SOCIAL MEDIA




One of my favorite life mantra's is Fake It Till You Make It. I have lived by this for most of my life and definitely at the onset of any new challenge, job, role or endeavor. Mostly because everytime I achieve a new goal or accomplishment I feel just a bit like a fraud. Like someone is going to find out that I really don't know exactly what the hell I am doing and call me out on it. Imposter Syndrome was actually named in the 80's and it's a very real thing for both men and women but I think especially women. I have graduated high school and college. I am raising 3 kids and have been parenting for 2 decades now. I have been married and divorced. I have had umpteen jobs.  I have tons of life experience at all kinds of things. Guess how many times anyone has ever accused me of being a fraud? Zero. Yet at forty something years old I still feel those feelings of being an imposter. I bet a lot of you know exactly what I am talking about too.

For me it actually is much less now than it used to be. The truth of the matter is that no one pays anywhere near as much attention to you as you do. We think everyone is scrutinizing the way we do our jobs, parent our children, the clothes we wear, what we do in our spare time, and the reality is they couldn't give a rat's ass. They are too busy worrying about their own lives to give that much brain power to what the heck anyone else is doing and whether or not they are really capable of doing it.

I bring this up because even though I mostly feel like an expert in my own mind the imposter stuff creeps in now and again and I have to consciously squash it. I use this technique for a lot of negative thoughts in general, it's something that Danika Brysha teaches at the Brunch Series. Everytime I start thinking "what the hell am I doing, I can't do this and people are going to see that I am a fraud" about anything I consciously say a word or phrase out loud (if I am alone) or in my head to shift my thought pattern. It could be any word at all but just something to get your mind focused on what you are doing that is not serving you and cueing a mental shift. Seriously it works. Like right now my personal favorite is "Jimmy Choo Shoes", don't ask me why but it rolls off the tongue and makes me think of success. Pick a word and try it the next time you are having negative self thoughts, if nothing else you will start laughing and  releasing some endorphins.

Image result for loud noises gif

So here's the good news about Imposter Syndrome. Only high achieving people actually experience it. Those who set the bar really low and just skate by rarely feel like a fraud, they don't give a shit.  So if you occasionally feel like this, congrats! It's because you likely aim high and are committed to giving your all in most everything that you do.  What I have learned is that you don't have to achieve perfection to be worthy of a title, a promotion or an accolade. We are so hard on ourselves. You can be a work in progress and be an asset to many, a positive force, an important part of your team or a role model for someone else. How cool is that?

So, next time you start second guessing yourself just know that no one but you is likely even thinking about it. Own where you are, because you can be anywhere you want to be doing whatever it is that makes you happy. You should be an expert at that because one thing is for sure, no one else can be. Keep your head high, keep setting goals and when in doubt fake it till you make it.

Happy Monday!

AMY 












Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

Monday, July 30, 2018




One of my favorite life mantra's is Fake It Till You Make It. I have lived by this for most of my life and definitely at the onset of any new challenge, job, role or endeavor. Mostly because everytime I achieve a new goal or accomplishment I feel just a bit like a fraud. Like someone is going to find out that I really don't know exactly what the hell I am doing and call me out on it. Imposter Syndrome was actually named in the 80's and it's a very real thing for both men and women but I think especially women. I have graduated high school and college. I am raising 3 kids and have been parenting for 2 decades now. I have been married and divorced. I have had umpteen jobs.  I have tons of life experience at all kinds of things. Guess how many times anyone has ever accused me of being a fraud? Zero. Yet at forty something years old I still feel those feelings of being an imposter. I bet a lot of you know exactly what I am talking about too.

For me it actually is much less now than it used to be. The truth of the matter is that no one pays anywhere near as much attention to you as you do. We think everyone is scrutinizing the way we do our jobs, parent our children, the clothes we wear, what we do in our spare time, and the reality is they couldn't give a rat's ass. They are too busy worrying about their own lives to give that much brain power to what the heck anyone else is doing and whether or not they are really capable of doing it.

I bring this up because even though I mostly feel like an expert in my own mind the imposter stuff creeps in now and again and I have to consciously squash it. I use this technique for a lot of negative thoughts in general, it's something that Danika Brysha teaches at the Brunch Series. Everytime I start thinking "what the hell am I doing, I can't do this and people are going to see that I am a fraud" about anything I consciously say a word or phrase out loud (if I am alone) or in my head to shift my thought pattern. It could be any word at all but just something to get your mind focused on what you are doing that is not serving you and cueing a mental shift. Seriously it works. Like right now my personal favorite is "Jimmy Choo Shoes", don't ask me why but it rolls off the tongue and makes me think of success. Pick a word and try it the next time you are having negative self thoughts, if nothing else you will start laughing and  releasing some endorphins.

Image result for loud noises gif

So here's the good news about Imposter Syndrome. Only high achieving people actually experience it. Those who set the bar really low and just skate by rarely feel like a fraud, they don't give a shit.  So if you occasionally feel like this, congrats! It's because you likely aim high and are committed to giving your all in most everything that you do.  What I have learned is that you don't have to achieve perfection to be worthy of a title, a promotion or an accolade. We are so hard on ourselves. You can be a work in progress and be an asset to many, a positive force, an important part of your team or a role model for someone else. How cool is that?

So, next time you start second guessing yourself just know that no one but you is likely even thinking about it. Own where you are, because you can be anywhere you want to be doing whatever it is that makes you happy. You should be an expert at that because one thing is for sure, no one else can be. Keep your head high, keep setting goals and when in doubt fake it till you make it.

Happy Monday!

AMY 













I have done 4 complete Whole30's to date but just one real mini-reset this past May. I have tried many times to figure out where I could squeeze in another complete Whole30 throughout the year but for one reason or another it never seemed to fit. Newsflash... a mini reset turns out to be just as effective a tool for me at this point in my food freedom. If you have never done a Whole30 I wouldn't necessarily recommend this abbreviated version for a few reasons... 1.) if you are currently eating all the things it takes a good 30 days to get it all out of your system and start feeling the changes and 2.) it's just not enough time to effect change and plant the seed of real habit forming behavior. I am tentatively planning to do the national Whole30 in September but I need a little check right now so it's time for a mini... starting the 15th or 16th... TBD!

Fifteen days is not a long time. We all know 2 weeks zips by in the blink of an eye. So if you are going to do this mini reset thing you really want to maximize the benefits of it. That means the exact same hard core approach that you would have with a traditional Whole30. Here are a couple of tips for getting the most out of your mini reset. Just because it's a shorter amount of time doesn't mean you should relax the rules because then it wouldn't be a real Whole30 inspired anything now would it? So don't plan to mini reset but with creamer in your coffee... that's not how this works.


Image result for dont do it gif


Here are a few things that you should definitely do to make your mini reset as successful as any traditional Whole30:

KEEP IT SIMPLE

Ok, so this is really my mantra for everything in life but especially this. The rules are there for a reason and following them to the letter actually makes life a whole lot easier. You don't have to use your brain too much when there are only 5 to remember. No sugar, dairy, grains, alcohol or legumes. Ok 6, DO NOT GET ON THE SCALE.


PREPARE

Here's a great benefit of the mini reset... you can probably grocery shop/meal prep one time for the whole thing. Don't skip this part either. You can't use the excuse that you don't have time for all of the cooking because you already cut the program in half. Also, it's hot out there right now, focus on making a lot of cold meals like chicken salad, hard boiled eggs, sliced roast beef, homemade slaw... these types of foods lend themselves to meal prep quite nicely and frees up a lot of time for other fun summer things! The Whole30 Instagram actually has a whole saved story on cold lunch ideas, check it out for inspiration!


BE SUPER CONFIDENT

You are a BOSS. It's not a Whole30 but it's something and you should be just as proud of doing this for yourself as anything else. Stay the course and fight the urge to throw in the towel because "it's not like you're really doing a Whole30 anyway", that's bullshit. You are doing something just as important, it's a commitment and you should take it seriously.

RESET YOUR SELF CARE

When I start allowing too many "worth it" foods back into my diet (I'm looking at you wine and cheese) I find myself doing things that are not as good for me either and neglecting my self care. For example; staying up late watching Netflix drinking wine, going out even though I know I should stay in, spending less focused time on my goals and daily check-list. One of the greatest things about the mini-reset is it just naturally resets everything else too. When you cut the crap you are putting into your body your mind becomes clear and you can refocus on everything else too. Bonus!


TRY SOMETHING NEW & SPECIFIC

Make some recipes you have never tried before, incorporate some type of new movement, start that book you have been meaning to get to. I find that having a finite period of time as a framework helps me actually check things off my list. For example... Somehow planning to take a 10 minute walk with the dog everyday for 2 weeks seems more inspiring than just saying "I am going to start walking my dog more".  Or "during this mini reset I will cook 2 recipes from my new @thewholesmiths cookbook" instead of "I am going to cook some new recipes" and then falling down the rabbit hole that is Pinterest. Make it measurable!

These are just a few things that work for me and as I said if you are a Whole30 alum the mini reset can be a really great tool in your arsenal. I will never get as far off track as I once was but I can slip and slide with the best of them. Interested in joining me for a mini or for the national Whole30 in September? Check out my coaching packages or just shoot me an email and we can talk through what your personal goals are!

Cheers!!





Doing A Whole30 Mini Reset - 5 Tips To Get You Through

Sunday, July 15, 2018


I have done 4 complete Whole30's to date but just one real mini-reset this past May. I have tried many times to figure out where I could squeeze in another complete Whole30 throughout the year but for one reason or another it never seemed to fit. Newsflash... a mini reset turns out to be just as effective a tool for me at this point in my food freedom. If you have never done a Whole30 I wouldn't necessarily recommend this abbreviated version for a few reasons... 1.) if you are currently eating all the things it takes a good 30 days to get it all out of your system and start feeling the changes and 2.) it's just not enough time to effect change and plant the seed of real habit forming behavior. I am tentatively planning to do the national Whole30 in September but I need a little check right now so it's time for a mini... starting the 15th or 16th... TBD!

Fifteen days is not a long time. We all know 2 weeks zips by in the blink of an eye. So if you are going to do this mini reset thing you really want to maximize the benefits of it. That means the exact same hard core approach that you would have with a traditional Whole30. Here are a couple of tips for getting the most out of your mini reset. Just because it's a shorter amount of time doesn't mean you should relax the rules because then it wouldn't be a real Whole30 inspired anything now would it? So don't plan to mini reset but with creamer in your coffee... that's not how this works.


Image result for dont do it gif


Here are a few things that you should definitely do to make your mini reset as successful as any traditional Whole30:

KEEP IT SIMPLE

Ok, so this is really my mantra for everything in life but especially this. The rules are there for a reason and following them to the letter actually makes life a whole lot easier. You don't have to use your brain too much when there are only 5 to remember. No sugar, dairy, grains, alcohol or legumes. Ok 6, DO NOT GET ON THE SCALE.


PREPARE

Here's a great benefit of the mini reset... you can probably grocery shop/meal prep one time for the whole thing. Don't skip this part either. You can't use the excuse that you don't have time for all of the cooking because you already cut the program in half. Also, it's hot out there right now, focus on making a lot of cold meals like chicken salad, hard boiled eggs, sliced roast beef, homemade slaw... these types of foods lend themselves to meal prep quite nicely and frees up a lot of time for other fun summer things! The Whole30 Instagram actually has a whole saved story on cold lunch ideas, check it out for inspiration!


BE SUPER CONFIDENT

You are a BOSS. It's not a Whole30 but it's something and you should be just as proud of doing this for yourself as anything else. Stay the course and fight the urge to throw in the towel because "it's not like you're really doing a Whole30 anyway", that's bullshit. You are doing something just as important, it's a commitment and you should take it seriously.

RESET YOUR SELF CARE

When I start allowing too many "worth it" foods back into my diet (I'm looking at you wine and cheese) I find myself doing things that are not as good for me either and neglecting my self care. For example; staying up late watching Netflix drinking wine, going out even though I know I should stay in, spending less focused time on my goals and daily check-list. One of the greatest things about the mini-reset is it just naturally resets everything else too. When you cut the crap you are putting into your body your mind becomes clear and you can refocus on everything else too. Bonus!


TRY SOMETHING NEW & SPECIFIC

Make some recipes you have never tried before, incorporate some type of new movement, start that book you have been meaning to get to. I find that having a finite period of time as a framework helps me actually check things off my list. For example... Somehow planning to take a 10 minute walk with the dog everyday for 2 weeks seems more inspiring than just saying "I am going to start walking my dog more".  Or "during this mini reset I will cook 2 recipes from my new @thewholesmiths cookbook" instead of "I am going to cook some new recipes" and then falling down the rabbit hole that is Pinterest. Make it measurable!

These are just a few things that work for me and as I said if you are a Whole30 alum the mini reset can be a really great tool in your arsenal. I will never get as far off track as I once was but I can slip and slide with the best of them. Interested in joining me for a mini or for the national Whole30 in September? Check out my coaching packages or just shoot me an email and we can talk through what your personal goals are!

Cheers!!





43 Examples of Well-Designed Typography https://www.designlisticle.com/typography-designs/

Well Hi there and a big old Happy Fourth of July to all of you!! I am not quite sure how we got half way through the year in the blink of an eye but here we are. I like this time of year, the half way point. It's a really good time to look back, pull out those annual goals you set in January and see how you are doing. It is also a hopeful time for me. If there is something I have yet to complete or even start I know I still have time to do it, it's only July after all! Its never too late, we can get started, start over or completely change gears right this very minute. So I encourage you to take a minute and think about the rest of your year because now is when it really kicks into high gear. So let's get to what is happening over here currently...

CELEBRATING


Hmmm... let's see... the Independence of our great nation of course because today is a great day in the history of the USA. Aside from that though, the anniversary of the birth of my only boy child 16 years ago on July 1st. Sixteen years ago I birthed a 10 lb. 10 oz. baby boy and lived to tell about it. Not by C-section... True story. Midwives are freaking amazing folks. He is also quite an amazing, kind, compassionate, smart and handsome young man and I am so proud to be his Mom. Behold the face of a guy about to destroy some cheesecake and a delirious dog. 



VISITING

This month Macon, Savannah and Augusta for work. Because let's send Amy to the hottest places in GA during the month of mother effing July. On my trip to Macon in a few weeks I plan to squeeze in a tour of the Hay House which is one of the most historic and distinguished structures in GA. Built between 1855 and 1859 it became a National Historic Landmark in 1974 and has only been lived in by two families. You can read all about it here. These pics show what it looked like in 1910 and what it looks like today. Looking forward to my little side trip. One of the perks of travelling around my own state is I get to really see the local treasures. I love the history and beauty of the old South!



BAKING

Well... most notably, the best triple berry cheesecake I have ever made in my life possibly. Two out of three of my children request cheesecake for every birthday. Number three has not figured out her favorite kind of birthday fat-assery yet but she's about to be a teen so it won't be long. This one is for the books and shall go down in history. Original recipe here.


WEARING

I bought the most comfy and perfect pair of mules ever this summer and I have been wearing the heck out of them. Check out the Melanie Gore Perforated Mule from Frye in light blue which is actually grey and not light blue in my opinion. I know, a bit pricey but beautifully made and they feel like air. Seriously I can't stand hot feet in the summer but sandals aren't always appropriate for even business casual. These are chic and cute at the same time.

Melanie Gore Perf Mule

LOVING

The Staircase on Netflix. You guys know I am a true crime whore. This. Is. Good. The story of American Novelist Michael Peterson (just how many murderers are named Peterson anyway?) who was convicted of murdering his wife in 2003 and granted a new trial in 2017. So, so good. If you love the most bizarre true crime shit that you couldn't make up if you tried, watch this. This guy is guilty AF but let me know what you think. 

Image result for the staircase


And that's about it on the currently front for me today. 
Linking up with the amazing Anne  and her pal Shelly

I hope you all have a safe and Happy 4th of July. 


GOD BLESS AMERICA



AMY











Currently: July

Wednesday, July 4, 2018

43 Examples of Well-Designed Typography https://www.designlisticle.com/typography-designs/

Well Hi there and a big old Happy Fourth of July to all of you!! I am not quite sure how we got half way through the year in the blink of an eye but here we are. I like this time of year, the half way point. It's a really good time to look back, pull out those annual goals you set in January and see how you are doing. It is also a hopeful time for me. If there is something I have yet to complete or even start I know I still have time to do it, it's only July after all! Its never too late, we can get started, start over or completely change gears right this very minute. So I encourage you to take a minute and think about the rest of your year because now is when it really kicks into high gear. So let's get to what is happening over here currently...

CELEBRATING


Hmmm... let's see... the Independence of our great nation of course because today is a great day in the history of the USA. Aside from that though, the anniversary of the birth of my only boy child 16 years ago on July 1st. Sixteen years ago I birthed a 10 lb. 10 oz. baby boy and lived to tell about it. Not by C-section... True story. Midwives are freaking amazing folks. He is also quite an amazing, kind, compassionate, smart and handsome young man and I am so proud to be his Mom. Behold the face of a guy about to destroy some cheesecake and a delirious dog. 



VISITING

This month Macon, Savannah and Augusta for work. Because let's send Amy to the hottest places in GA during the month of mother effing July. On my trip to Macon in a few weeks I plan to squeeze in a tour of the Hay House which is one of the most historic and distinguished structures in GA. Built between 1855 and 1859 it became a National Historic Landmark in 1974 and has only been lived in by two families. You can read all about it here. These pics show what it looked like in 1910 and what it looks like today. Looking forward to my little side trip. One of the perks of travelling around my own state is I get to really see the local treasures. I love the history and beauty of the old South!



BAKING

Well... most notably, the best triple berry cheesecake I have ever made in my life possibly. Two out of three of my children request cheesecake for every birthday. Number three has not figured out her favorite kind of birthday fat-assery yet but she's about to be a teen so it won't be long. This one is for the books and shall go down in history. Original recipe here.


WEARING

I bought the most comfy and perfect pair of mules ever this summer and I have been wearing the heck out of them. Check out the Melanie Gore Perforated Mule from Frye in light blue which is actually grey and not light blue in my opinion. I know, a bit pricey but beautifully made and they feel like air. Seriously I can't stand hot feet in the summer but sandals aren't always appropriate for even business casual. These are chic and cute at the same time.

Melanie Gore Perf Mule

LOVING

The Staircase on Netflix. You guys know I am a true crime whore. This. Is. Good. The story of American Novelist Michael Peterson (just how many murderers are named Peterson anyway?) who was convicted of murdering his wife in 2003 and granted a new trial in 2017. So, so good. If you love the most bizarre true crime shit that you couldn't make up if you tried, watch this. This guy is guilty AF but let me know what you think. 

Image result for the staircase


And that's about it on the currently front for me today. 
Linking up with the amazing Anne  and her pal Shelly

I hope you all have a safe and Happy 4th of July. 


GOD BLESS AMERICA



AMY











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