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Hello, my name is Kelly and I welcome you to the Bookend Diaries book blog. I created this blog to share my own reviews of existing and new books, to discuss with other readers what we’re currently reading, update you on my book club picks, and of course, to ultimately support the work of the authors we all enjoy. I am addicted to reading and I thought this would be a great way to reach out to other readers who are as obsessed with books as I am.

Monday, December 21, 2015

This Holiday Season

Merry Christmas to you and your family this holiday season. "May your holidays be the brightest and your New Year full of hope for the coming year."

Saturday, December 19, 2015

Good Gifts: One Year In The Heart of a Home By: Kathie Lee Gifford


Good Gifts: One Year In the Heart of a Home
I’m very happy to announce that  “Good Gifts: One Year In the Heart of a Home,” will be back this year and available for purchase. The book celebrates beautiful memories with my family featuring a combination of pictures, scriptures, and some one my favorite recipes. It also celebrates all that is good about life, friendship and love for all who have been part of my life.
This year’s edition will also include a very special dedication and a few more delicious recipes. All proceeds will be donated to families in need during this holiday season through The Salvation Army’s Red Box Campaign, which provides a box of gifts like non-perishable foods, Christmas CDs, DVDs, toys, hats and gloves to less privileged families.
 “Good Gifts: One Year In The Heart Of A Home,” is available in limited quantities at GoodGiftsBook.org.

As a personal note, I did purchase this book and it is a wonderful addition to my collection. Besides, the fact that all the money goes to the, "The Salvation Army's Red Box Campaign." Which helps so many families that are in need to have a better Christmas then they thought was possible. The book is beautiful, packed filled with lots of gorgeous photos, and recipes, and stories, along with scriptures to make your holiday even more special. I just love books that have a cause behind them, to help people in the charity of giving. Which is what Christmas is all about, the joy of giving to others. You won't regret this special gift for someone special on your Christmas list.

My Journey By: Donna Karan


Donna Karan was born into the fashion business—her father was a tailor, and her mother was a showroom model and Seventh Avenue saleswoman—yet Karan dreamed of becoming a dancer like Martha Graham or a singer like Barbra Streisand. Fashion was her destiny, though. My Journey traces Karan’s early days as an intern at Anne Klein, the creation of her Seven Easy Pieces (which forever changed the way working women dressed), and the meteoric rise of her company. Along with juicy industry stories, Karan candidly discusses her difficult mother and traumatic childhood, her turbulent romantic life, all the loved ones she has lost over the years, and the personal awakening that occurred just as she reached the height of professional and financial success.

That awakening set Karan down a path of spiritual discovery and self-improvement. From est to Kabbalah, from silent retreats to leech therapy, Karan tried everything to find, as she writes, “calm in the chaos.” But she also reveals how a chaotic life, fueled by endless curiosity and childlike impulses, helped her design seminal collections season after season for global powerhouse brands Donna Karan New York and DKNY. She also details how she has channeled her creativity (and her urge to solve problems and nurture others) into philanthropic work, particularly her early outspoken advocacy for AIDS awareness and research, and the creation of her Urban Zen Foundation, focusing on integrated healthcare and education as well as preservation of culture, which led to her current efforts in Haiti.

Karan’s life has been crowded with glamorous characters and adventures around the world. But she sometimes still feels like that awkward teen from Long Island who never fit in—which makes her all the more endearing. Brimming with Karan’s infectious energy, My Journey is about much more than the fashion world: It is the story of a young woman whose vision and hard work made her a role model for women everywhere—a woman who dreamed big, fought to have it all, broke the rules, and loved passionately along the way.

I thought this was a fascinating book, and it is a must read for anyone that is interested in the world of fashion and design. The story of her life and all the dreams that she was destined to achieve was truly inspiring. It also, discussed her roles as an advocate in so many charities and research to try and solve a lot of the worlds biggest health issues that we are experiencing today. Her passion shows throw out the book and her drive to be the very best in her field is a testament. For all women that have a dream, this will prove to you that everyone has the power within themselves to make it happen.