EmpowerMoms

This book was really interesting and a great concept! The author, a detective, has the young reader examine evidence and determine facts about Jesus and Christianity. They have scriptures throughout the book, questions, and even a completion certificate at the end.

This book is recommended for ages 8-12. I received a copy of this book complimentary for blog and social medi review. All opinions are my own.

About the book:
Cold-Case Christianity for Kids

Between the ages of 8 and 12, kids often start to wonder if Christianity is true.

In Cold-Case Christianity for Kids, detective J. Warner Wallace draws readers into the thrill of high-stakes investigation by showing them how to think rather than telling them what to think. In this children’s companion to the bestselling Cold-Case Christianity, detective Wallace gets kids excited about testing witnesses, examining the evidence, and investigating the case for Christianity. Includes author illustrations and links to a website where kids can download activities, fill in case notes, and earn a certificate of merit.

Detective Wallace gets kids excited about testing witnesses, examining the evidence, and investigating the case for Christianity.

Purchase a copy:

About the authors:
J. Warner and Susie Wallace have been training young people in the church setting for over a decade. J. Warner is a cold-case homicide detective who has been featured on Dateline, FOX News, Court TV and other crime-related television shows. A former atheist, he is the author of Cold-Case Christianity God’s Crime Scene and Forensic Faith. He has a master’s degree in theology and is the founder of ColdCaseChristianity.com. Susie has a master’s degree in speech pathology and co-writes (and edits) all the kids books in this series. J. Warner and Susie have four children and live in southern California.

For those of you who saw my upcoming “Run Like a Diva” Ambassador announcement back in August here knew I would be running this race towards the end of September.
http://empowermoms.net/2016/08/run-like-a-diva-5k-and-half-marathon-race-in-dc-promo-code.html

I had so many pictures to share that I decided to break it up into two different blog posts.

I traveled up to Northern VA on Friday Sept 23rd to participate in the “Run Like a Diva” 5k race and race packet pickup. Race packet pick up was only available on Friday afternoon/evening for the 5k race Friday night and for the half marathon race Saturday morning.

I got there early-around 4pm so I could park at the Lansdowne Resort in Leesburg instead of across the street.

There was alot of parking but it filled up fast. When you went into the Resort, there were several Diva women to greet me and to show me where to go for packet pick up (which was downstairs).

The lines were very organized and went fast! I posted a quick Facebook live video when I was at the expo. After getting my race bib, bag etc. I walked around to see all the different exhibitors. I found some great stuff while I was there!

They also had a table of signs and markers for spectators to make messages which was an awesome little “extra” I hadn’t seen offered before. My 6 year old and mom came with me to this event so they made me some signs. 🙂

Afterwards I went back upstairs to get changed for my race and take some pictures. Do you like my TuTu that came with my race packet?

The Resort parking area also had a playground area and lots of grass so before my race I went outside with my son to play and have a snack. The weather was PERFECT so it was so much fun!


Stay tuned for part 2 coming soon of my “Run Like a Diva” 5k race!

“A Sister’s Wish: The Charmed Amish Life #3” by Shelley Shepard Gray

MY REVIEW:
I have read books 1 and 2 of this series and have enjoyed all of them and getting to know the Kinsinger family and the town of Charmed. In this book we are introduced to one of the sisters-Amelia. I really liked her personality up until the end when I felt like she was getting too ornery with her family members after her accident. I felt like she could stand up and have an opinion and voice it to her siblings but didn’t need to act like a jerk about it.

Simon was her childhood friend until he left town when she was 9 because of his abusive family. After he comes back years later, they discover they both have feelings towards each other but it may be hard for the town to forget Simon’s shady past and accept Amelia and Simon’s relationship.

Over the course of the book both Amelia and Simon are able to discover and forgive past actions and grow closer to their family members. I have loved reading about this family and their ups and downs. Book 3 continues to mention the characters from books 1 and 2 which I liked for character development.

This is a great series to read and I can’t wait to read book 4 which is a Christmas book!

I received a copy of this book complimentary for blog and social media review. All opinions are my own.

About the Book
In Shelley Shepard Gray’s third book in her Charmed Amish Life series, a respectable young woman finds herself falling for an Amish man from the wrong side of the tracks.

Amelia Kinsinger is the perfect Amish woman—at least according to her neighbors. And while Amelia takes pride in her role as homemaker, she’s also harboring a secret: She’s been in love with bad boy Simon Hochstetler for as long as she can remember. Too bad he’s about as far from “perfect” as an Amish man could get . . . but that’s exactly why she’s so drawn to him.

Life hasn’t been kind to Simon. He ran away from an abusive home at fifteen and things went downhill from there. Eventually, Simon landed in prison. But the experience changed him. Now back in Charm as a grown man, he’s determined to make a new life for himself and not think too much about his wild past . . . unless it pertains to Amelia.

He’s loved Amelia for years. To him, she represents everything good and kind in the world. When he realizes that she returns his affections, he starts calling on her in secret, even though her older brother Lukas—who just happens to be Simon’s best friend—has made it perfectly clear that Amelia deserves better. Simon disagrees and believes he’s the only one who can truly make her happy.

But when Amelia gets hurt, it sets off a chain of events that forces them to consider their future together—and face their past mistakes. There’s a chance for love . . . but only if Simon dares to trust Amelia with the secrets of his past.

Purchase a copy:

“An Amish Family Christmas: A Charmed Amish Life Christmas Novel #4” by Shelley Shepard Gray

MY REVIEW:

This is book 4 of the Charmed Amish Life series. The story mostly follows the Kinsinger son Levi. I really enjoyed this story which introduced a new character, Julia and her daughter. We also get to read more about Simon’s sister who is mentioned in book 3.

I enjoy reading Amish christian fiction books by this author because they aren’t hard to understand even with some of the Amish words and the characters are relatable and interesting.

I received a copy of this book complimentary for blog and social media review. All opinions are my own.

About the Book
In Shelley Shepard Gray’s fourth book in her Charmed Amish Life series, an unlikely Amish romance reveals that Christmas is a time for family, miracles—and love.

Ever since his father died in a tragic fire, Levi Kinsinger has felt adrift. Newly returned to Charm, Ohio, Levi is trying to fit into his old life, only to discover he seems to have outgrown it.

But when Julia, his young widowed neighbor, asks for his help with a Christmas project, Levi finds a sense of purpose for the first time in months. She and her daughter are new to Charm and could use a friend, a job Levi takes personally. Soon enough, friendship grows into attraction, but Levi can’t help having doubts. There’s something about Julia that doesn’t ring quite true . . .

Like Levi, Julia Kemps has survived her fair share of hardships—but only by hiding the truth of her past. Being an unmarried mother in an Amish community was unthinkable. Feeling hopeless, Julia did the only thing she could do: she moved to a new town and pretended to be a widow. But meeting Levi, she’s hopeful for the first time. Little by little, she begins to imagine telling him her darkest secret, and eventually . . . perhaps even sharing her life with him.

Christmas is a time for family, and as the holiday draws closer, Julia and Levi will have to face their pasts together . . . in order to find the healing, support and love they so desperately desire.

Purchase a copy:

About the author:
Shelley Shepard Gray is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, a finalist for the American Christian Fiction Writers prestigious Carol Award, and a two-time HOLT Medallion winner. She lives in southern Ohio, where she writes full-time, bakes too much, and can often be found walking her dachshunds on her town’s bike trail.

ENTER HERE:
https://promosimple.com/ps/a725

I received this BRAND NEW Jessica Smith fitness DVD last night and was able to do it this morning so I could share this review with you.

There are (6) workouts on this dvd plus a bonus chair stretch.

Each workout starts off with about a one minute warm up and then jumps right into the workout. If you get up early to exercise like I do, I suggest more of a warm up on your own. Obviously since these workouts are only 10 minutes she doesn’t have time for a proper warm up or cool down after each segment.

Workouts 1, 3 and 4 are the CARDIO segments so no equipment and great higher heart rate.

Workouts 2, 5 and 6 are the STRENGTH TRAINING segments so its helpful to use LIGHT hand weights. Debbie the modifier doesn’t use any weights so that is an option. Although you continue to walk during these segments which is great for step counting, you will have a lower heart rate since you’re doing strength training and going slower.

The main menu gives you the option to “play all”, “mix and match”, or do the “premixes”.

I did the mix and match to select different workouts but it only let me click on one workout at one time instead of selecting multiple ones and then pressing play. Not a big deal because it takes 2 seconds to select another workout once its done.

The music is great during this entire workout. I really loved it! Jessica is in the middle and her mom Debbie (the modifier) is on our left and Raquel (showing advanced) is on our right.

There’s a countdown timer on the lower right of the screen.

The bonus chair stretch lasts 12:10 minutes and is a great cool down. You use the chair as a prop for the first 5:30 minutes and then the remaining time you sit in the chair for additional stretching. I’m really glad she included this!

(Workout 1) 10:22 minutes.
Has alot of boxing moves

(Workout 2) 10:53 minutes.
Total body workout with weights

(Workout 3) 11:03 minutes.
HIIT workout

(Workout 4) 10:18 minutes.
Dance workout-not too “dancey” because I was able to do it. 😉

(Workout 5) 10:45 minutes.
Focuses on arms and abs with 2 weights and then 1 weight towards the end.

(Workout 6) 10:40 minutes.
Focuses on legs with lunges and squats using 2 weights.

Overall I love this DVD! It’s not complicated to follow and I love that I can pick and choose different segments to do. 10 minute walks are great for when I need a quick workout or need a 10 minute warm up before doing something else.

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION:
This 70-minute DVD features 6, 10-Minute Walking Segments plus our BONUS 10-Minute Chair Stretch

Burn Fat + Boost Metabolism with our 3 Calorie Burning Walks and 3 Strength Walks

Choose Your Favorite Sessions or Follow Our 5-Day Premix Plan!

No Floor Work, Equipment Optional, Minimal Space Required

Kick start your workout program in just 10 minutes a day! Start with 10 minutes and build your way up into our longer, premixed sessions to create a 5-day-a-week fitness habit. Play your favorite segments easily from the main menu or follow our weekly premix options for a specific workout schedule. Join Jessica, her Mom Debbie and their friend Raquel for these fun, walking-based quick routines that you can amp up or tone down depending on your current fitness and energy level.

Our Walks Include:

#1 – 10-Minute Powered Up Walk

#2 – 10-Minute Steppin’ Strength Walk*

#3 – 10-Minute Happy HIIT Walk

#4 – 10-Minute Dance Walk

#5 – 10-Minute Abs + Arms Walk*

#6 – 10-Minute Buns + Thighs Walk*

BONUS: 10-Minute Chair Stretch*

Want a specific plan to follow? Use our premixes to train with us every day of your work week!

Premix #1 [Monday, Wednesday, Friday]: Strength + Stretch Session [40 Minutes]

Premix #2 [Tuesday, Thursday] : 2-Mile Cardio Fitness Walk [30 Minutes]

*OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT: One set of 2-8 pound dumbbells [depending on level], or follow Debbie for bodyweight only options! A sturdy chair is used for our chair stretch segment.

Please note DVD menu options include Play All, Premixes and Mix and Match (which makes it easy to select your favorite chapters from the menu, but is not customizable).

This brand new title is on sale for 25% off the original purchase price for a limited time, so please don’t wait to place your order!
PURCHASE IT HERE:

Today is day 5-the final day of the “Fall Back into Fitness Challenge” with My FitnessPal and Jessica Smith.

25 Minute Total Body Stretch, Flexibility Routine for Relaxation + Mobility for All Levels

EQUIPMENT NEEDED: A sturdy chair [optional]

LEVEL: ALL

In this full length workout video we’ll be focusing on total body stretching. Stretching is an important part of any fitness plan because it can improve performance, increase flexibility, range of motion, and relieve stress – all important benefits that can may help you reach your goals faster, or at the very least, help you feel better while you work towards them!

We’ll be doing a gentle stretch session designed to help build total body flexibility and enhance relaxation. All you’ll need is a small space, a sturdy chair and a mat or towel to sit on [if you choose the floor work options].

Full Details about the free challenge here:
http://empowermoms.net/2016/10/fall-back-into-fitness-challenge-with-mfp-and-jessica-smith-free-5-day-challenge.html