All along the Gulf Coast you will find the garden "jewels" of the South beginning to paint the landscapes. Bulbs are emerging from the depths of the garden revealing beautiful blossoms. Our feathered friends are back and looking for seeds in the many bird feeders around town.
After our unusual year it is truly inspiring to see these familiar sites. I am hopeful that as a community we will be able to enjoy our gorgeous surroundings. I was in Baldwin County last week and the spring break traffic is definitely back. I noticed car plates from Louisiana, Illinois, Texas, Georgia and Florida. Hopefully everyone is having a wonderful time on the beach.
With that in mind, locals be ready for some delays crossing the bay. If you are meeting folks for business allow some extra travel time!
“Spring is the time of plans and projects.” ― Leo Tolstoy
In the Spotlight: Amy Rainwaters Coaching
Amy Rainwaters is a Mayo Certified Health and Wellness Coach who is passionate about guiding her clients to take simple steps towards their goals. One of my favorite tips from her is to do something everyday that brings you happiness. It is amazing how that simple practice can make a big difference in your day.
Amy does personal coaching on a one-to-one basis via phone, ZOOM or in person. This year she has been helping many people deal with stress management and tackle weight-loss goals. She also offers business workshops. In these seminars she address issues that are challenging for that particular company. Some examples of topics she can cover include tardiness, lack of motivation, communication challenges and poor team players. She excels at helping owners uncover problems that are affecting company revenue.
Some offices have great teams in place yet they are looking for ways to keep the staff happy and motivated. Amy can help develop a strategy for the business owners to implement to keep the crew moving forward towards a united goal. For more information click here to visit her website.
Do something everyday that brings you some happiness! - Amy Rainwaters
Welcome Andrew Lee of Ronnie Lee's Automotive to Meet da' Boss Baldwin County!
Last Friday, I spent the better part of the morning with Andrew Lee, owner of Ronnie Lee's Automotive in Daphne. I was directing his photo shoot for the website and enjoyed my time at his place immensely.
Ronnie Lee's specializes in European cars and Andrew is a BMW Master Mechanic. Glenn Smith is a BMW technician who has been with the company since 2003. Aaron Dale joined the team a couple of years ago and he is a Volkswagen & Audi Certified Technician. These three professionals are some of the neatest and most competent mechanics that I have ever met.
The seven bay shop stays busy with local folks as well as others who drive in from other states for service. Ladies, you will be happy to know that there is a nice waiting room if you are in for a quick service. You'll be able to read all about this family owned business later this week on the website!
The expectations of life depend upon diligence; the mechanic that would perfect his work must first sharpen his tools. - Confucius
In the Book Corner!
Last week, my Amazon Fire Tablet decided to "not charge" anymore. I had a dozen books lined up to read and could not access them. While waiting for a replacement tablet to arrive, I grabbed Sarah Wilson's first book called I Quit Sugar. Several blogs ago, I shared her cookbook that happens to have the same name.
This one details an 8-week program to help you remove sugar from your diet. It is no easy task when you begin reading labels only to discover that everything from ketchup to canned veggies has added sugar. Sugar/Fructose is as addictive as cocaine and can really do some damage to your body.
This easy to use guide takes you step-by-step over the course of two months. I have eliminated sugar from my diet, so this is serving as a handy refresher for me. If I had to make a recommendation between the two books, I would pick the cookbook. It has over 300 solid recipes with beautiful photos and complete instructions. The guide is great for someone who is just starting out.
There are some fantastic YouTube channels that are loaded with great information on healthy eating. I spend more time watching informational videos that I do watching movies! Here are some of my favorites!
FlavCity with Bobby Parrish - I enjoy "shopping" at Costco, Wall-Mart, Whole Foods, Trader Joes, Pulix and Aldi via his channel. He is a label reading genius! He also has a new cookbook out that I have on order! You will find great recipes on his channel too! He has over 1 million subscribers, so you know he is doing something great for viewers!
Dr. Sten Eckberg is a holistic doctor and Olympic Decathlete who lives in Atlanta. He covers food, exercise, sleep, and stress. His explanations are backed up by research. He provides lists of things to eat when you are eliminating sugar. I drink his Apple Cider Lemonade everyday and I'll put the recipe below this link. Go check him out!
Apple Cider Lemonade (use Apple Cider Vinegar that contains the mother - available at Costco)
One glass of cold water
1/2 fresh lemon
1 teaspoon of Apple Cider Vinegar
1 packet of Stevia
Cubes of ice
Squeeze lemon into glass of water, add ACV and Stevia - stir and pour over ice.
“I still believe in Santa, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy and true love. Don’t even try to tell me different.” — Dolly Parton
Wishing you a wonderful Easter week with your family. I hope that you get to see folks that you have been longing to spend time with. I have a house full of family headed my way and can hardly wait! ~ Charlsie