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A Before and After Look

May 28th, 2015 | Posted by Sara in Uncategorized - (0 Comments)

Happy Throwback Thursday!

I can’t believe it’s been three years since I started getting healthy. I started my journey in the winter of 2015 by buying a treadmill and doing Weight Watchers.  I did not have a focused goal but I wanted to fit into my clothes and have my weight start with a 1 instead of a 2.

So I began my journey at 225.  I used the treadmill every night for 30 minutes with arm weights.  I also drank a ton of water.  I drank 32 ounces in the morning, and then another 32 during they day and another during my work out.

It was a struggle but the weight started to fall off.

I kept to a strict 1600 to 1800 calories per day.  I began to care about what went into my body.

I’m not going to tell you I never fall off the wagon.  Holidays are a struggle and I love sugar!  I feel bad but the next day I begin again.

Today I’m posting a before and after photo.

What a difference three years make!

LPR 018  IMG_0398

Recent media attention

May 26th, 2015 | Posted by Sara in Uncategorized - (0 Comments)

Happy Tuesday!  I hope everyone had a great Memorial Day!

I had authors get some media attention over the holiday.

Cantor Mitch was on Jacksonville, Florida TV on Saturday morning: http://www.news4jax.com/news/cantor-mitch-cooking/33185724

He will also be on Table For Two out of New York: http://www.nachumsegal.com/jm-in-the-am/table-for-two-with-naomi-nachman/

Dr. Ellen Prager was on Tampa’s WFLA today: http://www.wfla.com/story/29135374/daytime-marine-conservation-with-author-ellen-prager

Last week Helen Lindsay was on Fox 9 here in Minneapolis talking about her book, Written on the Knee.   She was also featured in the Sun Sailor newspaper last week.

http://sailor.mnsun.com/2015/05/22/letters-from-the-frontline/

Lastly, Mehdi Toozhy posted another article to Huffington Post.  Check out his work at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mehdi-toozhy/

New books

May 20th, 2015 | Posted by Sara in Uncategorized - (0 Comments)

There are so many celebrity authored books out there.  It takes a lot of work to write a book and it seems there are so few celebrities who do it well.  There are celebrities who write children’s books, cookbooks and memoirs. I often wonder how many of the celebrity books would get rejected if they were presented under different names.

It was just announced today that Julianna Margulies is going to publish a children’s book called Three Magic Balloons.  It will be published by Random House Books for Young Readers.  The book is based on her father Paul’s unpublished work.  Paul Margulies was an advertising executive who came out with the Alka-Selzer ad – Plop, Plop, Fizz, Fizz.

Another book was announced today.  Viking announced that it would publish Barbra Streisand’s memoir in 2017.  I’m a huge Streisand fan and I can’t wait to read this book!  She has experienced so much in life and in entertainment. I’m sure she will be honest about her experiences and will have many lessons to each us!

Here are some other celebrity memoirs worth a second look.

Prime Time by Jane Fonda

Knock Wood by Candiace Bergan

Moving Pictures by Ali MacGraw

 

Happy Tuesday!

Today is another entry of Real News.  I do this blog entry because I feel that so many reputable news outlets are reporting on topics that are not important to anyone.  In essence it makes people like Jadan Smith and the Kardashians feel more powerful and important than those doing important work.  For example, today USA Today reported that Will Smith’s son went to prom dressed as Batman.  Weird, I know but putting him on the cover of USA Today makes him feel like he matters.  Sorry, Jaden you have done a few movies with your dad but not much else.

Also, they have a story about the Patriot’s owner not appealing Deflategate.  I know people love football but it’s a game!  Pro athletes will continue to bend the rules as long as we allow them.

So, what are some stories that we should be listening to?

I love stories about people helping others.  Yeah, they are corny but any selfless act is important to highlight.  I like to hear about the Michigan son who took  his mom to prom.

Also, let’s make those who are risking their lives the focal point of news.  For example, in war torn areas men are voluntarily working to clear land mines.  In places like Vietnam and Afghanistan, they purposely go out and clear mines just so others can plant their crops.

Lastly, why not have one day each month dedicated to the average American.  One day when we don’t have to hear about celebrity plastic surgery, award ceremonies or a new book, TV, movie or play.

Cutting the Cable Cord

May 14th, 2015 | Posted by Sara in Uncategorized - (0 Comments)

My husband and I think we have 200 channels and nothing is on TV. This is the typical comment about cable.  So we decide to cut back on cable late last year and start streaming more.   This is the avenue the majority of the country is taking.

We have parred back our cable and I am missing Turner Classic Movies the most.  The second they release a streaming service I will subscribe.  Get with the current times TCM!

So, some services are better than others.  Here is a list and some comments about some services.

First, get a Roku. It enables you to have access to several services at once.  We stream Netflix through it as well as several others.

First, Netflix.  We love the service!  Having movies as well as original programming at our fingertips is wonderful.  I’ve enjoyed Grace & Frankie and love that they don’t have to bow down to advertisers.  As a result, they can show brands!  I like the iPad app more than the TV service.  It enables you to see related titles and recommended titles.

Second, is Acorn.  It is $5 per month and gives you access to wonderful programs shown in Australia, Canada, and the UK.  Classic series such as Poldark and all of the Agatha Christie series.

The last service we have is Warners Archives.  They have some great classic movies and it is a great substitute for TCM.  However, they charge $10 per month and their services is lacking in current movies and ever well-known classic movies like Casablanca.

There are so many wonderful streaming services out there!  So cut that cord!

Exciting news yesterday from the Dolly Parton camp.  NBC will producer a TV movie called Coat of Many Colors. It is set to air next season.  The movie is about Parton’s song, Coat of Many Colors.  Parton will appear briefly.

The original coat is on display at Parton’s Museum at Dollywood.

I can’t wait to watch.

Other entertainment news:

Fox is producing Scream Queens about a sorority hunted by a serial killer.  It is producer by Ryan Murphy.

Mad Men is almost over.  Next Sunday is the final episode.

CSI and American Idol have been cancelled.

Happy Mother’s Day

May 8th, 2015 | Posted by Sara in Uncategorized - (0 Comments)

Sunday is a day to celebrated moms of every kind!  I have two very special moms.  My own mother, Chris and my mother in law, Marsha.  I don’t get to see my mother in law often but she is always in our hearts.

Happy Mother’s Day!

Here are some great movies to watch this Sunday with mom.

1. Steel Magnolias.  Who does not love this movie.  Sally Field, Julia Roberts, Dolly Parton and southern drama!

2. Fried Green Tomatoes.  Another tearjerker!

3. Little Women.  Watch the original with Katherine Hepburn

4. On Golden Pond.  More of a Father’s Day movie but dad needs love too!

5. I Remember Mama.  A wonderful film about a Norwegian family.

6. Terms of Endearment. Perfect mother-daughter film.

7. Ordinary People

8. Mommie Dearest

9. Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner

News v. Whatever this is…

May 7th, 2015 | Posted by Sara in Uncategorized - (0 Comments)

Here I go again.

I am seeing so much soft news lately as hard news that I have to talk about it.

Now, I’m a huge royal watcher and I think the news of a new princess is great but some bloggers just take it too far.   Articles such as “What Royal Milestones can We expect from Princess Charlotte in her first year,” to  let’s do a photo montage comparing Charlotte to Princess Diana are just ridiculous.

Also, today Adam Levine of Maroon 5 was sugar-bombed while signing autographs.  Now, I do think it is rude but Levine looked like a prima donna throwing his jacket on the ground as if someone threw acid on him.  Adam, stop taking yourself so seriously.

Our society is so celebrity obsessed and it is getting out of hand.  When Miley Cyrus says she has had homosexual relationships, the news wire lights up.  Something is just not right about this.

Here are some stories we need to take seriously..

Britain’s election: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/08/world/europe/britain-election.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=second-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=0

Israel’s New Government: http://time.com/3850047/netanyahu-new-government/