Laundry Books

Looking at the wonderful,lengthy reviews already given on Barbara's book, I don't think I have anything new to add, but just have to chime in with my agreement. You'll find nitty-gritty realism that still reaches for God's best, and gracious encouragement and inspiration in the adventure of motherhood. Most importantly,as said by others, this book leaves out the GUILT TRIP!
Thank you, Barbara.

Barbara Curtis has enough kids (grown, and not yet grown) that she understands that for a mom to be able to read a book, she needs to be able to put it down at a moment's notice, and pick it right back up without being lost. She also understands how badly some of us need to know that we are not in this alone. This book is easy to read encouragement, and not one bit of judging or preaching!

The subtitle for this book is "Heavenly Help for Earthly Moms." Let me start by saying that if you are a harried mom looking for some respite from your tasks, pick up this book. Barbara Curtis writes for real women, and takes you on a spiritual journey, teaching you about God and His grace along the way.

Without sounding preachy or overly sentimental, Curtis uses touches of humor to lighten the load, and soon you realize that you can meet God in the garden, the minivan, and yes - even in the laundry room. "...God is bigger than any place I set aside to meet Him and as near as I invite Him to be."

I highly recommend Lord, Please Meet Me in the Laundry Room.

I think the subtitle says exactly what this book is about..."Heavenly Help for Earthly Moms". I have been so blessed and helped by this book. Barbara is so down-to-earth in her writing, and that is exactly the kind of help I was looking for. In this age when motherhood is looked down upon, Barbara reminds us what a high calling motherhood truly is. I so needed to hear that God doesn't care when or where I call out to Him, He just wants me to do it! And it can be while I'm folding laundry or putting dishes in the dishwasher or changing my toddler's diaper. Thank you, Barbara, for reminding me that God does have plans for me, that He is here to lift me and sustain me. Thank you for reminding me that this is an incredible adventure and that I can find the joy in it when I let go and let God. Thank you for this encouraging book. Thank you for sharing with us that we don't have to be perfect, because God accepts our imperfection. I highly recommend this book for any mom, it has been a big help to me.

This is a delightful book. It's the perfect length for busy moms, and oh-so-full of wonderful words of refreshment. The author finds deep, spiritual joy in the GREAT ADVENTURE of motherhood. She loves her family; she loves her life. And after reading it, you'll understand why - and you'll want what she has for yourself.

Lord, Please Meet Me in the Laundry Room is Barbara Curtis' life story - her long, drawn-out answer to the question she probably hears several times a day: "So, how do you DO it?" Barbara is the mother of 12 kids - 9 of her own and 3 adopted. What's more, she and her husband purposefully adopted three children with Down's Syndrome since one of their sons has this "little extra" chromosome. Need I say more about her qualifications to write a book?

In the first chapter, Barbara describes how her laundry room became the one place in her home where she could have a "Quiet Time," where she could pour out her heart to God as well as listen to the "still small Voice" of the Lord. She says:

"And so my laundry room became my prayer closet. For years it's been the place I meet the Lord each morning before my children awake, and at intervals throughout the day as I transfer clothes from baskets to washer, from washer to dryer, from dryer to baskets again ... I never have trouble finding God in my laundry room. He is always ready to receive my praise, my thanks, my prayers for family and friends, my joys and heartaches too."

Barbara's journey to motherhood has taken plenty of twists and turns - she didn't have a good role model growing up, as she was transferred between divorced parents and even in foster care at one time. She moved to California and went through a period of embracing the ideals of radical feminism. Then she discovered Christianity for the very first time while listening to James Dobson's gentle voice on her car radio, then through attending a Focus on the Family marriage retreat. From that point on, her life changed forever, and she's never looked back.

If you have a child who is a "challenge" or has special needs, this book is definitely for you. Barbara calls this "a little extra." She describes what it was like to be surprised on her delivery day when she found out her newborn son had Down's. While the nurses and doctors feared her reaction, instead she described the "joy and exhilaration" she felt at being chosen by God to raise such a special child who would always need her care. She shares how this "little extra" in some of our children motivates us to depend on God more.

She writes, "What a privilege to be so dependent, so connected to Him. And no doubt about it, it's the connectedness to God that's key in realizing that being a mommy is a completely worthy - and unique - calling."

--Heather Ivester, Mind & Media

The books arrived in excellent condition, they are high quality books. The other reviewer mentioned the quality of the paper isn't high, I disagree, I think it's great. I bought this book for my wife. She is from Hong Kong and already cooks amazing chinese food (her father is head chef at an LA Chinese restaurant). She's now venturing into french food and has made several dishes (more so from Bouchon)

My wife is a former paralegal, now a stay at home mom. She's had no formal training from a cooking school. With that in mind, she can realistically make about 30% of the food from French Laundry and about 50% of Bouchon's recipes. The reason why they are so difficult is that it is tough to find fresh food that is mentioned in the book. You don't find rabbit, frog legs or veal at the local Schnucks or commissary (we're military). Some of the techniques require tools that aren't readily available to regular "non-chef" consumers.

Bouchon - Our favorite has been the flatiron steak and the trout from Bouchon. My wife said it was fairly simple to make. Very little prep time. The french fries came out delicious and they too were easy to make.

French Laundry - The salmon tartare came out nice. Again, the directions were easy to follow. The rest of the dishes in this book however are much more involved. The book itself has great pictures had great write-ups on certain techniques.

While the books were expensive (We normally get $5 cookbooks from the bargain bin), they are well worth it. I am one lucky man . ..

Beautiful coffee table book. Limited is use for an amateur, or even a serious amateur. But it's fun to read and the photography is stunning.

So much more than just cookbooks! It's very visual, makes you excited about cooking and partaking. Emphasizes simple flavors of food, don't complicate what can easily achieve perfection on its own.

The Complete Keller is completely wonderful. Beautifully written and photographed, these books are a wonderful escape to Keller-world.

These books are outstanding - the level of description, the quality of the books themselves, the full color pictures of what the dishes look like... I gave it as a Valentine's Day gift to my girlfriend who loves them - and keeps calling the books "Food Porn".

Kathleen Norris provides a very personal and thoughtful way of looking at everyday chores as an opportunity to experience grace. Since it is the lot in life of every human being to spend time at routine, unglamorous tasks, it is no surprise that those who seek contact with God can find it while sweeping the floor or commuting to work. Ms. Norris describes "women's work" such as hanging laundry on the line to dry, caring for children and washing dishes as potentially spiritual events. This is not pie in the sky. She does not deny the distractions and pain of everyday life or the struggle against depression, anger and despair that we all have. She just presents another way of looking at and experiencing the routine with a poet's sensitivity.

This beautiful and satisfying little book ought to be repackaged with a nicer cover -- and re-released. With our culture's current rediscovery of "home" and all things domestic (Martha Stewart aside), this book has potential to reach a much wider and appreciative young audience. As always, Norris's prose illuminates the poetry inherent in everyday living. Lovely!

A remarkable work! Norris defends the inherent value to be found in the tedium of daily toil. What makes this small, 89-page book so compelling is that she reminds those of faith and those of us striving for faith that prayer does not reveal itself solely in the milieu of Sunday worship, but that it can be an unbroken dialogue with God, manifested as an offering of our obligatory, repetitive, sometimes even boring day-to-day responsibilities.

As a Christian Protestant woman who borrows from and participates in the Christian Roman Catholic practices of Benedictine monks - from which she draws much of her strength - Norris does a great service to the ecumenical spirit. Her ideas are universal and genderless.

I thought this book is a perfect antidote to an over-rated TV show called "bride-zilla" on WE television station. While the women on the TV program focuses on an idealistic wedding, this book celebrates the sanctities in life- not necessarily married life, but the fullness of life where one appreciates the lost art of repetition, of tradition, and of all the things an arrogant society regards as "lowly".

I am an "old" woman and over the years have come to recognize some of the truths the author has expressed in this book. To have this articulated so well brought tears to my eyes over and over again as I read the 88 pages.
It is so true that what one does -- practices over and over again -- forms the person, makes them who they are. Doing the right thing can change your thoughts.
It doesn't take long to read -- I recommend it, especially to older women who, like me, are more likely to be at the stage at which they can understand it.

This book is for busy moms...but I'm not a mom and I've found this book to be very helpful. I love using the book to meditate or to simply tote around with me through the day to pray and talk to God. A Wonderful book.

This little book was great. I was able to keep in on my kitchen counter and just browse through it whenever I found a few spare minutes. It has a ribbon bookmark to keep your place, but it's also nice because you don't have to necessarily read it in order.

This book offers practical tips for maintaining your spiritual self and coping with the demands of a family. Lots to think about.

Having known Tracy at my church for almost 3 years, she was the one who actually made me see prayer "out of the box". This wonderful book takes that conversation to a higher level and it allows others to benefit from a more personal relationship with Christ by understanding that prayer doesn't have to be a formalized process. We can talk to our Father all day long!

This lovely little book has hundreds of ideas about how to squeeze prayer into your busy day. It's a great gift book--and I plan to give one to my daughter who just made me a grandma for the first time.
--Author of 20 books, including PrayerWalk, Daily PrayerWalk, Prayer Changes Teens, PrayerStreaming and My Prayer Buddy Devotional

I thought it was my own secret obsession. My God, how I love laundry. Until recently, I lived with a clothesline out in the yard. Now, I use a commercial washer and dryer, and it's nowhere near as much fun!

However, I do sometimes wash some things by hand, lovingly hanging them up inside the house. What is it about the smell of clothes drying on the line that refreshes the spirit so very well? It takes me back to being a young child reaching up to hang out the towels on the line, all the while relishing the sunshine smell and nature all around me.

This book just takes you back to another place and time, and those wonderful nostalgic feelings that laundry brings about. The pictures are wonderful! This is a book to cherish.

If you are looking for a little item for the "Wishing Well" at a bridal shower, this is an awesome present. But first, be sure to get one for yourself! Thank you, Andrea VanSteenhouse, Irene Rawlings, David Foxhoven and Jason McConathy for this trip down a fragrant and sunny memory lane!

"The simple act of picking clean, wet clothes out of a wicker basket, shaking them out, and hanging them up makes me slow down, giving me time to compose the rest of my day."

Washing machines are great for convenience, but there is a magical quality to hand washing clothes with a delicious essential oil soap (orange or lavender) and hanging them outside to dry. Of course, this means you need a clothesline and a secluded back yard.

As a child we used a soap called Sunlight and washed clothes in a ring washer. I know, I'm too young to know about ring washers, but in Africa that is what we used and we even had a sink with a washboard type surface.

The spinning umbrella clothesline was behind the house with a mountain right behind where animals could easily find their way down to our house. Often while putting up clothes, I'd walk up the steps and scare a baboon who would screech at me for interrupting the stealing of fruit. I'm not sure who scared who more, but clothes definitely ended up thrown about the garden as I ran one way and the baboon ran the other.

Memories of running outside to quickly take down the clothes in the afternoon is also a fun memory. As the rain would start to soak the clothes and sheets, we'd frantically be pulling them off the line, then hanging them inside to dry overnight.

With memories of hanging out clothes on a line, this book becomes even more meaningful. If you have a penchant for lavender ironing water and verbena soap, this will also be a delight.

This unique book has recipes for making your own soap with herbs, describes the variety of clotheslines, shows pictures of many different clothespin bags and explains how to wash linens. How do you make a new clothesline last longer? Why use a naturally scented softener?

Throughout this informative and very practical guide there are also moments of inspiration for designing your own laundry room. The storage of linens with small herbal sachets is followed by recipes and creative ideas. A special section shows how clotheslines found their way into art. Urban clotheslines and country clotheslines are included. Remember clothespin toys? They have pictures of those too.

"I know this sounds funny, but I think of hanging clothes as an almost religious experience." ~Betsy Bennett, artist (Sheets to the Wind II painting)

Now and then I just wish I could take my laundry down to the river and wash it on stones. I have strange notions, but mostly they appeal to my outdoor nature. By washing our clothes inside, we miss out on the feeling of the sun on our skin and the sound of clothes whipping about in the wind. While at my mother's house one day I found two clothespins and decided to keep them. My mother and grandmother always had clotheslines and I remember many happy hours as a child running through the sheets warmed by the sun.

~The Rebecca Review

This is a real glimpse of another era, but one not so intangible as we might think....we can definitely enjoy it, too. Some of the sweetest things in life are the simplest pleasures, and a sniff of our bedsheets after drying in the sun, or drying off with a towel that did the same is a perfect example. Since our olfactory sense is the one most tied to memories, this book would be a great one for those new to housekeeping or new mothers. I can remember running through the sheets on my mother's clothesline, smelling my clean clothes as we brought them in and folded them. I do the same for my family when I have the time, and my 78 year-old mother recently expressed a desire to start hanging out her wash again. So since April 19th (yes, it's a Monday--traditional washday for years and years and years in our country) is National Hang Out Your Wash Day; I got the book for my mom and will pair it with a clothesline and clothespins. It's a wonderful little book, and even has a recipe for lye soap that we used to make as kids. It was pretty gross but those farm women were strong and even though I'll bet it took the skin right off their hands, they used it. We could learn a thing or two from them, I'm sure.

I guess I hadn't thought about it till I read this book, but the simple act of doing the laundry can generate an almost Zen like satisfaction. We wash our clothes almost every week, and it seems like a chore... or is it? Take a walk back in time and even through today and look at the way we do wash and how. This book brought back the smells I remember of my Mother over the enamelled steel tub rinsing and scrubbing. Me and my sisters had endless fun running between the sheets and clothes hung from the seemingly endless lines of drying laundry in our back yard playing hide and go seek. For any of you who remember when simple pleasures were derived from simple tasks, and satisfaction from a job well done wasn't pushing a button on a TV remote you ought to give this a read.

I like books full of nostalgia and simpler ideas. Like the other reviewers I found it a good walk through memory lane. We never had a clothesline since we grew up in the city, but I remember seeing them on movies and the like. Its definitly a piece of Americana. I picked this up mainly because of the stress of the current war on terrorism, I needed something simple and nice. This made me feel some more trust and confidence in our values and the core of what is America. I really needed a break from all the crud books coming out on politics from former hippies trying to make a buck (sorry Mr. Bob Woodward). I like knowing that at our heart America is the home of the free, brave, and simple folks doing normal things. Thanks for an easy, stress free, good book.

Personal and poetic. Reaches across age barriers and reminds me of my younger days. I know Amanda needed to write this book for herself but I hope it changes women's minds about giving too much of themselves away.
Thank you for the story Amanda! I heard you interviewed on Iowa Public Radio and right away bought a copy for me and a friend.

Once I started reading this, everything halted in my world until I was done! This book made a connection and I couldn't put it down until I was finished reading it. I read it in a day and it was a really thoughtful book: funny, sad, and very human! It touched a range of emotions and I can't wait to read another one by this author.

What a joy this book was to read. I read the book 3 times and actually got different thoughts each time.
My 1st read allowed me to catch the wittiness between the lines. Sharp Wit. FUNNY!
My 2nd read brought the sadness out. Heavy, but necessary. I actually cried.
The final thought I had was of an ocassional 'Deja Vu', about something Amanda did or was done to her. I would say "that's me- that happened to me".
It's just wonderful to know that with strength and heart, you'll come out on the other side..INTACT and hopefully, a better person.
Don't settle for ordinary if you don't want to.
KUDOS, Amanda.

There's a level of unabashed honesty in this book that's just dangerous and seductive. It makes you want to run out and tell someone the truth.

The Last Love Letter by Amanda Easton is a poetic, open letter diary filled with longing, obsession and pain. The author reveals herself within these pages in a nothing held back, unraveling of her feelings, insecurities and growth. Amanda's letter unfolds in poetry form, revealing how it feels when a relationship she gave her all to ends. The feeling of unrequited love literally lives on the pages. Nothing is left untold from the sexual experiences to the humiliating exchanges between the couple.

The Last Love Letter made me flinch at times because it reminded me of how often young women confuse sex with love. The book also exposes how insecurity manifests itself in the hearts of women, allowing them to accept anything from men they feel they love, men who only feel desire for them. I would encourage female readers to read this book because it has the potential to be eye-opening as to how much they stand to lose when they do not demand love and respect. Though most recommended to young female readers, young men would also benefit from reading such a heartfelt rendering.

Angelia Menchan
APOOO BookClub

What a fun little book! The stories are enjoyable and put a new spin on doing the laundry! I found myself smiling as I read the account about shrinking things... Who knew that even in our laundry "mistakes" we could find something to laugh about and learn from?

What a fun book this is. I bought it for myself,but it was so much fun to read that I had to buy several other copies for my girlfriends. I'll never look at doing laundry the same way!

Wow! I had no idea the experience of doing laundry could teach us so much! This little book is filled with morsels of wisdom, wit, and encouragement. I recommend it for anyone who needs a little lift. Laundry is something we all have to do no matter what stage of life we are in and the stories in this book reflect all the varied experiences of being a woman, a mom, a wife. It's something you could buy for any woman on your list - something that brings us all together in one place - around the laundry basket!

This book is a great way to add a little "me time" to your day, even if it's just for 2 minutes, which is the time it takes to read one of the lighthearted stories. The authors humourously recall laundry events, and then show how those instances can impact real life (physically, spiritually, emotionally, mentally). Great for moms of any age. Highly recommend!

This refreshing book helped me view laundry not as a dirty, stinky load, but an aromatic, clean one after the wash. As a mom of four, I never imagined laundry could be humorous! Who would have thought?

This book is indispensible for anyone interested in owning or operating a coin laundry. In fact I highly recommend it to anyone interested in starting any small business.

I decided to buy this book after finding not much else in this business field. I am well impressed. This book has answered questions that nobody else will answer. More importantly, it's doing so from an unbiased opinion. Information, charts, evaluation methods, that are detailed in the book. Its like from an insider's perspective. This book is like a mentor with years of experience, showing you the ropes and holes to avoid. A must buy for anyone thinking about getting into this business. Especially a new comer to this industry.

If you are thinking about buying a laundromat, you need to read this book before you buy

Now in a newly revised and expanded edition, Coin Laundries: Road To Financial Independence by Emerson G. Higdon is a practical, comprehensive, highly recommended guide to starting and operating self-service laundries that will turn a laudable profit. From machinery issues, to dealing with governmental regulations, to meticulously computing financial data and revenue balanced against expenses, Coin Laundries is an absolute "must" for anyone seriously considering a coin-operated laundry business, as well as being a useful and basic perusal for anyone with an interest in any other coin-operated form of commerce.

THis is a must read for anyone who is serious about owning a coin laundry business,full of helpful information

Hands down, this is a must read for any stay-at-home parent. Especially Stay-at-Home Dads.

By defining the predicament of working mothers who because of tradition bear most of the work load of home and children and by explaining how it causes resentment and stress in motherhood, the author gives a detailed and honest look of what is happening in marriages today.

The book is priceless in that it supplies ideas and information that couples usually only get by spending a lot of money at a marriage counselor. The divorce rate will severely drop in the marriages of couples who use this valuable workbook as their guide.

With great courage, humor and wisdom, Bouris shares intimate details of how she and her husband managed to work out a plan that would allow, in their case, to switch traditional roles and share in parenting and household chores. And she describes how their new roles helped them gain insights, experiences and joy they would have otherwise missed out on.

She writes that needs for every couple are not the same and that they might even change as the years go by. But if couples will honestly communicate their desires to each other, they can put into action the kind of marriage they want. The author goes into great depth analyzing and describing the typical emotional reactions of couples in marital situations. She gives many examples of what life is like for the modern day working parent. This allows the reader to identify and realize their situations are not unique.

This book is not only about how Mothers who want or need to have a career should have the support and cooperation from the father in sharing the parental responsibilites and handling household chores. It also gives many helpful tips to couples on how to nuture their relationship, honor themselves, and cherish each other. It is a detailed and helpful guide how to negotiate with your mate and organize your life so that your marriage blossoms and grows.

There are so many books focusing on the "problems" of parenting and relationships--and this book is very much about solutions for couples, which I found refreshing and helpful. The underlying premise of the book is to be intentional in our parenting roles and make your kids a priority without sacrificing women's identities or trapping men in breadwinner roles. This author does this without being overly political or preachy and uses humor, interviews with lots of other women, and her own personal story in an effective way. But best are the plethora of tools--discussion questions, exercises, and lists of housework and childcare duties--so that you can pick and choose what you and your partner need to work on. It's a powerful idea and book, no matter what your parenting choices are.

For all of us who are parents and share that journey with a partner this book is an amazing resource. It challenges you to improve your situation and truly create the kind of partnership you want with your spouse. The book is funny, effective and at times can seriously push your buttons. I found myself occasionally feeling stressed as I read it because it really made me assess what I like and don't like about my situation. It has REAL life exercises and suggestions to help you make improvements and changes rather than just discussing the difficulties (and of course joys) of parenting and living with your spouse. A great, enjoyable and (for me somewhat life changing) read!

This is a good book. It covers lots of ideas. I really enjoy reading it.

As a Kindergarten teacher it is often hard for me to find cross cultural lessons that are developmentally appropriate for my students. This book provides many chapters on the rationale for introducing culturally relevant curriculum into your classroom. More importantly, it gives numerous activities and instructions on how to do so. I wish I would have read it sooner.

Roots and wings is a fantastic book. I really recomened to everybody to read it. It is a very good view to learn more respect for different culteres, races, religions, and so forth.

This book is a must have for current and future teachers. The author does a good job of presenting detailed information on Multicultural education. If you are not sure what Multicultural education is or how to include it in the classroom, this book will help you through. It includes over 60 pages of activities you can do with children that support culture,as well as suggestions on how to change the classroom environment to be multiculturally supportive. The book also gives background information on how children develop and how predjudice is formed. In a society that is so diverse, children need to learn to accept and value differences. Teachers have the very important job of teaching children tolerance and can get a good start after reading this wonderful book.