Chick Lit Plus by Samantha March

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Nicole Kidman, Keith Urban, Welcome Baby Girl
Chick Lit Plus

Nicole Kidman, Keith Urban, Welcome Baby Girl

Well this is shocking! Just one day after attending the Golden Globe’s, the Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman announced they have welcomed a new baby girl! No, Nicole was not hiding the most magnificent baby bump of all time, Faith Margaret Kidman Urban, was born via a surrogate on December 28th. Usmagazine.com reported the news, and said that daughter is Urban and Kidman’s biological daughter. The couple, who have been married since 2006 and have two year old daughter Sunday Rose, said in a statement, “Our family is truly blessed, and just so thankful, to have been given the gift of baby Faith Margaret. No words can adequately convey the incredible gratitude that we feel for everyone who was so supportive throughout this process, in particular our gestational carrier.”

January 18, 2011
3 Comments
My Stylish Blog Award
Updates

My Stylish Blog Award

I received the fantastic Stylish Blog Award, from two separate blogs! Wow, how amazing is that? Thank you to Queen of Reading and Chick Lit Central for giving me the award. I am happy to accept it and pass it on.

And Now the Rules of the Award:

1. Thank the person who gave you the award and link back to them in your post.
2. Tell us 7 things about yourself.

1. I am a huge Green Bay Packer fan.
2. I enjoy working out.
3. I am a mascara junkie.
4. I multi-task constantly.
5. I have two tattoos.
6. I wish I could ballroom dance.
7. I hate horror movies
3. Award 15 super stylish bloggers this award.
• http://www.novelescapes.com/
• http://chicklitisnotdead.com/
• http://chicklitbee.blogspot.com/
• http://readingwithmartinis.com/
• http://cubicleblindness.blogspot.com/
• http://ocdaboutbooks.blogspot.com/
• http://booksdevoured.blogspot.com/
• http://thebookfetishblog.com/
• http://realworlddreaming.blogspot.com/
• http://solittletimeheresmine.blogspot.com/
• http://girlnextcubicle.blogspot.com/
• http://www.dreamingbyday.com/
• http://meganjust.wordpress.com/
• http://bitchlitblog.wordpress.com/
• http://cornishdays.blogspot.com/
•
4. Contact those bloggers and let them know they have won.

January 17, 2011
4 Comments
Skipping A Beat by Sarah Pekkanen
Chick Lit Review

Skipping A Beat by Sarah Pekkanen

Julia and Michael Dunhill are high school sweethearts living the good life. Julia runs a successful party planning business, but Michael is the real bread winner, worth millions thanks to the launch of his company DrinkUp. But when Michael goes into cardiac arrest and his heart stops beating for four minutes and eight seconds until he is revived, something changes between the husband and wife. Julia’s marriage was based on love and commitment in the beginning, but once money got involved, that had changed. Julia and Michael were business partners and sometime lovers, but the fun loving marriage they once had was taken over by business deals and corporate events. Julia had become accustomed to rarely seeing her husband, plastering fake smiles on her face at fancy dinner parties, and going to the opera. Because on the flip side, she had a gorgeous house with heated floors, a brand new car, and a wardrobe to die for. The money seemed to make her dissolving marriage worth it.
But after Michael’s cardiac arrest episode, it seems he wants to change their relationship. He wants to be the old Michael, before he became so rich and famous. He wants to donate his money and the beautiful house with the heated floors and the news cars to charities. But does Julia? Can she handle giving everything up for Michael, after so many years in stale marriage?
Skipping A Beat, the sophomore novel from Sarah Pekkanen, is a masterful piece of writing. I cried multiple times while reading, because my connection with the characters felt so real. This is a modern novel at its best, making the beautiful heroine choose between money and true love. Even though Julia’s character wasn’t likable at all times, she was honest. She made me think. And the ending….well, you’ll just have to read that for yourself! Chick lit fans will fall in love with Pekkanen’s honest and complex writing all over again.
**Note: This novel is available for preorder, and will be released in February 2011.**
Rating:4.5/5

January 17, 2011
5 Comments
Why Are We So Fat?
Chick Lit Plus

Why Are We So Fat?

A headline from Yahoo! Heath caught my attention: “Why are American’s so fat?” Well, why are we? According to this article, written by David Zinczenko, it’s because we are consuming far more calories than we need. And I agree with that. Each time I open my Shape or Women’s Health magazine, I am learning about consuming too many calories and how to cut them down. I even started using a calorie counting website to help me figure out what exactly I was putting in my body.
According Zinczenko’s research, the food we eat is often filled with extra calories, especially in mass produced foods. Sure, that can help make the food taste better, but it’s only bad news for your pant size- and your health. Zinczenko helps uncover which foods contain more calories than necessary, and where to find healthier options of the same food.
One example is a new favorite food of mine. I recently tried guacamole and fell in love at first bite. I thought the guac was healthy for me (it comes from avocados after all) but that’s not always the case. The truth about premade guacamole dip is that it often times lacks a punch of real avocados. When you see the word “dip” after guacamole, you can assume that is contains less than 2 percent avocado, and is instead filled with chemicals and fillers. So where can you find real guacamole dip? Zinczenko suggests Wholly Guacamole to buy in stores, or making it yourself. Avocados are filled with fiber and mono-saturated fats (good for your heart) and can be easily made from home. Scoop out the flesh of two avocados, combine with two cloves of minced garlic, a bit of minced onion, the juice of one lemon, chopped cilantro, one medium chopped tomato, and a pinch of salt.
Be sure to check out the full article filled with more foods that could be upping your calorie intake!
Source: David Zinczenko, Yahoo! Heatth

January 17, 2011
3 Comments
Mari Winsor Pilates for Pink DVD
Chick Lit Plus

Mari Winsor Pilates for Pink DVD

I was looking to add a new Pilates DVD to my workout collection, and I have found the best results with Shape DVD’s. I found the Mari Winsor Pilates for Pink DVD, which included a pink exercise band and donated $1 from my purchase to breast cancer research. There are three separate sections, and you have the option to do them separately, or all together for a fifty minute workout. There are sections on upper body, lower body, and abs. I thought the workouts were okay. They were less challenging then other Mari Winsor workouts I have tried, and I got a little bored through some of the sections. They feature basically all of the regular Pilates stretches, but they were more difficult with the added resistance of the band. I think having the band included makes the DVD worth it, and if you are a beginner to Pilates, I would suggest picking this one up.

January 16, 2011
2 Comments
Celebrities for Breakfast by Shelley Stout
Chick Lit Review

Celebrities for Breakfast by Shelley Stout

Judith Collington needs to get out of LA. She spends her days as a personal shopper for celebrities, caving in to the demands of the rich and famous. With her seventh-grade daughter Shannon maturing by the minute, Judith makes the decision to move to Illinois. She has the opportunity to run a bed and breakfast, taking over after the elder owner steps down. But after uprooting her life and settling down in the Midwest, Judith loses the chance to purchase the B&B- and the new owner only reminds her of what she left behind in California.
Celebrities for Breakfast by Shelley Stout is a romantic comedy, and I thought it was interesting to get more than one view point from the characters. Even though the story is told through Judith’s voice, there are some of Shannon’s journal entries that prove pivotal, and even a third voice that pops up along the way. I did think the story was a bit too dull at times, and I think that’s because it was predictable. But if you like romance, I would give Celebrities for Breakfast a try and see what you think. There are some sweet moments and a lesson or two you can pull from the story.
Rating: 3

January 15, 2011
4 Comments
My Favorite Product for Frizzy Hair
Chick Lit Plus

My Favorite Product for Frizzy Hair

I have struggled with frizzy hair for most of my adult life (the constant hair dye and highlights might have something to do with that) and I am always searching for the best frizz-free products. I have bought countless shampoos, conditioners, hair sprays, gels, waxes, creams, you name, I have probably bought it. But nothing seems to really help. I was always embarrassed to leave my hair down because of all the frizz, so I would constantly wear ponytails and buns. I decided the more expensive route would be the one take, the expensive products would have to work, right?
I bought the shampoo and conditioner set from Tresemme, under their Smooth and Silky line. I didn’t even use half the bottle of conditioner before I had to throw it away. It was awful! It was impossible to work the conditioner through my hair, so I kept using more and more of the product, which in turn made my hair look and feel greasy. When I would try to comb out my hair after a shower, I kept running into knots, making me pull my hair out in the process. And my hair did not look any sleeker or smoother after use. It almost looked to have more frizz! This conditioner was definitely not the answer, and I was disappointed that I had wasted my money.
Enter Herbal Essences. I love their commercials, but never tried out any of their products. They have catchy packaging and were less expensive than the Tresemme, so I decided to give them a try. And I found a winner! Not only did the conditioner go on easy in the shower, it smelled great and I could comb through my hair without any problems. But the big test- the frizz. My hair is virtually frizz free. I can’t believe it! I have been able to wear my hair down since I started using Herbal Essences and I am so happy. The product I use is None of Your Frizzness, and it is completely worth it. If you have frizzy hair, I would suggest giving Herbal Essences a try.

January 14, 2011
2 Comments
Falling Home by Karen White
Chick Lit Review

Falling Home by Karen White

Cassie Madison would rather forget her hometown. She has an envious high powered career in advertising in Manhattan, a fabulous apartment and clothes, and a rich successful fiancé. She has worked to get her Walton, Georgia accent to disappear, and hasn’t been back to see her family in fifteen years. Not since her sister Harriett ran off and eloped with her Cassie’s boyfriend. But when her ailing father is on his last breath, Cassie has no choice but head to down Walton to say goodbye. Cassie is reluctant to speak to Harriett, but as time passes and Cassie stays in Walton preparing for the funeral, she can’t help but reconnect with her sister and her sister’s children. She also unexpectedly develops feelings for Sam, the town doctor, who once was the class geek that Cassie ignored. But how can Cassie give up her high powered life and successful fiancé in New York?
I am a big fan of Karen White, but Falling Home just didn’t do it for me. This was a re-released novel of earlier work, and it fell short with me. The plot was good and there were a few suspenseful parts to it, but the characters were a bit boring and slow moving. I found myself unenthusiastic about picking the book back up to read. The story will probably make you cry, I certainly did during the tear-jerker scenes, but the romance was too predictable and uneasy for me to get into. On Folly Beach is still my favorite novel from Karen White.
Rating:3.5/5

January 14, 2011
2 Comments
Kate Hudson Pregnant with Rocker Boyfriend
Chick Lit Plus

Kate Hudson Pregnant with Rocker Boyfriend

Alright Hollywood, you are officially out of control. Who else joined in with the baby party this week and announced they were pregnant? If you guessed Kate Hudson, you were right! Sources confirmed with People.com that the actress is expecting with boyfriend Matthew Bellamy. The couple has been dating for about nine months, and he is the frontman for the rock band Muse. Hudson, 31, also has a seven year old son, Ryder, with ex-husband Chris Robinson.

January 13, 2011
1 Comment