EmpowerMoms

The Berenstain Bears’ Caring and Sharing Treasury (5 books in 1) by Jan and Mike Berenstain

This collection is called the “Caring and Sharing Treasury” collection of 5 stories. It’s a great price for $10.99 (or lower right now on Amazon) when each story typically retails for $3.99 each. This collection is part of the “Living Lights” Berenstain Bear books which help children learn how God wants them to live every day. Suggested age for this collection is ages 4-8.

My 6 year old has been reading Berenstain Bear books for at least a year or two and loves them! He really liked this collection of 5 books.

“Jobs around Town”-Brother and Sister Bear go all around town learning about the different jobs people do around town. Like Firebear Bob, Beartown Bus drivers… I liked the last page that said these are many things to do and be and it can be hard to choose, so there’s no need to worry.

“Get Involved”-Brother and Sister Bear as part of the Cub Club go around all of Bear Country helping those in need especially after a bid rain storm.

“Love Their Neighbors”-Mother Bear and Papa Bear talk about their neighbors and how good they are, except for the disgraceful Boog brothers. But when their car breaks down, someone unexpected comes to help them. Similar to the good Samaritan bible story.

“Gossip Gang”-“-The family gets involved in gossip and then learns its not very nice when people turn around and gossip about you! Especially sister bear.

“The Biggest Brag”-Brother and Sister Bear start to brag too much about their talents and to each other, so Gramps teaches them about pride and what the bible stays.

He liked Gossip Gang and Get Involved the best.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from BookLookBloggers in exchange for an honest review on my blog and social media-all opinions are my own.

Book Description
Time after time the Living Lights, Berenstain Bears series has attracted young readers through creative and engaging stories that not only entertain but teach values and life lessons. Now, five of the series’ most loved books are available in a comprehensive bind-up. This Living Lights collection Back to School is sure to be a popular choice for Berenstain Bears readers who have enjoyed the series in the past.

This collection includes:

Jobs Around Town

The Biggest Brag

About the Author
Stan and Jan Berenstain introduced the first Berenstain Bear books in 1962. Mike Berenstain grew up watching his parents work together to write about and draw these lovable bears. Eventually he started drawing and writing about them too. Though Stan died in 2005, and Jan in 2012, Mike continues to create the delightful Bear adventures from the family home and studio in Pennsylvania, in an area that looks much like the sunny dirt road deep in Bear Country.

BRAND NEW from Jillian Michaels!

To be released on August 23, 2016.

Comprised of five, 10-minute workouts, Jillian aims to transform your body with a variety of short, yet highly efficient workout programs.

DVD Includes:
Five, 10 minutes workouts and a universal warm-up and cool-down that can be added to any program. Workouts can also be combined for a longer, customized training session.

– Pilates Power

– Cardio Burn

– Booty Boot Camp

– Calisthenics

– Kickbox Blast

I wanted to share with you 2 free strength training routines that I’ve been doing off and on the past 2 months. Both routines are from “Tone It Up” and are FREE!

This one uses dumbbells and is a 30 day challenge. Each week you progress with more reps and sets. I’ve been using 5 and 6 pound handweights.

Here’s the link to the calendar and workout:
http://www.shape.com/fitness/training-plans/dumbell-exercises-30-day-fitness-challenges

The second routine uses a Kettlebell and stretchy loop resistance band. I LOVE using my kettlebell. I’ve been using 15-20 pounds.

Biki Kettle Band routine link is here:
https://www.toneitup.com/workouts/new-workout-bikini-kettle-band/

Have you done either of these routines? What do you think?

Monday August 1 starts week 4 of the 6 week Jessica Smith Summer of Strength challenge.

You can join in at any time! Here’s week 1 schedule and specifics about the challenge:
http://empowermoms.net/2016/07/week-1-alternate-workouts-for-jessica-smith-phase-3-walk-strong-2-0-calendar-summerofstrength.html

Week 2:
http://empowermoms.net/2016/07/week-2-alternate-workouts-for-jessica-smith-phase-3-walk-strong-2-0-calendar-summerofstrength.html

Week 3:
http://empowermoms.net/2016/07/week-3-alternate-workouts-for-jessica-smith-phase-3-walk-strong-2-0-calendar-summerofstrength.html

These are WEEK 4 suggestions for an alternate Walking Strong 2.0/Phase 3 calendar if you don’t have the DVDs listed on the calendar. I made up these suggestions entirely on my own and I hope you will find them useful! If you do, please recommend my blog and these posts to others so they can join the fitness challenge.

You can do these suggested workouts along with the 2.0 calendar to get a 60 minute workout; or you can do these workouts in place of whatever dvds you don’t own right now.

I went thru the Walk Strong 2.0 calendar week by week to then find alternate free Jessica Smith TV YouTube workouts that were similar in style and time length. Each alternate workout suggestion is either cardio or strength exactly like the calendar suggests, and is within 5 minutes more or less of the suggested time.

MONDAY: (need hand weights and mat)
Circuit #1 “Upper Focus” STRENGTH workout from the Boost Metabolism and Muscle DVD (35 mins)
OR
1 mile upper body (20 mins) AND 12 min arms upper body (12 mins)

TUESDAY:
“Steady, Ready, GO!” CARDIO workout from Burn Fat and Have Fun DVD (30 mins)
OR
Power Interval Walk (30 mins)

OR
Indoor Jogging (40 mins)

WEDNESDAY: (need hand weights and mat)
Circuit #2 “Lower Focus” STRENGTH workout from the Boost Metabolism and Muscle DVD (35 mins)
OR
1 Mile Lower Body Circuit (18 mins) AND 12 Minute Booty Sculpting Exercises (13 mins)

THURSDAY: (need resistance band)
“Balance and Agility” from Build Balance and Inner Strength DVD (30 mins)
OR
Strength and Cardio Workout: Fusion Band (40 mins)

FRIDAY: (need hand weights and mat)
Circuit #3 “Total Body Focus” STRENGTH workout from the Boost Metabolism & Muscle DVD (35 mins)
OR
Total Body Toned (26 mins)

SATURDAY: (need hand weights and mat)
“Poise and Grace” STRENGTH workout from Build Balance and Inner Strength DVD (30 mins)
OR
20-Minute Barefoot Fusion Sculpt (26 mins)

SUNDAY:
Active Rest Day

ADDITIONAL WORKOUT SUGGESTIONS FOR ACTIVE REST OR STRETCHING:

Active cardio flow/Yoga workout (not slow stretching pace) 20 mins:

8 Minute Total Body Stretch with hand towel after a workout (not cold muscles):

30-Minute Stretching, Flexibility Routine: Stretch, Rest and Relax:

10 Minute Flexibility Training Workout:

>>>Be on the look out for Week 5 to be posted here on my blog soon! I will be posting my daily workout pictures and progress on my Instagram page, so make sure you follow me there. I’d love to hear how you are doing with the challenge as well.

Every Bride Has Her Day: A Novel (Brides with Style) by Janice Thompson is #3 of the 3 book “Brides of Style” series.

The cover is so pretty and very romantic.

I had hoped to like this book but maybe its geared towards a younger audience? I read more than half the book before I put it down because I kept hoping for more of a plot. It appeared that the whole book was about Katie stressing and obsessing about her wedding and wanting to make sure she “got her way” with her wedding plans without offending anyone.

There were alot of characters in and out of the story-I had a hard time keeping everyone straight and who was getting married to who. I haven’t read the other 2 Brides of Style books, so maybe I would have liked this story better if I had-not sure.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book from Revell Books, a division of of Baker Publishing Group, in exchange for an honest review on my blog and social media-all opinions are my own.

About the Book
Katie Fisher is ecstatic. Pro basketball star Brady James has proposed, and she can’t wait to start planning their life together. She’s confident she’ll make it down the aisle this time–but it still may be easier said than done. A high-society Houston bride has Katie and the Cosmopolitan Bridal team scrambling to get the perfect dress done in time for her spectacular wedding. Meanwhile, Katie finds herself bombarded with everyone’s competing visions regarding her own special day–and she’s beginning to worry that her own ideas will get lost in the crossfire. Will she ever manage to settle all of the details for her perfect day? Or will bridal shop chaos and overzealous friends and family make a mess of everything?

About the Author
Janice Thompson is an expert at pulling the humor from the situations we get ourselves into and offers an inside look at the wedding business, drawing on her own experiences as a wedding planner. She is the author of the hugely popular Weddings by Bella series, the Backstage Pass series, and the Weddings by Design series, as well as Every Bride Needs a Groom and Every Girl Gets Confused. She lives in Texas. Learn more at www.janiceathompson.com.