EmpowerMoms

My 2015 goals for health, fitness, blogging & personal.

Posted on December 31, 2014 by EmpowerMoms

HEALTH and FITNESS GOALS:

*Continue to eat healthy by being 90% gluten free and dairy free.
*Go back to logging 5-7 days per week with MyFitnessPal app.
*Complete the WHOLE 30 eating program during the month of January with friends.
*Continue to do fitness walking a couple times per week.
*Do a free group exercise class at my home once a month regardless of attendence.

*I have signed up with Trainer Amanda Tress with Fit Pregnancy and Parenting, to compete in the #NCCPTTransformMe challenge beginning January 1st. I will be posting weekly “competition” photos so I can qualify for weekly prizes and hopefully the $2500 grand prize. I am so excited and nervous!

*Take live P90x classes 3 mornings a week with a local trainer husband/wife team Ferguson Fitness during the month of January.

*Use my new TRANSFORM by moveBALL™ Challenge Kit this winter, as well as at the park in the spring.

*Complete the brand new Jillian Michaels Body Shred program.
*Complete the brand new 21 Day Fix Extreme program by Autumn Calabrese.

**This is obviously not my exclusive workout list since I am always trying new workout programs at home for personal and blog review**

BLOGGING GOALS:
*Attend a blogging conference on east coast.
*Take a class or read a book about WordPress blogging.
*Continue to blog 5-7 times per week with exercise, health, product and book reviews that will help empower and inspire women.

PERSONAL LIFE GOALS:
*Complete certification to become a Certified Personal Trainer thru NCCPT by April.
*Complete certification for Weight Management Specialist thru NCCPT.
*Read and review at least 75 christian fiction books for blog review this year.
*My word for the year is JOY. I am going to find JOY every day. I am going to actively think about my daily blessings and focus on the positive and be happy.
*Read one marriage/self help/improvement book every other month for the entire year.
*Read my scriptures at least 2 times per week alone and with my family.
*Reduce my office job working hours from 40+ hours to 30 hours so I can be at home in the afternoons with my boys and work with fitness clients.

Do you make goals or resolutions for the year?
What are some of them for 2015?

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged 2015 goals, blogging, exercise, fitness, health, personal life | 1 Comment

Swept Away (Quilts of Love #23) by Laura V. Hilton and Cindy Loven -Book Review

Posted on December 30, 2014 by EmpowerMoms

I have read a couple of the “Quilts of Love” books and although they are all unique with different story lines, they all center around a quilt which I think is really neat.

This book, Swept Away, was about Sara who is staying with her Grandmother and trying to take care of her because of her failing memory. She meets handyman Andrew, and both of their first impressions of each other are not flattering. But Grandma continues to ask Andrew to come over to the house to help with fixing things as shes trying to play matchmaker with Andrews and her grand daughter Sara.

I only read half the book because I couldn’t get into the characters and how they were acting/treating each other. I will still continue to read books from this Quilts of Love series but I didn’t care for this particular book.

BOOK DESCRIPTION:
Sara doesn’t think she wants love. But her grandmother has other plans.

Sara Jane Morgan is trying to balance teaching with caring for her ailing, stubborn grandmother. When school lets out for the summer, the plans are for Grandma to teach Sara Jane to quilt as they finish up the Appalachian Ballad quilt Grandma started as a teenager. But things don’t always go as planned.

Andrew Stevenson is hiding from his past—and his future. He works as a handyman to pay the bills, but his heart is as an artisan, designing homemade brooms. When Sara Jane’s grandmother hires him to renovate her home, sparks fly between Drew and his new employer’s granddaughter.

Still, it doesn’t take Sara Jane long to see Drew isn’t what he seems. Questions arise, and she starts researching him online. What she discovers could change her life—and her heart—forever.

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

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Book review, Litfuse Blogger, Quilts of Love, Swept Away | Comments Off

Gigabody.com Exercise Review and Giveaway!

Posted on December 29, 2014 by EmpowerMoms

Introducing GIGABODY!

An online exercise website where you will find empowering workout videos that will help you rock a health lifestyle in 2015!

You can do individual workouts like yoga, dance, kickboxing, cardio, etc. or follow a fitness schedule like the 4-Week Fat Burner Challenge: Beginner Series. They have several trainers who offer workout videos on the GIGABODY website like Kelly Coffey-Meyer and Jennifer Galardi. The videos are organized by style, intensity, and time so there is something for everyone!

>>>I am giving away ONE FREE MONTH subscription of GIGABODY to one of my readers<<<

You *will* need to register your name and a credit card number to sign up for the website but you will not be charged unless you want to continue after your free month. If not, you can cancel anytime during your free month.

I was given two months free for blog and social media review-All opinions are my own. I provided them a credit card number and have not been charged, so I feel confident you won’t have any problems signing up and/or canceling.

**Anyone can sign up for a free 14 day trial
**You can cancel anytime
**Only $8.99 a month!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged exercise, fitness, Gigabody, Giveaway, online workout videos, sweatpink | Comments Off

Resistance Bands Set by Cynergy Fitness

Posted on December 29, 2014 by EmpowerMoms

Resistance Bands Set with 5 Bands, Door Anchor, Ankle Strap, Hand Grips Starter Manual and Resistance Band Carrying Bag by Cynergy Fitness:

I received this set complimentary for blog and social media review. All opinions are my own.

I really like this resistance band kit! It came in a nice bag with a guide, 5 bands, 2 handles, 2 ankle straps and a door anchor. The 4 page guide tells you how the bands work and what exercises you can do with the bands, including how to use the door anchor.

The handles are very easy to hook on and off the bands, and all the bands seem very sturdy whether you use the ankle straps or handle straps. My husband was very impressed with this kit. and you can’t beat the price!

We can’t wait to use this resistance band kit more this upcoming year!

FULL SET OF STACKABLE BANDS – THIS SET WILL GROW WITH YOU. Bands included: Yellow 2-4 lbs., Green 4-6 lbs., Red 10-12 lbs., Blue 15-20 lbs., Black 20-30 lbs. Any band can be used together or one at a time to create multiple levels of resistance. 4 lbs. to 75 lbs.

PERFECT FOR ALL YOUR RESISTANCE TRAINING PROGRAMS – P90X AND MORE. If you train with CrossFit, P90X or other resistance programs, this set of bands is perfect to add to your routine. With the stackable features, this set your resistance can grow as you get stronger.

DON’T HAVE TIME FOR THE GYM? – Our bands are designed for mobility, travel and easy on the budget, for less $$ than one month of Gym membership you can work out in your home or hotel room while traveling. Light weight and easy to take anywhere.

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Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Cynergy Fitness, exercise, fitness, review, tomoson | 1 Comment

Learn To Dance Swing, Beginners Vol.1 by DanceCrazy review and GIVEAWAY!

Posted on December 27, 2014 by EmpowerMoms

I received this dvd complimentary for blog and social media review. All opinions are my own.

I feel like I am very dance challenged so I was very excited to try this Swing dvd. I went to the menu-then scene selection and picked one “movement” at a time. Once you pick a movement (like The Basic Step for example), then you have the options to learn the step with the demo, mens breakdown, womens breakdown, dance men/women together, and dance together with music. The instructors are VERY clear and easy to follow. They show you the steps from a couple angles, as well as the different breakdowns mentioned above. The background, outfits. and music are fun-I highly recommend this dvd. Dancing is a great way to have fun and stay active as a couple!

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Product Description
Swing Dancing – One of the single most prolific styles of dance, you’ll find it everywhere. Get ready to swing dance with DanceCrazy’s extensive introduction to Swing Dancing, a 2 DVD Series! This is the first of two DVDs, and covers the fundamentals of the dance, as well as a few beginner patterns.
If you can’t help tapping your feet to the amazing rhythms you hear in Swing music (think Count Basie, Duke Ellington, or Ella Fitzgerald) then this step by step dance instructional DVD is for you! Designed from the ground up as a true beginner’s dance instructional video, this DVD (The first of a 2 DVD Series available on amazon.com) guarantees that no experience is required. Two left feet? No rhythm? No Problem! This swing dancing DVD series is for you.You’ll be showing off some amazing Swing Dance steps in no time at all. “There’s no other DVD series that is this in depth, this step by step, or this fun…”

Swing has earned its reputation as one of the most versatile and energizing forms of popular music and continues to attract new converts to its catchy tunes and syncopated beats.

This completely full, two hour dance instruction video take you from your very first steps in swing dance, and teaches a solid foundation from which to become an amazing swing dancer. Your experienced Swing dancing instructors take the time to break each pattern down thoroughly, providing you with essential information on technique, style, and connection.

Not only are your dance teachers, Eldon and Alison clear and accurate, but they also making learning to Swing fun and exciting! It’s time to learn a great skill, have a fantastic time, and dazzle your friends. Once you begin, you won’t be able to stop dancing Swing! You’ll learn how to Swing Dance with ease and style… An absolute must have for anyone interested in Swing Dancing. Note: This is part of of a two part swing dancing instructional series, find part two also available on amazon.com. DanceCrazy and SalsaCrazy also have a whole line of instructional dance DVDs and videos available on amazon.