Give Wings to Your Dreams: Reawaken Your Joy and Passion for Life, Lauren E Sullivan

Inspiration and practical guidance, for women in midlife who are experiencing stress, burnout or blues, to design happier, more peaceful, and balanced lives.

There have been so many moments in my life when just the right book found its way into my hands and my heart. Lauren's book is one of those "just the right books." As she shares her own challenging journey, she provides hope, practical wisdom and seven stepping stones to transform your life. Beautifully done!

It is a multiple award-winning book and rightly so.

Check out Lauren's video for some in this moment inspiration. The Wings Movie.

Entering the Age of Elegance: A Rite of Passage & Practical Guide for the Modern Maturing Woman, Chloe Jon Paul

I have to say that the title of this book really caught my eye and says so much: Entering the Age of Elegance. As a woman turning 50 this year I love this invitation to elegance. Chloe has taken a fresh approach to a popular topic by giving us a resource-rich travel guide. This book is packed with practical information, recommended book lists, web pages and resources. I found myself saying, I never thought about that before ... over and over.

If this is a topic that draws you in you might like to check out the fun contest that National Association of Baby Boomer Women has going in collaboration with Chloe Jon Paul: Entering Your Age of Elegance Contest.

It's Hard to Make a Difference When You Can't Find Your Keys: The Seven-Step Path to Becoming Truly Organized, Marilyn Paul, Ph.D.

Marilyn Paul takes a holistic approach to tackling a fracturing facet of many of our lives - disorganization. Rather that simply providing check-lists and processes to follow, the author begins by helping us to understand the underlying stories that so often fuel our disorganization. She then goes on to provide practical exercises and steps that can lead us to calm, clear air.

I love this book because it's both a delight to read and it gets right to the heart of things. Being organized is one of the many facets of exquisite self-care. Marilyn Paul has given us a powerful and comprehensive tool for self-discovery and transformation in her fabulous book  It's Hard to Make a Difference When You Can't Find Your Keys.

Life Coach and author, Carolyn Scarborough, has a way with words. In her beautiful book, Backyard Pearls, Cultivating Wisdom and Joy in Everyday Life, she presents gems we can discover in our day to day lives to step up the joy. This book is absolutely loaded with wonderful, and yet simple, ideas shared with the reader in a cozy friend-to-friend tone.

As a coach, I've found the book to be a great resource for exercises to do with clients and groups. Because the chapters are just a few pages and each closes with a "Discover Your Own Pearls" prompt there is an abundance of good stuff here to draw from and be inspired by.

This book is one of my current favorites and one I highly recommend. You can learn more at

www.backyardpearls.com

A lovely wise woman has flown into my life this month on the wings of a powerful book. Your Truest Self, Jan's latest book, is a gem and has found a place on my shelf for most cherished books.

Stay tuned for more news about Jan, as she will be gracing the pages of Spotlight on Exceptional Women soon!

Your Truest Self, Janice Lynne Lundy

Spiritual guide and mentor Janice Lynne Lundy proposes twelve principles drawn from her personal encounters with prominent spiritual teachers to enable women to live a full, rich-in-spirit life. Within every woman there is an essential Truth waiting to be claimed, a Truth that will empower her to claim a spiritual life that is real and authentic, one that will nourish and sustain her every day. Drawing from her personal encounters with twelve spiritual mentors--activists, artists, writers, and teachers--author Janice Lynne Lundy has created twelve Transformational Truths to guide and enable women to live more peaceful, confident, and open-hearted lives. Each chapter includes peaceful pauses for meditation and reflection questions that will help readers unpack their own personal meaning from each Transformational Truth's profound wisdom.

As I read Jan's latest book I felt as if every word was written just for me. Passages popped off the pages both reminding me of what I know to be true and offering fresh insights into new places of discovery. Her ability to create an intimate connection with the reader is a rare gift.
In essence, she invites the reader to pull up a chair and join her and the circle of wise women she introduces us to. This book is a gem! My life has been enriched by this book and by Jan's open-hearted wisdom. - Corrie Woods

Imagine finding just the right gifts for all the women in your life – and spending less that $20 per person! Imagine gifts that keep on giving each time you come back to them. And imagine giving gifts that uplift, inspire, nurture and bring put smiles on the faces of your loved ones!

As I approach the holiday season it occurs to me that some of my greatest treasures are books and what a cool gift to give. With this in mind, I came up with my top-ten list of gift books for 2008 (See article at DivineCaroline). The list represents a blend of fun, deep, rich, and playful titles. I’ll be checking off my holiday list with these books. Perhaps there are some gems here to help you with your list. Note: each book is followed by a review from another author worth checking out!

1. Of course, the number one title on my list is The Woman’s Field Guide to Exceptional Living: Practical Steps for Living a Big, Bold, Beautiful Life!. “Corrie Woods offers an irresistible invitation and resourceful guide to living a life boldly, creatively, and happily. She provides a wealth of ideas, practices, and tools that are inspirational, practical, and motivational. This book makes a life-affirming and positive contribution to any reader!” Angeles Arrien, Ph.D., Cultural Anthropologist, author of The Four-Fold Way and Signs of Life.

2. Crones Don’t Whine: Concentrated Wisdom for Juicy Women, Jean Shinoda Bolen, M.D. “This juicy, witty, lovely book, shining with Wise Women candor is the perfect gift for any women over 50. I savored it like a rare, well-ages wine, and I know you will too.”  Susun S Weed, author of New Menopausal Years the Wise Woman Way.

3. The Art of the Moment: Simple Ways to Make Time for Yourself, Veronique Vienne and Erica Lennard. A lovely little book filled with captivating photographs and inspiring words.

4. Creating a Charmed Life: Sensible, Spiritual Secrets Every Busy Woman Should Know, Victoria Moran. “In this book you will be rewarded with dozens of powerful practical strategies that will help you bring out the charmed in your life.” Richard Carlson, Ph.D., author of Slowing Down to the Speed of Life.

5. BOOM Thinking: The Gutsy Guide to Breaking Out of Old Mindsets, Cheri Britton. “Cheri Britton’s book has the power to rock YOUR world with its fun, true, down to earth take in how to reinvent your thinking. Bravo Cheri!” Suzanne Falter-Barnes, author of How Much Joy Can You Stand?

6. Women Empowered: Inspiring Change in the Emerging World, Phil Borges. “A deeply inspirational work. Phil Borges has brought us face to face with heroes 'remote and mostly unknown women' on the edge of a slow but steady transformation, bringing social and economic justice to women and girls worldwide."  Isabelle Allende

7. The Life Organizer: A Woman's Guide to a Mindful Year, Jennifer Louden. "You are not holding in your hands a book. Instead, imagine a set of sacred nesting dolls that you open, one by one, each delighting you more than the last. As you get to the precious one in the center, you find your own heart. It whispers, `welcome home.'" - Dawna Markova, author of I Will Not Die an Unlived Life and co-creator of Random Acts of Kindness.

8. Living Artfully: Create the Life You Imagine, Sandra Magsamen. “Living Artfully is bulging and vibrating with creative illuminations, inspired action-taking and insightful reflections on the art and joy of being splendidly human. Sheer delight!” SARK, author of Sark's New Creative Companion: Ways To Free Your Creative Spirit.

9. Life Is a Verb: 37 Days to Wake Up, Be Mindful, and Live Intentionally, Patti Digh. "Patti’s guide for the last 37 days of life will turn every one of your next 3700 days a fully lived experience. If you had some unsolved fear for death, that would be your season ticket to have a free ride on the train with the author. I have never seen such a simultaneously practical, esthetic and soul-caressing book in my life." - Kichiro Hayashi, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus, Aoyama Gakuin University, Tokyo.

10.  Live Boldly: Cultivate the Qualities That Can Change Your Life, Mary Anne Radmacher. “Once again, Mary Anne has offered her exquisite blend of insight and intention in one phenomenal resource. A book that makes you think, dream, and act differently. This is a brilliant resource that will go on my list of "highly recommended" books for creating purpose and passion in your life.” Deanna Davis, author of The Law of Attraction in Action: A Down-to-Earth Guide to Transforming Your Life.

But wait ... that's not all!  How about...

Finding the Deep River Within, Abby Seixas

Back to the Garden, Patrice Dickey

Stop Being Stopped, Dr Karen Lee Paquette

Live With Intention, Adair Cates

Her Turn to Lead in America, Vickie Donlan

From the Kitchen to the Corner Office, Michelle Yozzo Drake

Money Shy to Money Sure: co-authored by Olivia Mellan & Sherry Christie

The Seasons of Change, Carol McClelland, PhD

Ah, so many fabulous authors and titles out there to choose from!

Oh, and here is a tip: what tops off a great gift book is a special note written inside the cover from you to your loved one!

God is at Eye Level, Jan Phillips

I discovered this book, and more profoundly the work of Jan Phillips, when my book club chose God is at Eye Level as our next book. We took it one chapter at a time and dove in deeply to experience the images, the reflections, and the prompts Jan offers. It's a rich and visually delicious book, a path for a thoughtful inner journey, a call to explore the impact of how we see the world through a camera lens / through our own eyes, and so much more.

You can learn more about this book, Jan's other award-winning books, her workshops, photography ... at JanPhillips.com

Stop Being Stopped, Dr Karen Lee Paquette

This book is part inspired coaching, part story and part holistic science-based recipes for healthy living. All bundled up it provides a road map we all can follow to more vibrant living. Practical, accessible, and very helpful!

Learn more about a woman who walks her talk and offers incredible services at ... TheGoDoctor.com and StopBeingStopped.com

Back to the Garden, Patrice Dickey

Patrice shares facets of her courageous life's journey within a weave of practical and uplifting messages of hope, endurance and possibilities. Her writing is warm, touching, engaging and thought-provoking. This award-winning book deserves a place on every woman's bookshelf.

Learn more about the light this woman is shining on the world at ArtOfChange.org.

Free Resources:

Ebooks by Karly Randolph Pittman of FirstOurselves.org

Heal Your Body Image: An Inspiring, Step-by-Step Guide to Loving Your Body, Losing Weight, and Feeling Beautiful

Overcoming Sugar Addiction: How to Kick Your Sugar Habit, Conquer Food Cravings, Stabilize Your Mood, and Lose Weight