For the longest time I assumed that if I didn’t go to the gym, I didn’t actually “work out.” After all, if I didn’t go to the gym, then I couldn’t get an intense workout in, which meant I couldn’t burn hundreds of calories … and so on. This was an unsustainable approach that just left me feeling bad about…
I’ve never been known for my stellar budgeting skills (my husband can confirm this). But during a time when watching our dollars spent feels more critical than ever, I’m slowly learning to be more mindful of how much I’m spending and where. One area that continues to be a work in progress is my food and grocery budget. To help…
If you’ve dropped by this blog before, you may have noticed that I love animals. I’ve featured dogs, more dogs and even goats. 2020 has given me a deeper appreciation for my pets and all of the comfort they bring, even in the toughest of times. Research finds that four-legged friends can lower levels of cortisol (the “stress hormone”) as…
I cooked my very first turkey last week. After watching videos, chatting with my grandma on her self-proclaimed “turkey tip hotline,” and carefully following all of the steps, my first bird was a success! The meat was perfectly cooked, we had leftovers for days and I only set off the smoke alarm once (note to self: an extra pan to…
This week, I’m excited to have TOPS Marketing Manager, Kimberly Greene, as my special guest blogger. Warm weather days here in Wisconsin are limited—Wisconsinites know that we need to get outside and maximize the sunshine. So why not get creative with how we’re (safely) spending our time, especially when so many things have been postponed or canceled this year? I’ve…
With summer slowly drawing to a close, Wellness Wednesday is taking a little time to reset and recharge. We’ll be back on Wednesday, September 9, with a brand new post (hint: it will include goats). We hope you make time to recharge too and encourage you to check out these quick reads: 4 Tips for Making the Most of…
After a long hiatus, it feels good to be back writing Wellness Wednesday. But I have to admit that it also feels, for lack of a better way to put it, a little weird. Normally, I’m eager to share tips for adding more vegetables or finding fun ways to get active, but I find myself struggling with what to say…
It’s tough to write this week, since everything feels so insignificant compared to what’s happening in the world. But I’m just trying to do my best in finding small bits of normalcy every day. At the risk of sounding cliché, I’ve grown to appreciate little moments that I’ve taken for granted. On the other hand, I’ve also caught myself overreacting…
This week, I’m excited to once again have TOPS Publication Specialist Taylor Patton as my special guest blogger. National Nutrition Month® is back! Created by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, this annual campaign keeps nutrition top of mind by helping people make healthy and informed food choices. The 2020 theme, “Eat Right, Bite by Bite,” promotes the message that…