EmpowerMoms

The No More Excuses Diet: 3 Days to Bust Any Excuse, 3 Weeks to Easy New Eating Habits, 3 Months to Total Transformation
by Maria Kang

The book starts off with Maria King telling her story and how her fitness picture and using the words “What’s your excuse” attracted so much attention and immediate followers (and haters). I personally have been following her story and fitness journey for at least a year and have found her very motivating and real.

The first lesson she shares in her book is “The Power of Choice”-that every action begins with a choice. She continues in the book to explain how to S.P.E.E.D. towards your goals and how to set attainable goals which I found very useful.

She shares 9 program rules which I completely agree with all of them, and explains each rule in detail. They are very good rules and nothing out of the ordinary or weird.

She talks about the benefits of cardio, strength and stretching and gives examples of each. She provides several sample home workout plans along with pictures so it’s easy to follow.

She explains that 80% of your results is nutrition and 20% is fitness and the importance of proper eating. She recommends the 30/30/30/10 eating plan which is 30% protein, 30% carbs, 30% fats, and 10% flexibility. She gives suggestions and meal plan options for the eating plan as well.

She continues on in the book with addressing common excuses and how to push past them.

I really liked Chapter 10 which is “Mastering Your STRIVE” which address things like plateau busting, progress not perfection, improving digestion, managing time, etc.

At the end of the book she has a posture quiz and stretches for better posture which is awesome; as well as other pictures of cool down stretches, and strength training moves which she talks about in chapter 6.

I really like this book! I think Maria Kang did an excellent job with putting this book together and I would recommend buying it and reading it if you’re serious about making a healthy lifestyle change!

I received this book complimentary from BloggingforBooks in exchange for my honest review on my blog and social media. All opinions are my own.

Don’t let excuses stop you from having a body and a life that you love!

We all know that we should exercise and eat right, so why is it so hard to follow through? We make excuses for why we aren’t taking better care of ourselves, saying things like, “I’m too tired,” “I don’t have time,” or “I’m just not built to look that way.” But Maria Kang, the mother of three behind the viral “What’s Your Excuse?” mom photos, is here to say that the excuses stop now.

The No More Excuses Diet combines short term goals with healthy habit-forming behaviors to create permanent lifestyle changes. Using a specially designed transformation calendar, readers set clear, personal goals and make an easy-to-follow plan for each day. The program uses a balanced diet of 30% carbs, 30% protein, 30% fats, and includes a 10% flexible portion that can be customized depending on your goals— whether it’s extra protein for building muscles, or a sugary treat at the end of the day. The No More Excuses Diet also provides a completely customizable workout guide, with over 50 illustrated exercises designed to build strength, flexibility, endurance, and to shed fat. The program also includes 7 weeks of worth of exercise programs that can be done at home with no extra equipment. Packed with meal plans, grocery lists, lots of encouragement and a clear plan of action, The No More Excuses Diet is a must-read book for anyone who is ready to bust through the excuses the hold them back and take their health and fitness to the next level.

About the Author:
Maria Kang is a health advocate who believes that health begins with choice. Maria is the founder of the Fitness without Borders, as well as the No Excuse Mom movement, an organization of thousands of women around the country making a commitment to their health one day at a time. Maria lives in California with her husband and three children.

You can buy the book here:

Expandable Hose 75 Feet Green, Expanding, No Kinking, Flexible, Lightweight, Super Strong, As Seen On TV, Shrinking Hose, Flexable Hose, Expands to 3 Times it’s Original Length!
by Quality Source Products

I received this product complimentary from the company in exchange for an honest review on my blog and social media. All opinions are my own.

It has finally warmed up enough to start using this hose to get our garden ready for planting! We have only been using it for a week, so we can’t comment on the long term durability of this product yet. We like that it’s very light weight (no more heavy hoses to lug around!) so it’s easy to move around the yard. The hose is compact so it’s easier to store that most hoses, and our 4 year old loves to help with the watering because it’s fun to use! The hose expands when it fills with water and has great water pressure. My husband is a little concerned that the shut off valve on the end of the hose is plastic, so hopefully it will be sturdy and not break. We have months of gardening and watering ahead of us, and we can’t wait to keep using our expandable hose!

-Strongest Hose Available at 100-PSI (Pounds Per Square Inch) Working Pressure
-300-PSI (Pounds Per Square Inch) Burst Pressure
-Starts Out 25 Feet and Expands to 75 Feet with Water Pressure, Release Pressure and Hose Returns to 25 Feet
-Lightweight will Not Tangle, Twist, or Kink

You can buy it here:

I received a one month supply complimentary from the company for an honest review on my blog and social media. All opinions are my own.

I gave my dad-a 55 year old male in good health-this 30 day supply of Microbiome Plus + Heart Probiotic to try. He took the entire month supply and these are his thoughts:

I didn’t notice any weight loss but did notice a decreased appetite for sugar and treats. These supplements helped with my gut issues, as well as having a healthier prostrate. I was not taking any other supplements at the time, so I know for a fact that these helped me! I have ordered more so I can continue to take them daily. I also like the box package presentation-it makes it easy to track the am and pm pills for each week. They are easy to swallow and they did not have an after taste. I really like these and will continue to order them for my personal use.

Product Description
Microbiome Plus+ Heart uses professional grade and quality ingredients: -Full recommended daily dose of omega-3 -Sourced from nature and allergen free -Bioavailable formats -From renewable and sustainable sources Microbiome Plus+ Heart is a more complete heart health dietary supplement that provides the full American Heart Association daily dietary recommendation of omega-3 which may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease plus the probiotic L. reuteri NCIMB 30242, which supports normal cholesterol levels and inflammatory response.* The probiotic in Microbiome Plus+ Heart is the only probiotic shown in clinical trials to support healthy bile metabolism and maintain normal cholesterol levels and inflammatory response.* Microbiome Plus+ Heart also provides the full American Heart Association daily dietary recommendation of DHA and EPA omega-3 fatty acids which may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.✝ Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids have also been shown to maintain healthy triglyceride levels.* WHAT IS L. REUTERI NCIMB 30242? L. reuteri NCIMB 30242 is a next generation probiotic developed using the science of the microbiome. L. reuteri NCIMB 30242 is the only probiotic with a targeted and proven mechanism of action sup- ported by gold standard clinical evidence. L. reuteri NCIMB 30242 is a patent protected probiotic that was selected from hundreds of probiotic strains for its ability to produce bile salt hydrolase (BSH) and support healthy bile metabolism. L. reuteri NCIMB 30242 is the only natural probiotic that has been shown in peer reviewed and published clinical trials to safely reduce LDL (“bad”) cholesterol by 11.6 percent in adults with moderately elevated cholesterol.3, 11 L. reuteri NCIMB 30242 has also shown significant clinical ben- efits in inflammation as well as probiotic digestive benefits.1, 2 L. reuteri NCIMB 30242 is also the only probiotic that has been clin- ically proven to increase vitamin D.12.

Ingredients
Probiotic Capsule: Lactobacillus reuteri NCIMB 30242, 3.5 billion CFU. OTHER INGREDIENTS: microcrystalline cellulose, silicon dioxide, magnesium stearate, vegetable capsule (hypromellose, titanium dioxide). Omega-3 Softgel: Total Omega-3 Fatty Acids 850mg, EPA (Eicosapentaeonic Acid) 450mg, DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid) 340mg. Other Ingredients: Fish oil concentrate (from anchovies and sardines), tocopherols, gelatin capsule (gelatin, water, glycerin)

Directions
Take one of each capsule and softgel twice daily with meals or as directed by physician. STORAGE: Store in cool, dry place. Do not use if carton is opened.

You can buy it here:

Happily ever after begins today. The honor of your presence is requested at three spring weddings . . .

I love reading romantic novellas-they are so fun and quick to read!

My favorite of these 3 stories, was the first one by Rachel Hauck.
“A March Bride” picked up where the story “Once upon a Prince” ended. I have not read that book yet, but I didn’t feel too lost by reading this novella first. The characters were fun and I like the christian elements in the story.

The other two ebooks were enjoyable as well. I will be reading more books in the monthly bride series since I enjoyed them so much.

I received this ebook complimentary from BookLook Bloggers in exchange for my honest review on my blog and social media. All opinions are my own.

A March Bride by Rachel Hauck

Susanna Truitt (Once Upon a Prince) is three weeks from royalty. She’ll soon marry King Nathaniel II of Brighton Kingdom. But when the government insists she renounce her American citizenship before the wedding, coupled with the lack of involvement by family and friends, Susanna’s heart begins to doubt whether this marriage is God’s plan for her.

An April Bride by Lenora Worth

Bride-to-be Stella Carson cannot wait another day to marry soldier Marshall Henderson. But when Marshall returns home to Louisiana, it becomes clear to them both that he is not the man he used to be.

With only weeks until the wedding, Stella and Marshall must choose between a marriage built on the past and faith in long-ago love or a very different future than the one Stella imagined.

A May Bride by Meg Moseley

Ellie Martin, a country girl living in Atlanta, has dreamed of a traditional wedding all her life, but she’s missing a key ingredient to her plans for the future: a groom. Then Ellie meets Gray Whitby-at a wedding of all places. But when Ellie jeopardizes her own future for the sake of her sister, Gray feels like he’ll always be second to Ellie’s family. Can Ellie and Gray find their own way together amidst the demands and perceptions of others, or will their romance end before it has truly begun?

About the Authors

As a little girl in California, Meg Moseley used to pretend she was a novelist while she pounded the keys of her grandmother’s typewriter. Now the author of A Stillness of Chimes, Gone South and When Sparrows Fall, Meg lives with her husband near Atlanta and never stops dreaming up ideas for contemporary fiction.

Lenora Worth is a New York Times best-selling author and three-time finalist for the Carol Award. Her other awards include the Affaire de Coeur’s Best Inspirational novel and Romantic Time’s Best Love Inspired. She has written over fifty books, and millions of her books are in print. Married for 38 years, she and her husband Don have two grown children.

RITA Finalist and Carol Award winner Rachel Hauck was recently chosen by Family Fiction readers as one of the top five romance authors in CBA. She has written more than fifteen novels, including the acclaimed Songbird novels with multi-platinum country singer Sara Evans. Rachel lives in central Florida with her husband, and writes from her ivory tower (her office really is in a tower-and it’s painted ivory!). Visit her website at Twitter: RachelHauck Facebook: rachelhauck

I have become a huge fan of Colleen Coble when I discovered her books last year. I love that her books are clean and most of them are very suspenseful and mysterious.

“A Heart’s Disguise” is book one of six in the Journey of the Heart series. These books were the first series author Colleen Coble ever wrote, and writing was how she dealt with her brothers sudden death. These books haven’t been in print form in over 10 years. They were originally titled “Where Leads the Heart” and “Plains of Promise”.

I enjoyed reading this book and it left me wanting more of the story since it’s only 90 pages and part one. I liked all the characters and I can’t wait to find out what happens with Sara, Rand, Ben and their families. This series is set in the time period right after the Civil War in Indiana.

Don’t read the book description because it pretty much gives you a plot recap and you won’t be surprised with anything that happens.

I was given 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:
A Heart’s Disguise
In the aftermath of the Civil War, a young woman searches for her lost love at the edge of the West.

The Civil War has destroyed Sarah Montgomery’s marriage before it’s even begun.
After Sarah receives word that her fiancé, Rand Campbell, has been killed fighting for the Union, her brothers and ailing father persuade her to pledge herself to Ben Croftner—despite her strong misgivings. But when Sarah finds out that Rand is in fact alive—and that Ben Croftner knew it—she indignantly breaks off the engagement and goes in search of Rand.
But Ben Croftner does not take rejection lightly—and a single woman with a sick father makes an easy target. When Sarah is abducted by her treacherous fiancé, Rand finally comes to her aid . . . only to reveal that he has been posted at Fort Laramie, Wyoming, and intends to take her there as his wife.
But could Sarah leave her dying father’s side for the love of her life? And what plans are forming in the jealous heart of Ben Croftner?

About the author:
Colleen Coble has sold over 2 million novels worldwide. Seagrass Pier, the third installment in her acclaimed Hope Beach series, marks a new highpoint for emotion and complexity in Coble’s addictive brand of romantic suspense.

You can buy “A Heart’s Disguise” here:

You can pre order parts 1-6 here:
to be released Sept 8, 215

In the midst of end-of-war celebrations, Sarah discovers her betrothed was keeping a devastating secret in Colleen Coble’s A Heart’s Disguise. Will Sarah leave her dying father’s side for the only man she’s ever loved? And what plans are forming in the jealous heart of Ben Croftner?

Celebrate book one in Colleen’s A Journey of the Heart series by entering to win a Kindle Fire and RSVPing to her May 5th author chat party!

• A Kindle Fire
• A copy of A Heart’s Disguise
• A copy of A Heart’s Obsession (blog tour coming in April)
• A copy of The Inn at Ocean’s Edge (blog tour coming in April)

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on May 7th. Winner will be announced May 8th on Colleen’s website. Plus be sure to clear your calendar on the evening of May 5th because Colleen is hosting an author chat party on Facebook to celebrate her A Journey of the Heart series and the release of The Inn at Ocean’s Edge! RSVP here!

RSVP today and spread the word—tell your friends about the giveaway via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on May 5th!