MMP Ep 321: Life Musings & Marine Animals

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Hi friends! Welcome to the Modern Mamas Podcast. We are two modern mamas here to inspire, empowerment, self love, deep physical and spiritual nourishment, holistic health, open minds, and joy, no matter your journey or perspective. I'm Laura of Radical Roots. I'm a certified CrossFit trainer, certified nutrition consultant, and mama to Evie Wilder and Indie Bow.

I love outdoor adventure, good food, especially sourdough, [00:01:00] and

mindful movement. And I'm Jess of Hold the Space Wellness. I am a level one CrossFit trainer, a licensed and certified athletic trainer with a master's in kinesiology, and mama to Bear and Camille. I love food, trying new things, creating art, and being a perpetual learner.

Please note that while we're here to provide advice and insights, we aren't medical practitioners, and always recommend that you check with a trusted provider before implementing any changes. Thanks for joining us. We're so happy you're here. Hello and welcome to another episode of the Modern Mamas podcast.

It's your host Jess and Laura. I was going to say Jess, Jess and Laura Gertner,

in case you didn't know, we

have officially tied the knot. We have made it official

though. You would definitely take my last name, which is ironic anyways, because I would technically be taking Tim's last name. Yeah.

The, the, what was, what's your maiden name?

Bradrick. Bradrick? Uh huh. Did I? I don't even know if I knew [00:02:00] that. Johnson. Johnson. The Johnson Bradrick. Bruner Gertners.

Our kids would be in for it.

Oh, I got weird quick. Well, that's how we do. That's how we do. Kick it off with a bang. Anyways. How's it going? Yeah, it is, it's, it's a catch up coming at you. I feel like all we've been doing lately is catch ups.

And you know what? Just like that. That's the season that we're in. We are smack dab in the, well, I'm coming to the tail end of summer. Don't say that. I only have two weeks actually. Yeah. 12 days, 12 days until school starts, which is like just like, I have serious mixed feelings about it. Like a, I'm, I'm excited to see what life work will be like.

With a little bit more like flexibility and freedom in my day in that regard. But the other hand is that I feel [00:03:00] like the summer has just flown by and I'm not a fan. Like, I, I really, like, I don't know. This is the first summer where I'm just, like, really not, not regretting. I think I talked about this a little bit on the last podcast, but just kind of, kind of regretting?

I don't know if that's the right word. It's just I wish that I had done things differently, which I guess is, like, the definition of regret. But I wish I would have slowed down a bit more. But, again, I think we talked about this on the last podcast, like, You know, life, this season of life has kind of warranted a lot from me, and so, it's like, what can I do?

Like, I'm just, I'm doing the best I can. And I think my kids are loved, and I think, You know, they've had, yeah. And I think they've had a good time, like, You know, we didn't do a bunch of, like, fancy trips or anything like that, but, We've, we've made some space where we could to just be together, so, I don't know, that's all I got.

I gave, I gave them

everything. I have to Evie more on like doing stuff and trying to ask her [00:04:00] first. And we just, like we just reshuffled summer as I've been doing the rest of this. We were supposed to be gone like so much of August. And the way you're feeling, to me, feels like a general theme across a lot of friends that Talked to we were going to do camping for five days with my friend, Emily and her family home for three days, California for a week, home for three days, turn around, drive to bend for like four or five days, come home one weekend, even start school.

And I was just sitting here like, wait a minute, like thinking about, so Rusty just got home last night. Hallelujah. But then I'm looking at like his cadence. He has his weekends are Wednesday, Thursday. He's got basically like 18 days, and then he could likely be called out again on a dispatch. If we kept the current plan, we would only get today and tomorrow with him.

And we wouldn't have another weekend with him until like, probably mid September. Like, I cannot do that to myself or the girls. I just can't. Like, we need that time with him. So I shuffled everything and I'm, we're not gonna, we're pushing off Ben until October. And I was talking to my [00:05:00]friend Emily last night.

You know, we were going to camp together again and like stay with them for a couple of nights. And she's like, I'm going to miss you terribly. But also to be fully transparent, like I am, I am grateful for a down weekend because it just seems like everyone I've talked to, it's like the summer has flown by the weekends and the days have been slammed.

And I'm just really trying to slow down. I canceled again. I feel like every time I get on here, I'm like, I canceled plans. And if you're listening friend, and you're a friend that I canceled on, I didn't cancel. I postponed. And, and I, I feel so understood in that. No one's. No one's batting an eye, you know, so that feels

good Yeah, I feel like i'm like the definition of an enneagram nine and that like I love making plans But I am like 100 not mad When they get cancelled.

Totally. Cause I'm like, oh great, that's more time for me to rest. Or more time for

me to sit. I feel like almost any number who's listening right now, except for an 8, would probably be like, well I just cancelled myself. But, [00:06:00] I, I, I waffle. You know, I'm like, I get FOMO and I want to plan all the things and I'll catch myself cancelling a plan.

And then. Immediately looking ahead and making another one and like, Laura, just stop, you know, slow down. We have plenty going on. And this camping trip coming up is going to, I feel like it's going to fill my cup in ways that I really need this summer. Like five days, I have told my entire team, I am, I'm going to be off social media.

I'm going to be not working. There's like very limited cell service and just to unplug with friends I love and not, I'm not camping alone. I'm camping with friends who love my kids and my kids love them. And so, you know, and I can always. Head home early if I want, and all of that, so.

Which trip is this?

This has not been cancelled? This trip is this one? We leave,

so today is Wednesday. We leave on Monday. It's Lopez Island, which is the San Juan Islands here on our peninsula, which is like, a lot of people listening would probably be like, bucket list. It's like, it's, you have to book. My friend Travis, Set an alarm, got on his computer at midnight, and had to like, within like, the first 90 seconds of the rolling window to reserve, [00:07:00] had to book it.

Because they book so fast. And you have to take, like, you can only get there by ferry or boat. I guess a ferry is a boat, but, like, your own boat or a ferry. And... Uh, so we had to book the ferries in advance. Like it's, it's the part of the country where they really limit how many people can go because they want to just keep it incredible.

So we have these campsites right on the water with some of our best friends on the planet. And then also we get the like outdoor nature camping, no showers. experience stay in the paddle boarding right on the water, but then also Like two miles into town. There's like sourdough bakeries and pizza pop ups and like so I get a little bit

of both This is like your ultimate dream

On an island i'm on an island surrounded by beautiful water.

It's gonna be like 75 to 80 degrees. And the only thing missing is rusty, but you know, it's going to be, it's going to be amazing. And then I'll get home and then I push the California trip back. So now we have a weekend between the two and we'll get for sure, get rusty weekend. Cause he can't be dispatched again for two weeks.

So we'll get the [00:08:00] Wednesday, Thursday with him. Where I was going to leave Tuesday and miss that. And then I was going to get home and leave again on his weekend. And it's like, we were going to have three weeks in a row of like no rusty time, really, except for mornings and evenings, if he's not actively fighting fires.

And so anyways, so now I'm going to California right. Like the day before my sister's wedding party. And we're going to drive down to Santa Barbara, spend two nights down there with extended family. I haven't seen my cousins in like years. None of them have met Indy. So spend time with family down there and then drive back up, spend the day in San Luis Obispo with my mom and sister.

And then I'll have five days in California, in the Bay area to spend time in Santa Cruz with Nicole and my friend Shelby and see people and also have my parents help too. And ideally that's right. When Rusty will be like. A bit able to be dispatched again. So with any luck, he'll get dispatched and we'll have a week overlap where I'm in California and he's gone.

So that like half of that time, cause this, this 16 day stretched, it just felt, it felt like summer. It's [00:09:00] a weird, weird, weird juxtaposition of like things going so fast. And also that week, those two weeks dragged, you know, like just missing him and doing everything on my own and all the logistics. So to be able to like be with my.

Um, parents and my sister and my brother in law and friends down there will just like shift the cadence of everything, you know, so, and, and we just like, you know, it's, I have Santa Cruz right there. And then Melissa, I'm actually hoping to maybe work it out where we can spend an evening together if we can meet somewhere, you know, like halfway cause she lives like two hours from my parents now that she's back.

So

I know, I'm sorry, I still don't want to talk about it.

So yeah, it feels really good.

It's all smooth and then we'll come home and we'll have, we get home like early on a Saturday morning. We're going to cruise through Bow or Bainbridge, which are on the way back to our house and like do farmer's market, which is something I've been wanting to do. And we'll have that weekend and then we'll have Labor Day weekend and we're just going to be here.

And then Evie [00:10:00] starts her Montessori school the day after Labor Day, which every time I hear someone like what you're saying, your kids start in like a week or so, I just. It makes me mad. I don't know. You probably are like, yeah, I'm ready, but I don't know. I feel like that's so early anyways, so yeah, so that's, it's going to be good and a lot of plans shuffled, but I like the, Oh, and I also push back my sourdough workshop.

That's supposed to be this weekend. Cause it just, I took on too much and I don't have help. And I planned a lot before I knew Rusty's weekend or like his, you know, I can't, I can't overload myself. I've learned a lot of lessons this summer and it's looking like he's going to be doing this work.

Continuously like years to come. And so plan less on the summers, just savor our home here. No workshops over the summer period. And then I really want to, I want to do like three extended camping trips versus lots of single nights throughout. Like, cause I have something booked. Every week or every other week all summer, like a single night, but I love camping and the [00:11:00] setup and take down.

I mean, it's fine, but I'd rather set up, stay for at least two nights, three nights, four nights, and then take down. So it's not so much, you know, and then outside of that just do a lot of day treks all around us. So yeah, just learning and you know, not giving myself grace, like it's been a good summer and I've canceled where I like, I feel like I've rode the line of doing a lot, but not pushing my girls or myself past capacity.

So yeah, and it's just, it's, it's wild to see them growing and you know, Rusty was gone for two weeks. He gets home and that last night they were in the bathroom, like, did they seem bigger and older too? He's like, yeah, both of them, but especially Indy, like she's just, she's chatting and she is, it's just, it's so crazy.

So. Yeah. Yeah, anyways, lots of, I don't know how I just like, went down, went off on a tangent and just started talking because of you.

No, that's, that's, that's why we're here, we're catching up, we're... Yeah. It's getting hot in here, [00:12:00] so take off, wait. It's not that kind of podcast, but it is getting hot in here and I need to fill you in on one of my latest obsessions from Paleo Valley, their new essential electrolyte powders.

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paleovalley. com forward slash modern mamas and get 15% off your order. No code needed. Trust me, your body will thank you. I had a question. Dang it. What was I going to say? Oh, you said you had like checked in with, with Evie about like, you know, doing things and stuff. Has she been able to like articulate?

Like at any moment, has she been able to be like, I want to stay home, or I'm feeling like, you know, articulate her needs and were they ever like different from what you were? Wanting and like how did y'all if so, like how did y'all reconcile

that? That's such a good question. It's thus far We've been on the same page.

There hasn't been anything where she's like, I don't want to do that But I've been like super pumped about so that's been nice most the time It's like I I think we're feeding off each other's energy Like for instance last week there was the music in the park and it was the day after we had gotten home from camping It was a little bit drizzly.

We were just It's just exhausting. And, [00:14:00] I really wanted to make it work because some of our friends, she's my really good friend. It's from the UK and they were leaving for like a month And this is kind of our last chance to spend time with them. But I was like waffling. I had already prepped like our food and everything.

I was like ready to go. And then. And then I, like, checked in with Evie, and she was like, Nah, I just want to stay home. And I was like, okay. And I had the sitter there, and she was only going to stay for a couple hours, but she ended up staying an extra hour. And it was just, it was exactly, and then I already had our food prepped and packed, and so we just ate it in the backyard.

And it was everything. No, we ate it inside because it was like drizzly and cold. But it was just, like, it just was the easy button we needed, for sure. So, yeah, and there's just a couple other things, like, do you want to go, like, do you want to go to Finn River or stay close, like, this past Sunday, we were going to potentially go out to Finn River for the day, and she's like, I just want to stay close to home, I'm like, okay, that's fine, you know, because it's like, what's the point of doing that stuff and putting all the effort in if they don't really want to do it, and so, this weekend, I definitely want to get out to the lake on [00:15:00] Saturday, And then yeah, well Sunday we'll just like hunker down and prep for the trip and we'll be off on Monday and it just it feels the only stipulation there is that like our car is in the shop right now.

Oh no. I know and so because it like a month ago someone backed into us and took off so. Super annoying, but it took forever to get it in, right? Everything's booked up. And I had to deal with all logistics on Monday. The gym owner who I adore came over and sat with the girls for an hour while I like drove the car and I didn't want to deal with car seats and everything.

So anyways, we have, the nice thing is I had this like kick ass four door, four wheel drive Tacoma,

but Is it like a rental?

Yeah, they didn't have, we were supposed to get an SUV because the insurance covers something that's like similar. But they didn't have any, so they're like, you can pick the minivan or this.

I was like, okay, so no offense to minivan owners, it's just not, it's not my

thing. I'm going to tell Liz Wolf you said that because she is very pro minivan. I know,

so many people have gotten them and totally been converted, but most of those people have three kids or more. I know Liz doesn't, but [00:16:00] anyways.

So. The truck would work. Our, our camping cases could fit in the bed. Like it would work fine for camping, but it, I just, my concern is if like our car's done midweek and I'm out there camping that they're going to charge us for the extra days, but they said it should be done by Friday. So everyone cross your fingers, even though you're not listening to this till we're actually away camping, but with any luck, we'll

have the

broad go back and I can get the cases on the roof and we will be off.

And I just like, I need all the pieces to come together, but you know. Camp packing and prepping for a camp trip is, it feels pretty, pretty seamless at this point for us. And especially because there is like a grocery store and bakeries and stuff. I don't feel like I need to pack food for five days, you know, so.

Should be

pretty, pretty good. Man. Um, that sounds, that trip, that, this is the one to the special island with the waitlist. Yeah, the magical islands. I have to keep all of your camping trips, like. I'm like, okay, where is she right now?

This is actually, now that I canceled the bend one, we have like a couple one off, like one at, in the national park here [00:17:00] and one at the lake here as we head into like early September.

But this is the last like trip trip. So the only trips I have left now are this camping trip, which isn't even that far. It's two ferry rides, but it's not that far. And then California, which we're flying. So, and then after that, we're just around

like for the remainder of the year. No,

Rusty and I are going to go, we're going to.

Well, two things that are for sure happening are I am, I already talked to him about it. I'm going to take a solo night in Port Townsend. I'm going to book a hotel and be gone for like 24 hours by myself. And then he's like fully on board for that. And then we are going to go, the two of us, as soon as his season is over, both are going to happen when his season is over.

Cause I want a night away from my first night away from India. I haven't been away from her yet. I want him, I want her to be with him. And then the second night, I'm away from her. My sister, we're flying her up. She's gonna come for a long weekend. She and I will have some time together for our birthdays, and then she's gonna stay with the girls.

We're gonna walk to the ferry, hop on the ferry, go to Victoria for a night, and have our first overnight together in [00:18:00] years. And then, so those are two, but you know, those are pretty simple. And then, yeah, that is it. And then we're hoping to get out to the east coast in the spring. I'm saying this here to manifest it.

I've got friends having babies. My brother and his wife live out there and they had a baby in May. And so we want to try and plan a family trip. Out there, but that won't be till spring. So like through the rest of the year, we have no plans to like travel for the holidays. It's just, I just want to slow down and then we're probably going to do Bend, but nothing set in stone when Rusty's done too.

Cause I just really want to get back there and I know he loves it.

So, and then we're going to, we're loosely, loosely, loosely hoping for some sort of work.

And we were talking fall, but now I think we're both kind of like, let's. Let's, let's

chat spring circle back around. It's wild. Life is so crazy. It, it, it really, really is fun.

And

with this fire season, I was talking to Rusty last night. It's looking like he's probably going to be working like through October because it's so dry and so warm. [00:19:00] Comparatively here. So I'm like cool. We'll celebrate our anniversary like two months late, but it's fine It'll happen and it'll be it'll be

lovely.

Yeah. Yeah, of course it will and what's the what how many years will it be? 10

10 years. Yeah, so we're I mean, it'll just be a single overnight And that's kind of what we can afford and and about I feel comfortable being away from The girls right now maybe like for 15 or 20. We'll And I'm doing like a week, but for now, this, this feels good.

And I'm just, I'm so excited for a night with him. And we love Victoria and there's like really good food. And just the fact that there's like, not, we don't have to spend a bunch of time traveling. We walk from our house to the ferry. So my sister will have our car with the car seats and everything, you know, it's.

It's simple. The little one just woke up. So it's probably, I want to hear now. She just ran out here. I want to hear more about, so do you have any extra, more trips planned? I know you guys, your girls, your girls, your kids are starting really soon. And then what is the latest with

all the things? Yeah, I'll, I'll kind of take, take the mic and catch, catch everyone up.

Let's see. Okay. We went, I think on [00:20:00] the last podcast episode, I was talking about how, I don't know if I actually, did we talk about this? Anyways, long story short, Tim. Tim's dad and stepmom were so Tim is from Corpus Christi, which is like a little it's not a little I mean I mean it is relatively small compared to San Antonio But it's a little coastal town here in Texas and his dad and stepmom I mean, he's basically lived there who he grew up there and his dad and stepmom also have been there Like, since the forever, but they recently decided they were going to move to the Valley, which for people who are not aware of Texas geography, the Valley is like way down South, pretty much like close to Mexico.

So Texas is just huge. It's like Corpus is South Texas, but then you go two hours more South and that's like South Texas as well. Like it's the Valley area. And so there's lots of, like, little towns down there. But anyways, his stepmom is from there. And so [00:21:00] they're getting older in age, and the only family left in Corpus there with them is Tim's brother.

And so I think they're just, like, kind of at the point where they need a little bit more, like, support. And so his stepmom's whole family lives down there, so they decided they were gonna move. And so it was kind of... To be honest, like a little bit of a last minute trip, but they needed Tim and his brother's help to take a load down to the valley.

And so at first Tim was just going to go and it was going to be kind of a whirlwind trip and we were going to stay home just like trying to conserve funds and you know, all of that. But at the kind of the last minute we were like, you know what, let's just, we can do this on the cheap. We can stay with.

my brother in law and sister in law and we can go to, you know, do a lot of like low cost free things and make it like a little bit of a family trip. So we went down on Thursday afternoon and then Friday the boys, Tim and his brother, packed up like the remainder of his parents house and like [00:22:00]they did all of that on Friday and drove down to the valley and unloaded and then came back.

I think it was like it was an all day trip. They weren't back till like 10 o'clock and while they did that. I took the kids. So my sister in law, she's so cool. She's like Like, I don't know. She's like living the, the dream profession that I always wanted to live as a kid. So she works at the Texas State Aquarium, and she has her, her master's in like curriculum and instruction.

And I think, I think her undergrad degree is in like marine science or something. Anyways, she works at the aquarium. So she got us into the aquarium, some little old VIP tickets. We've been before too, and we went last summer and the kids got to do like, Bear got to swim with the sharks and we got to do like a behind the scenes like dolphin like interaction was so cool.

This trip was just us kind of like walking around and going, going to see the exhibits and stuff, but it's always so cool. I love this aquarium. A lot of the animals there are like rescues. So they, the aquarium is also attached to, [00:23:00] I forget the name of it, but it's like the marine science. Institute Rescue Center or something.

And so a lot of the animals there have been rescued. They can't be like in the wild because they wouldn't be able to survive. Like one of the turtles, my favorite turtle, I forget her name. She has air in her shell because she was hit by a boat. And so she can't... Like submerge and so she just it's like her butt is like floating and she's just like swimming around But you know, it's like if she were to be released, it wouldn't it wouldn't be good for her So anyways, we got to visit all the animals I was really really really sad because they had an octopus there And so I don't know if you've if anyone's read.

Oh, what's that book with the octopus? I Can't remember the name of it. It's a really It's one of my favorite books. I can picture the cover of a recent favorite fiction book all about this octopus. Anyways, it endeared me to octopuses, octopi. Anyways, last [00:24:00] trip we saw her, her name was Isla, and she was just like beautiful and like moving around.

And so we went there to go see her. This trip and she wasn't there anymore and there was no like information like but she wasn't in the like enclosure that they had for her and I asked my sister in law and she so apparently octopuses octopi only live like a very short lifespan and when they start to I guess like lay eggs or you know move to that like developmental process of their life if they aren't able to like You I don't know.

It's like, if they aren't able, like, apparently they like die very soon after they begin laying eggs. And they said, it's like, Nicole, my sister in law, said it's really like a painful, like, uncomfortable transition for them. And so they had to... Put the octopus down and I don't think I've ever, [00:25:00] like, felt like I wanted to cry for like, I know, no idea.

I had no idea either

like documentary on, it's on like nature documentary about the guy who like befriends an octopus and I

haven't watched it, but Tim has and he said, it's, it's really, really great. They're so smart. Yeah, they're incredibly smart, but yeah, it's like really sad because they don't really live that long.

And so, that was kind of a bummer, but you know, I think they, they all obviously, the people at the aquarium, do the best they can to kind of make the animals lives there as, you know, just as pleasant and enjoyable as possible. So, we, we missed Isla, but she's... And then we, there's a dolphin there that they have rescued.

He's, he just turned like, I did not know that dolphins live this long. I'm this whole podcast is going to be me just talking about marine animals. There's a dolphin. And we, he was the one that we got to like. Meet the [00:26:00] last time we were there and his name is Shadow. He just turned like, I think, 32? He had just turned like, 32.

And he was just like, the coolest. He's just so, I don't know, they're just cute. Looking at their faces and they look so, like, friendly. Anyway, Shadow, he's seen some things. Apparently he was like, attacked. And he has a bunch of scars, but like, 32! Like, he's like, as old as like, we are. for the most part. So that's bananas.

Anyways, I just love the, the aquarium was hot, but it was really fun. We got to, the kids enjoyed it, obviously. So we did that on Friday. Back to my story. Now that you've got my marine science update. So we went to the aquarium on Friday. Bear really, really, really, really, really wanted to go to the beach. So we visited like There's several portions of the beach in Corpus and so he visited like the really touristy portion so he could put his feet in the water, came home, relaxed, and then [00:27:00]Saturday went to the actual beach.

So we went out to, there's a stretch of beach that is like a national park. So Potter Island, I didn't know this, but it's like the largest Oh gosh, I'm gonna butcher this. It's like one of the largest, it is the largest barrier island in the world, I think, so it's like a stretch of land that runs along the coast of Texas, and so there's a portion of it that's just like, you know, public, where like, there's like A lot of people go.

It's free access. It's, it's public and there's a, just, it's like a lot of parties. And then we went to the, uh, gosh, I think, I think it's called Men's. I can't remember the exact name of it. But you have to pay to get in because it's like a national park. But you can go and like spend the day. And so we went to that part of the island.

And it was just delightful. We had like tents up because the sun is intense. Down there. We were like diligently applying and reapplying sunscreen, but we just had the best time. We packed like sandwiches and. [00:28:00] I got to just like chit chat under the shade tent with my sister in law. We like boogie boarded and the kids found a bunch of like hermit crabs and built sand castles with their uncle.

And we went way out into like multiple sand bars and it's just such a good time. The kids, we've talked about honestly moving to Corpus potentially because obviously that's where Tim's from. His brother's there, my sister in law. And the cost of living is like... Even for like Texas, which, you know, is significantly less than like other parts of The, the states, Corpus Christi in particular, it's kind of like a sleepy town, but you can get, you can live there relatively affordably, comparatively speaking.

And so, and like, you know, obviously Tim being there, like it's home to him in a lot of ways. And so the kids were like, cause we've talked about moving a lot of places, but this is the first place they were [00:29:00] like. Yes. Yes. We want to move here. Like, this is great. And again, it's like, we're on vacation and it's a different, like, vibe.

So I don't know how they would feel about, like, living there 100% of the time, but it's definitely on our radar. And we always drive around, like, the neighborhoods that, you know, Tim would want to move to and kind of, like, look at houses and stuff when we're down there. So anyways. It was just a good trip.

Sunday, we came, we kind of just took it easy. I had a, we had a big ol shrimp fry, which is like my favorite food in the entire world, and bear too. And then came back on Sunday, just kind of took it easy, grocery shopped, and got back on. like a routine. And so that's like our last trip for the summer that we have planned.

Next weekend or this coming weekend, I'll be in Charlotte. Oh, it's not our last trip. I mean, technically our family last trip, but I'm going to be in Charlotte. I'm leaving tomorrow for a beauty counter lead. I'm actually, I'm actually really looking forward to it. It's the first, I mean, I'm packed [00:30:00] ish, but I don't feel stressed about it.

I'm going to, I've got all my stuff in there. I've like. My entire wardrobe is, like, thrifted, which just tickles me to death. And going to Leed, gonna see some friends. I'm going to an extra day before everything starts, rooming with my friend Liz, who's been on the podcast before. And we're just gonna kind of, like, settle in tomorrow.

And then I'll be back on Sunday. And then the next weekend, we have a little family birthday party for, like, a joint family birthday party for both kids, because Bear's birthday is in... On August 19th, and then they start school. So, the next two weekends are kind of taken up. We started soccer back, like, actual.

His select team, this is the first year where we're doing select. So it's a little bit more, like, intense. So, we just started his first practice yesterday, which is also bananas. And then I think Cammie's gonna start... volleyball. She is, like, very interested in [00:31:00] volleyball. She did a little camp this summer, and she, I think I mentioned before, she likes it because there's air conditioning.

I don't think she sweats that much, and that's her vibe. So we're gonna go with it because I loved volleyball. I played volleyball in high school. I think it's just, it's just really fun for me. I was never, like, tall, so I wasn't, like, I was always, like, the defensive specialist in the back row, but it was just a really fun sport.

So I'm excited to kind of nurture that and see where it goes, but I think we're gonna sign her up for, like, a little Tots League. And, let's see, and then Bear's birthday is on the 19th. We're doing, he wants to do, like, an indoor soccer party. So we have a little indoor soccer place close to our house, we're gonna plan for that.

And then, I'm trying to think what else. I, a couple updates on, like, health and... Physical stuff, I think I had mentioned, I mentioned a couple podcasts ago that I was like just gonna take some time off [00:32:00] from Extended maybe forever time off from like tracking a lot of things. I removed my whoop strap not wearing that anymore I kind of had been like tracking macros ish for a while and just like so I was talking with my sister in law about this, like just so, it's been like years, pretty much since Cammie has, was born, of me just like constantly testing and tracking and trying to figure out what's, like air quotes, wrong with me and you know, it's, it's, it's been a lot and I just had this revelation.

I was telling my sister in law, it's like, I just am constantly looking for like something to fix about myself and I know that that can't be a good, like, even if there are things that are, like, need attention, like gut health or parasites or, you know, blood sugar or, you know, all these things, which can actually be [00:33:00] something that might need attention.

My attention, even if that's true, it can't be like, I don't know what the cost is to be constantly just like fixated on it, you know, it's like, what if I take a step back and knowing everything that I've learned, because it's all been valuable, you know, I don't regret doing any of the protocols or testing and I've learned so, so much about my body and it's helped me come in, like, really in tune with that as someone who's struggled with that.

What if I just, Stop, stop the, like, constant testing and the constant, like, tracking and just do what I've learned in a low stress, low expectation environment. And I have to tell you, it's been really, really, really good, not just for, like, my mental health, but, like, for my body. Again, like, I... It's just, it's kind of wild.

[00:34:00] We started, we, Tim and I both were just like, you know what, we're gonna just get back to eating like nutrient dense foods, no specific amounts, like no specific timing, like no, you know, tracking fasting or anything like that. And just eating nutrient dense foods, trying to cut back on, like, you know, so for instance this is an example of me using information that I've learned based on my genetics, like I know I should probably not be eating really grains of any kind.

And I was like, you know what, I'm really going to just try and do this, like use this information, try and do it for an extended period of time. And so we have, we've been getting like, we have a, we got back on our co op so we could get some like raw milk and raw heavy cream and like raw cheese and farm fresh eggs and really focusing on like grass fed.

Like really good quality like grass fed meat and then I I think you know this that I probably mentioned on the podcast before like [00:35:00] I Have never liked fruit because it's like I I want to eat carbs But most of the carbs that I've been getting are from like grains and rice and you know pastas and you know All of that but because I hate fruit.

I mean, I don't I won't say hate hate is a strong word I don't choose fruit I don't enjoy it. Like, Tim could, like, literally eat, like, a whole thing of strawberries and just think it was, like, the best thing ever. And I'm like, awww, I'll eat a couple if I have to. So I've been trying to change my relationship with fruit, because that's also something that's been kind of, like, demonized, I think.

And I think, it's hard for me to, like, tell if the reason I don't... Like air quotes fruit is because at some point in my like disordered eating journey I was like fruit is bad and it's got sugar or if I like really don't like fruit So I've been trying to kind of like untangle that and like find fruits that I really enjoy and so a lot of like the eat like what we've been eating is just [00:36:00] like Really good quality grass fed meats, really good quality dairy, a lot of fruit, and, like, that's, that's pretty much it.

And I will say, like, I have significantly noticed a drop in, like, inflammation, signs of inflammation in my body. Digestive issues, I was having a really bad stomach pain there, like, probably up until a month ago after meals. Like, pain, like, where I'd have to lay down and just be like, I don't know what's happening.

Like, it's not, like, not, it wasn't, like, digestive, if, it, If that makes sense. It wasn't like it resulted in anything. It was like cr like almost like just, I dunno. I thought I was gonna have to get like my gallbladder out or my appendix out or something. And a lot of that has like, don't do that. I know enough of that between the two.

I know I was like getting real freaked out 'cause it was like after meals and I was like, I don't know. What's going on? And [00:37:00] so anyways, cut out a lot of like, just as an experiment, just like some vegetables that I think we're, we're causing issues for me. Like, I love cabbage. I can eat cabbage raw, broccoli raw, and cauliflower raw.

Like, I love.

No, you're not supposed to do that. I know. What if you just like massage it with like apple cider vinegar, some salt, some lemon juice, like even just a little bit of acid. If I were to eat a bowl of raw cabbage, I would. I would feel the same way.

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Check her out at Brianna sells bend. That's b r e a n a cellsbend. kw. com brought to you by Brianna White, broker with Keller Williams Realty, Central Oregon, Equal Housing Opportunity. Now let's dive back into our episode. I've been doing that my whole life and I've been wondering why, like my stomach has been, I mean, I literally like just a raw cabbage shredded like salad, Brussels sprout salad, like all day.

That would wreck me. Well, so I think it was.

So I'm just taking a break a little bit from some of that roughage and seeing, and I'm feeling really, really good. So anyways, yeah, so that's kind of a little bit of update there. Just feeling really good. I'm finally getting back into consistent movement, which. Gosh, at the beginning of the summer, I know a lot of people reached out because I was sharing that, like, I, [00:40:00] you know, my mental health was, like, very low.

And, you know, there are still a lot of challenges that we're going through right now as a family, but, like, my resiliency and ability and, like, just... I don't know, like, my capacity for it, I think, has significantly improved. I think in large part due to the fact that, like, I'm just moving my body. Like, we talked about this, it's like, exercise is like, so, at least for me, so, so important to, like, the energy and the mental health space and just being able to have the...

Mental capacity to tackle the challenges in a, in a like, more positive way. So I've been, gosh, I hurt my back in Feb, like the end of February. And so what that's been, I gotta do math. March, April, May, June, July. So it's been 5 Ish months a little over five months [00:41:00] and it's been just like God a tough battle And I just want to it's like put a lot of things into perspective because while it's been a long time It's also a very short time in the span of things and I'm so so so proud of myself for taking it slowly and being in that season and being in that the low place where like I wasn't able to move and it was incredibly frustrating and You know, I still have like ups and downs like I can't every time I try and do like a deadlift related Motion movement my back is like I don't think so I don't think so I can do like everything else but not that and so still still moving working through a lot of things But I'm just proud.

I'm proud of myself. Like I slowed down I realized that like in order to kind of like what we talked about last episode like slow is fast like In order to get back to what I want to be doing, I have to slow down. I have to rebuild, like, at a foundational level. [00:42:00] I have to go slow. And there were days where it's, like, literally the only movement I was doing was, like, breathing.

And it was like, oh my god, I'm never gonna get there. And now looking back, it's like, I'm there. Like, today I did split, weighted split squats. Today I did kettlebell swings. Today I did front rack, like, weighted carry. Like, I It's just, it's a journey.

It's slow. I can hear it in your voice too. Like, you know, there's a relief it sounds like, and a lightness back, especially when talking about your back, where just the tone months ago was like a little bit, I don't want to say fully hopeless, but like, uh, there's going to be like, You couldn't really see the light.

You knew it was there, but you couldn't really see it. And now, it's

like, you're in the light. Yeah. Absolutely. And it's like, I, it's just, it feels, it feels really good. And, again, like I said, like, I can still, like, my back is sore today after working out. And so I just have to, like, I've just never been more in tune.

I think with my body [00:43:00] minus all the tracking, it's like, it's wild, right? Like there's no device telling me like how I'm feeling. It's really just me being like super aware. And like, today I know like this sitting is like probably the most sitting I'll be able to do, like all day recording the podcast. And so like, I know like, I just need to move today.

Like I need to avoid certain positions. Like I need to stretch and roll. And it's like all these things, like I've got to do this to like. Maintain my health and so I'm like fully bought in and it feels really good. So update on that. I Took a little bit of break from chiropractic care and went back yesterday for like my first like kind of maintenance adjustment Which felt really good.

I'm doing a little bit of trade of a trade with willow house Which is so helpful, like I'm going to be doing some photography for them on a monthly basis, and in turn get to keep going and seeing them for my adjustments, which I just think is so important for like this stage because it's like I'm transitioning out of.

Like, [00:44:00] real, not illness, like real injury into, like I'm in a very like, what's the word I'm looking for? It's like a, just a crucial, yeah, like maintenance, but like, it's a very like sensitive period where it's like, I'm not quite ready to like, just go for it, you know? But like, I also like, I'm moving into more like movement.

And so I just think those adjustments are going to be really, really, really key going forward. So. Yeah, I just feel like I talked for a long time, but I wanted, I wanted to share about like just updates on that, the physical stuff and like, you know, food and nourishment and like body and all of that. Cause I know.

I just know a lot of people are in similar places based on just feedback from recent episodes, and it just feels really good. I don't know. I love that. Yeah. Did I share my blood work results? After I said I wasn't going to track anything, this I'd already Did I share that up here? You

don't know. Did you share it with on

the episode with Becca?

I don't [00:45:00] know. No, that was a long time ago. The blood work was recent. It was like right before I was like Damn it all to hell, I'm gonna just burn everything down. I had scheduled blood work after my, for like, after the ending of my chiropractic care. So I did it, and it was interesting, because I, like, again, to my point about like, me just looking for stuff, and being like, okay, what is it, what's wrong?

Like, my blood work actually, So there were a few things, like, because I was like, I've clearly got thyroid issues going on, like, my thyroid's all out of whack. Because I was having all these, like, symptoms that I thought were related to thyroid. And like, it came back, actually, my thyroid is really, like, pretty good.

And the one thing that was out of range was something that indicated just liver, like, support. And I think, I think... That is, like, is something that people underestimate the power of, like, your, your liver and how it can affect, like, everything. And so, I'd already been doing, like, I'm already doing [00:46:00] things to, like, support it, but, like, castor oil packs and, you know, just getting, like, there was also some, like, adrenal stuff, which makes sense because, and blood work is just, like, a snapshot in time of, like, how you're feeling in that moment.

So, it's not the be all end all of everything, but, like, you know, I've been in a little bit more of, like, a cortisol. Like phase because of just what we're going through, like in terms of work and school. And so it's just, it's like back to the basics. It's just like supporting my adrenal, supporting my liver.

And, and just, I really think like fueling foundationally with good food, nourishing food and like movement that makes sense. It's like, I think I've always looking for this like quick fix or like the next best thing. Or like, is it fasting? Is it keto? Is it? Paleo, is it like all these things and it's like, I don't know just simplifying it It just makes sense.

Like I feel like simplifying [00:47:00] it and showing up daily consistently Like I'm feeling better than I have in a really long time. So anyways, that's my soapbox. I don't know if anyone can, can relate. I think it's way easier

to eat intuitively when you can ask questions like, do I really not like fruit? Or have I been conditioned to think that it's bad?

Like those simple questions can really, it's just huge. And I might be. I don't know. I might get some slack for saying this, but I don't, I don't think personally, I don't think intuitively eating is like eating whatever you want, whenever you want, because we've lost our ability to tune into our bodies and know what we actually need versus the hyper palatable food that's all around us all the time.

And so it takes a journey and it takes learning about. Maybe like what your body needs and then reprogramming your brain to then actually ask yourself like what do I want and balancing the flavor and all of that with also like what does my body need in this moment and re like reorganizing your palate and it's it's you've been on a journey and you're to that place now it's so cool to see where you're like I can actually eat more intuitively [00:48:00] and it's working

really well yeah and that's like the the interesting thing was this weekend and So we've been eating really well.

My stomach was feeling so good. Like, I, it's just like weird because I've been living with, like, stomach digestive issues pretty much, like. Since my 20s and like kind of shifting our eating I didn't realize like how good I was feeling and so this weekend It was like, you know And again, like I'm not not gonna eat fried shrimp when I'm in Corpus like it's shrimp straight from the bay Like it's just like the best it's gonna get for me and you know It's like we went and we got donuts at the special place and it was wonderful and I enjoyed every bite and I have no regrets But at the same time it was so Interesting.

Cause it's like, oh, my stomach just does not, it just feels it's like, I wasn't really tuned into that before. It was just like the way that I operated, like that's how my stomach was. And so now that I'm feeling so good, when I do make those [00:49:00] choices. My body, like, speaks to me in a much more clear way. And again, it's not to say, like, I'm still gonna eat shrimp every time I go down to Corpus.

But, it's like, I now know that, like, that's just one, or two, or four, however many, five small choices in the overall scheme of things. And I easily got, was able to like, you know, eat foods that made my stomach feel good when we got back home. And it's like, I don't know, it was just before it was like this all or nothing thinking where it's like, well, I blew it, you know?

And it's like, this is obviously a lot of my, you know, tune back in. We have a couple episodes on like our. Like eating disordered eating, you know personal stories But it's just like those constant patterns just continue to show up in my brain and I really feel like now at 40 a lot of Reprogramming is being done like you mentioned in my brain to just release some of those thought patterns and it's like it's [00:50:00] hard because my brain automatically wants to like Hook on to, okay, well now you only can eat this healthily way because, like, this is the best way.

And when you do other, when you go off this, this, like, quote unquote plan, then, like, this is a bad thing. It's like, I keep having to remind myself this is, like, a lifelong thing. Like, it's the not all or nothing, like, you know the foods that make you feel really good, and you also get To choose foods that make you feel good in different ways.

Like soul ways, like it's fried shrimp and like a special donut or whatever. Does that make sense? I feel like I'm just rambling. I'm I'm on a, I'm on Jess rant.

You're not rambling. I think it comes down to the food serves us in many ways. There's like the nutritional value, the digestive, the probiotic, the macro nutrient, and also the emotional component that we can't.

We can't separate from because the first way we know love when we're brand new born is by somebody feeding us, you know? So it's like, it's all there. And it's a matter of finding the quote unquote [00:51:00] balance of in different seasons and where you're at and all of that and tuning in, like, okay, I'm at, at this point, it's been five days of like lots of things that I don't usually eat.

I'm gonna. Pull it back a little bit. Not as a punishment as a like a reset so that I can feel well again, you know, and you've got all those tools at your disposal to know how to like get

there when you need to, which is cool. Totally. I don't know. It's just, it's an interesting conversation. I know on Liz Wolf's podcast, she's been having a lot of conversations around just, it's like, I don't want to, we're all at the end of our recording time right now.

And I feel like this is a whole other can of worms. Maybe we can have her on to chat about this, but like the, like. Anti diet culture, diet culture, like head to head, like, you can't, you, it's like, it's like, you can't say that, you can't say this, and like, if you want to be, to change anything about yourself, then you're bad, but if you, like, don't, then, like, it's just, ugh, ugh, it's exhausting, I'm just like, how did we [00:52:00] get here, I mean, I know how we got here, but still, it's just, social media, it's

just, it's so frustrating, it's like, you can't just throw the health component out, The window, like what you eat does matter, you

know, there's so much nuance to, to that whole conversation.

And I feel like I'm not necessarily like a professional or equipped to like dive into the nuance, but I I'm here for the continued conversation. There you

go. Curious. We just stay curious here

for that. Like, and, and sharing my personal experience, because at the end of the day, our personal. Experiences is really all we're truly experts on.

And so like, anyways, I'm just happy to share my own, my own stuff. And if anyone else wants to like, share their journeys, feel free to reach out. I'm very interested in this conversation, so I would love to hear about more people's experiences. Anywho, I just, I feel like, talked for 30 minutes [00:53:00]straight. Do you have anything else?

No. I think

there's a pillow fight going on in my bedroom right now. Ooh. I should probably go jump in. Take down a toddler.

Yeah. Just kidding. Do it. Just, I can see a slow mo, just pillow across, knocking someone down. Oh, I love it. Sweet. Well, thanks everyone for listening. Yeah. And we'll start to, maybe this is a

good transition episode into a topical, more about like food.

We haven't done that in a while. a guest episode. We did have a request to bring Liz back on, so maybe we can bring her back on for that conversation to share all the things she's learned from the guests she's

had on. Oh gosh, I love that. She's like entering into this, and I guess it's like particularly something that I'm interested in because I'm in the same phase, but she's like entering into this like 40, 40 plus like era content like conversations, and I'm so here for it because I feel like I I am the first, the first of my kind, no, [00:54:00] like in my, in my friend group and like my community, I feel like I'm kind of in that season first of like entering into 40 and like, I hate to say it, but like.

perimenopausal, which, you know, can last for a long time. It can be years that you're in perimenopause, but like just, it's just like wild. It's like, what? I was just 20. Like I was just 20 and I had no kids and now I'm almost 40. So anyways, I know a lot of her, her interest and her content and her guests have been kind of shifting to that content.

And so I'd love to have her on just to kind of talk about some of those conversations. So. I love it.

Let's do it. Box

her now. If you're interested and you want to hear that, let us know. I'm sure. I'm sure. I'm sure there are people out there that want to hear. Oh yeah. A handful at least. Sweet. All right.

Thanks everybody. We'll see you. Thanks friends. Chat at you

next week. Sounds good. Ote. Bye. Bye. Next[00:55:00]

time. Thanks for listening to our podcast. See you next time. Bye.