EmpowerMoms

Warrior Chicks: Rising Strong When Life Wants to Take You Down by Holly Wagner

I found this book inspiring as the author describes the definition of being a warrior and a soldier in life.

There are 11 chapters in this book and a study guide at the end. I liked the study guide because at the end of each chapter, you can refer to the questions in the back, so it can be used as a personal journal or group study. There are typically 7-9 questions per chapter you can answer.

The author uses scriptures and personal experiences throughout the book which I really enjoyed. I did find it a little odd and annoying that the book was written in multiple sentences without alot of spacing, and not in paragraph form.

Whether you are discouraged or going through personal life battles; hopefully you will find this book helpful and inspiring to become a warrior and fight! God has made us in his own image and perfectly and He wants us to find joy in the journey!

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
Some battles we choose; others choose us. There is a lot in life we cannot control–a cancer diagnosis, the choices our children make, a spouse who leaves, disappointments in our career, a broken heart. But in those tragedies, big and small, we still have a choice: lie down and give in or stand up and fight.

In this inspiring call to arms against victimhood and complacency, Holly Wagner challenges women to enlist as Warrior Chicks. She shows women that they are beautiful just the way they are, they are destined to be overcomers in this life, and that the battle is already won for us. She shares the secrets of being equipped to fight the good fight and do more than just survive. As Holly knows from her experience as a warrior chick battling breast cancer, we aren’t living in peacetime. We can choose to be a casualty or a warrior. So what’s it going to be?

About the Author
Holly Wagner is copastor of Oasis Christian Center in Los Angeles, California, and reaches thousands of women each year through conferences, books, and other resources. Holly is a popular conference speaker known for her challenging, humorous style and honest approach to real-life issues. Holly has written four books, including GodChicks and Daily Steps for GodChicks. She and her husband, Philip, have two children.

You can buy it from Amazon here:

Miracle Miles
*BRAND NEW DVD SET*
$49.00

The ALL NEW faster way to walk off weight…at home! The Miracle Miles has everything that’s been most effective in walking workouts. It includes 5 complete workouts: a 1 Mile, 2 Mile, 3 Mile, 4 Mile and 5 Mile DVD! That’s 15 MILES of walking! We’ve also included 3 bonus toning segments plus our new Miracle Miles Sculpting Band to help you achieve that sleek toned look. Each DVD is an all-in-one workout with cardio, strength and flexibility! And you’ll receive a 7-day Quick Start Walk & Meal Plan and Workout Calendar. It’s all the components you need to successfully reach your fitness goals. There’s no place like HOME…to walk yourself healthy!

Miracle Miles Kit Includes:
FREE Fitness Gloves while supplies last!
– 5 DVDs (1 mile disc, 2 mile disc, 3 mile disc, 4 mile disc, 5 mile disc)
– 1 year-long calendar of walking workouts
– 7 Day Quick Start Walk and Meal Plan
– Miracle Miles Resistance Band

You can purchase it from the Leslie Sansone Walk at Home store here:
http://store.walkathome.com/product/miracle-miles?product_id=1000-01

**EDITED TO ADD**
IF YOU USE PROMO CODE: WAH7OFF YOU CAN RECEIVE $7 OFF THIS DVD SET! I used that code this weekend and it worked!

I purchased my set last night when I saw this item listed in their store, so I haven’t received it yet. I’m really excited to try out this new program since I love all her dvd programs! I will post another review once I’ve received it and used it.

Introducing: Miracle Miles, our brand new WALK at Home System!

Here’s all you do:
Measure yourself on a scale, with a tape measure, or your favorite outfit.
Follow the 7-day quick start walk & planner: eat delicious & nutritious meals and walk to your favorite workouts.
After 7 days… re-measure yourself! I just know you will have a better, slimmer, body… guaranteed!
The evidence proves that…
Fitness walking and healthy eating habits make the most sense for a lifetime of weight management!

You will LOVE the…
7-Day Quick Start Walk & Meal Plan in conjunction with our NEW Miracle Miles Program! The meal plan will definitely 
put you on a fast track to weight loss and your new and improved healthy lifestyle!

Creating healthy eating habits will keep you on track so that you are automatically making healthy, delicious choices at mealtime.

The Workout Calendar helps mix-up your exercises so you never get bored or tired with your routine. You even get a Resistance Band for an added challenge to make old moves new and challenging again!

http://www.walkathome.com/miracle-miles/

Crazy Little Thing Called Love: A Destination Wedding Novel by Beth K. Vogt

Vanessa Hollister was briefly married to her high school sweetheart Logan while living in Florida during college. When she has to return 8 years later she’s reminded of old memories and feelings when she runs into him again. However, she’s engaged to be married to another man and has a life and career in another state. Does she want to marry a man who makes her feel safe but not necessarily passionate? or take a chance again on Logan who broke her heart many years ago?

This is the first book I’ve read by this author and I thoroughly enjoyed this romantic, christian, story! I enjoyed reading about Logan and his storm chasing methods and experiences. I also liked reading about Vanessa’s medical career.

Throughout the book there were journal entries from Vanessa when she was younger which helped the reader understand what happened and what went wrong with the marriage 8 years ago between Vanessa and Logan.

I felt like Vanessa was very immature and insecure to expect either man she dated to always make her the center of attention and not be able to spend time with friends or coworkers. I would have to assume she is insecure because of the constant moving and lack of friendships growing up. Even though I didn’t like that characteristic about Vanessa, it made her character more realistic and relateable.

There were alot of emotions and feelings that were well written between the characters and it kept my attention and interest throughout the entire book. I liked that they used prayer and religion to help them in their daily decisions and when they were struggling with their faith.

I really enjoyed “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” and I can’t wait to read the next “Destination Wedding” novel next year!

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

About the book:
Crazy Little Thing Called Love: A Destination Wedding Novel (Howard, June 2015)

Wedding bells and storm clouds collide in the first engaging novel in a brand-new series about destination weddings, the power of love, and the possible mishaps and missteps that happen on a couple’s journey down the aisle to “I do.”

Paramedic Vanessa Hollister has put her adolescence behind her, including the unwanted label of being the new kid in town over and over again, thanks to her father’s military career. She’s overcome what her mother called “the biggest mistake of her life” and is planning an elegant destination wedding in Destin, Florida with her new fiancé. But will the reappearance of her first husband from her what-were-you-thinking teenage elopement disrupt her dream of an idyllic beach wedding?

As a professional storm chaser, Logan Hollister is used to taking risks. However, a reckless decision during the last tornado season has him questioning the future of his team, the Stormmeisters. Coming face to face with his ex-wife eight years after their divorce compels him to confront his greatest regret: losing Vanessa. Does their past give him the right to interfere with her future?

A fast-moving, powerful hurricane throws Vanessa and Logan together as they evacuate to a storm shelter along with other residents of the Florida Gulf Coast. Forced to spend time together, the pair battles unexpected renewed feelings for each other.

Vanessa and Logan are faced with a choice: Should they accept, once and for all, their teenage marital mistake? Or is God offering them a second chance at happily ever after?

About the author:
Beth K. Vogt believes God’s best often waits behind the doors marked “Never.” A 2015 RITA® Finalist and a 2014 Carol Award finalist, Beth is a contemporary romance novelist with Howard Books. Her 2014 novel, Somebody Like You, was one of Publisher’s Weekly’s Best Books of 2014. In 2015 she introduced her destination wedding series with both an e-novella, Can’t Buy Me Love, (May) and a novel, Crazy Little Thing Called Love (June).

You can buy a copy of the book here:

Skinny Life: The Real Secret to Being Physically, Emotionally, and Spiritually Fit by Crystal Dwyer Hansen

The author, Crystal Hansen, is a life coach and wellness/nutrition expert; so I found this book very educational, inspiring and helpful.

At the end of every chapter she has “Affirmations” which she suggests that the reader post or write out so they can be read multiple times. She also has “skinny life bottom line” blocks on the pages throughout, which are important comments mentioned on that page. For example: “Say Out Loud: This needs to change now. I need to start treating my body better today.”

This book is divided up into 3 parts, for a total of 12 chapters.

Part 1: The Truth about Weight Issues

Part 2: A New Way of Looking at Weight and You

Part 3: Life As the New You

She also includes 2 lists at the end of book of suggested foods to eat and foods to avoid.

This book was written from a Christian stand point which I absolutely enjoyed! I believe making God a part of a daily fitness and health routine is very important. I also believe being positive and good mental health is vital for weight loss and to maintain a healthy body.

That is something that I struggle with, so I’m very grateful I had the chance to read this! I will definitely be using this book as a weekly reminder and reference for the future.

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

About the Book
The real skinny about how to be naturally thin, fit, and healthy!
Are you ready to change the story of your life? Through her Skinny Life® program, life coach Crystal Hansen has been changing lives around the world with the bottom-line truth about weight loss and a healthy lifestyle. It’s not a diet-diets don’t work. It’s not a workout-exercise regimes fall by the wayside. The real key to changing your body-and your life–is changing your mind.

With practical tools, solid research, and focused affirmations, Crystal guides you to:

Get honest about self-defeating thoughts and habits
Replace guilt and shame with a mindset of freedom, self-care, and self-respect
Nourish your body with foods that energize and protect it from disease
Learn what kind of movement brings you joy and integrate it into your daily life
Make weight issues a think of the past
With your new Skinny Life® lifestyle, you will uproot destructive beliefs that sabotage weight loss and replace them with positive tools that improve your total health and well-being. Get started now on becoming lean, healthy, and happy-for life!

About the Author
Crystal Dwyer Hansen is an entrepreneur and founder of CrystalVision, Ltd. and Skinny Life ®. She is a member of the International Coaching Federation and a wellness and nutrition expert. Through Crystal’s personal life-change coaching, speaking, CD programs, videos, books, and articles, people all over the world have experienced profound and lasting transformation in relationships, career, health, and wellness. She and her husband, best-selling author and entrepreneur, Mark Victor Hansen, live in Newport Beach, California.
http://www.skinnylifebook.com/
https://twitter.com/CrystalVision
https://www.facebook.com/worthypublishing

You can buy the book here:

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Spend the last few weeks of summer vacation with your kids listening to Adventures in Odyssey episodes and build their faith!

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