rewrite this title Week 29: A Peek Into This Past Week (+ what I’m reading and watching!)

I’ve been talking a lot this year about resetting my nervous system and I want to tell you about 5 habits and practices that have been so helpful for me. These are shifts I try to practice whether I’m at home and having a more normal week or even when traveling, like when I was in Guatemala a couple weeks ago. They’ve all really impacted my life and are very simple. 

How I’m Resetting My Nervous System:

First off, start your day with calm, not your phone. It’s really easy to automatically pick up your phone first thing, but instead I challenge you to pick up some books. I like to do a She Reads Truth study and some kind of devotional. (Here are some of my favorite devotionals, if you want some suggestions!)

Second, get outside. Walk, run, sit on your porch. Just soak up some sunshine. 

Third, do calm activities — maybe even ones you consider “boring.” Things like handwork, puzzles, or reading fiction books really calm your mind! 

Fourth, I challenge you to have some quiet spaces in your day. Maybe where you’re just drinking some tea and there’s no noise. (No TV, no podcast, no radio. No noise!) Just a little quiet space. And when you’re driving, consider turning all the noise off and just driving in the quiet! 

And then, fifth, take your supplements. I recently started this supplement called Cortisol Calming by Veracity and it has all these things in it to help calm your body and be able to sleep better.

When I started paying attention to doing things that calmed my cortisol it really helped me overall. I didn’t realize that my cortisol was connected to my weight, my sleep, and how I feel in my body.

When I’m constantly in fight or flight mode my body isn’t able to relax, heal, or function well. So this Cortisol Calming supplement is packed with nutrients that will help you lower your cortisol, feel more relaxed, sleep better, and just feel overall better in your body. 

I take 2 each night before bed and I definitely notice a difference! Pair this supplement with these other lifestyle changes that help your cortisol for best results! 

Another thing that has helped my reset my nervous system is changing my approach to the news. Many of you know that I love following politics. However, the past few months, I’ve stepped back from following a lot of the sources I had been following because I noticed it was stealing my peace and causing me to feel upset.

Maybe you can relate?? If so, I found a news source that keeps you informed without causing you to feel all worked up and unsettled — which is such a gift.

It’s called The Pour Over and it’s a weekday email that covers all the top news stories. I also love that they include Christ-centered perspective and encouragement woven throughout. And you can read their daily emails in five minutes or less and know what you need to know!

Best of all, it’s FREE! Go sign up here for The Pour Over to stay informed on current events without feeling stressed!

More Glimpses Into My Week:

Silas asked if he could give baby girl her bottle one day this week. And then I heard him on the couch reading her a book! (Also, yes, this guy rarely wears a shirt in summer.) 

Watching my older kids pour so much love onto this sweet girl just melts me. I never knew that saying yes to foster care was going to mean also saying yes to seeing them become fierce advocates for vulnerable children. It is beautiful! 

(If you’re new here, we are helping with childcare three days a week for a single woman in our church who is fostering. It has been such a huge blessing to our family!)

I got to spend Wednesday morning with this group of women at the Funny Library Coffee Shop in Nashville (highly recommend!). We celebrated my friend Christine’s 40th birthday! 

I met all of these women through my coach Alli Worthington and am so grateful for each of them. I didn’t know when I prayed for a coach/mentor that God was not only going to answer that prayer but also give me a community of women who would become cheerleaders and dear friends! 

By the way — this is your sign to stop waiting to be invited into circles and start creating the community of life-giving friendships you need ❤️

What I’m Reading…

I’m currently reading Rooted in Wonder, Capable, Soul Care (this has been so good!), and My Friends (this one I’m still not sure on – but I’m continuing to read it because it has had some beautiful parts in it so far… but I just don’t know what I’m going to think when it’s done! Have you read it?)

What I’m Watching….

Kierstyn and I are almost finished watching the latest season of America’s Sweethearts. I find it really fascinating how much goes into making it to the DCC team. I also love how much they have acknowledged the Lord in the seasons and it’s been a great springboard for a lot of good discussions with Kierstyn.

She and I have also been watching All Creatures Great and Small (so far, I’m not getting into it as much as I as into When Calls the Heart but I’m only on season 2 so maybe it will grow on me!)

And Jesse and I are watching season 4 of Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test.

Beauty Brands Liter Sale! Salon Liter Products as low as $17.98! (Redken, Kenra, TIGI, Paul Mitchell, CHI, and more)

For a limited time, Beauty Brands is once again hosting their popular Liter Sale and you can get up to 70% off brand-name salon favorites! Choose from over 400 items including CHI, TIGI, Biolage, Paul Mitchell, Redken, and more!

Plus, get an extra $5 off select $24.98+ liters when you use code 22371 at checkout (select liters are marked on the website)! These are AMAZING prices on professional hair care brands like these, so be sure to snag some before they’re all gone!

In Case You Missed It — Links from Recent Weeks: 

Easy Protein Recipes — Have you ever had one of those days where you feel like you’re constantly hungry, even though you just ate? If that sounds familiar, you might not actually need more food — you may need more protein. These budget-friendly and family-approved recipes will help you easily add more protein to your diet!

25 Ways to Save Money on Groceries — With 6 kids and the ever-increasing price of groceries, I’ve learned a lot over the years about how to save money on groceries. In this post, you’ll find 25 of my best, most practical ideas —  the ones I actually use every single week, even as a busy mom and business owner.

My First 10K Results — We laughed so hard when final results of my first ever 10k race came out. If you need encouragement that it’s okay — actually, freeing and fun! — to be a beginner, check out this video post on Instagram! 

Honest Stitch Fix Review (and $20 off your first fix!) — I’ve used Stitch Fix on and off for over 11 years now and have a lot of experience with the pros and cons of the service! Read this post for my completely honest thoughts about my Stitch Fix experience, whether it’s worth it, and all my best tips & tricks for making it work for you!