The first place I went was to read a bunch of diet pill reviews because I have no will power and I am lazy. There I said it! I have issues with doing the work it takes to get and stay healthy. As a matter of fact if I could just take a pill whenever I was hungry instead of eating…I would! Then I thought about it and I realized that diet pills are not the answer to getting healthy or losing weight. They are a tool to be used to aid in your quest to get healthy and lose weight. They have to be combined with exercise and a change in eating habits or they won’t work either.

Now that I have resigned myself to the fact that I am not going to go to sleep tonight and wake up 40 pounds lighter tomorrow I have to create a plan. I am a planner, you guys know this, and it works for me. If I write it down then I am 90% assured I will achieve it. So, today is going to be dedicated to figuring out my plan for getting healthy. What do you guys do? What works and what doesn’t? One stipulation is that I KNOW I need to avoid artificial sweeteners, processed foods as much as possible and preservatives. I also happen to live in Louisiana where the devil often visits and finds unbearably hot and humid. Walking or exercising outdoors at this time of year could end in an untimely death! Wish me luck! Leave me comments to spur me on! Tell me to put down the pop tarts! Thanks!

Trial is truly a departure for James Patterson. I almost felt like I was reading a John Grisham book. This book is not about Alex Cross at all! He isn’t even in this book. It is told as a retelling of a story told by his ancestors and passed down in his family. This is the story of  Alex Cross’s family in the early 1900′s.

The main character of the book is a white lawyer who is sent back from Washington to his childhood home of Eudora, Mississippi at the behest of President Theodore Roosevelt. Roosevelt has outlawed lynchings and yet he keeps getting reports that they are still happening in large numbers in the small cities of the south. The lawyer, Ben Corbett is sent to document these reports as fact or fiction so that Roosevelt can act on the information.

This book details in uncensored ways the cruelties and discrimination that colored people were experiencing in that time period. It gives you a bird’s eye view of their lives and the utter desperation they felt at not being able to do anything right. If they did something they were lynched, if they didn’t do anything they were lynched, if they were in the wrong place and the wrong time they were lynched. I also like that the author is not merely trying to make a statement about the evil nature of white people. He showed that many of their decisions were not actually based on hate but on fear. They feared that they would lose all that they had to the colored people who had only recently been freed. Most importantly they feared a loss of income by colored men who now would take their jobs. Excusable? Absolutely not! However, it does show another side and doesn’t just assume that people are evil and do bad things because of the hatred in their heart. Another interesting point of view is that of the Ku Klux Klan members in this book. He asserts that they were not merely haters of colored people but of ALL people who they felt had caused harm to them. There is a graphic description of a lynching of a Jewish man who they believe has jilted some of the wealthy women out of money in an attempt to sell them undeeded land in Louisiana.

The biggest part of this that I found interesting and frustrating at the same time is the justice system as depicted in this story. There was no justice for people of color in those days. If you were arrested you were going to jail. They would allow you a trial but it would look nothing like a fair trial and it would end in nothing that even remotely resembles justice. The frustrating part is that it is not so hard to see that this is more truth than fiction. The courts really were partial and they really did dole out their own form of justice.

I have to tell you that there is an unbridled use of an offensive word in this book so if you are easily offended by it’s use then you should avoid this book. I think that it was completely necessary to use it in order to tell this story with any sort of accuracy. I think it was used as it was always used in reality. I think it was not used as a creative word to make the book more interesting or for entertainment shock value. It was merely a fact that had to be included.

I love history and I love crime dramas. This book gave me both. I love that as predictable as I thought it was going to be it still gave me a twist at the very end that I just didn’t expect. I am renewed in my appreciation of James Patterson and his ability to tell a story. This is a must read for Patterson fans and those who have been disheartened by his recent attempts. Enjoy!

I decided last week to go ahead and join Bookswim. I had heard so many great things about it and I needed new books to read but hated the thought of paying a fortune to get them. So, I went for it.

The sign up process was very simple and easy. I went through Sunshine Rewards and got 25% off of my first month. I figured that I would at least try it for the first month. I chose the option to have three books at a time. I can’t read more than that anyway so it seemed like a good deal. I can read as many as I want, 3 at a time, for less than the cost of one hardcover book a month.

I had a tough time at first choosing which books I wanted because I hadn’t read a lot of books this summer. In the end I chose an Ann Rice book and two James Patterson books. A couple of days later I spent more time browsing and now I have 15 books in my pool waiting to read. I probably would have rather read some of the ones in my pool before the ones I ordered first but I am okay with my choices.

It only took a few days to get my books and it was over the weekend so I would think they would arrive quicker if it were done over the weekdays. The books are in very good shape and marked clearly as Bookswim books so I won’t wonder if it is mine or not.

They send you a nice big plastic envelope and shipping label to return the books in. The shipping back is free so you just drop the books (2 at a time) in the bag and then put the label on it and drop in the mailbox. I like fast and easy and I pass a mailbox every week when I am at the bank so I won’t forget to return the books.

Book lovers will find this to be an amazing deal, especially if you are a fast reader because you could easily read a lot of books for your monthly charge. It all hinges on how fast you read them and return them so they can send you the next ones on your list. Definitely a must try for you guys who love to read!!

We were shopping the other day and my middle child loves to play Frogger on my Blackberry. She was walking around the store playing the game while I shopped. We found some items to try on and went to the dressing room. I took my phone back but I didn’t realize that I had an unlocked phone keyboard. So when I put it in my handbag and set it down it accidental redialed my last call. It happened to by my husband who then proceeded to hear a 30 minute conversation between my daughter and I about the outfits I was trying to buy her. This is his "angel" who he thinks does no wrong and he never believes me when I tell him she has been mouthy or sassy because she just doesn’t act that way in front of him. Well, he got the whole 30 minutes of mouth this time. When he got home and told her had heard everything she said and he was disappointed in how sassy she had been I thought she would turn on the tears. Instead she said, "You weren’t supposed to hear that!" BUSTED!!!

I hate the sassiness but I swear I love the little things that they do everyday that make me realize they will be teenagers and adults in no time. I cherish these moments because they will be gone before I know it!

Here is another book I have added to the stack. I am from New Orleans so the Saints are my "Home Team" and Payton is my coach. I have been hearing some really amazing things about this book. I do realize though that they are coming from people who love Sean Payton and the Saints like no other coach and team. There have been raffles and lotteries for people to stand in line to get a chance to get a signature on this book from Payton. The bookstores in the greater New Orleans area are making a windfall on this book. With these things in mind I had to add this one to my list. I have heard him speak and I am always amazed at his ability to inspire people. I have had several people tell me that the book was really great so I can’t wait to read it and let you guys know what I think. Go get it today so we can talk about it soon!!!

From the moment I first found out I was pregnant I began taking those one a day prenatal vitamins in an effort to assure the healthiest babies I could. Since their birth we have been doing one form or another of vitamins everyday. When they were babies we gave them the vitamin drops and then as they got older we have been giving them prescription vitamins everyday. I think this has helped to keep them healthier than most kids.

Another thing we have done is to make sure they got their yearly check ups and also their yearly flu shots. We have been very blessed to have had no major sicknesses in the 8 years we have been parents.

Now that they are getting older we are starting to wonder what else we can do to keep them healthy. Some of the things we have changed recently is to remove the majority of the processed foods from our diet. We don’t give them artificial sweeteners. We feed them wheat grains instead of white. We also use a raw sugar that has been minimally processed.

Exercise is one of the key activities in our family. My children spend a lot of time outside and at activities that keep them in shape and active. We spend very little time on the computer, watching television or playing video games. The kids have to spend some time everyday playing in a physical way.

It is so hard to be a parent when there are so many things in the world that can harm our children. It is my most important task to make sure that they are the healthiest they can be. What types of things do you do to keep your children healthy and try to avoid illnesses?

Many of you know that I love when QVC carries the American Girl dolls. They usually carry sets that are not available anywhere else and at prices that you can’t find anywhere else. I have purchased 6 sets through them in the past few years and so I am always looking out for their next show.

I have heard some rumbling on the "street" that the next show will be in September for the 2nd Anniversary of American Girl on QVC. There is also some talk that they will possibly carry Lainey who is the Girl of the Year this year in an effort to give her a push before the end of the year. I also have heard talk that Rebecca will be featured since she is the only AG historical doll that hasn’t been on QVC yet. I wouldn’t be surprised if they gave a deal with the new My American Girl dolls. Probably the new dolls with extra outfits.

This is still all in the rumor stage as I have no confirmation for sure but I will keep my ear to the ground and as soon as I know for sure I will be sure to let you guys know. I know that QVC just started their Christmas in July sales and that they have a Christmas in August series planned also. There is a possibility we will see the AG dolls in August but I believe September was the first show last year. Let me know if you hear anything and I will keep an eye out too!

The new My American Girl dolls are pretty much just like you dolls. They are sold to look like your child with similar hair, eye color and features like freckles. What makes these dolls different than the old just like you dolls they sold. These dolls have their own internet world called innerstaru.com. The catalog says this about innerstaru.com:

"a fun, enriching, and safe online world created for you and your doll. Together, you can play games, make friends, earn awards, and learn to be your very best in everything you do!"

The online version of your doll will look just like the live version and therefor very similar to your child. This will give your child a new way to play with their dolls. It will be similar to a Webkinz with American Girl dolls instead of pets! I know my girls are going to want to have one of these. They have been asking for one of the just like you dolls so this will be even better. The doll sets come with doll, outfit, accessories and full-access to the online world at innerstaru.com for $95. You will also be able to customize the dolls with any of the amazing outfit sets and accessories to make the doll even more like your child. Whether she likes to cheer, play soccer, swim or ice skate there is a set to match her interests.

I love that American Girl is trying to stay innovative and not become stagnant with the same old items. I think girls today will love the option to see and interact with their dolls online. It will give them new and exciting things to do with the dolls each day. Enjoy!

I have been hearing a lot of amazing things about both the Steig Larsson book and the Anne Rice book so I am very excited to begin those two. I think we will be able to have some amazing discussions on these two books. The other two are James Patterson books I have been wanting to read and I am hoping that they don’t follow the same path as the last Alex Cross books I read. I want James Patterson to impress me with one of these books. Start reading and get your list of questions together and I will see you in the Booknook in the next few weeks!! Enjoy!