6 Tricks to Make Meal Prep Fun (Yes, Really!) + 5 Luxury Hotel Towels You Can Buy to Bouj-ify Your Home Bathroom

Plus, I'm sharing my playlist of "essentials," or 10 songs I could listen to on repeat. What's on your mix?

Happy Monday!

After springing forward yesterday, seeing the meteorological start to spring on the horizon in just 8 days and spying 70° temps in the forecast today, my mood is definitely bright.

This week’s mild weather is a terrific bridge to patch me through from my sunny, scenic and quick trip to Sedona (to experience Ambiente, North America’s first landscape hotel; watch for a full story on this coming soon) and a nutrition conference in La Jolla next week.

After the adventure-filled and awesome start to 2024, I can feel it in my bones and brain that I’m creating a pattern of when I feel ready to pack and explore again. Rather than feeling exhausting or anxiety-provoking, all of these work-related travels have left me feeling remarkably grateful and inspired, and I’m ready, open and excited for more! It’s a joy to bring you and my story readers along, and I truly feel like I’m leaning more and more into my life’s purpose each day.

Whether I’m researching and writing about the science behind “protein farts” (yes, that’s actually a thing; you can check out the dietitian intel-filled story about how to overcome it below!), busting health or nutrition myths or learning about what’s new and next in sustainable travel.

I think the fact that I’m ready for more, rather than feeling burnt out, boils down to a very beneficial combo platter of:

• A lot of planning and focus when I am home

• A renewed focus on really taking care of myself

• Clear boundaries and communication

• Supportive friends, family and business contacts

• Optimizing travel time (pair airport laps with focused writing time on the plane and not a moment feels “wasted,” even during long travel days)

• Feeling in alignment with my purpose

Comment below and tell me: What is one habit, system or strategy that makes you feel like you’re anticipating—rather than stressing over or dreading—your work?

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What to Read…

Since the start of 2024, I’ve been in conversations to join the Blue Apron team to assist with their renewed focus on original service content. I’m delighted to share my first two features for that brand; watch for more about plant-based eating, healthy lunch ideas, gut health and much more coming soon on their blog.

The SHAPE story below is definitely worth a read if you’re craving some fitness inspiration. I spoke with four women who were kind enough to share their diagnoses, personal health journeys, and how they're using the adaptive fitness movement to channel strength of body and spirit—for themselves and others.

And you can bring some luxe spring break energy home by learning about, and possibly treating yourself to, a set of towels that 5-star hotels actually use at their properties. They start at just $15!

• Blue Apron: How To Meal Prep: A Guide For Beginners

• Blue Apron: The Sporkful Pasta Pizza

• SHAPE: Meet the Women Leading the Charge Behind the Adaptive Fitness Movement

• Better Homes and Gardens: How to Safely Reheat Leftover Rice in the Microwave (Without Drying It Out)

• Better Homes and Gardens: 7 Foods and Drinks You Should Never Microwave

• Better Homes and Gardens: How to Season Cast Iron, According to Chefs Who Use Their Skillets Daily

• Better Homes and Gardens: Giada De Laurentiis Declared It the Year of The Tomato—Here Are 4 Fun Ways to Use It

• Better Homes and Gardens: How to Cut an Orange 4 Ways (Plus How to Store Them Before and After You Do)

• dsm Magazine: Dominic Iannarelli to Debut New Prime & Providence Steakhouse in the Western Suburbs

• Peloton: What Are ‘Protein Farts’ and How Can You Stop Them?

• Peloton: Need a Beginner-Friendly Leg Workout? Try These 6 Expert-Recommend Exercises

• Southern Living: Costco's Newest Food Court Dessert Is A Supersized Childhood Favorite

• VERANDA: 5 Luxury Towels the Best Hotels Around the World Actually Use

• VERANDA: How to Spend a Perfect Weekend in Phoenix, Arizona

  

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What to Ponder…

Your Essential Playlist

One of my four self-growth goals for 2024 was to journal daily, and I’m proud to report that I have stuck with this every day I’ve been in Des Moines! I’m using Michelle Obama’s Becoming: A Guided Journal for Discovering Your Voice as a template, and am so thoroughly enjoying the prompts (which range from light-hearted to reflective to nostalgic to uplifting) that I’ve already gifted copies to about six friends. If you have ever considered starting a journal routine, but feel daunted by an empty page, I cannot recommend this guide enough.

In addition to prompts, it comes with a handy ribbon bookmark and thoughtful quotes and personal details from Obama that speak to the themes. For instance, across from the page that suggested sharing more of your story with someone else, and ask them to do the same in return—then reflect on what you learned about yourself and the other person, she shared:

“There’s power in allowing yourself to be known and heard, in owning your unique story, in using your authentic voice. And there’s grace in being willing to know and hear others. This, for me, is how we become.” — Michelle Obama

I’m going to keep most of my journal musings private, but may use some of them as jumping-off points for future stories or Substacks—including one of today’s recommendations!

One recent cue that I really enjoyed: “Create a playlist of 10 songs that you could listen to on repeat.”

I tried not to overthink this and dive too deep in the archives, and simply pulled together some old and some new tunes that I’m pretty sure I could never tire of.

I’ll play myself out with this playlist, which you can find on Spotify or stream below. But before I go, I must know: What is one—or 10!—songs that you could listen to on repeat?

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