Happy Friday! There’s a lot to cover today, so let’s jump right in! 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!
- Manifestation & faith. If you’re not sure what manifestation is, it basically means writing down and/or envisioning things that you want to happen. Amy talked about how she was hesitant to buy into this because of her faith, and I’ve always felt the same way, but really, there’s nothing wrong with thinking positively and trying to achieve your goals. Think about this: whenever you focus on something or think about a particular thing a lot, you tend to see more of it. If you have a certain breed of dog, you probably see them a lot more often because you’re thinking about them. The same holds true for goals in your life. Keep a positive attitude and practice gratitude, and you’re likely to bring about more positivity (including crushing those goals)!
- Eating to survive. Amy brought Bethany Ugarte on to discuss clean eating. Bethany suffered from irritable bowl syndrome (IBS) to the point that she was literally a walking skeleton and almost died. Her body just couldn’t digest food, so she wasn’t receiving the proper nutrition. She completely changed her diet and now has a website where she shares clean, simple recipes with minimal ingredients. Bethany mentioned how certain ingredients that are in lots of foods, like maltodextrin, can cause bloating and other issues like overeating. If you clean up what you’re eating, you’ll feel better.
- Time management tips. Like most people, Amy admitted she struggles with time management and didn’t have any tips of her own, so she turned to Forbes and shared her findings. Amy went into more detail about each of the tips, but I’ll just summarize and say that the main points were to find out where your time is going; set time limits for tasks; make plans; delegate when you can; don’t be afraid to say no; and telecommute if you’re able to. (This is my biggest goal right now — being able to work from home is such a time saver). These were all great reminders, and an encouragement that we all seem to struggle with this at times, but there are ways we can improve.
- Skip the gym for bath time. Next time you’re trying to choose between squeezing in a workout at the gym or taking a hot bath, choose the bath! Amy discussed how hot baths can raise your body temperature and trigger anti-inflammatory reactions — the same things that happen when you’re working out. She shared her recipe for the perfect detoxifying bath. Add 1 1/2 to 2 cups of Epsom salt, 1 cup of baking soda, and a few drops of lavender to your hot bath water. Taking a hot bath before bed is relaxing and can help you have a great night’s sleep, too!
Now, here are the 4 things I’m loving most this week.
- Healthy chocolate smoothie. I bought cacao powder for the first time recently and whipped up the perfect smoothie. Blend together 1 cup of unsweetened almond milk, 1 Tbsp of cacao powder, 1 Tbsp of nut butter, 1 scoop of protein powder, a banana, and a handful of ice. If you have a Vitamix or a blender that really blends things down to nothing, then throw in a handful of spinach, too!
- Outdoor exercise after work. Getting outside for a walk or run, especially after work, is so good for me both physically and mentally. I hadn’t been able to do it as much lately since it was always dark by the time I got home. But the past couple evenings, I managed to make it home in time to get changed and out the door so I could spend at least an hour outside. Since the time changes this weekend, I’m definitely looking forward to getting back into this routine. Here are some views from my evening walks this week.
- Star ring. I just got this ring the other day and am loving it! It’s so comfortable! I’m picky about rings because I don’t like them to feel bulky or noticeable. This one is really cute and can be paired with anything! And it’s only $18 with free shipping!
- #PIMPINJOY sweatshirt. I’ve mentioned before how I love the items at The Shop Forward and how they give back. Well, right now, all #PIMPINJOY items are benefiting the tornado victims of Alabama and Georgia, so it’s the perfect time to grab something and wear it proudly, knowing that your purchase made a difference. I was especially excited that the weather was perfect to wear this sweatshirt on my evening walk!
Whew! There was a lot to share this week. Thanks for reading, and enjoy the weekend! Don’t forget to set your clocks ahead one hour!
