A Journey With Jenna

Happy Friday, friends! I wasn’t sure if it was ever going to get here, but we made 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. Inspiring quotes. Amy was interested in finding out what the most popular quotes were, so she googled the top four most quoted. Here’s what she found: #4: “Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud.” -Maya Angelou #3: “It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light.” -Aristotle #2: “Keep love in your heart. A life without it is like a sunless garden where the flowers are dead.” -Oscar Wilde #1: “The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.” – Helen Keller I have to say I was a little surprised by which ones were the most popular. A couple of them I hadn’t really heard before, but they’re certainly all inspirational, and I hope at least one of them brightens your day!
2. Skincare tips. Keri, @thenashvillebeautygirl, was back this week to discuss how we can be smarter about skincare purchases. She recommended saving money where you can on drugstore products, and then purchasing what she calls “hero products,” which are typically the pricier powerhouse products. Some drugstore skincare products Keri recommended were the CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser or Cetaphil Foaming Facial Cleanser, plus the moisturizers and sunscreens by these brands. She also mentioned Bliss face masks, and noted that we should be looking to make sure they contain hyaluronic acid, which is a hydrating and anti-aging enzyme. Amy said she had tried rubbing apple cider vinegar on her face with a cotton ball as a “mask” and also tried it with egg white. She said the results with both were good, and that they made her skin feel tighter. One last tip Keri gave was for dry lips. She said we should dry brush our lips with our toothbrush before we brush our teeth.
3. Say hi to people — it could change your life. Amy had her friend, Chad, on and explained how she met Chad six years ago because he sent her an email about wanting to break a Guinness Book World Record for packing the most meals for Haiti (where Amy’s kids are from). This was something close to Amy’s heart, so she connected with Chad and they were able to break the record with 500,000 meals. Amy also met her radio co-host Bobby of The Bobby Bones Show by saying hi to him years ago in a Culver’s. The moral of the story was that we should just say hi to people. Be friendly and kind because you never know who you’re talking to and what it could lead to. Be prepared that you may get nothing in return, but it never hurts to try.
4. Game changer pancake tip. Amy’s kids stayed with her friend, Meri, last week and Meri made pancakes for them and wrote their names with the batter. Amy wasn’t sure how it was done, and then found out it was as simple as putting the pancake batter into a squirt bottle. Then you can spell out words, names, or make shapes. What a fun way to make unique pancakes when you’re serving them to someone special!

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

• Healthier waffles. Since we’re on the topic of pancakes, a couple of my favorites this week were quite appropriate! I tried the Nature’s Path brand for the first time last week as a healthier alternative to Eggo waffles, and I’m hooked! They’re going to become a weekend staple I’m sure! I’ve found them at Whole Foods and Publix, and they come in a few varieties. I’ve only tried the Buckwheat Wildberry so far, and they’re amazing!

• Healthier syrup. While I was in Whole Foods, I thought I’d try to find a healthier syrup for the waffles that wasn’t loaded with sugar and calories. Most of the ones I’ve tried in the past just weren’t good, but I was pleasantly surprised by this Wholesome Organic Pancake Syrup. I can actually say that I like it just as well, if not better, than regular syrups I’ve had in the past, and it has a lot less sugar and calories. It comes in regular as well as lite, but I would stick with the lite since I honestly can’t tell any difference. Another good alternative if you don’t want to use syrup at all — just spread nut butter on your waffles and then top it with some sliced bananas or strawberries.

• Green juice. Call me crazy, but I love a good green juice. It just makes me feel healthier as I’m drinking it! But it’s hard to find ones that aren’t full of sugar. If there are tons of fruits in them, chances are they aren’t going to be all that great for you. I came across one at Trader Joe’s that’s one of the healthier ones I’ve found and it doesn’t break the bank. It actually tastes really great, too. But if you don’t like green drinks, it may take a little getting used to. I love that the only ingredients are kale, spinach, apple, cucumber, celery, lemon, and ginger. I even had a chunk of spinach in my bottle!

• Baby birds. Every year around this time, the baby sandhill cranes start making their appearance. They always stick with the parents for a while, so you’ll see them walking around as a “family.” This particular bird family of four has been hanging around my neighborhood lately. I can almost set my watch to when they come out in the evening while I’m out for a walk, and they’re usually in the same area each night. I don’t think the adult birds are all that pretty, but the babies are the cutest! This little guy looked like he was just strolling down the sidewalk taking care of bird business while mom or dad was looking for food!

That’s all for this week! Have a great weekend, and thank you for reading!

It’s the first Friday of spring! I hope everyone is enjoying beautiful weather and looking forward to a great weekend! 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. Amy’s husband talks infertility and adoption. Amy and her husband, Ben, shared their story and how they went to fertility doctors, but opted not to do IVF. They felt like the money would be better spent on adoption, which is what they ultimately did. After a long adoption process, they now have two kiddos from Haiti, who have been with them a little over a year. Ben explained that after many doctor visits, they still don’t know the cause of their infertility, but when one of the best fertility specialists told them he couldn’t explain why, they just knew it was God’s way of telling them they needed to adopt instead. It was such a touching story, and Amy and Ben recommended the book, Adopted for Life, for anyone who might be considering adoption.
2. Keys to happiness. Amy ran through a list of things we can do to be happier in general. We all go through times when we might be a little down, so try some of these tips to make yourself feel happier: give to others; connect with other people; exercise; be appreciative; learn something new; have goals to look forward to; be positive; accept yourself; and be a part of something bigger, like giving back.
3. Benefits of matcha. Amy makes herself a matcha latte almost every morning, and she talked about all the health benefits matcha powder has. It’s an antioxidant powerhouse — even having significantly more than foods like broccoli and blueberries. I ordered myself some matcha a few months ago and have made my own lattes using Amy’s recipe, and they are quite delicious! You can make them hot or cold. Check out Amy’s recipe on the highlight button of her Instagram page here.
4. Do breast implants affect your health? Amy had Bethany Ugarte on again to discuss why she is getting her breast implants removed. Bethany suffered a lot of health issues, including irritable bowel syndrome, and was even in a coma last year. After completely changing what she eats, she has made it her mission to help others live their healthiest life, too. Bethany has done a lot of research and decided to get her breast implants removed because she’s just not comfortable with having something foreign in her body anymore. She even found others who experienced feeling much better after having theirs removed.

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

• Sunsets. Speaking of the keys to happiness that Amy mentioned, exercise is definitely one that does it for me! I’ve been enjoying going for long walks in the evening. It’s a great way for me to wind down after work and get my steps in. The other night, I happened to be facing west at just the right time and caught the prettiest pink sky. It was so amazing to watch it turn colors (and I took these with my phone — no filter)!

• Vegan dressing. I discovered this dressing in the produce section at Publix, and it’s so good! I got the bleu cheese and have used it to dip veggies and my air fryer buffalo cauliflower in, but it would also be great on salad, and they have several other flavors to cheese from, too. This particular flavor only has one carb and no sugar, and it has all good, clean ingredients.

• Vegan ramen. I’ve been wanting to make this for a while now and finally did the other night. I just love peasandcrayons‘ recipes! This one was simple and really flavorful. I’ll definitely be making it often.

• The perfect pink spring nail color. I just got this color from OPI called Stop It, I’m Blushing, and have been wearing it all week. It’s the perfect light pink and has good coverage with two coats.

Thanks for reading, and let me know if there’s anything you’re loving that I need to check out!

It’s finally Friday! I don’t know about ya’ll, but this week beat me up! So glad the weekend is here! 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. Teenage rebellion. Amy’s sister, Christy, was a guest this week and they talked about some of the rebellious things they did as teenagers. Christy has a teenage daughter, and Amy’s daughter will be a teenager in a couple years. They brought up the fact that as adults, we tend to look back and appreciate the boundaries our parents set for us because it shows us they cared and that they loved us. I completely agree with this. I had a lot of rules growing up, but I don’t think I missed out on anything, and I’m grateful I had the upbringing I did.
2. The BEST jeans. A lot of people ask Amy what her favorite jeans are, so she shared two brands she’s currently loving: Citizens of Humanity Rocket high rise skinny jeans and the Madewell 10″ high rise button front skinny jeans in the Cordova wash. Both jeans are an investment, so she gave some tips on how to take care of your jeans to make them last. Don’t wash them too often; always wash in cold water and air dry; don’t use bleach – even on white jeans; and you can stick them in the freezer or the oven to freshen them up and get rid of any odor so you don’t have to wash them as often. Amy prefers the freezer over the oven, and I would rather try that, too. I’m thinking this could be a great way to cool off when it’s really hot out!
3. What’s your enneagram number? If you haven’t heard of the enneagram yet, it’s a personality test that describes more about who you are. Enneagram expert, Hunter Mobley, came on to discuss the test and what certain numbers mean. The numbers range from 1 to 9, and you can take free tests online to see which number you are. Amy tested as a 3. I’ve gotten different results each time, but seem to be either a 6 or 1, or maybe I’m a combination of both!
4. Empathy & kindness goes a long way. Amy told the story of a listener who was saving up to buy Cancer Fighter pullovers for her and her grandpa. When Amy found out, she sent the two pullovers to her, but unfortunately the grandpa passed away before he was able to receive his. Instead, she ended up giving the second pullover to her boss, who had lost his mom to cancer, and it really brought joy to him. Even something as simple as giving someone a pullover lets them know you’re thinking of them, and small acts can have a big impact.

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

• Fresh flowers. I pretty much only buy fresh flowers from Trader Joe’s because they are inexpensive and tend to last a while. I had these almost a week already when I took this picture!

• Chocolove orange peel dark chocolate. This chocolate bar was a yummy treat this week. I found these at Whole Foods, and they have just a hint of an orange flavor and some crunch! There are a lot of other flavors in this brand, too, if orange isn’t your thing.

• Primal Kitchen Macadamia Sea Salt bar. Amy mentioned these on her podcast a few weeks ago as a good healthy protein bar to try. I grabbed these at Whole Foods, too, and they are actually pretty good! The texture is a little different – kind of chewy – but it’s one of those things where the more I ate it, the more I liked it. I’ll definitely get them again!

• Magazines. I don’t get to read as often as I’d like, but I do have two magazine subscriptions that I really enjoy – Southern Living and Our State, which covers all things North Carolina. I’d love to know what your favorite magazines are! Leave me a comment below.

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!

1. 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)!
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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!