Author: Stephenie Meyer

ISBN: 9780316024969

Buy on Amazon

I’m late. But I had to add this official trailer. I watched the MTV Movie Awards just to see this trailer and I wasn’t disappointed. I have a few things up my sleeves to help us (yes, you too) gear up for the November 2009 release of the movie. Stay tuned!

About Donneil D. Jackson author of Chante’s Song

I wrote my first story during girl scouts. I have no idea how old I was, yet it was then I realized my niche for writing. From that moment on I knew I wanted to be a writer.

I went from writing stories by myself to years later finding a friend who shared my passion for writing. We wrote about anything and everyone, later exchanging stories to read. Reading those stories now brings laughter. The thought process of a twelve year old girl is really interesting.

Writing became my best friend after relocated from New Jersey to Florida. I didn’t have any friends to write with or neighborhood boys to write about but Bobby Brown, Omar Epps, R. Kelly, Michael Jordon, Nas and slew of other actors, singers, rappers and athletes gave me something to fanaticize and write about.

Writing allows me to escape the days stresses, fanaticize and just be, all with a pen and pad, in later years a computer. One day while escaping, I began writing Chante’s Song. The rest is history.

Donneil resides in Northern New Jersey with her daughter.

Don’t miss anything…

Click here to view the links and details for both past and feature stops. Purchase copies of Chante’s Song at the promotional rate thru May 31, 2009. Visit www.pureblisspublishing.com.

This event is brought to you by Nia Promotions. For details visit www.niapromotions.com.

I’m loving this song. And I can’t wait for the CD to drop.

Enjoy the video.

Keri Hilson’s In A Perfect World surprised me. Why? Because I like it. I really really like it.

My –minor—shock stems from a couple of things.

1. My Radio’s Off. I don’t listen to the radio. And when I decide to listen in it is usually satellite radio. Either way, my radio time is limited. Thus, I missed her sweeping radio play.

2. My Favorite R&B Singers Are Usually Men. I don’t mean anything by this. (Or maybe I do.) Most of my favorite R&B singers are men. Although many of my favorites are not always considered big names, I love real singers. Real singers singing real music. Not all of this hook stuff—with the exception of The-Dream. (smile)

I would rate her CD at 3.5. It’s good. I’d buy it again.

However, there are several songs on the CD that I don’t like. Now, when I listen to music I put them in certain categories.  This CD falls in the “I Listen to Certain Songs on Repeat”. Those songs are good but I haven’t moved to listening to the entire CD.

I also don’t like how many of the songs sound like a different singer. This could be the result of the writing or producing.  I don’t know.

I’m interested in learning what you think…

RESOURCES

Keri Hilson’s In A Perfect World

Keri Hilson Energy Video

Keri Hilson Turn Me On Video (This is a Repeat Song!)

Keri Hilson Make Love (This is a Repeat Song!)

Keri Hilson Knock You Down

As you all know I’ve finished The Twilight Saga. And I loved it! There were some dead zones—really boring parts that almost put me to sleep—that later made sense. (I plan to read it all again…I know insanity. Please don’t tell anyone.)

Then while adding comments to a GoodReads group I read a comment about The Midnight Sun: Edward’s Story leaking.

What a minute. Where was I?

This was the first I’d heard of this book and that apparently almost 300 pages were leaked to the internet. So, I immediately opened a Google browser and began to search.

Hit and miss. Hit and miss.

It was excruciating.

I found several sources that appeared to have had the book at one time or another. Then I thought about visiting Stephenie Meyer’s blog. And there I found an explanation.

At one time she passed several versions of the book to trusted friends. There was no clear explanation as to how it ended up on the net. But she decided to give a chapter of The Midnight Sun to readers.

And this stuff is good.

Please note: I don’t think I’ll give too much away. But if you are reading Twilight I’ll only mention the beginning of the book. And If you haven’t read Twilight I wouldn’t count it as a spoiler unless you haven’t seen the movie trailers.

Ok. Now, back to what I was saying…

Again, chapter one of Midnight Sun is good. Yes, it’s telling pretty much the same story but it’s all from Edward’s point of view. Which gives you a glimpse into the minds of everyone in the room except Bella—Isabella Swan.

Readers of Twilight will immediately get an aha moment upon realizing what Jessica’s mini ranting about the Cullens was all about. About the infatuation that the entire student body has with Bella. About the interworking of Alice’s protection of Jasper’s thirst, Rosalie’s self-absorption and most importantly Edward’s magnetic pull towards Bella.

I stopped about half way through. I am trying to decide whether I should read further.

I must admit it’s hard to resist; however, there’s something about reading this series that makes you wonder what’s going to happen next.

For now, I’ll stop but I can’t make any promises.

RESOURCES

Stephenie Meyer’s Website

Purchase Twilight On Amazon

Brief synopsis given by publisher: When seventeen-year-old Bella leaves Phoenix to live with her father in Forks, Washington, she meets an exquisitely handsome boy at school for whom she feels an overwhelming attraction and who she comes to realize is not wholly human.

Twilight Book Review

Twilight Movie Trailer

Midnight Sun: Edward’s Version

Twilight, the movie, is coming to a store (or computer) near you this Saturday, March 21, 2009. In anticipation I thought I’d share the movie trailer.

I’m sure many book fans will agree that although the movie is good it doesn’t come close to the book.

Enjoy! And I’ll be the person at the front of the line on Saturday morning getting my copy.

]]> http://essenceofme.com/twilights-coming/2009/03/19/feed/ http://essenceofme.com/twilights-coming/2009/03/19/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/EssenceOfMe/~3/eHrOAtVZvUE/ http://essenceofme.com/before-after-wk2/2009/03/17/#comments Tue, 17 Mar 2009 15:00:17 +0000 admin http://essenceofme.com/?p=174

Week 1 Update:

My first week went really—really—good. I completed 108 pushups; 259 sit-ups and 9 miles. Overall, I did great. I’m just ready to beef up my mileage. So, I’m running patiently through this program.

On a scale from 1 – 5 with 1 being Poor and 5 being Excellent I’d give myself a 3.5 for this week. I wouldn’t necessary say that the workout was much of a challenge and I usually like for my workouts to push me to the limits. However, I want to follow the program completely because after my last run this week I felt excited about my progress. Thus, my hope is that I will have the same feelings once I complete the entire six-week program.

Here’s this week’s plan:

Monday

Rest

Tuesday

Run 30 min.

Pushups at least 47

Sit-ups at least 94

Wednesday

60 min. Cardio

Thursday

Run 33 min.

Pushups at least 53

Sit-ups at least 107

Friday

60 min. Cardio

Saturday

Run 41 min.

Pushups at least 60

Sit-ups at least 121

Sunday

Rest

Missed Week 1? Click here.

I’m doing it like Nike…Just do it!

Below I’m posting my planned schedule. I will add an update at the end of the week, unless I’m moved to added another post in between.

I’ve also included the sites that provided the programs I’m using.

General Information to Consider

I’m in fairly decent health. At one time, about four months ago, I ran about 30 – 40 miles per week. And I worked out about 5 to 6 days per week.

My intent is to get back to that place. I’m using a really basic running program to increase my mileage—injury free. As for the strength training, again I’m using a basic program. I haven’t actively done pushups and sit-ups since Basic Training over 13 years ago.

I anticipate that the running will go a lot easier than the pushups and the sit-ups. But I’m ready.

Monday

Elliptical 30 – 45 minutes

Pushups at least 25

Sit-ups at least 67

Tuesday

Run 30 minutes

Wednesday

Elliptical 30 – 45 minutes

Pushups at least 33

Sit-ups at least 81

Thursday

Run 32 minutes

Friday

Elliptical 30 – 45 minutes

Pushups at least 57

Sit-ups at least 87

Saturday

Run 38 minutes

Sunday

Rest

Follow my progress via Daily Mile.

PROGRAM LINKS

One Hour Runner

One Hundred Pushups Challenge

Two Hundred Sit-ups Challenge

24 clients in 90 days.

Huh?!

24 clients in 90 days. My business coach challenged me to increasing my clientele by 24 new clients in 90 days. I’m game. I’m up for a challenge where the prize is moving closer toward my annual goal. Where the prize creates a better existence for my family and clients.

After a day my stomach started turning, a bit. And I found myself working on my Action Plan. Then I posted a quick comment on my Facebook site about this challenge. A new friend asked me a great question. What is the smallest single step you can take today to make that happen?

Attacking my “Chicken List.”

What is a “Chicken List?”

I’ve heard “chicken lists” described in a couple of ways. The first definition is a list of people that you’re scared to call, i.e. centers of influence, gatekeepers.

The second definition is a list of actions that you fail to do and your failure to act keeps you from achieving your goals.

Now the second definition I kind of made up because I can talk to a fly on the wall. Thus, fear of calling people is not always an issue. (Give or take a few people.)

However, I take my list beyond merely contacting a given person, client, prospect. My list also includes actions that I fail to do when my failure leads to poor results.

For example, failure to adequately nurture my spirit and my body through food and exercise is worth more than losing about five to seven hours of productivity per week. Since my number one excuse for not sticking with my workout regimen is: I’m too busy.

It’s hard to commit to exercising 45 minutes to an hour at least five days a week. Committing to eating balanced, healthy meals when quick, unhealthy options are easier to come by.

I’ve learned, quickly, that my failure to effectively manage my health goes beyond my weight. Since my stress levels are off the charts when I don’t run at least three days a week. And I didn’t realize this until I started comparing my success in various projects through reviewing my daily calendars.

My days were full—with very little white space on my calendar. My meals were penciled in. But I was highly productive.

Hence, my Chicken List would include ridding myself of a panicked feeling of needing every waking hour devoted to a particular project and/or goal. Because placing all of my time into my family and work while leaving myself out of the equation negatively affects everyone.

Excuses…Excuses

The principle I gleam from this assessment is: Failure is not an option. Thus, I have to trash my Chicken List—my list of actions (or inactions) that keep me from reaching my maximum potential. Because my Chicken List is really a list of excuses.

Urgh! I don’t like that word.

Excuses can kill everything. Your potential. Your goals. Your future.

Thus, to eliminate my Chicken List (i.e. excuses) it requires commitment. Commitment to my Action Plan and carrying out the tasks necessary to achieve my goal—24 clients in 90 days.

I am a Jay-Z fan. (Stay with me…I’ll tie it all together in a couple of sentences.)

And I listen to his music trying to find nuggets for success. Here’s a man that made something out of nothing. A self-made man.

Well, my all time favorite Jay-Z nugget is—in a paraphrase: Success is my only option. Failure’s not.

Thus, the single most important step I can make to ensure that I meet my goals is committing to the success of my business. Committing to working my Action Plan. Committing to utilizing my business coach when I hit a wall. And committing to using this challenge as a step towards my annual goals for 2009.

Which leads to a wonderful quote, by an unknown person…“There’s a difference between interest and commitment. When you’re interested in doing something, you do it only when circumstance permit. When you’re committed to something, you accept no excuses, only results.”

I am committing to the actions that will produce my desired results.

My original title for this post was “Smallest Single Step Towards Success Failure Is Not An Option”; however, after a gentle nudge from a Facebook friend I’ve changed the title to reflect the power of attraction. Thus, the new title is: “Smallest Single Step Towards Success: Commitment to My Action Plan.”

Thank you, Anietie Eka.

Available March 10, 2009

The-Dream has an unusual sound. And I think his melodies are somewhat hypnotic. I purchased his first CD, Lovehate, and didn’t listen to it for months.

Then my niece said “Dana, you should really listen to it. You’ll love it.”

She and I recommend music to each other often, so I took her advice. And I’m still listening to Lovehate at least once a week.

I only hope his sophmore CD, Love vs. Money, is as good–or better–than Lovehate. I guess we have about 10 days before we’ll know.

Until then…enjoy this video.