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Kellogg's Rice Krispies Halloween Treats

Are you looking for easy, fun and tasty treats to make with your little monsters this Halloween? Kellogg's Rice Krispies are an easy and fun way to make some special Halloween treats.

Head over to RiceKrispies.ca for some fabulous ideas like this cute Halloween bats. All you need is a bats cookie cutter and let the kids decorate the faces.
source: RiceKrispies.com
You can also make Halloween pumpkins by rolling the rice krispie treats into a ball and adding a pretzel or more treat to the top for the handle.
source: RiceKrispies.com
We will be making our treats this weekend! So many super cute treats can be found on either the Rice Krispies Canada or US site.

Happy Halloween! 


~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn. I am part of the Kelloggers Network and received a special package for Halloween. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

Halloween Mani ~ Jacks & Corns

A fun Halloween Mani by Jamberry Nails, this is a jr wrap set called Jacks & Corns. They are too cute!

~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

Star Wars Darth Vader Voice Changer Mask ~ Halloween

Halloween is right around the corner, yikes! Where did the month go? If you are looking for a fun last minute Halloween costume for your child who is a Star Wars fan check out this very cool Star Wars Darth Vader Voice Changer Mask by Hasbro toys. Your child will sound just like Darth Vader by using the voice changer button. It changes the sound of their voice to sound like Darth Vader's breathing sounds and it also plays signature Darth Vader sayings.This mask is recommended for ages 5+. It does require 3 AA batteries.


This mask makes for a quick and easy costume by pairing it with a black robe or just a black jogging suit. 

Have a Safe and Fun Halloween! 
 

~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

Hunting Desire Book Review and Giveaway




Gavin Kincaid and the other Guardians have protected the Shattered City for centuries. But now he faces the one threat even his werewolf strength can't overcome alone: demons are attacking the city from within. His superior calls in elite Hell Hunter Nerine. 

Gavin doesn't want outside help. But to his shock, he discovers he wants the beautiful tracker like no other woman he's ever met. 

Nerine carries a secret that might just kill her. To protect it, she keeps everyone at arm's length, but her desire for Gavin may make that impossible. 

Together, they fight the demons determined to destroy the Shattered City and seize the powerful, mysterious artifacts it holds, until a hidden enemy strikes. Now Nerine must face the demons within her to save Gavin, the city...and the world.


About the author:


C.M. Dahl has been writing romances since she was eight years old and wrote the story of forbidden love between a stuffed crocodile and a plastic doll in pink magic marker. The crocodile helped the doll cross a dangerous puddle in the backyard and earned the doll's respect. They fell in love after fighting off a legion of green army men.

Her storytelling and her writing tools have grown more sophisticated over the years, but her love for romance has only deepened. She loves writing strong, capable men and women, who have a burning hot attraction between them, learn to respect each other, and fall in love, all while fighting evil and saving the world, of course!

Currently, C.M. writes paranormal romances in the Shattered City series, including Hunting Desire (October 2014), Demon's Dance (November 2014), and Ian & Lilith's story (December 2014). Visit C.M. at her website, www.cmdahl.com, and sign-up for her mailing list to be the first to hear about her new releases here: www.cmdahl.com/mailing-list-sign-up/.



You can follow C.M on facebook and/or her website.

You can purchase Hunting Desire on Amazon.

My review:

Hunting Desire is an extremely well written romantic suspense. The development of the Shattered City is seamless and each character is perfectly put together. 
Gavin is a very handsome werewolf guardian who prides his role in protecting the people in the village. What he wasn't expecting was for Nerine aka "Beauty" the demon hunter to have captured his heart. He's a werewolf, it's already beyond challenging finding love when all the other ladies run the other way, but what will happen when he finds out who Nerine really is. 

Fantastic read, I give Hunting Desire 5 bright stars, and I look forward to reading more from C.M in the future!

Enter below for a chance to win an Amazon gift card!
a Rafflecopter giveaway





~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Cheryl. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

A Death in Vegas by Christopher Meeks - Book Review

Book Synopsis:

In A Death in Vegas, the president of BenBugs, a company that specializes in beneficial bugs for organic gardening, discovers a young woman dead in his Las Vegas hotel suite. She had worked as a sexy lady bug at his convention booth—and he had nothing to do with her death.

While that’s being investigated, the FBI raids his booth on a money-laundering scam that he knows nothing about, either.

Soon, the coroner doesn’t have good news. The police and FBI are against him—and his wife cannot be found. He flees to find the answers.


Purchase a copy on Amazon.

About Author:

Christopher Meeks first published short stories in such literary journals as Rosebud, The Clackamas Literary Review, The Santa Barbara Review, The Southern California Anthology, and The Gander Review. His stories are now available in two collections, The Middle-Aged Man and the Sea and Months and Seasons. He has two novels: The Brightest Moon of the Century, a story that Marc Schuster of Small Press Reviews describes as "a great and truly humane novel in the tradition of Charles Dickens and John Irving," and his new comic novel, Love At Absolute Zero.

He began as a playwright and has had three plays produced. Who Lives? A Drama is published. 

Connect: Website | Twitter | Goodreads |

Review:

I honestly wasn't sure what to expect based on the title and the brief summary I read.  As I read the book I was drawn in a number of ways as this story truly unfolds and becomes more complex page by page.  I really enjoyed the main character and the way the story spread out and certainly was guessing right until the end of the book. If you are looking for a crime mystery this book is worth a read. The book left me wanting to read more from Mr. Meeks.

Overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars.  I would recommend this book to those interested in a very well written mystery.

~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Allgoodcanadian - Chris G. I received a copy of this book for review purposes.  All opinions are honest and my own.*~


Sweet Halloween Treats from Hasbro

For the last couple of years we have opted to hand out some other treats to the Trick or Treaters that arrive at our house before we head out with the kids. Usually these are the smaller children with their adorable costumes. Our children love to hand out some treats and we have given out small containers of Play-Doh the last couple Halloweens.

If you are looking for a sweet alternative to sugary candy Hasbro has a few ideas to offer.
Halloween colored Play-Doh are a big hit with the little ones! Each bag comes with 15 mini containers of Play-Doh.
Littlest Pet Shop blind bags are a fun treat for Halloween Parties. Each bag comes with a surprise mini Littlest Pet Shop pet! You never know which pet will be inside. My daughter is a HUGE fan of these and will be giving out some of these sweet treats to her friends this Halloween.

Pick up your Hasbro Sweet Treats at Walmart, Target, Superstore, Toys R Us.


~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn. We received the above products for review purpose. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

Star Wars Workbooks ~ Review

We have been really lucky with both our kids since they started school they have loved it and look forward to going. They enjoy hanging out with their friends and taking part in gym but they also love to learn. This could be from starting them both off young with at home workbooks that help with shapes, counting, ABC's and so much more. 

We used to sit with the kids when they were toddlers and have them work on these books all the time and they loved them. They would bring out the books to "play". Now that the kids are older and in grade 2 and 3 they still enjoy these books. We always have a few workbooks on hand for each of them and they pull them out to practice. P always challenges himself and will work away on the books until he gets it. A loves to do them with either Mom or Dad unless it is something she has done already and she will bring out the book to have Mom "mark" her work.

Recently A had the opportunity to check out some Star Wars workbooks for Math, Spelling and Writing for grade 2.

There are twelve titles in this new series. Three for each Pre-K through 2nd Grade.  

"Each book digs deep into core subjects, including numbers, ABCs, phonics, and reading readiness for younger grades, and math, reading, and writing for the older ones. The material, which aligns with national Common Core State Standards, is designed to reinforce essential concepts and lessons taught in schools. Any child, not just fans of Star Wars—but yes, those fans will be especially delighted (as will reluctant learners)—will love the “A” is for Anakin approach to phonics. Kids will practice learning numbers by counting and circling X-wing starfighters and clone troopers. Master place values by sorting groups of Wookiees. There are math problems—Yoda is holding 7 lightsabers. 5 of the lightsabers are blue. The rest are green. How many green lightsabers is he holding? And Language Arts—Circle the correct homophone in this sentence: Luke is a Jedi knight/night.

Featuring favorite characters like Luke Skywalker, Queen Amidala, Yoda, and Obi-Wan Kenobi, and other creatures, monsters, Jedi, and Sith, the workbooks are filled with thousands of original illustrations drawing from all six Star Wars movies and the expanded Star Wars universe.

Learn well, you will."

My daughter loves her workbooks and we have spent many hours going over different worksheets some that are refreshers but a lot of the work is stuff she will be learning this year. My son loves to help his sister on some of the problems that she hasn't done before as he is a grade ahead and will tell her "you will learn that this year".  Both the kids are huge Star Wars fans which makes these books even more fun to use. 

Check out Thomas Allen & Son Ltd to learn more about the Star Wars workbooks and where to purchase them.


~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

A Death in Vegas by Christopher Meeks ~ Book Promo

Book Synopsis:

In A Death in Vegas, the president of BenBugs, a company that specializes in beneficial bugs for organic gardening, discovers a young woman dead in his Las Vegas hotel suite. She had worked as a sexy lady bug at his convention booth—and he had nothing to do with her death.

While that’s being investigated, the FBI raids his booth on a money-laundering scam that he knows nothing about, either.

Soon, the coroner doesn’t have good news. The police and FBI are against him—and his wife cannot be found. He flees to find the answers.


Purchase a copy on Amazon.

About Author:

Christopher Meeks first published short stories in such literary journals as Rosebud, The Clackamas Literary Review, The Santa Barbara Review, The Southern California Anthology, and The Gander Review. His stories are now available in two collections, The Middle-Aged Man and the Sea and Months and Seasons. He has two novels: The Brightest Moon of the Century, a story that Marc Schuster of Small Press Reviews describes as "a great and truly humane novel in the tradition of Charles Dickens and John Irving," and his new comic novel, Love At Absolute Zero.

He began as a playwright and has had three plays produced. Who Lives? A Drama is published.
 

Connect: Website | Twitter | Goodreads |



~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

Mani Monday ~ Fright Night

I am all set for my Halloween Mani! I just put on Fright Night over the weekend and will be putting on Jacks & Corns on my daughter this week. I love doing up my nails for the holidays.

Don't forget that I have teamed up with Shari from The Knit Wit by Shair for mani Monday. Check out here her Mani Mondays also!

If you are interested in trying a Jamberry sample please send me an email or tweet. 
 



~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

Disney Baby October Newsletter




MORE WAYS THAN ONE:
RECEIVING BLANKETS


As mom's and/or mom's to be we have them, and we have many. Next to diapers and wipes we are fully stocked and supplied with receiving blankets, all sizes, and adorable patterns possible. Why do we have them? To catch the all to-familiar baby spit up of course. Have you ever thought of another reason to use them for?

For me, they were used to swaddle for bed, and to keep warm after being buckled in the car seat. I also used them as a sunshade for the car seat, stroller or while babywearing. That sun can be harsh on sensitive skin and since sunscreen can't be used in the first 6 months this was another beneficial use.

Are you nursing? You can use it as a cover if you'd like. My kids were fine with that till they opted to not have their little world blocked, and nursing would soon involve a game of peek-a-boo filled with milky giggles. 

When my children were still infants and the milky spit ups were inevitable, I would use the longest receiving blankets in their crib as a spit up catcher. I would fold it in half lengthwise and stretched it across the width of the bed and tucked in any loose ends. This way when a little spit up did occur, I could save myself the hassle and just toss the receiving blanket in the wash, and not needing to change the all the bedding.

Was also great just to toss one on the floor so they had a clean tummy time space, or maybe we needed to change a diaper and having some protection during those blowouts ;)

Now that my children have both outgrown the traditional need for a receiving blanket. My daughter now has all the lightly used ones in her dolly collection and uses them for all the same reason's I might have when she was that small!

Thank you for stopping by for October's Newsletter, now here is the message for Disney Baby...

Moms are creative by necessity. Getting through daily tasks with little ones in tow often requires resourcefulness and some imaginative solutions. To support that ever-present mom-genuity, Disney Baby has put together a list of the many ways you can use one of the most ubiquitous of baby products: the receiving blanket. Because when it comes to taking care of babies, there are always more ways than one.

USE #1: Nursing cover

Lightweight and easy to fold up and store, receiving blankets make excellent nursing covers. Tie a knot in one corner and rest it over baby’s head to help keep the blanket in place. Plus, when you’re done, a slight adjustment turns it into a....

USE #2: Burp cloth

Throw a receiving blanket over your shoulder to wipe your baby’s face and protect your clothes from post-feeding spit up.

USE #3: Coverlet

If your baby is chilly, receiving blankets are the perfect way to add a quick layer. They can also be used to soothe your little one, as something to hold, snuggle or chew.

USE #4: Changing mat

Receiving blankets make great changing mats, especially when you’re out in public. Simply fold the blanket and lay it down on a flat surface to create a soft, easy-to-clean changing station.

USE#5: Play mat

Lay a blanket on the ground to give baby a clean surface to play on. If your little one is playing with lots of toys, keeping them on the receiving blanket also helps to make clean up a breeze: just gather the corners together to pick everything up at once!

USE #6: Sunshade

Drape a receiving blanket over the front of your stroller to create instant shade, or block the sun from your car by tucking one into the top of the window. In both cases, the blanket will cut the glare and help keep baby nice and cool.

USE #7: Dress-up

When your baby is a little bit older, you can use your receiving blankets in play. Throw them in the toy box, so your little one can use them as veils, capes, scarves or to swaddle their own baby dolls.

Did you know? Disney Baby makes some adorable receiving blankets, including this “Peek-a-Boo Pooh” set.






~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Cheryl. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

Stick Together with Kraft Bears by GUND

The other day I found this package on the doorstep and when I opened it I was surprised to see these two very cute bears in a house! Since I have been young I have loved the Kraft Peanut Butter bears and have always thought they would be adorable as a stuffed bear.

Kraft Peanut Butter is the food that exists to create meaningful connections in Canadian’s lives, helping families and friends stick together through the sharing of special moments. Now we can share special moments with Kraft PB Bears Smooth & Crunchy! These adorable bears are available in a premium GUND plush teddy bear that you can share with your loved ones.
Get ready to find the Kraft Peanut Butter bears online as of October 20, 2014 for $34.99. Visit Sticktogether.ca for more information and to get your bears. They will also be in your local grocery store as of November 7th, 2014 with a suggested retail of $14.99 (price may vary depending on market).

The kids claimed a bear as soon as they walked in the door after school. It was nice to see they didn't fight over which one they got and gave them huge hugs right away. The Bears are soft and cuddly. They have become a great companion at bedtime especially for my daughter who needs to have something with her at night to sleep. 


~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn. I received the above products from Kraft Canada. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

Protect your teeth with ProNamel while still enjoying the taste of fall! ~ Apple Crisp Recipe

With Fall well underway I am sure everyone is enjoying the harvests of fall with delicious apples, pumpkins and squash but are you taking care of your teeth properly before eating or drinking items that are acidic? Apples are very acidic and before enjoying these healthy fruits one should use a toothpaste that will protect their teeth from the effects of Acid Wear. 

Did you know that nearly half of Canadians (46 per cent) say they consumer fresh fruits and fruit juices daily? I am really happy about the numbers when it comes to fresh fruit. 

ProNamel is proven to help protect from the effects if acid wear and also provides many of the benefits of a regular toothpaste like cavity protection, breath freshening and it also helps to remove plaque with brushing. ProNamel is safe to be used twice a day, everyday as your regular toothpaste.

I especially love the cool minty taste of the ProNamel toothpaste. I was actually quite surprised as usually mint isn't my favorite as it can be over powering. This one is just a nice mint and the paste is not gritty but very smooth going onto your teeth and in your mouth.

ProNamel helps to re-harden acid-softened enamel making it stronger and ore resistant to future acid wear. Now you can keep enjoying your favorite foods and beverages! A few of our families favorite fall dishes are apple pies and apple crisp. My son also LOVES my homemade cinnamon apple sauce.

We recently tried a new apple crisp recipe by Rose Reisman but changed up a few things. I didn't have dried cranberries in the house (hmm I think we have a cranberry monster snacking on them) raisins were the substitute. I also didn't have cornstarch so I used flour instead. 


Visit ProNamel and take the quiz to see if you are at risk for Acid Wear. Find out the Truth about acid on the website also.  


Apple Crisp with Cranberries & Pecansby Rose Riesman 

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Bake Time: 30 minutes

Serves 12

6 apples, peeled and diced
1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1/3 cup dried cranberries
2 Tbsp cornstarch
1 tsp cinnamon
1 Tbsp lemon juice

TOPPING
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cup large rolled oats
1/4 cup chopped toasted pecans
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 Tbsp water
1/2 tsp cinnamon

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly coat a 9- x 13-inch-square baking pan with cooking spray.

2. In a bowl, stir together the apples, 1/2 cup brown sugar, cranberries, cornstarch, cinnamon and lemon juice. Place in the pan.

3. In another bowl, stir together the flour, 3/4 cup brown sugar, oats, pecans, oil, water and cinnamon
and mix until the mixture is crumbly. Sprinkle over the apples.

4. Place the pan in the center of the oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until the crisp is golden and apples are tender.



~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn. ProNamel product was provided courtesy of GSK, however the images and opinions in this post/article are my own.*~

Mani Monday ~ Classic

Jamberry, Nail wraps, Nail Art
At the beginning of October I headed to Blissdom Canada conference and decided to go business casual. Something not too crazy but something that would go with all my outfits. These are retired but there are some similar wraps on the Jamberry website that I love! There is just something about black and white designs that I really like. They are classic and stylish. 

Don't forget that I have teamed up with Shari from The Knit Wit by Shair for mani Monday. Check out here her Mani Mondays also! 

If you are interested in trying a Jamberry sample please send me an email or tweet.   


~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

Author Spotlight Saturday ~ Meet Stephanie Ward


This week I am excited to introduce everyone to Stephanie Ward! Please say Hi and enter the giveaway Stephanie is so kind to offer a Genuine Jenn reader. 
Tell us a little bit about your book(s) and yourself.
 
I'm a new children's author who recently released my first book, Wally the Warm-Weather Penguin. It's the story of Wally, an Emperor Penguin from Antarctica who doesn't like being cold. When he learns about the Galapagos Islands, he sets sail immediately in search of warm weather and discovers a world of tap-dancing crabs, hundred year old racing tortoises and diving birds with bright, blue feet. The brilliant illustrations by Ecuadorian artist Vanessa Landin bring the unique animals of the Galapagos Islands to vivid life.
 
I've been writing in various forms over the last 20 years, including over 15 years in Marketing and Public Relations at Amazon and Fujitsu, writing everything from press releases to white papers, executive bios to product blurbs. I finally decided to focus on writing children's books and have been doing so for the last two years since moving to Sydney, Australia with my husband and young son.
 
When was your first book published?

I published Wally the Warm-Weather Penguin in April 2014, but I figure it took about 10 years to accomplish that. I started writing stories while traveling and decided that some day I wanted to be an author. It took a couple of years (while back in a full-time job) to decide which story to finish and then actually finish it. I originally decided to pitch publishers so another year went by finding appropriate contacts, polishing query letters and learning the process. I realized quickly that the traditional publishing process would take a very long time so I decided to go the independent route. I hired an illustrator, had the manuscript copyedited, built a social media platform, created a website, learned to format an ebook, etc. Throw in a new job in Paris, a relocation back to Seattle, a baby and a move to Sydney and there goes 10 years! But “some day” finally came and I left the corporate world to focus on publishing Wally the Warm-Weather Penguin. The rest is history, or actually, the future! 

Are you currently working on anything?

Two new editions of Wally the Warm-Weather Penguin -- a paperback edition and a brand new version for older children -- are scheduled for release at the end of the year. In addition, I'm starting work on an app for Wally which is a whole new learning curve but a very fun process. And in the midst of all that, I'm writing the next adventure for Wally. There are many fascinating (and warm) places in the world that Wally wants to visit, so stay tuned! 

Why did you decide to become an Author?

I think deep down I always wanted to be an educator so writing is a way for me to teach children something about the world around them. I hope my travel experiences and the unique places I write about inspire a curiosity (and maybe a bit of wanderlust) in kids. 

I also want my books to be a way I can give back to the places that have inspired me. In the case of Wally the Warm-Weather Penguin, a portion of the proceeds are donated to the Galapagos Conservancy (galapagos.org), an organization that works on various projects supporting the conservation of the Galapagos Islands and its indigenous species. 
Who and what inspired you to write?
 
Visiting Antarctica and being amidst Emperor Penguins in the icy conditions made me wonder why they didn’t just pack up and go somewhere warmer. A couple of months later, I was in the Galapagos Islands and saw a colony of Galapagos Penguins hanging out on the beach, swimming in relatively warm water and there was the story: What if an Emperor Penguin learned that he could live on a warm, tropical island?

When you are writing to you like to listen to music? What is on your playlist?

I don't usually listen to music when I write, but I recently worked with a talented Australian singer and songwriter named Alicia Wolfe to create a song for the upcoming Wally the Warm-Weather Penguin app. I am truly inspired by the instrumental version that evokes sun, sand and warm breezes...and it always makes me smile.   

Who is your favorite character in your books?

Wally has a friend named Gomez, a Galapagos Islands Penguin, who actually doesn't appear in the current edition of the book but has a great role in the upcoming version for older children. Gomez is the guy that everyone loves -- he wears the latest fashion (in this case a classic Galapagos tourist t-shirt), knows everyone and is always in the right place at the right time. Everyone needs a friend like Gomez.

Do you ever take characteristics or nuances from close friends or family when working on character development and if so has that friend or family member noticed and what was their response to it?

I'm pretty sure Wally is my husband. My husband loves to travel. He has an insatiable wanderlust that has taken us around the world and back, literally. Our honeymoon was a yearlong trip around the world (actually twice around to make sure we always stayed in warm weather). We visited 33 countries on all seven continents, including Antarctica and the Galapagos Islands which inspired Wally the Warm-Weather Penguin. I'm also now wondering if chasing the sun for a year also had something to do with this book...Wally is a warm-weather penguin after all. I'm not sure my husband realizes this (I sure didn't until you asked the question!), but I'd bet he both agrees with and would be flattered by the comparison to Wally.

What is your favorite book of all time?

Long before Oprah picked it as a favorite, I had Anna Karenina at the top of my list. It's over 700 pages but I was disappointed that it ended.    

Tell us in one sentence why we should read your books.  

“You must go on adventures to find out where you belong.” ― Sue Fitzmaurice   

List your books that are available  
Wally the Warm-Weather Penguin is available on Amazon websites worldwide. Amazon.comAmazon.ca  

Where can people connect with you? (facebook, website twitter etc)

 Website| Facebook| TwitterGoodreads| YouTube  

Thanks for taking your time to answer some questions for my readers at Genuine Jenn.

 
~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

A Little Challenge Never Hurt Anyone, Right? ~ Fitness

Source: ClipartPanda.com
It has been a crazy busy month or so with getting back into the swing of things with school, my new fitness journey and getting prepared for Blissdom Canada conference. I wrote a post to update you on my workouts during level 2 of Jillian Michaels Beginner Shred and also to challenge myself to some personal goals. Guess what? I forgot to post it. I decided I would rewrite my post so that it is more up to date.

My husband has jumped into the workouts with me and has been really enjoying himself with the level 2 workouts. He didn't realize the other day after I came home from the conference that we were starting level 3! Were we both surprised on the difference between level 2&3!

In level 3 we have seen an increase in cardio, core and upper body workout. Who am I kidding my legs are burning after it also. It is just a huge increase in every part of our body. I am glad I decided to try this video workout before Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred. There isn't much time to think during this workout. It is a get in there and get it done. I really like the 30 minutes or under workouts as I find it hard to make more time to workout. As it is I work out in the evenings even though I have been told it is better to workout in the am. I just can't squeeze it in. I am going to try to aim to squeeze in Yoga in the am or 10 minute HIIT workouts.  

This month I decided to also add a push up challenge to my regular workouts. This challenge is from Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans. Check it out they even have a Facebook event to check in with each day to stay motivated. I am a couple days behind but I am taking at my own pace and working through the challenge even if it takes me a few extra days. The Jillian workout has push ups, burpees and side planks that make my arms jello at the end of the workout so on those days I try to work in the push up challenge in the am.

Next month I am thinking about working on burpees as they are a great total body workout and I would love to have the strength from them. Right now I curse them in the workout with Jillian but I know with time and practice I will get stronger and better at them.

What is your biggest workout challenge or goal?


~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

Apple Raisin Cinnamon Oatmeal Muffin Recipe

Source: Clipartbest.com
With Apples everywhere you turn right now I thought it would be a great time to make a new Apple muffin recipe.

Now that I have kicked into full swing with my fitness workouts I thought this would be a great time to find the time and energy to start baking again. I still eat treats here and there and it will be great to know what I am eating. 

I love making muffins and I also love playing around with different recipes. Usually I will find something that looks good and will start adding or removing ingredients to make it more of something my family will like or healthier.

Ingredients: 

1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup quick oats
2/3 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1 cup milk or 1/2 cup of each milk & water
2 Tbsp vegetable oil
2 cup apple, peeled and cut into chunks (about 2 medium apples)
1/2 cup raisins that had been soaked in hot water.

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375F.
In a small bowl cover raisins with hot water and let soak while making batter.
Mix dry ingredients together in a large bowl, add milk/water and vegetable oil. Fold in apples and raisins (drain water off raisins before folding in to batter). Be sure not to over mix batter.
Pour batter into greased/lined muffin tin. 
Cook for 12-15 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Makes 12 regular sized muffins



~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

Literary Addicts & All About Books Video Chat Show Book Hop ~ Giveaway US only


I am excited to be part of this Book Hop over the next couple weeks! Enter to win a paperback copy of One of Us by Tawni O'Dell.


Book Synopsis:

Dr. Sheridan Doyle, a fastidiously groomed and TV-friendly forensic psychologist, is the go-to shrink for the Philadelphia District Attorney's office whenever a twisted killer's mind eludes other experts. But beneath his Armani pinstripes, he's still Danny Doyle, the awkward, terrified, bullied boy from a blue-collar mining family, plagued by panic attacks and haunted by the tragic death of his little sister and mental unraveling of his mother years ago.

Returning to a hometown grappling with its own ghosts, Danny finds a dead body at the infamous Lost Creek gallows where a band of rebellious Irish miners was once executed. Strangely, the body is connected to the wealthy family responsible for the miners' deaths. Teaming up with veteran detective Rafe, a father-like figure from his youth, Danny, in pursuit of a killer, comes dangerously close to startling truths about his family, his past, and himself.


About the Author:


Tawni O'Dell is the New York Times bestselling author of Fragile Beasts, Sister Mine, Coal Run, and Back Roads, which was an Oprah's Book Club pick and a Book-of-the-Month Club Main Selection. Tawni's screen adaptation of Back Roads is currently in development to be made into a film with Adrian Lyne set to direct. Her work has been translated into 15 languages and been published in over 30 countries.

Tawni was born and raised in the coal-mining region of western Pennsylvania, the territory she writes about with such striking authenticity. She graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in journalism and spent many years living in the Chicago area before moving back to Pennsylvania where she now lives with her two children.


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~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

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