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I am a Christian, tattoo loving, paranormal believing, pierced up, supernatural watching, vampire diaries adoring, soccer coaching, animal helping, Earth saving, twimom to 4 living a crazy life I love. I am definitely Not Everyones Mama.

Archive for February 22nd, 2010

Burial To Follow

Posted by Heather Manning On February - 22 - 2010

51gZvl1Bq9L._SL500_AA246_PIkin2,BottomRight,-8,34_AA280_SH20_OU01_ Burial To Follow by Scott Nicholson

When Jacob Ridgehorn dies, it’s up to Roby Snow to help his soul move along to its proper reward. Roby can only accomplish this through the means of a very special pie. And Roby must complete his mission, or face down Johnny Divine, with his own soul at stake.

Awesome awesome book! Just what I’ve come to expect from Scott Nicholson.

I have this habit of trying to picture different scenarios in my head as I’m reading to see where an author is going with the storyline.  Then I get my aha! I thought that was going to happen somewhere down the road. 

I had no idea where Scott was going when I started this and I couldn’t figure it out until I read it when I got to that point in the story.  I hope Scott takes this as a complement when I say this book was so strange, but a great strange.  I knew there was something going on with the food because Roby was fixated with food, but I never would have guessed what actually was behind the food.  This was one of those, keep turning the page (or clicking the next button on my Kindle), don’t put it down until you’re done type of books. 

This book starts out at the sitting for Jacob Ridgehorn and continues on through the viewing and the funeral.  All of it revolving around Roby and the food and his thoughts on proper funeral procedure, which was actually kind of interesting.  Tell me you haven’t done it?  Been in a somber situation, not able to believe the behavior of some who are there?  He does give them leeway in his mind because they are grieving.

He sits through the bickering and manages to get everyone to eat the pie.  What’s in the pie?  I can’t tell you.  You will never ever think of it yourself though. 

I said this in my review of The Red Church, but I’ll say it again. Scott Nicholson reminds me of some of the greats, Stephen King, Dean R Koontz, etc.  This reminded me of some of Stephen King’s shorter story.  Not in the writing style, because that is all Scott’s wonderful style, but in the suspense category.  His stories are full of so much detail, you can easily picture it in your head, you can smell the food, see the congealed grease around the ham, the marshmallows on the sweet potato pie (I’m never eating pie at a funeral again, thank you very much Scott. :) ) This is just another great read from Scott Nicholson.

If you have a Kindle or e-reader, you can grab this for – wait for it, you’re not going to believe how much this costs.  99 cents.  That’s it.  Go download it for yourself on Amazon.  You won’t regret it!

Follow Scott on Twitter @hauntedcomputer and on Facebook!  Plus, check out his website, there is lots of fun stuff over there!

disclaimer

Thank you so much to Scott Nicholson for providing me with an e-book copy of Burial To Follow!  Loved it!

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Pride & A Prayer

Posted by Heather Manning On February - 22 - 2010

Pride & A Prayer by Charles Soto

Remember back when I reviewed Heartache & Sin I said that I couldn’t wait to read Charles Soto’s next book, Pride & A Prayer.  It hasn’t been released yet, but Charles sent me a copy to read.  You know I loved Heartache & Sin, and I didn’t think it would possible that he could top that.  I knew it would be just as good, but to top it?  That would be amazing.  He topped it for me. 

From his website:

Pride and a Prayer delivers every endearing and touching emotion that even the most hardened of hearts can feel. A story filled with characters so close to your own heart they compel you to turn each page, with a read that takes you all the way to the end of the prolog to find out its ending, an ending that you won’t soon forget or have seen coming.

Pride and a Prayer is an idea that I got one morning when I was watching the Today show, on NBC. It featured an interracial couple’s fraternal twins, the boy was born with a white complexion and the girl was born with a black complexion. I remembered the same thing on the hit TV show, The Jefferson’s. Their neighbors were an interracial couple who had fraternal twins under the same conditions. I thought, what a great idea for a book. Being a Mexican American, I’ve unfortunately experienced prejudice on a personal level for myself. I wanted to touch on a story that dealt with such issues and at the same time found peace and resolve. A story that, not only touched on interracial relationships, but also held a trust and faith in God, when the worst and unthinkable seems apparent. I wanted to add such controversial topics as, abortion and Plan B contraceptive, with religion and abortion laws to reflect in the readers thoughts, yet write it in a theme of a love story, with characters I developed that we all can relate too, making you, the reader, wonder what you would do and how you would react under the same conditions. Pride and a Prayer is a story that touches each of us, man or woman, with an ending that no reader will soon forget.

I cried.  Actual tears streaming down my cheeks.  Sarah’s story broke my heart, then lifted my spirits, hit close to home, took my emotions through the gauntlet.  At first I wanted to read the book because I thought I was in a situation similar to Sarah’s.  When Pato and I first got together, a lot of people on both sides of the families weren’t thrilled with us dating.  I think everyone has calmed down and is ok with our spouse now, but in the beginning it was hard.  I felt for Sarah.

Then I got more into the story.  Without telling my mom’s whole story and without giving away everything in the book, how I came to be is very very similar to what happens to Sarah.  Reading this book, I sat here wondering if those thoughts were what was going through my mom’s mind when she was pregnant with me?  You would have to have a heart of ice not to feel for Sarah, not to hurt for her. 

I don’t know how Charles Soto does it.  He is one of the most talented authors I have ever read.  He brings all the controversial issues to the table, but he does it in a manner that doesn’t make you feel anger towards the character experiencing it, no matter what your stance. You feel empathy towards them.  You care for them, for what happens to them, for how their story will end.

My heart went out to Mal because in the story, you know why Sarah is doing what she is doing when she shuts down their relationship, but you also know that this isn’t his fault.  You want her to open up that door for him. Let him back in.  Let him help her through this time because she needs that love. 

Sarah also has to deal with her family who is racist beyond anything I have ever had an experience with.  Thank God.  Her father lets some words fly at a football game where her boyfriend, Gil, is the star quarterback (be ready for a heart wrenching moment right there in the first chapter regarding Gil).  Gil is Mexican.  Sarah’s father has a problem with Mexicans.  And African Americans.  And well, everyone who isn’t white as Wonder Bread.  Her mother seems to follow her father’s lead.  I couldn’t imagine growing up like that. 

In the end, everything is……. do you actually think I’d tell you that?  I’ll just say that the ending was just as wonderful as the rest of the book.  It flowed, it moved, the ending didn’t come out of nowhere.  (Don’t you hate it when books do that?  When you’re reading this beautiful long novel and then the ending is rushed?  Charles Soto does not do that.  He puts just as much care and thought and love into his endings as he does the whole book.)  I think when you get to read this book and you get to the end that you will be suprised.  I was.  I wasn’t expecting what happened, but it was really good.

When Charles Soto releases this book, grab it!  Go with Sarah through her heartbreaking relationship with Gil, through her wanting to see Mal, but not knowing how to go about it, through Mal trying to see Sarah again, through one of the most horrendous things that could ever happen to a woman, through her having to consider options that would break anyone’s heart. 

Please read the excerp of Pride & A Prayer that he has on his site here.

Charles Soto, thank  you so much for sharing this with me.  I love to read.  I read everything I can get my hands on.  I enjoy almost every book that I read.  I can say with all honestly, not many books have touched my heart like yours do.  Your a tremendously talented man with a skill not many people posses.  Your books should be on top of the best seller’s lists.

Follow Charles Soto on Twitter.

Charles Soto’s website

disclaimer

Thank you so much to Charles Soto for providing me with an e-book copy of Pride & A Prayer.  My heart was touched by another one of your beautiful characters.  Please continue writing your fabulous stories!

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Red Light Green Light Eat Right

Posted by Heather Manning On February - 22 - 2010

42124618Red Light, Green Light, Eat Right by Joanna Dolgoff MD

Childhood obesity has reached epidemic proportions: More than 18 million American children are considered obese and are at risk for health problems. In fact, today’s generation of kids may be the first to experience shorter life spans than their parents.

Leading pediatrician Dr. Joanna Dolgoff’s Red Light, Green Light, Eat Right teaches kids how to make healthy choices based on the principles of the traffic light: green light foods are nutritious, yellow light foods are eaten in moderation, and red light foods are occasional treats.

The program, which has a proven 96 percent success rate, can be tailored to suit any child’s age, gender, and weight goals. Snacks and meals are designed to ensure that kids get the nutrients they need to not only lose or maintain weight, but to grow strong, healthy bodies. Complete with sample menus, recipes, and an index of more than 1,000 color-coded foods, Red Light, Green Light, Eat Right provides a practical solution for one of the biggest health crises facing America’s children.

Those who read my blog know that Jordan (and I) have struggled for a while with his weight.  When I got the chance to review Red Light, Green Light, Eat Right I jumped at it. 

Let me let Joanna Dolgoff MD explain it in her video first:

As someone who has struggled with my weight since I was about 23, I know in my head what I need to do.  Actually doing it is another thing.  When it comes to Jordan, I have tried to be more diligent with what is good and what isn’t.  That doesn’t mean it’s easy.  Jordan wants to eat the stuff that everyone else is eating (not just our family, anyone who is around him).  In Red Light, Green Light, Eat Right, Joanna shows how he can eat things that everyone else is eating, just prepared in a better way that’s healthier and allows him to eat something that wasn’t a good choice before.  The book is filled with recipes that I have decided we are going to start going by.  I’ve started a list and when we go to the grocery store that’s what I’m getting.  I’m going to have Pato get the kids each a lunch box also and start making their lunches, which they have been asking for anyway.  Jordan has taken cold lunch to school maybe 4 times in 5 years.  I know the school lunch is supposed to be healthy (though sometimes I raise my eyebrows when I see the lunch menu and hope it’s prepared in a decent way) and it’s always been easier for me to not have to deal with making a lunch in the morning (or in the evening), but I want to really put this to use.  It’s not just good for Jordan.  There’s a plan in there for kids who aren’t overweight too, making it healthier for the other 3 also.  Does it matter if they are normal weight (or underweight in Alyce’s case) if they are deficit in nutrients?  That’s something I’m always worried about with my girls.  They are so picky that I know they aren’t getting everything they need. 

Look at some of these recipes she has in the book:

•Breakfast Quesadillas

• French Toast

• Green Light Brownies

• Perfect Party Pizza

• Oven-Fried Chicken

• Peanut Butter Cookies

• Frozen Yogurt Pops

• Delicious Beef Burgers

• Potato Wedges

• Chicken Nuggets

• Taco Dinner

• Dr. Dolgoff’s Chicken “Parm”

• Apple Crisp

• Holiday Ham

• Light Honey Cake

Most of that is stuff I won’t make because I didn’t know there were ways to make it healthy.  Green light brownies?  Come on!  I’m all about that!  Katiana keeps turning to the page with the frozen yogurt pops.  I know that is going to be something is requested a lot. 

I am really excited about this!  I am always feeling like I am taking away from the kids because they want stuff that I think is horrible for them, but come to find out there are ways to work around that. 

Katiana and Jordan have both gone through the book multiple times showing me things, getting excited because this is green light and this is yellow light and it’s stuff that I normally say no to. 

Something that I think is very cool is that right now you can try Red Light, Green Light, Eat right for 21 days for free.  If you keep the book, you can pay for it four installments of $5.50.  It’s attainable for everyone.  I also found it on Amazon for $14.95, but of course you don’t get the free 21 day trial and the payment installments. Buy Red Light, Green Light, Eat Right: The Food Solution That Lets Kids Be Kids on Amazon.

Red Light, Green Light, Eat Right gets a huge huge huge

thumbsup

for being an EASY and do I mean EASY to figure out solution for getting our kids to eat right and for helping to fight childhood obesity.  Excellent book and I highly recommend this if you have kids of any age! (Heck, I recommend it for yourself if you, like me, are overweight and struggling to lose that weight.  Don’t go for fad diets.  Make an easy lifestyle change.)

disclaimer

Thank you so much to Joanna Dolgoff MD for sending me this copy of Red Light, Green Light, Eat Right: The Food Solution That Lets Kids Be Kids.  It is going to get a lot of use!

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Birthdays tomorrow!

Posted by Heather Manning On February - 22 - 2010

Tomorrow is my boys’ birthday.  Can you believe that Christiano is already going to be one?  I can’t.  Makes me all sniffly and weepy.  And Jordan is going to be 11.  At this point 11 years ago, I’d been in labor for 7 hours already (starting this posting at 8 AM).  I had a 23 hour labor with him.  He was born at 12:03 AM.  His dad was hoping that I would go past midnight because 2/22/99 was easier to remember than 2/23/99.   Christiano was born at 6:44 AM after a whole 6 1/2 hours of labor and 3 hours after I got to the hospital.  They say each kid comes quicker.  That one was true here.  I was a young nervous 24 year old when I had Jordan and I was an older nervous 34 year old when I had Christiano.

I’ll go into more detail tomorrow I’m sure.  Just starting the nostalgia early. 

I’m trying to remember what presents I got the boys and I’m racking the old brain because I wrapped them and can’t remember.  :)

This is one of Nano’s presents –

Vtech – Sit to Stand Alphabet Train

And this is something Jordan has wanted for years, well, not this exact one, but in general.

 

Hasbro Nerf N-Strike Longshot CS-6

That thing shoots 35 feet.  I’m just so excited.  I’m thinking that will be an outside toy.  Not quite the BB gun his dad gave him over the weekend that is staying at dad’s house, but it’s something he has wanted. I’m going to have to do a listing tomorrow of what they are getting because I cannot for the life of me remember details.  I got Jordan 2 really cool books.  At least I think they are.  I remember getting 2 books.  I remember wrapping 2 books.  ROFL  My memory is shot.  Or I need to get more sleep.  Or something.

Oh yeah, he’s also getting Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince and Bakugan Battle Brawlers for the Wii and 3 DS games that Pato picked up.  Oh oh oh, AC/DC Live and Guns N Roses – Use Your Illusion I.  Before you get all up in arms, remember that –

Recordings identified with the Parental Advisory Label may contain strong language or depictions of violence, sex or substance abuse. Wal-Mart Stores, Sam’s Club and Walmart.com (collectively “Wal-Mart”) do not carry recordings designated with the Parental Advisory Label.

That’s from Wal-Mart’s website.  I looked all over both CDs for a parental advisory sticker and there wasn’t one on either.  So, I’m knocking on wood and hoping those are the safe versions. 

When I was shopping for Jordan’s birthday presents, I called him and said, what kind of music are you liking now a’days?  He said, ummm….AC/DC, Guns N Roses, Green Day.  Where in the world have you hears AC/DC and Guns N Roses at?  Green Day I get because I like Green Day.  I mean, I like the other 2, but I don’t have their CDs.  You do know AC/DC is like older than mom right?  I mean, they were formed in 1973 (Than you Amazon.com) and I was born in 1974?  I don’t care, I like them mom!  And Guns N Roses came out when in 1985 (Again, thank you Amazon.com).  I was 11.  Wow.  That’s how old Jordan is going to be.  Coincidence?  yeah, probably.

I was only searching for those CDs while I was shopping and I found the 2 I listed above, but Green Day was not to be found at Wal-Mart.  I’m going to assume that means they haven’t fixed up any of their CDs so they don’t need a parental advisory label?

Speaking of GnR, I remember when I was in 8th grade and living with my grandparents that my bus driver used to play G N’ R Lies on the bus.  I was horrified.  At that stage I was playing Debbie Gibson’s Electric Youth and NKOTB’s Hangin’ Tough over and over on my grandparents’ tape player.  I thought GnR came from the devil himself.  I’d sit on the bus with my jaw dropped listening to her music, just in shock that an adult would play THAT KIND of music on the bus.  I still love Debbie Gibson (did you know she twitters?) and NKOTB, but I also really like some of GnR’s stuff.

This is my favorite GnR song:

I’ve got like the widest tastes in music of anyone I know.  Hard rock, pop, latin, broadway, opera, rap, r&b, easy listening, love it all, except for like death metal. (Do they call it that still?)  Too hard for me.

See how long it takes me to post stuff?  I started this at 8 and it’s almost 10.  Darn having 4 kids and all.  LOL

Gonna jet and get some stuff done.

Have a great day!

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