Book Review - The Beresfords by Christina Dudley

Raised with four older stepcousins in a conservative, churchgoing family, Frannie Price teeters on the brink of adolescence in the summer of 1985. Her timidity and awkwardness make her easy to overlook, yet she has one true friend in her cousin Jonathan. Jonathan, her childhood champion and the best person she knows. But when the Grant twins enter her life, Frannie’s world turns upside down. Not only does the sly and charming Eric Grant set her girl cousins against each other, but his flirtatious sister makes off with Jonathan’s heart. 

Only Frannie sees the faults running beneath the family landscape—not that anyone’s asking her opinion. Not her strict Uncle Paul, not her beloved Jonathan, and certainly not the Grants, who, after having their way with the rest of the Beresfords, turn their sights on her. What’s a girl to do? And why does she feel, in this uncharted territory, like God left her at the border? 

With sympathy, humor and more than a nod to Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park, The Beresfords chronicles Frannie’s coming of age, when all around her is coming apart. 

*           *            * 

As author Christina Dudley mentioned in her recent guest post on The Calico Critic, probably only a small percentage of her readership have actually read Jane Austen’s novel Mansfield Park, upon which a good portion of The Beresfords is based. Unfortunately, I am not in that small percentage of readers! Although I do consider myself a Janeite, the most exposure I’ve had to MP was the 1999 cinematic version, starring Frances O’Connor. I know, this is a travesty. In fact, I saw the movie at least ten years ago and could not remember a thing about it, until I recently borrowed the DVD from my local library, to watch it again in preparation to read The Beresfords! I can hear the gasps of justified horror now, and I do apologize to the true Janeites out there. That groundwork fully laid down for you, I offer my thoroughly unqualified thoughts on Christina Dudley’s novel.

The Beresfords begins in the summer of 1985 in southern California. Many of the characters’ names are similar or reminiscent of the ones in Mansfield Park, although not all. Fanny Price is now Frannie Price, the Bertrams are now the Beresfords. Edmund is now Jonathan, and Mary is now Caroline. But as in MP, Frannie is the odd cousin of the family, taken in by her uncle, rescued from a dingy life with her addict mother, yet ostracized by her cousins and other family members. Although too young for him in 1985, Frannie deeply loves cousin Jonathan and keeps this to herself for years on end. If I understood Ms. Dudley’s writing correctly, she changed the characters a bit so that Frannie and Jonathan would not be blood relations, unlike in many 19th Century novels where attracted cousins were a non-issue. And as in Mansfield Park, Jonathan has dreams of being a minister while wrestling with his relationship with Caroline, whom Frannie knows is not his ideal mate, as she has no interest in matters of faith. The characters go through similar story arcs as the original plot, with Frannie and Jonathan growing as individuals much as they did in Mansfield Park. However, their path to the expected conclusion takes some turns that I did not expect, which made for interesting reading.

I must say that The Beresfords took a little while to grow on me. Many of the characters surrounding Frannie were simple-minded, frustrating people. Christina Dudley captured the characteristics of certain individuals that I’ve known in my life, and I don’t care to be around those types as much as I can help it. So this is a testament to Dudley’s writing—she had me engaged with these characters, even if it was on a negative level. But I really did enjoy the characters of Frannie and Jonathan, and was pleased to see the direction their lives took. I found the conclusion of the story to be immensely satisfying, and I was more than won over by the end.

Christina Dudley does not classify herself as a “Christian author”, and I don’t think that she should. Honestly, I don’t think a lot of Christian publishers would go for her style of writing, and I think that label would limit her. Christina's choice of language is real and sometimes a bit gritty, as she isn’t afraid to let the occasional four-letter word fly from characters who would certainly talk that way. I didn’t find this word usage excessive or offensive. On the contrary, it was refreshing to encounter a Christian who is not afraid to tell it like it is—both with word choice in language, and in sharing some of the habits and quirks that we Christians have in our religious communities. I more than once laughed in recognition of some of the things that go on in our churches, both positive and negative aspects. I also was edified by some of the scripture that was brought up in the story, as it spoke truth to my life while at the same time filling out the narrative. And as someone who was 14 in the summer of 1985, there were plenty of “vintage moments” that I could relate to as the story traveled through the mid-80s, 90s, and beyond. I may not have been a Frannie Price in that time period, but she encountered and experienced many of the same things I did in those developmental years.

Although I have no place to thoroughly compare The Beresfords to Mansfield Park, I can say that as a stand-alone book, The Beresfords was an enjoyable read. October 2012 has been unbelievably difficult for me personally, and I cannot tell you how many times I turned to this novel to escape my situation, even if for only for a few moments while sitting in an over-air-conditioned medical waiting room. Frannie and Jonathan’s story is at times bittersweet and unexpected, but ultimately it comes to a satisfying and well-rounded ending. Those familiar and those completely unacquainted with Jane Austen’s work will find something to enjoy in this novel. We can all relate to Frannie’s desire to be loved by her family, and in particular, her romantic love interest. Janeite or no, Christina Dudley’s readers can all sympathize with that. With that in mind, I offer my hearty endorsement to The Beresfords and hope that you add it to your wish list today.

*          *          *

Christina Dudley's Website

     

Book Giveaway (Sort Of)

Because of budgetary constraints, I cannot afford to offer my copy of The Beresfords in a free giveaway here on The Calico Critic.  However, I'd love to share this with one of you.  If you'd like me to send it to you and you're willing to just cover the shipping costs, just drop me a line and we can work something out.  This is such a pleasant story, and I'd love to have one of you enjoy it as well. This paragraph will be removed when the book has been assigned.

Print Edition

Kindle Edition

Jane Austen Giveaway Hop (US)

Welcome to the next stop on the Jane Austen Giveaway Hop, sponsored by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and vvb32reads.  Throughout this hop you'll find dozens of websites giving away Austen-related literature.  For this giveaway, I have a list of items available, and the winner may choose up to THREE items from this selection, most of which are Austenesque books:

• Wickham's Diary by Amanda Grange
• Mr. Darcy's Diary by Amanda Grange
• Pride and Prejudice (2005 Two-Disc DVD)
• Guardian by Robin Helm
• SoulFire by Robin Helm
• Legacy by Robin Helm

All of these items are previously used, but they're in good condition for reading/watching for years to come.  The Robin Helm books got a little worn by my post office, despite the fact that they were carefully packed when they were originally shipped. So if you don't mind a few bent pages in those volumes, then you should be fine.

Be sure to read the guidelines below, enter via the Rafflecopter widget, and good luck!

• The contest period ends at 12:01am EST on October 25th.
• Contest is open to U.S. entrants only.
• Make sure you leave your email address in the one required portion of the Rafflecopter form. Should you win, I will contact you on Thursday, October 25th.  Please take measures to ensure that my email will make it past your spam filters, lest you miss my message. (CalicoCritic@gmail.com) You'll have 72 hours to respond before I pick another winner.
• All entries must go through the Rafflecopter form. If you leave an optional blog post comment, in order for it to count toward your contest entry, be sure to indicate this through the "Leave a Blog Post Comment" button on the rafflecopter form.
• The winner may choose up to 3 items from the prize list.  The award will be mailed via USPS Media Rate shortly after the U.S. mailing address is provided.
• Entries will be verified.  If a fraudulent entry is detected for the winning name, another winner will be drawn.

If you can't see the Rafflecopter form below,
try clicking on the "Read more »" link
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Don't forget to visit the other stops on
the Jane Austen Giveaway Hop! 

And if you're visiting The Calico Critic before 12:01am EST on October 21st, you may also enter to win a copy of the provocative new Austenesque novel, Goodly Creatures. Open internationally - three winners!

Click here to read my review
and enter to win!

   

Women of Faith 2012 - An Invitation to Celebrate What Matters

Hey ladies! Has life got you harried and needing a little break?  Let me invite you to Women of Faith!  If you're able to get away on a Friday night and most of a Saturday, I highly encourage you to attend one of these fabulous conferences.  You'll laugh, cry, learn and worship with thousands of other women in assembly halls around the country.  I attended Women of Faith last year and had such a great time.  It's a marvelous weekend of rejuvenation and spiritual growth that I would recommend to anyone.

If you're in the Charlotte, NC area, join me at the Celebrate What Matters event being held at the Time Warner Cable Arena.  The lineup of speakers and artists this year looks really great!  My favorite singer, Amy Grant will be there, as well as former American Idol contestant Mandisa.  I'm also looking forward to hearing from Patsy Clairmont and Chonda Pierce, who will make your sides hurt from laughter and your heart sing from their powerful messages.  Ballet Magnificat, America's premier Christian ballet company will also be performing.  I've never seen a dance production like this at a Women of Faith event, but I'm sure it's going to be beautiful and inspiring.

If Charlotte is not a good location for you, there are many other event sites around the country.  Check out the Women of Faith website for a full listing, but here are a few upcoming dates that may be in your area:

• October 19 - Saint Paul, MN
• October 26 - Sunrise, FL
• October 26 - Sacramento, CA
• November 2 - Kansas City, MO
• November 2 - Hartford, CT
• November 30 - Plano, TX

The Plano, TX event looks really special, with its Christmas-themed music and storytelling.  There are other events continuing on into 2013, so if you can't make it this year, be sure and check it out whenever you can.  I can promise you, you will come away feeling refreshed and renewed to face life's challenges.  I don't normally gravitate towards ladies' gatherings, but Women of Faith has won me over.  They do an outstanding job in ministering to women on a large scale, and it's definitely worth the time and effort to attend.

Here's a short video with testimonies from women to attended a recent event.  You can hear in their voices how touched they were by their time there:




Here's a bit more information about Women of Faith, right from their website:

Women of Faith events are produced by the world’s largest producer of inspirational events, Live Event Management Inc., a Thomas Nelson company based in Plano, Texas. Through authentic connection with audiences, humor, an atmosphere of encouragement and support, and our line-up of world-class talent including well-known Christian authors and performers, Women of Faith delivers life-changing messages via high-quality programs in cities across North America.

If this sounds like the kind of Friday night and Saturday that you'd like to have, start praying now about attending.  For many of us, our desire to go may seem overshadowed by external forces, like taking time off of work or getting childcare for our kids.  But I can tell you that if it's the Lord's will for you attend one of these events, He can certainly make it happen.  There have been countless stories told over the years by women who overcame remarkable barriers to be there, with the Lord's hand leading the way.

And of course, if you're going to be at the Charlotte event this coming weekend, let me know-- I'd love to meet you in person!  I'll also be back here on The Calico Critic, reporting about the event and my experiences there.  2012 has been a rough year in more ways than one for me, and I am eagerly anticipating my time away.  I'm sure it's going to be great.  Hope to see you there!



      

Book Review & Giveaway: Goodly Creatures by Beth Massey

Summarizing thoughts from Goodreads.com:

A life altering event inextricably links a fifteen-year-old Elizabeth Bennet to Fitzwilliam Darcy while simultaneously creating an almost insurmountable divide. This Pride and Prejudice deviation takes the reader on a journey through a labyrinth filled with misunderstandings, bias, guilt and fear - not to mention, laughter, animal magnetism and waltzing. As Elizabeth says, 'she shed enough tears to float one of Lord Nelson's frigates' but as she learned from her father 'unhappiness does, indeed, have comic aspects one should never underestimate.'

Though the path for our protagonists is much more arduous than canon, the benefit remains the same; a very happy Janeite ending for these two star-crossed lovers. Along the way there is retribution, redemption and reward for other characters - including a few that recall players in two grave injustices as written by Ms Austen in Sense and Sensibility. These grievances prompted this long-time struggler for women's rights to write a tale that provided these women vindication.

*          *          *

Some Austenesque fiction is meant to be read quickly and taken in like a light, cool treat on a hot summer day.  Other derivations are less of this persuasion and more like a sumptuous, multi-course victual event.  Beth Massey’s Goodly Creatures is of the latter variety. This writer of fan fiction, women’s rights advocate and educated reader of Shakespeare has crafted a novel that many Janeites would find nourishing and entertaining, provided they can accept a certain proviso at the start.

This review will not reveal many spoiling plot points, but there is one aspect of the tale that is crucial to the reader’s enjoyment of the novel.  And as the event in question is particularly addressed in the book’s opening acknowledgments, I feel confident that Ms. Massey will not take offense at my mentioning it in my review.

All Austenesque fiction requires a bit of a leap—that moment when the author diverts from Jane Austen’s work, and the reader must choose to go along for the ride in order to enjoy the journey.  In Goodly Creatures, Elizabeth Bennet does encounter a rake as she does in the original Pride and Prejudice. However, in this iteration of the story, the rake is a different man than the scheming George Wickham.  This new villain is far more wicked, and at age 15, Elizabeth is significantly younger than the fundamental Lizzy in Austen’s work. She is young and naïve, and this leads to her violation by this horrific man. 

When I read in the acknowledgments that Massey was “committing a major heresy by raping Elizabeth Bennet”, I was shocked and surprised that she would take this tack in her storytelling.  However, I decided to keep an open mind to see where the story would take us.  As the author could relate to this incident personally, I didn’t think she would use the event in a gratuitous or exploitative way.  If anything, she would use this assault to speak to the issue of crimes against women, not only in the 19th century, but in our modern day as well.

Beth Massey won me over in her storytelling.  Goodly Creatures is a wonderful homage to not only Jane Austen’s work, but to Shakespeare, poetry and art. There are so many occasions when Massey fuses her work with that of so many talented writers and artists, producing a richness that is not always found in this kind of novel.  The difficult issues surrounding Elizabeth’s assault are handled with realism, but without excessive details.  No, this is not for young girls to read.  We are definitely in mature territory here.  But the themes of injustice, retribution, forgiveness and healing are so incredibly pronounced—it’s well worth the hard moments that we encounter.

Massey’s writing is extremely well crafted.  Her academic knowledge shines through, but she pairs it with excellent, accessible wording.  She takes her time with the story, with over 600 pages of text in the volume.  And while I did appreciate the fact that nothing was rushed in this epic, there were moments at the end (particularly in the Epilogue, as satisfying as it was), when I felt that the story could have been trimmed just a bit.  But this is a minor concern.  I genuinely enjoyed the vast majority of the novel.

Those looking for a serious, extended, satisfying journey with Jane Austen’s beloved characters (and a few new ones) will find an excellent read in Beth Massey’s Goodly Creatures.  With sobering subjects and a particularly depraved villain, this novel is not for the faint of heart.  However, Massey’s Pride and Prejudice diversion is well worth the journey.  I encourage those who are willing to take the leap into her vision of this story and become enveloped in it.  Like the world we live in, Goodly Creatures is tragic, difficult, and yet glorious as well.

Goodly Creatures Giveaway
(International)

Thanks to Beth Massey, we have three copies of Goodly Creatures to give away! She's offering one paperback and two e-book copies to us. Be sure to read the guidelines below, enter via the Rafflecopter widget, and good luck!

• The contest period ends at 12:01am EST on October 21, 2012.
• Contest is open to U.S. and International entrants. Come one, come all!
• Make sure you leave your email address in the one required portion of the Rafflecopter form. Should you win, I will contact you on Sunday, October 21st.  Please take measures to ensure that my email will make it past your spam filters, lest you miss my message. (CalicoCritic@gmail.com) You'll have 72 hours to respond before I pick another winner.
• All entries must go through the Rafflecopter form. If you leave a blog post comment, in order for it to count toward your contest entry, be sure to indicate this through the "Leave a Blog Post Comment" button on the form.
• The winner's delivery information will be sent to Beth Massey for prize shipment.
• Entries will be verified.  If a fraudulent entry is detected for the winning name, another winner will be drawn.

If you can't see the Rafflecopter form below,

try clicking on the "Read more »" link

a Rafflecopter giveaway

       
*Kindle Version*                    *Print Version*

Guest Post & Giveaway: Jane Odiwe of Searching for Captain Wentworth

The Calico Critic is thrilled to welcome the wonderful Austenesque writer Jane Odiwe to today's post.  We're celebrating the recent release of her work, Searching for Captain Wentworth.  My review copy just arrived, and I can't wait to dive into it!  This novel looks like a great mix of Janeite fiction and time travel-- some of my favorite literary devices!  Here's a summary of what we can expect:

When aspiring writer, Sophie Elliot, receives the keys to the family townhouse in Bath, it's an invitation she can't turn down, especially when she learns that she will be living next door to the house Jane Austen lived in. On discovering that an ancient glove belonging to her mysterious neighbour, Josh Strafford, will transport her back in time to Regency Bath, she questions her sanity, but Sophie is soon caught up in two dimensions, each reality as certain as the other. Torn between her life in the modern world, and that of her ancestor who befriends Jane Austen and her fascinating brother Charles, Sophie's story travels two hundred years across time, and back again, to unite this modern heroine with her own Captain Wentworth. Blending fact and fiction together, the tale of Jane Austen's own quest for happiness weaves alongside, creating a believable world of new possibilities for the inspiration behind the beloved novel, Persuasion.

*          *          *

Stop by The Calico Critic on October 28th for my review of Jane's work, which I'm sure will be just wonderful!  In the meantime, here are a few thoughts from her, as well as an excerpt to whet your appetite. Be sure to enter to win a copy of the book for yourself, in the Rafflecopter widget below!

Searching for Captain Wentworth:
A Tale of Love Lost in Time

There’s something about time travel that’s always held an irresistible fascination for me. Brought up on books like Tom’s Midnight Garden, The Green Knowe Books and A Traveller in Time, any escape into the past is a little like re-visiting my childhood. So, when I was thinking about what to write after Mr Darcy’s Secret, the idea that I could combine my favourite period of history with Jane Austen and time travel seemed an exciting combination.

The books I’d enjoyed in my childhood had characters travelling backwards and forwards through time and I decided this was something I’d like to try. I loved the idea of several layers of stories - in this book there are three couples with their own stories of love lost and found. I particularly enjoyed switching from the past to the present though I did experience some challenging moments!

In my childhood tales there are always objects that travel through time or treasures that are found later - it was fun deciding how and where such objects might appear and disappear in my book. Keeping track of them was tricky at times and more than once I was caught out. But, it certainly made it fun to write. I still love reading the moment in Tom’s Midnight Garden where he finds Hattie’s skates hidden under the floorboards and realises she must be real and not a ghost after all! I loved writing my own ‘moments’ and paradoxes, tying the loose ends of the past and present together. There’s a certain fantasy element to a time travel book and to really enjoy them at their best I think you need to leave all sense of the real world behind - because there is much that cannot really be explained. That’s half the fun!

Any Janeite who managed to travel back into the past would have one special wish, I think, and for most that would be to meet Jane Austen herself. My heroine Sophie becomes friends with Jane Austen and finds herself drawn to her handsome brother Charles. He is on leave after serving as a young lieutenant on the frigate, Endymion.

In this excerpt Sophie has gone back in time and she’s beginning to realise just how different living in another time can be - she’s in Sydney Gardens when she bumps into her neighbour.

*          *          *
It was then that I heard a voice calling me. ‘Miss Elliot, you are not lost, I hope.’

Charles Austen was hurrying towards me. I had to smile. ‘Lieutenant Austen, I have not yet ventured into the Labyrinth, and can safely find my way home, thank you.’

I wondered if I’d sounded rude, but I didn’t want him to think that I was a helpless female who couldn’t walk round a park without needing male assistance. He touched his hat and I thought he might walk away, but then he seemed to change his mind.

‘My sisters are clambering up Beechen cliff this afternoon,’ he said. ‘I must admit I had not the energy for such a jaunt today. I wanted peace, solitude, and a level walk.’

There was more than a hint of laughter in his voice. I wondered if he was finding it difficult being in the company of such strong-minded women after being on a ship completely dominated by men. When I thought about Mrs Austen’s apparent hypochondria and her interfering ways, I could understand why a profession that took you away from home for months and even years at a time might be such an inviting one.

‘I enjoy being on my own, and the gardens are so convenient,’ I began.

‘Do you always prefer your own company to that of being in society?’ His face looked serious for the moment, though his dark eyes twinkled as if there were some hidden secret only he delighted in.

‘Oh no, but I do love to have time to think,’ I said, knowing that this was perfectly true, ‘and I can never think so well in a room full of people as I can on my own.’

‘Your thoughts mirror my own, exactly. And even if you do manage to slip away with your thoughts in a crowded room, there is always someone who wants to know just what you are about. In my house, Miss Elliot, it is impossible to have private thoughts.’

I imagined that it would be far more difficult. At least in the twenty-first century you could be in a room full of people watching television and no one would know whether you were far away with your own thoughts or whether you were taking in everything on the screen. It was much more difficult in a time where conversation ruled the day and where you needed to be taking notice of what was being said at all times so that you could respond. I was learning how different it was to have your attention constantly demanded. Opinions were always required, and yet, I was beginning to feel that the only opinions considered worth having were those that matched everyone else’s.

*          *          *

I hope you’ve enjoyed this little taster of Searching for Captain Wentworth. I’d love to know what your favourite time travel books might be! Do you read fantasy/ time travel books now or did you have favourites as a child?

--Jane Odiwe

  


    

Jane's Website

Jane's Blog

 Searching for
Captain Wentworth Giveaway
(International)

Sound like a book you might enjoy?  One of you can win a copy! Be sure to read the guidelines below, enter via the Rafflecopter widget, and good luck!

• The contest period ends at 12:01am EST on September 30th, 2012.
• Contest is open to U.S. and International entrants. Come one, come all!
• Make sure you leave your email address in the one required portion of the Rafflecopter form. Should you win, I will contact you on Sunday, September 30th.  Please take measures to ensure that my email will make it past your spam filters, lest you miss my message. (CalicoCritic@gmail.com) You'll have 72 hours to respond before I pick another winner.
• All entries must go through the Rafflecopter form. When you leave a blog post comment, in order for it to count toward your contest entry, be sure to indicate this through the "Leave a Blog Post Comment" button on the form.
• The winner's mailing information will be sent to Jane Odiwe for prize shipment.
• Entries will be verified.  If a fraudulent entry is detected for the winning name, another winner will be drawn.

If you can't see the Rafflecopter form below,

try clicking on the "Read more »" link

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Want another chance to win?
Stop by this other participating blog as well:

My Jane Austen Book Club

     

The Firm Express - 30 Day Challenge Week 4 and Results

My four-week Firm: Express Challenge is now complete! This series has been such fun, and I'm very pleased with the improvements I've made in my fitness levels.  Thanks to these workouts, things are definitely headed in the right direction.  My short-term goal is to get to a healthy BMI of 24.9, which at my height (5'7") is 159.2 pounds.  My long-term goal is to achieve a mid-range BMI of 21.7, or 138.8 pounds.  

Health and fitness are not just about numbers on a scale or a BMI chart, so I'm not "wedded" to these figures.  They're just goals to aim for, and if I'm at least in a healthy range overall, that is the most important thing.  Other "Non-Scale Victories" for me would include:

• Doing pushups on my toes every time, not just occasionally, and with good form
• Not fearing THE BURPEE
• Drinking more water (I struggle to get in 64 ounces a day)
• Getting back into smaller-sized clothes lurking in my closet

With those goals in mind, here's the last week of reflections from my Firm: Express month-long challenge!

Week 4, Day 1 –Wednesday, August 22
 Workout – Firm: Target Toning: Zero in Ten – Track 3 – Bikini Body Blaze

Emily leads us through a tough, quick cardio routine with no equipment needed.  After only 10 minutes, I’m already sweaty.  There are plenty of leaps, hops , lunges and total-body moves.  I did pretty well keeping up, and I only had to modify a few times.  There was a full-body lunge move called “Hit the Floor” that was a near impossibility for me to get to the full range of motion, but I still pushed myself. My tuck-jumps are still weak, but I did my best.  This is a great add-on for one of those days when you might not get a lot of cardio in  other routines.


Workout – Firm Express: Pump It Up
I haven’t done this DVD since the 13th, nine days ago.  It’s still really challenging, but I’ve seen improvements.  I didn’t have to pause the video as many times, and my performance overall is improving.  The plank/jump move on the floor is still really difficult, and gets me winded every time.  I’m glad I’m mostly done with cardio today!

Equipment:  Medium weights (6 lbs)

Workout – Firm Express: Cycle 1 Ignite Sculpt
I haven’t touched this one in three weeks.  Wow—what a difference!  It’s still a challenging workout, but I really killed it!  My “mountain climbers” were so much stronger, I moved faster on the interval bursts, and overall I just did really well.  I am really spent and sweaty from all three of these videos today, put I feel really strong and healthy.  Very grateful!

(Forgot to note my equipment on this entry)

Week 4, Day 2 - Thursday, August 23
Rest Day – I took a day off today, but I did take a short walk in the woods near my house.  Nothing strenuous.

Week 4, Day 3 –Friday, August 24
Workout – Firm: Target Toning: Zero in Ten – Track 4 – ABS-solute Core
This one was slightly shorter at 9:40, but it was still tough.  I think the beginning was harder than the ending, which I found to be pretty easy.  Near the very start of the routine, we’re doing hops and burpees.  I wish I had warmed up some more before doing this.  My form wasn’t great.  Rebekah definitely works the core, with crunches, back raises, and stability moves.  Despite her beginning line of, “Get ready for your cardio workout,” this is definitely for toning.  And even though the photo in the DVD menu shows her doing a side plank, there wasn’t any of that.  This would be a good add-on if you haven’t done any core work for the day, and when you’re fully warmed up.

Equipment: Light weights (4 lbs – I could have gone heavier, though)

Workout – Firm Express: Cycle 3 TurboCharge Cardio
Just like two weeks ago on August 10th, I enjoyed this workout quite a bit.  It’s still a challenge, but just a lot of fun.  It’s not quite as high-impact as some of the other workouts, and I can really use that from time to time.  Again, the hardest move is a one-legged lateral jump, but I saw a big improvement from two weeks ago!  My right leg is still much stronger than my left, but I noticed greater strength, flexibility and an increase in movement today. I feel so good, I might even try doing this one again later today!

Equipment: One light weight (4 lbs)

Week 4, Day 4 –Saturday, August 25
Workout – Kelsie's 5-min warmup on Firm: Pump, Jump ' Jab
Did really well.  Right adductor is a bit tight.  Wish my pushups were stronger, but I’m getting there.

Workout – Firm: Target Toning – Zero in Ten – Track 5 - Bun Burn
This one was really challenging, but I liked it!  Emily does a great job incorporating new choreography with old standards.  I’d encourage you to watch it first, just to be ready for the new moves. This has a touch of cardio in it, and it does the bun burning job!

Workout – Firm Express: Cycle 2 Accelerate Cardio + Sculpt
Again, big improvement in performance since I last did this workout, back on August 7th. I’m still sweat-drenched and really breathing hard, but I feel so much stronger than last time. My form was better, and I was able to perform the V-jumps better as well. There’s a climbing/kneeling move that is a real intimidator for me, but I powered through and didn’t embarrass myself! I stuck with 6 pound weights again, but I probably could have gone to 7 pounds.  Maybe next time.  I feel like I really accomplished something with this today!

Week 4, Day 5 –Sunday, August 26
Rest Day – Did a whole lot of nothing!  It was nice to have a restful day!

Week 4, Day 6 –Monday, August 27
It's the first day of school for my boys, who are beginning 7th and 2nd grade.  It was nice to have the house to myself and to work out with no interruptions!  In the morning after I dropped them off from school, I walked home the long way, going around a lake that’s near my house. It’s about 1.2 miles—a great way to start the day.

Workout – Firm: Target Toning: Zero in Ten – Bonus Download
Rebekah leads us through a 10-minute total body routine.  She does a decent warmup, and then we hit all the major body parts.  There wasn’t any specific cardio, but the effort required to do the moves got my heart rate up.  There were all the basics:  squats, bicep curls, tricep kickbacks, pushups, planks, dips, etc.  Nothing revolutionary here, but it really covers the whole body.  A great add-on.

Equipment: Whatever medium/heavy weight you’d use for bicep curls or tricep kickbacks.  I used 8 lbs.

Workout: Firm Express: Cycle 2 Accelerate Sculpt
This one previously came up in the schedule on August 9th, eighteen days ago.  As has been common lately, I did see improvement today.  However, for some reason, my energy just wasn’t as high as I wish it could have been.  I just felt more weak somehow, like I needed a jolt of caffeine or something.  Still, I pushed as hard as I could, performed better than on August 9th, and I’m happy with my workout.  The number on the scale isn’t moving a whole lot, but I know I’m getting smaller.  People who haven’t seen me in a couple of months are noticing, and that’s great encouragement!

Equipment: Heavy weights (8 lb), medium weights (6 lb) and one light weight (4 lb)

Week 4, Day 7 –Tuesday, August 28
Workout: Firm Express: Cycle 4 Overdrive Cardio
I still felt a little  nervous about doing this 4th level (in the Firm: Express series) cardio workout, but after reviewing my notes from two weeks ago on August 14th, I knew I’d love it again.  I did about 10 minutes of warmup time on my own, just getting my body ready to move.  Thankfully, I had another great experience with this routine. It’s fun and challenging, with lots of kickboxing and movement that I can handle.  Again, the hinge-kick is still the most difficult thing for me, but I did see a bit of improvement this time.  And while I did have to pause the DVD a few times to catch my breath in between sections, I didn’t have to do it as much this time.  Honestly, the workout flew by, and I loved it!

Equipment: Light weights (4 lbs)

Workout: Firm: 5-Day Stretch, Day One
This is a really old video from the early days of the Firm.  They’ve compiled footage from a number of vintage workouts to pull together 5 days of stretching, with each day being 9 to 10 minutes long.  I felt a little tight this morning, so I wanted to end out with a nice long stretch.  The music and wardrobe in these videos is very dated, but if you can get past that late 80s feel, it’s still good material. I did Day One today, which is about 10 minutes of stretching, and I feel great!

End of Month Check In – Wednesday August 29 in the A.M.
I’ve now come to the end of my four-week Firm: Express challenge. On the morning of the 29th, I weighed in at 172.2, or another 1.2 pounds down for the week.  I also took readings with a tape measure, and while I didn’t have a massive change overall, I did see improvement.  So here’s how it all came down:

	1-Aug	29-Aug	Change
Weight	177.6	172.2	-5.4
Upper Chest	37	36	-1
Bust	37	37
Midriff	32.5	32	-0.5
Upper Arm	14	14
Waist	32	31	-1
Upper Hip	35.5	36	+.5
Lower Hip	45	44	-1
Upper Thigh	27.5	27	-0.5
Mid Thigh	27.5	27	-0.5
Calf	17	16	-1

As you can see, these numbers aren’t overly dramatic, but every little positive change is one step closer to my goals.  Losing 1-2 pounds a week is generally considered to be a reasonable amount, and my loss was 1.35 pounds per week. And aside from this data, I have other victories of gained fitness—increased stamina and strength, which I can certainly build on as I continue to improve.  I truly enjoyed the workouts in the Firm: Express video collection, and they have been inspiring tools that have pushed my abilities and improved my quality of life over the last four weeks. These DVDs will certainly make repeat performances in my household, and I can’t recommend them highly enough for yours.  Take the Firm: Express challenge today!



             

The Firm Express - 30 Day Challenge Week 3

I'm over halfway through my month-long challenge! With this last seven days, I've now performed all of the 14 workouts in the Firm: Express kit.  These are great routines, and I've been amazed at how well my body has been responding to the work. And while the scale didn't move as much as I would have liked this week, I am getting stronger and leaner overall.  It was a challenging seven days for me as a mom, and I literally thank God for helping me stay on track as much as I did.  There were plenty of reasons to let this program go by the wayside.  Having this structured 30-day goal in front of me really helped me focus and persevere. Now that Week 3 is complete, here is my daily journal for the seven days:


Week 3, Day 1 – Wednesday, August 15
Workout: Kelsie’s 5-Minute Bonus from Pump Jump ‘n Jab
When I woke up this morning I was kind of tight from yesterday’s workouts, and in addition to that, I was feeling kind of “blah” and unmotivated.  I pulled up Kelsie’s 5-minute routine on Hulu.com and that helped me a bit. I didn’t do as well on the pushups today, but it was still a good starter.
Equipment:  6 lb weights

Workout: Cycle 4 Turbocharge Cardio + Sculpt
Partly as a procrastination tool, I watched this ahead of time earlier today so I’d be able to anticipate the moves.  This was a great workout, but it was tough.  It includes my nemesis, “Burpees”, plyo squats power lunges as well.  There was plenty of action that I enjoyed, though. I’ve always done curtsey dips well, and there were lots of those.  I felt like the 8-second burst periods were very doable, with some of the regular cardio moments being much more difficult.  The only exception to this is the burst period with the knee-tuck-jumps.  Mine are just pitiful.  There’s a brief abs section at the end that was tough, but I managed through it pretty well.  I feel good after this workout, but I’m going to opt out of doing any more add-ons today.

Equipment: 6 lb weights


Week 3, Day 2 – Thursday, August 16
Rest Day – Took today off, because I knew I’d want to work out on Friday and Saturday before my greatly-desired 2nd rest day of the week on Sunday.  This worked out really well for me, as there was a bit of drama in my parenting life, and working out today would have nearly been an impossibility anyway. Despite the stress at home, I managed to stay on track with my eating and kept it healthy.  That is what I call a NSV – “Non-Scale Victory”!!


Week 3, Day 3 – Friday, August 17
Workout: Cycle 1 Ignite Cardio
Wow!  What a difference two weeks makes!  Since I last did this workout 14 days ago, my strength and endurance have really improved.  I am really impressed.  Ignite Cardio was still a tough workout, but I performed so much better today.  I had to pause the video much less often, my range of motion was better, and my endurance kept me going strong.  My weakest point was still the hinge-kicks, but they were better than on August 3rd.  I really punched this one out, and I’m so proud!

Workout: Shortcut to Flat Abs
I definitely felt ready to do more after Ignite Cardio, and I hadn’t gone this one in a while.  It’s not as sweat-inducing as the cardio workout, but I still get a challenge from it. Probably the most difficult things for me to do are the planks and side planks.  I’m doing better on getting up on both feet with no knees down, but my execution and form still need work.  Still, progress has been made!

Equipment: Medium/Heavy Weight (8 lbs.)


Week 3, Day 4 – Saturday, August 18
Workout: Cycle 4 Overdrive Sculpt
While this workout isn’t as consistently intense as some of the others, it was still a really good one.  Kelsie gets us warmed up with some movement and just a bit of cardio, a burst segment, and then on into weight training with dead lifts and bicep curls.  The workout goes on to cover every area of the body, from quads and hamstrings, back, triceps and core.  I was able to keep up pretty well, and in some heavy weight spots, I was able to move up from 8 pounds to 10.  As usual, the most difficult thing for me to do is the planks, but I’m gradually improving and pushing myself on a regular basis. If you haven’t had much cardio lately, I would recommend adding on a separate cardio session, but this really is a good routine.  My arms are shaking as I type! Oh, and long-term “Firm Believers” might smile at the inclusion of some music previously heard in Firm workouts from years gone by.

Equipment:  Light weights (4 lb), medium weights (6 lb), heavy weights (I used 8 and 10), mat for floor work (I needed the mat for a kneeling-climb move to pad my joints)


Week 3, Day 5 – Sunday, August 19
Rest Day
I’m glad I had a rest day, but I feel like a couple of factors are going to set me back on my weight loss efforts for the week.  I began retaining water due to my monthly cycle, so that should prove to be interesting come weigh-in day.  Also, at dinner time I made some poor choices with my eating. Nothing incredibly high-fat (like the cookies and pizza I resisted yesterday!), but just too many calories and too many carbs.  I hope this doesn’t ruin my results for the week on the scale, although I know I’ll have other victories accomplished.


Week 3, Day 6 – Monday, August 20
Workout: Kelsie’s 5-Minute Bonus from Pump Jump ‘n Jab
Did well.  Determined to really push myself after last night’s indiscretions. Pushups getting better.

Equipment:  Medium weights (6 lbs)

Workout – Firm: Target Toning Zero-in-Ten: Lean Legs
I won this DVD in a contest from The Firm last year and enjoyed going through the tracks last summer.  Each one is only 10 minutes long, which is perfect for customizing to your schedule or using as an add-on, which I did today.  The first routine is really tough, really working the legs with pliés, squats and plenty of leaps.  I think the most difficult move came with a plié/jump where Rebekah clicks her heels together.  I was able to click my heels on several of the jumps, but getting my feet back into plié  position was nearly impossible.  Definitely something to work on.  This is a great addition to my routine today.

Equipment:  Heavy weights (8 lbs)

Workout: Cycle 1 Ignite Cardio + Sculpt
Just like last time (August 4th), this was a tough workout! I managed to push through, and my performance was much better today.  My burpees are still pretty pitiful, but they’re improving. Near the end we did some side planks, and today I did both sides with perfect form, knees off the carpet, with a lovely triangle shape.  I was most proud of that.  This routine doesn’t have much of a “fun factor” for me, but it’s effective and I’m enjoying my progress.

Equipment: Medium weights (6 lb) and Heavy weights (8 lbs – could probably go to 10 pounds next time, except for some deltoid raises)


Week 3, Day 7 – Tuesday, August 21
Workout: Kelsie’s 5-Minute Bonus from Pump Jump ‘n Jab
Better than ever—did a couple of really straight-backed pushups.  Getting stronger.

Equipment: 6 lb weights

Workout – Firm: Target Toning Zero-in-Ten:  Track 2 – Fearless Arms
This was a good 10 minutes. Rebekah does a little bit of cardio to keep your blood pumping, but most of the emphasis is on the arms, of course.  She does some pushups, but as many as I expected.  There are some creative moves that keep it interesting.  And for some reason, Rebakah speaks almost in a whisper, as if there’s a baby in the next room sleeping?  There were a few times when we were just standing still doing bicep curls/overhead presses, and I walked around the room to add in some more movement.

Equipment:  Lt/Medium weights (6lb) and Med/Heavy Weights (8 lbs)

Workout: Cycle 2 Accelerate Cardio
Today was a tough day.  I had a lot of trouble at home, and the day almost got away from me before I could work out.  I managed to do the first 2 mini-workouts after dinner, then I put my kids to bed, and then I did this track.  It was a hard day for me as a mom, so staying on track with my eating and fitting in this workout was a big challenge.  The DVD itself is a pretty tough one—there are a decent number of high-impact moves, and I sometimes had trouble keeping up.  Although I think I enjoyed doing this workout more the first time on  August 8th, I did improve my performance overall.  I was pausing the DVD less often, maybe because I was anxious to get it over with. But I’m proud of my fitness gains and the fact that I got it done.


End of Week Weigh In – Wednesday August 22 in the A.M.
This week’s weight loss was much more modest, unfortunately.  On Wednesday morning, I weighed in at 173.4, only .6 of a pound less from last week.  I did overindulge a bit on Sunday night, but I think the greatest contributing factor is my monthly water retention going on right now.   If I stay on track this upcoming week, I should shed that water with no problem.  Since August 1st I’ve lost 4.2 pounds, or an average of 1.4 pounds a week, which is very reasonable.  I still have plenty of things I can count as NSV’s (non-scale victories) this week, however.  I’m definitely becoming stronger, with my plank positions getting better all the time.  I’ll keep forging ahead, with more victories to come next week!



Check out the other weeks in my 30-Day Challenge!