✨ Healthy Snack Ideas, Postpartum Essentials, and My Latest DIY Home Project...
Sunday R.E.S.E.T. #30
Happy Sunday, my friends!
This week I’m feeling all of the emotions that come with embracing the land of in-betweens.
We’re not quite in summer, not quite in fall, I’m in the third trimester but my due date isn’t for over a month, we’re riiiiight on the cusp of the cozy, warm, crock pot, warm-mug-in-your-hands time of year, yet I’m currently still embracing the warm weather, greenery, and sunshine of summer…
It might be a time of transition, but I honestly love this time of year. And, today, we are going to chat about what’s been on my mind in this season:
💭 REFLECTION: The 30-minute ritual that had me feeling inspired, focused, and clear. Such a mood booster!
🥙 EATING: A very random list of [completely unsponsored] healthy food brands I’ve been loving lately…
🤰🏻 SAME, SAME: After having experienced postpartum with my firstborn, here are 8 specific things I plan to repeat in this postpartum experience.
🔨 ENHANCING: …Our fence? Say hello to our latest home project transformation! (This was a DIY, but the before & after is crazy!)
🛍 TRYING TO FIND: Fall fashion is here, and, I am on the hunt for one specific type of shirt, and I could use your help…
In our fast-paced world, it’s so. dang. easy. to slip into autopilot without even realizing it— checking off tasks, going through the motions, scrolling endlessly, and mindlessly moving through your days, responsibilities, and routines.
... all without stopping to reflect on what you actually want.
Yet every now and then, I feel the urgent need to hit pause and take a little “life inventory.” So, last week, I set aside 30ish minutes in the early morning to print out my own goal-setting sheets (is that embarrassing? 🤣), reflect, and set some specific goals for this season of my life.
It was simple, but it genuinely gave me a pep in my step and brought some much-needed clarity…
But it’s funny because I think people equate “goal setting” solely with productivity and career milestones and tangible benchmarks and accomplishments (which is valid), but don’t forget— goals can also be versatile and fit YOUR current life stage.
For example, most of my “goals” right now are centered around the remainder of my pregnancy, preparing for my maternity leave, and postpartum.
You can set intentions and goals in ANY phase of life. It doesn’t have to be complicated or grand or super tangible— even just 30 minutes of reflection and setting a few realistic goals can help you feel more grounded and aligned with where you are and where you want to go.
Sometimes, putting some pen to paper is all it takes to reignite that spark.
As you guys know, I’m very passionate about health, but I take a ‘nothing’s off-limits’ approach when it comes to food.
Cereal? Allowed.
Pasta? Allowed.
Chips? Definitely allowed.
The only catch? When I shop for those snacky, pre-made items, I do my best to choose brands that prioritize whole, simple, organic, and high-quality ingredients.
And here are a few RANDOM better-for-you food brands that have been filling my cart lately:
This. Cereal.: Craving a Honey Bunches of Oats vibe but want something gluten-free and organic? I’ve been obsessed with this cereal that checks all the boxes— I may or may not be on my third box this month!
The best “natural” peanut butter around: Smooth, flavorful, and a very simple ingredient list. Check, check, check!
The pouches I feed my son: As you may have read in “A [Realistic] Peek At What My Toddler Eats In A Day”, these specific pouches are a godsend when we’re on the go and need a snack. Organic ingredients, protein-dominant, and shelf-stable. I literally always have 2-3 in my purse, haha.
These Potato Chips: In a world full of industrial seed oils, these chips are a gem—they’re fried in avocado oil (which is so rare!). Not only is this easier on the body, but they also taste SO good.
Gluten-Free Pasta (That Actually Tastes Great): I’ve raved about this brand before, but they’re seriously the go-to for gluten-free pasta. Organic, simple ingredients, delicious taste, and affordable. Highly recommend!
My MVP for On-the-Go Protein: I’m always looking to sneak more protein into my day, and these are my favorite. They’re made with simple ingredients and grass-fed meat (so hard to find in the meat-stick world!), plus they have unique flavors. So good!
Since I’m going into postpartum this time with he knowledge and experience I gained from my previous pregnancy with Miles, I’ve been spending a lot of time thinking about what worked (…annnnd what didn’t 🤪)
Below, I’m sharing 8 [very specific] things for postpartum that I’m DEFINITELY planning on repeating this time around ⬇️ Let’s dive in!