#WeeklyWisdom and Always Have Love in Your Heart Valentine's Day Nosh

What is it you like about Valentine's Day?

This question gets a variety of answers. It is either "I love it" or "I hate it" mostly based on a plethora of past experiences. I have a combination of both. 

I love it because I feel all warm and fuzzy for my heartbeats and celebrate our special relationships. I also love it because hello, all my favorite colors and my favorite shape: pink, red, white, purple, hearts, hearts and more hearts. It is also in February, my favorite month of the year, just in time for when we need a little pick me up after all the excitement of the holidays. 

I sometimes don't love it because of how some people measure their sense of worth based on a delivery of flowers, a special dinner or exorbitant gift from their special someone. The worst was when I was in high school and I felt my worth. At the end of the day, they would call the name of everyone who received a delivery on Valentine's Day to come to the office. If your name wasn't called, well you get the idea. It felt awful. No one should feel that way. but it is hard to realize for some of us it is just one day.  We should be expressing our love like this to the people who mean the most to us...everyday. Why do so many wait for this one day a year?  

 Don't let a high school memory of Valentine's Day ruin it forever for you. Don't let a forgotten gift or sentiment, make you become hard and angry towards future friends and significant others, don't let yourself determine your worth by receiving something on February 14th.  

Do everything in with love in your heart. Say everything with love in your heart. Live daily with love in your heart. 

#embracethehellyeah |  #lessstuffmorelife

~AE

#WeeklyWisdom and "Stay In Your Lane" Nosh

Do you find it difficult at times to explain what a registered dietitian is and is not?

I cannot count the number of times someone asks me what a dietitian is or does and then proceeds to ask me about an ailment they have or ask me how to make something like sourdough bread. I am always 100% honest and let them know I am not an expert in either. 

I try to stay in my lane and let things up to experts. I am always willing to refer these questions to the right people and create a network of people with proven track records to answer those questions. I may have personal experiences with a variety of areas but there is a distinct difference in being self-proclaimed and having the education and experience in any given field.  I am not big on creating and sharing recipes because I am not a chef and I don't offer medical advice just because I took numerous classes with medical students. 

We get pissed off when celebrities or other self-proclaimed nutritionist educate people on nutrition but why aren't other professions getting pissed right back at us for trying to be experts in something we are not?  I wouldn't want my financial advisor telling me what I should be eating to lose weight. Why would any dietitian be offering financial consulting in the same respect?

Being a dietitian is awesome but it is even more awesome when I stay in my lane. I do not want to be everything to everyone, I just want to be the expert in my field. I want to keep educating myself, growing, learning as much as possible. What I don't want to do is overstep my expertise or my boundaries. I just want to be damn good at being a registered dietitian. 

#embracethehellyeah | #lessstuffmorelife

~AE

#WeeklyWisdom and Top 5 January Nutrition Noshes

Nosh One. Wisdom.

How does cold weather and winter make you feel?

I never use to really think about this question when I was younger. Winter was just a part of life living where I do. I have long forgotten the snow days during school and the long walks across my college campus in which I never was prepared for and was always missing a glove. 

But now...that is a different story entirely. Of course I love the warmer weather, longer days of sunlight and not having to wear fifty layers of clothing just to walk from my car to my office. I just have realized how winter and cold takes a toll of my mental stability. I get sad and blue during the winter for no reason. I find myself not wanting to leave my house, ever. My body aches a little bit more, I stress about driving and don't even get me started on snow removal. 

Living where I do is also a choice and winter comes with it. It's almost February and truly, we have had winter for about 3 weeks. It is all about perspective. The days are getting longer and April is only 2 short months away. When I have negative winter words, I know I have the power to change my perspective and my thoughts. I can embrace this season of weather and of life. It can be a time to complain or it can be a time to reflect and look forward to what is to come. 

Either way, I am going to try to keep perspective and apologize in advance. 

Nosh Two. #Embracethehellyeah Conversation. 

Conversation 111:  #EmbracetheHellYeah Conversation

What makes you say “hellyeah” at the end of the day?  For any question I am asked or I ask myself, if I cannot 100% say hell yeah as my answer then it is a hell no. I want you to embrace saying yes with your whole heart and soul by enjoying every part of your authentic life. At the end of each month, I want to get more up close and personal with you all on the other side of the airwaves and share with you more about my how my podcast guests are I are doing our best  to #embracethehellyeah.

Connect and let me know what you think by emailing me or connecting with me on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter

Nosh Three. Weekly HellYeah!

January has been cold and snowy and did I mention cold. One this month, we had a lovely snow overnight resulting in at least 7 inches with 30 mph winds, resulting in some lovely drifts all over my neighborhood. My neighbor was nice enough to blaze a trail in the morning to get me started. 

And I had my moment of when I wished I hired someone to scoop my snow. Then I quickly checked myself and reminded myself I have the ability to do this task myself.  I viewed it as my workout for the day, popped in my headphones and headed out to conquer. This was my before photo of complete dread and I felt the complete opposite afterwards. I was ready to rock the day and turned my frown upside down. 

This month my tribe finally had the opportunity to get together post-holiday and have a much needed cocktail club. It is citrus season, so I wanted to make sure I chose a cocktail with citrus and so I could also use my new citrus peel toy. Works so great!

The Sidecar was a strong one with a lovely citrus flavor while making everyone warm and toasty. If you are looking for a great winter beverage you can sip on for awhile, try out the Sidecar. 

During January, I usually catch up on trying new recipes because it is too cold to do anything else and being in a warm toasty kitchen is a great idea. One I really enjoyed was a power bite recipe from Kodiak Cakes. I thought they were a little too dry to roll, so I did add a little more almond milk to make them roll better. Instead of 2 tablespoons of almond milk, I used 6 tablespoons. I also added a few Spicy and Sweet roasted pecans I shared in this post made with my new favorite sugar-free sweetener Swerve.

Peanut Butter Protein Bites by Kiwi and Carrots

INGREDIENTS 

8 Medjool dates, pitted 

1 cup Kodiak Cakes Peanut Butter Power Cakes Flapjack and Waffle Mix 

1 scoop (about 1/4 cup) of your favorite vanilla protein powder 

1 cup natural peanut butter, creamy 

6 tablespoons unsweetened vanilla almond milk 

2 tablespoons chia seeds 

1/2 cup rolled oats 

1/4 cup unsweetened, shredded coconut 

3 tablespoons mini chocolate chips 

DIRECTIONS 

Combine pitted dates, Kodiak Cakes mix, and protein powder in a food processor and pulse until incorporated. Add peanut butter and almond milk and pulse until a sticky dough forms. Remove from processor and place on wax paper or in a large glass mixing bowl. Using your hands, gently mix in chia seeds, rolled oats, shredded coconut and chocolate chips. Roll into small balls and place in the freezer in an airtight container to harden. Store in freezer or fridge and enjoy cold or at room temperature

Nosh Four. Weekly Soundtrack. 

Just listened to this soundtrack for my last snow scooping extravaganza. Find my #LessStuffMoreLife Soundtrack on Apple Music and Spotify. 

Nosh Five. What I Love Right Now. 

January is also the perfect time to continue my natural deodorant quest. I am trying 2 new brands this month. As of right now, I haven't found one that sticks out as an overall winner. I have found it is good to rotate them and use a different one each day. Maybe my arm pits like variety, I am going to go with it. I have really enjoyed both of these as far as keeping my sweating and scent in check. LaVanila has been great when I am wearing layers and layers of clothing and still sweating. It has helped keep the perspiration away. The Weleda has been working great too and the pomegranate scent is lovely.  I enjoy it being a roll on as Ban used to be my favorite deodorant. Will keep you updated on ones I am trying and what ones win after I have been using natural deodorants for a year. 

~AE

*All views and opinions on products, food and businesses in this blog post are my own and are not sponsored in any way. I just love to share great things!