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Workout to Try: Billy Blanks Tae Bo

When I am in need for an intense full body workout, the one workout video that I turn to is Billy Blanks. Billy Blanks has created a plethora of fitness DVD’s after creating Tae Bo- a revolutionary total body fitness system that can get just about anybody into better shape- and fast! Tae Bo was developed around 1976 by Blanks, who was creating workouts for himself. The word “Tae” means “foot and leg” in Korean, as many of the movements focus on the lower body. “Bo” is short for “box” as many of the moves incorporate kick-boxing. While exercising along Billy Blanks and his team, you are giving yourself a workout filled with martial arts, boxing, and even dance moves.
I own multiple videos from Billy Blanks, each one about 60 minutes in duration. From the minute I put it in my DVD player until the last stretch is done, my body is on all cylinders. The moves are difficult, the energy is always high, and there are virtually no resting periods. The hard work is worth it though! My body has significantly improved since I started the workouts, and I feel so much better after they are completed. I am honest though when I say these are difficult workouts to complete- the very first time I attempted the DVD, I pushed myself all the way through until the end. Even though my body was screaming at me and my mind was telling me to stop, I didn’t want to give up. I promptly threw up right after it was over. So if at any time during the workout you feel you need to stop, I would recommend giving it a break. If you can’t complete it the whole way through the first time, just keep trying. Eventually, you will be able to get through it and even attempt the more advanced moves with the resistance bands.
I recommend checking out Billy Blanks website, http://www.billyblanks.com/, to learn more about Tae Bo workouts. You can read Billy’s biography, learn about the different workouts he offers, and buy DVD’s and accessories. You can even join the Billy Blanks Web Club (free for 30 days!) and receive discounts, daily motivations, coaching, workout calendars, and fat-blasting meals and nutritional support. Good luck!

Katy Perry and Russell Brand Engaged

Are Katy Perry and Russell Brand getting married? According to Usmagazine.com, sources close to the couple have confirmed they are engaged. One friend said that Brand, 34, proposed to Perry, 25, with a ring while they were vacationing in India. Another friend said that the trip to India was Brand’s Christmas gift to Perry. The couple has been dating since September 2009.

Casey Johnson Death is Confirmed

The death of Johnson & Johnson heiress Casey Johnson has been confirmed. Johnson, 30, was first reported dead by E! News, and fiancé Tila Tequila had this to say on her Twitter page, “Everyone please pray 4 my Wifey Casey Johnson. She has passed away. Thank u for all ur love and support but I will be offline to be w/ family.” Her death has been confirmed by police.

People.com reports that Los Angeles police and firefighters were called to a house at 11:51 am on Monday, where Johnson was pronounced dead on the scene. Police Officer Sara Faden released this statement, “It appears to be a natural death. There’s no evidence of foul play. A toxicology report from the coroner’s office will proceed next.”

Casey Johnson Reportedly Dead at Age 30

E! News has reported that Johnson & Johnson heiress Casey Johnson has died. Johnson’s body was reportedly discovered at her LA home earlier today, and the cause of death is undetermined. Johnson, 30, has been recently making headlines after announcing her engagement to reality star Tila Tequila on December 9th. Johnson has a three year old adopted daughter, Ava.

Vince Vaughn Married!

Vince Vaughn is no longer living the single life. The comedic actor married Kyla Weber in a small private ceremony before family and friends on Saturday outside of his hometown of Chicago, his rep confirmed to People.com. No further details have been released.

Good Things by Mia King

It doesn’t take long for the cookie to crumble. Forty year old Deidre McIntosh has found that out the hard way. After a successful five year run as the host of Seattle’s television show Live Simple, Deidre has found herself with no job, no income after her investments go bad, no roommate and now no place to live. Her best (and gay) friend of twenty plus years has moved on and moved out with his boyfriend, leaving her alone and broke.
Enter the gorgeous Kevin Johnson. After a couple of chance meetings leading to a one-night stand, Kevin offers Deidre his vacation house in the desolate country side of Jacob’s Point. Not having many other options, Deidre sells off her designer labels and packs up her few belongings to begin roughing it far from the city. After her horrendous first night in the rustic cabin, Deidre just doesn’t think Jacob’s Point is the best place for her. A visit to the local diner and making some unlikely friends and possible business opportunities changes her mind, and slowly Deidre begins to build her life back up.
Good Things, the debut novel from Mia King is a must read for all chick lit fans. Each chapter left me wondering what was next from the head-strong and stubborn heroine, which way the plot was going to twist next with interesting character relationships, and the delicious recipes at the end of the book were an added bonus. A fresh and engaging take on a chick lit storyline.

Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves Welcomes Second Child

Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves have welcomed their second child together.People.com reports that daughter Vida Alves McConaughey was born at 12:13 am on January 3rd, weighing in at 7 lbs, 7 oz. The couple already has a son together, 17 month old Levi. McConaughey had this to say on his website, “’Vida’ is Portuguese for ‘life’ and that’s what God gave us this morning. Camila’s recovering wonderfully and we are both truly honored to welcome this little lady into our family. Thanks for all of your well wishes and prayers along the way, another blessed day, we give thanks.”
McConaughey and Alves have been together since 2006, and announced their second pregnancy in June.

Tila Tequila Says She is Not Pregnant

Remember when Tila Tequila announced via Twitter that she was pregnant- carrying a child for her brother and his wife? Well, that wasn’t completely true. Tequila is now clearing everything up, saying that she is not pregnant- yet- but is expecting to become a surrogate for her brother. She gave an interview with Usmagazine, saying, “I said I’m going to become a surrogate mother for my brother and his wife. That means I’m going to be pregnant. But the words ‘going to be’ didn’t fit,” she explained. (Twitter posts are limited to 140 characters.) “So I said ‘I’m pregnant.’ I’m not, but I’m going to be.” She also confirmed that she is engaged to Johnson & Johnson heiress Casey Johnson, who is going to “set me up with a doctor that’s really good.” She also reported that Johnson is going to take Tila’s legal last name of Nguyen.
What was the inspiration to become a surrogate? Johnson’s own 3 year old daughter, Ava. Tequila says, “I’m going to adopt my fiancé’s daughter. So I’m going to be a stepmom to a 3-year-old pretty soon. I want to go through a process of what being pregnant feels like for the whole nine months.”

The Anglophile by Laurie Gwen Shapiro

Shari Diamond has two main goals for herself: finishing her dissertation on the lost language Volapuk, and fulfilling her needs of all things English- including the men. Does it matter that she is living in the East Village of New York and dating a nice Jewish boy that makes her own Jewish family extremely happy? It just isn’t enough for Shari, but on a conference to Chicago, everything changes. Shari quickly falls for (and cheats on her nice Jewish boyfriend) with the handsome, albeit not-so gorgeous, Englishman Kit Brown.
Shari is shocked to discover the next day that Kit is actually a speaker at the conference- he is also studying Volapuk- and has found the last living speaker of the language that Shari has been searching for years to find. She is watching her dissertation go downhill with each convincing word Kit is speaking. What should her next move be? Why not invite Kit back to New York, meet her whole family, then travel across the Pond with him and finally see England for the first time.
The Anglophile by Laurie Gwen Shapiro is not the best. It took me until Chapter 5 to figure out what exactly the book was about and where the plot was headed. It failed to keep my attention until the last few chapters, but then it went right back to confusing with strange love twists. The whole story line was not engaging and with characters just popping in and out of Shari’s life made it even more difficult to understand what exactly was happening. I hate to say a book is a waste of time, but this is nothing that I would recommend to readers.