Carrots 'n' Cake: Healthy Living One Carrot and Cupcake at a Time

Not a worthwhile book

I have read her blog and was excited to read this book. Imagine my disappointment to find an almost exact duplication of her blog. I seriously wish I had not spent the money, as I was familiar with most everything in her book by already reading her blog. You would have thought that her publisher would have made her make the book even a little bit more interesting. Seriously disappointing!

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Not worth it

Eeekkk, I love to read just about all genres of books. I hardly find a book I don't like. However, this book did not keep my interest for long. Redundant and far "too simple" you would be much better off reading the blog for free. Nothing worth buying here.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Don't waist, er, I mean *waste* your money

I was really disappointed with this book and the worst part is that I knew I would be when I picked it up. Actually no, before that. I knew I would be disappointed when I heard she was writing it. I feel bad but I really tried to be supportive of a fellow food blogger. She really just isn't a writer. It wasn't witty or funny, there wasn't eloquent narrative, it is exactly like her blog which I have read off and on for the past couple years and lately, mostly off. And picking up this book reminded me why. I have outgrown that style of blog and apparently books of the same caliber. There is nothing new or exciting, it's just a recount of her life and how she lost and manages her weight. The sheer number of "I" and "me" in the first few chapters is a good indicator of her style of writing. I only completely read the first third of the book then skimmed the rest. The recipes looked fine but I didn't feel the urge to try any of them. I know that she has received glowing reviews from other bloggers out there but I have a feeling they are more "star struck" than actually critquing the work. Just my opinion...

Loved it!

I started the book Saturday morning and could not put it down!! I was sucked into Tina's story and style of writing. The book was so easy to read that I finished it that afternoon.

There were several things I really liked about the book. I loved how Tina's stories were easily relatable. There was one story she shared about her binge on freshly baked pumpkin muffins that made me think of a situation in my own life where I binged on freshly baked muffins that weren't even that good. I just kept eating them because they were there!

Tina offered many great tips for balancing healthy living and real life. I liked her suggestion to keep measuring cups and spoons near the prep area instead of just eye balling the amounts. I will definitely be implementing a few of her tips in my life!

The book also contains many fabulous recipes!! I can not wait to try some of the tasty dishes she highlights in the book. After seeing the daily pictures of her iced coffee on her blog I'm really glad she shared her recipe for the perfect iced coffee!

Overall, I loved the book!! I would recommend it to anyone that strives to live a healthy life.

Fun, easy read.

When I was first asked to review Carrots 'N' Cake, Healthy Living One Carrot And Cupcake At A Time, I was instantly intrigued. Written by Tina Haupert, a healthy living blogger, Carrots 'N' Cake (named after her blog) chronicles different experiences throughout her life and how she has managed a (mostly) healthy lifestyle. As a healthy living blogger myself, I couldn't wait to read about Tina's healthy living story.

As soon as I received the book in the mail, I thumbed through it and knew it would be great fun to read. Interspersed with Tina's stories are over 50 recipes, ranging from a Blueberry Smoothie to the ultimate reward, Grated Carrot Cake.

What I like most about Carrots 'N' Cake is Tina's honest and practical advice about eating healthily and working out. Tina's story is all about balance - having fun, and trying to stay healthy, recognizing that there are tradeoffs that can be made so you can have fun and indulge once in a while, yet stay on track overall. She shares her ups and her downs, her struggles to eat healthily, as well as her successes.

The stories in Carrots 'N' Cake include Cookie Friday, Date Night, Happy Hour, The Cookie Swap, and Travel Eats, in which Tina provides practical tips on how to enjoy yourself without overdoing it, or if you do overindulge, how to get back on track. My favorite story is Cookie Friday where Tina allows herself to have a treat once a week so she doesn't feel deprived.

Carrots 'N' Cake is an easy and fun read, and puts the reader at ease. Tina's down-to-earth approach makes the reader realize that it's okay (and normal) to slip up or overindulge once in a while. The important thing is to plan ahead and hold yourself accountable so you can get back on track. (Mostly) healthy living is about checks and balances. We're all human, and once in a while, we're going to indulge in an extra cookie (or two) or muffin, and that's okay. We just need to be aware of what we're doing and make adjustments, through exercise and healthier eating to balance things out.

After reading Carrots 'N' Cake, I got myself off the couch and went outside for a nice long, fast paced walk. It felt really good! Then I proceeded to make a few of Tina's easy, healthy recipes. Carrots 'N' Cake is all about eating your carrots and having your cake too!

Highly Recommend

Tina's story is very real and honest. She shares more in her book than you may have seen on her very popular site. Tina teaches us how she achieved a healthy lifestyle and how she works to maintain it. She opens her heart and her life to her readers. She shares her personal journey, and in turn teaches us what it is that she has learned along the way. It is a great gift she gives us all, for so many of us share in her struggles and can benefit from her wisdom. One of the most important lessons Tina teaches is "if you're not happy, do something about it."

Excellent Read!

I just finished reading the Carrots 'N' Cake book by Tina Haupert. Tina's blog Carrots 'N' Cake was one of the first blogs I had ever read and I was instantly a fan. I read her blog regularly and can't wait for new posts, so when I heard she was writing a book I was thrilled. I bought her book the first week it was out and started reading it right away, but because I was so busy and wanted to savor every chapter it took me a little over a month to complete it. Now that I am finally done I can safely say that whether or not you read Tina's blog you will love this book.

Tina's book is a great resource for anyone striving to find a healthy balance in their life. She not only includes health tips and recipes but stories about her life that make you feel like you are her friend and also make you realize that she is human too. Tina writes about her struggles with weight, overindulging and her cookie obsession which makes you like her that much more because she is relatable, she deals with all the same issues we all face while trying to stay healthy.

Through chapters like Date Night, Happy Hour and Getting Off The Couch, Tina explores how she balances diet and exercise with the indulgences in her life without feeling guilty, at least most of the time. Tina offers some great tips about diet, exercise and how allow room to indulge without overindulging during social gatherings like dinners out, parties and vacations. Included at the end of each chapter are some of Tina's delicious recipes like her Easy Mediterranean Salad, Pumpkin Muffins, French Onion Dip, Watermelon Quencher and much more.


Tina has found a balance and an outlook on life that many of us strive for but have a hard time reaching. Nobody is perfect all the time, it's about finding what works in our own lives on a daily basis. The most important lesson you can take from Tina's book is that life is about balance and having a piece of carrot cake every once in awhile.

If you haven't picked up a copy of Tina's book I would definitely recommend it, this one is a keeper that will occupy a space on my book shelf for many years to come.

Fun, informative and interesting read!

I assumed I would like this book right off the bat - just because I have so much love for Tina's blog. But I liked it even more than I thought I would. Each chapter was like a new little life lesson - it is OK to indulge sometimes, sometimes you need to be comfortable - sometimes you need to wear those tight jeans to keep you from indulging TOO much. It is completely ok -and NORMAL - to fall off the bandwagon every once in a while. Tina points out that the important part is that you realize what went wrong, and make some changes so that it doesn't happen the next time you are in the situation. Along with the great tips and stories there are also easy recipes after every chapter!

Fun and motivational read!

I follow Tina's blog daily, so I was so excited she put a book out. It has a bunch of new recipes and the stories are really motivational. I try and re-read a chapter or two every week to stay inspired to work out and eat healthy, with a cupcake or two along the way :)

Awesome book from an amazing writer and blogger!!

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