Recent Posts You Might Have Missed:
On the Podcast:
On YOUTUBE (yes!! I’m back!!!):
A Little Update From Me
Life has been rolling right along lately, and as I approach my 40th birthday at the end of this month I’ve been reassessing some things. I’ve been taking a hard look at my business- where I want to dive in more and where I want to eventually be able to pull back. (Think more YouTube and planning content, less crippling imposter syndrome! 😬)
Also, I got a dog! I didn’t think I would walk down this road again, but since my boyfriend got a Chaweenie about a year ago, I’ve slowly warmed to the idea once more. I knew I wanted to go smaller this time- MUCH smaller! And an opportunity presented itself to get the sweetest little 3 year old Cockapoo that you could ever imagine! We’ve named her Mabel and are all completely in love! I never knew just how gratifying it could be to have someone be so excited for me to walk into a room each and every time, but alas, it’s pretty fantastic!
So, you can expect to be hearing more from me as I dive more fully into make content again and if you have any ideas or requests for the kinds of things you’d like to see, I’d love to hear from you! Please just reply to this email and I’ll add your suggestions to the list!
My Favorite Reads from Quarter 1
I have read 11 books so far this year, but the following are my favorites!
Feel Good Productivity by Ali Abdaal (audiobook but will be buying the hardcopy for reference)
I have been following Ali on YouTube for a while now and genuinely love his straightforward, easy-going productivity content. His book is no different. Given that he is a doctor, he backs all of his findings with research and does a fantastic job of infusing joy into the productivity process. This is a book I plan to read a second time in hardcopy, so that I can highlight and truly absorb as much of his fabulous advice a I can.
I especially loved the parts where he talked about not getting down on ourselves for what we didn’t get done in the past. I related so much to the long journey he took to finally commit to doing his YouTube channel and found it incredibly encouraging and inspiring.
Fast Like a Girl by Dr. Mindy Pelz (audiobook and have the hardback for reference)
This book completely rocked my world! And no, it’s not about running, it’s about fasting! 🤣 (an honest mistake I initially made) Since listening to this book on audio I have purchased the hardcopy so that I can highlight and use it as a reference. It sits right on my desk and I have already started implementing the fasting and eating windows she talks about for various parts of my cycle. I found this book to be well-researched and such a beneficial approach for women to think about eating and health surrounding our cycles. In my opinion, this book brings together the best parts of The Galveston Diet and In the Flo, into one easy-to-follow format.
The Four Relationship Styles by Dr Anita Knight Kuhnley (audiobook and have the paperback for reference)
Whoa. This book pegged me! She was so spot on about how I think and feel in relationships that I felt like I had been spied on. This is Dr Anita’s fresh take on attachment theory, while also infusing a Biblical perspective. I found this book to also be well researched, full of heart and clear examples, as well as helpful information to help us be the best version of ourselves in relationships. Dr Anita is also an absolute delight! I had her on my podcast to discuss this book and I just absolutely adore her!
The Cheat Sheet by Sarah Adams (ebook)
This is probably the RomCom book that I enjoyed most in the first quarter, however I will say that I also wanted to knock the leading characters heads together on numerous occasions while reading! It was one of those stories that can be frustrating because you just want them to SAY THE THING! But it was cute and sweet and fun and I definitely enjoyed it. So far I have truly enjoyed everything I’ve read by Sarah Adams and find her characters to have loads of personality, vivid descriptions of how they interact, and great banter.
Portrait of a Scotsman by Evie Dunmore (ebook)
I had put off reading this book for a while because I wasn’t in love with the second book in this series. However, this third book did not disappoint! I enjoyed the characters and the setting. The turmoil and angst was palpable and I loved the romp through the Scottish highlands. Fare warning- lots of “open door” scenes.
Books I Plan to Finish in April
There were many books that I have started in the last 3 months that for one reason or another I wasn’t able to finish. I hope to finish the following books in April-
The Other Side of Disappearing by Kate Clayborn (ebook)
Is Everyone Happier Than Me? by Sarah Bragg (audiobook)
The Life Brief by Bonnie Wan (audiobook with hardback for reference)
Two Weeks Notice by Amy Porterfield (audiobook)
Planning Corner
There are a few things I have recently been trying to focus on during my weekends to make the week ahead run more smoothly and it has made a big difference. And wouldn’t you know that I have recently released a podcast episode AND a YouTube video about those very things?! Here are the basics, but you’re going to want to visit either the video or the audio version for far more details and ideas!
Plan the upcoming week
Meal Plan
Grocery Shop & Meal Prep
Do a general tidy
Laundry- start to finish
What do you do on your weekend to help your week run more smoothly?
Well, anyway, I think that’s all for now, but there’s much more to come!
Go be bold and gracious!
-MacKenzie