Happy Sunday!

I’m keeping things short and sweet today since we’re hanging out in Jackson with the in-laws. We’re enjoying our time here, but I’m excited to travel to Memphis tomorrow. It’s going to be crazy hot, but we have a lot of fun things (and EATING!!!) planned.

Hope you find some of the recipes and articles linked below to inspire you in the kitchen or make you think. Have a great week everybody!

.Recipes.

Apricot Strawberry Grilled Crisp via Edible Perspective

Oh this looks amazing. I love crisps/crumbles/cobblers/etc., and the addition of fresh apricots (which I’ve never tried either) and strawberries is too much!

The Best Peach Mango Salsa via Averie Cooks

Yum! This looks so fresh and summery.

Samoa Cheesecake via Gimme Some Oven

This needs NO explanation…

Toffee Ice Cream Brownie Bars via Two Peas & Their Pod

I realize almost all of the recipes I’ve shared have been desserts, but this one is too delicious-looking to pass by.

Raw Zucchini Salad with Lemon, Herbs, and Goat Cheese via Kalyn’s Kitchen

On a healthy note: this looks so refreshing. Lemon makes every vegetable better (as does goat cheese).

.Food & Nutrition.

GMO bananas are coming to a supermarket near you, thanks to Bill Gates via Natural News

I don’t know nearly enough about the science of GMO foods to determine for myself whether they’re the evil, frankenfood opponents claim or the life-saving, means of feeding the world proponents would lead you to believe.  Nevertheless, I do know that all consumers should be told whether or not what they’re purchasing/consuming contains GMO, and that something found safe in gerbils isn’t necessarily good for humans. Nevertheless, the scariest part about GMO foods, in my opinion, is not the possible dangers of the organism but the power it gives to a handful of corporations (like Monsanto).

.Body Image & Mental Health.

Rethinking How We Compliment One Another via My Food ‘N’ Fitness Diaries

This is precisely why I’m hesitant to tell somebody “those jeans make you look so skinny” or “look how slim you are!” Compliments, no matter how well-intended, can be taken entirely differently than we mean, so it’s best to avoid using such words.

Why I Won’t Be Working For a Bikini Body This Summer via Running with Spoons

I agree that while it’s one thing to eat well and exercise because it feels good, it’s another to diet and go on cleanses, exercise religiously, etc. for a few weeks out of the year just to achieve the “perfect” bikini body. Our bodies are already perfect because they function and carry us through each day. It’s incredibly unhealthy the way society and media put so much focus on looking good in a swimsuit, dieting away holiday weight, etc. Health, fitness, and beauty are a lifestyle; they’re not something you turn off or on for a few weeks out of the year. You, go, Amanda—and rock that bikini anyway should you go to the pool/beach this summer! ☺

My Healthy Living Philosophy via Long Drive Journey

…and a great philosophy it is.

What Happened When One Woman Had Her Picture Photoshopped In 25 Different Countries via Huffington Post

This was really interesting and proof that the ideal of “the perfect woman” is unattainable. In my opinion, this woman looked best in the photos that were retouched the least.

.Fitness.

How To Do The Perfect Push Up via Greatist

I’ve always done push-ups (due to gymnastics), but I can guarantee I was doing them incorrectly for a while. Now that the pregnancy “pit fat” is driving me NUTS, I’m counting on correct, frequent push-ups to fix that problem post-baby and post-nursing! (Although, if the little pudges remain, I’ll be ok with that, too.)

What Yoga Is Teaching Me About Life via Healthy Helper

A great post—and it echoes a lot of my own sentiments about yoga.

For Fitness, Push Yourself via The New York Times

While any exercise is better than none, I’ve always heard you should push yourself (within reasonable limits!) to benefit fully. That’s one reason I love my barre class so much: I’m always forced out of my comfort zone. Just make sure to listen to your body, though.

.Pregnancy & Children.

Should you eat fish during pregnancy? via Fit Pregnancy

I’m glad to read this. I haven’t stopped eating fish at all during my pregnancy. I still enjoy shrimp, salmon, rainbow trout (my new favorite for easy weeknight dinners), and oysters maybe once every couple of weeks, although I’ve been avoiding tuna and other large predatory fish (which I rarely consume anyhow). I take a DHA supplement and eat other Omega-3 rich foods, but I’d like to increase my servings of fish to 2 or so per week so Baby M has even more brain power!

Four Truths About Our Post-Baby Bodies via Scary Mommy

I realize this is supposed to be encouraging, but I found it to be a tiny bit discouraging, too. Sure, my body won’t be 100% like it was before, but that doesn’t mean that I won’t be able to run a faster 5K or get my flat tummy back (and for the record, I’m hoping I have a few more curves months after Baby M is born and nursed) in due time. I do agree with the last point, “beauty is where you find it,” though, and I realize that what we gain from pregnancy and childbirth is far greater than what we lose.