A Journey With Jenna

Happy October! It’s my very favorite month! I’m excited it’s here, but I also don’t want it to fly by too quickly. Lots of fun things planned for this month, including some travel and time off work, so I’m definitely looking forward to that! Here’s this week’s recap of Amy’s podcast, 4 Things with Amy Brown. She sat down with Danielle Walker, author of the Against All Grain series of cookbooks, and they talked about 4 different topics. Go listen to the full episode if you haven’t already, and be sure to subscribe to the podcast!

1. Food. Food is such an important part of Danielle Walker’s life, not only as a cookbook author, but because of a serious autoimmune disease she has suffered from. She cut all grains from her diet and started recreating recipes she enjoyed that would fit in with foods she could eat. She first started blogging her recipes, and eventually that led to writing cookbooks.
2. Faith. What Danielle has gone through with her health issues has really strengthened her faith. As much as she would like to not have the autoimmune disease, she knows it’s all for a purpose.
3. Family. Danielle is married with three kids, and still makes sure to set time aside for date nights with her husband. She feeds her kids the same way she eats since autoimmune disorders can be hereditary and she wants to try to prevent it as much as possible.
4. Gratitude. Amy asked Danielle to name 4 things she’s thankful for, and she chose her husband, her friends, Honest brand mascara, and pumpkin spice creamer. She makes her own creamer, but also uses a brand that I just so happened to include below as one of my favorites this week!

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

• Smoky pumpkin bisque soup with grilled cheese croutons. I made a variation of this soup and really liked it! I kept it vegetarian by leaving out the bacon, and I used a seasonal Chimay cheese and pumpkin bread from Trader Joe’s for the grilled cheese croutons. It was really easy to make and so delicious!

• Where the Crawdads Sing. I had heard great things about this book, and even though I don’t typically choose fiction, I’ve recently been reading more of it, and this one didn’t disappoint. It was a story of survival, but also a mystery. It’s beautifully written with lots of imagery and details.

• Pumpkin spice non-dairy half & half. I’ve been using this creamer in my coffee and it’s just the right amount of pumpkin flavor without being too sweet since there’s no sugar added.

• Floral ruffle hem dress. This dress is a pretty floral print that works well for fall. Even though it’s long-sleeved and still super hot here, it’s a lightweight material, so it’s perfect for when you want to dress for fall, but can’t pull out the sweaters yet. Sizes have been selling out, but they often pop back up if you keep checking.

That wraps things up for this week. Enjoy the weekend, and try to do something fall-related! Gotta enjoy it while we can!

It’s the first Friday of fall, and I couldn’t be more excited for it! Bring on the pumpkins, apples, sweaters, boots, and cooler weather (might be waiting a while longer for that one)! Here’s this week’s recap of Amy’s podcast, 4 Things with Amy Brown. She sat down with Hillary Scott of Lady Antebellum and talked about 4 different topics. Go listen to the full episode if you haven’t already, and be sure to subscribe to the podcast!

1. Music. Hillary talked about how music is therapy for her, and the moments when she feels closest to God involve music. Her favorite song that she’s ever recorded is “I Run to You,” which was also Lady Antebellum’s first #1.
2. Family. Hillary has three girls, two of which are twins, so balancing between her family and her Lady Antebellum family is a priority for her, and she’s learned that it’s okay to say no. Her husband is a full-time dad and stays home with the girls, and he was previously the drummer for Lady Antebellum for seven years.
3. Faith. Hillary’s faith has taught her that we’re all the same. Other people are carrying burdens just like we are.
4. Gratitude. Amy asked Hillary to name 4 things she’s thankful for, and she chose her faith; her husband and three daughters; her mom, dad, and baby sister; and her Lady Antebellum family.

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

• Ankle boots. I pretty much wear ankle boots all year, so I’m usually in need of a new pair in the fall. I picked these up when they were on sale for less than $20 and they’re comfy and cute! They do run a little big, though. I’m normally an 8.5, often a 9 in boots, and I got an 8.

• Colorblock cardigan. I got my cardigan in the photo above from Amazon, and it’s not too thick or thin and has the perfect neutral colors for fall. It’s true to size with a bit of an oversized fit.

• Mums. It’s not fall without pumpkins, but I think you also need mums! I actually still have my mum from last year and decided to plant it, hoping it will bloom again. It was yellow when I got it, but ended up turning a maroon color. My mom got me a new mum the other day, and I love the rust color of it! Hoping it will last as long as last year’s!

• Delicata squash. In keeping with the fall theme, I had to share this squash I tried for the first time. I found delicata squash at Trader Joe’s, but haven’t seen it anywhere else so far. You can actually eat the skin! You just cut off both ends, slice it in half lengthwise, remove the seeds, then slice in 1/2″ half-moons. Toss with olive oil, salt and pepper, then roast at 425 degrees for 20 minutes. Flip over and roast another 15 minutes. They get crispy like chips and they kind of taste like fried eggplant to me! So good!

Enjoy this first weekend of fall! I still want to get a couple pumpkins for my front porch and work on my fall dining table decor, so hopefully I can get that done. See you back here next week!

Between my day job and trying to fix issues on here, I’ve been up to my eyeballs in websites this week, so TGIF! 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. Stop carrying stress. Amy read a story about a professor who said that instead of thinking of a glass as half full or empty, think about the weight of the glass. The longer you hold it, the heavier it gets, and the same goes for stress. So, don’t hold onto it!
2. Caring for a loved one. Amy and her sister, Christi, talked about recently moving their dad to Nashville into an assisted living home. They were first planning to move him into Amy’s house, but realized he could be more social and make friends in an assisted living facility. So far, he’s doing well and thinks of it as a fraternity for senior people!
3. Midol & gratitude. A while back, Christi wrote a silly poem about how she’s thankful for Midol, and she read it on air.
4. Drunk Elephant Babyfacial. Amy bought this product recently and shared her feedback after using it. She loved it! She said her face was glowing and felt soft, and it worked well on her sensitive skin. This is also a “clean” product, so that’s a plus!

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

• Pumpkin body butter. I picked this up on a whim the other night and am so glad I did! It’s really moisturizing and it smells amazing, too. Plus, it has no parabens in it, so that’s a win in my book! I highly recommend grabbing one quickly since it’s a seasonal item and likely to sell out.

• Stick with what you love. My coworker and I went for dinner the other night and noticed this wall mural. I thought it was a fun little reminder.

• Natural Bliss dairy free half & half. I’ve been using this plant based almond milk and coconut cream half & half for a couple weeks now in my coffee, and I actually like it! They have flavored varieties, too, but I prefer mine unsweetened. I do have to use more than what I would normally use if it was regular half & half, but it has less calories and fat, and I like that it’s dairy free.

• Fall nail polish. I’ve officially switched over to darker nails for fall, and this is the OPI color I’ll be wearing a lot.

I have high hopes to do some cooking, cleaning and fall decorating this weekend, so hopefully I can get it all done. Enjoy your weekend, and see you back here next week!

Okay, so apparently today is not only Friday the 13th, but also a full moon! I’m not really superstitious, but that’s enough to make you want to be! Either way, I’m hoping for a good Friday! 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. Facial ice rolling. Amy’s friend and aesthetician, Andrea, was on to talk about ice rolling. You use a small tool that can be purchased on Amazon, place it in the freezer, and then roll it over your face to reduce puffiness and inflammation. It also helps with acne and headaches, and is really good for your skin. This is the one she recommended.
2. Real mom, real tired. Amy’s high school friend, Erica, recently started a blog for moms, so she came on to talk about it. She shares baby and parent product reviews on her site.
3. Breast explant surgery. Health blogger, Bethany Ugarte, came on to talk about her experience with getting her breast implants removed two months ago due to health reasons. She’s felt better overall and her confidence level has actually boosted.
4. Salt lamps. Amy got a salt lamp for her bedroom because she read that it cleans the air, boosts your mood, and helps you sleep. She did some research afterward and didn’t find any evidence to support those claims, though. But she says it’s still pretty and creates a nice atmosphere, so she’s going to keep it and see what happens.

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

• Indian healing clay. I’ve been trying different natural deodorants lately and read that this stuff is good to use as a detox for your underarms. I used it there and on my face as a mask and I feel like it really works well! My skin looked better the next day. I mixed it with equal parts apple cider vinegar and left it on for about 20 minutes. Just don’t use a metal spoon or bowl to mix! I think it counteracts with the clay somehow.

• Hint water. I’ve talked about Bubly carbonated flavored water before, but I found something I like even better — Hint! It’s regular still water, with just a “hint” of flavor, and I’m hooked! My favorite flavors so far are the watermelon and cherry. I ordered from Amazon, and it’s a little cheaper than buying it at the grocery store.

• Lie to Me. It’s been taking me a while to finish a book these days, but in this case, it’s not because I didn’t like it! This book is about a woman who’s unhappy in her marriage, even though it looks perfect from the outside, and she goes missing. It has so many twists and turns, and just when you think you might know what’s going to happen, it turns out differently.

• Dave’s Killer Bread. Not sure why it took me so long to try this bread, but it’s great for toast and sandwiches. I got the 21 whole grains and seeds, thin sliced. I love that it’s healthy and all natural!

I hope everyone has a great weekend! I know I’m more than ready for it. See you back here next week!

Happy first Friday in September! It’s the start of my favorite time of year! Bring on all the fall things, especially the cooler weather! Here’s this week’s recap of Amy’s podcast, 4 Things with Amy Brown. Amy had nutritionist Kelly LeVeque on and she covered four different topics. Go listen to the full episode if you haven’t already, and be sure to subscribe to the podcast!

1. Four days with no food. Amy talked about the time her sister and friend joined Kelly on a four-day fast in which they had nothing to eat! Kelly shared the benefits of doing a fast like this, but emphasized that it needs to be guided by a professional and done the right way.
2. What you should have on every plate. Kelly is a strong proponent of the “fab four” and feels that each meal should contain protein, fat, fiber, and leafy greens. She explained each one and why we need it.
3. Eat to balance out your hormones. Kelly said that what we eat affects mood swings, cravings, and how we feel. She gave some recommendations on things we can eat to help with this.
4. On-the-go snacks. When you’re busy or traveling, it can be difficult to grab convenient snacks that are healthy. Kelly went through some options that included nuts/trail mixes, protein powder packets that can be mixed into drinks, tuna packets, avocados, and protein bars.

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

• Grilled vegetable caprese salad. I’ve been wanting to make this recipe from Pretty in the Pines all summer, and finally got around to it! I pretty much cut the recipe in half and just grilled 1 small zucchini, 1 small yellow squash, half an onion, and a small yellow bell pepper. Once those were done, I just layered them with a sliced tomato and some fresh mozzarella and basil, then topped with olive oil, salt and pepper, and balsamic glaze. This is going to be a regular for me now — I made an entire meal out of it! So good!

• Grill pan/panini press. To make the recipe above, I used this pan, which I love. My parents got it for my birthday a few years ago, and I’ve gotten a lot of use out of it. I don’t have a regular grill, so it comes in really handy and my veggies taste just like they came off a grill. If you use the lid, it also doubles as a panini press, so it’s 2-in-1!

• Safety from Hurricane Dorian. I feel very blessed because earlier last week it looked like we were going to be affected by Hurricane Dorian. I had to wait in line to get gas last Friday, and everyone was in preparation mode. I’m so thankful we didn’t have anything at all really, but my heart goes out to the people in the Bahamas. My friend, Jessica from Frapps and Frills, has a friend who has organized a relief effort with her husband, and they’ll be flying and chartering supplies to the Bahamas for the next four weeks. I sent some items through Amazon, and if anyone would like to help, just place an Amazon order for any basic camping type supplies, and send them to Florida Captain Services, 222 E Ann St, Punta Gorda, FL 33950.

• Taylor Swift’s Lover album. I like Taylor Swift, but preferred her older music up until recently when her Lover album came out. I’ve been listening to it on repeat and it’s upbeat and fun — even good to work out to!

That’s it for this week. I want to pull out my fall decorations this weekend and put some things out, but I’m not going to go too crazy with it. I hope everyone has a great weekend! Thanks for reading!