Monday Motivators: Podcast Crazy

I've recently been asked by a few people to recommend some great podcasts; vetted podcasts that I could promise would be a healthy balance of entertaining and informative. 

Luckily for these people, I am hooked on podacasts...more than TV, and almost as much as books. Nope. Sorry, that's a lie. I spend way more time with podcasts than books because you can cross items off of your To-Do list as you listen. 

Which is why I will happily recommend the podcasts I'm currently hooked on, but cannot-and will not-promise that you will love them as much as I do. Though, I'm fairly confident that there's at least one for each of you in the following list. 

I'd also like to send out this request: What podcasts make YOU crazy? 

What audio content hooks you for hours on end as these do to me? 

Which programs cause you to stay in your car 5 extra minutes or to run an extra mile, or to--why not?--go ahead and dust those baseboards--because some genious out there had collected some addicting content? I want to know! I have room for more!! 

I encourage you to do some digging into the following programs, and learn about what pours out of my earbuds and into my brain all week. Hopefully you'll find a new companion for your time spent running, walking, biking, driving, cooking, and cleaning.  

This week--like all other weeks--I'll be anxiously awaiting those tiny red notifaction badges alerting me to a new epodode that will teach me something new, entertain me, or just open my mind to a new perspective on the world.   

Savage Lovecast

TIPS: This is an audio advice column. It's often raunchy and many times touching.  Dan starts every show ranting about the latest political topic related to LGBT rights. He is opinionated and extremely passionate about the issues he believes in, but he treats his callers with such unbiased fairness, you have to love him.

Recommended Episode: I can't recommend any one episode because you never know what kinds of questions will be aired. He's just a great person to listen to. After listening to him for so long (5 years for me now), I like to try and guess what his advise will be to callers. I'm getting pretty good.

Freakonomics Radio

TIPS: They promise to reveal "the hidden side of everything". Economics, sociology, politics, technology, entertainment, etc. Some epidodes are long and some are as short as 4 minutes. You'll have to read the topic and description before deciding to listen. If you like what they have to offer, I highly recommend listening to their first book. It's how I learned about these guys in the first place. I listened to their book about 9 years ago. It's fab.

Recommended Episode: Do More Expensive Wines Taste Better?

This American Life

TIPS: This is one of the most well-known, popular podcasts out there. If you've listened to NPR a day in your life you've at least heard of this one. Like Freakonomics, their topics are a widespread as the equator, only in this one the host, Ira Glass, hunts down real American people and interviews them as a way to illustrate these issues in a way that will make sense to us. These epidoes are consistently an hour, so they're perfect for weekend runs or long commutes. 

Recommended Episodes: Bad Baby, Regrets, I've Had a Few, Need to Know Basis, It Says So Right Here. 

TED Radio Hour 

TIPS: This one is my favorite; though, if you already know and love This American Life, you'll like this one, as they're very similar. Further, if you like the format and endless topics available, you MUST make time to watch the full talks online.]

Recommended Episodes: Memory Games, What is Original?, Making Mistakes, and Simply Happy

Nutrition Diva

TIPS: Short, sweet, and to the point. If you're new to the podcast and catching up on archives, it's great to listen to a string of them when you're getting ready in the morning or in the kitchen making a meal. 

Recommended Episode: Can't really say here. It just depends on what you want to learn about. For example, I shared info from the show entitled, Why Leftover Pasta is Good For You with our dad because he eats leftover pasta every night for dinner. Also, since there are a lot of scientific words backing her research, I've been known to repeat episodes just to make sure I'm not misinforming people I talk to. It's all about what applies to your own habits and nurition goals. 

Savvy Psychologist

TIPS: See tips on Nutrition Diva. Same home website, same concept. If you love lists (as we do) then you'll love all programs on QDT (Quick & Dirty Tips) because they're just that: quick and dirty. 

Recommended Episode: Psychology interests me to no end because of my day job, so all episodes on this series appeal to me. Just browse the titles and see what stands out! 

Invisibilia

TIPS: Oh. My. God. This podcast is AMAZING!!! It ranks a very close second to TED on my list. Season 1 was way too short. I am on pins and needles waiting for Season 2. I snagged a few descriptive lines from the creators themselves: "Invisibilia (Latin for all the invisible things) is about the invisible forces that control human behavior--ideas, beliefs, assumptions and emotions...Invisibilia interweaves narrative storytelling with scientific research that will ultimately make you see your own life differently". MUCH like This American Life, only all episodes ride on the theme of human behavior. 

Recommended Episode: See recs from Savvy Psychologist and accept that this all interests me immensely. Though, I can't say enough about the debut episode, The Secret History of Thoughts.  I've listened to it three times now. No joke. Go, download it. Right now. Go on. 

Serial

TIPS: This one plays like an audio book. If you're unsure about the whole podcast format but love a gripping story line, start with this one. The creators take true stories and spread out the narration of the research and interviews aimed at finding the truth. (You can also listen to "The Alibi" on This American Life for a preivew of Serial. This is where the series took root). 

Recommended Episode: Can't. It's a series. One episode feeds into the next. In reality, this is one program that took a break every week. Listen to it. 

Happy listening, friends! I promise, as long as you have electricity and the Internet, you'll never be bored again!!

Friday Five!

{got organized with my new personal trainer}

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This week was all about productivity! Its Spring break around here and the offices are S.I.L.E.N.T! And perfect timing too coming off another Food Show week. Every single day I was working at my maximum productivity, so much so that I didn't even take lunch breaks. It was perfect. The evenings were spent doing a little spring cleaning, and starting my new workout regimen.

Her name is Kayla Itsines and she is blowin’ it up in the fitness world. She has over 2.5 million Instagram followers and I've heard nothing but good things about her program.  I downloaded her workout plan and started her 12 week program this week. I’ll be checking in periodically with how I’m doing! Not only am I changing up my workout routine (Insanity honestly wasn't doing anything for me anymore, my body just got too used to it…) I’m also changing up my eating habits. I am not the worst eater by any means, but there is definitely room for improvement!

Europe is officially booked and my summer bikini body plan of attack is underway.

Not gonna lie, feeling pretty good about April!

Friday Forte:

{my absolute new FAVORITE snack!}

{avocado mask from Korea}

{warehouse tour field trip }

{impromptu midweek brewery tour – Rowster Coffee Porter sounded WAY too good!}

Easter Weekend 2015

Easter weekend. We had GREAT weather. It was a breath of fresh air. Literally…

Saturday our plan was to head down South to go bow fishing and watch the game at a Dowagiac watering hole, but the weather wouldn't have been ideal once the sun went down so we opted to stay in Grand Rapids for the day. After leisurely drinking some coffee and watching some TV we decided to head out to Eastown for a quick beer, and some tacos before ending up at our final destination for the game. The overall day was absolutely what I was looking for (with the exception of MSU’s ultimate demise to Duke).  

Sunday, we hopped in the car and met my parents in Kalamazoo before making the trip down to Dowagiac for a family Easter day. Umm, did I mention the weather was GORGEOUS! It truly was. I was warm outside in the sun for the first time in months (MONTHS!). The food was amazing, the company was fabulous and the day was great. Such a perfect Spring weekend!

** I swear one of these days I'll take pictures with more than just food... 

Monday Motivators: My Lush Urban Oasis

Today is sort of a bonus vacation day, as the schools have given the teachers and students one remaining day, the day after Easter, to wrap up spring break. After this, it's a straight 6 weeks of instruction before summer break begins (a very short summer break due to our year round academic calendar). Any time we get off is taken full advantage of--especially when the weather treats us as well as it did this past week. So today, I'll relax, finish my book, and enjoy the oasis my husband and I have created in our quaint little urban NOLA 'hood.

We decided to stay in town over break so we'd have time to leisurely finish up some backyard chores. The less elegant chores: weeding, sweeping, hauling, moving, clearning, adding rocks and mulch, raking debris...those touches that give the space a polished look. The miniute you open the door to our backyard (shown above), you can feel the calm that comes from the tropical paradise we've built for us and our pups. I've seen it every day for well over a year now, and I'm still amazed at its beauty. 

Additionally, you'll see the steps taken to create a proper raised vegetable bed (building credit goes to my husband). The nutrient-rich soil and daily monitoring, watering, pruning, love and worrying have yeilded faster, and seemingly healthier, growth this spring comparied to last. Time will tell. 

With all of this love of the outdoors, of adding new life to my slice of Earth...my constant desire to nurture the space outside of our home, I just happened to find an Alex & Ani bangle to represent this passion of mine!! If you people know me at all by now, you understand this was an obvious second piece to add to my collection. 

New lanterns, more hanging plants to add depth and texture and young trees--both flowering and fruit--add up to some big shifts in the look of our beloved backyard. 

[View from the balcony of the guest room, overlooking the backyard]

[And who can resist bright, twinkly lights in the evening? Not even a manly, old English Bulldog]

Instagram Life – March 2015

This month was a whirlwind! I officially started my new job at the beginning of March and life has been hectic ever since… in the best possible way! Two Food Shows and many hours of working later, I’m doing my best to hit the ground running. Having more fun than I’ve had at work in the longest time… Besides that life is great! Max turned 28, our relationship turned 7, one of my best college friends continues the countdown to her wedding, my Mom and I FINALLY booked our Europe trip and Michigan State is in the Final Four! This is the greatness March months are made of!!

 **   Birthday Bar Crawl

**   My new favorite snack!

**   KDS Founders night

**   Shower Season! Congrats, Alisa & Josh!!

**   St. Patty’s Day at the offices!

**   Think Spring!

**   Sunday morning view

**   Donkey Margs & Guac to celebrate an engagement

**   GO GREEN! Final Four!!

April Showers bring May Flowers (I’m pretty sure I say that in every April post…)! I can’t wait for Spring breeze to continue rolling in. Sunny high 40’s and cloudy low 50’s just aren’t doing it for me anymore! I’m ready for the warmth! I’m also ready for everything else April has to offer. A baby shower here, concert there, another Food Show, potential Chicago trip and an exploratory Grand Rapids day with one of my favorite new people! 

Friday Five!

{#spartanswill}

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Another Spring Food Show down in the books! The Chicago show is probably my favorite outside of the Grand Rapids show in the Fall. So many great people and great conversations. Love this job!

Michigan State is in the Final Four! I am so proud of my Spartans and can’t wait to watch them kill it against Duke Saturday. After that Max is going bow fishing with his brother, and apparently, I’m tagging along! This should be interesting… Easter Sunday will be spent with my parents as well as Max’s family in his home town. This will be a good & relaxing weekend!

Friday Forte:

{Valentine’s Day present 2015}

{my first experience with octopus at Tuscano’s... LOVE}

{as much as I hate cheating on my favorite purse… this is an awesome addition and one I think will get tons of use this summer!}

{the BEST muffins… EVER}