while. I'm still so happy though that I got the book for only P15.00!

Art de la Soul

I was in a booksale yesterday browsing the cookbook section when I chanced upon an arts & crafts book. It was priced so cheap from what I think it's worth, so I did not think twice in buying it. The book is titled "Crafty Chica's Art de la Soul" Glittery Ideas to Liven Up Your Life by Kathy Cano Murillo.

I can say that the book is really a crafter's dream book. It features simple, pretty and chic craft projects. It is also full of funny and witty stories from the author. Her tips and advises are so inspiring as well.

I just love the book! I can't wait to finish reading it and try my hands on the projects.

Momilies & More Momilies

Momilies & More Momilies As My Mother Used to Say by Michele Slung

I recently bought this book at a booksale for a good price of P20.00! Not only is the price good, but the book itself is really a good one. I enjoyed reading it to myself, as well as, I had fun reading it to my three grade school nieces. They too liked it!

The book is a compilation of phrases and anecdotes that were spoken by mothers. Some are serious and some are quite funny... and you really have to read between the lines to get what they mean.

Some of the phrases that I like are:

"Don't cross your eyes or they'll freeze."
"If a thing is worth doing, it's worth doing well."
"Be careful what you wish for, you might get it."

Trip from the Bookstore!

Went to several bookstores yesterday looking for a local home decorating magazine where it featured houses from my hometown and the home of my high school classmate. Sad to say, they are not available anymore.

Anyway, as I was browsing some cookbooks at the Booksale, I saw this arts & crafts book with a very low price (not surprising since it's a book sale, some books do happen to get lost!). I know it would be a good book and with it's price, it surely is a good buy. The book is "Crafty Chika's Art de la Soul" by Kathy Cano Murillo. A craftaholic Mexican-American from Phoenix, Arizona.

The other book I bought is Tara Road, a novel by Maeve Binchy. It was priced really cheap, so I didn't think twice in getting it. I cannot tell yet if it's a good one, but I have read quite a few novels by Maeve Binchy and I did liked them. So, I'm pretty sure this one will be worth it.

I will be posting my review after I'm done reading the books in my Reading Matters page.