First ladies are supposed to be dignified background figures, quietly supportive of their husbands' agendas. Above all, they're not supposed to act out or cause even a whiff of scandal. Of course, reality often overrides conventional wisdom, and this book shows how far from the prim ideal many of the Presidents' wives have strayed. Part irreverent portrait gallery, part exuberant expose, Feisty First Ladies and Other Unforgettable White House Women introduces a remarkable array of wild women, from Martha Washington, who opposed her own husband's presidential election; to Abraham Lincoln's eccentric wife, Mary; to rebellious daughters like Patti Davis who were the tabloid fodder of their day. Laugh-out-loud funny and filled with amazing stranger-than-fiction facts from our American history, Feisty First Ladies journeys into the realm of the eclectic sisterhood whose outrageous words and deeds have rocked the fusty old foundations of the White House -- and the nation!

Feisty First Ladies and Other Unforgettable White House Women

Biographies & Memoirs

Stephens, Autumn

Community & Culture

Viva Editions

Dreams deferred are dreams that die -- a process that can take the dreamer along with them. Gallagher believes it's never too late to revisit, and relive, one's deepest desires. Writing in her trademark warm and witty style, Gallagher argues that rather than spend endless time trying to find oneself, one should start creating oneself by returning to basic life wishes. It's Never Too Late to Be What You Might Have Been, based on the famous George Eliot quote, combines sage advice, step-by-step guidelines, and inspirational push. Individual chapters include "Attitude is Everything," "Mind Over Matter, Matters," "Remembering Your Forgotten Dreams and Realizing Them," and "It's Never Too Late to Have a New Career." Written for those who struggle with discovering their purpose in life -- whether a nervous college graduate facing the future, a 40-something mom seeking renewal, or those who have been recently laid off -- this book explains how to listen to and honor one's inner voice.

It's Never Too Late to Be What You Might Have Been

Gallagher, BJ

Business & Money

Who do we turn to for the best advice, gossip, and fashion tips? Our friends! And listen, ladies – we'd be nowhere without our girlfriends. So here it is—a book to celebrate our bff's who get us through life, Each colorful page features images of gal pals sharing true-to-life comments illustrating the deep bonds of true friendship. More than just pretty pictures, Girlfriends Are Lifesavers is a tribute to the art of friendship. Laugh-out loud funny, art collector Reeda Josephs has paired each one-of-a-kind image with canny comments - lovely vintage vixens sharing the special moments of life. Filled with love, laughter, and heartfelt caring, this charming collection honors everything it means to be a true friend. Each writing reflects on a different aspect of women's friendships — from sharing secrets to sharing tears, from being each other's cheerleaders to comforting one another with hugs, advice ... and maybe a little chocolate.

Girlfriends Are Lifesavers

Parenting & Relationships

Did you know Thomas Jefferson's grandson was an ax murderer? Don't you delight knowing some dinosaurs were teeny tiny as hens? Before buying that plane ticket, don't you NEED to know which exotic islands still have cannibals? Wonder what it's like to live in Hell Town at the End of the World? How about an ailment so surreal it's named after Alice in Wonderland? In Random Obsessions: Trivia You Can't Live Without, historian Nick Belardes has dug into the raw source material found in historical archives, scientific studies, and libraries the world over. You'll also read first-person interviews with people who can explain the unexplained, from the permanently puzzling Mothman conspiracy to secret Star Wars Jedi religious cults, and the charmingly eccentric reason why British aerospace engineers sent teddy bears floating out into space. Truly trivia you can't live without, Random Obsessions is filled with facts, lists, definitions, and astonishing information guaranteed to provide you with the best cocktail conversation for many years to come! Your guide, Nick Belardes, has devoted his life to poking around the peculiar and perplexing. Explore the unknown stories behind why the nation's capitol didn't stay in Philadelphia, why some fossils are smiling, and how, if Preparation H existed in the early 1800s, Napoleon would have won Waterloo. These real-world facts are outlandish enough to sharpen your brain and occupy your mind for hours of reading. This book is so fascinating and fun, you'll become obsessed, too!

Random Obsessions: Trivia You Can't Live Without

Humor & Entertainment

Belardes, Nick

Puzzles & Games

The recession has put a lot of strain on the grocery bill, especially for those with families or friends to feed. But that doesn't mean having to skip gourmet food and a balanced diet. Noted chef and "four-star frugal gourmet" Lynette Shirk shows readers how to creatively and cleverly use ingredients and leftovers to produce wonderful inexpensive meals for any occasion. This book has everything, from roasting coffee at home to concocting inexpensive crave-worthy casseroles to whipping up snacks on a shoestring. Chapters include "Bankable Breakfasts," "Lunch for Less," and "Dinner on a Dime," and feature irresistible recipes from Shaved Shrimp Rolls and Gourmet PBJ to an "Exponential Chicken" that stretches the bird over five different courses. With hundreds of delicious dishes and expert advice (including fun ideas for serving), The Frugal Foodie Cookbook keeps hungry readers living well and eating better.

The Frugal Foodie Cookbook: Waste-Not Recipes for the Wise Cook

Shirk, Lynette Rohrer

Starr, Lara

Personal Finance

In this D.I.Y. guide to the good life, readers learn how to edit their lives, since in the long run, less is more — pedal now or paddle later! Readers and their families can live more joyfully and far more creatively, all on a dime. The best things in life are free — or very nearly free — and author Billee Sharp shares her freecycling, budget-savvy, barter-better wisdom. Based on a sensible foundation of global responsibility and foresight for the next seven generations, Billee Sharp's philosophy is compelling. From the radical common sense introduction to the practical how-tos and yummy recipes, Fix It, Make It, Grow It, Bake It is a step-by-step handbook to revolutionizing spending habits and reclaiming quality of life in the process. Learn how to start a community garden and to seed share, ditch the grass and raise organic veggies in the front lawn, eco-clean the house with lemons and lavender cure minor maladies from the kitchen cabinet, organize a trade-for-what-you-want free flea market, and cook meals for pennies.

Fix It, Make It, Grow It, Bake It: The D.I.Y. Guide to the Good Life

Self-Help

Sharp, Billee

Creativity

Whatever is given -- even a difficult and challenging moment -- is a gift. Living as if each day is a thank-you can help transform fear into courage, anger into forgiveness, isolation into belonging, and another's pain into healing. Saying thank-you every day inspires feelings of love, compassion, and hope. These ideas are the basis for this timely book. Authors Nina Lesowitz and Mary Beth Sammons present a simple, but comprehensive program for incorporating gratitude into one's life, and reaping the many benefits that come from doing so. The book is divided into ten chapters from "Thank You Power" and "Ways to Stay Thankful in Difficult Times" to "Gratitude as a Spiritual/Cultural Practice " and "Putting Gratitude into Action." Each chapter includes stories of individuals whose lives have been transformed by embracing this program, along with motivating quotes and blessings, and a suggested gratitude practice such as keeping a weekly gratitude journal and starting a gratitude circle.

Living Life as a Thank You: The Transformative Power of Daily Gratitude

Health, Fitness & Dieting

Sammons, Mary Beth

Lesowitz, Nina

Reference

Dr. Linda Clever has developed a do-it-yourself tool kit with The Fatigue Prescription, based on years of medical practice, life experience, and the success of RENEW. Filled with easy self-assessments, informational charts, and sound advice from a physician who healed herself, this book will help you avoid illness, reset priorities, and most importantly, regain your health and happiness. Are you living your to-do list rather than living your life? Many of us run from task to task and are burning the nearly non-existent candle at both ends. We are sleep-deprived, overworked, overwhelmed, and undernourished in body and soul. We slam energy drinks, gnaw energy bars, and constantly drink caffeine to keep going as our adrenal glands struggle to keep up. Most of us are one health crisis away from financial devastation--and yet, we are hurtling towards physical breakdown each over-scheduled day. Our lives demand too much of us; when everything is a priority, this can make us sick and tired. Dr. Clever discovered the personal cost of this lifestyle and has since devoted herself to helping people renew themselves and regain balance in life.

Fatigue Prescription: Four Steps to Renewing Your Energy, Health, and Life

Clever, Linda Hawes

Women's Health

Bringing home baby can be one of the scariest days in a new parent's life. A truly helpful how-to, Blythe Lipman's guide to caring for babies is the perfect resource for first-time parents who wish their new baby came with an instruction manual. Lipman has devoted her life to the gentle art of infant care and offers wise and witty practical advice in this parent-tested, expert-approved book. Filled with invaluable information new parents really need, Lipman includes plenty of true-life stories and guidance to help them through those first nerve-racking months. Help! My Baby Came Without Instructions will have nervous new moms and sleep-deprived dads feeling confident about their parenting skills. Hints on daily routines, sleep patterns, crying, the art and science of diapering, and traveling with a newborn are also provided.

Help! My Baby Came Without Instructions: How to Survive (and Enjoy) Your Baby's First Year

Lipman, Blythe

Who knew that the great country of Canada is named for a mistake? How about "bedswerver," the best Elizabethan insult to hurl at a cheating boyfriend? By exploring the delightful back stories of the 250 words in Wordcatcher, readers are lured by language and entangled in etymologies. Author Phil Cousineau takes us on a tour into the obscure territory of word origins with great erudition and endearing curiosity. The English poet W. H. Auden was once asked to teach a poetry class, and when 200 students applied to study with him, he only had room for 20 of them. When asked how he chose his students, he said he picked the ones who actually loved words. So too, with this book -- it takes a special wordcatcher to create a treasure chest of remarkable words and their origins, and any word lover will relish the stories that Cousineau has discovered.

Wordcatcher: An Odyssey into the World of Weird and Wonderful Words

PHIL COUSINEAU

Catalogs & Directories

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