This weekend is the official unofficial start to summer! Or, if you live in a climate like me, summer began around Easter! Either way, I hope you have a great weekend and get to do something fun! 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!
- Foster care: all kids need love. Eddie from The Bobby Bones Show came on this week to tell his story of taking in two foster kids. He and his wife have two biological sons, ages 5 and 11. Eddie hadn’t really put much thought into being a foster parent until he heard country singer, Jimmy Wayne, speak at his church. Jimmy was a foster kid, and his story really touched Eddie and changed his feelings. When he mentioned it to his wife, she was already on the same page, so they went through their church to find out how to get certified. After months of waiting, they were finally matched with a newborn boy. The next day after taking him home, they got a call asking if they’d also take his 4-year-old brother, which they did. Eddie and his wife have about a 9-month commitment, after which time it will be evaluated if the kids can go back to their biological family. Eddie emphasized that there are so many kids out there who just need love.
- A practical health journey. Nicole, aka @kalejunkie on Instagram returned this week to talk about things we can do to make our health journey a little easier. She said we should take time for ourselves — whether that means self care or working out, and it’s okay to want to look good, but don’t let that be tied to your self-worth. We should also keep healthy snacks on hand so we don’t make poor choices. And do an inventory of who you follow on social media — evaluate how their content makes you feel, and unfollow anyone who is hindering you from becoming your best self.
- How to cut back on salt. Amy gave some tips on what we can do to reduce sodium in our diets. Too much sodium causes bloating, high blood pressure, and many other health issues. But salt seems to be in everything! Most adults should get no more than 1,500 mg per day. But just one slice of pizza averages 957 mg! One thing we can do to cut salt intake is to eat at home, rather than eating out. That way you can control the amount of sodium that goes into your food a little better. When cooking, you can also substitute salt for other spices and herbs — even lemon juice and wine. Another trick is to combine cinnamon with low sodium broth when cooking grains like quinoa. It actually ends up giving your food a nice savory flavor.
- Stop comparing and start loving your body. Counselor and life coach, Kim Anderson, was back to give us some advice on accepting and loving ourselves. There are certain things, like our height, that we just can’t change, so we might as well learn to love it. Choose to have positive thoughts about yourself, like “I feel great.” These strong, healthy feelings will perpetuate. And for those times when you’re not feeling so great, just remember that feeling a certain way or thinking a certain thing about ourselves doesn’t mean it’s true.
Here are the 4 things I’m loving most this week.
- Honey balsamic mushrooms. I finally tried this mushroom recipe from Kathleen at Grey Stripes and Denim, and they were delicious! If you like your garlic a little more tender like I do, just leave it out of the sauce and saute it in the olive oil before you add your mushrooms. Then, after they cook a little, just add the honey and balsamic mixture. I will definitely be making these again!
- Broccoli crescent wrap. Another yummy recipe I tried this week was the broccoli crescent wrap from Trial and Easter. It was a big hit! I did use fresh broccoli, and I sauteed a clove of garlic in some butter first, then added my broccoli and bell pepper so the veggies were softened a bit before I mixed them up with the cheeses. I already have another idea up my sleeve for something else I want to try with this crescent wrap concept! Stay tuned.
- Then She Was Gone. I’m normally not much of a fiction reader, but I’ve been hearing great things about a few books lately, so I’ve picked up a couple from my library, and so far I haven’t been disappointed! The first one I read was Then She Was Gone. The story takes place in London, and is about a young girl who goes missing. I don’t want to give anything away, but it takes twists and turns throughout, and it keeps you interested to know what happens. It’s different from anything you could ever imagine!
- Dead to Me. If you’re looking for a new Netflix show to check out, try this one! It stars Christina Applegate. She plays a woman whose husband was hit and killed by a car, and ironically, she unknowingly ends up taking in the woman who hit her husband. It has comedic aspects and is just a fun watch!
Enjoy the weekend! See you back here next week, and thanks for reading!
