Expanding My Horizons with The Idiot’s Guides

If you’ve read my recent post in Minding the Home on The Mindful Moms, then you know I’ve been taking time to work on time for me (You can find it here). I want to learn how to be more mindful. I really want to learn more about photography as a hobby.  I’d also love to add to my culinary experience and it’s always a good thing to spend time on introspection. When I received a few new titles from The Complete Idiot’s Guide® library, I was excited that they all fit into one of my goals. I have read a variety of books from the series and have always been impressed with the way information is delivered in such an easy to digest manner. No matter the topic, whether it be dog training or learning a second language, I’ve always found that the books provide me with exactly the right amount of information in the most succinct manner. Because of this, I always look first at The Complete Idiot’s Guide® for any new subjects I’m interested in. Here are four of the recent titles I’ve read.

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Photography Essentials – This book is perfect for moms and dads ready to improve their photography skills. A wonderful present to accompany any gifts involving new cameras. You’ll learn and develop a basic understanding of what makes a picture great. I love the idea of improving my photography skills so that I can translate them into great pictures of my family. I love that I can read the book here and there to gain a basic understanding and also use it as a reference book.

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Vegan Cooking – I’ve become very interested in cooking vegan meals at home mostly because of my youngest son’s allergies to milk and eggs. I’m also always interested in bringing more vegetables into our diet. This book has provided me with the information I really needed. An explanation of the ingredients in vegan recipes that I had never heard of before. What exactly is xyz and how is it prepared? I now know. I love how it not only includes a load of recipes but also a very informative section on vegan cooking basics.

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Mindfulness – As a trained psychologist, I’ve learned all about being observant of behavior. I learned how to see things through a clearer pair of eyes. However, when it comes to my own life and my own family, I find that my goggles get a little fuzzy. This book really helped me to “recenter” my thinking and reminded me that I need time to clear my mind and just live in the moment. My children will always be my most important priority but sometimes I find myself worrying about laundry, work, etc rather than just being with them. Practicing some of the mindful activities from this book has really helped me to clear my head in ways I wasn’t sure how to do.

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to the Psychology of Happiness - I found this a very interesting and fun read. I find the subject of positive psychology intriguing. It definitely felt wonderful to read something so positive. Through my training as a psychologist and even as a parent, I’m routinely amazed by how much of our way of thinking effects the way our lives really are. If you need a little ‘kick in the pants’ to get you on a different way of thinking, this may be the book for you.

As parents, we may not be able to find time to enrich our own lives. Finding the right book and the right activity may just be the right fit for you. You can find the above titles among an enormous library of The Complete Idiot’s Guides® at Amazon.com. Just click on the title to find the above books.