While changing your eating habits and adding a bit of exercise into your daily routine might seem easy to most people, the one think that we sometimes over look is our protein intake.

Protein is the key ingredient in building muscles and burning body fat. You don't have to be lifting heavy weights to gain muscles as you can be using light weights or doing any intense workout program.

Your muscle fibers become torn during exercise and it takes time for them to recover. Ingesting extra protein before and/or after an workout can prevent muscle soreness and help your body recover from your workout faster.

I was recently sent a bottle of MCF (Mike Change Fitness) Muscle Protein to test out and review. Each 990 grams container has 30 servings (one scoop). Each serving has 120 calories, 22 grams of protein and 4.5 grams of carbs.

The ingredients include:

Muscle Protein Blend: Whey Protein Concentrate, Whey Peptides & Whe Protein Isolate

Digestive Enzyme Complex: Protease, Lactase, Bromelain, Asperigillus Niger & Aspergillus Oryzae

Other ingredients include: Cocoa Poweder, Natural & Arifical Flavors, Fibersol-2 (Maltodextrin), Sucrose, Sodium Chloride and Sucralose.

The Berenstain Bears: God Bless Our Country
by Mike Berenstain
Publisher: ZonderKidz
Pub. Date: April 14, 2015
ISBN: 978-0310734857
Pages: 24
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

In my early elementary days in the late 80s, one of my favorite book series was The Berenstain Bears by the late authors Stan and Jan Berenstain. At one time I did own every book, but then as I got older, I lost interests in the series. Eventually, I let my cousins borrow the books, which I never saw my book collection ever again. Over the years, I've found a few of the books at a thrift store, so I started recollecting the series.

Since the death of Stan and Jan Berenstain, their son Mike has taken over writing and illustrating new adventures of the Berenstain Bears, but the newest books have Christian themes.

Now available in bookstores is The Berenstain Bears: God Bless Our Country, which finds the Bear family getting ready to celebrate Fourth of July in Bear County. Papa and Mama tells their cubs (Brother, Sister & Honey) the true meaning of the holiday. From the Revolutionary War to Immigration, the cubs learn how this country was born right before the cubs hop on their bikes and participate in the annual parade.

No Good Deeds
Director: Bob Rafelson
Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Milla Jovovich, Stellan Skarsgård
Studio: Mill Creek Entertainment
Release Date: July 7, 2015
Retail: $14.98
ASIN: B00WV7TOT8
Running Time: 98 minutes
Rating: R
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

Arriving on Blu-ray for the first time from Mill Creek Entertainment on July 7th is the 2002 thriller from director Bob Rafelson, titled No Good Deed. The film stars Samuel L. Jackson, Milla Jovovich and Stellan Skarsgård. There are no special features or extras on the single-dis.

Long before Samuel L. Jackson wore an eye patch for "The Avengers" and Stellan Skarsgård played Dr. Erik Selvig in the "Thor" films, the actors teamed up for No Good Deed. Jackson plays diabetic police detective Jack Friar. Though he normally works only on grand theft auto cases, he decideds to help out his neighbors by retrieving their daughter who has been staying on Turk Street with her boyfriend.

With only a picture of the daughter's boyfriend to work with, Friar goes door to door on Turk Street looking for her. This when he meets Mr. & Mrs. Quarre (played by Joss Ackland & Grace Zabriskie), whom nicely invites him into their home, which turns out to be a troubling mistake for Friar as the criminal known as Hoop (played by Doug Hutchison) steps out of the shadows with a gun. Despite trying to tell Hoop about the girl he is looking for, Friar is taken hostage.

Friar quickly finds out that both Mr. and Mrs. Quarre and Hoop work for Tyrone (played Stellan Skarsgård), a criminal who plans on robbing a bank with the help of a inside banker (played by Jonathan Higgins) and a young woman Erin (Milla Jovovich).

When things don't exactly go as plan, Firar's only chance of survival is to trust Erin with his life.

Some of my blog readers might recall me reviewing a massage roller a few weeks ago, so you might wondering why I'm reviewing a similar product.

Well, since I've started exercising regularly this month, I've learned how important it is to add stretching and yoga workouts that help relax my muscles. Exercising can put a strain on your body, so it's a good idea to add spend fifteen to thirty minutes (or longer) to workout any kinks your body might have.

A few weeks ago, I was sent the RockNRoller massage roller to test out and review. Now, most foam rollers are just made out of foam, but this roller is made out a heavy plastic pipe that has foam wrapped around it. The foam part features small circular textures that will help increase the pressure of your massage. What really makes this roller stand out from the rest is that the sides/ends can be twisted off, so you can store your gym towel, water bottle, protein bars, etc.

A Heart's Betrayal
Journey of the Heart, Book Four
by Colleen Coble
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Pub. Date: June 2, 2015
ISBN: 978-0529103437
Pages: 112
Buy Link: http://bit.ly/1B65ZsM
Blog Tour: http://litfusegroup.com/author/ccoble

Review:

I received several books a month to review here on this blog. Most them don't get my immediate attention and the books end up being piled up until I find time to read them. However, there are a few authors that I do read right away and one of them happens to be Colleen Coble.

The fourth installment in the Journey of the Heart mini-series was released to bookstores this month. Unlike the previous novel that focused on Sarah Montgomery, this sequel switches the main character to Emmie Croftner - the sister to the first three installment's villain (Ben). Emmie thought she had the perfect life when she recently married an up-and-coming lawyer Monroe Courtney, well, that is until she received word of her husband's death. She's doesn't have much time to mourn before she learns of Monroe's debt he left behind and his little white lie - he's actually married to somebody else.

With nowhere to life and not much money, Emmie packs her bags and travels to Fort Laramie, Wyoming, hoping that her old friend Sarah Montgomery will take her in. While it's somewhat awkward at first, Sarah and Emmie rekindle their friendship. Then the unthinkable happens - Emmie learns that she's pregnant with Monroe's child.

If you want schedule next week's post, click here to find the next prompt question. To submit a question, fill out this form.

What to do:

1. Post on your blog answering this question:

  This week's question is submitted by Elizabeth!

Do others come to you for book recommendations?

2. Enter the link to your post in the linky list below (enter your Blog Name and the direct link to your post answering this week’s question. Failure to do so will result in removal of your link).


3. Visit other blogs in the list and comment on their posts. Try to spend some time on the blogs reading other posts and possible become a new follower.  The purpose of the hop is to give bloggers a chance to follow other blogs, learn about new books, befriend other bloggers, and receive new followers to your own blog.

  

My Answer: 

   Not counting my blog readers, I don't know very many people that read books, so, no, nobody asks me for book recommendations.

Teen Wolf: Season 4
Starring: Tyler Posey, Dylan O'Brien, Holland Roden, Arden Cho
Studio: MGM / 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
Release Date: June 9, 2015
Retail: $29.98
ASIN: B00LNNVV4M
Running Time: 535 minutes
Rating: Not Rated
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

Now available to own on DVD from MGM & 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment is the hit MTV series Teen Wolf: Season 4. Special Features includes Gag Reels, The Beasts of Beacon Hill, Shirtless Montage Strikes Again and The Visual Effects Behind "The Dark Moon."

Loosely based on the 1985 comedy of the same name, Teen Wolf debuted on MTV in the summer of 2011 and has become of one of MTV's biggest scripted hit. Before Season 5 kicks-off on June 29th, fans can grab their hand on this 3-disc DVD release, so they can either get caught up or rewatch your favorite episodes.

"The Dark Moon" takes place two months after the events of season 3, where Scott and his friends head to Mexico in search of the the Calaveras - a Spanish hunter clan, in the hope to learn the whereabouts of Derek. Shortly, they learn that Kate Argent (played by Jill Wagner) is alive and has brought back the teenage version of Derek.

Scott (played by Tyler Posey), Stiles (played by Dylan O'Brien), Lydia (played by Holland Roden) and Kira (played by Arden Cho) return to Beacon Hills to try to live some sort of normal life, but of course Kate Argent is close by to cause problems, along with a new threat - The Benefactor.

If There Be Thorns
Director: Nancy Savoca
Starring: Heather Graham, Jason Lewis, Rachel Carpani
Studio: LionsGate
Release Date: June 23, 2015
Retail: $14.98
Running Time: 98 minutes
Rating: Not Rated
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

Now available to own on DVD is the third installment of the made-for-LIFETIME film saga, titled If There Be Thorns. There are no special features or extras on the single disc, but there is a Digital Ultraviolet download code.

Based on the third novel in the Dollanganger Saga by the late Gothic author V.C. Andrews, If There Be Thorns takes place six years after then end of Petals on the Wind, where Chris (played by Jason Lewis) and Cathy (played by Rachael Carpani) Dollanganger are living as man and wife in California along with their sons Jory (played by Jedidiah Goodacre) and Bart (played by Mason Cook). It seems they have finally been able to put their dark past behind them, well, that is until a mysterious woman dressed in black purchases the mansion next door to them.

Bart's thinks he's the outcast of the family. His older brother, Jory, is great at everything and gets praised from their parents all the time. Though Bart has been told to stay away from the mansion next door, his curiosity gets the better of him and he checkouts the new owner a  is a rich widow (played by Heather Graham), whom is living with her butler - John Amos!

The Farmer's Wife 1930's Sampler Quilt
by Laurie Aaron Hird
Publisher: Fons & Porter
Pub. Date: June 12, 2015
ISBN: 978-1440241468
Pages: 272
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

While some people might think quilting is just a hobby, actually, quilting has been used to make beddings, clothings and art wall hangings for years. The first known quilt dates back to 3400 B.C..

Now available in bookstores is the The Farmer's Wife 1930's Sampler Quilt from author and quilter Laurie Aaron Hird. The Farmer's Wife was a monthly women's magazine that was published from 1897 to 1939, when it was sold to Farm Journal - lasting until the 1970s. During the 1930s (The Great Depression), the magazine featured a inspiration column, titled "Letters From Our Farm Women." Each and every month, this column would publish letters from readers from around the country, which the letters would offer support and encouragement.


Laurie Aaron Hird shares 99 letters that appeared in The Farmer's Wife during the 1930s and along side each one, she has put together quilt blocks that has inspired by the letters. The book is split into sections, the first half featuring the letters & quilt blocks and the latter half showcasing the assembly for each quilt block, along with directions to make either a lap-size, twin-size, queen-size or a king-size quilt.


After the Wall Street stock market crash in 1929, the country entered the Great Depression, which was an extremely hard time for people, whom all struggled to provide for their families during this time. Each letter featured in this quilt book represents a part of history that shouldn't be forgotten and now can be shared with a new generation of readers & quilters!

Arriving on Blu-ray & DVD on June 30th is the action-packed "The Gunman" staring Sean Penn.

Two-time Academy Award® winner Sean Penn (Milk, Mystic River) is the object of a deadly international manhunt in the pulse-pounding thriller The Gunman, coming to Digital HD on June 16, 2015 and on Blu-ray™ Combo Pack and DVD as well as On Demand on June 30, 2015 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. The latest nail-biting adventure from director Pierre Morel (Taken), The Gunman is an electrifying combination of suspense, non-stop action and sheer star power that Steve Prokopy of Ain’t It Cool News calls “Spectacular!” 

It has been eight years since Jim Terrier (Penn) worked as a black-ops assassin and now someone from his old organization wants him dead. Pursued across Africa and Europe by a team of elite hit men, Terrier is dragged back into his dangerous past as he engages in a relentless cat-and-mouse game to take out the man who betrayed him. Idris Elba (Prometheus, Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom), Ray Winstone (The Departed, Hugo), Mark Rylance (“Wolf Hall,” Anonymous) and Oscar®-winner Javier Bardem (No Country for Old Men, Skyfall) costar in a hair-trigger thrill-ride critics are calling “Intense!” (Dave Karger, Fandango).