Body for Life Week 7

Around the House
I am in allergy Hell right now.  My head feels like it is going to explode.  Last week was a rough week too.  Katrina Rue was sick as a dog so she didn't make any of the work outs, and I missed all of my cardio but did get in all my lifting.

My Thoughts
Okay not to much to talk about this week.  I am living off of allegry meds right now which I hate.  I am floating mentally, and I have not had a chance to function as well as I would want.  I am looking forward to this weather stablizing and coming back to normal.

Week 7 Ending- The Numbers: Moving to a new beginning

	Start	Week 6	Change
Weight	235.6	229.2	-5.7
BMI	32.7%	31%	-1.7%
Hips	44 in	44 in	0.0 in
Waist	42.5 in	41 in	-1.5 in
Midsection	47 in	42.5 in	-4.5 in
Chest	46 in	43.5 in	-2.5 in
Arm (R)	14 in	13.5 in	-0.5 in
Arm (L)	14 in	13.5 in	-0.5 in
Neck	17in	16 in	-1.0 in
Pants	36	34	- 2

Book Review: Black Heart

Around the House
I am so running behind on getting all my updates up. I forgot to publish this last week, so I had to alter the whole blog. I only noticed it after my Body for Life Update. 

My Thoughts
The thrilling and twisted conclusion to Holly Black's The Curseworkers Series: Black Heart.  While this series falls under the category of Urban Fantasy the way Holly Black tells her tales makes you truly believe the world she weaves is real and just waiting for you just outside of the pages of the book.  You sit on the edge of your seat wondering how Cassel is going to get himself out of trouble again, but you are always hoping that it will be a happy ending.  Holly Black has an amazing talent for telling her tales as if you are watching the chocolate covered reality TV while being swept into a fun furry of excitement.

I can only hope that this is not truly the end of the Curseworkers.  I am constantly intrigued about a world where a touch can change your life even if it is illegal.  The power of luck, death, love, and transformation all within the palms of your hands.  This story reminds me of bringing the old world Chicago Gangster into the modern world with a magical twist.  I highly recommend this for everyone.

Rating: 4/5

Body for Life Week 6: Half Way Point

Around the House
Oh what to say this week.  I am never to sure what to say about what is going on in my life.  I actually pulled a muscle in my butt yesterday when I was showing my staff what a handspring was.  I didn't mean to flip over, but with the changes in my body I almost flipped over.  It is also great that I can't wait for my final read through to be done while I look for any mistakes.  I am actually looking forward to having Hunted finally on the shelves.  It has been too long a process.  This process has actually inspired a ton of short stories, a novella I am writing, two completed books, and the start of two others.  I need to begin to move forward.  For those of you who don't know the book after that is scheduled for the end of the year which is the Preludes of Illumination vol.2: Pandora's Gateway and then off to finish book 3 The Merchant of Death.  After both those projects are done I will be focusing on the follow up to Hunted.  God, I sound really busy.  If I kept a more strict schedule I would have all of this done by the end of the year... LOL.

My Thoughts
Okay, so it is obvious my eating habits are not where they should be.  I am not dropping weight fast enough.  I so want my gut to be gone.  I have to head to the grocery store tonight to get more bananas and hummus, and veggies for roasting.  I am so working on my eating.  Now if I can just kick the pop and the smoking everything would be better.  I think I should go more low carb, but fried pita with hummus grilled cheeses are so yummy.  Especially when you did them like pizza bites.  I know I am also only half way through the program, but my arms and chest are not where I want them either.  I want a nice hard body with great arms and pecs.  Come on summer is almost here and it would be nice to go around shirtless his summer.  Well, off to the numbers:

Week 6 Ending- The Numbers: Not My Best Week

	Start	Week 6	Change
Weight	235.6	229.8	-5.8
BMI	32.7%	31%	-1.7%
Hips	44 in	44 in	0.0 in
Waist	42.5 in	42 in	-0.5 in
Midsection	47 in	43.5 in	-3.5 in
Chest	46 in	45 in	-1.0 in
Arm (R)	14 in	13.5 in	-0.5 in
Arm (L)	14 in	13.5 in	-0.5 in
Neck	17in	16.5 in	-0.5 in
Pants	36	34	- 2

Book Release: Hunted: The Chronicles of Illumination vol.1

Around the House
Not to much to say.  Got a cute new care.  A Chevy Cruze in a gorgous blue color.  The last car was red, and I was just not a fan of the color.  I am getting ready for the Blog Contest which of course is going to go along with the release of my new book next month (See blow).  I am really excited, and I hope to hear great reviews from all of you on what you think about the new book.  For those of you that have read my blog I will now that I was a huge fan of the book Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side.  Well I have finally cracked open the sequel, and I am an enjoying it so far.  Look for the review coming soon.

My Thoughts
The release date for this book is May 15th, so watch for all the updates coming to my blog!

Cover Copy
There is nothing like a Vladimir to alter the plans of Fate and Destiny.  They have a habit of ruining the best laid plains.  Like her father Raisa is no different, but this time the collateral damage isn't what she was expecting.  All Raisa ever wanted to was to have Damian share her magical life.  What fun is it being a witch if you can't get into trouble with your best friend because he is a mortal?  Not only is Damian getting dragged into the magical world, but his man eating sister Angela is coming along for the ride.  Of course what happens isn't what anyone expects when it turns out that Angela has been Chosen.  Not Chosen as prom queen, model, or even mistress, no she has been chosen by Fate to lead a group of witches to fulfill the Prophecy of Illumination.  Now, despite all of Raisa's hard work Damian is left outside of the group and a slayer is out for blood.  Not everyone will survive the path to Illumination, will Damian?

Movie Review: The Hunger Games

Around the House
Check out my other posting from today.  I totally forgot to post this with everything going on since Easter.  Is it July yet?  I so need a vacation.

My Thoughts
Katrina Rue my fellow author and friend here in Chicago was obsessed with seeing this movie.  While neither of us jumped on the band wagon when the books took off.  I was reading too many series, and she only reads teen books that I recommend.  We never understood the scope of the story or the love people had for this series of books.  I'll admit, and I hate to do it.  Back when Harry Potter made its splash I was a different person.  I didn't read, I didn't write, and I sure as Hell didn't see teen/kids movies.  That was until Katrina dragged me to see it.  It was the start of everything you are seeing.  I learned to love it all.

I was actually very excited to see this film.  I loved the cast from what I had heard of especially Stanley Tucci.  Well next thing I knew the movie was over, and I was ticking to know more.  No, I have not bought the books yet since I have a pile to read, but they will be read very shortly.  The story was stunning and accessible to adults, children, and teens.  While the themes and story line mirrored an extended version of the "Lottery" it was completely captivating.  I recommend this to everyone.  It is family friendly enough to to scare the little ones, yet gritty enough to keep any guy held to his chair.  And then you toss in the love story and the whole family can enjoy this gripping story.  Who would have know that Suzanne Collins actually was involved in all aspects of the movie, so you know it is true to the story!

Rating: 5/5

Week 5 is Over!

Around the House
The edits are finally done!  I just have to do a quick read through first and then it is off to for the publisher, Gilbert Press, to put the final touches on them.  I can't wait to see the book cover!  Of course this has been a rather rough week for me.  When it rains it pours in my world.  What can I say.  It looks my car is going to be totalled out!  Before you start flipping through old posts to try and figure out what happened.  I haven't said anything about this yet.  I was coming home one night and a dog (cop says coyote) ran in front of my car, so I swerved to miss it and hit a parked car.  Thankfully, I am okay, but I did get burns from the air bag.  I am sad to loose my car since it is only a two years old.  Well, hopefully the world will now have an upswing.  Thanks for all the love everyone!

My Thoughts
So week 5 is finally over which means I am starting to enter the critical period.  By looking at the numbers my BMI is going down and my body is converting its self to muscle, but since my weight and BMI are not dropping as dramatically as they should be it is time to overhaul the diet more.  I am not eating like I should be.  Body for Life would not be proud.  Yes I did do some damage over Easter, but that was last weekend so at least I should have made some more improvements.  My measurements are either staying the same or going up in certain areas which is good, but the damn midsection, waist, and hips are not shrinking like I want them too.  Which means it all about the diet now.  Back to the kitchen to whip up better foods.  So next week is picture time again... get ready to see the changes in side by sides.

Week 5 Ending- The Numbers: Easter Screwed Me Up!\

                           Start               Week 5            Change



Weight:             235.6                 231.7                -3.8
BMI:                  32.7%               30.2%              -2.5
Hips:                  44 inches          44 inches            0
Waist:                 42.5 inches      42 inches          -0.5
Midsection:        47 inches         44 inches           -3
Chest:                 46 inches         45 inches           -2
Right Arm:         14 inches        14 inches          -.50
Left Arm:           14 inches         14 inches          -.50
Neck:                  17 inches         16.5 inches        -.50
Pants: Express Blake 34

Movie Review: The Lorax

Around the House
What can I say about the adventures around the house.  Not to much is going on at home, but work is getting a bit tough.  I am making great headway on the new book, so expect to see it going live very soon.  I am also in the process of looking for book reviewers/interviews for a blog tour.  So, if you know anyone send them my way.  It is hard that most authors have to do a lot of their own publicity, but it can also be fun to meet and talk to new fun people in the process.  I recommend to any author to have the courage to go out and network with other bloggers.

My Thoughts
The Lorax, what can I say?  It is by far my favorite Dr. Seuss story of all times.  That is probably because it is one of the few that are an actual story that screams a moral to the populace.  I was expecting to see an absolute train wreck of a movie when I sat in an empty theater with Katrina Rue to watch this new adaption.  I have to saw I was pleasantly surprised to see they twisted the story into one with a new life and some fun music.  While it was a bit campy for my overall liking; it was a great take on the story.  The changes they made turned a short children's book into a fully fleshed out and realized story which would bring me back for a second viewing.

The characters of this story had growth, depth, and excitement instead of playing the pandering static characters you see in most children's movies today.  It actually spoke to the audience in a fun way that acknowledged the watcher had a brain between their cute little ears.

Rating: 4 out of 5