Reading Round-up!!

It's been about a month since the last time I posted about what I was reading...I promise that I have been reading :) If you're interested in seeing what books I talked about last month, you can view the post here.

Let's talk about some of the books I've read recently, shall we??

The Women's Murder Club is back and there's a possibility that one of their close friends is a murderer. The city is paralyzed with fear...Lindsay is having relationship problems...Cindy is trying to get the scope...hmm...haven't I read this story before..with the same author...just a different book cover?? I'm being a smartass, I know, but I'm just over James Patterson right now! I used to love his books and now I just feel like he churns them out and doesn't care that they're not really quality reading material anymore. Oh well, the book kept me occupied during cardio - I guess that's all that matters ;)

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I was a bit confused when I started this book. The chapters are written from the different characters points of view and while interesting, I didn't understand how they were connected. My patience paid off and the author reveals the connection between the characters in the latter chapters of the book.

The story starts with Allison being released from prison and entering a half-way house. The crime she has committed is heinous but you're not sure what exactly happened until further in the book. Her parents have erased her from their lives and her sister Brynn wants nothing to do with her. There are secrets being kept, lives that hang in the balance, and all you can do is keep reading. I highly recommend this book - it is captivating and heart-wrenching!

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I read this book back in March when I attended the Public Library Association (PLA) Conference in Philadelphia. I received a free advanced reader copy while attending the exhibits that were being held during the conference. I started the book on Friday night at my hotel room, read it while waiting for the train to the airport the next morning, and finished it while waiting for my first flight of the day. It's that good, period. I decided to reread it a couple of weeks ago and it was just as powerful the second time I read it.

Laurel has lost her mother, grandmother, and home to "the flood" and is starting a new life in a new state. She becomes a cheerleader and begins dating T-Boom, the star of the basketball team. T-Boom introduces her to moon (meth) and so begins her descent into drug addiction and homelessness. This story haunts me because I know there are Laurels out there and what can be done to save them?

And yes, I did read Fifty Shades of Grey. I don't get what the big deal is and I'm not saying another damn word about it here on my blog. If you want to have a discussion about it or want to know my opinion, feel free to email me ;)

Here's a list of books I have currently checked out but haven't read or finished yet:

Fever by Lauren DeStefano
What Doesn't Kill You by Iris Johansen
When She Woke by Hillary Jordan

If you're interested in seeing what others are reading, head over to Running With Sass! Heather just shared some of the books she's read recently.

What about you? Read anything good lately?

New Release Tuesday

I heard this song last night and I'm still on the fence about it. Don't get me wrong, I love myself some T.I. so I dig his part in the song....I'm just not sure about the rest of it...??

Thoughts?

The Countdown Continues...

I want to start with something that's been plaguing me for the past couple of weeks, competing at the national level in the figure division. I chose not to compete at the national level this year despite earning a national qualification twice last year because I wanted to improve certain areas of my physique and I didn't feel that I  was ready. Here's what's bothering me, someone planted the "maybe you should do Nationals at the end of the year if you qualify" seed in my head. Now I can't stop thinking about the possibility of competing for a pro card before the year ends!!

I'm still not sure that I'm ready and I know I still have areas to improve but I still keep thinking that maybe I should stop waiting and give it a shot. Nationals last year had over 1000 competitors and I'm sure there will be more than that this year. I would need to be amazing, to say the least, in order to stand out. I guess we'll have to see what happens. Decisions...decisions...decisions!

Time to focus on the show at hand! The 2012 NPC Terminator! Last Saturday marked 9 weeks out from the show and I feel like I'm slowly making progress. As I stated in my last progress update, I am the Tortoise. Slow & steady will win this race!

Diet - My diet has remained relatively consistent. I am doing keto and truth be told, there is nothing too exciting to share about it. The one meal of the day that makes me do my happy wiggle is meal #5. Meal #5 consists of salmon, brussel sprouts, and ghee. It's not a sonoran hot dog from El Guero Canelo but it does fill my tummy and stops me from repeatedly saying "I'm hangry!" (yes, hangry is a word! lol)

Cardio - There has been an increase in the amount of cardio I am doing. It's not a crazy amount but I cringe each time there's an increase. I wish I was one of those competitors that doesn't have to do one minute of cardio during their prep but alas, I am not :)

Sleep - I've been soooooo tired and I have been struggling to get out of the bed in the mornings. It's natural to be sleepy during prep but my near exhaustion this past week had a lot to do with TOM I think. I have been lucky that there have been very few of those days where I'm extremely tired but the second I crawl into bed, I can't fall asleep.

Training - Well, I knew it was coming but I didn't know exactly when. What am I talking about? I'm talking about The Boss saying that I would need to stop lifting as heavy & often as I have been. The look of figure has really changed recently and I have to be careful that I'm not putting on more muscle. I don't want to move up to the Physique division right now so I have to do what's necessary to make sure I'm fitting in the current figure "box".

Scale & Mirror - I'm not paying attention to the number on the scale because...well....it's just better for me psychologically if I don't! :) I only weigh in on the day that I check in with The Boss and that's what works for me. I'm also avoiding the mirror because it's that time of the month where I'm holding water like a camel, there's a pimple on my chin, and I swear I have a Buddha belly - thanks a lot, Mother Nature! :)

Countdown -  9 weeks until the Terminator and 10 weeks until the AZ Open! It always feels a bit more real when the number of weeks shifts from double digits to single digits.

One week closer - let's do the damn thang!

Sweat to Street Sunday

Welcome to Sweat to Street Sunday's!

Each week my fabulously fit co-hosts and I will link up with one everyday outfit AND one fitness outfit that we love!

Meet Your Hosts!

Family and Life in Las Vegas (Emily) 

Wild Things RUN Free (Charlotte) 

Running and Cupcakes (Samantha)

 MCM Mama (Erika) 

Boobs, Barbells, and Broccoli (Tenecia)

***IF YOU WANT TO FOLLOW SWEAT TO STREET ON TWITTER OR PLAN ON TWEETING YOUR POST, PLEASE USE THE HASHTAG #SweatToStreet***

Sweat to Street has been created as a place to link up your favorite outfits of the week as a new Sunday blog feature. The idea is to have some fun and change it up! Each week we encourage you to post one workout outfit and one outfit you wore that isn’t fitness related.

Every week we spotlight one awesome blogger who links up with us in the previous week! Our way of thanking you for sharing your fabulous/fun/fitness style! 

  This week's featured blogger: Lauren from Strong. Healthy. Balanced.

SWEAT!!!!


The Princess took this picture for me
before I walked her into school last week.

Yes, I'm that mom. I drop my kid off
at school in gym clothes because 1) I really am on
my way to the gym 2) even if I'm not going to the gym,
I'm not putting real clothes on
at 7:15 am unless I really really really have to :)

Shirt: Forever 21
Shorts: Danskin (I'm in love with all
things Danskin right now!!)
Shoes: Nike
Accessories: Livestrong bracelet, hat from Bodybuilding.com


STREET!!!!


At my library branch, we always joke that you're not an
official librarian until you start wearing cardigans!

I own very few cardigans but stole borrowed this
one from my mom last week. This is my first time
pairing this dress with a cardigan and I
really like it!

Dress: Old Navy
Camisole: Apt 9 (Kohl's)
Cardigan: Cherokee
Shoes: diba (DSW)
Accessories: cuff (gift from my mom), earrings from Forever 21,
Fossil watch, Livestrong bracelet, Coach bracelets

 Link-up Suggestions:

• follow the hosts on twitter: @FamilyNLifeLV, @Char__Latte, @MrsFitLibrarian, @MCMmama, @RunCupcake
• Feel free to follow us all via RSS as well so you never miss a Sweat to Street post!
• Snag a button and share the fun!!
• Sharing is caring! Be sure to visit pages participating in the link up!
• Feel free to share this link up on your own blog by grabbing the code here! get the InLinkz code
• HAVE FUN!

Remember if you don't link up, we can't choose you to be next week's featured blogger! We are so excited to see all the fashions that are shared each week!

How Do You Know???

Some time last year (or maybe the year before), I read a list on some website about the things that let you know that you're a figure competitor. I found the You Know You're A Figure Competitor When... list again on facebook courtesy of the Recipes for Gals in Figure and Bodybuilding page.

Last night as I was participating a particular activity (which I will share later *) I thought to myself, "Yep, this is how you know you're a figure competitor!"

With that in mind, I would like to present my own "You Know" list!

1. Your neighbors know that during prep they will see you in a bikini on the sidewalk in front of you house taking progress pictures.

2. You don't eat any of your meals off of a plate - you eat them out of a Ziploc or Tupperware container. *

3. You consume your protein & veggies meal while watching the Food Network channel.

4. The idea of going days without using deodorant or bodywash doesn't gross you out. You'd rather smell like a sewer than mess up your show day tan.

5. The appearance of a new vein makes you squeal like it's Christmas morning.

6. You use phrases like "beast mode", "I put in work", "get it girl", and "refeed".

7. Walking by a mirror requires a quickie posing session.

8. Being called "skinny" is an insult and anyone who uses this word to describe you may catch an ass-whoopin' get their eyeballs clawed out  need to walk away from you..quickly!!

8. If you dropped a piece of food on the floor/table/etc, you wouldn't have any qualms about picking it up and putting it right in your mouth.

9. If you're in a store and see something you can't have (ex. Creamsicle Oreos), you take a picture of it and text it to your competitor friends with the subject title "Food Porn".

10. You're not impressed with Michelle Obama's arms or Cameron Diaz's muscularity. It's Erin Stern, Nicole Wilkins, and Candice Keene whose arms & muscularity you long for.

I know I have forgotten a few things so the list will continue to expand as I think of them! For those of you that compete or know someone who does, what would you add to this list?? 

C'mon, let's have some fun with this! Leave a comment below!

Super Powers??

Yes, it's true - I have super powers. I don't usually flaunt it but I'm feeling a little feisty today so I'm going to! Want to know what one of my super powers is?

Check it --->

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New Release Tuesday

And my obsession love affair with Karmin continues...I'm really feelin' this one!!!