Book Review: Small Talk by Diane Weston

Sometimes the hardest part about developing a relationship with someone is getting started. In Small Talk, author Diane Weston shares tips and examples on how to start a conversation, connect with others, and make a great first impression.

No matter where we are in life, no matter what our occupation, we need to learn how to best interact with other people. Life is about developing relationships. Some may be more meaningful than others, but all require us to understand the basics of communication.

Weston opens with why we need small talk and what the reader can learn from Small Talk. Then she covers the important basics of human interaction and communication. She discusses forms of non-verbal communication, like facial expressions and posture. The book discusses positive thinking and general rules for small talk. Finally, Weston shares tips and techniques to master small talk, using several examples to help the reader fully understand how to master each technique.

Small Talk by Diane Weston should be in business and personal libraries everywhere. No matter the size of your group or what relationships you're looking to develop and nurture, you'll find tons of help in this great resource.


Paperback: 140 pages
Publisher: Independently published (April 21, 2019)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1095426907
ISBN-13: 978-1095426906

I received a free copy of this book from the author. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Task it Tuesday - June 25

Originally created by The Geeky Blogger, Task It Tuesday is a weekly meme to help you--and me--get things done. The challenge is to post a task or list of tasks you want to complete before next Tuesday. These tasks can help you with your blogging life, reading life, personal or professional life.

It has been a tough week. A dear friend and member of my church family is in the final stages of her cancer battle. I was blessed to be able to spend time with her family yesterday at the hospital. We prayed together. Cried together. Laughed together.

My to-do list is the furthest thing from my mind, but I need to stay somewhat focused to get everything done.

Here is my list for the week:

• Daily Bible reading (still catching up)
• Blogging
• Review one book
• Pack
• Oil change on Wednesday
• Hiking on Wednesday
• Weed the garden
• Vacuum 
• Wash kitchen floor

Hoping you all have a blessed week.

Task It Tuesday - June 18

Originally created by The Geeky Blogger, Task It Tuesday is a weekly meme to help you--and me--get things done. The challenge is to post a task or list of tasks you want to complete before next Tuesday. These tasks can help you with your blogging life, reading life, personal or professional life.

I am at the point of crying mercy. My list only grows. It's like I can't check anything off it.

Okay, enough whining. Life is good, and though I am not accomplishing what I want all the time, I am still managing to get a lot done and still enjoy life.

Here is my list for the week:

• Daily Bible reading (still catching up)
• Beta read a manuscript - 80% done
• Edit the next chapter of a manuscript for the publisher 
• Blogging
• Review one book
• Make lists for vacation
• Workout - Friday (I am doing stretches while cooking these days, so at least that is better than nothing)
• Start bringing up things from the basement for vacation
• Weed the garden

Mailbox Monday - Jun 17

Mailbox Monday is a meme started by Marcia of To Be Continued. Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week. It now has a permanent home at the Mailbox Monday blog.

Happy Monday! I hope you all had a nice weekend. We took my father-in-law and his two boys out to dinner for Father's Day. It was nice to get together after a few weeks apart. Usually there are eleven of us, but my son and his wife couldn't make it.

This was an exciting week. The Lil' Diva received a scholarship and I received an award from the Realtor board. 

Work has been busy. I should have a listing coming up soon, and then two or three more once we return from the Outer Banks in July.

On the book front, there was nothing in my physical mailbox, but I picked up the first book in the Tempe Crabtree Mystery Series by Marilyn Meredith while it was free for Kindle. 

When I started this series, I was probably about six books in. That's around when I had started blogging in 2007. I've been meaning to go back and read the earlier versions. Though I have this in paperback, having it on the Kindle Fire will make it easier to read. 

What was in your mailbox? Are you looking forward to any summer reads? 

Book Review: Painting the Psalms by Cherie Burbach

A unique and engaging way to view the Book of Psalms awaits you in Painting the Psalms by Cherie Burbach.

In this beautiful and moving book, the author shares the beauty of the Psalms and how they have influenced her art. Each painting is accompanied by text explaining the inspiration behind the art and followed by Scripture and the materials used to create the painting.

There were two reasons I requested to review Painting the Psalms: I wanted to experience one of my favorite books of the Bible in a new way, and the painting on the cover reminded me of artwork from a local author that I admire.

The paintings are stunning. I could look at them for hours. Painting the Psalms is a great book to display or would make a wonderful coffee table book. It would be even better in hardcover.

There were moments I felt the narration was too personalized. Many passages spoke of the author's feelings or experiences, so in those moments I felt kept at a distance and not truly able to appreciate the beauty of the passages or feel the Scripture speaking to me. I did find, however, some explanations to be more generalized, like with "Her Home Was Peace and Kindness," where the author speaks of how we spend a lot of time on the concept of home and how, in the end, the only true home is a spiritual one. Those were moments that drew me in closer.

Regardless of that, I enjoyed Painting the Psalms from beginning to end. I'll definitely be reading through it again.


Paperback: 104 pages
Publisher: Independently published (March 18, 2019)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1090858671
ISBN-13: 978-1090858672

I received a copy of this book from the author. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Task it Tuesday - Jun 11

Originally created by The Geeky Blogger, Task It Tuesday is a weekly meme to help you--and me--get things done. The challenge is to post a task or list of tasks you want to complete before next Tuesday. These tasks can help you with your blogging life, reading life, personal or professional life.

Spent two days (one day last week, and then yesterday) with the kids, totally dedicated to them, so I am feeling good about myself. Next week will probably be Thursday, since the rest of the week is crazy with work.

I did not, however, get a lot of things from my to-do list checked off. I'm not feeling it lately. Why? I'm not really sure. Energy levels are way low. I'm still adjusting to the CPAP machine too.

Here is what this week's to-do list looks like:

• Daily Bible reading (still catching up)
• Beta read a manuscript - 80% done
• Edit the next two chapters of a manuscript for the publisher - DONE
• Blogging
• Review one book
• Make lists for vacation
• Workout - Friday and Saturday

What is on your list to accomplish this week?

Mailbox Monday - June 10

Mailbox Monday is a meme started by Marcia of To Be Continued. Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week. It now has a permanent home at the Mailbox Monday blog.

Welcome back to another Monday. It is supposed to be rainy and hot here today. We will see how that goes. Could use a bit of rain right now. Funny how we are hard to please. When it was raining, I was complaining about needing to build an ark. :)

My mailbox wasn't busy this week, but it had one great book I really want to read.

These guys ruled the 80s comedy scene. I still enjoy watching their SNL skits on YouTube. I'm looking forward to reading this one soon.

What was in your mailbox? Anything exciting you would like to share this week?