"Be Better Than Gift Cards" Weekly Wisdom

 Before you buy a bunch of stuff this year for family and friends here is some #foodforthought...

This holiday season, I am sharing some ideas to help you think out of the box on buying things for others. No one really needs more "things" to add to their lives but I bet many people in your life would appreciate and utilize more thoughtful ideas to be gifted. 

Which brings me to my last idea...

Gift giving should be thoughtful. We should actually spend some time purchasing a gift for someone because we care enough about them to buy them a gift. I have looked at other peoples gift lists and it amazes me the amount of people being shopped for - all crammed into this tiny amount of time. Why don't we be more thoughtful during the whole year?  I would love to receive something thoughtful purchased for me on April 3rd, when I am least expecting it. When we put the pressure of gift giving on during the holidays, we get less thoughtful with our purchases and the crutch of gift cards help us cross off our list. 

We are better than that. 

Take the time to be purposeful with your gifts, really look at what someone needs or gift them something they would never purchase for themselves. And if you don't find it before December 25th, wait and there is always a random day in April it will mean just as much. 

#embracethehellyeah

~AE

"Be Present Instead of Presents" Weekly Wisdom

Before you buy a bunch of stuff this year for family and friends here is some #foodforthought...

This holiday season, I am sharing some ideas to help you think out of the box on buying things for others. No one really needs more "things" to add to their lives but I bet many people in your life would appreciate and utilize more thoughtful ideas to be gifted. 

Which brings me to my second idea...

Being present instead of buying presents. Sometimes I think it is easy to give actual things than it is to give your time. How many times have you hesitated when thinking about going to visit family and friends? I get it - thinking about our crazy schedules, how long it takes to get there and back, the feeling you're not staying long enough - there will always be plenty of excuses. 

If you have 30 minutes or 3 days, it doesn't matter. Your time is the best thing you can give. I also love the added touch of making something homemade and bringing it with you. Throughout the year, my mom likes to make a loaf of homemade bread and take it to people and I just love that. It is so kind, thoughtful and delicious. 

Nothing says I love and care about you than sharing moments of your time and homemade food. 

#embracethehellyeah

~AE

 

"Before You Buy" Weekly Wisdom

 

Before you buy a bunch of stuff this year for family and friends here is some #foodforthought...

Have you started the hustle and bustle of the holidays?  I am sure you have, it is hard not to once Thanksgiving is here and gone - with black Friday and Cyber Monday just tempting us with discounts and deals, waiting for us to buy all the stuff. Most of which we don't need. 

This holiday season, I am sharing some ideas to help you think out of the box on buying things for others. No one really needs more "things" to add to their lives but I bet many people in your life would appreciate and utilize more thoughtful ideas to be gifted. 

Which brings me to my first idea...

No one is going to tell you they need a bill paid off or they are behind on a payment for their electricity.  If you are close with your family and friends, you know if they are struggling. This could be your chance to help. Many utility companies will allow you to pay outstanding bills or provide them with a gift certificate. This could also be applicable to paying rent, credit cards or maybe an unexpected bill for medical treatment, a vet bill, dental work, car insurance. Times have been tough for many people and if you are paying attention, you will know exactly what a loved one might need help with. 

#embracethehellyeah

~AE

Month of Gratitude: "Looking Forward to Thanksgiving" Weekly Wisdom

 

What are you excited for at Thanksgiving tomorrow?

I want to spend the month of November being more grateful. I have gratitude prompts for each day of the month to think and write about. Each week, I am sharing one of my favorites and hope you will be a gratitude groupie with me.

Thanksgiving is has been growing on me as a holiday. In the past, it wasn't my favorite because it stressed my family the F out. But there is so many great qualities about it now as I am getting older. I am always grateful to spend time with my heartbeats, share some eats (Mom's Potato Casserole and Polly's Aloha Bake yummm) and drinks and just enjoy the adventure of the day. 

The one thing I am most excited for tomorrow is chaos that awaits. The goofiest shit happens on this holiday with my family. This year, I can only imagine how it's all going to play out as the party is getting bigger as the family and friends are being extended. Chaos makes life beautiful. 

Cheers to all the food, all the love and all the thanks we will share with our heartbeats tomorrow. 

#gratitude #embracethehellyeah

~AE

Month of Gratitude: "Embracing Your Body" Weekly Wisdom

 

What is one thing you love about your body right now?

I want to spend the month of November being more grateful. I have gratitude prompts for each day of the month to think and write about. Each week, I am sharing one of my favorites and hope you will be a gratitude groupie with me.

After Halloween, sometimes we hit the holiday train of no return and just roll into the New Years with complete abandon. It starts a cycle of not feeling as confident in our skin and forgetting how there is much more to life than worrying about your pants getting a little tighter from attending gatherings you are enjoying and eating whatever the hell you want. 

I know it's going to happen every year and that is totally fine with me. What I love about my body right now is I have two legs that allow me to walk, stand and move around. It enables me to exercise when I need some good endorphins, they help me walk a customer to their holiday favorites in the grocery store, they allow me to pick up the bajillion leaves flying around in my yard. 

They have weird veins, cellulite, scars, and a few hairs I missed but they are mine and I am grateful for their support. 

#gratitude #embracethehellyeah

~AE

Month of Gratitude: "Finding the Joy in Each Day" Weekly Wisdom

What is the best thing that happened to you today?

I want to spend the month of November being more grateful. I have gratitude prompts for each day of the month to think and write about. Each week, I am sharing one of my favorites and hope you will be a gratitude groupie with me.

I am writing this in real time today as I wanted to answer the question honestly. I always get up early in the morning, around 3:30 am each day to start my day in a positive way with praying, journaling, exercising and eating food. I am not a coffee drinker and believe it or not, I function just fine. 

As the early morning hours are surrounding me and the day just beginning, the best thing to happen to me today is waking up. The act of opening my eyes, feeling my heartbeat and breathing is something I am grateful for deep down in my soul.  

 I am always so thankful for another day to be alive, be a good human, move my body, have food to nourish my body, have a car to drive and do great things at work. I am also grateful for another day because I get to talk to the people I love, snuggle my kitty and sleep in the coziest bed in the land. 

So today at 3:43 am, my eyes are open, my lungs are full, my heart is beating and my mind is clear to take on whatever this massive gift of a day ahead has in store for me. 

#gratitude #embracethehellyeah

~AE

 

Month of Gratitude: "Loving Your Home" Weekly Wisdom

 

What is your favorite room where you live and why?

I want to spend the month of November being more grateful. I have gratitude prompts for each day of the month to think and write about. Each week, I am sharing one of my favorites and hope you will be a gratitude groupie with me. 

My favorite room in my home is my basement because that's where my home gym is. I fought it for years. I thought I really needed the discipline of going to a gym to make me work out and be more compliant. Once I started putting the pieces together and decided to quit my gym, I have never been happier. The gym was not a place I loved to go. There were always too many man buns and unkept beards, dropping weights, groans, people who don't shower, people who drank a keg of beer the night before, people with body image issues, people in unhealthy relationships with themselves and others - more or less, too much negativity and that was rubbing off on me. Less is more. 

All that is my home gym is good vibes, clean equipment, a window that opens and my kitty spotter. 

#embracethehellyeah #monthofgratitude

~AE

"Live with Intention" Weekly Wisdom

How are your goals coming along for 2021?

We are 66 days away from a new year and yet we have 66 days to see if we are still on track with our intentions for this year. I think many of us hit this last week in October, especially after Halloween and say fu*k it with what we set out to accomplish this year. Kind of a long version of "I will start on Monday."  

You don't have to put 2021 on pause and start over in 2022. Your intentions are still there and waiting for you to tackle them. 

I am guilty of this too. I have had many intentions for 2021 and sadly, many of them have not happened. But I am so excited to know I have 66 days to still get shit done!  I am excited and grateful for the time I still have left to complete a few things and have no reasons to put them on pause until 2022. I am committed to the path I set out for myself this past year and I hope you are too. 

Pick something you have wanted to do in 2021 and do it!  No matter where you are, it is never too late to take the first step. And if you need some help to get motivated, reach out, I will root you on and hold you accountable if you need it. 

#embracethehellyeah

~AE

 

"Dietitian FowaRD" Weekly Wisdom

 

Are you attending virtual FNCE this year?

I will be completely honest, I miss the in-person FNCE event. I know these times have been challenging to make the decision to keep it virtual but it just isn't the same. I love the in-person meeting to see old friends, make new friends, learn, grow and re-establish my enthusiasm and joy for being a registered dietitian. 

I am opting out this year but have been choosing to be present in my 20th year of being a dietitian by attending the Iowa Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics conference in a couple of weeks, being a mentor and writing the second edition of "I'm a Registered Dietitian...Now What?" The mantra I am carrying with me until I can attend FNCE in person is "Dietitian ForwaRD." 

What am I doing to moving our profession forward?  How can I be a better dietitian for my clients but more for other registered dietitians?  We can help thousands of clients in our daily lives through our jobs, helping them with their health and nutrition goals. But what are we doing to keep this profession thriving?  

What are you doing? 

If you are attending FNCE this year, I ask you to keep this in mind during the sessions you attend and the networking you do. Think of how you can make this profession be better, do better and stay relevant amongst all the "nutrition experts" in the world today. We are getting farther and farther away from getting a seat at the table, we need to every dietitian to make this a priority.

#embracethehellyeah and #DietitianForwaRD

~AE

"Celebrate Everything" Weekly Wisdom

 

Do you celebrate all the great things happening in your life?

I loved a lot of things about my sister but one of my favorite things is how she found joy in celebrating all the things. Big or small, it called for a celebration. I have been thinking about her and how she was so right in doing so. After writing this post, my mom even brought up Kate's enjoyment in celebrating all the things. It truly was one of her many gifts. 

Why don't we be more like Kate? Why do we wait to only celebrate when things are "big" by society's definition?  There is something in everyday worth celebrating. Very similar to finding the joy in each day. Every evening, I have been writing my daily joy and thoughts of Kate have giving me a shift in writing down a daily joyful celebration. It might sound cheesy but how can you be sad or depressed if you can find this in everyday? And p.s., I know you can. 

You don't need a party, champagne or anything special to celebrate something each day. By all means, please do if you want to! What you do need is to find recognition in the amazing things you are doing and the amazing things that are happening around you every day. If you're not paying attention, it's on you for missing out. 

Waking up, being alive, breathing and being able to smile is pretty awesome. It's another day on this earth, to be with who I love, to do what I love, and be better than the day before. 

Be like Kate, celebrate everything!

#embracethehellyeah

~AE