Welcome to the Friday 5!
Every Friday I will highlight 5 things I am currently loving. This can be anything from habits that are currently serving me, clothes, apps, people I am currently loving, podcasts, food, mom hacks and everything in between!
What I am currently loving:
Taylor Jenkins Reid
Have y’all read any of Reid’s books? In the past year, I’ve read four of her books. They are all so well written and just easy reads for me. I have really gotten into the habit of reading when I get in bed and I want an easy, entertaining read. I read at the end of the day as an escape, and want to be entertained and feel joy. These books have been that for me. So far I have read, Daisy Jones and The Six, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, One True Loves and Malibu Rising. They were all page turners for me, I love it when I just cannot put a book down. If you haven’t grabbed any of these, get yourself at least one now. They are great.
Drinking All the Water
I really buckled down on this habit at the beginning of 2020. In January of 2018 I got strep throat and in January of 2019 I got the flu, I was determined not to get sick in January of 2020. I read a quote a few years ago that said, “it’s not cold and flu season, it’s sugar and alcohol season.” Meaning our eating and drinking habits, especially mine, tend to go off the deep end during the holidays, which compromises our immune systems and opens us up for illness. So, for me I felt like the best way to combat this, was to chug water like it was my job. Keep my body flushed out of all the bad stuff and concentrate on healthier habits. And it worked, I have made it thru 2020 and 2021 mostly unscathed. Outside of my normal sinus infections in the spring and fall, I’ve been good. Praying that remains the case, eating my greens, taking my supplements and chugging water have been game changers for me. And water intake is the easiest thing you can do in my opinion. I aim for 80-100 ounces of water a day. Some days are better than others, but I do my best to be consistent with it. Before it became a really solid habit for me, I tracked my ounces in my phone each day to keep up and would give myself little challenges each day. Like, I can’t have another cup of coffee until I drink another 16 ounces, or I have to finish this bottle before I eat my lunch. Also, investing in these water bottles has been a game changer for sure. I love them.
Waking Up Before The Kids
Write this on my tombstone, because I will be telling moms to do it till the end of time. If you are not waking up before your kids, you are missing out on the best part of the day. Even if it’s just five minutes to make your coffee and get one sip in, do it. One of the most impactful quotes I’ve ever heard was, “wake up for your kids, not to your kids.” Wake up for them, to get ready for the day for them, not literally TO them in your face. If I wake up with a toddler in my face, it throws my whole day off, I feel like I am trying to catch up all day. All of my kids are sleep trained and generally wake up at 7, so I try to get up between 5-5:30 each day, even on the weekends. The older girls have this clock in their room that turns green at 7, so they know not to come out and bother me until the light is green, this works probably 95% of the time. This gives me time to drink my coffee in peace, get dressed, get some work done, fold clothes, read, or whatever needs to be done that morning. Your morning sets the tone for the day, make sure it’s good.
Greens Heavy Lunch
I worked with a nutritionist earlier this year with a goal of eating for more energy and with the curiosity of how foods affect me. An assumption I had made in my head was that dairy really made be bloated and not feel good, after a few weeks of tracking my foods we found that simple carbs were really what the problem was. They make me lethargic and do not sustain my hunger. I was finding if I at a carb-based breakfast or lunch, oatmeal or a sandwich (even the healthiest of breads) it made me tired and I was starving about 45 minutes after eating. So, we switched things up and now every day I have a lunch that is mostly greens. Even if I go out to eat, lunch is a salad. It’s amazing how much better I feel after having greens for lunch versus anything I have tried before. If you are looking for a way to have more energy throughout the day, try this. I cannot tell you the difference in my energy levels post lunch.
Dance Parties
Let me tell you, nothing will change your mood like a quick dance party. I do this with the girls multiple times a week. If someone is cranky, myself included, we turn up the volume on our Sonos speaker in the kitchen and DANCE IT OUT. It’s amazing to me how quickly the frowns will turn to smiles. Something about just moving around and having fun makes all the difference in the world. We will even dance it out in the car on the way to or from school if one of the girls aren’t having a great day. Music and movement are the best medicine for the soul. Try it, you will love it, promise.
I hope you found something helpful or inspiring in this week’s Friday Five! I’ll have 5 new favorites to share with you next week, have an awesome weekend!
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