Summer Reading Fun with Ulysses Press!

**Complimentary products received in exchange for our honest review.  All opinions are ours and ours alone**

Ulysses Press offers a large selection of fun and helpful books that will keep you reading, learning and entertained all summer long.  We got to check out several great reads from Ulysses Press.  Check out these super awesome titles and their descriptions from Ulysses Press:

 DIY Dye by Loren Lankford

A COMPLETE GUIDE TO CREATING THE LATEST LOOKS AT HOME—FROM NEON-PINK STREAKS AND RAINBOW TIPS TO PURPLE HIGHLIGHTS AND DEEP BLUE TINTS
"Punky colored hair isn’t just for anarchists anymore. These new looks are being rocked by everyone from top models on the runway to regular women on the job. Now, DIY Dye brings together all the latest and greatest ways to create an iridescent ’do into one helpful and handy do-it-at-home guide.
There are countless products for freaking out one’s locks, but woefully little information on how to use them. This comprehensive manual lays out all the options for what to use, explains how to use them most effectively, and describes what different types of hair will do in reaction. Readers will learn all the ways to go from basic blonde to baby blue and to control how long their looks will last. Seeking out a one-night stand? Try the simple, nontoxic recipe for homemade hair chalk. Want a summer fling? It’s amazing what Kool-Aid can do.

With step-by-step instructions for every style from two-tone to ombre to a full head of highlighter-hued hair, this complete guide to the wonderful world of home hair dye leaves no follicle untouched."

This has been A's favorite of the lot.  She loves experimenting with different hair colors and I love that this book includes some safer and less permanent options than ones she's tried in the past.  The step-by-step instructions and color photos make using this book a breeze!

 Simply Sugar and Gluten Free by Amy Green

 "Tasty recipes using easily available sugar and wheat alternatives to minimize the work for busy cooks.

Eliminating wheat and sugar from a diet doesn’t mean seeking out exotic ingredients or spending hours in the kitchen. In this handy cookbook, blog sensation Amy Green presents the most popular of her taste-tested, reader-approved recipes. Featuring recipes that are as tasty as they are quick, Simply Sugar- and Gluten-Free Meals in 20 Minutes makes it easy to cook smart without the stress. From healthy entrees like garden-fresh turkey burgers and chicken potpie with biscuits to decadent desserts like chocolate walnut flourless brownies and pumpkin spice cheesecake, these are recipes that satisfy the entire family."

 Sugar-Free Gluten-Free Baking and Desserts by Kelly E Keough

 "Shows readers how to transform forbidden indulgences into tasty treats by substituting wheat and sugar for ingredients like quinoa, tapioca starch and agave."

Since going gluten-free in the spring, I've been experimenting with lots of new recipes and ingredients.  These books were both a great addition to our collection and the whole family has enjoyed testing out some new treats!

 Coloring Animal Mandalas by Wendy Piersall

"Attain focus, clarity and peace while adding bright and inspiring colors to these unique patterns
From the Sanskrit word for “circle,” mandalas have been used for meditation and healing for thousands of years. Coloring Animal Mandalas adds the beauty of the animal kingdom—including butterflies, tigers, swans, snakes, lions, and even dragons—into these intricate designs for page after page of coloring book bliss.

With roots in Hinduism and Buddhism, mandalas are spiritual symbols that represent the universe. Coloring these hypnotically beautiful, mystical shapes is a meditative and enjoyable way to relax. A fun way to achieve a state of mindfulness, Coloring Animal Mandalas adds fosters creativity, reduces stress, and allows you to embrace your inner child by focusing on the simple but engaging task of coloring in the detailed designs."

Both of the kiddos and I are loving this treasure of a book!  These coloring pages are for the more "advanced" coloring artist and they are absolutely gorgeous!  The single sided pages are great for pulling out and displaying.

 For My Children by Dionna Ford

"An easy-to-follow and heartfelt journal for moms to pass down their life story and joy of motherhood to their children

As a mother ages and sees her children go off into the world, she begins reflecting on her time as a mom and yearns to share memories with her kids. While they may be too busy to spend as much time with their mother as they would like, her children will cherish this journal for decades and eventually share with their own children. Beautifully designed and illustrated, this perfect gift contains creative prompts that spark Mom’s recollections of fun family vacations, favorite childhood games, and special holidays. The thought-provoking queries allow Mom to delve into her own lifetime of experiences — her childhood and school years, falling in love and getting married, and, most of all, having and raising children. This collection of fill-in-the-blank lists is the easiest way for a mother to record on paper answers to the questions her children never thought to ask but will love to discover. It covers the little things no one wants to lose as well as the deepest subjects like the wisdom she has gained over the years, the goals she has achieved in her life, and the dreams that remain unfulfilled."

This is a great gift book for moms, whether their kiddos are newborns or adults.  What a wonderful gift to fill out and pass on to your children...a true heirloom!

Daily Zen Doodles by Meera Lee Patel

"A year’s worth of “tangled drawings” designed to inspire creativity and serenity

Few activities are as spiritually satisfying as the art of the meditative “tangle” drawing. Finding a quiet moment to craft an intaglio of intricate, mandala-like drawings brings on a peaceful state that clears the mind and facilitates creativity and relaxation.

Offering a different hand-illustrated prompt for each day of the year, Daily Zen Doodles inspires you to lose themselves in the contemplative act of sketching beautifully repeating patterns and abstract designs. Whether it’s the outline of a nautilus shell, the petals of a lotus blossom, or the spokes of the Buddhist wheel, the mindfulness-inspiring ideas in this book foster focus and help unlock the your inner artist.

Accompanied by apt quotes from spiritual leaders and famed philosophers to provide you with an added spark of inspiration, each drawing prompt is an invitation to an improved mindset and elevated state of inner peace."

Another great book, this one is perfect for expressing your creativity with short daily meditations.  Short and sweet, these can really add a few minutes of calm in peace to your day!

If you are looking for some awesome reading material this summer, check out all of the great books at Ulysses Press!

Disclosure: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.