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Thinking Bigger: Serving Others and Supporting Small Businesses
Here on the blog, we've implemented a new series of talks on Thinking Bigger. Last week we touched on How Simplicity Changes Everything, and this week I wanted to talk about serving others and supporting small businesses – A topic that has really been on my heart and surprisingly, has also helped me process during this time.
My family lives in Dallas; we are so close, and it was really tough to cancel the trips we had planned to see each other, not knowing when the safe next time will be. One way that has helped me feel so connected is by sending them presents that remind me of them or fun little things for my sweet nieces! And all the while, I order the items from small businesses. You bring a company joy while sending joy to someone you love, and it doesn’t have to be big!Another long-winded, yet rewarding project we have been diving into is all things home and finishing the furnishing process! With the intension of supporting small businesses, I feel like I have entered an entirely new world of discovering some incredible companies! It makes the purchase that was on the to-do feel much more purposeful.
Fun Ideas
- Create your neighbor a bouquet of flowers from the backyard.
- Write a note to someone you are grateful for.
- Call your grandma.
- Give to a charity that provides meals to others during this time.
- Cook a meal or cookies and deliver it to someone it would help.
Gift Ideas
- Send a bottle of wine from here (it's organic and biodynamic and delicious!)
- A toy for your friend's puppy from here, here, or here.
- Send something cute from here.
- This Box of Sunshine that gives 100% of proceeds to Baby2Baby.
- The cutest organic clothes for kids.
- For new mamas.
- Healthy products from here.
For the Home
- I just got this little vase, mini lamp, and marble counter pedestal (inspo from Ashley Kane).
- These pretty water glasses.
- European linen pool towels for such an affordable price!
- A healthy way to keep the bugs away outside!
- Rugs from here or here!
- Something pretty from here.
To follow along with items I'm getting my hands on, or to see how I'm constantly learning and processing throughout this time, stay up to date on my Instagram. x
How can you serve and support others during this time? Jot down a few ideas and try to implement one this week!
Shop My Look Here: Shorts, Top, Sunnies, and Shoes [show_shopthepost_widget id="4030274"]
In The Kitchen: Adding New Purpose To Your Cooking Routine
I have always known that I have an affection for healthy food, a fascination for the origin of where organic produce is grown and harvested, and a love for experimenting with new recipes and flavors, but I have come to notice that time and lack of energy from a full schedule eliminated space to explore and grow in these passions. Cooking became more of a chore, gardening was a no-go since we weren't at home long enough to sustain it, and sometimes just picking up dinner from the Erewhon food bar was way easier than thinking about what to whip up. Not to mention, the task of cutting veggies and doing dishes just seemed daunting and anything but enjoyable.
It's like a new world has opened up during this quarantine time. Cooking has become what I look forward to every day, our garden is thriving, the local farm we discovered is my happy place to buy organic and biodynamic produce + support a small business, and dishes seem like a breeze. I have been cooking almost every night with the windows open and the Florida Georgia Line radio playing, and Jase sometimes is creating the most beautiful cocktails next to me with freshly squeezed watermelon and orange. I am more intentional about using the produce we have because not many other options like we had before are available, and I have such a strong desire to feed our bodies with nutrition to keep our immune systems strong!I started a Master Class and Alice Waters is inspiring me to plan meals based on the ingredients I get from the farm, and it has brought about this whole new light and intention to cooking and meals! This time is truly bringing new purpose to what used to be a mundane activity. Now I cook out of necessity for health, conserving the produce we have, and it has allowed so much space for creativity. Who knew that I would develop a new excitement for making homemade salsas from the pretty tomatoes or roasted carrots from the cookbook I never had a chance to look through? There are truly so many silver linings in this time of unknowns, sadness, loss, and confusion. Embracing them makes every day a little brighter!How has this time added to your cooking routine?
I'm excited to share with you over the next few weeks a few of the things I'm doing in my kitchen right now as a part of my In The Kitchen series – things like how to maximize your produce, what to grab when shopping, growing your own greens, and more.Follow along with me here, or at my Instagram where I often post a meal I'm cooking or kitchen must-have I'm loving. xShop My Look Here: Top, skirt, sunnies
Thinking Bigger: How Simplicity Changes Everything
I have been reflecting on this time a lot, and as I am sure most of us are, thinking about new routines and positive habits that we have developed during this stay at home order that we want to bring with us as we enter back into "normalcy," which I assume will never be the same. Although this time has so much heaviness and devastation that surrounds it, I continually think about how wonderful it has been to be forced to stop, to pause, and to be where we are.These reflections have led me to start a collection on the blog focusing on Thinking Bigger – Over the next few weeks, my hope is to cover topics that have been developed in this time like the power of simplicity, serving others, new rhythms and routines, and digging into new passions.Before this pandemic, the general answer from the majority of us when asked how we were doing would be, "we are so busy."
Even though our days still remain full since Jase and I's work has shifted and continued, our days look so incredibly different. We are able to start our day in a more restful way, we have been spending hours in the fresh air and sunshine every day, we have been extra present and available for little Bennett doodle (our 5-month-old puppy), and we are more intentional with who we connect with virtually + having time and space to think about others more, to help small businesses, and the list goes on. Not to mention, shows such as The Today Show (the majority being filmed from their homes) and even my husband's show (currently transitioned to interviews on IG Live) have all felt so personal and so genuine, which I think we have all craved without even knowing it.
I didn't realize how much mental space was taken from coordinating and deciding on social plans, organizing travel schedules, unpacking just to repack, going to appointment after appointment, and driving to and from everything. This realization has given me a little hint as to why I feel like we are doing things so differently during this time. I really had to sit and think about why we didn't spend our evenings outside before this since the time in the evenings have stayed quite similar from then to now, why cooking felt more like a chore then and is a joy now, why FaceTiming with family and friends felt distracted then and is longer and so focused now. As I have realized in the past through my own experience is that traumatic times seem to show us immediately what is important. It filters out the fluff and hones in on necessities to live – the simplicities that keep our joy kindled.The things that this time has brought that I feel so grateful for: hearing the birds outside, noticing things in nature that I have never had the time to enjoy before, listening to music all day, buying our groceries from a local farm, starting a masterclass that has taught me so much about cooking, planting a garden, going for long neighborhood walks while getting to know the neighbors from a distance, and reaching out more to friends and family to check-in.
One last thought: isn't it so interesting to think that this is so similar to how our parents and grandparents grew up? Neighbors knew each other, people borrowed an egg from the person next door, so many gardened and enjoyed the simple things, cooking and dishes were day to day tasks...Questions to leave with:What has changed in your routine that you feel thankful for? What is one thing you want to continue when the world starts opening up again?Shop the tank here.[show_shopthepost_widget id="4023495"]
3 Chicken Recipes from Rockstar Moms
Lacey Buteyn: Chicken Quesadillas
She is not only a wealth management advisor in Dallas, but she is a bold, energetic mom of three adorable boys, who is committed to creating a spirit-filled passionate life of action and adventure. Her favorite family chicken recipe is chicken quesadillas that are low in fat and high in protein!Chicken:**Note: You can use leftover chicken from restaurant, grill, or a slow-cooked chicken in the crock pot 4-6 hours on low; fully covered **
Option 1:
Put chicken in crockpot and cover with favorite salsa. Cook for 4-6 hours on low; Stirring and shredding 3-4 hours into the cooking process. Lightly sprinkle a handful of shredded cheese.This can be a meal on its own.
Option 2:
Cover chicken in a glass Pyrex or cookie sheet with foil with low-fat Italian dressing. Broil chicken on the top rack for 3-5 minutes each side until cooked thoroughly. What you'll need:2 chicken breasts (cooked) - see above1/8-1/4 cup Low-fat or regular Mexican blend cheese1-2 tsps. Ground Cumin2-3 LimeFresh CilantroFavorite Salsa (I like Costco's fresh salsa or a local favorite restaurant)Low-fat butter (I like Bumble and Brown's Yogurt butter)Whole wheat or other favorite tortillas Directions:Chicken Blend:Cube or shred cooked chicken and place in food processor (Cuisinart or magic bullet both work well)Small handful of cheddar cheeseSprinkle 1-2 pinches of ground cuminSqueeze juice of 1-2 limesAdd 1/8-1/4 cup salsa to desired consistency1 handful of fresh cilantroBlend the mix until finely ground. The chicken/cheese/salsa blend will make a paste that has the consistency of chicken.**I usually do this in a smaller Cuisinart in a couple with a couple of rounds so the ingredients all blend evenly.**The blend can be made ahead of time and will stay fresh 2-3 days in the fridge.** The quesadilla process: Lightly butter one - side of all tortilla and leave butter side up until ready to cook.Spray the pan with non-stick cooking spray.Put the tortillas butter side down onto a medium sauté pan.Add the chicken blend, generously covering the tortilla on all sides ** I microwave the chicken for 30-60 seconds if it is now cool **Sprinkle a 1/2 handful of cheese ~ estimated 2 Tbsp. over the chickenCover the chicken with the second tortilla (butter side up)Cook until lightly brown and flip the quesadilla to lightly brown the second tortilla ** You can also opt to cook open face (1 tortilla at a time) and fold over instead of flipping.**Use a large knife or pizza cutter to slice into sections.Serve with: Pico de Gallo, guacamole, and low-fat sour cream.Sides: Black Beans & Sautéed / Steamed Zucchini and Squash_______________________________________________
Corinne Franks Oh: Shoy Yu Chicken
She is a spunky, fun-loving 42-year-old married mother of three who works full time as a high school counselor and part time as a group fitness instructor. She loves living in Austin where the lifestyle is active, hip and casual. Her kids' favorite meal is Shoy Yu Chicken AKA Pineapple Sesame Chicken. It's super simple and a crowd pleaser! 
What you'll need:Skinless boneless chicken thighs1 cup soy sauce1/2 cup agave nectar or brown sugar1 teaspoon sesame oil1 teaspoon minced garlic1 can crushed pineapple1 tablespoon sesame seedsQuinoa or rice Directions:Fill crock pot with skinless boneless thighs (breasts are fine, but dryer). Pour on top: 1 cup low sodium soy sauce. 1/2 cup agave nectar (or brown sugar). 1 teaspoon sesame oil. 1 teaspoon minced garlic. 1 can crushed pineapple (16 oz). 1 tablespoon sesame seeds. Cook in crockpot on high for 4-5 hours or on low for 6 hours (depending on when you need it done). Serve over quinoa (traditionally over rice).______________________________________________
Cheryl Scruggs: Lime Grilled Chicken
Not only is she a mom of twin girls, but she is a full time marriage counselor, speaker, and writer (see I Do Again). She is a health food junkie who passionately lives an active lifestyle, enjoys her family and friends, and continually pushes herself to learn more about life, people, and culture. Her signature Lime Chicken recipe has been the talk of dinners for years. It is a company pleaser and an easy dish that never seems to get old!
What you'll need:
1/4 cup each of Lemon Juice & Lime JuiceSea SaltCoarse Ground Pepper Directions: Mix olive oil and juices together. Generously sprinkle both sides of chicken with salt and pepper. Pour marinade over chicken. Coat all sides of chicken. Allow to marinate several hours if possible. Turn chicken in pan every hour or so. Grill for 25 min on 350 degrees.