Win a signed copy of "The Pout-Pout Fish"

My book giveaway in honor of Mr. Fish's 4th b-day is still going on.  Pop on over to the blog post about it for all the details!  You have until Sunday at midnight to enter the drawing.

And stay tuned tomorrow for yet another book giveaway opportunity!

Wednesday Workout Review: Ballet Body Volume 3 - Lower Body

Ballet Body Volume 3 - Lower Body by Leah Sarago is a tough workout!  Perhaps I'm revealing myself as out-of-shape and over-the-hill to say this, but I'll admit that the first time I tried this DVD, I cried uncle 20 minutes in:  I gave up and spent the remainder of my workout time lying in a heap on the floor!  I don't think I've ever done an exercise DVD that's so intense on the legs, especially the thighs.  The good news, though, is that after you've done it a few times, it becomes substantially more manageable.  So don't give up!

The workout is 55 minutes in length.  The first 40 minutes consist of challenging standing moves and some floor work.  If your legs can survive that, the final 15 minutes are spent in a nice stretching series.

My only micro-complaint is that some of the music is a little annoying (like the part that sounds like "Careless Whisper" as sung by The Chipmunks).  But other than that, a great lower body workout!

Other reviews here, and you can head to Leah Sarago's site for more information.  There's also a clip of the DVD available on YouTube.

Michigander Monday: Ron Jolly

I'm pleased to welcome Ron Jolly to Michigander Monday!

Debbie:  Ron, please tell us a little about yourself.

Ron:  I have been hosting the Morning Show on WTCM NewsTalk 580 in Traverse City for 17 years.  I have been in radio and TV since 1983.  My program covers a wide field of topics, from local arts and education, to politics on every level, and a lot of local business news.  I try to feature one author every week, and one local entrepreneur, as well.

Debbie:  And, of course, we want to know all about your books.

Ron:  I authored Northern Michigan Almanac in 2005, and in 2010 I co-authored, with Karl Bohnak (WLUC-TV 6 Marquette Meteorologist) Michigan's Upper Peninsula Almanac.  Both books were published by the University of Michigan Press and Petoskey Publishing.  Both books contain over 500 pages of facts, trivia, statistics and history about northwestern lower Michigan, and the U.P., respectively.

Debbie:  Other books or projects on the horizon?

Ron:  No!

Debbie:  Do you have a favorite Michigan bookstore? And/or a favorite Michigan library?

Ron:  I love McLean and Eakin Books in Petoskey, Horizon Books in Traverse City, and Snowbound Books in Marquette.  As a collector of books, I always visit bookstores whenever I'm out of town.  Favorite libraries include Traverse Area District Library in Traverse City (I am V.P. of The Friends of Traverse Library Group).  The Mackinac Island Library has a nice collection, and a great deck out the back door right on the water!  I'd love to visit the Esper Branch of the Dearborn Library System, but I don't know if it's still there.  That was a favorite place when I was growing up.

Debbie:  How about a favorite place in Michigan?

Ron:  Mackinac Island! 

Debbie:  Do you have a Michigan event or happening that you love to attend?

Ron:  Detroit Tigers baseball games, Detroit Red Wings games, National Cherry Festival in Traverse City, and Northport Dog Parade to name a few.

Debbie:  A few fun Michigan people we should all know about?

Ron:  Betty Beeby is an 89 year old fireball of an artist, illustrator, writer and historian.  She lives in Eastport between Elk Rapids and Charlevoix.  Her most public work of art is a 50-foot mural of the Mackinac Bridge which she painted in the Mackinac Bridge gift shop on the south side of the bridge.  In the 1980's the mural was covered up with a new wall for the gift shop, but thanks to the work of several of Betty's fans, the wall was removed and now visitors can see her marvelous mural.  She has illustrated several books for Zondervan publishing out of Grand Rapids, she used to provide illustrations for the Captain Kangaroo show, she has written several books about local history, and she is always ready to spearhead a project.  She won a state history award a few years ago.   She has spent a lot of time helping youngsters develop careers in the arts.  She is a great Michiganian!

Debbie:  Something you'd like a non-Michigander to know about Michigan?

Ron:  We have outstanding beaches, lakes, woods with trails, and very nice small towns in northern Michigan.  I grew up in Detroit and had no idea that Michigan had beaches and clean swimming water.

Debbie:  Finally, some folks in Michigan refer to themselves as Michiganders; others Michiganians. For our ongoing vote tally: are you a "Michigander" or a "Michiganian"?

Ron:  Michiganian.

Ron, we'll add you to the Michiganian column!  Thank you so much for being here today for Michiganian Monday!

To learn more about Ron Jolly and his radio show, visit the station's web site or the FaceBook page for his show.  And find out more about his books on the U of M Press site.

Happy Birthday to The Pout-Pout Fish! ...and a book giveaway

On March 18, 2008, the book The Pout-Pout Fish swam into existence.

To celebrate Mr. Fish's fourth birthday, I'm giving away four signed copies of The Pout-Pout Fish.

To enter the drawing for one of the four copies, just leave a comment on this blog post.  You don't have to say anything particular in your comment, but if your comment includes a list of four things bookish (for example, "Four Things I Like About Books" or "Four Books That Have Changed My Life" or "Four Book Characters I'd Love To Have Dinner With" or "Four Books My Kids Love" or even "Four Books I Could Do Without"), I'll enter your name into the hat four times, thus increasing your odds of winning.

If you're a winner, I can sign the book for you or for a recipient of your choice.  I'll ship the book within three weeks of receiving name and shipping info (probably sooner - but I just want to cushion the timetable in case anything wacky comes up).  I'd prefer to keep my shipping to U.S. addresses.

I'll pick the winners on March 26, so you have until midnight March 25th to enter.

In the meantime, copied and pasted below, here's a re-run of a blog post Mr. Fish (that is, The Pout-Pout Fish himself!) wrote for this blog three years ago, on his first birthday.  It's a "25 Random Things About Mr. Fish" post.

I hope you enjoy getting to know Mr. Fish a little bit better on his birthday!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

A big "Hello!" to the above-water-world from yours truly, Mr. Fish!

I’m grateful to Debbie for giving me this birthday present of a guest-blogger spot on Jumping The Candlestick. Very timely, too, because just last week Ms. Clam tagged me for the “25 Random Things About Me” meme.

So here goes, with 25 Random Things About Mr. Fish:

1. I can hold my breath above water for 1 minute and 2 seconds.

2. In high school, I was known as the Class Frown.

3. My favorite human is Jacques Cousteau.

4. For karaoke night, I always sing “I am the very model of the modern major general…” but I substitute the word “blub” for all the lyrics. Blub blub blub blub blub blub blub blub blub blub blub blub blub blub blub blub!

5. When I was much younger, I wanted to grow up to be a Flying Fish, so I could fly to the Sea of Tranquility on the Moon.

6. I’ve never harbored a desire to drive the bus. I would, however, like to drive the sub.

7. Sometimes I close my eyes and imagine I’m a giant whale, but instead of a spout I blow water out my nose.

8. My birthday is March 18, which makes me a Pisces. I prefer not to tell you how old I am, but I was born in the Year of the Rat. I really wish there was a Year of the Fish.

9. Book I faked reading: The Old Man and The Sea.

10. I used to believe biology was destiny, but a certain shimmery friend of mine has caused me to reconsider that position.

11. I don’t mean to brag, but I can mambo like nobody’s business.

12. Sometimes I swim upside-down and speak backwards, like this: “Sehsif Tseb.”

13. I love card games, except “Go Fish,” which gives me the heebie-jeebies.

14. I do a spot-on imitation of Garrison Keillor. “That’s the news from Lake Wobegon, where all the swimmers are strong, all the fish are good-looking, and all the minnows are above average.”

15. My least favorite day of the week is “Fry-Day.”

16. I once ordered some Sea Monkeys from the back of a comic book, and they ended up being nothing but Brine Shrimp.

17. My favorite made-up words are “fin-tastic” and “fish-arrific.”

18. Someday I’d like to travel to Australia to find Nemo.

19. I’m a little bit scared of the dark.

20. I collect bottle caps. I’ve got 14,812 of them, but 14,804 are buried under the sand.

21. Once, on a dare, I fin-wrestled a shark.

22. I play slide trombone. I’ve got a great embouchure, but a limited note range.

23. I prefer boxers to briefs, though I don’t know what either one of them are.

24. At night, when it’s very quiet in the ocean, I like to lie on my back and count the star fish.

25. I don’t pout nearly as much as I used to.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

And now, back to Debbie... 

Happy birthday, Mr. Fish.  It's been a great four years!

Henryville School Libraries - Donations sought

On this blog, I try to pass along information that I run across about libraries that are recovering or rebuilding after an emergency situation.  I know that none of us are in a position to give to every institution in need, but if you're able, remember that even a small donation, when combined with other small donations, can make a huge contribution.

Damage done by the tornado in Henryville, IN earlier this month included extensive damage to the school complex and the school libraries.  Efforts are currently underway to rebuild the library collections, and donations are being collected by the neighboring Greater Clark County Schools.

If you would like to make a donation to help, please make your check payable to the GCCS Educational Foundation and reference "Henryville Libraries" in the memo section. Send your donation to Erin Bojorquez, GCCS Educational Foundation, 2112 Utica-Sellersburg Road, Jeffersonville, IN 47130.

(Note:  The informational flyer references both book donations and monetary donations.  But typically in a rebuilding situation, a monetary donation is best.  This prevents duplicate materials and storage issues.)

For more information, click here.

Poetry Friday: Three Spring Lunes

I'm not much of a poet, but I do enjoy playing with words. Lately I've been working a bit with the form of poetry known as the lune.  There are several version of lune poetry, but the one I've been using relies on a 5/3/5 syllable construction.

Without further ado, here are three lunes for a sunny March day:


Spring
A warm breeze whispers,
"Come on out.
Write me a love song."


Budding Divas
Emboldened branches
show off their
new accessories.


Fluency
To translate birdsong,
close your eyes
and give up trying.

Wednesday Workout Review: Jillian Michaels' "6 Week Six-Pack"

I've never seen the show The Biggest Loser, so I haven't seen Jillian Michaels in that setting, but over the last couple of years I've tried out several of her workout DVDs.  They're very popular:  the library I use has quite a few of them; others I've tried through Netflix.  And some of them have made their way into my permanent collection.  Jillian Michaels' workouts are challenging, fast-paced (in a good way), full of variety, and effective.  6 Week Six-Pack is no exception

6 Week Six-Pack provides two approximately 35-minute workouts.  In keeping with the DVD title, there's an emphasis on abs, but the workouts incorporate enough cardio intervals that both workouts are good all-round exercise sessions.

They're a convenient length, filling what I perceive as a gap in the workout DVD world:  you can find tons of 10-minute workouts, and plenty in the 45 - 70 minute realm, but the 30-minute workout seems strangely enough to be a rare breed.

Each workout starts with a warm-up.  You then go through two circuits of multiple exercises.  The second circuit repeats the first (or mostly so) but at a faster pace.  The two circuits are followed by a brief cool-down/stretch.

The first workout is a bit easier than the second, but there are modifications provided for making the first workout harder or the second easier.  In the second workout, the music gets a bit faster near the end, and Jillian goes into a dramatic you-can-do-it tough-love mode; this can be just the thing to get you through it, or annoying, depending on your mood.

I would definitely recommend this DVD, especially if you're a fan of Jillian's workouts and/or if you're looking for a good half-hour cardio/ab workout.

Other reviews here, here, here, and here, and Jillian Michael's site here.

Michigander Monday: Eve K. Sandstrom / JoAnna Carl

Today I'm pleased to welcome Eve K. Sandstrom to Michigander Monday.  Eve writes the JoAnna Carl Chocoholic Mystery series, set in Michigan.

Debbie:  Tell us a little about yourself.

 JoAnna/Eve:  I'm the Grandma Moses of the mystery novel. I didn't make my first sale until I was nearly fifty. And that was a long time back. Despite my love of Michigan, which inspired the settings of the Chocoholic books, I'm a fifth generation Oklahoman. I have two home states, but I vote in Oklahoma. In Oklahoma I’m known as Eve K. Sandstrom, in Michigan I’m JoAnna Carl. My pen name was picked from the middle names of my three kids.

Debbie:  And, of course, we want to know all about your books.

JoAnna/Eve:  I write traditional mysteries. Not too much sex and violence, but I'll stick both in there if I think the plot needs it. The Chocoholic books were inspired when an editor asked me to come up with a new and cozy idea, and I thought of my daughter's job, in the business office of a chocolate company. I changed the location and setting substantially, but TenHuis Chocolade is based on the place she worked at that time. The owner and chocolate crew were wonderfully helpful. However, my daughter has since left that company and now works for a chicken wing chain. (My editor says there's not a series in chicken wings.)

Debbie:  Other books or projects on the horizon?

JoAnna/Eve:  The twelfth Chocoholic book will be out in October. It's The Chocolate Moose Motive. I'm working on the next one now -- working title The Chocolate Book Bandit.

Debbie:  Upcoming appearances?

JoAnna/Eve:  I speak at the Altus, Oklahoma, Public Library April 4, and I'll be at Malice Domestic 24 in Bethesda, Maryland, April 27-29. (I should get out more.)

Debbie:  Do you have a favorite Michigan bookstore?

JoAnna/Eve:  Sure. The Singapore Bank Bookstore in Saugatuck, Michigan, run by my pals Judy and Phil Hallisy. I also love Aunt Agatha’s in Ann Arbor.

Debbie:  And a favorite Michigan library?

JoAnna/Eve:  I have a card at the Saugatuck-Douglas District Library and use their Internet facilities a lot, in addition to reading their books. Plus, the Herrick District Library in Holland has simply been super to me. They have a wonderful mystery discussion group, guided by librarian Robin Williams-Voight. (My son is a librarian, and I love libraries and librarians. I also have a daughter who's a CPA, but I couldn't work in a reference to her. And I have a very nice husband who's retired, but works as administrator of a small church.)

Debbie:  How about a favorite place in Michigan?

JoAnna/Eve:  The Sandstrom cottage at Pier Cove, due west of Fennville.

Debbie:  Do you have a Michigan event or happening that you love to attend?

JoAnna/Eve:  Michigan doesn't have to do anything; it simply has to exist.

Debbie:  A few fun Michigan people we should all know about?

JoAnna/Eve:  I've mentioned my bookstore and library pals. Hmmm. We have wonderful neighbors up there. I'll give a plug to one of the best mystery writers, Barbara D'Amato, who splits her time between Holland and Chicago, but is a native of Grand Rapids. Jerry Dennis wrote a fabulous non-fiction book about the Great Lakes, The Living Great Lakes. I've never met Jerry, but his non-fiction is as exciting as any suspense novel. He's a heck of a writer.

Debbie:  Something you'd like a non-Michigander to know about Michigan?

JoAnna/Eve:  There is no tide on Lake Michigan. Or on any of the Great Lakes. But there are the most gorgeous beaches you can imagine. And the state's fruit crop makes me drool just thinking about it.

Debbie:  Finally, some folks in Michigan refer to themselves as Michiganders; others Michiganians. For our ongoing vote tally: what's the better term, "Michigander" or a "Michiganian"?

JoAnna/Eve:  As an Okie, I stay out of this one. I was on a panel with a large number of Michigan writers, and I got a laugh because I circumvented the whole thing by referring to "People who live in Michigan." Loren Estleman then said he called them "Michigoons." I wouldn't dare!

Debbie:  We'll put you in the abstention column.  Eve and JoAnna, thank you for being here today for Michigander Monday!

To learn more about JoAnna Carl / Eve K. Sandstrom and her books, head over to her web site.  (And while you're there, be sure to check out her page of chocolate lore.)

M.N. Spear Memorial Library: A Little Helps A Lot

If you haven't run across it yet (I've seen it linked in a bunch of places the last couple of days), the M.N. Spear Memorial Library in Shutesbury, MA has an adorable YouTube video that highlights their current campaign to raise money for a new facility.  Click here to view it.  The ukulele music sets the tone, and if the little girl at minute 1:27 doesn't make you saw, "Aw!", I don't know what will.

The current Shutesbury library is 100+ years old, 900 square feet, and has no running water.  If $1.4 million dollars can be raised by June 30, state funding will kick in 60% funding for a new facility.

For more info, visit www.mnspear.org

There are always so many wonderful causes to contribute to, and none of us can help them all.  But I think this is a nice opportunity to make a small donation that will have a big impact.  If you're interested, follow the links.

If nothing else, enjoy the ukulele!

Michigander Monday: Oran Hesterman

Photo ©Douglas Elbinger 2010

I'm pleased to welcome Dr. Oran B. Hesterman to Michigander Monday!

Debbie:  Oran, please tell us a little about yourself.

Oran:  Growing up in Berkeley, CA in the 1960’s gave me a very interesting early perspective on the possibility for change and transformation that has been a foundation for me all my life. I spent my early college years at UC Santa Cruz where I worked with the renowned visionary, Allan Chadwick, one of the first people to bring biodynamic farming practices to the U.S. Together with Chadwick and a cohort of devoted students, I helped to plant extensive gardens and orchards on the UC campus that has evolved into the Center for Agro-Ecology and Sustainable Food Systems that today sponsors one of the most sophisticated agricultural apprenticeship programs in the country.

This experience helped me come to an early understanding that my purpose in life was to protect the earth that nurtures us and to ensure that future generations can have access to fresh, healthy and sustainably grown food. This led me to enter UC Davis, where I received my BS in plant science. Being one who loves to get my hands in the dirt, I started my career as an organic farmer, establishing one of the first sprout businesses in America in 1973. I grew the business enough to sell it to pay for graduate school at University of Minnesota, where I earned my PhD in agronomy/plant genetics and business administration.

After teaching in the Crop and Soil Sciences department at Michigan State University in East Lansing, I co-led the Integrated Farming Systems and Food and Society Programs for the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, during which time the Foundation seeded the local food systems movement with over $200 million. Along the way, I played a role in establishing the Michigan Food Policy Council and the Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Funders Group. In 2008, building on 30 years in the sustainable agriculture and food systems field, I founded Fair Food Network (FFN), a national non-profit organization working at the intersection of food systems, sustainability and social equity to guarantee access to healthy, fresh and sustainably grown food, especially in underserved communities.

I am grateful that I had the opportunity to use my passion, education, and commitment to help grow the fair food movement in this state and  throughout the country and bring attention to the need of millions of people who are unable to access the nourishing, healthy food they need on a daily basis.

I currently live with my wife, Lucinda Kurtz, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and thoroughly enjoy the Ann Arbor good food community that is vital and strong and creative. I have a garden right outside my kitchen door where I grow the most delicious and largest greens I have ever seen in the state of Michigan. Come over and try them.

Debbie:  Sounds delicious!  Please tell us all about your book.

Oran:  In recent years, a number of best-selling authors have documented in gruesome detail the dangers of our current food system, but they have either left readers feeling completely hopeless and paralyzed or limited their advice to “eat local,” “eat organic”, or “grow a garden.” This advice is not helpful if, as Chicago Congressman Bobby Rush once pointed out, you can buy ketchup where you live, but no fresh tomatoes. Just as you can’t impact the course of climate change by simply switching to CFL bulbs, you can’t fix the broken food system by simply growing a backyard garden. It requires redesigning our entire food system.

My book, FAIR FOOD: Growing a Healthy, Sustainable Food System for All, is what I call a toolbook (like a toolbox): in it I aim to provide an inspiring guide to changing not only what we put in our individual refrigerators and on our own plates, but how our food is grown, packaged, delivered, marketed and sold. In Part I, I briefly introduce our current food system, how and why it evolved as it did, and the ways in which it no longer serves us well. Part II describes four key principles a redesigned food system should embody (equity, diversity, ecological integrity, and economic viability) and offers examples of how various individuals and organizations have started to integrate these principles into their enterprises, providing inspiring new models for producers and consumers, businesses and communities. Part III offers a practical guide to how you can participate in collective action to precipitate big changes in our food system, from your kitchen to your community to your state house and the White House.

With my book I hope to move individuals from being conscious consumers to engaged citizens, ensuring that healthy, sustainably-raised food is accessible and affordable to everyone. Want to be inspired? The final chapter of the book is a list of fair food “solutionaries” beyond those mentioned throughout the book. Want to get involved? This chapter has evolved into the Fair Food List (http://www.fairfoodnetwork.org/). We encourage organizations already involved in the fair food movement to submit an entry. Regardless of where you fall on the spectrum between conscious consumer and engaged citizen, there will be at least one organization on the list that can use your time, talent, and resources to grow the good!

Debbie:  A wonderful list and an empowering, important book!  Other books or projects on the horizon?

Oran:  We are excited about the paperback version of the book becoming available in June of 2012 – we have updated a lot of the statistics and parts that talk about the upcoming Farm Bill reauthorization in Congress. Numerous universities, colleges, and even an elementary school have picked the book up for use as a text – we expect that the availability of a paperback will grow that number significantly – and based on the requests of the reading groups that have contacted us, we’re including a discussion guide.

As I continue to give book talks around the country, we at FFN continue to implement and gather data about innovative projects (www.fairfoodnetwork.org/what-we-do) and replicable models that grow a fairer food system – all this with an eye to having an effect on the Farm Bill discussions that will be taking place this year. Foremost among our projects is Double Up Food Bucks (DUFB): we encourage low-income shoppers to use their federal food assistance benefits (SNAP, formerly known as food stamps) at participating farmers’ markets, where we double their money up to $20 for Michigan-grown fruits and vegetables. In this way we support both small and mid-size farmers and those who most need access to fresh produce.

Debbie:  Great program!  Upcoming appearances?

Oran:  I just gave talks about Fair Food at Emory University in Atlanta on February 2 and at Books & Books in Coral Gables, FL on February 6. I will be in New Orleans on March 18, Los Angeles, March 22, and Jacksonville, FL on April 20. You can keep up with the book events on our website (http://www.fairfoodbook.org/).

Debbie:  Do you have a favorite Michigan bookstore?

Oran:  In Ann Arbor, my favorite bookstore, beyond a doubt, is Crazy Wisdom. It does what I believe a good community bookstore has the potential to do – bring the community together with many stimulating programs and opportunities for discussion and enlightening conversation. In Lansing, I like Schuler’s Bookstore, and in Traverse City, I frequent Horizon Bookstore that has a great selection of Michigan authors.

Debbie:  How about a favorite place in Michigan?

Oran:  I love the Leelanau Peninsula. We have a little home on the lake in Omena and sail our Pearson 27 from the Suttons Bay Marina. I love sailing around the Grand Traverse Bay over to Charlevoix, Petoskey, and Harbor Springs.  The bicycle ride from Omena over the rolling hills and through the cherry orchards of Northern Michigan to Leland on the other side of the peninsula is truly a spectacular way of spending a warm Michigan summer day.

Debbie:  Such a beautiful part of the state!  Do you have a Michigan event or happening that you love to attend?

Oran:  We just love summer in Michigan, with all the many music, art, and food festivals, particularly the Ann Arbor Arts Festival, which always comes at the absolute hottest week of the summer.  But then in the winter, we always look forward to the Ann Arbor Folk Festival.

Debbie:  A few fun Michigan people we should all know about?

Oran:  I think of some extraordinary leaders and creative folks in the Michigan food movement like Paul Saginaw and Ari Weinzweig who created Zingerman’s Community of Businesses, Dan Carmody, Executive Director of Detroit’s Eastern Market, and Jackie Victor, who created the successful Avalon Bakery in inner city Detroit. I am also a potter and love meeting and chatting with other Ann Arbor-area artists and craftspeople. We have so many hidden gems of talent in Michigan!

Debbie:  Something you'd like a non-Michigander to know about Michigan?

Oran:  Northern Michigan is an undiscovered paradise of undisturbed coast-line and fresh, clear blue, clean water. I’m always amazed at the pristine beauty of the northern part of our state and stand at the lake’s edge every summer and compare it to the blue waters of the Caribbean, just a bit colder.

Michigan is a wonderful place to live and work. The people of Michigan are down to earth, good people with healthy values of respect and consideration. I especially enjoy living in Ann Arbor, with its exciting intellectual stimulation and the wide variety of arts and cultural activity it attracts.

Debbie:  Finally, last question:  Some folks in Michigan refer to themselves as Michiganders; others Michiganians. For our ongoing vote tally: are you a "Michigander" or a "Michiganian"?

Oran:  I’m definitely a Michigander.

Debbie:  We'll add you to the Michigander tally!  Oran, thank you so very much for being here today!

To learn more about Dr. Hesterman's book, Fair Food, stop by the book's site, and then head over to the Fair Food Network site, Facebook page, and Twitter feed.

And the winner is...

A big thank you to everyone who participated in my Michigan Notable Books Reading Challenge!  I hope you have enjoyed your selections and are looking forward to reading much more MichLit in the months to come.

Now, for the announcement you've all been waiting for:  Winner of our grande prize is...  Gina G!

Congratulations, Gina.  And thanks again to all of you!

Wednesday Workout Review: Kari Anderson's "Center Floor"

It's been a while since I've posted a Wednesday Workout Review.  (As with most of my blog features, this one tends to ebb and flow...)  But I've actually encountered quite a few great workout DVDs lately, so I'm going to try to catch up on posting about them, and then get back in the swing of a workout review every week or so.

The DVD I'm featuring today is Kari Anderson's Center Floor:  Strength, Length, and Flow.  One of Kari's previous workout DVDs, Reach, has been a long-time favorite of mine, so I looked forward to trying out this new one.  I was not disappointed.  I like it just as much as Reach.

The full Center Floor workout runs 55 minutes.  It's divided into chapters, so you can certainly do a shorter version; but if you can find a way to make time for the whole thing, I highly recommend it.  There's a nice arc to the workout:  it holds together well and feels complete when it's done.

You start with standing work, then proceed to some floor work, followed by stretching.  Many of the moves are ballet-inspired, but not in an intimidating or confusing way (if I can manage to keep my two left feet on track during it, so can you).  Challenging, but not overwhelming:  steps and movements build on one another and come together nicely.  It's the sort of workout where you work hard during it but by the end feel invigorated rather than exhausted.

There's a pleasant, what I'd call "classy" overall feel to it.  Kari Anderson comes across as authentic and gracious - no pretense, no persona.  I think that's what allows one to feel so relaxed even while working hard.  The music is nice, too.  It's described on the DVD case as "upbeat world music combined with smooth calming rhythms," and I'd say that describes it well.

Overall, a really nice workout DVD.

A few other reviews here, here, and here, or head over to Kari's site for more information about this and her other DVDs.