Becca's Fab Five- September Edition
I LOVE the Human Body with all of its mysteries and intricacies. New products and science are always coming down the pipe and it's hard to know what to read, where to spend your dollars, and when to focus your energy. I thought it would be helpful to show you just FIVE things I'm loving each month. Maybe a recipe, or a book, or an exercise or stretch..... Maybe a product, or a podcast, or a restaurant or venue. I'm giving you ONE THING in each of the areas of our Four Cornerstones or Health, plus a bonus. I hope you'll try them in your life and find a benefit for you!
NOURISHMENT:
I like to make foods that taste yummy AND that I can let my children eat with reckless abandon. It's a win-win, right? This Paleo Pumpkin Brownie recipe was given to me by a client. It was originally for an 8 x 8 pan. But that is child's play at my house. So, I double it and put it in a 9 x 13 pan. We still make short work of it, but at least it makes it through the day :-)
Ingredients:
1 1/2 C Almond Butter
2 Ripe Bananas
1 C Pumpkin
1/3 C Maple Syrup or Honey
1 tsp Vanilla extract
1/2 tsp Almond extract
2 tsp Baking Soda
1/2 tsp Sea Salt
1 tsp Cinnamon
2 tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice
2 T Coconut Flour <-- I use this brand for many of my alternative flours and find it to be awesome!!!
2/3 C Enjoy Life Chocolate Chips
Preheat oven to 350*. Spray a 9 x 13 pan with cooking spray. Combine Almond butter through Almond Extract and mix thoroughly. Combine Baking Soda through Coconut Flour in separate bowl and then add to wet ingredients. Mix thoroughly. Stir in Chocolate Chips. Pour into greased pan. Bake 35-40 min or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
MOVEMENT:
I get a lot of questions about how much people should exercise. I'm never shy to give my two cents on why MOVEMENT is better than EXERCISE and my usual answer is to encourage people who want to exercise more to do so in the form of stretching or yoga (from a knowledgeable instructor like our Gretchen Wood, who happens to also be my very special friend but I swear that doesn't cloud my judgement because she really is THE best yoga instructor I have ever experienced ever I swear). Thus, it only seemed appropriate to have her share a stretch that she is loving right now :-)
ENJOYMENT:
This month's enjoyment came about when one of our clients pointed out that the days were getting shorter and now the sunrise was happening around 6:50 am. "It's perfect," she said. "I don't have to get up too early and I can walk the dog right at sunrise and still get ready for work. It's the best time of year!" So. Simple. It's a perfect way to take a calm breath of air (maybe even before you have to wake the kiddos) and enjoy some natural beauty to kick off the day. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this simple practice and the fact that it honors this strange 'tween season of weather in Florida! This month try waking up just 10-15 minutes earlier and hopping outside to see the perfectly timed sunrise.
FULFILLMENT:
Lately, I have been stalking the Mind Pump Media Podcast. I really like the guys that host it and I love that they are constantly encouraging each other to push for "better." WARNING: They do use some vulgar language and high school boy type antics in the first part of the show. Just roll your eyes that men never actually grow up and stay tuned. I mentioned one of their podcasts last month in the August Fab Five regarding religion and I had several people reach out to me for further discussion, which was so awesome. I'm just over here swirling around in my own head, trying my damnedest to do my best. I LOVE to hear from other people striving for their best life, too. Well, recently, they put up a podcast where they interviewed a guy from another podcast called The Dad Edge. It was directed at Dads but I was overwhelmed by all I got out of the episode. Somehow, it just never really occurred to me that my husband could be just as frozen and unsure in this parenting crap as me!! I immediately sent the link for the show to Super Mark. A couple days later, he texted me "I listened to that podcast last night, Bec. So. Good. Thank you." He's a man of many words...... actually, that was a lot of words for Mark! Hahaha! A few days later, he shared with me that he had been listening to The Dad Edge NONSTOP. I asked Mark to write more words to encourage other men who might be looking for something similar. This is what he says...
"I've really been enjoying The Dad Edge. I never really had a burning desire to be a Dad and didn't do so until I was in my early 40s. But as life changes, so do priorities. My priority now is my family. The podcast was started by a father of four boys and he interviews men from Professional Athletes to Navy Seals to best selling authors. He also interviews everyday men which makes it easy to relate. Topics aren't just about parenting, either. He covers the relationship with your spouse, finances, health, and parenting. I highly recommend this podcast for men who are trying to put their family first and get the most out of being a Dad."
Now, THAT is a lot of words for Mark! He hasn't spoken since he wrote this.... just kidding!
BONUS:
Deodorant!!! I use a ton of it and the normal stuff is so full of chemicals and crap that is no bueno for the body. I switched several years ago to a deodorant called Stank Stop by Fatco. The "natural" stuff at the store is crap and it all smells weird. Who ever heard of apricot scented armpits??? So weird. I love the stuff but it does take a little time for your body to adjust. If you decide to give it a go, carry it in your purse or backpack and reapply mid day initially. These days, I often go without any deodorant when I'm not at the gym. The natural bacterial balance of my armpits has re-established (I'm guessing) and of course I've cleaned my diet up big time over the years. Stankage is rarely an issue these days. Mark is loving a new one that they actually carry at Target and I tried it. It is also legit! It's called Schmidt's Natural Deodorant- Charcoal and Magnesium. It smells amazing!
