Amanda Perry

12/16/2022

https://www.uppermichiganssource.com/2022/12/15/safe-winter-driving-learning-correct-skid-icy-roads/

If you find yourself beginning to lose control of your vehicle, take your foot off the accelerator and the brake.

12/05/2021

Saving to read later because I have a lil YouTube Ju**ie.

The difference in behavior was incredible.

02/05/2021

I have the very best friends!

10 Qualities of a Really Good Friend:

1. They can be real. Fake is exhausting, and overrated. We're all kind of a mess. Friendship is a whole lot better when you can be in the mess together. Authenticity breeds a beautiful level of depth and understanding to the relationship.

2. They are a safe place for you to be real. Dirty yoga pants, bad night, fight with the hubby, trouble with parenting, depressed, anxious, ate too many tacos and now you have heartburn...doesn't matter what it is, you want friends you can be yourself around. If you can’t ever relax when you’re around them, they’re not your home.

3. They'll make time. Everyone is busy, but if you want true friendship, you’ve gotta carve out the time consistently. Consistency is key here. It's important you have friends who will do that whenever they get the chance, even if it’s squeezing in a ten minute phone conversation while they’re going through the car wash, or a text at some point in the day. If you never see or talk to them, it’s hard to know them. And if you never know them, it’s hard to build a relationship with them. In fact, it’s kind of impossible.

4. They like you for YOU. Listen and listen real good. If you have to impress, perform, or work hard to keep them around—stop it this second. If they don't love you when you stop, then GET OUT. Ain't no one got time for that. Your energy is better spent where it is valued.

5. You can trust them. You know your words stop with them and they have your back when you’re in the room, and when you walk away.

6. They're approachable. It's never fun to let a friend know they hurt your feelings, but it's gotta happen sometimes. Friends who listen, really hear you, and can apologize are so precious.

7. They show up. Birthdays, bouts with anxiety, grief, good times, bad times, celebrations... friends who show up when it matters leave lasting impressions.

8. They aren't super duper negative. There's a difference between being honest about the ups and downs of life, and spewing a firehouse of negativity constantly. You should feel good around them the majority of the time.

9. They're all-around good humans. Just like your mama said, you’ve gotta watch who gets your attention. If they’re nice to you, and then turn around and act like a jerk to the waitress—they’re not nice. Friends should make you want to be a better human, and they should see the value in others.

10. They pursue you right back. It's essential to find friends who check in, invite you out, and text first. They initiate. They invest. They pursue. Relationships and bridges—neither of ‘em work if they only go one way.

Written by Jess Johnston and Amy Weatherly

Follow Sister, I am with you. for more.

Photo by KaLisa Veer

02/05/2021

What’s for dinner?

We were in a dinner rut for a long time. I blame grocery pickup because it was so easy to just buy the same things over and over. I never made any type of plan, which means we ate a lot of grilled chicken and broccoli.

Andy and I have talked about going plant based for awhile. Before getting pregnant with Aksel I ate mainly a vegetarian diet, so it wasn’t a far fetched idea for me.

The first couple weeks of this year we weren’t really on the same page, so I was buying all our regular grocery items and then Andy was kinda fending for himself because I didn’t realize we were really doing this.

The past couple weeks I’ve actually put meal plans together and we’ve followed them!!!! We have had so much variety that it’s been (sorta) exciting to make dinner. We aren’t throwing food away because we are actually eating what we bought for once. I’m curious what this does to our food budget. Looking at the past year the amount of money we spent on food is just stupid.

This week we ordered Hello Fresh, but I’m open to trying more meal boxes if anyone has any recommendations for boxes that have vegetarian options.

02/04/2021

Can I enjoy a sober night out with my friends?

Yes, yes I can. Saturday I went snowshoeing and hung out with friends. I had fun, remembered the whole night, and woke up the next morning feeling amazing.

I’ve been sober curious for awhile. Sure I’ve done month long sobriety challenges- Dry January, Sober October, Say No November. But I was always counting the day until I’d drink again.

I never made it more than the month. But I knew my relationship with alcohol wasn’t serving me. Blackouts, weight gain, poor sleep and concentration, I could give you a long list. I had myself believing I was functioning just fine. But something was always nagging at the back of my mind. Wellness is important to me, so why am I putting this in my body everyday and my body has to work overtime to get rid of it. What am I avoiding? What am I lacking? Why do I want to drink? Why can’t I stop at just one drink? How much money am I spending on this?

This time, I’m not counting the days until I can drink again. I’m taking things one day at a time. Feeling the feels, questioning myself and situations. I can’t fail because it’s not a forever thing. I might chose to drink tomorrow, or three years from now. I know that if and when I chose to have a drink, I’ll have made the decision best for me. Not because my 30 days were up and I was allowed to drink again. I’m choosing not to drink for now. I’m learning and growing, working on being present and mindful of what’s going on in my life.

@ Rippling River Resort Campground

01/31/2021

To grow, you have to embrace the discomfort. The transition is uncomfortable and scary, but that’s the nature of the beast.

Yesterday I was reminded of my past, it came out of nowhere and unexpectedly caught me off guard. The girl I was at 25 is unrecognizable to my 39 year old self. Yes, I have a past- we all do. But I am not defined by the mistakes I’ve made. Those “mistakes” might not align with other’s perception of the situation. I am thankful I made those mistakes, for I wouldn’t be the person I am today without it. I will never stop learning and growing. I will never stop learning about myself, my values, my character, my identity.

Making mistakes is how we grow as humans. No matter what has happened in your past, it has shaped who you are today. You have either become a victim to it or have overcome whatever obstacles you stumbled into. We all make mistakes, the key is to look at them as learning opportunities.

When you are challenged, you are asked to become more than you were. That means creating new perspectives, acquiring new skills, taking responsibility for your actions, and exploring boundaries.

01/25/2021

Bath time struggles with this kid. It takes forever to get him in the tub, then forever to get him out. Anyone else???

He’s loving his new foaming body wash. Usually he doesn’t get the fun stuff because he inherited my sensitive skin.

The wellness store I love just launched a new plant based baby line. He might be 5, but he’s still my baby, right?! His skin is loving it, and the fact it doesn’t burn means he’ll let me put the lotion on afterward too. I’ve been using it as hand cream because it soaks right into the skin. Finally a brand that knows there is nothing worse than a slippery wet baby.

Side note- the foam does an amazing job keeping those long locks tangle free and his hair has been so shiny!

Swipe ▶️ for his silly personality.

01/24/2021

Can we control the future?

Hell yes we can! I’ve been trying to stay focused on living in the present, but what I’ve found is helpful is to plan for the future before it even gets here.

Sunday’s are all about prep for me. Getting the house cleaned, laundry and dishes done so we at least start with a clean slate. We all know that lasts a hot minute with a five year old.

I’ve been trying to get meal prep done so our dinners aren’t thrown together at the last minute. I look at my week’s appointments and work schedule so I know when I can get things done like my workouts and business commitments.

This week I’m adding in planing my social media posts and themes. Anyone else has a head full of ideas, and then hit writer’s block when they go to create??

What are your best tips to plan social media content?

01/21/2021

Most days I live in lounge wear. Thank you 2020 for making this a style. Jeans are just dumb anyway. But, I also live in lounge wear because none of my jeans fit. Yeah not so happy about that 2020. 🙄

🎙I need to tell you about where my cute sweatshirt is from.

Chelsey become one of my insta BFF’s last year. She gets me, and I get her- both of us know that we are made to do more in this world. And we both have been an array of sizes and numbers on the scale. That struggle is damn real!

Chelsey started last year because she was over not being able to find workout clothes that flattered her body. She is all about empowering women of ALL shapes and sizes through inspiration, motivation, and custom design apparel. You can all sit with us! And she even has sweatshirts, because all besties need matching clothes right?!?

01/21/2021

Saving to read later.

As a mom to a 4- and 6-year-old, I am very familiar with chaos, tantrums, and big emotions. These are my favorite ways to help my kids find some zen.

01/19/2021

BE HERE NOW

I’m not alone when it comes to the struggle of being fully present. I can’t relax or shut my mind off, like ever. Always one more thing be done on the list. My to do list is a merry go round and has been for years. As soon as something is checked off the next in line jumps on, or the next day begins. It feels like groundhogs day most of the time. Didn’t I have all this on my list yesterday?????

One way I’m breaking up with these to do lists is by putting routines in place and focusing on one thing at a time. Multitasking has no place in my life. Single tasking and mindfulness for the win! So what is mindfulness and how does it become the core of who I am?

Mindfulness is constantly observing, reflecting on, and directing your thoughts. Being mindful means intentionally overriding your automatic thoughts with thoughts of positivity and love. Mindfulness allows you to take responsibility for your experience of life, to be aware of how you affect others, and to use your time and energy to become the best version of yourself.

Being mindful means slowing down to think before you speak. It means taking a moment to ask yourself why you are feeling something and how you should respond. You can become less reactive, anxious, and defensive so that you can live more compassionately. Being mindful allows you to develop self-love and self-respect, to move beyond judgement to compassionate, understanding, and empathy.

01/14/2021

My baby is 5 today, like how???

Aksel you are an old soul, and the best gift I could have ever received. You came into this world three weeks earlier than expected. Momma had planned to slow down and enjoy being pregnant with you after working non stop during busy retail holiday season. To my surprise, I got to bond with you on the outside three weeks earlier. I wasn’t prepared for what our breastfeeding journey would entail, but somehow we worked through it and made it 2.5 years. You’re stubborn just like your mother. I love watching you grow and learn about this crazy world. Happy 5th Birthday Aksel!