BIG ANNOUNCEMENT FROM JILLIAN MICHAELS!

Unlimited by Jillian Michaels - Book Review

By The Literary Lollipop

Happiness is not a myth. It’s a choice. Please, don’t roll your eyes at me. I know it’s a tough cliché to swallow but, don’t worry, it’s easier to implement than it is to believe.

Once again, I’ve sunk knee deep into the self-help pool, this time with Jillian Michaels’ Unlimited(which, by the way, was well worth the MSRP of $18). Why? Well, I’ve begun to notice a strange little pattern in my life: every so often, my brain just stops thinking logically. I get overwhelmed by my goals and ambitions; everything I want seems out of reach; and, most annoyingly, all this emotion manifests itself in my daily life, weighing me down with fear and frustration. Obviously, I don’t need to convince you that negativity can be quite paralyzing.

So, in my attempt to be proactive, I turned to – what else? – a book. Not just any book, though. A Manual, capital “M”. A Guide, capital “G”. Unlimited is not just a self-help book, it’s a blueprint. Michaels has honed her skills as a trainer, coach (woman and human being) and has collected all her thoughts onto 244 valuable pages.

First of all, does Jillian Michaels know what she’s talking about?

A resounding yes. And you want to know why? Because she comes from a place of complete honesty. She isn’t afraid to share examples of her own bad, inappropriate behavior, and how she overcame emotional hang-ups to become the successful person she is today. In addition to being incredibly knowledgeable, she freely admits that she’s always struggling with specific problems and that success is an ongoing process, and that we will make mistakes.

Why self-help books are not a crock:

Believe me, I’m the last person who would ever become an advocate for the self-help genre but, recently, my eyes have been opened to its real and practical value. Another unexpected reason? Positivity matters. And I do not mean this to sound like an episode of Full House but, try to think about your daily exposure to negativity. Everything from television to the books you read becomes the soundtrack for your life. So, if all you do is consume the news (murder, mayhem, horrible things    Continue Reading

Lukensia - Stylin' Profilin'

Check out Lukensia's adorable baby Toms!    

Best. Shoes. Ever.  Lightweight and comfortable, 

and their gripping rubber soles are great for kids on the move. 

Bridal Crash Diets

Jillian and Lukensia at The Beach

Jillian Michaels hit the beach Malibu beach with Lukensia over Memorial Day weekend.

It's Meant To Be

I get a phone call one day, "We have a referral for you. We have a referral."   Which means you've been matched with a child. A year and half!  Matched with a child!  This is unbelievable!  This is GREAT!  I come home, I tell Heidi!  Matched with a child!  This is awesome!  And that woman, comes down  stairs, less than 24 hours later the next morning, and goes

"by the way, i'm pregnant".

So we had some decisions to make.  And I'm kinda a believer in allowing the universe to flow in the way that it's meant to.  And I just thought, you know, it wouldn't happen like this way if it wasn't meant to.     She's been trying to get pregnant for 5 months, I've been trying to adopt for a year and half, and within 24 hours we have two kids?!  And I just sort of thought - it's meant to be this way.

And then 10 months later my son is born and the exact same week that he was born, my daughter got her visa, and her exit letter and was ready to come home."

Pregnant AND Matched With a Child WITHIN 24HOURS

"I regret not being able to share the inception, pregnancy process and birth of my son with you guys. It was a really hard thing to keep private, but because number 1 it was not my pregnancy, it was my partner's pregnancy, and she felt very strongly about not being pregnant in the public eye. But now, i don't know how to explain the materialization of a newborn. "   Jillian in the video below...

E-Online Video of Jillian's Story

Who is Heidi Rhoades?

Jillian Michaels and her date Heidi Rhoades at the Golden Globes, 2011

Heidi Rhoades ("Mouse) began practicing yoga in 1998 to balance out the stressful life of a college student. After completing her marketing degree, she moved to NY to work in the music industry and continued to practice yoga heavily. After 7 years in the music industry and a move to Los Angeles, she decided to take up yoga full time. (Jillian Michaels uses Heidi's story as an anecdote in her book, Unlimited).  Heidi completed the YogaWorks Teacher Training with John Gaydos and Rachael Simmons. 

Jillian Michaels and Heidi Rhoades (Mouse)

Jillian Michaels is officially a Mom! And so is Heidi.

Jillian Michaels adopts a baby, has a baby, and comes out, all in one week.  

Heidi Rhoades, Jillian Michaels and Babies

OMG!  She did it!   Her baby is finally home!   

After a lengthy multi-year adoption process, Jillian Michaels has officially announced that her adopted daughter, Lukensia, has been brought  "home" from the Congo.  And in a surprise twist, SO IS PHOENIX!   Phoenix, you ask?   Who is Phoenix?  Well, he's Heidi Rhoades' baby boy!   Who is Heidi Rhoades, you ask?   Who is Heidi?  Well, as many hard-core Jillian fans have long since speculated, it turns out, she is....Jillian's partner.

Yes. 

Partner!

FINALLY.  There it is.  In print.   In one oh-so-brief solitary sentence.  People magazine casually referencing Jillian's partner Heidi,

she’s doling out tickles and hugs to her 2-year-old daughter,Lukensia – whom she recently brought home from Haiti after a lengthy adoption process — and the newborn son, Phoenix, that partner Heidi Rhoades gave birth to 

Jillian Michaels & Heidi Rhoades Had Babies!

And a following sentence that refers to the kids as "theirs".

Theirs.

How sweet that must sound.  After so many years.   And while Heidi appears for but for a flash in the accompanying People video, she was in fact there.  She is real.  And I can only imagine how that must feel to the private couple.   New beginnings indeed. Congratulations Jill & Heidi!   Here's to your beautiful new life together, as a family.   You will surely be incredible Moms. 

Together.