{HMW} Your End-of-Summer Assignment (It's Actually Fun)
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Dear Reader, Maybe it's knowing that school bells and sweater weather are lurking just around the corner, or just the melancholy of anticipating shorter days, but I always like to make an end-of-summer bucket list and this year I'm challenging you to do the same (assuming you live in a location with seasons). Here are 7 ideas for you to help savor the end of summer with intention, fun and sensory pleasures. β End of summer scavenger hunt πFind a fallen leaf that is already showing signs of Autumn π Swim in a pool, lake, ocean or run under a sprinkler or spray park π Make a dish with basil and tomatoes. Here's a few recipe ideasβ π©βπ³ Dine al fresco somewhere....At a restaurant, a picnic, backyard BBQ etc. π¦ Try to find these 5 birds that stay hidden until late summerβ π Watch a sunset & notice how much earlier it's happening compared to June π« Pick fruit straight from the source - your backyard garden, blueberry picking in Maine, your local farmers market etc. Bonus points it you freeze or preserve them in some way. β What else would you put on this list? Which of these have you already done or want to do? Write me back and let me know! β Have it: Interesting Article Alert: Want to slow down aging? Focus on these 11 Longevity Markersβ β My friend (who is also a pediatrician) has been telling me how much she is benefitting from supplementing with creatine. I am not a supplement-pusher and I have a healthy skepticism of this unregulated industry....but I trust my friend and I have seen some compelling studies that creatine can help support muscle recovery and growth and possibly support cognitive functioning. As a peri-menopausal warrior, preserving muscle as I age has become a second job, so I'm giving it a go. >> Here's the exact kind I got by the way, which was my friend's recommendation. β β Made it: β5-Senses Sundayβ π Vermont memories, smoothie science, and the hidden power of gentle touch. This week I'm exploring how our two scent systems (orthonasal + retronasal) create deeper food satisfaction, why butterfly kisses were childhood wisdom, and how sensory awareness transforms our relationship with nourishment. Plus: would you try a ketchup smoothie? π β Want it: I am loving this tiny lamp trend. Give me all the tiny lamps! β βThis is a interesting (and easy) way to get more daily protein. I'm gonna try this and let you know how it goes. β β Ingredient Spotlight: Pine Nuts Pine nuts are the single seed, nut, or legume that just doesn't work for me. There's something about their soft, almost buttery texture combined with that distinctive resinous, slightly medicinal flavor that I find off-putting. While many people describe them as mild and creamy, I pick up on an underlying piney bitterness that lingers. These tiny, teardrop-shaped seeds from pine cones are expensive because they're labor-intensive to harvest and process. They're essential to traditional pesto dishes, but I've found that pistachios or blanched almonds make excellent substitutes, offering their own nutty richness without that particular pine-forward taste that doesn't appeal to my palate. If you love pine nuts, more power to youβthey add a unique flavor to Mediterranean dishes, grain salads, and cookies. But if you're like me and find them oddly medicinal-tasting, don't feel obligated to use them just because a recipe calls for them. Sometimes our taste buds simply know what they don't want. β13 Pine nut recipes that go beyond pesto.β β β Announcements & Upcoming: I'm delighted to share something I'm participating in that I know you'll love. It's called The Thirty & Thriving Bundle: Real Wellness for Real Life in Your 30sβand it's a curated collection of 30+ incredible resources (valued at over $1,500) to help you feel your best in this season of life. Inside you'll find support for: Balancing your hormones & improving energy Nutrition & fitness for busy schedules Stress management & mindset tools Productivity, relationships, and more And the best part? You can get it free from now until August 17th. π Grab your bundle here: [https://www.wellnesswithvanda.com/thirty-and-thriving/] pssst. Works for 50 plus people too.. β β Extra Bytes: What I'm Reading: Homeseeking by Karisa Chen What I'm Watching: My husband made me watch all the Bourne films again for the 300th time. What I'm Listening to: Begin Again Podcast with Davina McCallβ What I'm Eating: Chile-Peanut Tofu, with Crunchy Cabbage & Garlicky Noodlesβ β Featured Product: Food as Love Language: Healthy Ways to Give and Receive Through Food. Ever notice how food brings out ALL the feelings? The guilt when you can't finish what someone lovingly prepared. The hurt when your homemade offering gets declined. The stress of maintaining family food traditions that somehow stopped feeling fun. Perfect for you if: Family food dynamics stress you out You struggle with food boundaries You want to show love through food without exhausting yourself Holiday eating fills you with dread You're curious about the psychology behind food relationships What we'll explore together: π― The 5 Food Love Languages (which one are you?) π¬ Scripts for challenging food situations β€οΈ How to create traditions that nourish vs. burden π€ Giving and receiving food love consciously This is normally exclusive content for my paid community, but I'm offering it at an accessible price because these tools change everything about how you navigate food relationships.
β That's it for me this week. Have a happy and healthy hump day! Warmly, Jenny β
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