EmpowerMoms

I decided to join a blogger reading challenge to get my netgalley reviewer percentage higher than it is. I’m so glad she came up with the goal and I hope it will motivate me this year to do better! Netgalley is an online book reviewer site where I can request free ebooks in exchange for honest reviews.

If you click on the graphic above, you can go to fictively.com blog to also join the reading challenge.

My Goal:

I picked medium which is only 11-20 books for the year, but these are books that I’ve requested from Netgalley for reading/blog review, IN ADDITION to my regular reading/review for other publicity groups and authors.

I would need to read and review 5 books every quarter to get my total of 20 books for the year. Of course I hope to do better than that, but since this if my first challenge I want to make it attainable!

>>>I will continue to post my progress and books through out the year on THIS POST if you’re interested.

2016 Books Read and Reviewed from Netgalley:

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Last month we had a week of incredibly warm weather for December in Virginia. I took advantage of the nice weather and had a NoExcuseMom park workout with some local moms and kids.

We followed Chris Freytag’s Prevention Walking Bootcamp and did some walking intervals for 45 minutes as a group. It was alot of fun and the ladies did great!
Some of the kids even joined us!

You can get a copy of the workout here:
http://www.prevention.com/sites/prevention.com/files/BootCamp.pdf

After the ladies left the park, my son and I decided to stay longer and walk some more because the weather was so nice and warm. I realized I only had 1 more mile left to earn my Elf on the Run 5k virtual race so decided to finish it up.

Isn’t this the cutest medal? It’s nice and sturdy and big! I’ve been doing monthly virtual races with http://www.goneforarun.com/

My race package came with some cute gloves which I gave to my son because he did the entire 3.1 walking distance with me and was disappointed I didn’t have a second medal for him.

My son and I loved walking at the park! Although it was weird weather for December, I was very grateful for the nice sunshine that day!

Element: Beginner Level Yoga with Alanna Zabel

I have done both of these Beginner Level Yoga practice sessions (32 minutes each) this week. They are both different and excellent for a beginner!

I really liked Alanna’s soothing voice and detailed directions on what to do before each yoga pose. The background was so serene and peaceful-I loved looking at it during both yoga practice sessions.

Typically I only have the patience and desire to do Yoga for 15-20 minutes so I wasn’t sure if I would want to do the full 32 minutes of each practice. Both practices went by fast for me because of the constant, flowing movements and how relaxed I felt listening to Alanna’s instructions.

The first yoga practice is called the “Foundations Program”. This is easier than the second one because it goes a little slower and has very simple standing and sitting movements.

The second practice is called the “Slow Flow Program”. This one was nice and flowing from one exercise to another. There were different poses than in the first practice. I liked this one the best because I have some experience with doing yoga and found this one more challenging.

I think either of these would be perfect to do first thing in the morning or right before bed.

My husband and I did the 10 minute meditation. Please note that this is a guided mediation which means she talks during the entire thing which I liked. I didn’t like that it’s a sitting meditation. I was able to sit for half of it before I had to lay down because my back was bothering me so much. I was trying really hard to sit up straight that I had a hard time focusing on what she was saying through my discomfort. Next time I will do this 10 minute segment laying down like my husband did.

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

>>You can watch a video clip here:

Product Description
Filmed in a serene garden overlooking the Pacific Ocean, these two beginner level yoga programs are designed to help you receive all of the benefits that yoga has to offer and feel like you are getting one-on-one instruction in the comfort of your home.

The 30 minute Foundations Program is based on common Hatha postures that are the basis of most yoga practices. It will help you improve your flexibility, build strength and release stress as you increase your confidence with yoga.

The 30 minute Slow Flow Program links postures together in a way that is easy to follow. It will help increase your muscle tone, boost your energy level, improve your balance and leave you feeling rejuvenated.

The 10 minute Bonus Guided Meditation requires nothing more than the focus of your mind yet the results can be powerful. Meditation has been known to help people to relax, feel more centered, be more present in every moment and live life to the fullest.

>>>You can purchase a copy of this DVD on Amazon here:

About the Actor
Alanna Zabel is the founder of AZIAM Yoga and the creator of Yoga Barre. She has been teaching yoga, fitness and Pilates for over 23 years. Voted Best Yoga Instructor in LA by Los Angeles Family Magazine in 2011 and named one of Hollywood’s Hottest Trainers by Shape Magazine in 2014, she has also been featured in Self, Yoga Journal, People and on The Today Show. As one of the most sought after instructors in the country, Alanna’s clients have included everyone from Hollywood executives and busy working moms, to NBA Rookie of the Year Emeka Okafor and Maroon 5’s Adam Levine.

Storm (Western Hearts Series) (Volume 2) by Kate Palmer

I really liked this book! I haven’t read book 1 so I’m not sure if it matters if you do or not regarding the characters and developments.

I loved that the main character-Storm-was a strong, independent, woman rancher. I have read several cowboy books but never a woman rancher being the main character. Towards the end it annoyed me how stubborn and independent she wanted to be, but overall I loved her character! Storm has several challenges to overcome through out the book like health issues, finances and family relationships. She starts working closely with a neighbor, Dek, with a better business plan in hopes of saving her ranch. I didn’t particularly care of Dek at first because of how judgmental and rude he was. Actions like what he does, give other Christians a bad name. After reading the story for awhile and after he makes things right, I started to like his character more. I liked how caring of a father he was to his 2 girls. I also loved the Uncle Boots in this story! He was so caring and wise!

This story was a mixture of drama, clean romance, and mystery. The mystery picks up towards the end of the book but I loved the entire story and felt like it had a good pace.

I would definitely read more books by this author!

I received a complimentary copy of this ebook for blog and social media review from ebooksforreview.com. All opinions are my own.

Book Description:
A woman rancher struggles to save her ranch, but it’s her heart she’s most in danger of losing.

Storm’s ranch is teetering on the edge of bankruptcy after cattle rustlers strike. When her part-time ranch hand dies under suspicious circumstances, two neighboring ranchers step in to help. In jeopardy of losing the only place that’s ever felt like home, who can she trust with her heart?

You can purchase a copy here:

About the Author
Kate Palmer believes in wholesome entertainment. Her books explore characters undergoing tough situations without compromising standards or becoming bitter. She likes the rush of emotions romantic suspense creates and strives to keep it clean. Her love of farm and ranch life shines through her Western Hearts Series.

The Daniel Fast for Weight Loss: A Biblical Approach to Losing Weight and Keeping It Off (released December 29, 2015) by Susan Gregory

I love to read health and fitness books and although I am christian, I was pretty skeptical of this book. First, I don’t particularly agree with “fasting” like the author states that she does on a regular basis in the beginning of the book. I do fast occasionally for religious purposes but not on a regular basis as I feel like it is not beneficial for my body with all the exercising that I do.

This book is based on Daniel’s 21 day fast that is mentioned in the bible in Daniel chapter 1. The author states that this is meant to be a life long spiritual journey and not a temporary diet type method. The thought that came to my mind as I was reading this first several chapters was “eat to live, not live to eat”.

Part 1 of the book focuses alot of the spiritual aspect of the book. What the purpose of the 21 day fast is, what the bible tells us about our bodies, the benefits to doing the fast, and how to stay with this way of eating after 21 days.

The author recommends cutting back on sugar and caffeine at least a week ahead of time so the cravings aren’t so brutal during the fast. She includes a list of foods that are to be eaten during the 21 days and what foods are not allowed during the 21 days. She lists then on page 142-144.

Basically you will be eating all fruits, veggies, whole grains, nuts, seeds, legumes, oils and water. You will NOT eat any meat and animal products (like meat, fish and eggs), dairy, sweeteners, leavened bread, refined and processed products, deep fried foods, solid fats and beverages other than water.

She recommends eating 3 meals and 2 snacks per day which I also agree with. “The key to success is to stay nourished and not let yourself get hungry”. She also says its important to focus on the foods that you CAN eat, especially if you are wanting this to be a spiritual journey.

I liked reading the “10 habits practiced by healthy individuals” section. She lists all 10 things like eating small bites and drinking lots of water-and then goes into specific details about each one. They are practical, easy things to follow.

Part 2 includes the recipes and 21 days of devotionals to be read each day during the fast.

My overall thoughts on this book:
I read through the whole plan and most of the recipes. I think the concept is good and I like the religious aspect of it; but I personally don’t see myself following it. It would take ALOT of willpower and determination to eat like this and then maintain this lifestyle long term. Kudos if you can do it!

I personally do not eat much-if at all-fast food and sugar. But because I have to eat gluten free it would be very hard for me to not have any meat or eggs when I already can’t eat the grains except for oats. I also try to eat more veggies than fruits because of the sugar content. I feel like I eat healthy most of the time, but obviously not as strict as this book is suggesting.

If you are wanting to reset your body, take away cravings and you don’t have any food restrictions like I do; you may want to read more about this plan to see if it’s something you can follow. It is very well written and easy to read.

I received a copy of this book complimentary from Tyndale Blog Network in exchange for an honest review on my blog and social media. All opinions are my own.

About the Book:
If you’re tired of chasing the latest diet fad only to find that you’ve gained weight, it’s time to try an entirely different approach. The Daniel Fast for Weight Loss succeeds where other programs fail because it focuses on your relationship with God as well as on your relationship with food. Once you discover the pleasures of eating the food God has provided for optimum health, you will not want to turn back. The Daniel Fast for Weight Loss offers a strategic, biblically based plan backed by solid research that will eliminate your cravings and help you to drop those unwanted pounds once and for all.

You can purchase a copy here:

Susan Gregory, “The Daniel Fast Blogger” and bestselling author of The Daniel Fast, is back with a spiritual and practical roadmap to this wildly popular 21-day fast for anyone who wants to lose weight and develop a lifestyle of health in a way that honors God. Way beyond a diet plan, The Daniel Fast for Weight Loss includes more than 90 new recipes, multiple tips for successful fasting, a 21-day devotional, and practical guidance for maintaining weight loss and good eating habits even after you complete your Christ-centered fasting experience. Embark on a life-changing journey toward happiness and confidence about the body God designed for you.

http://daniel-fast.com/