Reading Princess: P.C. & Kristin Cast's novella, Kalona's Fall

Welcome readers! We are here on this lovely Thursday to review another House of Night novella, Kalona's Fall.

 

(Click the photo to purchase your own copy via Amazon)

This is the latest installment in the House of Night Series and, by far, my personal favorite. Kalona is a fallen immortal and anti-hero of the series. Much like Neferet's Curse (my review of that novella is here), novella is an origin story. 

Check out a snippet from the House of Night website below:

In KALONA’S FALL, the shadows in Kalona’s past will finally come to light… We will learn about the winged immortal’s secret history and discover how he went from being the Goddess’s Warrior and Guardian to her enemy and betrayer. Did Darkness taint Kalona as it did Neferet, or has the powerful immortal always preferred power over honor, and control over faith? This novella will be crucial to fans’ understanding of Kalona, before his role in the explosive final installment of the House of Night, REDEEMED coming in October 2014.

Ah-ha! Besides this novella being insanely wonderful, this book also has a lot of key character information that is supposed to play a big part in the final novel. Exciting!

Kalona has been a favorite character of mine since his debut in Untamed, the fourth book in the house of night series. He started out as a "conduit of evil" but his character has progressed and developed by leaps and bounds since that early novel. I love Kalona's sassy dialogue that covers his more trusting and loving nature.

The only fault I had with Kalona's Fall was that I felt the first few chapters were very stiff. It almost read like the first few verses of the book of Genesis in the Bible, but not quite as memorable. This novel also follows the classic "trials of three" trope which is a little played out, in my opinion.

In conclusion, I found Kalona's Fall to be a great read with lots of character information for Kalona. 

I give Kalona's Fall 4 out 5 crowns!

PRINCESS APPROVED!

 Be sure to leave comments below!

Princess K, out!

Fitness Princess: The Wedding Dress Challenge Week 4

Welcome back! We are now in Week 4 of the Redbook Wedding Dress Challenge and last week was tough! That Tabata style workout was killer on my legs. I barely made it through the sixth round without crying!
Here is the video from last week.
I don't feel like last week was really productive. I was lacking in posts and just so busy. I only did the Tabata workout once (although I liked it and plan to add it to my routine) and I barely got to finish my yoga video. Also, I didn't write down any of my food last week as my planner pages weren't printed. Oops!
Last week I tried a very different type of yoga video that focused more on relaxation. (I needed it last week!) Here is the video:

I set up my yoga mat next to my bed and followed this video right before I was ready to go to sleep. Man, did I get some great sleep after doing this! I think I will have to add this, as well as the tabata exercises, to my weekly routine.


Now, on to this week!
Looks like this week is gonna be all about cardio! The workout is intervals of 30 seconds of jump rope or jumping jacks, followed by a series of strength training exercises. I am going to need to modify the push ups and dips for my shoulders.
Also, looks like we are dumping yoga this week to repeat the week two workout. Awesome! Here is the link for easy access.
Finally, here is the nutrition guide for anyone who wants it. I usually just write down what I eat and try not to worry about calorie counting. Do what works best for you!

Looks like dinner is getting a makeover! I agree that more veggies at dinner is a great idea. I usually try to supplement this differently, as I don't really eat big portions. I will make a big glass of fresh squeezed juice, like my Green Lemonade, and drink that in addition to my small portion of meat or grains.

Good luck this week and be sure to leave a comment below on your progress!

Princess K, out!

52 Questions: Question #9

I am BACK! Sorry for the delay in posts, everyone. Last week was insane! We are getting ready for flu season at my office, Labor Day threw my whole week off, and life is just crazy in general.

BUT! We are back with our question of the week!

Question #9: What were some of the family traditions that you remember?

 
Yeah, my family is strange (in case that fact bypassed you.) However, like many families, most of our traditions took place around the holidays.
 

Thankfully, nothing quite as bad as this! Phew!

There are two traditions that I remember very fondly.

Number 1: The Hanging of the Family Mice! This is not as weird as it sounds. My mother had little, wooden mice decorations made for each of us as we were born and we put them on the wall around a central candy cane. As we have all gotten older, more mice have been added to include spouses and grand-children.

Number 2: The naming of the Christmas Tree. Ok, this is where things get weird. My family had a strange tradition for a few years that we started naming the tree. And giving it a back story. And a theme song. And a costume.....yeah, its strange but it was very fun! This tradition was actually started by my when my dad brought home a crooked little tree. My mom was not pleased but I told her our tree had character (and scoliosis.) So, I named him "Bert", wrote a story about him, and presented it to our family when it came time to decorate him. We have had a "Dolores", a "Bruce the Super Tree," and many more over the years.

Share some of your family traditions below!

Princess K, out!

Fitness Princess: Wedding Dress Challenge Week 3

I'm back! Sorry to all about missing yesterday's post. It was a strange happenstance that Jeremy and I both had the day off so I didn't get around to posting the question of the week.

Anyway, today is Tuesday so it is time for an update on the Wedding Dress Challenge!

Here is the link to last week's workout and fit list.
Man, those plank walk ups were tough!

That's pretty much how my arms felt by the end of the week. Phew!
My "sneaky fitness" was Just Dance 3 (that game is so much fun!) and I did the following video from Youtube for Yoga.

Since my arms will probably be the most visible part of me on my wedding day, I though focusing on my upper body this week would be beneficial. Also, there are lots of great (and free!) Yoga videos and tutorials available online.

So far I have lost 4 pounds and 3 inches on my waist and hips.

Here is the video for this week!
Tabata? I've seen a ton of videos and workouts for this particular style on Pinterest but I haven't tried it personally. At least these are more basic moves, like the first week.
Squats, push ups, plank, and supermans. 20 x 10 seconds for 8 rounds.

Here is this weeks nutrition guide.

 

Looks like we are limiting dinner down to one plate in addition to our usual fare. I've been working on cutting dinner time back to before 8pm but it is difficult! Since I have my crock pot up and running now, things should run a bit smoother.

That's all for this week! Be sure to leave a comment on your progress below

Princess K, out!

Reading Princess: P.C. and Kristin Cast's novelle, Neferet's Curse

I have been burning through the House of Night series this past week. Two full novels and two novellas. So good that I could not put them down!

Ah, books. :)

Anyway, this week's review is for the House of Night novella, Neferet's Curse.

Order your copy from Amazon here.

Here is a snippet from the House of Night website:

The White City, 1893: In turn-of-the-century Chicago, with the World’s Fair bringing bustle and excitement to her home city, sixteen-year-old Emily Wheiler should be reveling in her youthful beauty and the excitement around her. But her whole life changed when her mother died, leaving her to be the Lady of Wheiler House. Her father, a powerful bank president, is at the center of an important social hub for the booming young city, and he needs Emily to do everything her mother would have – to be a good hostess and make sure the mansion runs smoothly.
As Emily uneasily tries to replace her mother, she also longs for more… for love and a life of her own. When a handsome young man notices her at one of her father’s parties, it seems that her hopes may finally be coming true. Until her father forbids her to see him – or any other man – and starts revealing a darkly violent side that even he can’t understand.
At last, afraid for her life and with nowhere to turn, Emily is Marked by a vampyre and brought to the Chicago House of Night, where she begins a magickal new life that should allow the wounds from her past to heal. But as she gains strength, and a powerful new name, she carries a dark need to wreak vengeance on the man she trusted most.
From victim to High Priestess, beautiful young woman to powerful seductress, Neferet’s journey begins in NEFERET’S CURSE…

This novella follows the origin story of the series' villain, Neferet. Neferet has been one of my favorite characters since the series began and I love finding out more and more about her past. She is such a complex character with many trials and personal tragedies that lead into who she is at the series beginning.

I love period writing in the Victorian age and this book does deliver. Set in the late 1800s Chicago, Neferet's Curse outlines the life of Emily, the daughter of socially elite man who just lost his wife. This novel does have some dark and violent themes so I would not suggest it to anyone who has deep problems with the ideas of incest or rape.

I thought that some of the themes would not be fitting for the YA genre but the writing is so very subtle when it comes to these issues and there are no vividly graphic scenes.

In the end, Neferet's Curse was the perfect companion to the HON series and I recommend it to anyone who loves a good villain's origin story.

I give Neferet's Curse 4 out of 5 crowns!

PRINCESS APPROVED!

Read on, interwebbers and be sure to check out the House of Night Series by P.C. & Kristin Cast.

Princess K, out! 

Cooking Princess: Green Lemonade

Welcome back everyone!

It looks like my Wedding Dress Challenge series is becoming kinda popular. Thanks! To keep on with the "health" kick, today's recipe is for Green Lemonade.

Oh, don't give me that look, Ariel! It is actually really tasty. I discovered this tasty juice from my last juice cleanse. I got the recipe from Mr. Joe Cross, the star of Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead.

His new book just came out in the US but I bought his former title at the Kindle store. Anyone interested in a juice diet/cleanse, I urge you to check out his books and website.

So, Green Lemonade. I don't have a real juicer at home but my NutriBullet does the job pretty well. I just have to strain the pulp out with my flour sifter and voila! Tasty juice and more then my dialy does of vegetables. This is a great way to supplement veggies into your diet without eating endless salads.

Sadly, my photobucket is on the fritz so all my pictures are not available. :( So, check out the ingredients below and have fun making your own juice. Remember to de-seed your apples and cucumbers before juicing or blending!

Green Lemonade
- 1 cucumber
- 1 stalk of celery (or less!)
- 2 green apples, no seeds
- a handful of leafy greens (I like spinach; kale is also good)
- juice of 1 lemon (I use the lemon juice in the plastic lemon and just add until it is tangy.)

Blend (with a small amount of water) or juice all ingredients together. If blending, use a strainer or cheese cloth to filter the juice from the pulp. Blend pulp again and repeat until desired.

Happy juicing and Princess K, out!

 

Fitness Princess: Wedding Dress Challenge Week #2

We're back with Fitness Princess K!

Last week was week one of the Wedding Dress Challenge and, boy, was it hard. Really, I have been hitting the treadmill several times a week over the last few months but I still feel out of shape after this last week.

Here is the video of last week's workout and fit list.
Phew! I get tired just looking at it! I did the workout three times, completed the 1 mile walk/jog (twice) and played Just Dance 3 as my "sneaky exercise." However, I did not get to the yoga part of my fit list!

Much like this penguin, I was going good until the yoga. :( However, I did spend two days out of my weekend lifting and moving stuff from Houston to my home in Louisiana.

My fit test results were as follows:
Combined results from three workouts
-Push ups: 62
-Squats: 90
-Burpees: 28
-Plank: 30 seconds average
-Flexability: I can touch my toes and hold it!

Not too bad. I did my push ups from my knees because I have a lot of difficulty with my shoulders. (Torn rotary cuff on one side and an aggravated nerve on the other. That's what I get for 10+ years of flute playing.)

I have lost 1 pound since last week and am down 1 inch on my hips and waist.

Now, onto this week! Check out the new workout here.
And here is the new nutrition check list for anyone who wants it.

 

Looks like we have added a new feature to extra! "Close the kitchen after dinner." Nice. I actually don't snack much after my dinner but I tend to eat around 8:30-9pm because Jeremy doesn't get home until then most nights. However, since I have reclaimed by slow cooker this past weekend, maybe I can move my dinner time before 8pm and still have warm dinner for Jeremy? 

Leave comments below on your experience with the first week of the WDC.

Princess K, out!