Book Reviews: 100 Cities, 5000 Ideas

I can hardly believe we're already into December, yet here we are. I am (literally) hip deep in wrapping things, making gifts, and getting my Christmas cards ready to mail. Not going to lie though, I'm grateful I have therapy tomorrow, that's for dang sure. 

100 Cities, 5000 Ideas 

National Geographic

Grab your passport and get ready to explore 100 cities around the world. This informative travel guide--the next in National Geographic’s blockbuster 5,000 Ideas series--takes you from skyscraper-filled concrete jungles to coastal urban oases. You’ll find hot tips for the best sights, bites, museums, and more for each location, as well as practical planning advice for when to go and what to expect when you arrive. And there’s something in these pages for every traveler: history buff, art lover, foodie, beach bum, or anyone in between. Take a dim sum tour through San Francisco’s Chinatown; hop a bullet train from Tokyo to Kyoto to capture two of Japan’s best cities in one vacation; discover the hidden historical gems in bustling Mumbai; bathe in the sun on Sydney’s beaches; temple hop your way through Bangkok and shop its floating markets; stand on the edge of the world in Ushuaia, Argentina, the world’s southernmost city; take a walk through art history in Florence; or go on an urban safari in Nairobi. Filled with expert tips, bonus side trip suggestions, and tons of innovative activities, this is an inspirational and practical keepsake for any kind of globetrotter.

One of my favorite things is to page through travel books because while I know enough about me to know I likely won't get to see any of these places in my lifetime, learning about them is endlessly fascinating. Am I ever going to go to Eastern and Southern Asia because I am not food adventurous, but the pictures in this book make want to try. If I had to pick a place to go, it would be Iceland. Seeing people living their best lives in a geothermal pool in the Blue Lagoon. I went down a long Google rabbit hole because, no joke, I didn't know that was a real thing let alone a real place. 

If you're looking for a great gift for people who are constantly on new adventures, this is going to be absolutely perfect. Full of amazing photographs that have you yearning for unlimited travel funds and more vacation days from work. I also really like that the book lists popular festivals so you could plan your trip around that (themed outfits, am I right?). It includes historical information to research your trip, of course some of the places to eat. Also helpful, especially for countries you aren't necessarily familiar with customs and common practices, you're going to find tips throughout. 

A huge thank you to TLC Book Tours and National Geographic for sending me a copy for review! These are the absolute highlight of my book mail selections becuase everyone in my house gets excited to see them. Plus, every purchase "supports the glocal nonprofit National Geographic Society in its work to protect and illuminate our world through exploration, research, and education." You can find more information at natgeo.com/info. 

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Book Reviews: The Imagineering Story *and* 100 Disney Adventures

I actually have two books for you today, but they are both related to each other..kind of... so I thought, why not review them together? I don't know about you, but where I live it's getting colder and we're currently getting snow. I'm not a winter fan, so I'm dreaming of sunshine and warmer days.... at Disney!

100 Disney Adventures of a Lifetime

Wake up to the sight of giraffes grazing outside of your window. Soar 400 feet into the sky on a hot-air balloon ride over Walt Disney World. Watch the Disneyland fireworks from The Tomorrowland Skyline Lounge, far away from the crowds. Taste your way through 11 countries of the world at Epcot’s Food and Wine Festival. Take a jet trip around the world.

All these experiences and more bring the magic of Disney alive--and you can find 100 not-to-be-missed adventures in this one-of-a-kind collection. From the most beloved signature experiences--Epcot’s International Flower Show, breakfast with beloved characters at Chef Mickey’s, and getting dolled up like a princess before your day at the park--to the hidden VIP wonders like a private dinner in the wine cellar the Grand Floridian or drinks at the exclusive, members-only Club 33, this illuminating guidebookcelebrates and reveals the best experiences in and around Disney resorts and parks all over the globe.

Discover the magic that awaits, including:

• A training session at the Jedi Academy at Disney Hollywood Studios, where you can make your own light saber and fight Darth Vader
• Magical meals at a rotating dinner club featuring Walt Disney World’s best chefs, each themed to Disney lore
• A 5.7 million-gallon salt water aquarium at Epcot Seas, where you can swim with angelfish, dolphins, eagle rays, and sharks
• A private after-hours tour of the Luxor Temple in Egypt, where Adventures by Disney gets you away from the crowds for an intimate experience
• Secret off-the-menu items around the park, including a cherry milkshake at Carnation Café and ice cream nachos at the Golden Horseshoe
• The ultimate viewing spots for nightly fireworks throughout all the Disney Parks
• Disney’s Halloween party, a one-of-a-kind theme night in the happiest place on Earth
• A 5K Challenge on Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay, where you can soothe sore muscles post-race with a beachfront massage
• A private jet tour around the world, led by expert National Geographic explorers
• And so much more!

Along with beautiful imagery that will help shape your bucket list, this fantastic guide includes pilgrimages to historic Disney sites, like Walt’s hometown haunts in Chicago and Tam O’Shanter’s in Los Angeles where there’s a table named in his honor. Plus, National Geographic provides the inside stories of some of Disney’s most beloved attractions.

Each of these 100 adventures--from Walt Disney World in Orlando to the Galapagos Islands to Disneyland Tokyo--will have you believing in magic and wonder all over again.

I was blown away by this book!! So many of these things I didn't even know were options to do, or had any clue about. I have tabbed off a few that I definitely want to check out when we go (hopefully next year.. crossing fingers!). The best part is that some of these are geared towards adults, so if you can get away from the kids, or you came with no kids but want a step above a dinner with Winnie the Pooh, there are so many really great options for any budget. Sometimes you just outgrow the parks or need something more, and this book has a LOT of options for you. 

Stunning photography, clear descriptions, lots of insider information that would be incredibly helpful (especially to first timers not familiar with the parks to begin with), and it was well organized. I want to be able to find what I need or want right away and I could do just that. 

The Imagineering Story

The highly acclaimed and rated Disney+ documentary series, The Imagineering Story, becomes a book that greatly expands the award-winning filmmaker Leslie Iwerks' narrative of the fascinating history of Walt Disney Imagineering.

The entire legacy of WDI is covered from day one through future projects with never-before-seen access and insights from people both on the inside and on the outside. So many stories and details were left on the cutting room floor—our book allows an expanded exploration of the magic of Imagineering.

So many insider stories are featured.

° Sculptor Blaine Gibson’s wife used to kick him under the table at restaurants for staring at interesting-looking people seated nearby, and he’d even find himself studying faces during Sunday morning worship. “You mean some of these characters might have features that are based on people you went to church with?” Marty Sklar once asked Gibson of the Imagineer's sculpts for Pirates of the Caribbean. “He finally admitted to me that that was true.”

° In the early days, Walt Disney Imagineering "was in one little building and everybody parked in the back and you came in through the model shop, and you could see everything that was going on,” recalled Marty Sklar. “When we started on the World’s Fair in 1960 and 1961, we had 100 people here. And so everybody knew everything about what was happening and the status of [each] project, so you really felt like you were part of the whole team whether you were working on that project or not. And, you know, there was so much talent here.”

Easily the largest book I've taken on this year, at just under 750 pages, this is not light reading. I would say this is one chapter per sitting kind of book because it is absolutely chock full of incredible stories you couldn't have even imagined about Disney. If you've ever seen documentaries on the Disney+ channel (I just finished Decorating Disney, but the Christmas one and to see the behind the scenes stuff is incredible), this book is just like that but amplified. 

Even if you aren't into the aesthetics and how they get things to visually be what they are, the invisible things, how things move/perform the way they do was fascinating. I absolutely loved the part about projection mapping on things like Cinderella's castle. 

Getting to see it transform in person was incredible, but we all wondered, how do they do that? You can't be off even a teeny tiny bit because then the whole thing is goofed up. There are light shows where animated clips are shown and you wouldn't even know it's on a building, it looks like a flat surface almost. All of that (and more!) is in this book. 

Both of these books would make terrific gifts for a Disney fan in your life, no matter the age. Thank you to TLC Book Tours and National Geographic for having me on these tours and sending me a copy for review. Safe travels!

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Book Review: Stargazer's Atlas

Do you love looking out into the night sky? I have always loved it, but I often have no idea what I'm looking at. Thankfully, National Geographic saves the day!

National Geographic- Stargazer's Atlas

Richly illustrated with luminous photographs and informative maps and graphics, this expansive book is the perfect guide for everyone discovering the wonders of the night sky, from those just learning the constellations to dedicated telescope observers.

Combining science, exploration, and storytelling, National Geographic Stargazer's Atlas invites readers to roam the night sky for constellations, planets and moons, eclipses, comets and meteor showers, auroras, and deep-sky treasures including nebulae and galaxies—many visible to the naked eye and all with binoculars or a backyard telescope.

Beginning with basic space science and including a complete set of night sky maps for all four seasons in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, this fascinating book guides the reader toward the most rewarding observations. A unique chapter on astrotourism highlights ancient observatories, dark-sky preserves, and other global destinations for the sky-seeking traveler; a final chapter details current and future space missions and what they might discover.

Richly illustrated with awe-inspiring imagery—including photos from space missions and telescopes, science-based artists’ interpretations, and explanatory graphics—the book also contains 170 maps and charts of planets, moons, and constellations, from Earth’s moon to moons of Saturn. Practical advice throughout helps readers see what they have been reading about, building key observational skills such as “star hopping” from easy-to-find stars to fainter deep-sky objects and focusing on “deep sky treasures:” areas rich in observable phenomena.

Approachable and authoritative, gorgeous and fascinating, National Geographic Stargazer's Atlas will intrigue all who love to gaze up in wonder at the night sky—and find themselves wanting to know more.

I have always loved gazing at the stars. I remember laying in our backyard on a blanket and looking into space. The idea that there was more beyond Earth, just on and on into infinity, and as humans we will never know how far it goes. I also don't know a whole lot about space, but it was always my favorite unit in school science lessons but I think my lil' ol' brain just can't comprehend all there is to know. Thankfully though, National Geographic breaks it down into manageable chapters and gives us information we can all understand. 

If you live in an urban area and can't see the glorious night sky in its true glory, National Geographic pulls through and gives us page after page of absolutely stunning photos. The book gives you suggestions on how to see all of these things for yourself (because we don't all have access to high powered telescopes, as it turns out), and it tells you all that you need to know. 

Did you know there is a meteor shower calendar? Did you know there are sky maps? I can barely navigate a land map, but a sky map is a whole new beast, but I really want to learn. It seems daunting because this changes seasonally so that's like the interstates all moving around every few months. Throughout the book you'll see photos of galaxies and nebulas (and more!) but those are my two favorites I think, and they are just..... stunning. To think these are just casually out and about around us blows my mind. Even cooler? There is a large section of the book that talks about the importants of the wonders of the universe and the impact those had on early civilizations. 

If you're looking for a great holiday gift, I very HIGHLY recommend this! I don't know anyone who wouldn't be immediately drawn into this book and soon everyone will be crowding around it. It would make an amazing coffee table book, and anyone who pages through this is going to learn something and look at the night sky just a little differently. 

A huge thank you to National Geographic and TLC Book Tours for having me on this tour! I am a huge fan of anything to do with National Geographic and their books are my #1 gifted book of all time. You literally cannot go wrong with anything they put out there, they are all winners. 

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Book Review: 100 Great American Parks

Whoa boy.... I have had a really rough last... five days, I guess I'd say. It's just been a lot of awfulness with my health in general, but then I'm dealing that at the same time my mental health is taking a massive nosedive. You can imagine what that's feeling like and you'd likely be pretty spot on. I'm trying to keep my head above the water, but I'm really struggling.  

All that to say I am really behind in life in general, so be patient as I try to catch myself up. 

100 Great American Parks

National Geographic

Discover diverse and breathtaking natural landscapes in this beautifully illustrated collection of America’s 63 national parks, as well as 37 state, recreational, and city parks and green spaces.

Nowhere in the world is there a park system like America’s. The National Park System was the first in the world and is a collection of the country’s best national treasures. For Americans, these places are part of our cultural DNA. Filled with beautiful National Geographic photography, wisdom from experts, need-to-know travel information including the best scenic overlooks and hiking trails, and practical wildlife-spotting tips, this inspirational collection takes readers to all 63 national parks, as well as 37 state, recreational, and city parks and green spaces.
With a park in every state, this beautiful collection highlights the top experiences in stunning destinations from Yosemite and Sequoia to Biscayne and Mammoth Cave. You'll discover the beauty, diversity, surprises, and wonder of each park, including

• The mountain peaks of the Tetons
• Hawaii’s constantly erupting volcanoes
• The crystal-clad underworld of Carlsbad Caverns
• The steamy swamps and mangrove forests of the deep South
• Hidden gems tucked in bustling cities like New York’s Central Park

And so much more!

One of my most favorite things to do is go on roadtrips. Coincidentally, one of my favorite things to do as a mom is bringing my kids to new places so they can see the country beyond our tiny little speck on the map. Not for nothing, we do live in a beautiful area that also has some opportunities and ultimately is a great place to raise a family. So while I don't regret settling down here, I do wish I had more chances as a kid to see other places because maybe I wouldn't have been afraid to leave our town, you know? So I really want my kids to see other places and maybe one will stick with them and they'll be excited to leave here and go on their own and thrive. 

Of course, if they stay here, I won't hate that either. But knowing what there is out there has always been a goal of mine as a mom. Bottom line- our family loves a good roadtrip. 

What better roadtrip to plan than one involving a state or national park, right? I am obsessed with National Geographic books in general, but their travel ones are always stunning and I always find myself filling the book with sticky notes as reminders of places I want to see as I plan our next family roadtrip. This book is going to be a huge asset because we do love a good park. 

This book is separated into five main parts: The West & The Pacific, Off the Mainland, The East & Mid-Atlantic, The South, and The Midwest & The Plains, which makes it really easy to go to wherever general area of the country you want to go. Of course, if you know right off which state you're going to, there is a chapter for Parks by State, which is mostly handy for me once I decide which state we're focusing on for that summer roadtrip. For instance, I am really thinking Indiana is going to be our destination this year, so the first thing I did was look for anything in Indiana. The first one I found was Indiana Dunes National Park, which I had written down on my initial itinerary ideas, but I know next to nothing about this place, let alone the fact there are even sand dunes in Indiana (I really thought this was mostly a beach thing). That page talks about the general history/overall view of the park, and some basic information such as size of the park, the best time to go, and some in-park accomodations. Interestingly, the Indiana Dunes is "fourth among US national parks for its biodiversity, home to more than 1100 plant species", so that's actually pretty cool. 

The following page talks about the Iown Effigy Mounds National Monument, which if you remember from last year, was one of the places we actually saw. (We also almost died during that hike while our then six-year old Penelope shamed all of us and reminded us that she had no problem with the hike, what the heck is wrong with US?! Fun times.) The Gateway Arch National Park is also featured, which was a highlight of the Strand Family Roadtrip to Missouri in 2019. Wisconsin only has one park listed, the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore (which is absolutely beautiful if you are ever here), but we hiked those ice caves one winter and we also tried to kayak once (and NEVER again). 

Overall, I really loved this book. It's full of amazing photographics that will inspire you to get in the car and go. Go off and make some family memories, this country is stunning and you need to see it. Thank you to TLC Book Tours and National Geographic for having me on this tour and sending me a copy for review. If you are itching for adventure, definitely pick this one up, or any of their travel books!

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Book Review: Into the Forest

Happy Monday! I hope you had a great weekend and maybe... you got to take a stroll in the forest... see what I did there? 

Into the Forest - Susan Tyler Hitchcock

For millennia, trees have offered renewal and inspiration. They have provided for humanity on every level, from spiritual sanctuary to the raw material for our homes, books, and food. In this beautiful and revealing book, National Geographic combines legendary photography with cutting-edge science to illuminate exactly how trees influence the life of planet Earth—from our personal lives to the weather cycle. Beautifully illustrated essays tell the stories of the world’s most remarkable trees, from Tane Mahura in New Zealand, the ancient Maori "lord of the forest," to Pando, a single aspen spreading over 100 acres: Earth’s largest living thing. You’ll also discover how an astronaut carried tree seeds to the moon and back; the reason "microdosing" on tree gas is a sure way to boost your immune system; and why playing in the dirt boosts serotonin, happiness hormone.

For nature and science enthusiasts, as well as photography lovers, Into the Forest is a beautiful and edifying gift to give or cherish.

If ever you want to feel like a teeny, tiny speck of nothing, go walk in any forest. I've been in all kinds of forests and just looking out to never ending trees will really take your breath away. 10/10, highly recommend, it's really calming. 

It goes without saying, this book is chock full of amazing photographs that will make you want to pack your bags and find a forest, any forest. Some of these photos made me feel the cool air you would feel in a forest, and I almost got the same soothing feeling I would get if I was actually in a forest. Aside from the photos, the book is divided into six chapters (Tree, Earth, Water, Air, Fire, Forest) so you really get the full educational experience about trees. You'll learn about the dangers of the environmental changes that in turn effect the trees, which effects literally every aspect of our lives and the Earth. 

While this likely isn't the kind of book you're going to read cover to cover, this is a great book that you will find yourself immersed in because of all of the information coming at you. It's another amazing book from our friends at National Geographic. A huge thank you to them, and TLC Book Tours, for having me on this tour and sending me a copy for review. I cannot wait to get into the forest this summer and look at things in a completely different light. 

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Book Review: Octopus, Seahorse, Jellyfish

You know I am an absolute sucker for all things National Geographic, but this one is maybe my favorite one! 

Octopus · Seahorse · Jellyfish

In this mesmerizing book of photography, acclaimed photographer David Liittschwager reveals the unnerving beauty of three notoriously mysterious sea creatures--the jellyfish, octopus, and seahorse--and how they perceive the world.

The jellyfish, the octopus, and the seahorse are among the most wondrous species on Earth--as well as some of the most difficult to document using traditional photography methods. Enter celebrated photographer David Liittschwager, who has spent decades developing specialized portraiture techniques to capture these creatures’ pulsating bioluminescence, translucent bodies, and ethereal movements.

This luminous collection showcases 200 of Liittschwager’s most revealing photographs, paired with penetrating essays that explain how a creature without a brain or without bones perceives the world. Bestselling science writers Elizabeth Kolbert, Jennifer Holland, and Olivia Judson explain the biology and advanced cognitive abilities of these spineless denizens of the deep, exquisitely evoking their unnerving yet undeniable charisma. In these pages, you’ll glimpse a seahorse only half an inch tall, a moon jelly spinning off a snowflake-shaped clone, and the blinking comb jelly, which may be the most ancient living animal on Earth.

Both enlightening and profound, this enchanting book documents the expanding frontiers of marine science, creating a powerful testament to the value and beauty of these little-seen--and endangered--species.

Ever since elementary school, I've always been incredibly fascinated, and slightly scared of, jellyfish. I remember doing a report on them once and they have become the first thing I look for at every aquarium I go to. I could watch them all day. I should also confess the I get freaked out when I see an octopus. They are incredible to watch, just their fluidity as they move makes them seem more liquid than anything. Their tentacles are weird though, and I've always wondered what they would feel like, but also I'm pretty sure I would completely flip out if I touched one. I also love seahorses, they seem so delicate but strong. I once saw one give birth at an aquarium and it blew my mind to see all of the tiny seahorses come right out, and on page 130, there is a photo of just that and it is absolutely amazing. 

This book is 250-something pages full of incredible photos and I found myself paging through this over and over again. Penelope and Lucy are now obsessed with it, and we have talked about each animal and compared them, and talked about what we think about each. The book isn't just all photos though, there is information a plenty about each animal so you can learn along the way as well. 

Thank you to TLC Book Tours and National Geographic for having me on this tour and sending me a copy for review. Anytime one of these comes to my mailbox, it's an absolute happy day for our family!

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Book Review: 50 States, 500 Campgrounds

Hey- it's March, and do you know what THAT means???? It's my birthday month! I'm turning 40 on the 10th, and that's crazy. I'm not even really excited about that and I feel like that's kind of a bummer. I'm not sure what my problem is this year, but I don't know. It feels like it will be just another day. We'll see. 

50 States, 500 Campgrounds

Plan your next getaway to the great outdoors with this one-of-a-kind resource for campgrounds across North America. In this comprehensive sequel to the best-selling 50 States, 5,000 Ideas, you'll discover the top tent and cabin campsites, as well as RV resorts and glamping destinations around the United States and Canada. Along with destination information—location, contact info, open seasons, and amenities—along with expert recommendations for activities including hiking, biking, and water sports; the best restaurants for days you need a break from the camp stove; and nearby attractions—from sights within nearby national and state parks to local museums. Choose from 10 sites in each state, Western and Eastern Canada, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico, including a cabin at Yogi Bear's Delaware Beaches Jellystone Park Camp Resort; a tent near the stunning waterfall at the Grand Canyon's Havasupai Campground; or a cozy yurt in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Whatever your camping bucket list includes, 50 States, 500 Campgrounds has the site for you.

The quickest way to give me wanderlust is to hand me literally any book from National Geographic, because they have a way of making me want to go anywhere. If you know me in real life, you know that I am not an outdoorsy gal, and I certainly am not a camper by choice, but as I as paging through this.... I have to admit I kind of want to do it once. 

ONCE, I tell you. 

The best thing about this book is that even if you aren't a camper, or maybe you're more of a glamper, or maybe you're neither and would rather stay in an RV, this book has something for everyone. Even you, hotel snob. While it isn't an extensive list of campgrounds for each state, it does pick some of the best of the best for you to choose from. Each listing gives you the run down of what you'll find on site from approximate costs, permit requirements, amenities, number of available spots, but best of all- things to see and do. So even if you know you aren't going to be camping persay, you can easily find something to do for your next vacation. A quick introduction to responsible camping is included of course, and each state's section ends with a "something special" mention, and of course, stunning photographs throughout. I also really liked that Canada is included because I live in northern Wisconsin, right at the tip of Lake Superior, so a jaunt to Canada is a half day away, so I know Canada is never out of the realm of possibility for a quick summer trip. For those who want to venture a little farther from home, information for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands is also included, so you can go camp on the beach if you'd like. 

Not going to lie, as I was going through this book, I learned that you can camp in Constoga wagons... a bit upgraded from the ones that once roamed the American frontier, but wagons nonetheless. Head to Utah if you're interested in that. Are you a fan of The Hobbit? Maybe you should head to Tennessee, where you can go glamping in a gully hut... which is basically an underground cabin. I actually tabbed this off because we drive right by it on our trips to Florida and back and it would be kind of cool to surprise the kids with this instead of a sketchy motel off the hotel. They'll think we've actually lost our minds. 

I highly recommend this one, or literally any other National Geographic travel book, if you're in the process of searching for your next vacation. You'll end up with a list of places and have a hard time picking just one. Thank you to TLC Book Tours and National Geographic for having me on this tour! 

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Book Review: Wild Seas

I am all about a good gift book and National Geographic is BRINGING it this year. You could probably get a book for every person on your shopping list and the best part? Books are super easy to wrap, am I right?? 

Wild Seas - Thomas Peschak

From gregarious gray whales plying the waters of Baja California to acrobatic manta rays in the Maldives and parading penguins in Antarctica, National Geographic photographer Thomas Peschak has spent a lifetime documenting the beauty and fragility of underwater life and the majesty of wild coastlines.

This awe-inspiring book of photography charts his transformation from marine biologist to full-time conservation advocate, armed with little more than a mask, fins and a camera. In these vivid pages, Peschak photographs sharks in a feeding frenzy, tracks sea turtles the size of bears, and dodges marine poachers, to reveal the splendor of pristine seas as well as the dark side of pollution, overfishing, and climate change.

Filled with magnificent images from Southern Africa, the Galápagos, Seychelles, and more, this illuminating collection offers an impassioned case for revering—and preserving—the world’s oceans.

 

I have to start by saying the picture of a bunch of penguins swimming on page 114 rocked Lucy's world. If you know Lucy in real life, you know she's a penguin fanatic and nobody knows why, and she now wants a penguin for a pet. 

Not surprisingly, Matt says absolutely not. 

Also, there is a photo on page 123 of a Cape gannet bird and it is flying directly at the camera and it is terrifying. 

I don't know if it's obvious yet that the section on seabirds was my favorite, but it is what it is. I'm a fan of seabirds. The photos in this book are, quite possibly, the best photos I have EVER seen in any National Geographic book, and if you know NatGeo at all you know that's a pretty major statement. Not surprisingly, Thomas Peschak is one of National Geographic's most popular photographers and this book showcases that start to finish. 

I loved that the book shows us all of the beauty and the best of the oceans and seas around the world, making you feel incredibly tiny and insignificant, but also the destruction that humans are causing. I went through this book learning new things, but also learning more about things I already knew, while at the same time having the point that there is a whole lot about our planet we don't know anything about driven home. 

The book is broken up over seven sections: Sea Turtles, Manta Rays, Seabirds, Sharks, Sardines, Galapagos, and Conservation. I already mentioned the Seabirds section was my favorite, but if there was ever a section to keep me firmly out of the water all together, it would be the Galapagos section. The subtitle? Dragons and Vampires. Just..... just don't read that if you are planning a tropical bitch vacation anytime soon because it will ruin it for you because it is full of creatures nightmares are made of. To think all of those, and so many more we don't even know about, and just..... swimming around under water? NOPE. A whole bunch of nope, nope, nope. 

This book was wild, y'all- I so highly recommend it. Thank you to TLC Book Tours and National Geographic for having me on this tour and sending me a copy for review. I'm going to stick to pools, I'm just throwing that out there. 

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Book Review: Ocean

I mean, I'm a Pisces and I am a Pisces through and through. Literally obsessed with the ocean, all things water, I'd like to be a fish or something, but I know I'd probably be eaten on day one so I guess maybe that's not a great plan. When I saw this I literally HAD to get my hands on it and whoa boy..... it DELIVERED. 

Ocean - National Geographic

Discover the world's ocean--from tides and currents to the creatures living in it to the impact it has on our lives, whether we know it or not--in this richly illustrated overview of the life force that defines and sustains our planet, written by world-renowned oceanographer Sylvia Earle.

Everything you want to know about the ocean can be found inside these beautiful and dynamic pages. National Geographic Ocean unveils the power and significance of our planet's watery essence: the fundamental importance of the ocean in shaping Earth's climate and chemistry as well as its vital role in supporting a multitude of life-forms, including our own human race.

World-renowned oceanographer and National Geographic Explorer in Residence Sylvia Earle--affectionately called "Her Deepness"--guides readers with her lyrical style and inspiring wisdom, describing the evolution, beauty, and impact of our ocean; the challenges it faces, such as climate change, plastic, and overfishing; and the myriad ways we can help protect it.

This comprehensive reference explains the fundamental science of the ocean--from plate tectonics to seawater makeup, including a fascinating illustrated guide to marine life, from sponges, kelp, and zooplankton to whales, sharks, and sea turtles. More than 100 maps and diagrams, including seafloor and political maps of all Earth's seas and oceans, elucidate Dr. Earle's authoritative text.

If you're looking for a last minute gift for anyone, pick up literally any National Geographic book and it will be a hit. If you have someone obsessed with the ocean, ocean animals, science, or all of it, you absolutely need to pick this up. The book is massive, just over 500 oversized pages, and it is FULL of amazing science information and photographs. The very last section talks about the southern oceanic area, which begins with a double page photo of penguins, which are Lucy's favorite animal. I think we stared at the penguins for a solid five minutes. I'm not quite sure what she was studying but she was fascinated by a photo of a ton of similar looking penguins. Honestly, to be in the mind of a five year old would be fascinating. 

Penelope really liked learning why the sea is salty, she's particularly offended by the salt content in the Gulf of Mexico. The last time we went to Florida was her first time really being able to play in the water and she unintentionally swallowed a bunch of it and I feel like all of Madeira Beach heard about her experience and exactly how she felt about it. 

I really enjoyed all of the photos of the interesting life you'll find below the surface. On page 170 there is a photo of a European fan worm, which sounds alarming and immediately like I'm not interested, but it's actually quite beautiful. Of course, if you're interested in learning about the sometimes terrifying looking creatures of the deep sea, those are included too and yeah, they are still scary looking. 

I love how the book explains our impact on the ocean, and how it'll impact all of us in the future without positive changes. Some of it we knew, some of it was new to me information. I finished the book feeling really overwhelmed, slightly alarmed, and a greater appreciation for the power of the ocean and how, no matter where we live, we're all at the mercy of it. 

Thank you to TLC Book Tours and National Geographic for having me on this tour. If you're an educator, this would be an incredible classroom resource, even for kids to just page through. You're going to learn something even through a quick flip of the pages, and those are the best books to surround kids with. 

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Book Review: National Geographic Complete Birds of North America

Happy Monday! I have to brag and tell you that I am already half completed with my Christmas shopping. I'm not kidding- this is such a good feeling and I think this is something I'm going to keep doing every year because I already feel less stressed out about it. Other than that, I've been getting my nerd on and reading some non-fiction. 

Complete Birds of North America 

National Geographic

This desk reference is the most up-to-date and comprehensive source of knowledge on North American bird identification, distribution, behavior, habitat, and conservation concerns available today.

More an encyclopedia than a field guide, National Geographic's Complete Birds is a browsable treasure trove of facts. This comprehensive volume profiles every bird observable in the continental United States and Canada, featuring species accounts with details that include calls and songs, breeding behaviors, molting patterns, and the vast extent of their polar and neotropical migrations. The precision maps, illuminating photographs, and more than 4,000 exquisite pieces of annotated art make this the biggest and best bird book ever.

This third edition, thoroughly updated, includes:

Information on more than 1,000 species and subspecies
Overviews of every family
Organization reflecting current taxonomy
850 range maps, more than half updated since the last edition
Sidebars on identification challenges such as distinguishing between Bay-breasted and Blackpoll Warblers in fall or separating the various species of white egrets

If you would have told me like 20 years ago that I would become a bird nut, I would have thought you were crazy. I am that person that doesn't like birds swooping around me, or being outside when there are a bunch of birds because I just really don't want to get pooped on. 

Honestly, I don't think I'm alone in that. 

Over the years though, I've really gotten into checking out the birds that come into my yard and wondering what the heck that was. Over the last five years for sure I've really gotten into maintaining different bird feeders and being mindful of the plants I put in the garden because I want to make sure the birds like them (also the bees). Fortunately, our neighborhood birds are not scared of my dog at all but it's hard to be scared by a 15 pound morkie named Twinky wearing a sweater. 

The only problem is I know almost nothing about birds, and I certainly can't identify what kind of bird is swooping at my dog for fun. We live in an area that we actually have a huge range of birds that come and go seasonally but also several who stick around for the harsh winters and I'm always curious as to why they would hang around. 

Which is where this book comes in- if every there was a comprehensive book to tell you everything and anything about the birds you'll encounter in your 'hood, or even on vacation, this is it. Just under 800 pages of in depth information about every kind of bird possible. Divided into sections like, hummingbirds, puffins, swallows, dippers, loons, and a bunch more- you're going to learn about their identification, migration, population, rare status, similar species, etc. Each bird has colorful and details pictures so you can see what they look like when they aren't swooping at your head. They also show a map with their migration pattern so you can hopefully figure out which bird is hogging your feeder. 

I have Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds that come to my yard every spring/early summer, that's when they are all over my yard. They particularly like the horse chestnut tree because it does get these yellow flowers all over it so it must be an amazing buffet for them. I also saw an Eastern Bluebird for the first time in my life this summer, it was the brightest blue I had ever seen but I couldn't get a good picture of it from inside the house. Those look similar to Indigo Buntings, but those have more blue on them, so I'm pretty sure that's not what it was that I saw. Also, I saw my first Northern Cardinal this summer. I only saw one, so I wonder if he'll come back next summer. I also get a lot of different Warblers in my yard, which I didn't know that was a kind of bird, so that's kind of cool to know. 

To say I have been geeking out with this book is an understatement. Even the kids have been going through it and just picking out the birds they think look the coolest. I'm a fan of any kind of book that fosters learning. If you're looking for a gift for a birder in your life (or maybe one just starting out), this would be a great one. Maybe you're just looking for an interesting coffee table book or maybe a book for the cabin/camper, this would be a good one. Highly recommend. 

Thank you to TLC Book Tours and National Geographic for having me on this tour! I am a fan of anything to do with National Geographic and you never get through a book from them without learning a thing or two. 

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Book Review: 1000 Perfect Weekends

Raise both hands if you are in need of a vacation. Seriously, all of us probably have our hands up. Most of us can't afford a week long vacation doing anything, so that makes us feel like there isn't a solution.  

National Geographic has our back, folks- they've given us 1000 perfect weekend trips so we really just need to start planning. 

1000 Perfect Weekends National Geographic

Packed with innovative ideas and inspiring photographs, this gift-worthy treasury features 1,000 dream weekend escapes from sunny beach retreats to lush mountain idylls, exotic city sojourns, and wild adventures around the world.

Whether you're looking for a way to unplug from the busy work week, take the family on a quick getaway, or add to a vacation itinerary, this practical and inspiring book provides the perfect way to plan your next quick escape. Whatever your pleasure, 1,000 Perfect Weekends has a unique itinerary built to excite you, illustrated with dramatic National Geographic photographs. Divided by theme and interest--including nature parks, country weekends, mountain retreats, enabled travel, romantic getaways, traveling with pets, and more--this fun-packed guide offers an adventure you can experience in 36 to 72 hours. Highlighting the best short escapes from hubs across the globe, these trips cover more than 40 countries around the world with escapes like:

• Two days sailing off the coast of the Bahamas
• Camping with wild horses on Assateague Island in Maryland
• Driving through Italy's "Chocolate Valley"--a mouth watering experience
• Skating the world's largest ice rink at Ottawa's winter festival
• Swinging over the edge of the world in Ecuador
• A family-friendly getaway to the best theme parks in the country
• An R&R weekend at a renowned spa in California's Napa Valley

You'll also find more than 50 snackable top-10 lists--from the best places to go antiquing to the most relaxing spas to the top museums in the world--to add to your bucket list, along with first-person accounts from travelers who have scouted out each location.

The best place to start is by telling you that I am obsessed with all of National Geographic's travel books. I have read so many of them, I own a ton of them, they are all full of post it notes and tabs because I want to quickly find things. I reference all of them when I'm planning any kind of trip, these books are amazing. 

This book wastes no time and wants to get you into vacation planning mode immediately. Organized by type of trip (beach escapes, mountain retreats, family friendly, road trip, camping, food & wine, pet friendly, wildlife adventures, adrenaline rushers, ultimate retreats, and many more), this is everything you need to be booking your trip in no time. Each section features international destinations but also things within the continental United States, depending on how adventurous you want to get. Top Ten lists are throughout the book so if you can't decide on a location, maybe something on one of these lists will guide you towards where you want to go. 

Maybe you know where you're going, you just aren't sure what the plan once you get there is- use the index to search your destination. If it's listed in the book, it'll tell you all of the places it's featured in this book and then you can decide the type of trip. For instance, I know that we're going to go to Florida soon but I really don't want to do all of the normal touristy things (looking at you, Disney)- I did a quick index search and I had no idea Sarasota had so much to do, so we are looking into that since its close to where we were going to be anyways. 

I have so many trips marked off in this book already- I am determined to go on an anniversary trip with my husband one of these years.... maybe this is the year. Thank you to TLC Book Tours and National Geographic for having me on this tour! 

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Book Review: Photo Ark Wonders

I am so incredibly behind in life, so expect a ridiculous life catch up over the course of this week. Between being a mom, going on a friend date, going on a husband date, trying get ahead on Christmas shopping, revamping finances, doing PTO stuff for school, and just every other thing I've got going on? I am so overwhelemed. I no longer multi-task well anymore, so then I start panicking, which makes me forget even more, and then things like today happen where I literally burst into tears for no reason and scream into a pillow.  

So things are going well. 

Photo Ark Wonders - National Geographic

A glorious new volume of Sartore’s signature animal portraits, this time highlighting the fascinating shapes, patterns, and expressions of animals both familiar and little known.

Joel Sartore, on a mission to photograph all the animal species in human care, now delights us with more photographs, this time selected to represent the amazing diversity of the world’s animals.

The book’s four chapters -- Pattern, Shape, Extra, and Personality -- invite us to revel in these photographs, many cleverly paired into amusing and often surprising comparisons, like the catfish and the mouse with the same stripes down their backs, the tarantula and the poison dart frog both cobalt blue, or the tiny lizard and the weighty ox both sporting pointed horns.

Each photograph gets its own page or two-page spread.

Scientifically accurate captions highlight distinctive features.

Throughout, Sartore recalls telling moments from his photographic adventures.

With all new image selections, this book expands the best-selling Photo Ark series, sure to be a hit with those who already treasure National Geographic Photo Ark, Birds of the Photo Ark, and Photo Ark Vanishing.

Animal lovers young and old will get lost in the pages of this book, delighted by the spectacular diversity among these creatures and the wit of the photographer chronicling them.

If you have never picked up a National Geographic book by Joel Sartore, you are behind the eight ball, my friend. The photos he presents are so incredibly stunning that they don't even look real. Penelope and Lucy spent so much time over the last few weeks paging through this book with me just talking about animals and things we thought were interested. It is incredible to see some of the intricate detailing on the bodies of various creatures, it's hard to believe these are things out in the wild. 

One of our favorite things to do is go to zoos and aquariums as a family, and we like to see animals and creatures we wouldn't otherwise see in our environment. While that's an incredible thing to do, you still don't always get the intense close up to really pick out the vivid details that make this animal stand apart from others. Things like a Cobalt Blue Tarantula or a Dyeing Poison Frog aren't something we've ever seen and likely never would on our own, but on pages 206 and 207 we see the beautiful coloring of both but also characteristics of each that kids wouldn't know about. The photos are so amazing, we could see what look like teeth on the tarantula and the distinct hairs that make it look fuzzy from afar. Lucy really liked looking at any kind of bird because she doesn't understand why some birds have spots and others don't, or why birds don't have the same kind of feet. Penelope is all about bugs and lizards and wants to know why some lizards look bumpy but don't feel bumpy. We also spent a lot of time looking at the various mice on pages 340 and 341 and comparing them, how are they the same or different? Which one was the cutest? 

The book is broken up into four distinct chapters: Shape, Pattern, Extra, and Attitude, which are all ways to classify the animals. Penelope really liked the bonus chapter on how the photos are made (she wants to know how you get a monkey to stay still). 

If you are looking for some unique holiday gifts this year, I highly suggest anything Joel Sartore does- any animal lover is going to pour over these books for endless hours. Everytime you go through them you learn something new, and it inspires you to step up and do more for this planet. Having these up close and intimate photos of Earth's creatures is not only awe-inspiring, but it invokes this urgency to save them. 

I am so grateful to be on this tour for TLC Book Tours, National Geographic books are some of my absolute favorite. I always feel like an excited kid in the school library going page by page. 

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