Power Nap #30

Funny and thought-provoking media from Kate and her team for a quick, refreshing pick-me-up.

In Case You Missed It

1. Kate reshared such an oldie but a goodie: Peanut Butter Swirly Cups. These are the silicone molds she uses.

2. Kate and Nate just went to Banff National Park celebrating their 10 year anniversary and Kate wrote every last detail here.

3. Kate shared her onion cutting hack. If you really want to commit, try these.

4. Pick your sandwich night is a weekly staple in the Strickler household. Here's why you should try it too.

5. Kate is loving this handheld vac that lives in the car.

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“If you want to change the world, go home and love your family.”
- Mother Teresa

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Proverbs

1. I've been storing up a bunch of these so I'm just going to dump them here:

   – The best measure of wealth is what you have minus what you want. (By this measure, some billionaires are broke.)

   – My jealousy of dogs: They can sit for hours doing absolutely nothing, appearing perfectly content.

   – Many people view their habits and routines as obstacles or, at the very least, obligations to get through. Making the morning coffee, driving your kids to the next activity, preparing the next meal—we often see our routines as chores to be completed. But these are not moments to be dismissed. They are life. Making coffee can be a peaceful ritual—perhaps even a fulfilling one—if done with care rather than rushed to completion. It’s about the amount of attention you devote to these simple moments, and whether you choose to appreciate them or bulldoze through them on the way to the next task. Find the beauty and joy in your daily rituals and you will find beauty and joy in your daily life. To love your habits is to love your days, and to love your days is to love your life.

   – The most productive hour of your day often looks the laziest. Good ideas rarely come during meetings – they come while going for a walk, or sitting on the couch, or taking a shower.

   – During the filming of Forrest Gump, director Bob Zemeckis realized he had a problem: The kid cast to play the young Forrest sounded nothing like the way Tom Hanks was portraying the adult Forrest. One day on set, Zemeckis told Hanks, “We got a problem here, you have to teach this kid how to talk the way you talk.” One of the hottest actors in Hollywood, Hanks could have demanded they find another kid or that the kid figure out how to sound like Hanks. Instead, Hanks asked to meet the kid. The kid was from Mississippi and had a thick Southern accent, and after a brief conversation, Hanks said, “I thought, 'Why don't I just talk the way he talks?'” The iconic Forrest Gump accent and mannerisms were simply a result of Tom Hanks adapting and fitting to the kid’s speech and mannerisms.

   – In the early 1980’s, the sociologist Daniel Chambliss spent five years studying swimmers at every level of ability. He visited learn-to-swim programs, coached a regional swim team, and traveled with the U.S. Olympic Team. Then in 1989, he published his research in a paper titled, “The Mundanity of Excellence.” Essentially, Chambliss found that Olympic champions don’t train more than the average swimmer. Instead, they train differently. In particular, they do “what others see as boring.” Chambliss tells the story of a group of coaches from around the world visiting a U.S. Olympic Team practice. “The visiting coaches were excited at first…then soon they grew bored, walking back and forth, glancing down at their watches, wondering, after the long flight out to California, when something dramatic was going to happen.” “They all have to come to see what we do,” the U.S. Olympic Team coach said. “They think we have some big secret.” There is no secret. There is only the doing of the mundane, boring work, day after day.

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Things We Devoured

Kate finished the final book in the American Royals series by Katharine McGee. She loved this series so much and has been reading them as they came out over the last few years. They are entertaining, easy to read, and keep you guessing. They also have that unique ability to create villains you hate but also love and empathize with. Highly suggest them!

Jess made this Whole30 Waldorf Chicken Salad and was shocked at how good it was. She isn't doing Whole30, but if every Whole30 recipe tasted like this she would. Who would've known tahini in chicken salad could taste so good?! The grapes, fresh dill, and sliced almonds are perfect in here. You could always use rotisserie chicken from the store to save yourself a step.

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Beats On Repeat

Many of you know Kate loves a good instrumental playlist. She has discovered Jazz for Autumn and LOVES it! Whoever makes these amazing Spotify playlists needs a raise. A whole Jazz playlist made just for this season?! It's smooth, calming, and perfect for a calm morning or cooking dinner.

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