“You Belong with Me” by Shannon Guymon Book Review. Love and Dessert Trilogy

Posted on January 7, 2014 by EmpowerMoms

I just finished reading the best, fun, clean, romantic fiction trio of books on my kindle and wanted to share with my readers because I loved them so much!!!

I had purchased “You Belong with Me” Book 1 of the “Love and Dessert Trilogy” by Shannon Guymon right before Christmas from amazon for my kindle because it was on sale for 0.99. To be honest, I typically only buy books for my kindle when they are on sale for 0.99 or 1.99. I love reading, but I’m really cheap when it comes to books. Especially when I’m not familiar with the author.

So I read book one and I LOVED it!! I literally could not put it down… The story line was fun and I was immediately drawn to all the characters and HAD to read more. I went online and saw she had 2 more books in the series ( I LOVE LOVE series books!) but they weren’t on sale. GASP! Because book 1 was so good, I felt compelled to pay full kindle price for book 2 and 3 just so I could finish the series and know what happened to the sisters. (well played author, well played! hehe) I do not regret it!! I thoroughly enjoyed reading all three books in less than a week and can’t wait to read more from this author Shannon Guymon.

Briefly about this trilogy: 3 sisters inherit a bakery from their estranged Gramma and all move in together to start running it. Because of their upbringing, they all personally go thru emotional crap regarding their dad, trust, love struggles and their life/job purpose. Book 1 is about sister Layla, Book 2 is about sister Kit, and Book 3 is about Jane. I love how all the books tie together and that they pick up where the last one left off so you get more character development and story line.

Book 2 is called “I belong with you” and book 3 is called ” My sweetheart”. I thought it was cute that the series is called “love and dessert” because they own a bakery. I guess because I’m so health conscious, I do worry about these characters and diabetes because they eat so much sugar-yikes!! 😉

I found the author’s blog this week and read that she’s writing another trilogy (whoohoo!!) which will include Rob. (see my complaints about Rob further down) Really hope she can make him look better! I’m a blog reviewer for a couple other authors (thank you Heather Moore!), so I’m thinking about contacting Shannon to see if she needs any reviewers for her books.

You will not regret reading these books!! I would consider them clean fiction-there are no swear words or sex scenes in these books!

Here are the amazon book descriptions for each book:

Book Description-book 1

Publication Date: May 28, 2013
Layla Kendall is the oldest of three sisters. She’s a burned out social worker one step away from a major depression and she needs a fresh start. When she and her sisters Kit and Jane inherit their grandmother’s bakery, she doesn’t know if she can trust her good fortune or not. Life has taught her that happiness is just an illusion. But the chance to be with her sisters and get away from the heart ache and pain she’s faced day in and day out is a chance she’s going to take. The fact that they don’t know anything about running a bakery won’t stop them. With Layla’s new life, come new connections and friendships including Michael Bender, a single dad and someone who wouldn’t mind getting to know Layla better. She doesn’t trust men and she doesn’t want to change her mind but Michael’s little girl Stella grabs her by the heart and won’t let go. When Layla and her sisters realize that there are people who want to see them fail, it will take a lot of heart and courage to keep going. Layla will have to let go of the past in order to grab onto the future if she’ll ever find the love she needs.

Book Description-book 2

Publication Date: July 13, 2013
Kit Kendall moved to Fircrest with her sisters, Layla and Jane in the hopes of starting over. Baking bread instead of painting is quite the transition but she’s never been happier in her life. Too bad life has a habit of throwing her curve balls and Rob Downing, the owner of the Iron Skillet might just be too much to handle. She’s not sure whether or not she should catch him or throw in her mitt. Especially when Hunter shows up and decides she’s the woman for him. As Kit tries to figure out what her heart has been telling her all along, the bakery comes under attack from a saboteur intent on ruining Belinda’s Bakery. With Layla and Michael’s wedding only weeks away, they’re determined to find the culprit because no one’s getting in the way of this happy ending.

Book Description-book 3

Publication Date: September 15, 2013
Jane Kendall loves her new life. She loves baking. She loves working with her sisters. And oh yeah, she loves Tate Matafeo most of all. Which would be great if he loved her back. Jane refuses to let heartbreak rule her life though, so she turns to Google and finds 10 easy steps on How To Fall Out Of Love. As helpful as Google is, Tate Matafeo is a hard habit to break especially when her new friend Meredith insists she come to a Rugby game and Tate happens to be on the team. Alex Foster is one man willing to take her mind off of Tate, but Jane knows trouble when she sees it and ends up getting a restraining order. Between Kit’s wedding, Tate’s mixed signals, Alex’s obsession and her father’s rehab, Jane wonders if she’ll ever get her happy ending.

I do have two complaints about this series: ***SPOILER ALERT***
First, in the second book with Kit, the author made Rob into a complete and total psycho!! Like ALOT of a psycho!! I really think she should have toned it down with him because he’s in book 3 and doesn’t seem to act like that at all and its hard not to totally hate him after book 2.

Second, in the third book towards the end, the author made Kit into this total jealous witch during her wedding that her sister Jane was sharing with her. Who acts like that towards her sister during her wedding? It was a little (okay, alot!) over the top and totally ruined the last couple of chapters for me.

Here is Shannon’s blog:
http://shannonguymon.blogspot.com/

Here is her amazon page if you’re interested in buying any of her books!
http://www.amazon.com/Shannon-Guymon/e/B001JP26SY/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1389110369&sr=8-2-ent

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P90x3 Tony Horton program starts Monday!! Beachbody Fitness

Posted on January 5, 2014 by EmpowerMoms

Guess what I’m starting on Monday January 6th?!!

Yup!! I’m doing the BRAND NEW-JUST RELEASED P90x3 Beachbody Fitness/Tony Horton program!! I’m planning on doing these 30 minute workouts (YES I said 30 minute workouts!!) in the evenings after the kids are in bed (along with the Baladea Fitness program in the mornings that I posted earlier about on my blog) I want to make this year of 2014 awesome in the way of health and fitness for me!!

Last night my husband and I did the Cold Start warm up workout and  the Dynamix workout (on the schedule for sundays) to see what they were like and how long they would be.

Cold Start-good stretching-almost 13 minutes long. 

This was a great stretch! 
My Polar FT7 HRM stats for this dvd
You don’t need any equipment for the Dynamix dvd. 
It’s not a slow stretching dvd. It’s a constant moving yoga/stretching/movement dvd. 
The description says its to “actively increase range of motion, flexibility and stabilization.” 
At times I was frustrated by the lack of explanation of the moves and had to just figure it out on my own. Obviously doing the workout a couple times will help me master the moves better. I probably will not be doing this dvd on sundays because I really need and like my “rest days”, so this dvd is not on the schedule until week 4 Transition/Recovery week. 

My Polar Ft7 HRM stats

WEEK 1 P90x3 Classic workout schedule: 
Monday: Total Synergistics
Tuesday: Agility X
Wednesday: Yoga X3
Thursday: The Challenge
Friday: CVX
Saturday: The Warrior
Sunday: Rest day or Dynamix

Nutrition:
I will be following the Plan B 1800 calories per day.

Breakfast: 2P, 3C, 1F
Am Snack: 2C, 2F
Lunch: 1P, 3C, 1F
PM Snack: 1P, 2C
Dinner: 2P, 2C, 2F
P=Protein servings per meal
C=Carb servings per meal
F=Far servings per meal

I’ve never followed a nutrition guide before-I’m excited and nervous. So far its been alot of work to plan my meals ahead of time to make sure they fit the criteria of P, C and F per meals. I’m almost done as we speak with my planning. I really need help in the nutrition department so I’m hoping and praying this works for me!!

This is also my first Tony Horton workout, so I’m really nervous about starting this program! but really excited too!! I will be posting my daily workout pictures on my Instagram page and will be posting here on my blog weekly to stay accountable with my schedule and progress.

This is my Beachbody Fitness coach-Johanna Ferguson’s website for ordering, more info or to contact her with P90x3 questions. I am NOT a beachbody coach.
http://www.beachbodycoach.com/esuite/home/fergusonfitmom?bctid=2679202492001

http://fergusonfitness.com/p90xroanoke/

P90X3 DVD Package
Item #: X3Base
Get ripped in 30 minutes a day, using Tony Horton’s breakthrough Muscle Acceleration system. Now you’ll always have the time to work out—and you can burn fat and build lean muscle faster than ever.
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Exclusive Offer! Get a FREE bonus workout DVD “On One Leg” (a $19.95 value) when you order P90X3 through your Coach or Team Beachbody®.

LIMITED-TIME EXCLUSIVE OFFER—Receive a premium-quality P90X3 hat (a $24.95 value) when you order P90X3 through your Coach or Team Beachbody.
GET RIPPED IN 30 MINUTES A DAY.
Feel like there isn’t enough time in your jam-packed schedule to work out? Welcome to P90X3’s Muscle Acceleration system—your ultimate excuse-buster. Trainer Tony Horton took everything he learned from P90X® and P90X2®, coupled it with new science that shows intense 30-minute workouts can get you in better shape faster, and slammed it all into overdrive. The result? Short, targeted, intense workouts that take just 30 minutes—but leave you looking like you’ve been tearing it up in the gym all day, every day.
Your P90X3 program includes:

16 EXTREME 30-MINUTE WORKOUTS

Resistance Workouts:
  • Total Synergistics. A full-body resistance workout that triggers fast, powerful changes to your body’s composition.
  • The Challenge. Strengthen your entire upper body by stacking push-ups and pull-ups in ways you’ve probably never seen.
  • Incinerator. Bring It ’til there’s nothing left to bring. A full burnout session that pushes you past your limits.
  • Eccentric Upper. Time under tension is the key to creating lean-muscle growth fast. This upper-body blast will have you begging for mercy.
  • Eccentric Lower. You’ll be slowing down the eccentric (or negative) half of each movement to carve a ripped lower body—faster.
  • The Warrior. When you need a one-size-fits-all workout that can be done anytime, anywhere, this is your drill.
Power Workouts:
  • Agility X. This fusion of aerobic and anaerobic energy improves your precision, flexibility, balance, and strength.
  • Triometrics. Increase your speed and power in a fraction of the time with this explosive next-generation plyo workout.
  • Decelerator. Balance your ability to go up strong and come down safe with multi-angle deceleration training.
Cardio Workouts:
  • CVX. Now resistance is combined with intervals to give you that full-body burn and power up your core.
  • MMX. Burn fat by taxing your strength, endurance, and flexibility with this martial arts–based cardio workout.
  • Accelerator. Increase your cardiovascular and muscular efficiency, resulting in more bang for your fat-burning buck.
Core, Flexibility & Balance Workouts:
  • X3 Yoga. A flow-style practice that improves your musculoskeletal flexibility, balance, stamina, and core strength.
  • Pilates X. Power your core, gain muscle elasticity, and stabilize your joints, as Pilates fundamentals meet modern science.
  • Isometrix. Isometric contraction combined with instability—this workout gives you an unshakable platform to work from.
  • Dynamix. Increase your range of motion, flexibility, and stabilization to help maximize the results you get from every routine.
Plus, 5 Free Gifts:
  • Fitness Guide. Your step-by-step guide to getting the most out of Tony’s accelerated extreme fitness program.
  • Nutrition Guide. A simplified approach to healthy eating designed to get you ripped—and help you stay that way.
  • P90X3 Workout Calendar. Tony gives you each day’s workout, so all you have to do is get in—and crush it.
  • “How to Accelerate” DVD. This easy-to-follow P90X3 intro shows you how to achieve your best results in the fastest time.
  • 24/7 Online Support. Stay motivated with exclusive ’round-the-clock access to fitness experts and peer support.
And a FREE Bonus Workout:
  • On One Leg. It’s an entire workout on only one leg! Just when you thought you had seen it all from the Master of Muscle Confusionâ„¢, he comes at you hard with a little twist. A $19.95 value—FREE when you order P90X3 through your Coach or Team Beachbody®.
90-Day Money-Back Guarantee:
Tony’s so sure you’ll get ripped in 30 minutes a day with P90X3, he’s giving you a 90-day money-back guarantee. If you’re not completely satisfied for any reason, simply call Customer Service for a Return Authorization number, and return it within 90 days, and he’ll give you a full refund of the purchase price, less shipping and handling, no questions asked.
Consult your physician, read the Fitness Guide, and follow all safety instructions before beginning this high-intensity and physically demanding exercise program.

Results may vary. Exercise and proper diet are necessary to achieve and maintain weight loss and muscle definition.

*Free shipping to U.S. and Canada only. 
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“Baladea” by Holly Perkins exercise program starts on Monday!!

Posted on January 5, 2014 by EmpowerMoms

Tomorrow, January 6th I’m starting day 1 of the Baladea program.
I just finished watching the hello/welcome 10 minute video that explains what’s in the kit, about the program, and the workout videos.
This program was made by Holly Perkins. I saw this program on Instagram before it was released and I was so honored that they sent me a copy to review for my blog!!

This is Holly! Isn’t she the cutest thing??! She is so bright and cheerful!! 
I liked how she explained to “embrace the challenge”, meaning to do the best and hardest that I can at my personal level. 
The nutrition guide, lifestyle guide and calendar. 
This poster shows me the three schedules to pick from, how long each dvd workout is, and what I need for each workout (sneakers, barefoot, mat, resistance band, etc.)
I picked the “look routine” which is the 5 day per week weight loss schedule. 
Each dvd is in a sleeve which is labeled with the dvd name, description and time length of dvd, and symbols telling me which equipment will be used. 

I am very impressed with the organization and professionalism of this kit. I love love that its happy bright colors and I’m so excited to be starting tomorrow!! The cool thing about this workout is that through out the exercises, there are some that can be done with a partner! So grab a girlfriend, husband or workout partner and you can both do this workout together!!

I will post my exercise workout and pictures daily on Instagram (Rdevaughn4) and will post weekly here on my blog. 

WEEK 1 Baladea LOOK workout schedule:
Monday: SLIM (cardio workout) 40 mins
Tuesday: POWER (strength workout) 50 mins
Wednesday: FUSION (cardio yoga hybrid workout) 47 mins
Thursday: rest day
Friday: YOGA (yoga workout) 45 mins
Saturday: CALM (relaxation workout) 24 mins
Sunday: rest day

Heres are 2 short Instagram videos of my getting and opening my box a couple weeks ago:

http://instagram.com/p/iAOgclt5Tr/
http://instagram.com/p/iAOCvKN5S_/

Heres is my first-very detailed Baladea post to read more about the program that I posted last month!:
http://66.147.244.197/~empowfu5/2013/12/baladea-exercise-program-for-women-by-holly-perkins.html

Transform your entire body for just 3 monthly 
payments of $49.95 + FREE SHIPPING 
Or select single payment option during checkout.


You can order from my referral link here: 
http://baladea.refr.cc/DRP7395



Baladea is exercise reimagined. It combines fitness and wellness into one complete exercise system for women. It was created for women, by women, and it works for any fitness level! The vision behind baladea is to help women all around the world to live their best lives. Help spread the word and inspire your friends. You can find out more about baladea at www.baladea.com
Please join the online community, visit our page, recommend this system and be our friend!
The new DVD trailers are here!! 
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLt6IFck-OZ4-1M-b6aAKKgkEy0-vU_oWA
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“Tighten Tone and Torch” exercise dvd by Suzanne Bowen Fitness -Barre

Posted on January 5, 2014 by EmpowerMoms

Collage Video sent me three workout dvds of my choice last month, complimentary for blog review; and one of my choices was “Tighten, Tone and Torch” by Suzanne Bowen Fitness.

I am familiar with Suzanne Bowen’s barre exercises because I’ve done some of her streaming workout videos online and participated in two of her recent challenges. She is very motivating and has a great personality! I find her movements not complicated and easy to follow.

Here is what the dvd looks like:

This is what the chapter menu looks like. 
The warm up is 2 minutes long. 
The lower body lean portion lasts 22 minutes. You will need a mat and hand weights. 
Next is the upper body sleek for 21 minutes. You will need a mat and hand weights. 
The last portion is called Cardio torch with bonus abs. You will need shoes for this workout. The cardio portion lasts 17 minutes. The ab section lasts 6 minutes, making it a total of 23 minutes. 
Last is the stretch/cool down which lasts 12 minutes.  

Overall, I really liked this workout. It took alot of time to do the entire workout from beginning to end, so I probably won’t do that again. She designed it with the different sections so that you can pick and choose what workout to do and still get the warm up and cool down.
I didn’t feel like the warm up was good enough though-it was less than 2 minutes. The cool down stretching portion was awesome and felt so good to my body after doing an hour of her barre exercises. I used my Lebert Equalizer bars for better stretching for my legs. I used 3 pound hand weights and had to stop a couple of times for breaks. I need to use 1 or 2 pound hand weights when doing barre exercises. It was harder than I thought with some exercises-I definitely felt the burn!!

Collage video rates this as an “intermediate” total body workout.

http://www.collagevideo.com/workout-video/suzanne-bowens-tighten-tone-and-torch-6409

Certified instructor description: It combines traditional toning exercises with Pilates and yoga-inspired variations. The moves are creative and well-sequenced — as soon as you finish one set, you’re perfectly aligned for the next. The first segment targets your lower body. It features lots of angles, lots of positions and lots of reps. The second section is upper-body and core-focused (mostly floorwork). It’s also well-designed and well-transitioned. The final series is a mix of fast-paced toning and true plyometric style cardio (e.g. high plié jumps that also sculpt your lower body). The program ends with an extended stretch designed to improve flexibility and promote joint mobility. Requires 1 to 5 lb. dumbbells. ©2013

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Beyond Strong. On the Ball with Jessica R-Three total body workouts!

Posted on January 3, 2014 by EmpowerMoms
A couple weeks ago, Jessica R. sent me her dvd to try for blog review. I love ball workouts, so I was so excited to try it!! 
Here are some pictures of what the dvd and workouts look like. 

The  main Menu

First workout-stretches!! 

So with this dvd you get a stretching segment and then 3 workout segments. 
I liked that the instructor took the time to talk about proper form and technique. Each segment has 3 exercises and you do each exercise 3 times. 
I was expecting this dvd to be more of a “workout” than it was. I would consider this a beginner ball workout and/or those who are doing rehab or want light stretching with the ball. There are alot of rest times in between exercises and sets, so my heart rate did not stay up high enough for this to be considered a “workout” for me. Nothing wrong with that-will be using this dvd in the future for rest/stretching days. 
Jessica’s website about the dvd can be found here: 

http://jessicar.com/store.php

BEYOND STRONG® ON THE BALL is designed to create a balance of strength, endurance and flexibility while developing a strong and stable core. Using an exercise ball, light weights and your body weight, this workout is designed to be a total body workout integrating the whole body and emphasizing proper body mechanics. The end result is a BEYOND STRONG® body.
Designed for all fitness levels, BEYOND STRONG® ON THE BALL consists of three 15-20 minute workouts that focus on your entire body, starting from the core and can be done individually or as a complete one-hour workout: The Basics, BEYOND the Basics and BEYOND STRONG®. Each of these workouts consist of three sets of three exercises performed in a row, using all muscles in conjunction with one another to maximize your workout.

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