4 Things Friday (April 19, 2019)

Weren’t we just celebrating Christmas? And here it is Easter weekend already! It’s supposed to be a beautiful weekend here, so I’m excited to spend some time outdoors. Here’s this week’s recap of Amy’s podcast, 4 Things with Amy Brown. Go listen to the full episode if you haven’t already, and be sure to subscribe to the podcast!

1. Dealing with miscarriage: you’re not alone. Amy’s friend, Jill, came on to talk about her experience with a miscarriage. She has two kids already, and when she became pregnant with her third, everything was showing as healthy, but at 18 weeks, it was discovered that the baby had no heartbeat. Amidst the devastation of it all, Jill started blaming herself and wondering if she did something wrong to cause it. But the cause was never found, and it was just one of those rare, heartbreaking things. Jill came to terms with it by realizing that maybe it was better for her baby boy to be in heaven than to be born with issues that would’ve required lots of surgeries or other problems. Jill wanted to share her personal story so other women who have been through the same thing wouldn’t feel alone.
2. The 5 second rule. No, this isn’t about eating food off the floor quickly. The 5 second rule has to do with the fact that if you have an instinct to do something, like go up to someone and say hi, you should act on it within five seconds. Count backwards from 5…4…3…2…1, and then go! Counting will distract you from fear or negative thoughts that will prevent you from doing something. I think this is a great way to make sure you achieve small things. I don’t know that I would make a huge decision in five seconds, but for little things, it’s great!
3. Tattoo talk. Before I get into this one, I have to say that I have no tattoos and won’t ever get one. My skin tends to keloid and is really sensitive, so I would never risk it, and I’m not into them anyway, but I know a lot of people are! Amy has two and explained the meaning behind hers. One says joy and is written in her late mom’s handwriting, and the other says ESPWA, which means hope in Creole, and is a reminder of when she adopted her kids from Haiti. Amy’s daughter happened to be in the studio when she was recording the podcast, and she piped in and told Amy she thinks tattoos are gross! It was really funny!
4. Marathon running tips. A listener wrote and asked Amy for tips on running a marathon. Amy did one when she was 21, although she doesn’t run anymore. She gave the background on her marathon training and how difficult the actual race was because she was dealing with an injury. She said her body has never been the same since, and she feels like some people are just born runners, but she isn’t. I completely agree with that! I enjoy running, but don’t do as much as I once did. It is work for me, though. It doesn’t come naturally, and I’ve never been super speedy, but I do like it. Amy gave several tips for anyone who is interested in training for a marathon, and she emphasized that a lot of the training is mental.

Here are the 4 things I’m loving most this week.

• Dill pickle pasta salad. I love pasta salad, and this one is definitely at the top of the list for me. I modify the recipe slightly and use plain Greek yogurt instead of sour cream, and I think you could use less mayo and more of the yogurt. I also use a lot of fresh dill. If you like dill pickles, you’ll love this one! It’s great for potlucks or barbeques as the weather gets warmer.

• Buttery caramel coffee. This is my absolute favorite coffee! A co-worker introduced me to it, and I’ve been hooked ever since. It smells amazing and is a nice light roast. I’m not a fan of really strong, bitter coffees, so if you are, this one might not be bold enough for you. But it has a nice mild, smooth taste.

• Watermelon face mask. One of Amy’s podcast guests, the Nashville Beauty Girl, mentioned this a couple weeks ago, so I ordered some to try, and it’s great! It’s very moisturizing and such an easy mask to apply and wash off the next morning. I’ve only used it once so far, but it left my skin very hydrated and smooth.

• Veggie pepperoni. For the longest time, I was hesitant to try meat substitutes because I’ve just never liked meat and was afraid I wouldn’t be a fan of the texture or taste. But I’ve gotten much better about trying these things, so I picked up this veggie pepperoni at Whole Foods, and it is amazing! I ate a couple pieces by themselves, and I think it would make a great high-protein snack. I topped it on some homemade pizza, too. It doesn’t get crisp like regular pepperoni (or maybe I just needed to cook it longer), but it did have a great taste and texture — not chewy or anything. This is the brand I got, and I found mine at Whole Foods.

I hope everyone has a Happy Easter! Don’t forget that Easter isn’t just about bunnies, chocolate, chicks, flowers, and all things spring. There is true meaning behind this holiday. I hope you’ll reflect on what Jesus did for us on the cross — how he gave the ultimate sacrifice so that we could have life.