A Journey With Jenna

Hey Friday, so glad to see you again! Does anyone else feel like their workplace is a ghost town during the summer? That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it makes you want to be out doing something fun! Anyway, here’s this week’s recap of Amy’s podcast, 4 Things with Amy Brown. She sat down with Trisha Yearwood and discussed 4 things she’s thankful for. Go listen to the full episode if you haven’t already, and be sure to subscribe to the podcast!

1. Blessed life. Even though Trisha Yearwood has quite a blessed life now due to her success as a country music singer, she didn’t always grow up like that. She talked about how she likes to do a lot of things herself to stay grounded, like cooking and cleaning. Both Trisha and her husband, Garth Brooks, are that way and like to live normal lives.
2. Family. Trisha shared the stories of how she lost her parents, and now she’s especially thankful for her sister. She said that family is such an important part of her life, and even things like passing down recipes keeps memories of family members alive.
3. Rescue dogs. Trisha and Garth have rescue dogs, and it’s something she’s very passionate about. In every city where Garth does a show, they partner with the local Humane Society to promote “adopt, don’t shop” and try to find homes for dogs that need to be adopted.
4. Coffee. For a short period, Trisha tried to give up coffee. But then she realized how much she enjoys it — it’s part of her morning routine where she likes to read, drink coffee, and have quiet time. Plus, she said she really needs it to get going in the morning!

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

• Pimento cheese nachos. Speaking of Trisha Yearwood, I love watching her cooking show on weekend mornings. A couple weeks ago, I saw her make Southern nachos, so I just made my own vegetarian version and used her recipe for the pimento cheese sauce. It’s so good, and really takes your nachos up a notch!

• Trilogy cleansing balm. I love Beautycounter products, but haven’t been willing to fork out the money for their cleansing balm, even though it has great reviews. I did some research online and came across a very comparable brand at a fraction of the price. So far, I’m really loving it. It did a great job removing my makeup, and my skin seemed more radiant the next day after using it.

• Argan oil of Morocco body lotion. This lotion is so moisturizing and smells really great, too. And you can’t beat the price! I’ve been using it every night before bed.

• Celebrity Family Feud. I’m obviously a huge Bobby Bones fan (and I love Amy and the rest of the crew, too)! They’ll be on Celebrity Family Feud this Sunday night on ABC at 8 p.m. EST, so be sure to watch. I’ve been waiting months for this — ever since they announced they were going to film the show!

Have a great weekend, and thanks for reading!

Did anyone else feel like this was a long week? I think the holiday last week threw me off, but we’re already halfway through July! 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. Body confidence, stretch marks and all. Registered dietitian @thewellnecessities was back this week and talked about the photo she shared on Instagram that showed her stretch marks. She’s only 30 and hasn’t had kids, and she wanted to let others know that we tend to forget what real bodies look like. Her flaws just remind her that she’s a woman who has lived her life.
2. Netflix and kill? No, this isn’t about the scary movies on Netflix — it’s about something more terrifying! Did you know that people who spend more than four hours a day watching tv are at a 50% higher risk for heart disease? Amy recommended that if you’re going to binge watch something, get up in between shows and move around, or get a quick workout in. Our bodies were made to move!
3. Air fry this ASAP. If you don’t have an air fryer, you’re missing out. It took me a while to get on the bandwagon, but I’m so glad I finally got one. I use it several times a week. Amy discovered that the frozen cauliflower gnocchi from Trader Joe’s (I love that stuff!) is great in the air fryer, especially topped with some ketchup. She said it tastes just like tater tots. I’m going to have to try it out!
4. How to get gum out of clothes. Amy’s kids left a pack of gum in their clothes and it went through the wash and stuck to everything. Nothing was working to get it out until someone recommended that she try WD-40, and it worked like a charm!

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

• Nashville hot tofu. I came across this recipe online and immediately knew I needed to try it! It’s a crispy, flavorful tofu that’s baked, not fried! And it has just the right amount of spice without being too hot. Even if you aren’t a big tofu fan, you will love this, and I bet you could even sub the tofu for chicken tenderloins if you really want meat.

• Target Deal Days. I’m sure everyone is well aware by now that Amazon’s Prime Day event is on Monday and Tuesday. But, I’m not a Prime member. I know, I’m probably the only person who isn’t. If you’re like me, or even if you just love Target, they’re holding Deal Days the same days that Amazon is having their Prime event, so you can score some deals on several items! There will be lots of sales on home items, and on Tuesday, gift cards will be 5% off. It’s worth buying one for yourself just to save the 5%!

• Invisibobble hair ties. I know I’m really late to the game on these, but I finally gave them a try, and they’re great! My hair is really thick, but one tie holds it well and doesn’t pull. I got the clear ones, and they come in a 3-pack.

• The Secret to Southern Charm. I’m currently reading the second book in the Peachtree Bluff series, and so far, I love it just as much as the first book, Slightly South of Simple. I highly recommend these books! They’re so fun for summer and make you feel like you’re right there with the characters in their charming little town.

That’s all for this week! Have a great weekend, and see you back here next week!

I hope everyone had a great 4th of July! I have a feeling there are probably a lot of people calling out of work today! It was strange having a day off in the middle of the week, but definitely nice to relax and recharge a bit. 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. Modern mindful eating. Registered dietitian @thewellnecessities was back this week to talk about her “fork the noise” movement and how we can learn to eat foods without guilt, and even say no to some foods because we just don’t want them anymore, and not because of having to practice willpower.
2. Want a “Brunch & Burn in your city? Amy’s friend, Meri, who runs The Shop Forward, came on to discuss the “Brunch & Burn” events they’ve been hosting. So far, there have been events in Austin, Nashville and Wichita, and Amy and Meri are looking to get feedback on where the next event should be held. You can go vote for your city here, and you’ll even be entered to win some goodies by voting.
3. The dangers of maltodextrin. Did you know that maltodextrin is in so many foods that we eat? It’s an ingredient that manufacturers use as a preservative, and it’s basically corn that’s been genetically modified to the point that it has no nutritional value left. It can elevate blood sugar levels (it has a higher glycemic index than table sugar), it can supress the growth of probiotics, and can cause gastrointestinal symptoms like cramps, bloating, and gurgling in the stomach. It’s certainly something to look out for in the ingredient list of foods we buy.
4. Tips to stay motivated. Celebrity trainer, Erin Oprea, was on this week and discussed how we can motivate ourselves to workout by changing our mindset. She said rather than dreading a workout, we should look at it as a gift to move our bodies. And it doesn’t always have to be a major workout — even something like going on a walk is a great way to move our bodies. She recommended that if you feel like you’ve hit a plateau, try to do something different, whether it’s changing something in your diet or trying a new exercise.

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

• 4th of July. It’s always so fun to see everyone come together to celebrate our great country. I saw lots of American flags flying and fireworks in the evening as I was out and about. And I’m sure we all had some great food to celebrate, too!

• Watermelon caprese salad. I love caprese salad and have made it with peaches and tomatoes, so I thought it would be fun to try with watermelon, and it was amazing! Just toss watermelon chunks with fresh mozzarella, basil, a little salt, and some balsamic vinegar or glaze.

• Dry shampoo. I don’t know how I’d survive summer without dry shampoo. Between the humidity and the hot temps, my hair gets pretty gross quickly. Dry shampoo is a lifesaver, and I especially like the Dry Bar brand. At night before bed, just spray it in at the roots, let it dry, then rub it into your hair. The next morning your hair will have extra volume and no grease!

• Drugstore mascara. I really like clean beauty products, but for mascara, I just haven’t made the switch yet. I haven’t heard great things about the clean ones, and they’re quite a bit pricier. I don’t like spending a lot on mascara, so I tend to stick to drugstore brands. I really like this Covergirl mascara and have been using it for a while now.

Thanks so much for reading! Enjoy your weekend, and see you back here next week!

Where has June gone? It’s hard to believe that 4th of July is right around the corner! 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!

Amy did things a little differently this week and had a special guest on, Korie Robertson of Duck Dynasty, and they talked about four different topics.

1. Raising “Strong and Kind” kids. Korie wrote a book called Strong and Kind, which covers the values she instilled in her children and how others can raise their kids with character. She wanted her children to be strong so they’d be able to withstand tough times, and kind so they’d be thoughtful of others and their feelings. Two very important values everyone should have!
2. Feeling the gratitude. Amy and Korie discussed how there is no joy without gratitude, so Amy asked Korie to tell us 4 things she’s thankful for. Her 4 things were her grandson (and another grandchild on the way), her grown kids, a husband who cooks, and Sunday afternoon naps.
3. Party ideas and themes. The Robertson family is known for throwing fun parties, so Korie talked about some of the themes they’ve done, like Jell-O parties where everyone brings bags of Jell-O and then it’s dumped into a big pool for Jell-O wrestling. Or water balloon volleyball. She said the key to a good party is to have activities or something that makes it memorable. She also recommended delegating so it doesn’t become stressful for the host.
4. Mission work, not mission impossible. Amy and Korie talked about mission work and how helping others helps you, too. Korie went to Ethiopia to do mission work and shared her story. Amy has gone to Haiti and Africa, but they both agreed there are things we can do right where we live, too, even if it’s as simple as doing something nice for a neighbor.

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

• Greek tortellini pasta salad. It’s been so hot lately and I’ve been wanting a lot more cold foods, but didn’t want to burn myself out on regular salad, so I whipped up this Greek tortellini pasta salad from Creme de la Crumb the other night, and it was delicious! It’s great to pack the leftovers for lunches, too.

• Slightly South of Simple. I enjoyed this book so much! It’s the first in a series of three books that Kristy Woodson Harvey has written. She does a great job of bringing Southern charm to life in her books. This book follows three sisters who go back to the small town of Peachtree Bluff for the summer to stay with their mom, and lots of twists and turns take place along the way. I can’t wait to read the next book!

• High wire live on Spotify. If you saw Nik and Lijana Wallenda walk the wire across Times Square Sunday night, you know how awesome it was! I saw them practice before the event, and each time they played worship music (many of the same songs Lijana sung as she walked the wire in NYC). I was excited to see that they had put together a playlist on Spotify with all their favorite songs. These songs really help me and have such great meaning. I downloaded the Spotify app just so I could listen to this playlist, and it’s completely free!

• Constellation stud earrings. I thought these earrings were pretty and easy to wear with everything. I love that studs aren’t heavy, and these can dress things up or be worn casually. Plus, they’re on sale right now! The stars are perfect for the 4th, too!

That’s all for this week. Have a great weekend and a Happy 4th of July next week!

Happy first day of summer! It’s actually felt like summer where I am for a couple months now, so I feel like we should be going into fall! I’m also partial to fall, though, so maybe that’s why I’m rushing it. 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. Infrared sauna benefits. Amy said she has an infrared sauna at home and loves it. They’re different than the traditional saunas you think of. These use thermal light, so they don’t get as hot, but they still offer all the benefits of a sauna. The infrared sauna can help with inflammation, chronic fatigue, detoxing, fighting infection, boosting immunity, and improving skin health.
2. The Pringle effect. Amy talked about an Instagram post that she saw from @thewellnecessities that explained the Pringle effect of “once you pop, you can’t stop.” Basically, once you call a food indulgent and have it as a “cheat meal,” it’s hard to stop eating it, and you’re giving that food power — more power than a healthier food might have for you. Treat all foods the same, and when you do have foods that maybe aren’t as healthy for you, eat slowly, pay attention to how the food tastes. It might not be as pleasurable for you as you once thought.
3. My go-to cry song. Amy said she has a favorite song that she likes to listen to when she needs a good cry and wants to get her emotions out. Her go-to is Ed Sheeran’s “Supermarket Flowers” because it reminds her of her late mom. It really is a beautiful song!
4. Glutathione talk with Adam Bobo. Nurse anesthetist, Adam Bobo, was back this week to talk about glutathione, which is a group of amino acids that your body naturally produces. It’s made in the liver, but production starts to decrease once you get into your 30s. It helps eliminate free radicals, so as it decreases, it ages you. Adam administers it in IV form, but it’s also available in capsules and liquid — your body just doesn’t absorb it as much as would in an IV. The pill or liquid form needs to have liposomal in it for fat absorption. Gluathione is good for your skin and your overall health, as it improves your liver function and helps rid your body of harmful toxins that could even cause cancer. I’m definitely going to be doing some more research on this!

Here are the 4 things I’m loving most this week. I changed things up a little and included all 4 things together.

• Sunglasses. I like to keep extra pairs of sunglasses around because I can’t even see outside when it’s as bright as it gets in the summertime! So, I need to have a pair nearby at all times. These sunglasses from Loft were inexpensive, and aviators never go out of style. Plus, they’re 50% off right now!

• Jewelry. I thought these bracelets were really fun for summer. I picked them up from Anthropologie. The colorful one stretches and the white one has a magnetic closure, so they’re both really easy to get on and off, and they’re 3 for $30 right now. I was in need of a pair of basic gold hoop earrings, so I grabbed these from Loft as well. They’re sold out online, but may still be available in stores.

• Tocca perfume. Speaking of Anthropologie, I came across this perfume set there and I’m in love with it! It’s by Tocca, and after smelling all their scents, I couldn’t decide which I liked best, so I thought this sample of mini sized versions of Stella, Cleopatra, and Florence was a great way to try them out and decide which worked with my body chemistry before buying a full-sized bottle. I honestly love all three of them. If I HAD to pick just one right now, I’d probably go with Stella.

• Pearl hair clips. These pearl hair clips add a pretty touch to your hair and are easy to just slip in. You can even pair a couple of them together. I like the different styles that come in this set from Amazon, and you can’t beat the price.

That’s all I have for this week. Enjoy the first week of summer, and if you’re not doing anything on Sunday night at 8 p.m. EST, be sure to watch Nik Wallenda’s live high wire walk across Times Square on ABC!