Hello!—and happy Monday to you. I’m not complaining at all about today being Monday because once 5:00 PM on Friday arrives, we will officially be on vacation for nine whole days! We’ll stop in Jackson to visit the in-laws Saturday through Monday morning, then we’re heading to Memphis until Thursday. And finally we’ll swing back through Jackson to spend the 4th of July weekend with the in-laws (and pick up Iggy) before heading back home. I’m so excited to get away a few days!

Since I’m an idiot and left the document containing all the links I found last week on my work desktop, I’m sharing them with you today. Happy reading!

.Recipes.

No Bake Strawberry Cheesecake via Running with Spoons

What a perfect summer dessert! I love traditional cheesecake, but this looks like the perfect light and refreshing (and healthier) option for these sweltering days (no hot oven required!).

Red Quinoa Citrus Salad with Hazelnuts, Fennel, Radish, and Baked Tofu via Choosing Raw

I desperately need to eat more nutrient-rich salads for lunch. It’s getting too hot for heated leftovers, plus, there’s just something so satisfying about all these ingredients together. A beautiful salad!

Caramelized Onion and Portobello Mushroom Sliders with Fry Sauce via Averie Cooks

Yum! These are so cute, and I’m of the belief that caramelized onion makes everything delicious.

Mango, Strawberry, and Avocado Arugula Salad via Two Peas & Their Pod

I love the simplicity and color of this! Looks so refreshing.

Summer Slaw Sandwiches with Fried Pickles via Love and Olive Oil

Not something I’d think to put on a sandwich, but since slaw and fried pickles are two of my favorite southern “delicacies,” I’d certainly inhale this.

.Food & Nutrition.

Ending the War On Fat via Time

Thank God for this! Fat is not the enemy. Fat tastes good (2% or full-fat Greek yogurt is infinitely better than fat-free, and have you experienced the wonder of an avocado?!), and our bodies require it. Everything in moderation…

You need to have a paid subscription to read the whole article, but I still thought it was worth sharing. I’m waiting to get my hands on a paper copy in order to read the whole thing. You can find different summaries and opinions on the piece here, here, and here.

Sports Nutrition Discussion with Nancy Clark via Peanut Butter Fingers

These tips are great, practical advice. I would’ve liked to have heard the entire panel, but this is a good take-away. As Nancy says, “You don’t have to have a perfect diet to have a good diet.”

Sleep and Weight Gain via Huffington Post

All the more reason to make sure I get at least 6 (preferably 8) hours of sleep a night!

40 Maps that Explain Food in America via Vox

Interesting…

.Body Image & Mental Health.

Negative Body Image Knows No Body Type via The Lunchbox Diaries

Yes, yes, and yes! This post is spot-on. Just because you see somebody differently than she sees herself does NOT mean her struggles and negative feelings are any less “real” or “painful” than yours. Rather than criticizing somebody for criticizing himself, truly listen to his worries and offer words of encouragement instead.

The Power of a Compliment via She Rocks Fitness

I’ve learned over the last year that compliments—while they don’t determine how I feel about myself or whether I’m smart, funny, attractive, etc.—really and truly are powerful. We (women especially) should realize that our self-perceived faults are often the very things others find attractive and endearing. And don’t forget to compliment yourself daily; positive affirmation is everything.

A Fresh Cry of Pain: Fat-Shaming in Science via NPR

This article is part of the same series as the fat-shaming in opera article I shared a few weeks ago. Fat-shaming in any field is discouraging, and I wish Fox would reconsider her departure from the STEM world (although perhaps her calling really is in advocacy). Yes, health and weight gain/loss are very much due to how and what we eat, but any scientist should know that genetics, hormones, and many other factors contribute to weight gain. Furthermore, while I can see how it would be difficult/strange to take diet advice from an overweight doctor, for example, it angers me that anything other than this woman’s BRAIN would be seen as having an impact on her contributions as a scientist. Fox’s colleagues should be ashamed of themselves.

.Fitness.

These Active Desk Chairs Want to Transform The Way You Sit via Huffington Post

I need one of these (any option will do)…

Date a Girl Who Runs via Elephant Journal

“Date a girl who runs because smiling while you sweat is sexy, and she knows that.” 🙂

.Pregnancy & Children.

Fewer Women Are Having Labor Induced Early via NPR

I feel like this is a no-brainer (unless, of course, you have a true medical reason for delivering early). I hope and pray I make it the full 40 weeks, although, I might be singing a different tune when I can barely waddle to and from the bathroom and such those last few weeks. 😉 Plus, maybe I’m romanticizing childbirth, but I don’t want to schedule Baby M’s entry into the world at 10 AM on a Tuesday as I would a dentist appointment or just so my doctor can arrive early for her island vacation! I like the idea of surprise and “honey, this is it!…” Again, maybe I’ll feel differently when the time comes and I’m utterly terrified.

Dear Kids: It’s OK To Be Bored via Huffington Post

“Boredom is infinite possibility.” I must remember this when Baby M is old enough to complain of boredom!

That’s all I’ve got for today. I hope everybody stays cool and enjoys the rest of their week!