Hello Fit & Firm Buddies!

So, I had another good week this week and saw another drop of 2 pounds.

I see a bit of a difference and in all honesty, the first thing you lose is water. Regardless, I’m glad that the number is going down!

While stepping on the scale, I noticed that I haven’t been measuring my progress with inch loss. This week, I’m going to take my first measurements and see how many inches I lose.

Measuring inches is so important to me because I am not really watching the number on the scale, more so I want to focus on how my clothes fit and how many inches I lose. I tend to gain muscle very quickly so that can play tricks on me on the scale.

I have a wedding gown to get into, that’s what I remind myself all the time!

Short term goal.

Long term goal is to continue to live a healthier life. 

But, to be quite honest, once you get the icky stuff out of your system, it’s much easier to get back to eating healthy. Cravings subside and you can stick to it. Sure, there are days when I crave something sweet but, there are plenty of healthy ways to satisfy that craving.

I also have to report that I’m slowly navigating my life with less to no Diet Pepsi. Today, I only had one and had water with 2 of my 3 meals and snacks!

*GASP*

This delicious recipe helped this week, I made in about half an hour. My Hanover’s Organic Trail Bars that had just the right amount of sweetness, tons of fiber, anti-oxidants and lots of potassium.

Check it out!

I hope you all have had a great week! If you had a rough week, just keep in mind that tomorrow is a new day and you can start fresh!

Don’t give up!

What better time then to start then now?

Grab Our Button!

Also, make sure to visit Sober Julie on Monday to report or share your progress or motivation for Motivated Mondays!

Til then, cheers m’deres!

So, as many of you know, healthy options and natural whole foods are a must around these parts.

Especially for my girls.

I often go the extra mile to make snacks or treats or meals at home, that way I know what is going into the food that they are eating. Foregoing the easy way may seem like a huge feat but, with a bit of planning and just a little extra time–you can bet that you will be giving your kids exactly what makes you comfortable.

You can even treat yourself too!

If you are a huge pretzel fan (which I am), you have definitely heard of Snyder’s of Hanover Pretzels. They are a delicious snack that is low-calorie if you are trying to watch your intake and want a snack that definitely tantalizes your taste buds. Well, Snyder’s asked me to share a recipe with you guys and if you know me, I’m a chocolate and peanut butter gastronome!

This is my alternative to traditional boxed granola bars, they are packed with fiber, protein, good fat, potassium and antioxidants. Now the version I made are almost organic because the Kroger’s I went to was out of the Whole Wheat & Oat Sticks. But, this is the type that I suggest for this recipe if you are looking for an organic version. If not, any Hanover’s pretzels are delish!

By the way, head on over to check out all their products. They have plenty to choose from and if you’re not close to the border like me, you can get them in Canada, United Kingdom, France–pretty much all over the globe!

Hanover Dark Chocolate PB Banana Trail Bars:

Things you will need:

• 2 cups of toasted Organic rolled oats
• 1/2 cup of split Hanover Organic Whole Wheat & Oat Pretzel Sticks
• 1/4 cup of pure, organic dark chocolate chips
• 1 cup of Natural peanut butter
• Pure organic vanilla extract. (3 drops)
• 2 packets of Stevia (optional)
• 4 ripe organic bananas
• Nuts (optional)
• Dried fruit (optional)

Instructions:

Pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees. Measure 2 cups of your favorite organic rolled oats and spread the oats evenly onto a baking pan/sheet.  Roast them for about 10 minutes or until lightly browned. This is also a great time to roast your peanuts if you are adding them to your recipe.

Step 2:

Take your organic bananas, cut the ends off and begin to mash with a fork. Mash until you reach your desired consistency. Add the mashed bananas to pot and turn on the low heat setting.

Step 3:

Measure 1 cup of your favorite organic or natural peanut butter and add it to the mashed banana mix in the pot. Slowly fold the mixture and keep it at low heat until completed melted.

Step 4:

This is where you add the couple of drops of the pure organic vanilla and the 2 packets of Stevia (natural herb sweetener) to your banana, peanut butter mixture. Keep folding until it is smooth and be sure to be watchful while doing this step since it can burn quite easily.

Take off the heat and cool for a few minutes.

Use a large mixing bowl, add the oats into the mixture and fold until they are completely covered and almost like a dough.

Step 5:

Take your Snyder’s of Hanover pretzel sticks and measure about 1/2 a cup or depending on how salty you want your bars and split them into pieces. That way they are still bite size and will pack a powerful, delicious punch to your bars!

Step 6:

Fold in your Snyder’s of Hanover pretzel sticks into the mixture until evenly distributed. Keep folding the mixture until oats and pretzels are completely covered.

Step 7:

This is where you add the dark chocolate chips, dried fruit or peanuts. Fold them into the mixture until they are evenly distributed throughout the dough-like mixture.

Step 8:

Once you’ve folded the mixture completely, place the oat bar mix onto a greased pan or you can use parchment paper if you prefer. Place it evenly and use a spatula to square it out. Press it down to your desired thickness and place in the oven for about 25 minutes or until lightly golden brown. The oven should be at 350 degrees.

And there you have it folks, enjoy!

Be sure to let your trail bars cool before you cut them. Use a serrated knife or a pizza cutter to cut them into the shape you’d like. I chose for a chunkier and bigger piece for a serving. You can always cut them thinner and longer as well. Throw them in your favorite glass or BPA-free container and you will also be litter-free!

Cooking Info:

Prep Time: 15 mins.

Cook Time: 25-30 mins.

Calories: Approx. 195 calories for the thicker, wider version pictured above.

Portions: 1 starch, 1 fat and 1 snack.

What is your favorite pretzel recipe?

The possibilities are endless, you can make appetizers and desserts and much more! I wanna hear all your snacks and apps you make using pretzels!

Let me know!

P.S.- These make for a perfect snack for your #FitNFirm week ladies! :)

Til then cheers m’deres!

Disclaimer: I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Snyder’s of Hanover blogging program and was compensated for my participation. For more information on how you can participate, click here. All thoughts expressed in this post are my own and have in now way been influenced.

Who is up for a game of Truth or Dare?!

Kat from Kat’s Confessions and Patty from Positively Pampered Patty and I are!

Every Tuesday we will be writing a post answering either a truth or a dare and we would like to invite you to play along with us!

How This Works:

• Each week we will post a truth and a dare to choose from.
• Write your post answering the truth or dare.
• Add your post to the linky on Tuesday and have fun hopping!

We will start off simple this week as a kind of “getting to know you” post but you better believe it’s gonna get interesting later on!

So, come on… Join in and let’s get to the fun!

Truth for January 31, 2012:

• Tell us 3 things about yourself that isn’t common knowledge about yourself.

Dare For January 31, 2012:

• Do a vlog post telling us a little about yourself.

I DARE all of you to join us! ;)

Looking forward to reading all of your posts next week!

Til then, cheers m’deres!

So, it’s been a week since our first #FitNFirm post!

I hope you all had a great week! I sure did, I made it through a week of clean eating, lots of water and guess what?

I’ve cut out one less pop everyday. I was drinking about 2 with my main meals and sometimes I’d start my day off with one. I’ve substituted it with water and so far, so good. I thought I’d be moodier with cutting back but, it hasn’t been bad.

You know one of the things about changing your life to a cleaner way of eating is the misconceptions that all healthy food has to taste bad. The reality is, I still enjoy a burger and fries. French toast, grilled cheese and all healthy, low-cal and clean. Also, while watching my carb intake.

Baking. Grilling and making better choices.

You can enjoy good food and still be healthy.

This week, I worked hard, sat less and it paid off.

I’m happy to report that I am down 2.5 pounds!

I hope you guys had a great week!

If you are having a feening for French Fries, I’m going to share a recipe that is fairly easy and healthy too.

Hubby D’s Spicy Wedges:

Things You Will Need:

• 1 medium organic potato
• 1 teaspoon of organic olive oil or butter (I use olive oil always)
• Chili powder
• Pepper
• Onion powder
• Garlic powder
• Parsley
• Chili peppers
• Paprika
• Oregano

Instructions:

• Watch your medium potato thoroughly and leave the peel on. Cut the potato in half, then cut the half into 4 or 5 pieces. You will end up with about 10 to 8 pieces.
• Rinse the wedges and drain throughly, add the teaspoon of organic olive oil and spice to taste.
• Take a pair of tongs and mix and toss the wedges until they are fully covered in the spices.
• Heat the oven to 350 degrees and take a non-stick pan and place the wedges on one side and place in the center of the oven.
• Make sure to use tongs to turn the wedges and cook until desired.

I love mine well done and crispy as you can tell and I’ve dubbed them Hubby D’s wedges because he makes them for me pretty often once and they are delicious. Of course you can always make more for the kiddies, they love them as much as I do. Except I skip the spiciness.

Enjoy!

•  Serves 1.
• Calories: Approx. 170
• 1 starch/carb serving.
• Prep time: 10 minutes
• Cook time: 20-30 minutes

So, if you are feeling a burger and fries. Partner these wedges with a ground chicken burger or some mulitigrain breaded tilapia, like me!

If you are watching your carbs, be sure to eat light, get your protein and veggies in.

Good luck and hope you all have another fabulous week, how did you do?

Let me know!

Also, link up over at Sober Julie’s for Motivated Monday!

Til then, cheers m’deres and be sure to link up BELOW!

Guidelines:

1. Simply link up your posts below.
2. Follow your hosts if you’d like.
3. Have fun. Ask questions or rant if you want to!
4. Support your fellow Fit & Firm buddies by visiting as many of them as you can!
5. Grab our button.
6. Use #FitNFirm for any fitness related tweets/pics/posts that you have to share to inspire your Fit & Firm Buddies!

Grab Our Button!

Let’s go swimming!

I opted to put Gabriella into swim and dance in lieu of competitive soccer this year.

I had less than stellar communication with the coach and it when it came down to registering, it was a nightmare.

Regardless, I kind of felt guilty because I know she wanted to do it but, I said there’s always next year and another team.

So, I’m glad I made this decision.

Because she absolutely loved her first lesson, her dance lesson is this week too and she’s looking forward to it.

How do you keep the kids moving during the winter?

I’m linking up for Wordless/Wordful Wednesday over at Sober Julie, Shasher’s Life, Mom Vs. The Boys and Tara’s View. Pay them a little visit!

Til then, cheers m’deres!

So, I’m finally doing it.

It’s long over due.

I’m finally quitting drinking Diet pop.

I’ve tried in the past and quit for a little while and then went back but, the only way I can explain it, is that I’m addicted.

The hard thing to admit is that I know how TERRIBLE it is and that I know that I am literally putting poison in my body.

Sort of when you see doctors and nurses smoke, I mean, they know how bad smoking is and what it does to your body but, they are standing outside puffing away.

Here’s a refresher for my fellow Diet-pop drinkers:

Most, if not all, Diet drinks contain Aspartame or Sucrolose. Splenda being one of them, for awhile I thought that this was a safe sugar substitute until I dug deeper and discovered quite a few astonishing facts.

• Splenda was “discovered”, yes, d i s c o v e r e d by a grad student in London in 1976 while working on a study whose purpose was to create new insecticides.
• DDT, a poison used to kill many pests, which is now banned has a VERY similar chemical structure as Sucralose.
• There are many studies that claim Splenda is safe but, all studies were paid by McNeil Nutritionals–which can often lead to questionable results.
• Scientists took the natural sugar molecule and added Chlorine to make Splenda. A known poison.
• Studies only tested secondary effects such as tooth decay.
• Only 6 studies were on human subjects for a span of 3 months, which most people use Splenda for years.
• Independent studies on humans showed that Splenda impaired liver function, caused enlarged kidneys and liver, loss of red blood cells–which causes anemia, impaired mineral absorption, shrinkage of the Thymus gland (the gland that plays a big role in immunity), linked to Dementia, severe depression and sleep disorders.
• Splenda has been linked to Lupus, Diabetes and digestive disturbances. Diarrhea, bloating, vomiting and nausea.
• One of the biggest side effects folks, can you guess? WEIGHT GAIN.

Well, my body craves it. 

I don’t know if it’s the caffeine or if the carbonated taste that I crave but, it’s had a hold on me too long.

As a part of my getting Fit & Firm and staying motivated along this journey. I’m stopping this nasty habit. I’m going to take it day by day and slowly wean myself off of it. I’m afraid quitting cold turkey will be really bad with the caffeine intake and all. Maybe the artificial sweetener itself may cause some form of reaction. I’m also not a heavy coffee drinker but, I do enjoy a nice black coffee once in a while. When I do have a cup of coffee it will be sweetened with Stevia which by research, has been deemed safe. It’s an herb that is much sweeter than sugar and has shown no side effects.

Well, I drink lots of water and for years I’ve drank Green Tea. I haven’t had Green Tea since August and before that I couldn’t because I was pregnant then breastfeeding. I can’t drink it now because it’s high in Vitamin K and that in essence cancels out the blood thinner that I’m on.

So, it’s going to be water and organic soy milk for me.

I’m beginning to think that even though I want to be healthy, it’s sort of eliminates my efforts of eating clean, especially when I put such toxins in my body knowingly.

I am beginning to see that maybe a little caloric intake is much better than the adverse effects that this has.

P.S. my girls rarely if ever drink pop, so it’s just me addicted.

So, here’s to being motivated and to making a change that I’ve been wanting to make for so very long.

Lord help me.

What is your addiction? How do you find better alternatives?

Head on over to my buddies Kat’s Confessions, Pampered Patty, Sober Julie, Multi-Testing Mommy and My Little Review Corner as they embark on a healthier lifestyle too!

Til then, cheers m’deres!

In December I was pleasantly surprised to find a package.

Just waiting for me.

Even though it was almost January, it was the Holiday Luxe Box!

And boy, was I EVER happy and stoked when I looked inside!

I say, better late than never!

If you aren’t familiar with Loose Button Luxe Box, it’s a subscription based service that sends you deluxe-sized samples of the top of the line beauty products on the market! Sometimes, they send you FULL sized products and it’s amazing!

Wanna know more?

To sign-up you have 3 options, either to sign up for a monthly subscription which is $12/month, for 3 months which is $36 or a yearly subscription that is $120. This option gives you 2 free months!

Oh and did I mention FREE SHIPPING?

Sign up here if you are interested in getting your own personalized tres fabulous Luxe Boxes delivered to your door! If you don’t like surprises, take a peek of upcoming and most requested products for future Luxe Boxes and guess which ones you may get!

Now, let’s get to the good stuff!

Goodies Galore!

As you can see, the Holiday Luxe Box was packed with so many awesome things! I have to say that the most amazing thing in this box is the Velour Mink Lashes, I’m not quite sure how they go about getting Mink and it’s not something I would normally buy (I don’t like furs) but, the lashes are absolutely gorgeous and the girly girl inside me cried out in excitement to wear them. The next most favorite thing was the Prada Candy perfume which I will be buying because it smells incredibly divine!

PRADA- Candy 

This is definitely what I want to smell like. As soon as I opened it and sprayed it on, I knew it was my type of scent. It’s soft, sweet and heavenly. After I sprayed it on my wrist and as the day wore on it got softer but, you can still smell the sweet smell. It blended great with my body chemistry and I will definitely be buying this.

So, how much?

This vanilla scented honey, benzoin and caramel explosion scent can be yours for $96, that’s a full-size 50 ml bottle too. I normally pay that for my Burberry. I absolutely am over the moon with this scent and it’s definitely a keeper.

Retail Price: $96

PRADA Infusion D’Iris

The only way I can describe this scent is very clean. It is described to capture the ambiance of luxurious Italian voyages. I find the scent to be more mature and if you like clean smelling perfumes in comparison to sweet, playful scents then this is for you. While it smells lovely, I wouldn’t use it. I brought it to my Mom and she loved it so, it depends on your preference.

Retail Price: $95 for 50 ml Bottle

DDF- Advanced Firming Cream

I was chosen for the special opportunity to try out this product (available in Sephora) and let you guys know what I think, the sample itself is worth $41 and it’s an advanced formula that contains Tumeric Complex, Copper and Glycerin that help firm and tighten your skin. It also has many anti-oxidants and promotes rapid cell turnover to reverse the look of aging.

How did it work?

Well, I don’t use much on my face but, for the sake of trying out this anti-aging serum–I went for it. So far, I notice that my under-eye baggage has gone down. The serum itself smells like Tumeric, if that’s possible. But, my skin has been a lot softer. So, if you are into this kinda thing–I’d recommend it. But, if you are like me and don’t want to accept that you’re aging (kidding) then maybe it’s not for you.

Retail Price: $130 for 48 g

Keratase- Elixir Ultime

This is one of my favorite Luxe Box products, I’ve received this in a previous box and I ran out! This elixir works amazing and it has done wonders to my winter-beaten hair. I absolutely loved it the first time and I love it even more this time, now that I’ve used it and know how it works! The smell is really nice, a way to describe it is “salon shampoo” and like you just walked out of the salon!

How much?

This elixir is described to bring shine, nourishment and deep conditioning to the hair while smoothing the hair fiber. Incredible shine. It also helps strengthen the hair and protects it from external aggressors. I can say that it works.

Retail Price: $50 125 ml

Velour Upper Lashes

These were my favorite. I received the “Doll Me Up” pair. They are 100% Mink and are long-lasting. With proper care, you can get up to 25 uses. I normaly save lashes for special ocassions and that works perfectly with these high fashion, gorgeous lashes. They are invidudally handmade and much more natural looking than synthetic ones.

Though I didn’t have a special occasion to wear these out to. (Can you tell that I live an exciting life? :P) I will post a picture when I do. I can’t wait to try them.

The founders Mabel and Angela say, “CAUTION: Contents may cause serious side effects such as increased flirtiness, extreme sexiness, and irresistible eyes!”

Mabel and Angela, I am thanking you now and I will definitely be using these in our re-wedding this year!

You want a pair dontcha?

So do celebrities and they custom order Velour Lashes, they are described to be the finest lashes on the market. The offer free shipping and have many videos online showing you how to apply, remove and care for your lashes for optimum use. There are LOTS of styles to choose from and you can find them, here.

They are so soft too, not plastic-y at all.

They also make me feel like a vixen.

Rawr.

Retail Price: $60-$65 a pair.

Luxe Box knows the way to my heart!

Lastly, they topped me off with a delicious Loose Button chocolate. I shared a bite with the Hubby but, needless to say– it was definitely a sweet ending to a great Holiday Luxe Box.

What products would you try in this Luxe Box?

Let me know!

Til then, cheers m’deres!

So, it’s 2012 and another 12 months to set goals and achieve them.

As many of you know, eating as clean as I can is something important to me. I’m pretty strict on my own diet but, I am adamant on my girl’s diets. This last few months have been tough on my body.

Due to my recent health issues, the inactivity because of it, the holidays and not so great choices,  I’m not where I want to be and don’t feel the way I want to feel. I have finally gotten the green light to start doing light exercise again (since dislodging of any clots is minimal) and I am super anxious to get started again.

Now, inactivity is HALF the problem, the other half and the main contributor is diet.

So, no excuses.

Well, as you guys may have read, Hubby and I are “Getting Hitched” and I really want to get back to how I was before I had Mimi. (A little more like the picture above.)

It’s achievable. I’ve done it before, I can and have achieved it with motivation and support from my Hubby and a lot of self-motivation.

Another very important thing: Accountability.

Well,  myself, Patty of Positively Pampered Patty and Kat’s from Kat’s Confessions are inviting you to join us on our journeys!

Our highs and lows and our achievements and setbacks. We want to be with you and we can motivate each other!

Are you ready for the challenge?

Join us every Friday for Fit & Firm Friday where we kick off the weekend and share our stories about how we stay fit,  document our progress, share our recipes and our everyday inspiration to live a healthier life!

This hop isn’t just for those trying to lose weight but, for everyone. Whether you are trying to gain weight, get toned or just get active.

What better time then to start then now?

Guidelines:

1. Simply link up your posts below.
2. Follow your hosts if you’d like.
3. Have fun. Ask questions or rant if you want to!
4. Support your fellow Fit & Firm buddies by visiting as many of them as you can!
5. Grab our button.
6. Use #FitNFirm for any fitness related tweets/pics/posts that you have to share to inspire your Fit & Firm Buddies!

Grab Our Button!

Til then, cheers m’deres!

So, I have a confession.

I may or may not have a tad addiction attraction to Trash TV. You may notice on my Twitter stream every Monday, Tuesday and Jers–I mean Thursday, my commentary on a few shows that are less than stellar in the virtue department. No matter how bad I tried NOT to like these shows, it’s hard to look away at first, then harder to not tune into next week because of the cliffhanger they left off with.

So which shows have I dubbed as my guilty pleasures?

Well, to start off with, hang onto your seats folks…

I’ve watched every season of Jersey Shore.

There is something about the excess of tan in a can, one liners, public inebriation, lewdness, idiocy and poofs that aren’t associated with me that intrigues me.

Actually, I had the poof BEFORE  Snooki annddd mine isn’t nearly as exaggerated.

So, yes, Jersdays are definitely on my DVR list.

It’s a peek into a life that I would NEVER live that attracts me to it, that’s the best reason I can give you guys. Moving on and next on the Trash TV list…

Teen Mom. Teen Mom 2. 16 and Pregnant.

I have absolutely no reason or excuse to give you guys besides the fact that I may like to be shocked week to week. I am a young mother myself and when I had my daughter that’s when my adolescence ended. As soon as that little embryo was there, was when I became Numero 2. I guess what I enjoy about this show is seeing which girls end up being “good” moms and which start off or become disasters. Sometimes, I yell at the screen because I want to shake them straight!

Cruel?

I know but, I’m only human and I absolutely do not condone teen pregnancy. I do commend the girls that do make best of their situations and take responsibility for their actions. Regardless, I’ve followed these girls stories since 16 and Pregnant and they got me hooked.

On to the next.

The Bachelor and The Bachelorette.

Now this is another show that I still say “bleh” when my sister excitedly tells me she DVR’d and wants to watch. But, somehow, I always end up watching it with her. Another glimpse into something I would NEVER do.

Like if I were single and looking for love, I sure as heck wouldn’t go try to find it against 20 or something other women.

Spit swappin’ is so NOT my thing but, it can be pretty funny and sometimes really sad at how these women think they have something “special” with The Bachelor and then flip out when they see him kiss another girl.

Duh.

He’s dating every single 25 of you and taking what he’s being offered.

He’s a dude after all.

Here’s what we are in for this season–and BTW the girl in the video dubs herself a “blogger”. I thought that was funny.

So, those are the main shows that I may not really be proud to admit that I enjoy watching. But, who am I kidding? I don’t really care. You can’t and shouldn’t judge someone by what they watch anyhow.

*wink*

Other shows I enjoy are American Idol, X Factor, ANTM, Big Brother, Fear Factor and Hell’s Kitchen.

I love me some Gordon Ramsay and Simon Cowell.

Yes maam.

I love how they shell out servings of raw honesty and criticism, all the while they are still softies on the inside. They are honestly my favorites and look, they both cross their arms so matter-of -factedly.

So, what are your guilty pleasures, do you share any with me?

I wanna know!

Til then, cheers m’deres!

The railways leading to Auschwitz via The Guardian.

The Holocaust is something that I am deeply moved by.

It’s something that has forever intrigued me and has drawn my attention since I was old enough to be aware of it.

As many of you may know, I love reading and I am always on the hunt for a new read. My favorite type of books are biographies or memoirs because they have a reality to them, a human sentiment of experiences that are either close to home or something that is completely foreign to the reader.

I also enjoy watching the History Channel and have watched many documentaries about the Holocaust and have been deeply move to tears for the absolute horrors that they faced.

On ALL sides.

To me, war never benefits anyone–at least not for long. To some it’s a necessary means to accomplish goals, people then become numbers–collateral damage.

Even until this day.

Due to my ancestry and heritage, I have no direct ties to the nightmare that thousands suffered many moons ago. At least none that I know of, though my own history holds ties to our own civil war. There are things that my own parents will never forget witnessing because of it either. That’s why I am forever grateful to them and I appreciate the tremendous sacrifice that they made to give us freedom and a better chance here in Canada.

Nevertheless, it never ceases to quench my insatiable thirst to KNOW more, to FEEL more and to be more sensitive to human emotions and to be sympathetic regardless of where I was born, what I believe or the color of my skin.

Just yesterday I downloaded a book about the Holocaust on my Kindle app, it was about a Russian girl who tells her horrific story through her survival of the Holocaust, the horrors she witnessed, the ailments she endured and the loss of her ENTIRE family. She also tells of the happy times that she shared with her family.

I couldn’t put the book down.

I finished it not less than an hour ago.

The story is vivid. Real and a must-read.

The book is named, “The Secret Holocaust Diaries” by Nonna Bannister. It is a collection of her diaries that she wrote in 5 different languages and translated herself. After World War II was over, she moved to the US and married and lived an entire life of freedom never to tell about her past until she felt she was ready to share her ancestry with her children and her husband of over 50 years.

In this book, Nonna shares the beautiful memories she shared with her Grandmother, parents, only sibling and her Aunts and Uncle. Hired hand and friend, Petrovich. She paints a picture of how terribly the war ravaged the Jewish people as well as all in the Soviet. Even the Germans themselves.

It paints a perfect picture of the inhumanity that Stalin and Hitler shared and imposed on the innocent and their own people. There are thousands effected by this tragedy and genocide. Jehovah Witnesses suffered greatly for not denouncing their faith. Russians, Ukrainians and Poles were killed for being sympathetic to the Jewish or for simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Humanity at it’s worst.

Nonna in later years.

Nonna’s secret revelations that remained secret for decades are riveting.

I wanted to share this book with you guys because it’s truly a story that needs to be told. I’ve read many books and have seen so many stories and I am always touched.

But, this story has really strung a cord.

What the Jewish people and those who were pushed into this chaos and injustice suffered truly makes me appreciate my everyday blessings. The things and luxuries that we take for granted. It makes me grateful for the freedom we are gifted with and it gives me great sympathy for those who will do not know what freedom is present day.

I am thankful I can raise my children in freedom and I choose to not forget.

With my work, I have taken care of people from both sides, I take care of patients who were in the German army and I’ve seen a Jewish patient’s branded skin. I have heard them relive those horrific moments once there memories go and revert to a time’s past.

That’s why I choose to remember this and every horrible thing that mankind has done to another because these people shoud not have had to suffer in vain.

Anyway, I was always taught those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.

Here is her husband speaking about Nonna, his wife:

What are your thoughts, friends?