Tone up in 2012 With Zumba Fitness 2 (Review)

As the Year comes to an end...
It seems like I always make that New Years Resolution... To Loss Weight or Tone Up!!

Well... Party Yourself into Shape with the Zumba Fitness 2 Wii Game!!





Game Overview:

Four million players and counting have already discovered the exhilarating Zumba® Fitness interactive video game work out. Following the worldwide best-selling original, Zumba® Fitness 2 builds on that phenomenal success while elevating the exer-game category to a new high of fun, effective fitness. This cutting-edge experience layers in loads of new features and improvements, amps up the dance-fitness party and gives you even more ways to sculpt your body and party yourself into shape. Get ready for the sleek, sexy physique you’ve always dreamed of!

Features:

• Get a total body workout with 32 electrifying new routines and music tracks, including hits from today’s hottest artists including Pitbull, Nicole Scherzinger and Yolanda Be Cool & DCup.

• Follow along as celebrity Zumba instructors Tanya Beardsley, Gina Grant and Beto guide you through each routine. New 3D models of each instructor make playing the game feel like taking a real class with Zumba’s elite celebrity trio!

• Learn 24 different dance styles across routines, from fan favorites like Merengue, Samba and Cumbia to new additions like Axe, Bollywood, Latin Pop, Ragga and Pasodoble.

• Get in shape with four different game modes:
– Single Song: Dance a single routine of your choice. The new song preview feature gives you a feel for a track before you dive in and lose yourself in the music.
– Full Class: A work-out block of routines in 20, 45 or 60 minute formats. You can now create your own custom routines by saving a playlist of your favorite songs.
– Multiplayer: Up to 4 players can join the party in your living room with cooperative gameplay.
– Learn the Steps: Revamped tutorial mode lets you learn at your own pace by breaking down the core dance styles into the basics.

• Get your party on in 5 stunning, dynamic environments, from a Miami Yacht to a LA nightclub. Watch the party grow as you match moves throughout each area!

• New video cueing system makes the choreography easier to follow for new players.

• New Progress Tracker lets you follow every stat relating to your gameplay, including: calories burned, trophies earned, overall rank, technique score based on how many moves matched overall, and more.

• Approachable gameplay offers a full tutorial mode with Low, Medium and High Intensity routines tiered for all skill levels.

• Affix the exclusive Zumba® Fitness belt (included free in the game box) to your waist and slide the Wii Remote into the holster to dance hands-free.

My Thoughts:

I love it!!!
This game is pretty simple to follow along and great for different skill levels. This is a great fun dance but exercise game to play by yourself or as a group. If you are new to Zumba, no worries... Just follow along with the tutorial to learn the steps in the comfort of your own home. The video cueing system makes the choreography really easy to follow with simple instruction. If you already enjoy zumba, then you should love this game as well.

I love the Progress Tracker which is a great incentive by telling you how many calories you burned. The zumba fitness belt included in the wii game is a great way to dance hands free and makes it more effective and fun. I love the different music tracks and many routines that keeps this game extra fun. What a great way to burn alot of calories and have fun at the same time. I highly recommend this!! I am going to be including this game and healthy eating habits to reach my goal in the New Year.

This game can be purchased at many retailers for around $39.99. It's is selling at amazon.com for just $29.99, which is a great deal!! Pick yours up for some great fun... You almost forget it's exercise.

*Disclosure: I received this video game free of charge for the purpose of this review. This is my honest thoughts and opinion.*

Merry Christmas

Wishing You all a Merry Christmas!!! Remember the reason for the Season!

Miyako Ceramic Knife ~Review~

Ceramic Knifes?...

I had never even heard of these until a few weeks ago! But, I'm super glad that I had the opportunity to review the Miyako Ceramic Knife because it is Awesome!!!

My husband actually had the chance to try the Miyako Ceramic Chef Knife first and he was bragging about how great this knife was.

But, of course I wasn't going to just going to take his word, I wanted to try it out for myself. Well, I will tell you that I Love this knife. Besides being super sturdy and really sharp , the ergonomic handle feels great in your hand. These Miyako Ceramic Knifes are recommended for everyday slicing of fruits, vegetables and boneless meats. This knife definately makes perparing dinner super easy!

Not all Ceramic Knifes are the same!!! Check out Miyako Ceramic Knifes features:

Stunning High Gloss Finish
Precisely Honed Cutting Edge
Super Soft Ultra-Comfort Handle
Extensive Quality Assurance
Extra Hard Ceramic



Still need that perfect Christmas Gift? I would recommend buying these knifes. Check out these great knife sets and gadgets, They can purchased at MiyakoCeramics.com and on Amazon.


*Disclosure: I received the item mentioned above free of charge for the purpose of this review. These are my honest thoughts and opinion.*

$50 PayPal Giveaway

Who couldn't use $50 Cash?...

I have teamed up with an awesome group of bloggers to bring you this giveaway!!!




This giveaway is open from December 18th until January 1st!

Use the Rafflecopter form below to enter this Giveaway! Good Luck!

Bloggers- Join this $50 PayPal Cash Giveaway

Mom Blog Society wants to thank everyone for all their support! So, they’re organizing a group of bloggers to host a $50 PayPal Cash Giveaway for free! If you’d like to be listed on this giveaway, do the following:

Fill out this form!

As you’ll see on the form, you need to copy all this information and make a blog post on it in order to promote the SIGN UP phase. Sign up until December 18th or EARLIER if there is a large response. The giveaway will run from December 18, 2011 - January 1, 2012.

Also, put the banner above on your sidebar. (The code is on the form you fill out.) And click this link to get the Rafflecopter widget: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/NzkxNzI3NGQ2N2M3ZGU4MzUxNTBmNjVkM2E3ZWU2OjE4/

The Black Shard -Book Review

About the Book:

The Black Shard, Victoria Simcox’s fast-paced, intricately woven sequel to The Magic Warble, takes Kristina Kingsly and her schoolmates back to Bernovem … and into a thrilling, often dangerous adventure.

Kristina’s stay at summer horse camp is horrible to say the least, and it’s all because Hester and Davina are there as well, making her life miserable. When Hester’s cruel prank goes terribly wrong, it’s actually what sends the three girls back to the magical land of Bernovem. In Bernovem, Kristina is very excited to see her former friend, Prince Werrien. When he invites her to sail with him on his ship to his homeland Tezerel, putting it simply, Kristina can’t refuse.

Reunited with her gnome, dwarf, animal, fairy friends … and best of all, Werrien, things seem like they couldn’t get any better for Kristina. But when Werrien becomes fascinated with an unusual seeing stone, the “Black Shard”, Kristina is haunted by a ghostlike old hag. Struggling against suspicion, guilt, illness, and ultimately the one who wants to possess her soul, Kristina will see it’s in her weakest moment that she will encounter more strength than she has ever known.

Finally this book has hit the shelves!! The Black Shard is the sequel to the Magic Warble, which my daughter absolutely loved! (You can read our review here.) Both books are great for tween and teen readers, yet adults will love these books too. This book picks up where the Magic Warble left off, yet if you have not read the Magic Warble first,(which I recommend) you would still enjoy reading this book.

The Author, Victoria Simcox, does such a great job keeping the reader guessing and interested as she weaves the characters and story together. This book is full of adventure and just alittle romance as the characters are a few years older then in her last book. I don't want to tell you too much and ruin the story for you, but there are twists and turns and the way this story ended, the door was definitely left open. At least, I hope that Victoria is in the process of writing a third book.

For more information on The Black Shard please visit: www.theblackshard.com

This book can be purchased on Amazon and would make a great Christmas gift!

You can Follow Author Victoria Simcox on twitter and The Black Shard on Facebook.


*Disclosure: I received this book from the Author to read. This is my honest thoughts and opinion.*

DVR Deleted

Guest written by our friend Gladys Fuentes

I was so mad at my husband last night. He somehow managed to delete every show that I had recorded on our DVR. I used to watch my shows on the nights they came on, but once we got directv, I was able to record my shows when they came on and watch them whenever I wanted to. I have been pretty busy lately and it has been several weeks since I watched my favorite TV shows, so our DVR was starting to fill up. My husband took it upon himself to free up some space so he could record three football games on the same day. He said that he did not mean to clear everything on the DVR, but he did. I was already irritated that his obsession with football has taken over three nights each week. Now that the only things left on the DVR are his football games, I am even more annoyed. He told me I could go online and watch any episodes I had missed, but I do not enjoy watching shows online. Maybe I will accidentally delete his football games.

Looking for that perfect gift? Shopping Online?

As the Holiday's are getting closer, many of us are shopping! I have been shopping in the stores and online. The problem I'm having is finding just the right gift for everyone.

My husband is easy to buy clothes for, but sometimes he wants truck parts like cheap nerf bars so I have do look online to order something like this. I'm thinking about asking his buddies to give me ideas for him.

My kids love to play sports! As they play different sports, they need different gear and equipment. As the new sports season starts, the kids need new cleats. I have been looking online for cheap nike soccer cleats and basketball sneakers. My son has been growing like crazy and needs to be prepared and have the right gear to play his best. Sports related gifts are always good for him.

My Grandmother is really hard to buy for. She has just about everything! She loves the outdoors, but with the weather getting colder, she loves to sit in the sunroom and watch the birds. I found a cheap rocking chair that would be great for her. I think this could be used inside or outdoors. I hope that she likes this.

I'm taking suggestions and tips for the perfect gift, and as the weather is starting to get colder and snowy, shopping online would be much easier. Feel free to leave me any suggestions.

*This post was brought to you by your friends at www.become.com*

Chicken soup for the Soul: Devotional Stories for Tough Times Giveaway

101 Daily Devotions to Inspire and Support You in Times of Need

By: Susan M. Heim and Karen C. Talcott
Foreword by Mary Beth Chapman


Life has always been filled with trials, including illness, job loss, grief, addictions, and much more. God never promised that our earthly lives would be without difficulties, but He assured us that He will always be with us to share our burdens. Chicken Soup for the Soul: Devotional Stories for Tough Times is filled with stories that show God's presence during a time of trouble. Readers will find encouragement, solace, and strength in these personal stories and prayers.

These devotional stories are complete with scripture and prayers and will introduce you to the personal experiences of people who have gone through tough times and found faith, joy and strength in God's love and wisdom.

This book may be purchased through Amazon.

Stop by Chicken Soup for the Soul's website and check out all their great books. They make Great Gifts!!


Win it!! Three of my lucky readers can win this Chicken Soup for the Soul Book: Devotional stories for Tough Times.

MANDATORY/REQUIRED ENTRY:Please leave me a comment telling me your best tip to get through tough times.

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED entry. But in addition you can:

■Subscribe via e-mail (1 extra entry)
■Follow me via Google friend Connect (1 extra entry)
■Follow me via NetworkedBlog (1 extra entry)
■Add @Shawnmh to your Twitter -Leave me your twitter ID (1 extra entries)
■Add @chickensoupsoul to your Twitter -Leave me your twitter ID (1 extra entry)
■ Tweet this giveaway on Twitter. Be sure to include a link to this contest page (Leave me the link)(1 extra entry/this may be done daily)
■Add my button to your site AND/OR add me to your blog roll.(1 entry for each)
■"Like" me on facebook (2 extra entries-leave me your facebook name)
■"Like" ChickenSoupforthesoul on facebook (2 extra entries-leave me your facebook name)
■Blog about this contest: Add a link to this post (5 extra entries)

This giveaway is open to US and Canada residents only. Please leave a separate comment for each entry.(Please make sure if you are anonymous you leave your email address with your comments.)
This giveaway will end on December 15th at 11:59 pm Est. The winners will be notified and have 48 hours to respond to my email or another winner will be chosen.

*Disclosure- I received this book for free to review as a member of the Chicken Soup for the Soul blogger network*

Digital Photography Book Review and Giveaway

Digital Photography: A Basic Manual
By: Henry Horenstein

Book Description:
This thorough, concise, and easy-to-use guide to capturing digital photographs provides an entire step-by-step course for budding digital photographers. All concepts are fully illustrated with sample work by internationally renowned professionals, representing editorial work, photojournalism, and everything in between. Topics covered include essential information for both film and digital photography, such as exposure controls and shutter speed, as well as digital-specific information on image editing, printing methods, and even file storage. The first digital textbook by legendary photography teacher Henry Horenstein, Digital Photography is the best guide yet for aspiring digital photographers, essential both for photographers transitioning from film to digital and those learning the art of photography for the first time.

About the Author:
Henry Horenstein is a widely published and exhibited professional photographer and the author of more than two dozen books, including the classic texts Black & White Photography and Beyond Basic Photography, and monographs such as Honky Tonk, Animalia, Show,and Close Relations. Horenstein is a professor at the Rhode Island
School of Design, where he has taught for more than twenty years. He lives and
works in Boston.

I love taking pictures! I love using a digital camera as you can usually tell if you get a good picture or not. Sometimes, though, I don't always get the best quality and I often wondered if it was me not knowing how to use my camera or my camera not performing that good. After reading this book, I know that it was a combination of my picture taking technique and my camera.

This book provides an entire step-by-step course on today's digital workflow. You get the essential information about exposure controls, shutter speed, subject lightening and more. Among the many things you will learn how to choose a camera that's perfect for you. (Which is great knowing that my daughter wants a new camera for Christmas.) Also, you learn tips and technique about when and how to use the manual settings and also you learn how to troubleshoot and solve problems in image making, editing and printing. This book is very helpful and is easy to understand. I think that the newest camera users and even those advanced would love this very useful guide.


Buy it!
You can purchase this book from Hatchette Book Group.

Or on Amazon.

Or Win it!!! The Hatchette Book Group has offered Two of my lucky readers a copy of Digital Photography Book.

MANDATORY/REQUIRED ENTRY:
Please leave me a comment with your favorite photography tip.

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED entry. But in addition you can:

■Follow me via Google Friend Connect (1 extra entry)
■Subscribe via e-mail (1 extra entry)
■Follow me via NetworkedBlog (1 extra entry)
■Add @Shawnmh to your Twitter -Leave me your twitter ID (1 extra entry)
■Add @Hatchette Book Group to your Twitter -Leave me your twitter ID (1 extra entry)
■ Tweet this giveaway on Twitter. Be sure to include a link to this contest page (Leave me the link)(1 extra entry/this may be done daily)
■Add my button to your site AND/OR add me to your blog roll.(1 entry for each)
■"Like" me on facebook (2 extra entries-leave me your facebook name)
■Blog about this contest: Add a link to this post (5 extra entries)

This giveaway is open to US and Canada residents only. Please leave a separate comment for each entry.(Please make sure if you are anonymous you leave your email address with your comments.)
This giveaway will end on December 13th at 11:59 pm Est. The winners will be notified and have 48 hours to respond to my email or another winner will be chosen.
*Winners will be subject to the one copy per household rule,which means that if you win the same title in two or more contests ,you will only receive one copy of the title(or set in case of grouped giveaways)in the mail from the Hatchette Book Group.*

**Disclosure: I received this book free of charge from the Hatchette Book Group for the purpose of this review. This is my honest thoughts and opinion.**