Five Most Empowering Self-Help Books

Sometimes you need a little push to get elevated to the next step of your life. A good self-help book can provide that push, but the market is so full of tomes that promise results that it can be hard to pick the right one. In this list, we’ll share five that deliver results.

The Secret by Rhonda Byrne is one of the most successful self-help books of all time. With an easy to understand message of positive thought accompanied by productive action, it’s great to get motivated to start a new phase.

Tom Rath’s StrengthsFinder is a scientifically organized self-help book that can help you discover your inner power. Through a system of questionnaires and thought experiments, this book isolates your strengths and helps you convert them to purpose-driven results.

Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff by Richard Carlson is an excellent book to have in your self-help library when daily life is getting you down. It’s full of great advice to maintain your focus on the things that really matter.

Think And Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill is an all-time best-seller in the self-help field, offering workable tips in following the power of your inner spirit through positive mental attitudes. Although it was published in 1937, it’s still relevant today.

Eckhart Tolle’s The Power Of Now is probably the best introduction to the many works of the spiritual self-help author. It works as a useful guidebook to the ins and outs of human consciousness.

Cream Of The Crop: Essential Farmers’ Market Eats

Farmer’s markets are cropping up all over the country, as people become more and more interested in getting food from local sources. Producers are bringing fresh food at great prices. Here are five foods you should certainly try from the farmer’s market next time you go:

Eggs are one of the best things to get fresh. The difference in consistency and flavor between a store-bought egg and one fresh from the hen is jarring. The yolk is brighter, firmer, and much tastier. If your farmer offers duck eggs, try those too – they fluff up amazingly and are great for baking.

Potatoes might seem like a funny thing to buy from a farmer’s market, but they are amazing. Usually much smaller than store-bought spuds, fresh potatoes are deeply flavorful and complex. Slice them thinly and roast them with onions.

Seasonal tomatoes are some of the best things to buy at the farmer’s market. In the late summer and early fall, when they’re coming fresh off the vine, you can get enormous heirloom tomatoes that are great for sandwiches or just eating with a little salt and pepper.

One of the best things to do with farmer’s market produce is teach yourself about pickling and canning. If you’ve never made pickled beets, they’re a delicious treat – sweet, tangy, salty, and savory all at once.

Local cheeses can be delectable as well. Many dairies produce artisanal cheeses that are robust with flavor. They also often provide samples to try before you buy.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Best wishes for happiness on Valentine's Day and every day.

Great Documentary Films Worth Watching

If you’re hungry to dive into a realm of knowledge you haven’t yet explored, a great way to do that is to watch a documentary on a topic that interests you. The best documentaries bring learning to life as they immerse you in vivid imagery and strong storytelling. Here are four must-see documentaries certain to get your brain cells buzzing:
 
Man On Wire (2008), directed by James Marsh
This Academy Award winning documentary follows the life of a young Frenchman named Philippe Petit as he attempts what many consider dangerous, impossible, and utterly foolish: To walk on a high-wire between the twin towers of New York’s World Trade Center. Petit, a long-time dancer and tightrope roper, considers this particular high-wire walk his biggest dream, and the film follows him as he goes about putting it into action against considerable odds.
 
Hoop Dreams (1995), directed by Steve James
This acclaimed movie explores the lives of two young African American boys with NBA dreams as they struggle to become college basketball players. The movie wages a powerful exploration of important social issues like race, class, and education in America, all while telling an intimate human story about the young men and their families and communities.
 
Grey Gardens (1975), directed by Albert and David Maysles
This much-lauded documentary tells the story of the eccentric and dysfunctional Beales, Big Edie and Little Edie, a mother-daughter pair who lived on a decaying estate. Once aristocrats leading active society lives, they ended up withdrawing from the world and retreating into a reclusive existence as their funds dwindled and squalor set in. The movie offers a moving glimpse into the lives of these two highly unusual but ultimately loveable women.
 
Restrepo (2010), directed by Tim Hetherington and Sebastian Junger
In order to make this extraordinary film, the filmmakers spent over a year embedded with a platoon of soldiers in Afghanistan. The story chronicles the lives of the soldiers from their deployment to their return home, showing their daily activities and struggles – negotiating with local people, constructing an outpost, and facing a variety of challenges, dangerous missions, and firefights along the way. Whatever your political views, this film will impact you with its vivid depiction of the events and effects of war for both the soldiers and the local people. 
 

Winter Decorating Tips

As the weather gets colder, here are some tips to make your home as cozy as possible:

Light Candles
Nothing says winter like the warm glow of a candle flame. Why not dim your overhead lighting and light some candles around the house? Candles with seasonal scents like evergreen and gingerbread will doubly enhance the wintery charm.

Garnish The Staircase or Balcony
If you have a staircase or balcony, consider wrapping the railings with with lights, garlands, or bows.

Opt for a Seasonal Centerpiece
Create or purchase a centerpiece with seasonal flair. If you'd like to make your own, try using poinsettias, small wreaths, gourds, birch bark, rose hips, cranberries, pinecones, candles, or evergreen sprigs.

Warm up with blankets and throw rugs
Since your family will be spending more time inside as the temperatures drop, make your home’s couches and chairs as comfy as possibly by draping them with snuggly throws and extra blankets in vibrant colors. What better way to curl up with a book on a winter night?

Denver Nuggets: Mile High Greatness

Head coach George Karl has said that the Denver Nuggets play at a high level when backed into a difficult situation, and they're proving it now. Carmelo Anthony is gone, and although many worried that losing this franchise player would damage the team, the opposite seems to be true. There's a newfound sense of teamwork and improved defense in Denver, and a number of truly great players to get excited about. Danilo Gallinari has excellent ball handling skills to match his talents as a scorer. Add to that the considerable talents of fan favorites Nenê and Ty Lawson, and you've got a team ready to make their mark in the 2011-2012 NBA season. The team is growing up and out in the talent at work on the court, guaranteeing a bright future in Denver for many seasons to come. With a strong roster and George Karl's coaching skill and experience, the sky really is the limit for the Nuggets.

Please visit http://www.nba.com/nuggets for Nuggets schedules, merchandise, ticketing, and more!

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