Sharing the books I read in March and if I’d recommend adding them to your collection!

Hi friends! How are ya? I hope your morning is going well! I’m catching a barre class today and looking forward to client calls this atfernoon.

(I was apprehensive to post this pic because it’s not very flattering. But, apaprently this is what my legs look like in the sun, so I’m going for it.)

For today’s post, I wanted to share the books I read in March. It was a lighter reading month for me, but still a couple of great pics! I’d love to hear what you’ve read and loved lately if you’ll share in the comments section.

March 2024 reads

$100M Leads

I’m a huge fan of Alex Hormozi. His recipes on Instagram are a little gross, but from a coaching/teaching/entrepreneur perscpetive, I love his teaching style and think he gives a ton of value in his books. Since I enjoyed $100M offers so much, I downloaded this one on Audible. It was an easy read and provided a lot of tips on growing your email list, creating content, and how to target with Facebook ads. I don’t spend much at all on Facebook ads, but it’s something I want to explore this year. 9/10

From Amazon:

This book contains the playbooks that took me from sleeping on my gym floor to owning a portfolio of companies that generate $200,000,000 per year in under a decade. Wanna know the biggest difference between those two time periods? How many leads I was getting.

The problem is – most business owners don’t know how to get leads.

I wrote this book to solve your LEADS problem.

Today, our companies generate 20,000+ new leads per day across sixteen different industries. And, they do it using the eight “never-go-hungry” playbooks inside. Once you see them, you can’t unsee them. They’re so powerful, they work without your permission.

Inside you will find…

…The easiest way to get another five customers tomorrow

…The hook-retain-reward system to transform content into leads

…The 6-part ad framework that gets more people – especially strangers – to want what you sell

…The one question that immediately turns any stranger (no matter how cold) into a hot lead

…The 7 direct referral methods responsible for 30% of my sales

…The affiliate playbook that gets hundreds of other businesses t

Sharing some liestyle tweaks for my friends in their 30s. 

Hi friends! How are you? I hope that you had a wonderful weekend and that my friends who were celebrating enjoyed a happy Easter. This week, the kids head back in school, and I’m back to the routine after a fun trip to California and a festive weekend with family.

For today’s post, I wanted to chat a bit about hormone changes and simple lifestyle tweaks we can make for our hormones. I’m writing this for my friends who are in their 30s (let me know if you’d like me to do one for 40s! I’m going to be 40 this year so I’ll be there soon myself), and as always, I’m here if you have questions or if I can support you in any way.

As women transition through their 30s, hormonal fluctuations become more pronounced, impacting various aspects of health and well-being. From mood swings to disrupted sleep and fluctuating energy levels, dealing with these hormonal shifts can feel like an uphill battle. However, with strategic lifestyle adjustments, it’s possible to support hormonal balance and thrive during this transformative decade.

Here are some of my tips for women in their 30s! As always, talk with a doctor before making any fitness or nutrition changes.

Hormonal SOS: likestyle tweaks for women in their 30s

Prioritize Sleep Hygiene:

Quality sleep is paramount for hormonal health, yet it often takes a backseat in our busy lives. Establishing a consistent sleep schedule, creating a calming bedtime routine, and optimizing sleep environment can promote restorative sleep and hormonal balance. Consider incorporating relaxing activities such as reading a book, taking a warm bath with Epsom salts, relaxing in the sauna blanket, or practicing gentle yoga stretches before bed to unwind and signal to your body that it’s time to wind down.

Mindful Movement:

Regular exercise is vital for overall health, but excessive or intense workouts can stress the body and disrupt hormonal equilibrium. Embrace mindful movement practices like yoga, Pilates, or walking to support adrenal health and mitigate stress-induced hormonal imbalances.

Instead of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) sessions every day, intersperse your routine with gentle, rejuvenating activities like nature walks, restorative yoga, or leisurely bike rides. A good rule of thumb: if you did it yesterday (and it was intense), don’t do it again today. Try to alternate intensities in your weekly routine.

Balanced Nutrition:

Fuel your body with nutrient-dense foods rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to support hormonal health. Prioritize whole foods, fiber-rich vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats while minimizing processed foods, refined sugars, and excessive caffeine intake. Incorporate hormone-balancing foods such as leafy greens, fatty fish, nuts and seeds, and fermented foods li

Quick and Easy Lemon Orzo with Parmesan and Peas

As the winter is starting to melt away we make recipes that scream spring like this quick and easy lemon orzo with Parmesan and peas.

We toast the orzo first to give it a delicious nutty flavor, and then add minced garlic for boldness. The orzo is then cooked with chicken broth and then we add peas, lemon and fresh thyme. It is a bright dish that is the perfect transition into spring!

The Beauty of Garden Produce

There’s truly nothing better than fresh garden produce. I didn’t understand this as a child and I don’t know that many people have experienced true farm to table even today. Mom and Dad would harvest the garden with all of us kids at the end of summer, but for me it was the excitement of fresh corn, homemade raspberry jam, and making boats to float in our mudroom sink made out of hollowed out cucumbers, while Mom and Dad were anxious to cut open a juicy tomato, sprinkle it with a little salt and savor every bite.

I’m not kidding. I did not get that. I still don’t eat a tomato like an apple. Do you?

I have gained such an appreciation for food that you’ve labored over. It’s a fact: fresh picked tastes better.

Unfortunately, it’s not time for fresh peas but when they are ready we will be shelling them for this quick and easy lemon orzo with parmesan and peas. We often eat this as a main dish (check our our ham version for a main dish), but it’s wonderful and light so it makes a great healthy side dish as well.

What is Orzo?

I love this question; it’s so satisfying to see people’s reactions when they learn that orzo isn’t a grain, despite the fact that it looks like one. Spoiler: orzo is actually a flat, rice-shaped pasta that’s great in soups, salads, or enjoyed as is.

How is Orzo Different from Rice?

Although orzo can be cooked like rice and has similar nutritional information, it cooks up in about half the time. This is the number one reason why I love cooking with orzo. Well, that and the fact that I like the shape. And it tastes really good, especially when you toast it first. Okay, there are a lot of reasons why I love orzo. 

Is Orzo Healthier Than Rice?

Orzo has higher protein and fiber content than rice, but orzo has slightly higher carbohydrates per serving. Because orzo is higher in protein and fiber, it will help you feel fuller for longer which can help with weight loss.

Tips on How to Cook Orzo

Like I mentioned above, you can cook orzo like pasta, boiling it in liquid, which works well if you’re serving it in soup because you can

Skip the store-bought spice mixes and stir together a batch of homemade Cajun seasoning!

Cajun seasoning is a blend of herbs and spices often used to add a kick to dishes running the gamut from popcorn to veggies to meat! Most of your favorite Cajun-style recipes likely call for some version of a Cajun seasoning mix.

I first shared this recipe in The Weeknight Dinner Cookbook several years ago. This seasoning mix has been a staple in my spice cabinet ever since.

I use it at least twice a week and I figure it is long past time to share it here so that I can more easily link to it for you in other recipes.

What is Cajun Seasoning?

To the best of my knowledge, Cajun seasoning originated in Louisiana (which is why it’s also sometimes known as Louisiana cajun seasoning). The green can of Tony’s Creole Seasoning is a staple in the home of our Louisiana family and for years, Slap Ya Mama Cajun Seasoning was a staple in ours too.

Those are clearly the popular name-brand favorites, as you will often see them sold together. However, after trying my hand at making a homemade Cajun Seasoning, I’m pretty sure that this mix is going to be in my spice cabinet at all times now.

How to Make Cajun Seasoning

Many years ago, I first made this blend of Cajun spices when a recipe I was following required Cajun seasoning. I didn’t have any on hand at the time, but I did have every single one of the spices that goes into a Cajun seasoning mix.

So, what is in Cajun seasoning? The signature reddish brown color of Cajun seasoning comes courtesy of a hearty helping of smoked paprika. The peppery flavor is heightened with ga

Easy Ham and Cheese Scones

A few weeks ago I was making our apple pie scones and suddenly had the brilliant idea of making a savory version, easy ham and cheese scones!

The only way I could ever convince our family to ditch the amazingly wonderful sweet version of a scone was clearly to add cheese. Cheese makes everything better. And bacon. Shoot, I need to try a bacon version!

Grab your leftover Easter ham and make these buttery and flaky scones!

What Ingredients are Needed for Ham and Cheese Scones?

Tender scones are just a few pantry staples away! A good scone needs only a few ingredients, butter (or shortening if you must), buttermilk, salt, and baking powder. Everything else is just to adjust the flavor. Here is a complete list of all the ingredients you will need:

• Flour: gives structure to the scones and regular all purpose flour is all you need
• Sugar: adds a touch of sweetness to balance out all the savory ingredients
• Baking Powder: the true raising agent that adds the real height you’re looking for. Do not use a substitute.
• Salt: necessary in both sweet and savory dishes as it provides the flavor. Yes, cheese and ham are in there, but everything needs seasoning. I love that salt not only flavors a dish but it also makes the other ingredients stand out even more.
• Unsalted Butter: gives you those tender, flakey layers and margarine just wont cut it in this case. As the steam rises so does that beautiful hunk of dough, creating a pillow of bread once cooked.
• Buttermilk: use for savory scones while cream is great for a sweet scone. This allows for the dough to come together but still have enough fat to keep it a tender dough.
• Colby Jack Cheese: we love colby jack, but you could use cheddar cheese, swiss, pepper jack or really any type of cheese you love.
• Diced Ham: a perfect way to use leftover spiraled ham or you can buy cubed ham from the store.
• Fresh Chives: fresh herbs make all the difference when it comes to flavor but if you need to use dried chives, use just 1 teaspoon. You could also use scallions.
  • TIP: If you’re not a chives fine, you can use fresh parsley or thyme.
• Butter: I know butter has already been listed, but we use it again brushed on top as a finishing touch on these perfect scones.

The measurements for each ingredient can be found in the recipe card at the end of the post.

Recommended Equipment

Pizza Cutter – This is a MUST in our house. The Dexas pizza cutter isn’t a steel blade, but a plastic blade and if you watch our videos you’ll notice I use a plastic pizza wheel all the time to cut dough. It is so much easier than a knife and wont harm any pans or counter tops. This pa