Rebecca Ascher-Walsh

Now, some of you know I recently had a loss in my personal pack...RIP Hailey, you are beyond loved...and so when this one came up on my calendar as needing to be read and reviewed, I thought I was going to have SUCH a hard time. I mean honestly, I was tearing up just reading the introduction, but once I got started, once I really got into the stories being shared, I realized, it wasn't about me, or my beloved Pippy (nickname...it happened one day and just stuck), but about all the puppers out there needing a new lease on life and how when given the chance, they excelled beyond measure. Like Axel the German Shepherd who was saved from euthanasia, then trained by K9s for Warriors to aid in a serviceman's own healing...or Smiley the Golden Retriever who lost his sight due to an infection brought on by irresponsible breeding, only to go on to become a therapy dog, warming the hearts and souls of everyone he meets...or how about Pops the senior Chihuahua rescued from a shelter by One Last Treat and paired with a veteran who also needed a new leash on life.

These dogs and more grace the pages of this WONDERFUL collection of life changing stories for both mankind and dog-kind. It's the perfect addition to any home library and I'd recommend it for every dog lover out there as it truly captures the way these furry (or not so furry!) friends enrich our lives in every way.


**copy received for review… (altro)

I read Love Unleashed by Rebecca Ascher-Walsh in one sitting. And right beside me was my fifteen year old dog. She's deaf, terribly arthritic and sleeps most of the day away now. But she still gets up to greet anyone coming in, wags her tail and shares her love every day.

The subtitle of Love Unleashed is: Tales of Inspiration and the Life-Changing Power of Dogs. And these tales truly are inspiring.

Ascher-Walsh profiles thirty-five remarkable rescue dogs. Dogs who have been given a second chance and a new life. Dogs who have changed the lives of not just their owners, but many, many others. And in a myriad of ways. A nursery companion dog - in a zoo. A dog who doles out hugs to anyone who needs one in NYC. Police dogs, therapy dogs. Even a courthouse dog who helps children during testimony. A retired bomb sniffing dog who now sniffs out the deadly C-difficile bacteria in hospitals. Dogs who raise money for shelters through their on line presence. Storm chasers and so many more. Every profile is accompanied by a colour photo and full write-up.

Each dog has a unique story. And every one of them was a rescue. Yes, the dogs are amazing, but so are the people who work with the dogs, own the dogs and champion rescue dogs. They too are inspiring.

My old girl is a rescue. Full of fleas, ticks, mange, worms, she had been abused. She was also a black dog, who get passed over in many adoptive situations. We met her just as her quarantine ended and took her home that day. She has given us nothing but love and devotion each and every day. I know her time with us is coming to an end, but the time with us and the love she has given will never be forgotten. I encourage anyone contemplating having a dog in their lives to check out their local shelter.

Love Unleashed was such a wonderful little read. Absolutely recommended.… (altro)

Life is busy - sometimes that's a good thing and sometimes its just overwhelming. I've tried many tips, techniques and strategies for stepping back out of the fray to catch my breath, unwind and re-centre.

Rebecca Ascher-Walsh's new book is The Art of Calm - the cover made me want to take a closer look.

From the preface:

"The following passages, tips, and tricks are meant to offer inspiration, provide an outline for 'you' time, and allow time to reflect. The words of wisdom and advice from inspirational figures are aimed to remind you how to be your own best friend, to go ahead and allow space for calm and the possibility of magic that comes with it."

So, what did I find inside? A wonderful wide range of ideas - from recipes for brownies, bath salts, hot cocoa, pasta and more.

To quotes - many from books such as this one from Ann Brashares' Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants: "Maybe happiness didn't have to be about the big, sweeping circumstances, about having everything in your life in place. Maybe it was about stringing together a bunch of small pleasures."

And this one from Michelle Obama: "You may not always have a comfortable life. And you will not always be able to solve all the world's problems all at once. But don't ever underestimate the impact you can have, because history has shown us that courage can be contagious, and hope can take on a life of its own."

To suggestions - Keep a beautiful flower in a bud vase where you can see it - be it your home or work desk. Say something nice to a stranger. And I loved this one - once a week, go to bed early with a book! To activities - try a headstand, volunteer. To proverbs, advice and so much more. There's lots of food for thought, all accompanied by full colour, peaceful photos.

A ribbon bookmark is bound with the book, perfect to keep your place from day to day if you're a front to back reader. Me - I like to jump around, see what's at the end first and surprise myself. I'm just going to open it to a random page every day. Now, not every idea and suggestion appealed to me, but I can see something for everyone in the pages of The Art of Calm.

The most valuable one? "Start with this thought, every morning, even when your alarm goes off too early: Every day is a gift." This one I'm going to repeat to myself each and every day.......… (altro)

The Art of Calm: Photographs and Wisdom to Balance Your Life by Rebecca Ascher-Walsh is a highly recommended book with a perfect balance of photographs and inspirational quotes, good advice, and even recipes. This is the kind of book you would give a good female friend, using the ribbon page marker to mark an especially pertinent quote or tip for her, to let her know you understand, value, and treasure her.

Actually, I'd have to make many more ribbon page markers beyond the one affixed to the spine of the book. There were so many good quotes and wonderful advice.

I love: "Women need real moments of solitude and self-reflection to balance out how much of ourselves we give away." Barbara De Angelis (pg. 21)
I could mark the quote: "When you feel overwhelmed repeat this to yourself until you remember that it is true: You'll get it all done. You always have."(pg. 46)
I especially love: "After all those years as a woman hearing 'not thin enough, not pretty enough, not smart enough, not this enough, not that enough' almost overnight I woke up one morning and thought, 'I'm enough.' " Anna Quindlen (pg. 184)
Or I'd marked for myself that peace is found in forgiveness, or celebrating what people accomplish rather than finding fault, or how I'm are not responsible for other adults emotional lives or...
You get the idea.

But I'd likely put that one affixed ribbon marker where it is now: "Start with this thought, every morning, even when your alarm goes off too early: Every day is a gift." (pg. 202)

There are also included wonderful little tidbits of goodness, like recipes included for a facial, and bath salts, and vanilla milk, and tips about what you should have on your bookshelf or in your closet or stocked in your pantry for a quick pasta dinner. There are several pages that give supportive advice to working women and mothers with children. Or maybe I'd mark the page letting my friend know that sometimes it is okay to eat chocolate chip cookies.

Let's not forget the photographs either. They simply exude serenity and help encourage a calm, peaceful, soothing demeanor. They are gorgeous and compliment the text that accompanies them splendidly. The Art of Calm would be a sublime gift for others - or yourself! (And it's paperback sized, so it would easily slip into a bag to take with you!)

I'll leave you with this advice that made me laugh with delight: "Make a playlist of your favorite songs from high school and sing along at the top of your lungs while you remember what it was like the have real problems." (pg 207) Yes!

Disclosure: My Kindle edition was courtesy of Rebecca Ascher-Walsh for TLC review purposes.… (altro)