Hey Friends,
One of my Instagram followers asked for some good book recommendations, so I gladly wrote this blog! I love nothing more than when someone says to me, “you HAVE to read this book”, or “Omg I loved this book so much”. Like I am already sold and I will likely be buying it as soon as I get to my amazon account at home.
To me, there is nothing better than getting lost and wrapped up in the world of a book. I truly look at it as a way of self-care.
I got this question from a friend, “How do you stay motivated during these tough times?” and it kind of stumped me. I really had to think about it, because if I am being completely honest during this time there are more days that I feel UNmotivated than motivated.
Like many of us, I am not immune to the fears and frustrations that this pandemic has brought upon us. It feels like one day I am mad, the next sad, then scared, then in a fog, I see a little sliver of hope or sunshine, and then I am back in my loop. I am not telling you this to feel bad for me because I do not have it bad at all. So many out there have it so much worse than me, and I pray for them every day. I am telling you this because it’s the truth, and everything going on has knocked me off my course a bit.
I’ve got to be honest with you guys, I have not had an easy time with all of these changes the past couple of weeks. I have had A LOT of change happen in my life, and if I am being honest, I haven’t always had the best reactions to it. I went through at least 2 boxes of tissues from crying. Had to drink Chamomile tea or take a melatonin vitamin to fall asleep because my heart wouldn’t stop racing. I have even played out every single worst-case-scenario in my mind as if it’s already happening or it is “bound” to happen.
I have been very focused on myself, and have not been the BEST at staying positive, seeing through the clouds, and knowing that the sun is shining on the other side of this.
Then suddenly last week, I was inspired.
The way you walk into a workout from the mood you are in to the way you feel, can and will completely alter your workout.
Think about the times that you totally crushed your workout. You likely walked into the class you were taking or the gym with a Rocky mentality. Standing tall, shoulders back, maybe throwing a couple of quick jabs right and left, with “Eye of the Tiger” playing in the background. Then you walk out sore, but feeling even better than when you walked in.
This is a recipe that I half-made up, and half got inspiration from my friend Rachael. She sent me a recipe similar to this on Instagram, and I just looked at the picture and thought I can totally make something like this! Then I did, and it was so freaking good, and SO SO easy to make. I had to share!
This will now be a weekly staple in the McGrath home.
Adjusting to this temporary new normal, many pieces of our daily routines have changed. For many of us, one of those small details that you wouldn’t think of is your lunch routine.
I have been “brown-bagging it” since 95’ and am used to packing a lunch. When I was old enough I would pack, prepare, and bring my lunch to school, work, the beach, wherever. Bringing my lunch saves me time and a ton of money.
I was reading an article that stated as of April 10th around 16 million people filed for unemployment due to the coronavirus pandemic.
With the monster of uncertainty growing, and the coronavirus spreading, this number isn’t going to be going down any time soon. It’s one of the very sad, heart-wrenching realities that we are facing today. When I started hearing about people I knew who would be losing their jobs, their companies were going under, or they had to take a step back in pay, that’s when things started to hit me. It is never bad until they are right in your face, and punch you in the gut.
I lost my first job out of college, so I know the feeling and experienced the reality of it, and it simply just sucks.
Right after college I was at an accounting firm and hated accounting so I transitioned over to their sales team. Looking back, I wasn’t being trained to get into sales but sales reporting. When the next leadership change occurred, as a non-revenue generating employee, I got the boot.
I knew it wasn’t work-performance related because I asked when they told me, but the shame, embarrassment, and devastation that followed were gut-wrenching. I didn’t know what to do, or how to move forward.
Things were different then because I wasn’t a “real” adult with “real” expenses such as rent, groceries, and insurances. As an independent adult, if Dan or I were to lose our jobs it would be much more serious. I decided to create this blog as a reminder to both myself and friends to prepare for when that day comes. Below is a checklist and of what steps to take if you lose your job.
I don’t know about you guys, but nothing makes me want to clean up every aspect of my life more than coronavirus. Everything feels dirty and susceptible to disease, even if I just lysoled my whole life, including my actual self like I lysol sprayed my hands once… not kidding.
Spring cleaning, and washing away the germs, and all bad things away is an absolute must in my household this season.
But of course, me being me, I am looking at, “cleaning up your life” from an all-encompassing view. How can I clean up my physical environment, my mental environment, and my inner environment, aka my gut. Because if you think about it, this virus didn’t just affect our physical bodies, but it affected our homes by not leaving them and our minds from being both stressed and scared.
It all needs a refresh and a cleanout. So let’s get to it.
I LOVE cooking. Mostly because I love eating and I really appreciate a well done, cooked homemade meal. There is nothing like it. I grew up on home-cooked meals and would love how in each season our meals changed. For the most part, we ate seasonally. Whatever fruits and vegetables were in abundance and local at that time of the year, they were on our dinner plate.
When I think of April, I think of the beginning of fresh and lighter meals. It’s getting warmer out, and we are getting outside more, and have a little bit of a spring in our step, no pun intended. 😉 Some of the foods that first come to mind when I think of the spring season are asparagus, peas, and artichokes.
The recipe below was inspired by my friend Michelle, and when I say inspired I mean she legit gave me the recipe. She is honestly a DON when it comes to cooking. Every time I go to her house she makes these unbelievable meals, that always have me going up for seconds if not thirds. This is one of those “can’t get enough of it” meals.
Rachel and Dave Hollis and their company at Hollis Co, have been super aware of and on top of “finding your joy” and making “joy lists” and I am ALL about that. Obviously. And I think that right now, it is more important than ever, for ALL of us to jump in on that bandwagon and be on a constant quest to find joy.
