Yogini

Title: The Studio - Yogini Workout
Instructor: Ellen Barrett
Tags: Yoga, Pilates
Review by: Do


Yogini...ever heard of it? Me neither.

I ran across this dvd while I was searching my local library database for a new pilates workout. Yogini combines a "pinch of power yoga, core-Pilates, and bookcamp-style energizers". That sounded like an interesting combo to me, so I thought I would give it a try. I figured a little yoga - a little pilates...no biggee.

The instructor is Ellen Barrett, who has taught yoga/pilates for years. She is a very energetic instructor, one of the few I actually like. She's fun, encouraging, and she doesn't bombard you with needless comments and stupid stories that disrupt your focus. I really don't like that.

So my first attempt at this new yogini - "where stretch, strength, and cardo converge" - was not very good. It was a lot more difficult than I had anticipated. You start by warming up with deep breathing, no prob. Next comes some basic yoga & pilates moves, which again is not a problem for me. I have tried them both for years...I'm not real sure that I'm good at it, but I do understand most of the poses and can get there, eventually. Once she moved into the power yoga, I was struggling. Plank position, lower down, cobra pose, to downward dog...that was killer. My arms were (and are) hurting! I don't even know how long we did those. She let loose on some killer core work at the end. I am only able to hold the pose at this point, and didn't even try the pulsing. All in due time my friends, all in due time.

This dvd is not new, being released in 2008. The workout is approximately 45 minutes long, but it certainly flows by, and doesn't seem that long. Don't get me wrong though, I was happy when the cool down stretching arrived.

I would recommend this to someone who has done yoga and pilates before - but still be prepared. It is a tough workout that I will certainly be trying again. To my surprise, this particular instructor has many varied yoga & pilates workouts on the market. I have already requested some newer ones from the library. And if you do decide to try it, be sure to let me know how you did (and how long YOUR arms were hurting)! ;-)

Two Thumbs Up!

Title: The Day the Falls Stood Still
Author: Cathy Marie Buchanan
Tags: Historical Fiction

I am giving a review on a book that was recommended to me (thank you Ju). Let me just start out by saying, this is the kind of book that makes me wish I had more time to read.

The Day the Falls Stood Still is a really wonderful story. Based in and around Niagara Falls in the early 1900's, the book mainly revolved around one teenage girl and her struggles in life. After her father loses his prestigious job at the local power company, Bess Heath and her family are faced with many difficult changes. Bess and her mother are forced to keep the family afloat in hard economic and social times, while her father is not willing/able to, and her sister is bedridden with an undiagnosed ailment.

Bess is very loyal to her family, but she is also drawn to a strange man that is certainly looked down upon. Does she choose to listen to her family and follow her head - or - does she follow her heart and stray from the expected to seek out the man that intrigues her so?? This is a unique story of betrayal, forbidden love, true happiness, deep depression, social acceptance, power, war, and, unfortunately, unbearable loss.

From start to finish, I thoroughly enjoyed every chapter in Bess's life. It is very well written as you seem to flow from her childhood into her adult life without even noticing. The author's description of Niagara Falls was fantastic. I have only been there twice in my life, but with the authors help, it was not hard to conjure up memories of the rushing water, whirlpool rapids, rising mist, and the deep gorge the falls are known for.

I am a big fan of the local library and that's where I get most of my material from. I usually have a time constraint problem when borrowing, but this book was so good that I finished it well before my 3 week lending time was up. I think it goes without saying, but I would definitley recommend this book.

Winners!

There were only three responses to the book giveaway.

Kathie said she'd like Those Who Save Us, and Marla said she'd like to read them both so she'll get The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. So they are yours!

Did you finish reading The Potato Peel Society book, Mub? What do you think of it? You guys have to let me know what you think of the books.

Thanks for playing!

Fishies!

We went to the Oklahoma Aquarium while visiting Tulsa last week. Dominic loves fish, fish of any kind.

We had fun. It was small but well-organized and had quite a vast number of fish! We saw many different kinds and colors. There was a rather cool shark tank exhibit and various areas to touch real creatures; horseshoe crabs, sting rays, star fish and shark eggs. Dominic would not touch the star fish; it felt like rock. I didn't want to touch the shark eggs. Ick.

They had an octopus, lots of jelly fish, sea horses, eels, and big snails. It's not too pricey, there is lots of room to see the fish (very unlike the GA Aquarium), and there was lots of see and do.

- Ju

Hopping down the bunny trail

-an Easter post from Do

I have very fond memories of Easter from when I was little. I used to love everything about the holiday...from the jelly bean hunt to the beautiful Easter dress I would get every year. We would always color eggs and my Dad would insist we make one for my Gramma (I never really understood why). My mom would fill a large basket with a good amount of candy, including my favorite, fruit slices! My sister and I would always find as many jelly beans as we could...sometimes finding them in the butter, compliments of my Dad. We would always visit my grandparents and then head home for dinner.

Now that I am older I tried to create something for Easter that my kids would remember too. (Info alert: I have a 12 yr old son, and a 7 yr old daughter). I am happy to say that I think I've done it. For the 3rd year in a row I am knee deep in crafting our "Easter egg basket hunt". It was a huge hit the first year, and even now my 12 year old (who knows all the secrets) still asks if I will do it.

My first goal is to find the perfect place for the baskets to be hidden...which really isn't easy. The first year it was inside our cedar chest, and the second year it ended up in the laundry room. This year I was tossing around maybe putting them in the tub, or out on the deck, but I think I am shooting for under my daughters bed! Daring...I know.

Starting on the kitchen table where we have set out our family Easter basket with our colored eggs, I leave a typed letter from the Easter Bunny telling them we are playing a game this year (yes, the Easter Bunny is very computer savvy). Next to the letter I leave a plastic egg with a clue inside that gives hints to where the next egg (with clue inside) is hidden. Then the second egg leads them to the third, and to the fourth, etc. If they follow the clues correctly then eventually will find their personalized baskets filled with goodies!

It's so fun to watch them dart around the house searching for the eggs, and it seems to be a hit with both of my kids. I know eventually when my daughter figures out who the Easter Bunny really is, I won't get to create our fun game anymore, but until then I take great pride in making my silly little rhymes for them.

As always, after our Easter basket hunt has come to an end, we pile into the car and head to my parents house for Easter dinner. This year we're hoping to fly some kites and work in our annual Spring walk, weather permitting. My mother is an excellent cook, and even if the weather is crappy and we are the only ones that show up, it's definitely still worth it.

Have a Happy Easter!!

Book reviews

Two books and a giveaway!

Title: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
Author: Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
Tags: World War II, Guernsey Island, London, historical fiction, letters

This book follows Juliet Ashton, a writer in London in 1946. Life on the island of Guernsey was not good under Nazi occupation during WWII and Juliet becomes enthralled with their history after becoming acquainted with some of the islanders. The letters written to, from and about her from various individuals in her life comprise the text of this novel. Tales of good and bad under the German occupation and what the war did to common people comprise the bulk of the story here. It is a nice little book that reads fast but it is rather predictable. (3 stars)

Title: Those Who Save Us
Author: Jenna Blum
Tags: World War II, historical fiction, Jews, German Resistance, Weimar Germany, Nazis, families, mothers and daughters, Minnesota, Buchenwald, Holocaust

This story follows a mother and daughter through World War II and beyond, from Germany to Minnesota 50 years later. It is a tale of sadness, terror, survival, heroism and understanding. Anna, a young German woman, falls in love and hides an older Jewish doctor who works for the German Resistance trying to get information out about Buchenwald concentration camp. They fall in love, he is arrested and she is pregnant.

The story follows Anna's tale of love, hardship and survival trying to keep daughter and herself alive when her employer and friend is murdered. Anna's daughter Trudy does not understand her mother and does not know her story. It is best left dead and in the past according to Anna. Trudy has never known who her father is and struggles to understand how people could let the Holocaust occur. It is that mission that leads Trudy to discover the truth of her existence and the horrors of what happened in Germany 50 years before.

This book is honest and horrifying. It is well written and progresses in ways that keep you guessing and turning pages. Overall, the key to this book is to subtly ask the question, "What would I have done in that time and place?" It is a soul-searching question. (4 stars)

Are you interested in reading either book? If so, leave a comment by April 7 and they might be yours.

- Ju

Music to my ears

I think it's safe to say that I enjoy a good hardrock-headbanging tune now and then. So I was excited when the original members of Creed reunited and released a new album last October.

"Full Circle" is the 4th album by Creed and it does not disappoint. If you like Creed, you will like this new set of songs. As in the past, Scott Stapp (lead vocals) and Mark Tremonti (guitars, back up vocals) are the two main components of this group. Overcome, Rain, and A Thousand Faces are their best, and released in that order. I also like the song Full Circle, which is definitely written about Scott and his reunion with the other band members. Away in Silence and Suddenly are also very good.

With any album there's always a song or two that just don't belong. Bread of Shame is that song. I don't know if I have even made it through the whole song yet...it just goes on and on and on. I also noticed that some songs definitely emphasize the guitar more than the vocals - almost overpowering the words at times. I'm sure this is done purposely - maybe a agreement between band members so that everyone has their turn in the spotlight...it's not all about Scott anymore.

If I had to rate this album, I would give it a 7 out of 10. As much as I love Creed's sound, their religious undertones, deep vocals, and gifted guitar, I think they can do better. Here's hoping their tour lands them in a venue near me, and I am already looking forward to their next album.