Category: DK Canada

It’s fast, it’s easy, and it’s fun – it’s Arm Knitting featured by DK Canada Power Up 2017.

About Arm Knitting

30 quick and easy step-by-step projects that utilize the hottest needle-free trend in knitting: arm knitting.

It’s fast, it’s easy, and it’s fun. Arm Knitting features 30 step-by-step projects for head-to-toe wearables, accessories including bags and baskets, and items for the home. Every project is needle-free, and, though you can create the same stitches and use many of the same techniques as in regular knitting, big stitches and chunky yarns allow for much more rapid results.

Let the photography inspire you as you work through each project, whether you want a new scarf for the winter or a new wreath for your door. From choosing yarn to weaving in ends to sewing pieces together, Arm Knitting guides you every step of the way.

Perfect for those who don’t know how to knit but want to learn, this popular needle-free technique will give you beautiful results in hardly any time at all.

My Thoughts

I was actually introduced to arm knitting by one of my co-workers. She had made a beautiful selection of scarves and it blew my mind that she had made them all using her own arms. I just couldn’t picture the how behind it (I definitely wasn’t alone with this!) and we spent a good time just watching her make her creations and admiring her creativity and skill.

Fast forward a couple of months later when I saw this book on DK Canada’s Power Up list and I knew I had to have this book to try it out myself. I had wanted to learn how to arm knit the moment I saw my friend making a scarf at work but I was just too nervous to ask (besides that I also knew that I am definitely the type of person that needs to learn by reading and then doing it myself).

This was my first time approaching any type of knitting project and I appreciated that the book starts off with an explanation of all the basics – the stitches, what you will need (besides your arms!) and uses clear and to the point instructions. It wasn’t that it was geared to just novices (no worries for those who have the basic knitting skills) but the instructions were so clear that a novice to a more advanced knitter would appreciate the basic stitches instructions. The book was further divided into scarves, bags, baskets and items for the home. In each section, we had items that were for beginners, some for intermediate to a more advanced knitter. The hardest job you will have is deciding where to start! I am starting with a simple scarf but can not wait to advance into a full blanket for me to curl up on when I am binge watching my shows on television.

If you are looking for a new hobby or want to create some unique statement pieces for your wardrobe and home in 2017, really consider giving Arm Knitting a try! This book is incredibly useful in teaching you the basics and getting you started on some beautiful pieces not only for yourself but your home too. This is a craft that I can see really taking off as it is fun, easy and your only really needed equipment is your arms so you can do it anywhere.

You can purchase a copy of Arm Knitting on DK Canada here.

Rating: 5/5

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Eating recipes specifically designed to be easily put together in a bowl is a great way to enjoy healthy food and weight loss – this is the basis behind 100 Weight Loss Bowls, featured in DK Canada’s Power Up guide.

About 100 Weight Loss Bowls

Bowls are a delicious way to lose weight and eat healthy, but they can also be laden with hidden calories. Every recipe in 100 Weight Loss Bowls comes in at under 400, under 500, or under 600 calories. The book is clearly labeled to allow you to easily build a meal plan each day that meets your daily target for gradual and sustained weight loss. The recipes are inspired by the very latest bowl food trends, such as pho, grain, smoothie, rice, poke, acai, and Buddha bowls. They are all color-coded with calorie bands, so you can easily find a nutritious, balanced bowl that suits you. Delicious, simple, and surprisingly indulgent, every bowl in 100 Weight Loss Bowls is guaranteed to be low in calories and high in flavor.

The book includes:

• 100 delicious recipes and a feast of different bowl types, including pho, Buddha, poke, burrito, grain, rice, smoothie, and acai bowls.
• Color-coded recipes by calorie count: either under 400 calories, under 500 calories, or under 600 calories-this makes it easy to select recipes that meet your required calorie intake for the day.
• Recipes organized into quick breakfasts, relaxed brunches, portable meals, bowls to create in under 20 minutes, and “instant-assembly” bowls.
• Smart tips for shopping, stocking up, prepping ahead, and building a weight-loss plan to suit any age and body type.

My Thoughts

I was so excited to receive this book! Who doesn’t love a healthy bowl of goodness, especially when it helps with weight loss?

This book comes divided into breakfast, on the go and meals more geared at lunch/dinner. They are further divided up into calorie groups (under 600,400,etc..) to better help you figure out where you want to be calorie wise and what options would better suit your diet. All of the recipes were easy to follow, with clear directions and ingredients that you would more than likely have on hand at home. Each recipe also came with a caloric breakdown that included total calories, protein, carbohydrates and fats (which I loved as I base my meals on higher proteins and lower carbohydrates).

The accompanying photographs were bright, large and appetizing! I was hungry just looking through this recipe book. It was hard to pick one to start off with but I narrowed it down to a brown rice and lentil combo to prepare before a night shift. The bowl was delicious and filling for my shift (not to mention easy to make as I prepared dinner for the rest of my family). I love how I can easily build a week’s worth of breakfast/lunch/dinner with similar ingredients that doesn’t take hours to prepare but still gives me a lot of variety and choices. There was an excellent selection of meat/non meat recipes, as well as a variety of meat options (fish/chicken/turkey, etc..) that will suit the needs of a variety of readers.

This recipe book makes a weight loss plan easy to set up, prepare and follow – it takes all the work away from you! You can purchase a copy of this book on DK Canada.

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

Heather Whinney is an experienced home economist, cookbook writer, and food stylist. She has served as the food editor for several national magazines in England and the United States. She’s the author ofCook Express and The Gluten-Free Cookbook (both by DK Books), and she was also the cookery school manager at Cordon Vert in England, where she developed her love of writing recipes.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

If you follow me regularly on my blog and social media, you will know how much I love reading. It is one of my favourite things to do and one of the number one things I encourage my children to consistently participate in. Reading is magical and full of adventure – each novel gives you something different.

DK Canada is once again holding their annual I Love DK Contest on their Facebook and Twitter pages. All you have to do is share on Facebook or Twitter what your personal all time favourite DK Canada book is! Simple, right? Make sure to include the #ILoveDK hashtag on your posts in order to be eligible to win.

So what do you win? One winner on Twitter and one winner on Facebook will each win a $250 DK shopping spree! Can you imagine all of the books you can buy with that shopping spree?!

My personal favourites from DK Canada are their recipe books. I use mine over and over again. My favourite out of my recipe book collection is the Plant Based Cookbook. You can find my full review here but what I loved the most was the wide array of recipes, easy to make and follow recipes and the gorgeous photos that adorn each page. You are hungry before you even start cooking. She even includes substitutes for certain vegetables if you are not a fan of the type she included (a must in our home). This book has become a staple in my kitchen.

So get online and start sharing your favourite DK books in order to win – good luck!

Disclosure: I did not receive compensation for this post. All opinions expressed are my own.